A golu display of all my artwork over the years. Even though I am a resident of the northern provinces, I love this southern tradition so I practice it every year🫶

Have a blessed dasara🙏

Aaj sabko rulake phir tu chali gayi...agle saal phir aana Uma♥️

Gosh I'm tearing up.

Shubho Bijoya to everyone. May the mother do what she feels is the best for the world.

Happy Dasara/Dussehra/Vijayadashami 🙏🏽

This is my attempt at Hanuman Chalisa on bansuri, plus some improv inspired from the legend Rakesh Chaurasia.

Still learning this larger flute that I got a few weeks ago, so sorry for the mistakes 🙏🏽

Just wondering india is a big country and every state every city has its own culture for eg bengal has a white bangle South india has gajra etc etc but I'm seeing a lot of hate against sindoor and bindi comparing them to burqa like why only married women has to wear it etc etc what do y'all think?

I've been wondering why many popular depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses emphasize extraordinary beauty, handsome features, or idealized physiques.

In society, someone who is short, thin, or considered conventionally unattractive, despite being intelligent, hardworking, compassionate, and spiritual, may receive less attention than someone who is tall, muscular, and good-looking.

Isn't spirituality supposed to teach us to look beyond physical appearances? Then why do we sometimes project those same beauty standards onto the divine? For instance, why do some modern depictions emphasize Shiva's handsome appearance or Hanuman's muscular physique? If God represents infinite power and consciousness, why should physical attractiveness matter? Shouldn't an image of Hanuman as a small, physically unimposing form inspire the same devotion as one depicting him with an extraordinarily muscular physique?

Could these artistic representations be intended to help people feel connected to God and develop bhakti?

I'm genuinely curious to hear different perspectives on this.

Note: Trust me, I also love and appreciate the beauty of our deities and their idols. I'm not criticizing the art or devotion associated with them. I'm simply trying to look at this from a different philosophical perspective and understand the reasoning behind it.

24F , for context . I am Purva Bhadrapada Aquarius moon ( atmakaraka ) , Satabisha Aquarius ascendant , Chitra Libra Sun ( Darakaraka ) . My Shani Mahadasha ended in April this year and Sadesati will end in June next year . I started doing 16 Somwar vrat for Mahadev , starting on the first Monday of Shravan month this August . I was going through hell since 2020 , mental and physical health was the worst . This year's August and September were extremely depressive owing to career issues and friendship breakup , I cried every single day .

But suddenly since October started I have been extremely happy for some reason . There hasn't been any major success or anything like that , but it feels very good , almost delusional that God is holding my hand through it all . I have been doing 11 tuesday fasts since 2020 , bi-annually too . But since I started doing Jalabhishek every Monday , I feel Mahadev has something to do with it . My relationship with my mother had always been rocky , we fought every single day , even after I moved out in 2024 . But since October , she has been extremely generous to me .

It feels like a big weight is lifted off my chest all of a sudden . I have also started talking to Mahadev at night , before I go to sleep , telling him about all my crises . This is something that my flatmate told me that she does , so I picked it up from her . Anyway , I don't know if all this delusion is gonna come back to bite me later , but I am glad that for now , there's some mental peace , which I knew nothing about since I was a kid .

So for the past few months I've done daily puja to Ganesh ji, Kali, Hanuman, Shiv ji and others. However, these are the ones I usually feel the most connection to. However, this connection changes by day, sometimes I feel more connected to Kali, others to Hanuman, etc. How do I just focus on one? What if I end up feeling that it's not working out? How do I know this actually means it is not my ishta instead of my own mind wanting to change it? I've tried to focus mainly in Ganesh ji but it feels like it's not working. The bhav does not arise, it feels like there is an obstacle or it is just not meant to be right now.

I am a foreign student living in India. I'd appreciate your help!

I mean let's say I want to invoke durga maa . that time i don't have photo of maa Durga so is there certain geometric symbol I can use for that .

Because I read some where about geometric symbol use for different different deity. I just don't remember it now . Like sri yantra .

Tbh, I’m quite nervous about posting this subreddit because I know how some Hindus can be. I’ve grown up Hindu and live among Hindus, so I’m familiar with the community.

You might be wondering why I’m asking a beginner’s question despite growing up in the religion. Well, the truth is, I never really had much interest in Hinduism. I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe it was because I disliked the society around me, despite many of its members being Hindu, or maybe it was because I felt like I couldn’t fit into the religion as a bisexual person.

However, after reading some Hindu stories, I’ve started to understand that perhaps there is a place for me in this religion after all, and I want to explore that further.

There are a few things about my beliefs, though. I don’t believe in a capital-G God, and I don’t identify as a Shaivite, Vaishnavite, or Shakta. I’ve heard about the concept of Lila, the idea of divine play, and found it interesting. I’ve also recently started reading the Ramayana.

So, I wanted to ask: Do you have any tips for someone like me who wants to explore Hinduism from a more literary and philosophical perspective, without necessarily believing in a personal God or committing to a particular tradition? Are there any texts, stories, or philosophical concepts you would recommend starting with?

I’d appreciate any advice!

Someone told me he’s the reason I’m lonely.
I’ve been a Shiva devotee for as long as I can remember, and my devotion to him is unconditional.
Lately, though, life has been pretty lonely. I moved to a different country two years ago, and ever since, I’ve struggled to build a social circle or find someone to call my own. All my friends are getting married, while I barely have a social life. I live with my sister, brother-in-law, and their kids, but I still find myself feeling lonely most of the time.
Today, out of nowhere, a colleague who knows absolutely nothing about my personal life told me that he believes my loneliness could be because I worship Shiva so much, as Shiva represents solitude. He suggested I start worshipping Radha Krishna instead and claimed my romantic and personal life could change in ways I’ve never imagined.
Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this. Has anyone come across this belief in Hinduism or Vedic astrology? Is there any spiritual significance to this, or is it just a misconception?

Just to be clear, my devotion to Shiva isn’t going to change. I’m simply curious to understand whether there’s any truth or deeper meaning behind what my colleague said.
Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. 🙏 Har Har Mahadev!

Going through a very tough time and it's wearing down my physical and mental health. I'm looking for a mantra for healing, clearing obstacles, transmuting difficult situations.

I'm drawn to Shiva and know of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, which I am told is better not used too intensely. So I continue to search..

What mantra(s) would you recommend for healing the body and mind? Would love to hear what works for you all.

Thank you!

I am a neet aspirant amd going through alot . Not just neet but many things is messing with my head but shree krishna is helping me alot . Idk what i am without him and his protection . His songs are making me feel safe and its so soothing . I am finding peace from it . Hare krishna 🪷

Thirumaalai 20 to 22

There is no point in speeches about Him, who cannot be known except through internal realization. Our hearts may not have the courage to surrender to Him and live by that surrender, but it can meditate on Him in his golden abode in Srirangam, as his physical form never leaves the devotee's mind says Thondar adi podi aazhvar in thirumaalai 20 to 22.

Hi,

We made a verse-by-verse Bhagavad Gita audiobook, now on Spotify:

- English: The Bhagavad Gita, Verse by Verse: https://open.spotify.com/show/57XMf8CcHrXyN6h6ang0Rz?si=WrQxjwJETh6F7cu4vpDq4w&utm_source=sfa&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=default

- Hindi: भगवद्गीता, श्लोक दर श्लोक: https://open.spotify.com/show/75PzMQl3mOFjFcf8GmyjTg?si=cqqDLi6xQkmgqxcvCW31uQ&utm_source=sfa&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=default

Each verse has the Sanskrit recitation followed by a simple explanation of its meaning.
Feedback welcome. Hari Om 🙏

​Hi everyone,

​I live away from home for work. Back home, my mom used to remind me a day before every Ekadashi, so I never had to worry about missing it. But once I moved out on my own, I kept forgetting the dates or missing the exact Parana timing to break the fast next morning.

​I tried downloading a few Ekadashi apps from the Play Store, but honestly, most of them didn't work well for me. Some missed sending notifications completely, some were packed with annoying pop-up ads, and most had very outdated, messy interfaces.

​Since I am an Android developer, I decided to build my own app: Ekadashi Companion.

​I built it to be clean, completely ad-free, and 100% offline. It calculates exact sunrise, tithi, and Parana break-fast times right on your phone based on your city (supports both Gaudiya/ Vaishnava and Smarta rules). I also added a simple Japa mala bead counter and a quick food search to check if an ingredient is allowed during fasting.

​The app is completely ready, but before putting it out on the Play Store, I want to make sure the timings and notifications match what local temples follow in different cities.

​If you observe Ekadashi and have an Android phone, could you help me test it for a few days?

​Drop a comment or DM me your gmail and I’ll send you the Play Store closed beta link. Any honest feedback on whether the dates match your local calendar would mean a lot to me.

​Thank you so much!

Hare Krishna!!

One of the reasons I love the pastime of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva is its beautiful demonstration of the Lord’s impartiality and His eternal protection of His devotees. The Lord is neither envious nor small-minded; He allows even those who oppose Him to prosper. Yet the story of Prahlāda Mahārāja reminds us that material power is temporary, while the Lord remains the eternal protector and well-wisher of His surrendered devotees.
After months of creative work, I am delighted to share the official release-date trailer for THE LION GOD, our upcoming devotional music film depicting the extraordinary story of Prahlāda, Hiraṇyakaśipu, and Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva.
This project may mark the beginning of a much greater journey — the rising sun and moon of Bhakti Yoga Studio, a channel dedicated to bringing the timeless pastimes, philosophy, and spiritual wisdom of the Vedic scriptures to life through cinematic storytelling.
Our ambition is to create increasingly elaborate devotional films that can inspire both devotees and those encountering these sacred stories for the first time.
🎬 Watch the official trailer: https://youtu.be/u60rfe8MR8A
I would love to hear your thoughts: Which pastimes from the Vedic scriptures would you most like to see brought to life through cinema?
Hare Kṛṣṇa! 🙏

God seems to be the only one who can help me

Been suffering for years now. Recently I've been diagnosed with bipolar,. severe anxiety and depression. I've been getting these anxiety attacks where my hand and legs shake and lose control of em and it's getting worse day by day. I have a tendency to hurt myself and I've attempted to off myself multiple times since I turned 11. I don't remember why and what was my intention. I do go to a psychiatrist and take meds and I also take therapy. But nothing seems to work right now. My bf used to be my safe space and someone who bought me peace. Idk why he broke up but hell fell on me that day and everything that I was suppressing just hit me all at once like a truck. I'm 22 now and I can't deal with this any longer. I hope God can. But I don't know what to do and where to look. I am hopeless and exhausted and I can't do this anymore.

Hello everyone, I'm going to sound like a child, but please help me out!

There is a man my brother met at the mandir some time ago, and he recently tried to recruit my brother to work for his company. Given what information he got, it seems like they might be doing some sketchy things which they do not have permission/licences to do. They also don't have a website online, and told him, "not to Google anything." They tried to force him to agree to work for them before he left the office that day. They tried to make him decide on the spot. All very weird behaviours. While we have very strong indications that we should be concerned, we cannot be completely sure that they are doing anything wrong. So what if we are simply more scared than we should be, is it really "our business" to report him??? Could we get bad karma for getting someone else into trouble, especially without knowing all the details??

We may see this uncle around for some time yet, and it could make things quite awkward if we report him. I think he would know it was us reporting him. But that is the lesser issue here. And as I type this out, it makes me realize the answer to my own question, I think the answer is obviously no, but for some reason, I am hesitant to report him. My brother doesn't care but I don't know what to say.

Finally came properly online after anusthans and pujas and checked what actually happened at the pandal where the stampede happened.

Some of my thoughts,

The portrayal is eerie to say the least. Devi has no weapons, the demon has. It looks like Baal. The lions seem to be guarding it-not attacking. It feels likely some odd creepy stuff went down. The kalasha was placed before the demon and puja was offered.There was a stampede during rath yatra and Kumbh as well.

Pratima of Devi must have weapons, the asura must be shown as defeated or destroyed. Devi should be glorious and the ambience should be auspicious.

I'd personally stay away from such places where Devi is shown as anything but the divine force of vitality, victory and illumination.

When the society in general is atheistic, and creates such spaces that sack out your life force, obviously negative things will come and occupy that space, take the prana offered.

I'd not go into more details publicly ,got some information from other sadhakas, connections from interesting countries as well.

Hindus must invoke their Deities more strongly than ever, offer prana, offer pashubali.

Worship our magnificent deities like Ganapati, Devi, Bhairava daily. Remember negative forces stand no chance against our Devtas , they're lunch for Kalabhairava. But the responsibility is on us to invoke them properly and with accurate methods they approve off.

Joy Maa 🌺 Subha Dashami to all.

So today was Bijoya Dashami, and typically we get red and yellow threads (mauli/kalava) afterwards to tie on our wrists, but this time we also got white threads and I'm wondering what that is supposed to signify. According to my mother, the red thread signifies Maa Durga and Maa Kali whereas the yellow thread signifies Vishu and Krishna, but she doesn't know which deity or what the white thread actually signifies. So I'm just wondering what do you guys think?

My spouse has decided to leave me, and there appears to be no resolving the issue. We both came from different faiths, so we had a fairly standard western wedding. I have stopped wearing sindoor and my wedding ring, but I feel very naked without bangles, payal, and my toe rings.. I'm curious what your opinion is on if it's okay to still wear those things when a woman is going through divorce. In a way I feel like I'm giving up a part of my faith with my marriage. Is it necessary to abandon all of the adornments that signify being married?

There was a pooja at my local Ganpati temple and they distributed a handful of rudrakshas to few people. A neighbour kid gifted me a 6 mukhi rudraksha that she got from the temple. I was always fascinated about the spiritual significance of rudraksha. How should I wear it and what is the significance of a 6 mukhi rudraksha in particular.

A very silly matter but I just wanted to know. So I'm a Christian (Nagaland) and my construction workers are Hindu. Last night, I visited their place to talk about work the next day and they were preparing dinner and they offered me to have some. I initially declined but they insisted so I told them to pack it. The thing is I'm cutting weight right now and I'm avoiding fried food and the Puri was deep-fried. I took a bite and threw the rest of it outside. Now I'm feeling guilty for wasting the food. We are on the outskirts of town so there was no one to give it to and it was late at night. I try to never waste food so I wanted to know what the take is on food wasting in Hindu religion