Search Results for: tapasya

Trailinga Swami and Tapasya

Trailinga Swami was a great embodiment of tapasya. His main teaching was the example of his life – the example of what it is to perform tapasya. Tapasya is any spiritual discipline we perform to move closer to God, to make ourselves more pure and divine. There is a verse from the Rig Veda. It says that from Tapaysa, all the Gods originally became divine. Within tapaysa resides the entire existence. Therefore, perform your tapasya and…

Swamiji’s Indian Sadhana Yatra 2018

…s to me as though village India maintains more of a connection to old, Vedic India than the cities. True, there may not be sadhus like Swamiji (he is indeed a rare treasure), but the Indian cultural roots of Sanatana Dharma, tapasya, and rishis performing tapasya are still alive in the minds and hearts of the people. They continue to hold sadhana and spiritual discipline in high esteem and regard, and when they see it, they treat it with the…

Sadhana and Setting Goals

…is a constant battle to hold the ego in check, to make him surrender to the Divine. Tapasya and Siddhis Question: In Vedic Religion, many masters speak and the puranas record the sages and yogis attaining Siddhi or boon via Tapasya. What is the relationship between Tapasya and Siddhi or Boon being granted by specific deities? Swamiji Says: It is incumbent upon every deity to grant a boon to those who perform tapasya with pure devotion. That is…

Sadhana

…is not a phase — it is a constant battle to hold the ego in check, to make him surrender to the Divine. Tapasya and Siddhis In Vedic Religion, it is written that yogis can attain Siddhis, or boons, by performing tapasya. What is the relationship between Tapasya and Siddhis? Swamiji Says: It is incumbent upon every deity to grant a boon to those who perform tapasya with pure devotion. That is a law of dharma. It is also true that a…

Summer Travelogue Part 2

…th Swamiji using this method of one tone in chanting. The meanings and pronunciation of the mantras became much more clear! One tone chanting allows us to focus on pronouncing the words rather than trying to maintain a tune. Tapasya is often a test of overcoming the influence of the body and mind. During my two and a half months of tapasya with Swamiji, there were several internal battles brewing inside of my mind, especially in the beginning….

Attain Perfection in All Endeavors – Understanding the Nine Durgas

…ent: First we became inspired (Shailaputri Devi) to learn the sacred scriptures (Brahmacharini Devi), and to practice sadhana (Chandraghanta Devi) in an effort to purify ourselves in such a way that all of our actions become tapasya (Kushmanda Devi). Upon performing tapasya, support came our way to nurture our divinity (Skandamata Devi), so that we are enabled to experience the purity of our true nature (Katyayani Devi). Then, at the right time…

The Tapasya of Trailinga Swamiji

The Mahayogi Sri Trailinga Swami took Benares by storm as he walked the streets, often stark naked, and performed severe austerities. Through his sadhana and tapasya he went beyond worldly bondage and developed extraordinary spiritual powers. Many of the on-lookers at the time thought his spiritual feats, such as levitating above water, manifesting Ganga Jal from his own body, and living to an estimated 300 years, were miracles. To Trailinga…

Story of the Origin of the Das Mahavidyas

…the Universe. She is also known as Rajarajeswari and protects the Universe. Here is the story of her manifestation from the “Pranatoshini Grantha”. Brahma had the desire to create the Universe, and he did intense tapasya to invite the energy of Creation, Kriya Shakti. Parameswari, pleased with his tapasya responded to his invitation and came as Bhu devi or Bhuvanesvari. She is red in color, seated on a lotus flower. Her body is…

Stories of the Nine Durgas

…e will grant freedom from fear of ghosts, spirits, snakes, fire, floods, and dangerous animals. Maha Gauri The eighth form of Mother is Mahagauri. Devi Parvati was dark colored and Mahadev used to call her “Kaalike”. She did tapasya and Mahadev was pleased with her tapasya. He showered Ganga water upon her and she became “white”. Therefore, her name is Mahagauri. Her vehicle is a bull. In her upper right hand she shows the mudra bestowing boons…

Travelogue: Shree Maa and Swamiji in India 2013 Part II

…d temples where sadhus have done their sadhana. There is a magnificent energy in this location, which inspires one to worship. Swamiji explained that the temple name has two meanings. The first meaning is “the place of Tapasya.” Legend has it that, during the era of the Mahabharat War, this is the location where Dronacharya, the guru of the Pandavas and Karuravas, meditated and performed his Tapasya here. The word “Tap”…

Learn About the Jyotirlingams

…moon, the son of Atri and Anasuya. Chandra was so deeply in love with Rohini, that he neglected his other wives, and so he was cursed by Daksha, their father, and became beset with disease. Both Chandra and Rohini performed tapasya for Lord Shiva, and with Shiva’s blessings he regained his health. Along with this blessing, Lord Shiva conferred his eternal light, which is the origin of the Somnath Jyotir Lingam. Mallikarjunam When…

Travelogue: Shree Maa and Swamiji in India 2013 Part 1

…in the lake, the river, the trees, the sun, the moon. You are every where and we bow to You!” In the sixth chapter, we pray to Lord Shiva to give us blessings. In chapter seven, we acknowledge that Lord Shiva is in the tapasya, is in the sadhana, is in the light, and is in the truth. In the eighth chapter we realize, “Lord Shiva, you are inside me! You are inside me in the form of truth, tapasya and sadhana. By means of sacrifice, I…

Inspiring Quotes Archive Page 6

…m Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint Keep your life simple, always be truthful, and give pure love to all, recognizing all as God. – from Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint The influence of maya is so strong, always pulling you out. Tapasya, purifying austerities, are very necessary. – from Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint When I think of Maa, I think of Truth. She is what Truth is, powerful and absolute, but Maa is also gentle and kind. I was a stranger…

The Sacred Yatra of the Great Himalayas

The Himalayas are mentioned in numerous scriptures, highlighting the sacredness of this mountain range. Even two of the scriptures that we chant frequently, the Devi Gita and the Chandi Path, make reference to them. In the Chandi Path, when troubled by the forces of duality, where do the Gods go to pray? None other than the Himalayas! In the Devi Gita, the Goddess shows Her universal form consisting of the Himalaya Mountains as Her bones, the…

Story of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana

~~OM~~ Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana, the three, when they were young men, they went off to do tapasya. And Brahma came and said, “I’m satisfied with your tapasya, what do you want?” And Ravana said, “I want power, I want to be the king of the earth.” And Brahma said, “Tatastu. I give you the boon.” And Kumbhakarna had planned that he would want to have dominion over heaven. And he wanted…