Vrindavana: The holy Land of Lord Krishna

Vrindavana: The Holy Land of Lord Krishna
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana dasa)
(An Excerpt from Stephen’s book “Seeing Spiritual India”)
 
        This provides a description of a tour through Vrindavana, the holy land of Lord Krishna where He displayed many of His most intimate pastimes. Thus, we can see that the stories found in many of the [...]

Tulasi Devi: The Sacred Tree

Tulasi Devi: The Sacred Tree
Compiled by Stephen Knapp
  
            The Tulasi tree is a most important plant, and is often seen at numerous Hindu temples, especially those dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna. At such temples you are likely to find one or more in the courtyard wherein pilgrims circumambulate it, water it, or even offer prayers [...]

The Ratha-Yatra Festival at Jagannatha Puri

The Ratha-Yatra Festival at
 Jagannatha Puri
By Stephen Knapp
Jagannatha Puri, a town of 75,000, is one of the most important pilgrimage centers and one of the four holiest cities in India. These four cities are Badrinatha in the north, Dvaraka in the west, Ramesvaram in the south, and Puri in the east. Badrinarayan in Badrinatha was especially [...]

Story of the Appearance of Lord Krishna

The Story of the Appearance of Lord Krishna
 
            Once the world was overburdened by the unnecessary defense force of different kings, who were actually demons but were posing themselves as the royal order. At that time, the whole world became perturbed, and the predominating deity of this earth, known as Bhumi, went to see Lord Brahma [...]

Srimati Radharani

Srimati Radharani

By Stephen Knapp
Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means the She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion [...]

Srila Vyasadeva

Srila Vyasadeva
By Stephen Knapp
            It is described in the lists of the main avataras of the Lord as found in the Bhagavata Purana, that the seventeenth incarnation was Srila Vyasadeva who appeared as the son of Parashara Muni and his wife Satyavati. His mission was to divide the one Veda into various branches and sub-branches so [...]

The Significance of Deities and Deity Worship

The Significance of Deities
and Deity Worship
By Stephen Knapp
 
         Deities play an important part in most temples of Krishna and other Divinities. But what is the significance of Deities and Deity worship? One thing to understand is that all the images or Deities in the Vedic pantheon, as found in the temples, are made according to [...]

Shiva Lingam: What is It

Shiva-Lingam: What is It
by Stephen Knapp
      One thing you may be questioning is why Lord Shiva is so often represented as a lingam. Linga basically means a sign or symbol. So the lingam is essentially a symbol of the shapeless universal consciousness of Lord Shiva. “Shiva” also means that in which the creation lies dormant after [...]

Sarasvati, The Goddess of Learning

Sarasvati,
The Goddess of Learning
By Stephen Knapp

      The literal meaning of the name Sarasvati is the one who gives the essential knowledge (Sara) of our own Self (Sva). The goddess Sarasvati is also considered the Goddess of Learning, or of education, intelligence, crafts, arts, and skills. As she is the consort of Brahma, who is considered [...]

The Ramayana Summarized

THE RAMAYANA SUMMARIZED
 
Telling the story of Rama during Rama-Navami or Navaratri bears a special significance. The present day celebration of Durga worship (puja) and Dasshera are related to Rama’s life. The traditional Durga worship was performed in the spring season now known as Basanti puja. Rama worshiped the divine mother Durga and prayed to her [...]