ASA "Stuti"

Om Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय) is one of the most popular Hindu mantras and the most important mantra in Shaivism. Its translation is "adoration (namas) to Śiva", preceded by the mystical syllable "Aum". Om Namah Shivaya mantra is sung by devotees in prayers and recited by yogis in meditation. It is associated with qualities of prayer, divine-love, grace, truth and blissfulness. Traditionally, it is accepted to be a powerful healing mantra beneficial for all physical and mental ailments. Soulful recitation of this mantra brings peace to the heart and joy to the [Ātman] or Soul. Sages consider that the recitation of these syllables is sound therapy for the body and nectar for the soul [Ātman]. The nature of the mantra is the calling upon the higher self; it is the calling upon shiva, the destroyer deity, to aid in the death (destruction of ego) and rebirth achieved during meditation. This goes generally for mantras and chants to different gods, which are different a...

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The Gāyatrī Mantra is a highly revered mantra from the Vedas. Like all Vedic mantras, the Gayatri mantra is considered not to have an author, and like all other Vedic mantras, is believed to have been revealed to Brahmarshi Vishvamitra. It is a verse from a sukta of the Rigveda (Mandala 3.62.10). Gāyatrī is the name of the Vedic meter in which the verse is composed. As the verse can be interpreted to invoke Savitr, it is also called the Sāvitrī mantra. Its recitation is traditionally preceded by oṃ and the formula bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, known as the mahāvyāhṛti, or "great (mystical) utterance". The Gayatri mantra is repeated and cited very widely in Vedic literature and praised in several well-known classical Hindu texts such as the Manusmṛti ("there is nothing greater than the Savitri (Gayatri) Mantra.", Manu II, 83), the Harivamsa, and the Bhagavad Gita. The mantra is an important part of the upanayana ceremony for young males in Hinduism, and has long been recited by...

The Vamana Purana, (Sanskrit: वामन पुराण, Vāmana Purāṇa), one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts, is devoted to the Vamana Avatar of Vishnu. It has a eulogy praising both Vishnu and Shiva. Dated between 450 CE - 900 CE. The printed editions of this work has 96 chapters. At the beginning (chapter 1), Narada asks Pulastya about the assumption of the Vamana avatar by Vishnu. Chapters 34-42 give a detailed and exhaustive account of the tirthas, rivers and forests of Kurukshetra region. There are ten characteristics evident in Vamana Purana (in fact, in all or most of the Puraans). The Padma Purana categorizes Vamana Purana as a Rajas Purana (Purana which represents dimness and passion). They are:     Sarga     Visarga     Sthaana     Poshana     Uti     Vritti     Raksha     Manvantara     Vansha     Upaashraya Sarg...

Meaning of the term ‘Linga’ In Sanskrit, Linga means a ‘mark’ or a symbol. Thus the Shiva Linga is a symbol of Lord Shiva – a mark that, according to the Linga Purana, symbolizes the Omnipotent Lord, who is otherwise formless and Infinite.

Shree Durga Saptshati (Devi Mahatmaya): Symbolism of the three episodes Coburn says:     "The sage's three tales are allegories of outer and inner experience, symbolized by the fierce battles the all-powerful Devi wages against throngs of demonic foes. Her adversaries represent the all-too-human impulses arising from the pursuit of power, possessions and pleasure, and from illusions of self-importance. Like the battlefield of the Bhagavad Gita, the Devi Mahatmya's killing grounds represent the field of human consciousness ... The Devi, personified as one supreme Goddess and many goddesses, confronts the demons of ego and dispels our mistaken idea of who we are, for – paradoxically – it is she who creates the misunderstanding in the first place, and she alone who awakens us to our true being." Chapter 1, Chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 11 describe the praise given to the great Goddess Yognindra, Goddess Chandi, who slayed Mahishasura, Goddess Adi-Shakti, the one who i...

Reading of Shree Durga Saptshati (Devi Mahatmay) Chapter 1 (Madhu kaitabha samhaara) is to be read for 1st day, Chapter 2 thru 4 (Mahishhasura samhaara) to be read on 2nd day, Chapter 5 and 6 (Dhuumralochana vadha) on the 3rd day, Chapter 7 (Chanda Munda vadha) on 4th day, Chapter 8(Rakta biija samhaara) on 5th day, Chapter 9 and 10 (Shumbha Nishumbha vadha) on 6th day, Chapter 11(Praise of Narayani) on 7th day, Chapter 12 (Phalastuti) on 8th day, Chapter 13 (Blessings to Suratha and the Merchant)on 9th day Chapter 14 (aparaadha xamaapaNa) on 10th day

 Benefit of reading Shree Durga Saptshati (Devi Mahatmya) The benefit of reading Devi Mahatmya several times is given below:- Three times-to get rid of black magic Five times-to get rid of difficulties caused by planets Seven times - to get rid of great fear. Nine times - Peace, Eleven times - to get over fear of death, attraction of the king Twelve times - getting desires fulfilled and destruction of enemies Fourteen times - to attract women as well as enemies Fifteen times - Pleasant life and getting of wealth Sixteen times - to get sons and grand sons Seventeen times - to get rid of fear of the King Eighteen times - to get occult powers Twenty times - For war to end Twenty-five times - To come out of prison Hundred times - to get rid of great sorrow, banishment from caste, Loss of life, salvation Hundred and eight times - Fulfilling any wanted desire One thousand times - Goddess Mahalakshmi will visit him/her and he/she will get all wealth ...

Philosophy of Shree Durga Saptshati (Devi Mahatmya) Devi Mahatmya accepts the ancient Vedic tradition in the form of Vāk and Trayī Vidyā and the philosophical doctrine of the codified system of Samkhya (Prakriti manifesting as the three Gunas) and Vedānta as Paramavidyā, the cause of Mukti. Further it synthesizes the then prevailing local Mother goddess traditions of Aryan and non-Aryan origin. In the first chapter it is said     "all lives are conscious, but that knowledge is connected with senses. That goddess Bhagavatī, granting all kinds of prosperity, makes even the wise attracted to worldly pleasures and things forcibly with her great power of attraction. This ever-changing world with all its animate and inanimate things, is created by her. As the cause of salvation she turns into supreme spiritual knowledge, and is thus eternal; and again as the cause of bondage to worldly things she turns into things mundane and is the mistress of all, including Gods. She is ...

Shree Durga Saptshati The Devi Mahatmyam or Devi Mahatmya (Sanskrit: devīmāhātmyam, देवीमाहात्म्यम्), or "Glory of the Goddess") is a Hindu religious text describing the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. As part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu scriptures. It was composed in Sanskrit during 400-600 CE, with authorship attributed to the sage (Rishi) Markandeya. Devi Mahatmyam is also known as the Durgā Saptashatī (दुर्गासप्तशती) or simply Saptashatī, Caṇḍī (चण्डी) or Caṇḍī Pāṭha (चण्डीपाठः): pāṭha – "reading" – refers to the act of ritual reading. The text contains 700 (saptashata; "seven hundred") verses, arranged into 13 chapters. By far one of the most important texts of Shaktism, the text has a central place in Shakta ritual. Devi Mahatmyam is seen as an attempt to unify the Vedic male pantheon with the pre-existing mother goddess worship possibly dating to the 9th millennium BCE, and an at...

Shree Linga Puran The Linga Purana is one of the major eighteen Puranas, a Hindu religious text. Its current form can be dated back to 600 C.E. The extant text is divided into two parts, comprising 108 and 55 chapters respectively. These parts contain the description regarding the origin of universe, origin of the linga, and emergence of Brahma and Vishnu, and all the Vedas from the Linga. In this Purana, Shiva directly tells sometimes the importance of worship of Linga and the correct rituals to be followed during the puja of the linga. First part of this Purana describes the origin of the Linga, and details the process of its worship. It has also sections on the creation of the cosmos; immolation of Kama; marriage of Shiva; description of Surya and Soma; and description of Varaha and Narshimha avatars of Vishnu. Next part describes the prominence of Lord Vishnu, and the emergence of Brahma as the creator of the cosmos. It has several other accounts, including various...