Showing results by author "Sonal Pathak" in All Categories

Imagine a moment frozen in time, on the precipice of a monumental war, two figures stand amidst the gathering armies, their connection transcending the immediate conflict. One is Arjuna, the great warrior, his mind reeling with doubt and uncertainty as he faces the prospect of battling his own kin. The other is Shri Krishna, his friend, cousin, and now, the sought-after guide, ready to impart the highest knowledge to his bewildered disciple. This pivotal encounter forms the very essence of the Bhagavad-gita, a sacred dialogue nestled within the vast epic of the Mahabharata, and the heart of...

“Gold and Joy: The Story of Hiranyakashipu and Prahlada Maharaja” chronicles a monumental clash between relentless material desire and inherent spiritual bliss. Hiranyakashipu, whose name symbolizes 'gold' (hiranya) and the 'soft cushion' (kashipu) of sense gratification, defied mortality. He performed difficult austerities, persuading Lord Brahma to grant him powerful benedictions guaranteeing near-immortality and allowing him to conquer the three worlds. Yet, despite wielding this supreme authority, the king remained chronically unhappy, paranoid, and fiercely envious of the Supreme ...

Vrikasura, a powerful demon, has evil intentions! To gain even more power, he performs a challenging sacrifice to please Lord Shiva and earn a special gift — a boon. Lord Shiva, impressed by Vrikasura's devotion, grants him his wish. But Vrikasura's desire for power is insatiable, and he asks for a dangerous boon: the ability to kill anyone by simply touching their head! Armed with this deadly power, Vrikasura sets out to challenge the great Lord Shiva. But he didn't expect Lord Narayana, the protector of the universe, to intervene. Can Lord Narayana's wisdom outsmart Vrikasura's terrible...

Have you ever heard of a monkey who could fly? In this story, you'll meet Hanuman, a very special monkey born with incredible powers from the wind god! As a child, Hanuman is so strong and curious that he mistakes the sun for a fruit and leaps towards the sky trying to catch it! When Lord Rama, a brave prince, needs help finding his kidnapped wife, Sita, Hanuman promises to use his strength and bravery to find her. Follow Hanuman as he travels across the land and faces amazing challenges with his monkey friends.

In an age where perspectives clash and opinions often reign supreme, the ancient wisdom of the Vedas offers a profound framework for understanding the nature of truth itself. This book delves into the crucial distinction between the Absolute Truth, which is true for everyone, and relative truth, which varies depending on individual positions. As explored within these pages, the relative truth is inherently dependent on the Absolute Truth, which is identified as the summum bonum, or God. The material world we experience, with its ever-changing conditions and diverse viewpoints, is presented ...

Are pious acts truly good, and sinful actions truly bad? In the material world, we are constantly judging actions based on duality, applying labels like guna and dosha. We see the police officer defending justice versus the criminal stealing from others, or actions leading to heaven versus hell. But this book challenges the very foundation of this moral structure, suggesting that all karma, whether good or bad, is ultimately detrimental in the long run because it results in the future development of a material body. This realization forms the core of "The Maya of Hari," which explores the ...

The modern world confronts us with a large number of varying backgrounds and diverse religious systems, making the very existence of so many different spiritual paths a potential stumbling block towards spiritual realization. We often encounter various faiths, such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism, each possessing traditions that are appealing to us. For those who seek enlightenment, it is a pressing question: Why, if God is one, are there so many conflicting conclusions and prescribed duties? The key insight, as found in the ancient scriptures of India, is that the ...

If you knew the Supreme Lord Himself was set to appear, in a specific area, at a specific time, how would you behave? If you were a supporter, if you wanted to be counted as someone on His team, what would you say? Would you feel compelled to say anything or would you simply remain silent? If you knew the exact time and location of His appearance, in the strangest of settings that is the prison cell in Mathura, how would you approach the situation? What would you say to the expecting mother, the blameless Devaki?

In this book, we provide an extensive overview of Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through descriptions of His childhood pastimes (lila) in Gokula-Vrindavana. We focus on the Janmashtami celebration of His appearance and detail various playful and mischievous acts, such as riding a calf's tail through the mud and stealing butter, which brought transcendental joy to the residents, especially Mother Yashoda and the gopis. We also discuss the nature of bhakti-yoga (devotional service), explaining how meditating on Krishna's activities and chanting His holy names, even with ...

King Kamsa, the leader of Mathura, was terrified of destiny, using his absolute power to ensure self-preservation. He feared the prophecy that his sister Devaki’s eighth child would be his doom. To thwart fate, Kamsa imprisoned Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva. But divine will could not be contained. At midnight, while Kamsa, the guards, and the entire kingdom were fast asleep, the eighth child, Shri Krishna, arrived. After revealing His four-handed Narayana form to His loving parents, the infant gave Vasudeva a vital, secret mission: transport Him to the nearby town of Gokula. Vasudeva, ...

Time, or Kala, is an eternal principle that is perpetually operating. It is an overwhelming force known to destroy everything, earning it the Sanskrit name that also applies to death. But what if this great devourer is actually a controlled weapon? Drawing on the profound insight of Goswami Tulsidas, this book presents time as the illustrative bow held by Shri Rama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The various units of time—from the smallest measurement to the largest conceivable span—are the arrows released from His control. Delve into the precise Vedic measurements, starting at the...

The image of Bhishmadeva, the revered ancestor of the Kuru dynasty, lying upon a bed constructed entirely of arrows on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, is one of the most profound and puzzling scenes in human history. Bhishma was defeated, having valiantly fought on the side of the wicked Kauravas, aligned with Duryodhana, whom many regarded as the worst criminal leader in history. The political alignment seemingly fell on the side of adharma. One might expect such a passing to be viewed as ignominious, or filled with regret, yet Bhishma’s departure from this world is universally ...

The story of Prahlada Maharaja and his father, Hiranyakashipu, is one of the most pivotal and perplexing narratives in Vedic history, touching upon themes of power, devotion, and intense familial conflict. This book, "Why Did Prahlada Have To Be Weird: A Father’s Concern About Their Son," delves into the desperate anxiety of a father who believed his son’s spiritual allegiance was a source of weakness and utter humiliation. Hiranyakashipu was no ordinary ruler; he was the leader of the Daitya kingdom who had expanded his influence to the largest possible range, having achieved immense ...

In this book, we highlight Sita Devi as a sadharma-charini, or partner in religious duties, referencing a key quote from the Valmiki Ramayana where Rama praises her devotion. Through various narratives from the Ramayana and Bhagavad-gita, we discuss the nature of dharma (righteousness), the superiority of spiritual over material charity, and the qualities of a devoted wife like Sita, who supports her husband in his duties. Furthermore, we explore the divinity and ideal characteristics of Rama, such as His strength, kindness, and role as the perfect husband, contrasting spiritual life with ...

This book presents an extensive interview between a reporter and a devotee, focusing on the historical and spiritual significance of the Govardhana Puja festival in the Vedic tradition. This festival commemorates the time when Shri Krishna, as a young child, convinced the residents of Vrindavana to worship Govardhana Hill instead of the powerful demigod Indra, who was traditionally worshiped for rain. Outraged by this slight, Indra retaliated by sending a devastating flood, which Krishna thwarted by lifting the entire hill with one finger to serve as a massive umbrella, thereby protecting ...

Learn the story of how Krishna, appearing as the darling son of Nanda Maharaja, instructed the residents to change a deeply rooted tradition: the annual Indra-yajna (sacrifice) offered to Indra, the King of Heaven and provider of rain. Instead, Krishna convinced Nanda to direct their elaborate preparations to Govardhana Hill, which nourished their essential cows and was declared non-different from Krishna Himself. Infuriated by this neglect, Indra, vulnerable to false ego, sought vengeance. He summoned the devastating samvartaka cloud to unleash an out-of-season, torrential downpour, ...

Sent on a mission of reconnaissance into the Kishkindha forest, Śrī Hanumān approached the warrior princes Rāma and Lakshmana in disguise, only to have his profound devotion instantly reawaken upon seeing the Supreme Lord. The words he spoke were not the calculated intelligence of a spy, but the spontaneous, heartfelt praise of a pure soul. Hanumān: The Eloquence of All-Auspicious Speech explores this pivotal first encounter, revealing how the perfect servant uses his mastery of language to bring pleasure to the Divine. Shri Rāma was so astonished by Hanumān’s flawless delivery ...

He is known as viryavan, the mighty one—a hero of unparalleled power who can leap across oceans and lift mountains. So why, in his moment of greatest triumph, does Hanuman feel sadness? After a perilous, near-impossible journey, the great hero Hanuman finally locates the abducted princess Sita. But the sight that greets him in the desolate Ashoka grove is heartbreaking. He sees a woman of perfect virtue, the cherished wife of Rama, suffering unjustly and tormented by wicked characters day and night. Overcome, the powerful warrior does something extraordinary: with his eyes overflowing, he...

Enter the divine realm of Gokula, where the Supreme Lord, Śrī Krishna, shines beautifully (gokule bhrājamanam) as the endearing child Damodara. More resplendent than the sun and moon, Krishna is the very origin of all light, yet He chooses to appear in this sacred land, radiating a soothing, blissful effulgence that dissipates the darkness of ignorance within the heart of the devotee. This book celebrates the astonishing pastime that earned Him the name Damodara—"one whose belly is bound by a rope". After breaking Mother Yashoda's pot of yogurt, the unconquerable Supreme Lord (Ajita) ...

Is God a mean and spiteful person to be feared? Traditionally known as Ajita, the Supreme Being is the Unconquerable Lord, the source of everything, whose form embodies eternity, knowledge, and bliss (sach-chid-ānanda-rūpaḿ). He is the magnificent origin of all beauty, the light of the sun and the moon, and the master of time, the great destroyer. But in the sacred land of Gokula, this Almighty, whose belly is the abode of the entire universe, revealed His sweetest truth: He is only conquered by pure, unconditional love. Appearing as the all-attractive child Shri Krishna, the Lord broke...