While not on the scale of some built by ancient kings, 6,000 temples dot the landscape, many being rebuilt with the cooperation of all communities By Choodie Sivaram, Bengaluru  Hundreds of ancient temples in Kashmir reveal that the land is linked with historical legends from the eras of Ramayana and Maha­bharata. Despite repeated invasions that left many temples in ruins, the traditional bonding of people with the land and its heritage has not diminished. Temples like Shankaracharya Hill, Mattan Suriya Shrine and the magnificent Marthand Sun Temple are on the tourism map and frequented by vis ..read more

From the grand Meenakshi citadel to hundreds of roadside shrines, explore the historic streets of this deeply devout South Indian city  Photos & Story By Anne Petry Lord siva’s blessings might explain the richness of Madurai’s religious heritage. The city has been a major settlement place for two millennia; its historical records stretch more than 2,500 years. Founded by the first Tamil dynasty, called Pandya, Madurai today has a population of over 1.5 million. Sometimes called the Lotus City or the Athens of the East, it is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. It is believe ..read more

How I defied the odds to rapidly prepare for a grueling but liberating trek on foot around the most sacred mountain in the Himalayas  By Vidya Mohan, USA I have never been an ardent devotee of Siva. I have never harbored strong aspirations for coming to Mt. Kailash. Yet, on a morning walk in September 2022, I felt a strong urge to go. Maybe it’s the subconscious working of many books and podcasts of spiritual seekers, or frustration driven by a lack of spiritual guidance. I hoped in desperation that an escape to these serene Himalayan surroundings would help me find a solution to my spiri ..read more

“You don’t want to see God. You must feel God. God is you. Just be that.” Satguru Siva Yogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lankan sage We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)  The pure mind is itself Brahman; it therefore follows that Brahman is not other than the mind of the sage. Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) When you came, you cried and everybody smiled with joy; when you go, smile and let the world cry for you. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Bengali poet and philosopher An a ..read more

Let the Pilgrimages Begin!  In the sacred land where flows the Sarayu River, Ram Lala has made His divine return after five centuries of exile to His birthplace on the sacred soil of Uttar Pradesh in India. His newly inaugurated grand temple is the summit of devotion, engineering and national pride. It was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024, ushering in a new era of spiritual awakening in Bharat. It was early morning in Kathmandu when I received an email from Hinduism Today inviting me to chronicle the splendor of Ram Mandir. I exclaimed, “Jai Shri Ram ..read more

Words for Youth  Part one of Saint Auvaiyar’s poignant counsel for children  Below are the first 64 of 109 verses from Atti Chudi, a poem by second century bce saint Auvaiyar. Here she offers terse advice for youth, one topic for each letter of the Tamil alphabet.  Let us always respectfully praise the Lord [Ganesha] Who is sitting on the lap of the Lord [Siva] who is wearing a garland of Thiruvaatti flowers. 1. Desire to fulfill dharma. 2. Cool off anger. 3. Do not refuse to give what is possible to give away. 4. Do not prevent acts of charity. 5. Do not boast about your posses ..read more

How my grandparents’ traditions ignited my curiosity and a lifetime of religious practice By Raam Kumar Rajentharan Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player...  I am of tamil descent, born and raised in Malaysia within an extended family structure. My childhood and adolescence were deeply shaped by my grandparents, who nurtured me in the core practices and beliefs of Hinduism. This foundation profoundly influenced my personal and spiritual development. My grandparents, who served as my primary caretakers, instilled in me the values and traditions of our faith. My grandfath ..read more

India’s Great Spiritual General Written by Swami Advayananda, Brahmacharini Taarini Chaitanya & Sudarshan Ramabadran. Art by Sasi Edavarada, Gopi Chevayur & Ajithan from Thrissur By Brahmacharini Taarini Chaitanya  I prostrate to adi shankaracharya, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, who is responsible for the welfare of the universe, who is the repository of the Divine Knowledge of Vedas, Upanishads and texts of the Purana and who is the embodiment of compassion. श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणानामालयं करुणालयम्। नमामि भगवत्पादं शङ्करं लोकशङ्करम् ॥ śrutismṛtipurāṇānaṁ ālayaṁ karuṇālayam, namāmi bhagavad ..read more

Finding and following a routine is the secret to success. Let’s talk about worship, introspection, affirmation and scriptural study. By Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami   A number of years ago, during a seminar with a group of Hindu university students, I asked the question, “What is the goal of Hinduism?” They answered,“To realize the Self.” This, of course, is the correct answer. I then asked, “How much progress did you make yesterday toward that goal?” The group grew silent. This lofty attainment, which takes many lifetimes, hardly relates to most people’s daily life. Clearly, a more re ..read more

Let the Pilgrimages Begin!  In the sacred land where flows the Sarayu River, Ram Lala has made His divine return after five centuries of exile to His birthplace on the sacred soil of Uttar Pradesh in India. His newly inaugurated grand temple is the summit of devotion, engineering and national pride. It was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024, ushering in a new era of spiritual awakening in Bharat. It was early morning in Kathmandu when I received an email from Hinduism Today inviting me to chronicle the splendor of Ram Mandir. I exclaimed, “Jai Shri Ram ..read more