How to be super successful on the journey of life

The other day, I was waiting on a platform for a train to go to a seminar out of town when a young man, who had been pacing back and forth, looking at the train schedule, came up to me. He asked me if I could help with which train he should take, which stop he should get off at, and what he should do once he got off the train. As I wasn’t familiar with the area he wanted to go to, I wasn’t much help. But at the same time, I couldn’t help thinking that he certainly wasn’t prepared for his trip.
Couldn’t he have checked out the details before he set off? Did he just come to the train station and hope for the best?

Amavashya

Each month of the lunar calendar comes with one Purnima or full moon night and one Amavasya or full dark night. The Amavasya heralds the arrival of the new month as the moon starts its waxing phase from the very next day again. The Amavasya thus also symbolises new beginnings and end of everything that went previously.

Teej

Throughout the Hindu Annual calendar,Teej is celebrated three times as Hariyali  Teej, Kajari Teej,  and Hartalika Teej, in India. Each Teej vrat and worship is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati did austere penance for thousands of years to get Shiva as her husband.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ekadashi

The Importance of Ekadasi Vrat:

Once the Rishies and Munies gathered together in Nemisaranya. They had come to listen to the discourses on 'Purans' from  the very learned saint Sutji. Sutji had very in-depth knowledge of the Purans. Sutji was also the disciple of the greatest saint Shri Ved Vyasji.

The Hindu Marriage Sanskar

All the rites, rituals we follow in Hinduism have been laid out in the ancient holy texts for us. The Gods followed these very same rituals and methods as an example for us all to follow.

Hanuman Chalisa

Today is Tuesday, a day devoted to Shri Ram doot, veer Hanuman.. There is no 'sankat' or problem that Pawan Putra Mahabir cannot destroy. Say aloud "Siyavar Ramchandra ki Jai - Pawan Sut Hanuman ki Jai."

Making Ganesh

Hinduism believes, there is God in both living (animate) and inanimate things. The saying goes 'kan kan me Bhagwan hai' or God lives in every atom. Therefore, many inanimate things are taken together and used to represent God. Even drawings symbolize the almighty.

Ganesh is the 'pratham pujya' or worshiped first, in every thing. So Ganesh is needed every where. How then do we make Ganesh??

Paint a Swastic symbol and put some rice grains on it...its Ganesh. The symbol of OM in Hindi represents Ganesh. Wrapping a thread around a piece of clay is Ganesh. Take a piece of cow-dung and wrap a thread around that and you have Ganesh. A betel nut (supari) or a piece of turmeric (haldi), wrapped with a thread is Ganesh.Ganesh exists in a dot made with roli.Two pieces of 'dubh' grass wrapped with thread is also Ganesh.

Ganesh is the 'Shubh karta' or one who makes auspicious and 'Vighna harta' or one who gets rid of obstacles.

Padmasana

One is often asked, what kind of Asana is best for Mantra japa, so that one may quickly realize the fruits of one's chanting or meditation?

Generally, Rishi-Munies in the ancient texts, list four kinds of Asanas best suited for this purpose...Namely- Padmasana, Siddhasana, Swastikasana, and Sukhasana...

Of the four kinds of Asana, Padmasana is considered best for this purpose.

One can sit on a 'kush' or dried grass prayer mat or any other prayer mat suitable to you. Now cross your legs such that the right foot is lifted on to the left thigh and the left leg is lifted on to the right thigh. Keep your head, neck, and spinal chord of your back straight in a line. This allows for free flow of energy and is the best favored pose for Mantra reciting. 

Purnima or Full Moon Night

Hinduism follows the lunar calendar. Each month, therefore, has one full moon night or 'Purnima' and one full dark night or 'Amavasya' . Month to month, each of these days holds some special religious significance.

People usually fast every Purnima day,  round the year. Some people take dips in holy rivers. Some others hold special puja or mantra japas on Purnima day.

Many people conduct the Satya Narayan Vrat, upvas, and puja on this day, round the year. Purnima is special as the rays of the moon is supposed to be cooling, calming and life giving.

 Many people keep 'kheer' or rice pudding, under the rays of the moon-lit night. And next morning, before sunrise, all family members eat the pudding as 'prasad', with the intention that the moon rays has added Elixir, or Amrit to the kheer.