AWAKENINGS

Gayatri Japam day is linked with Upakarma and it is observed on the next of Shravani Upakarma day.   Gayathri Mantra is considered to be very powerful mantra to purify the mind thereby giving a lasting prosperity and peace:   Gayathri Mantra:   The Gayatri Mantra (Sanskrit)   ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्   Transliteration (IAST)   Om Bh ū r Bhuva ḥ Sva ḥ Tat Savitur Vare ṇ ya ṁ Bhargo Devasya Dh ī mahi Dhiyo Yo Na ḥ Prachoday ā t   Meaning of the Gayatri Mantra   The Gayatri Mantra is essentially a universal prayer for wisdom and enlightenment. Here's a breakdown of its common interpretation:   Om: The primeval sound, the universal consciousness, the ultimate reality. Bh ū r: Represents the physical realm or earth. Bhuva ḥ : Represents the atmospheric or mental realm. Sva ḥ : Represents the celestial or spiritual realm.   (Together, these three words acknow...

  Upakarma is a Vedic ritual and it is practiced by Hindus of Brahmin community.   On Upakarma day, Brahmins ritually change their Upanayana thread by chanting suitable mantras for the ritual.   Those who follow Rigveda observe the Upakarma on Shravana Nakshatra day in the month of Shravana. Hence the day to observe Upakarma might differ for the followers of Yajurveda and Rigveda.   Upakarma is known as Avani Avittam in Tamil Nadu. For those who do their first Upakarma, it is known as Thalai Avani Avittam. In Andhra Pradesh, Upakarma during Shravana Purnima is known as Jandhyala Purnima.   Brahmins choose the day of Shravana Purnima to begin the study of Vedas as the day coincides with Hayagriva Jayanti.   Hayagriva Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Hayagriva who is considered the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Lord Hayagriva restored all Vedas to Brahma.   The main purpose of the Upakarma ritual is to offer prayers ...

Varalakshmi Puja or Varalakshmi Viratam  (Viratam means Fasting) one of the significant Hindu festivals observed by women to worship the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Varalakshmi, who is the consort of Lord Vishnu, is one of the forms of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Varalakshmi was incarnated from the milky ocean. It is believed that the Varalakshmi form of the goddess bestows boons and fulfills all desires of her devotees. Hence this form of the goddess is known as Vara + Lakshmi i.e. Goddess Lakshmi who bestows boons. The Varalakshmi fasting is performed with the desire of worldly pleasures such as children, spouse, luxury and all sorts of earthly pleasures. Varalakshmi Puja is performed mostly by married women for the well-being of husband and the other family members. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Vara-Lakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalakshmi i.e. the eight Goddesses of Wealth (Sri), Earth (Bhu), Learning (Saraswati), Love (Priti), Fame (Kirti...

  PICTORIAL EDITORIAL   PM MODI'S 5 DAYS OFFICIAL VISITS TO CYPRUS, CANADA (G 7 SUMMIT) & CROATIA  FROM JUNE 15 TO 19, 2025 PM Modi’s 5 Days Itinerary of  3 Countries:   1.     June 15 – 16: Cyprus 2.     June 16 – 17: Canada to participate in G7 Summit in Kananaskis 3.     JUNE 18: Croatia   1. CYPRUS’S VISIT At the invitation of the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, PM Modi paid an official visit to Cyprus. President Christodulides  conferred upon PM Narendramodi  the 'Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus. The PM dedicated it to the 140 crore Indians and the friendship between India and Cyprus.   Royal Welcome to Modi at the historic city of Nicosia, Cyprus   Nicosia [Cyprus]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III, following his official welcome at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.   Prime...

  There are many legends about the origin of Nag Panchami which means worshiping snakes, as these snakes had been subdued by Lord Krishna and Lord Siva to be friendly with their devotees. Hence Nagas or Snakes are being worshiped by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Kaliya was a venomous serpent who was poisoning the Yamuna River and Sri Krishna as a child subdued the serpent Kaliya by mounting on its hoods and dancing to the delights of his devotees and thereby, Yamuna River was saved from poison.    Kaliya on his complete surrender to Lord Krishna, the serpent was granted a boon whereby the serpents will be worshiped and it will be celebrated as Nag Panchami. Therefore Sri Krishna was worshiped as ‘Kaliya Rathana’ meaning Lord Krishna overpowered snake Kaliya by dancing on its hoods to the delight of his devotees and relieving them from the snakes’ troubles. During the churning of the ocean, Vasuku, the King of Snakes, was used as ropes and Shiva had honoured her b...

Guru Poornima is dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. The Word 'Guru' consists of two syllables - Gu + Ru. Gu means Darkness or Ignorance and Ru means Removal  and hence Guru conveys a meaning of  one who removes ignorance i.e. a teacher. Guru Poornima Day is the birth day of Veda Vyasa - the fountainhead of spritual knowledge and compiler of Vedas. Due to this reason, Guru Poornima is also called as Vyasa Poornima signifying Vyasa's birth anniversary.  This Vyasa’s birthday celebration is approximately his 5100 th  years Birthday, if Vyasa was believed to have born around 3100 BC. In yogic tradition, it marks the day Shiva became the first Guru (Adi Guru) and began the transmission of yoga to the Saptarishis. On this day all disciples and students pay their respects to Gurus/Teachers for giving them spiritual/academic knowledge. In Hindu tradition, Gurus are considered as God's Incarnations whose teachings should be taken Gospel Truths with humili...