Devi Mandir

Temple of Divine Mother

Current Class by Swami Satyananda SaraswatiIn this eclectic collection of video clips, you will find Swamiji at his thoughtful best, providing answers to viewers' questions with the right blend of insight and gentle humor.

There are also stories from the puranas, and Swamiji masterfully weaves the magic, retelling these with his own brand of wisdom.

 

Story of Runaway Elephant

~~OM~~ Remember the story about the disciples who were out collecting wood in the forest? One mahout, who was taking care of an elephant, cried out loudly in the forest, “Everybody off the path, everybody out of the way, there’s a mad elephant running down the path!” One of the disciples said, “Guru said God […]

The Three Sadhus

~~OM~~ Remember the story of Narad Muni passing by the tree where the three sadhus were meditating?The first sadhu said, “Narad Muni, you are trikal darsi, you see the past, present and future.How long will it take me to become enlightened?”Narad looked inside, he said, “It’s going to take you ten thousand years.””Ten thousand years! […]

Story of Mahisha

~~OM~~ Remember the great ego performed a tremendous tapasya. And the ego said, “I want to be immortal.” Brahma came and said, “That’s impossible, no one is immortal, everyone that takes birth dies.” And so the great ego said, “Well, my death, if it has to occur, let it occur at the hands of a […]

Video: Story of How Hanuman Came to be on the Pandavas’ Flag

~~OM~~ Draupadi found a lotus, it was a mountain lotus that we call Pahari lotus, (Pahari Pomo) and they grow up above the snow line. She said, “Bhima, I love this lotus, could you go up in the mountains and see if there are any more. Go find me some lotuses. I want to offer […]

Shiva Meditates on Vishnu

~~OM~~ So Shiva always meditates on Vishnu. And it’s very interesting, one day in Kailash, Parvati was looking a little bit bored because Shiva was just sitting there in deep, deep meditation. And she called, “Oh Lord.” And Shiva didn’t respond. And she said, “Shiva!” And Shiva didn’t move. And Parvati just stood there watching […]

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 […]

Story of Sagara

~~OM~~ Sagara was a great king of Ayodhya, and he was performing the Ashwamedha Yagya in order to become the emperor of the total known world. And while he was performing this Yagya, Indra came and stole the horse. And he stole the horse, and he ran from the scene with the horse and he […]

Story of Rama and Bharat

~~OM~~ When Bharat went to Chitrakut he said, “Ram, I want you to take the Kingdom, I’ll stay in the forest.” And Ram said, “No, that wasn’t father’s order. Father ordered me to the forest and you should be the king.” So Bharat said, “I can’t accept the Kingdom.” Then Ram said, “Ok, I accept […]

Story of Jayant as a Crow

~~OM~~ One time Indra’s son Jayant assumed the form of a crow. And he was playing with Ram and Sita, and then he pecked Sita’s foot. And Ram got mad, and he put a mantra on his arrow, and he sent the arrow in the direction of Jayant. Jayant took off like a bird and […]

Story of How Narada Curses Vishnu

~~OM~~ Narada Muni went to meditate in a special grove which Shiva had blessed. And Shiva said, “This Tapovan, is this forest for tapasya, I am giving a special blessing, no one will be able to disturb a meditating Muni who sits in this Tapovan. Well, Narada sat in the Tapovan unknowingly and started to […]