Lord Shiva Almost Turns Into Ash

Lord Shiva's anger is well-known. But, Lord Shiva is also said to be easily pleased by his devotees. Hence Lord Shiva is called both 'Kshipra-kopi' and 'Kshipra-prasadhi',i.e quickly angered and quickly pleased. The following is a folktale which shows Lord Shiva being easily pleased and the consequences of it.

Once there was an asura (demon) who was a great dancer. He was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva and used to appease Shiva through his dancing and devotion. The asura wanted to get Lord Shiva's blessings and be able to rule over the earth. With this intention on his mind, the asura started to meditate on Lord Shiva. After many years, Lord Shiva was pleased and appeared before the asura. Lord Shiva asked the asura what boon he would like to have. The asura thought for a while and said that he wanted to make anyone he touches on the centre of the head turn into ash (vibhuti). Lord Shiva granted the asura his boon. As soon as the asura got the power from the boon, he said that he wanted to test his powers on Lord Shiva itself. Lord Shiva was stunned for a while and then ran from there. The asura pursued Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva ran ahead and went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu took the form of 'Mohini' , a beautiful damsel, and went towards the asura. The asura was mesmerized by the beauty of Mohini and got distracted from his aim of pursuing Lord Shiva. The asura told Mohini that he wanted to marry her. Mohini replied that she would agree to marry him if he would defeat her in a dance contest. The asura readily agreed and they started dancing. During the contest, Mohini cunningly made a pose in which her hand was touching the centre of her head. Being lost in the urge to marry Mohini, the asura also imitated the same pose and ended up as ash due to his own power. Thus Lord Shiva escaped from bearing the consequence of his own boon.

Durga Devi Mantra For Increasing Love

Durga Devi is a manifestation of strong emotions. Devi in her form/avatar as Durga is considered extremely powerful, yet also infinitely loving. The following is a simple yet powerful mantra of Durga Devi that can be used to increase love among family members, spouses, etc.

Om Tryambake Mahadevi Mahamaye Maheshwari

Repeat the above mantra 360 times daily for 11 consecutive days. Start chanting after bathing in the morning and sit in front of a lamp after lighting it's east and west facing threads. 

Why Is Astrology Not Accurate ?

Astrology is a divine science that has a mix of mathematical calculations and a divine instinct from the part of the astrologer.  Lord Murugan is often considered as the lord of astrology. There is an interesting folktale which tells why astrology isn't hundred percent accurate.

Once Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi were telling Lord Murugan about time and it's uncertainty. Lord Murugan told Lord Shiva that he was aware of a way to predict the future. Lord Shiva was pleased and asked Murugan to predict Lord Shiva's future. Lord Murugan told Lord Shiva about Astrology and said that according to it, Lord Shiva would prove his supremacy over Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva was greatly impressed.But, Lord Murugan added, Lord Shiva also had the fate to roam the earth as a beggar. Lord Shiva was greatly angered by this and cursed that Astrology would only be half true from then on. But, Lord Shiva himself was unable to overcome his fate and had to roam the earth as a beggar eventually. 

Special Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Ritual - peace, love, success and happiness

Mrityunjaya mantra is one of the most powerful mantras of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is said to be easily appeased when called upon with this mantra. The mrityunjaya mantra can be used for various purposes based on the associated rituals. The following is a simple ritual that can be done by couples to bring back peace, love and happiness into their life.

In the morning, after bathing, sit in front of a photo of lord shiva. Place a lamp beside the photo and light it. Keep a clean plate in front of the lamp. Now take two small pots and place them on the plate. Fill the pot to the right with water (about 150ml). Now take a tulsi leaf in your right hand and hold it with your ring finger and thumb.  Dip the tulsi leaf into the water present in the pot and then hold it over the other pot, letting the water drops fall into the empty pot. Chant the Mrityunjaya Mantra (click the link if you do not know the mantra) while letting the water fall into the empty pot. Keep repeating the Mrityunjaya Mantra in a slow pace as you continue the ritual. Maintain a constant rhythm for the mantra and the ritual.

Have an image of Lord Shiva as the great Mrityunjaya (the one who has victory over death). Repeat the ritual until all the water is transferred from one pot to the other. The ritual can be especially effective for couples who want to overcome miseries or difficulties in their life. The ritual can be started by the husband and then continued by the wife. After the ritual is over, the family members can drink the water while chanting Om Namah Shivaya thrice.

Practise this ritual on a saturday or morning. With the infinite grace of Lord Mrityunjaya, your family will be blessed with happiness and all your miseries will be overcome.

Rare Lord Brahma Mantra - For productivity, wealth and success

Lord Brahma is considered as the creator, amongst the Holy Trinity (Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva). Lord Brahma's blessings can thus help a devotee to greatly increase productivity and focus their efforts. The following is a rare and powerful mantra of Lord Brahma which can be used by devotees to get his divine grace and be blessed with happiness, success and wealth.

Om avyaya parabrahmaya mahagyanaya lokaguruvaya namah


ॐ अव्यय परब्रह्माया महाज्ञानाय लोकगुरुवाय नमः 

Repeat this mantra 108 times daily, after taking bath. Sit in front of a lamp that is lit and kept beside a photo of god. The regular chanting of this mantra will help you to overcome all obstacles in life and make life more successful. Mantra Siddhi is suppoasd to happen by the end of the 21st day.

Get Lord Shiva's Infinite Blessings On This Mahashivaratri

Om

Mahashivaratri is one of the most awaited nights in the Hindu calendar. Shivaratri is a time of devotion and transformation. It is a time to showcase our gratitude and love to Lord Shiva, the great destroyer. The mere sacrifice of sleep or specific eatables does not necessarily help in taking us closer to salvation. There are several legends that are related to Shivaratri, but in this post we shall focus on how to make the best use of this divine day.

Festivals like Mahashivaratri need to be used to rejuvenate one's belief in the supreme power of god. Devotion is the measuring stick for all individuals in god's eyes. Make sure that even if you spend only one minute for your prayer, do it with sincere devotion. The following is a simple ritual that can be done on Mahashivaratri to get the infinite blessings of Lord Shiva :

After you finish bathing in the evening, light a lamp in front of Lord Shiva's photo. Now place a small bowl of ghee in front of the lamp. Take a fistful of washed rice and keep it in a plate. Now sit in front of the lamp with your family and make each member keep some rice in fornt of them as told above. Take a grain of rice in your right hand , in between the thumb and ring finger, and chant the following mantra :

Om Namah Shivaya MahaRudraya MahaDevaya Namah


ॐ नमः शिवाय महारुद्राया महादेवाय नमः 

Place the grain of rice into the bowl of ghee after each time that you chant the above MahaShiva Mantra. After the rice finishes, light camphor in front of the lamp and pray to Lord Shiva sincerely, asking him to shower his divine grace on your family. Then give the ghee and rice to ants and birds by spreading it in an open area. This ritual will help to atone for your sins and Lord Shiva's blessings will remove all your diseases, poverty and miseries. 

Wishing Everyone A Blessed Mahashivaratri

Murugan / Subrahmanya Pooja On Thaipooyam / Thaipusam [Feb 7,2012]

Om Saravanabhavaya Namah

ॐ शरवणभवाया नमः 

Thaipooyam/Thaipusam is the most auspicious day to please Lord Murugna and get his infinite blessings. Make use of this opportunity to overcome all your miseries. On thaipoosam / thaipooyam (Feb 7th,2012), get up early in the morning. After bathing,  light a lamp in front of a photo of Lord Subrahmanya/Murugan. Then take a small vessel filled with honey and banana pieces, and place it in front of the lamp. 

Now invoke Lord Ganesha to ensure that the pooja does not face any obstacles. Chant "Om gum ganapathaye namah" 11 times and offer flowers to the base of the lamp. 

Now start to chant the following mantras of Lord Murugan/ Subrahmanya :

Om Vachalbhuve Namah     ॐ व्चलभुवे नमः 

Om Saravana Bhavaya Namah     ॐ शरवणभवाया नमः 

Om Shadayudhaya Namah   ॐ शडायुधाय नमः   

Om Shadalakshajapapreethaya Namah   ॐ शडलक्षजपप्रीथाया नमः 

Om Shanmughaya Namah   ॐ शंमुघाया नमः 

Om Divyadehaya Namah   ॐ दिव्यदेहाय नमः 

Repeat each of the above mantras 66 times. Don't be in any hurry while praying. The quality of devotion is more important than the number of repetitions. After the pooja, bow down in front of the lamp and then consume the contents of the vessel. 

You can make this pooja a weekly ritual which can be done with the involvement of all your family members. It is not necessary that the pooja can be done only on tahipooyam / thaipusam.

This simple yet powerful prayer can help to overcome all diseases, misfortune, miseries and poverty in life. By the blessings of Lord Murugan / Subrahmanya, your life will become more successful, happy, healthy and fulfilling. Om

WISHING YOU ALL A BLESSED THAIPOOYAM / THAIPUSAM