Vedanta - The River of Wisdom

Guru Paduka Stotram is a powerful set of well-known devotional verses that glorify the sacred “Padukas (Sandals) of the Guru. Why are the padukas or sandals sacred? Because of association with the feet of the guru. In the Vedic culture, the guru as well as his/her feet are worshipped. The feet represent the path taken by the teacher, the path prescribed by the Vedas of a life of Dharma and Moksha....

Devi Saraswati also known as Devi Sharada is revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, purification, language and culture. In this heartfelt beautiful composition of eight verses by Adi Shankaracharya, the refrain means ' I worship Mother Sharada who is my Eternal Mother'. We revel in the meaning and receive the blessing of Sharada Devi. Our mon...

When our desires are fulfilled we find ourselves to be happy and when they are not fulfilled, we are unhappy and restless. The Vedas recognise 'Kama' as a Purushartha, a valid pursuit with different prayers to help us fulfill them. Then, when does desire become a problem? What can we do about it? Should we fulfill the desire or should we give it up? We listen to insights from the Bhagavad Gita. Th...

The Hindu way of life is neither new nor old. It is Sanatana, eternal and so it is both, new and old. Yes, at the threshold of the new year we may finetune our life priorities, set goals and make plans. How might these include our relationship with devatas and people around us? How can we have a lasting framework that guides our actions contributing to happiness and prosperity? Let's find out. Our...

Devi Annapurna is the goddess of food and nourishment. She is called the mother of the three worlds and gives to everyone what only a mother gives, naturally and freely – food. She bears no weapons in her hands, but rather carries a cooking pot and a spoon. As giver of food she is the giver of life. Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya composed the Annapurna Stotram of 12 verses which help us revere and r...

Wise beings who have been the gurus of our gurus, shine the light of Vedanta for us as they pave the path for our learning. Swami Tapovan Maharaj (1889-1957), also known as Swami Chinmayananda ji 's guru wrote an autobiographical work titled 'Iswara Darshan'. We hear inspiring glimpses from his life interwoven with teachings of Vedanta. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/309-the-l...

How could Sri Krishna, a Sampurna Avataara respond in the way he did to the Gopis? What is the right way of looking at their relationship? Through some sections of the Bhagavatam (one of the 18 Puranas) we understand and revel even, in the love of the Gopis for Sri Krishna. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/308-bhakti-the-transformative-love-of-the-gopis-for-sri-krishna-bhagavata...

Dharma is likened to a bull in Bhagavatam, who is now only standing on one leg in Kali Yuga's current age. We hear the story of the Dharma bull and how he lost his other legs because of decline in Dharma across the ages. While on the one hand, it is a relief to know that the decline in Dharma that we are experiencing has been predicted, it also anchors us in Sanatana Dharma, the eternal way of lif...

What is the connection between a book and what you want i.e. self-realisation or enlightenment? This and more is covered in an important topic – Anubandha chatushtayam, which also means the four fold connection in Vedanta.  Knowing this guides your moksha pursuit and frees you from confusion. The transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/why-study-vedanta-if-one-seeks-enlightenment/ To register for...

King Bali had created havoc in the three worlds. As the devas approached Sri Vishnu, he incarnated as a mere dwarf, Vamana. The dialogue between King Bali and Vamana Avataara from Srimad Bhagavatam is an illuminating one of his journey from ego to devotion. The transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/305-vamana-avatara-and-balis-journey-from-ego-to-devotion/ It is not too late to join the course o...

Everyone experiences events in childhood that leave an impression and shape us into who we become. Vedanta teaches us to see things as IS. This means being objective to one’s past as well. How can we be objective, perhaps have a pleasant neutrality to the past especially when there are some painful memories sitting there to this day that have not been processed?  By seeing how Leela comes to terms...

Among young people these days, it is common to refer to each other as ‘Bro’ meaning a friend, a buddy, someone close like a brother.  While parent-child relationships often take centre stage in discussions about families, the sibling relationship is highly underrated and yet serves as a foundation for one’s maturity and personal growth. How did siblings relate to each other in our Itihaasas, parti...

Naraka Chaturdashi is celebrated on the 2nd day of the 5 day Deepavali festival. One of the associated legends is that Sri Krishna defeated Narakasura. Who was he? What were the circumstances that prompted Sri Krishna to marry 16000 women? Let’s listen to this excerpt from Bhagavatam, one of the 18 MahaPuranas. The transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/302-narakasura-and-16000-wives-of-bhagavan-...

Asantosha is like most of us. He feels that he 'does not have enough money'. Devi Lakshmi opens his eyes to all her manifestations and prompts Asantosha to reflect on his life, restoring and celebrating the balance of wealth in his life. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/301-devi-lakshmi-speaks-to-the-one-who-says-i-dont-have-enough/ It is not too late to join the course on the C...

Is your vision of yourself similar to the vision of Vedanta, which sees you as limitless? Let us listen to an extract from Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji's article as he helps us see that all along, one was always the whole. This being our 300th episode, a special heartfelt thank you for continuing to listen and sitting on the banks of wisdom of Vedanta. It is not too late to join the course o...

The word 'Durga' itself means an invincible fortress as well as a difficulty. By chanting these 32 powerful names, each of which starts with Durga, we dwell on the meaning and transform our relationship with Durga/difficulty, for good. Bhakti - The Heart of Wisdom - 1, Starting on 13th October, 2024 - https://www.hua.edu/courses/bhakti-the-heart-of-wisdom-1/ It is not too late to join the course o...

With a heavy heart and feeling purposeless, a devotee is cleaning her mandir, wiping the murti of Durga. She prays for guidance. Lo behold! Devi Durga appears and teaches her the most important thing. Listen on, in this profound teaching of Devi to her devotee. Soundarya Lahari - 3rd-11th October - Worship Devi by enrolling here - https://arshavidyananda.in/live-courses/ Bhakti - The Heart of Wisd...

Any one who commits wrong actions or even crime may escape the law of land but cannot escape the law of Karma presided over by Bhagavan. Such a person will suffer the consequences while living or may actually go to naraka. The Puranas speak of 28 kinds of narakas of suffering which relate to different kinds of wrong actions committed here on earth. Knowing about them may prompt us to think twice b...

What if emotions like anger, sadness, fear, jealousy etc have a purpose - to help rather than harm us? What if emotions whisper wisdom that we are not paying attention to?  What if emotions had a voice, what would they say to us? Speaking today are Binding Desire, Anger, Sadness, Fear, Jealousy, Confusion, Arrogance and Guilt .... The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/296-how-do-nega...

When Bhagavan Ganapati appears, the dejected devotee asks many questions - Why are there so many obstacles in my path? How are you both a placer as well as a remover of obstacles? When life is challenging, how can I still have shraddha and persevere? In response Bhagavan Ganapati blesses and guides the devotee and all of us. The transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/295-how-does-ganapati-bless-a...

Did you know that in different cosmic ages, Bhagavan Ganesha appeared as 8 Avataras to vanquish asuras and re-establish Dharma. We listen to the stories from the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana about how these asuras like Krodhasura (embodiment of anger), Matsarasura (embodiment of jealousy) were defeated thereby revelling in and abiding in our devotion to Bhagavan Ganesha. The podcast transcrip...

Does happiness lie in a person, situation or a thing? If so, the person, situation or thing should always make me happy! But this is not our experience. Here is an excerpt from Pujya Swami Dayananda ji 's unfolding of this important topic. Not too late to join the course on the Complete Bhagavad Gita which just began on 17th August 2024. Do check out the details and do not lose an opportunity...

In an interesting turn of events in the midst of a deluge, Rishi Markandeya was blessed with the vision of Sri Krishna in the child form resting on a banyan leaf. What did he see and what did he understand? Through the eight verses of the Bala Mukunda Ashtakam, we discover and revel in the joy of Sri Krishna's beautiful child form. The podcast transcript - https://arshavidyananda.in/292-bala-m...

We can be free from sadness only when we understand what we are bound by. Through this exquisite unfolding of words by Pujya Swami Dayananda ji we see the truth clearly! What better way to celebrate India's independence and Pujya Swamiji 's birthday of 15th August than to revel in the brilliance of his teaching on freedom! Our upcoming course on the Complete Bhagavad Gita starts on 17th Au...

As soon as people across the world chant the Hanuman Chalisa they find themselves rejuvenated with bhakti and shakti. Such is its power and greatness. And yet few know that it was composed by Sant Tulsidas who also composed the Sri Ramcharitmanas. As we approach his birth anniversary on 11th August this year, we hear of some key events of Sant Tulsidas's life and some lovely poetry from Sri Ma...