Tag: <span>Shiva</span>

Tag: Shiva

Devotion (Bhakti), Featured

Seeking Shiva

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“The distinction between “with qualities” and
“without qualities” does not exist in Him;
He’s beyond both attachment and non-attachment;
Stainless, He’s beyond all forms.
He’s beyond both qualities and the absence of qualities;
Though formless, He’s the substance of all forms.
So how can I worship that Shiva, who exists
everywhere, like space!” – Avadhuta Gita |

Exploring the significance of Mahashivratri (the darkest night of the year), for seeking Shiva.

Featured, Musings

From the Immortals of Meluha to Immortal India – in conversation with Amish

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Shruti Bakshi speaks to bestselling author Amish Tripathi about a wide range of topics from his books to his writing process, to atheism in ancient India and current issues in India relating to religion, society and politics. As someone with vast knowledge about India’s past and ancient wisdom and who refuses to be pigeonholed as ‘left’ or ‘right’, Amish’s views are refreshing, insightful and enlightening.

Philosophy (Jnana)

Brahma’s Lie and the Delusion of Certainty

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“Brahma’s lie marks the first act of fundamentalism on the planet. The flower is punished for bearing witness and offering tacit support to the fundamentalist impulse. To claim a limited end to a limitless process, to reduce the infinite to the finite, to draw borders across the borderless, to make measurements of the unfathomable – this is the beginning of the human impulse to create certainty where none exists. It is the birth of pain, of suffering, of delusion.”
– Read more of the excerpt from the book Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

Devotion (Bhakti)

What is the Amarnath Yatra?

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Main photo “Breathtaking scenery on way to Amarnath Cave’, Credit: Hardik Buddhabhatti

Each year, the Amarnath Yatra commences around late June and is open for 40 days. Despite the high altitude, extremely treacherous terrain and the increased incidences and threats of terrorist attacks in recent years, the yatra (meaning journey) remains one of the most significant and popular for Shiva devotees.

But what is the yatra all about and why is it considered so important? Here’s a brief explanation.

The Route from Jammu to Amarnath

  • JAMMU: City in Jammu and Kashmir state of India, accessibly by air, rail and road
  • PAHALGAM: 315km from Jammu in a valley through which the Lidder and Aru rivers flow
  • CHANDANWARI: 16km from Pahalgam, along the Lidder river
  • PISSU TOP: the mountain believed in legend to be formed by the dead bodies of the asuras killed by the devas in the battle to reach Shiva first
  • SHESHNAG: Surrounded by 7 peaks (believed to represent the heads of the mythical snake, Shesha), the Sheshnag mountain and lake are breathtakingly beautiful (image above)
  • PANCHTARNI: Reached after a steep ~5km climb. 5 rivers flow at the foot of Bhairav Mount which are believed to have flowed from Shiva’s locks
  • AMARNATH CAVE: The rivers Amravati and Panchtarni meet on the way to the cave believed to be the above of Shiva. In addition to the main ice Shivalinga, the cave contains two smaller ice lingas believed to represent Parvati and Ganesha.
See also: 7 Amazing Shiva Chants/Songs
See also: Shiva, the Grand Master of Yoga

For more information visit shriamarnathjishrine.com