The term “Upanishad” literally means the inner or mystic teaching. It is derived from upa (near), ni (down) and s(h)ad (to sit), i.e., sitting down near, which refers to groups of pupils sitting near their teacher to learn from him the secret doctrine. In the serenity of forest hermitages, the Upanishad thinkers pondered on the […]
Archive | Spiritual Library
The 108 Sacred Names of Lord Shiva (शिवाष्टोत्तरशत नामावली)
Shiva (Sanskrit: Auspicious One) is one of the main deities of Hinduism that is worshiped as the paramount lord by the Shaivite sects of India. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is regarded as the representation of the Supreme Being. He is known as the third element in the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti). Shiva is the destructive form […]
Gananayakaya | गणनायकाय

Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Kishkindha Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 43 of 67

Introduction Sugreeva sends troops to north in search of Seetha. He gives an account of the snowy regions and provinces of northern side and asks them to search in the places of Yavana, Kuru, and Darads etc., civilisations. Sugreeva specially informs them about a divine province called Uttara Kuru and a heavenly mountain called Mt. […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Kishkindha Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 4 of 67

Introduction Lakshmana explains about Seetha’s abduction and their inability to trace her whereabouts. As informed earlier by a demon freed from his curse and who became a celestial, Lakshmana says that they are searching for one Sugreeva, King of Vanmara-s, to befriend him in order to take help in searching for Seetha. Hanuma who is […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Yuddha Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 51 of 128

Introduction Hearing the rejoicing cries of the monkeys, Ravana asks some demons to discover the cause of that rejoicing. The demons mount the rampart and discover that Rama and Lakshmana have been relieved of the shackle of arrows. They come to Ravana and inform that the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana are alive and appear […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Ayodhya Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 62 of 119

Introduction After hearing harsh words from Kausalya, king Dasaratha loses consciousness and restores it after a long time. Afterwards, Kausalya repents for her mistake of speaking such crude words and consoles the king with her reconciliatory words. Overcome by grief, Dasaratha fell into the grip, Dasaratha fell into the grip of slumber as the night […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Ayodhya Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 48 of 119

Introduction After returning to Ayodhya, Bharata expresses his desire to proceed to Nandigrama village. Vasishta and the other elders agree to his proposal. Bharataalong with Shatrughna ascend the chariot and proceed towards Nandigram. The ministers, family-priest, the army and the citizens of Ayodhya followed Bharata in his journey. Installing the wooden sandals of Rama on […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Yuddha Kāṇḍa

Yudha Kanda (The Book of war or Lanka Kanda) is the fourth book of the Valmiki Ramayana, which is one of the two great epic poems of India, the other being the Mahabharata. The book consists of 128 sargas (sometimes translated as chapters or cantos) of Sanskrit verse. This Yudha Kanda also known as Lanka […]
Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Sundara Kāṇḍa

Sundara Kanda (The Book of beauty) is the fourth book of the Valmiki Ramayana, which is one of the two great epic poems of India, the other being the Mahabharata. The book consists of 68 sargas (sometimes translated as chapters or cantos) of Sanskrit verse. The sundara kanda forms the heart of Valmiki’s Ramayana and […]