According to the Vedic scriptures, the whole world is an illusion, including the Galaxy, Universe, etc. I am not able to comprehend this. If you could please explain this further. To this perplexing question raised by a devotee at His Satsang, Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji of Art of Living, is giving clarification in his own […]
Which Indian scripture is equal to the Koran or Bible?
Which Indian scripture is equal to the Koran or Bible? Actually there is none. It is very difficult to say. The Vedas are considered as the main source (of knowledge), but it is so vast. For all practical purposes, Bhagavad Gita is what everyone reads because it has the essence of most of the main […]
Vaidyo Narayano Harihi: Doctor is a form of Lord Narayana
What is the meaning of ‘Aushadhi Jahnavi Toyam Vaidyo Narayano Harihi’? Why doctor should be seen as a form of Lord Narayana? Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji is explaining the meaning of this in own words during a Satsang of Art of Living… This means that when we take a medicine, we should consider it sacred, […]
Scientific convention says that time is changing & space is constant, but why Ancient Texts say reverse?
Scientific convention says that time is changing and space is constant. Ancient texts say that time is constant and space is changing. Can you explain this phenomenon? For this question, Sri Sri Ravishankar explaining in his own words… Even in time there are two types of time. One is the time that changes, i.e., the past, […]
Student should have 3 qualities – Aashishta, Balishta & Driddhishta
Student should have 3 qualities – Aashishta, Balishta & Driddhishta…Gurudev, when you were addressing the students at Sri Sri University, you mentioned that a student should have three qualities: aashishta, balishta and driddhishta. Can we nurture these three qualities while in school? Yes. Aashishta means having complete faith. Driddhishta means to have stability, and to […]
Pancha Kosha (Five Koshas): Spiritual Significance of Pancha Kosha
Kosha means sheath, covering. The first sheath is the environment. If the atmosphere is filled with poisonous gas, can your body exist? No! Because there is air, your body can exist. So, the environment is your first body. Annarasamaya kosha, anna means food, and rasa means juicy. The outer environment is juicy; it attracts your eyes, captures your nose by fragrance, […]
The beginning of Spiritual Knowledge
Everyone is hankering for happiness because by nature we are happy: anandamayo ‘bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). As spirit souls we are naturally happy, blissful. But we are suffering because we have been covered by five gross material elements — earth, water, fire, air, and ether — and three subtle material elements — mind, intelligence, and false […]
Again become mouse: A Story for our Self Assessment from Srimad Bhagavatam
A mouse came to a saintly person: “Sir, I am very much troubled. This cat troubles me very much.” “So what you want?” “Let me become a cat.” “All right, you become a cat.” So he became a cat. Then after few days, he came back. “Sir, still I am in trouble.” “What is that?” […]
Tradition of donating a person’s valuables after their death
Tradition of donating a person’s valuables after their death…. We have a tradition of donating a person’s valuables after they die. Some people are able to do this and some cannot. How relevant is this in Hinduism? See, many priests nowadays exploit the sentiments of people in this way to make money. If you go […]
The Best Work comes out when you work without any Motive
“I don’t understand the knowledge point which says, ‘the best work comes out when you work without any motive”. To this question of a disciple, Sri Sri Ravishankar (Founder of Art of Living) replied in his Satsang….. Yes, this is intuitive work or a sudden sprout of thought. In intuition, you do not sit and […]
Lakshmi in Fierce Forms | Ugra Lakshmi Avatarams
The Fierce and Martial Manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi: Iconography, Tantric Theology, and Ritual Paradigms Within the complex cosmological and theological frameworks of Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is predominantly conceptualized as the ultimate embodiment of Sattva—representing universal harmony, auspiciousness, material wealth, and the preserving energy of the cosmos. In the orthodox Vaishnava tradition, she is generally depicted […]
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2026
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2026… Svatantra Veer Savarkar Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Freedom Fighter Veer Savarkar. In 2026, Veer Savarkar Jayanti date is May 28, Thursday. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (28 May 1883 – 26 February 1966), known among followers by the honorific prefix Veer, was an Indian freedom fighter, politician, activist, and writer. He […]
Lakshmi Ji Killed any demons?
In Hindu religious history, Goddess Lakshmi—specifically in her fierce, composite forms—is associated with slaying two primary demons, depending on the specific text and regional tradition: Kolhasura and Mahishasura. Kolhasura In the traditions of Maharashtra, Goddess Mahalakshmi (locally worshipped as Ambabai) fought and killed the demon Kolhasura. The Legend: Kolhasur was a powerful demon king who […]
Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy Temple, Erakaram
Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy Temple, Erakaram… Sri Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy is located on the back side of the Shiva temple in a separate shrine. Adhi Kandhanatha Swamy is standing in the form of abhaya hastam posture. Arunagirinathar has sung some hymns in praise of this marvellous Temple in his Thirupukazh. It is believed that the temple […]
Dashabhujeshwara, Shiva with 10 Hands and 5 Faces
In most of the pictures of Lord Shiva, he would be depicted only with two hands, and with one head. In the Nataraja aspect of Lord Shiva, he can be seen with four hands with one head. But as per Shiva Purana, it was mentioned that the normal appearance of Lord Shiva would consist often […]
TTD Festivals in June 2026 | Tirumala Tirupati Temple Utsavams
TTD Festivals in June 2026, the list of utsavams in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in June 2026 is provided here…. Every day is festival day in Tirumala as in a year almost 450 festivals including annual festivals, monthly festivals, fortnight, weekly, daily, Tirunakshatrotsavams are being observed with religious pomp. The following are the list of festivals […]
Why we should avoid rebirth?
If you wake up and see, in life there is so much misery, and misery is what you don’t like. You don’t want misery. What we don’t want to have is called misery, and it is there in life. Between husband and wife, father and mother, mother and daughter, daughter and son; with friends and […]
Little about Aghori Tradition & Practices
Little about Aghori Tradition & practices.. Gurudev please tell us little about Aghori Tradition & practices.. This word Aghora itself conveys the meaning of this tradition. Aghora means that which is not terrifying, that which is beautiful and honourable. So Aghori means one who is very peaceful and who behaves in the same way. It […]
You cannot stop crime by law, Sankirtana is the best way to stop Crime
The difference between a pious man and a criminal is that one is pure in heart and the other is dirty. This dirt is like a disease in the form of uncontrollable lust and greed in the heart of the criminal. When the people become purified of these dirty things, crime will disappear. The simplest […]
Eyes on the Shore: A Moral Story of Florence Chadwick
A story is told about a Lion chasing a stag. A fox crossed the path, so the Lion chased the fox. After a while a rabbit crossed the path, so the Lion chased it. Later, a mouse crossed the path and the Lion chased the mouse into a hole. The Lion began his hunt on […]