Mythological Stories In English Aditi Das

The Gayatri Mantra is a Hindu hymn dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. It is considered one of the most powerful and sacred mantras in Hinduism. The mantra is typically recited in the morning and evening by Hindus, and is also recited during religious ceremonies and rituals. The mantra is as follows:

"Om bhoor bhuvah svah - Tat savitur varenyam - Bhargo devasya dhimahi - Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat"

It roughly translates to "We meditate on the glory of the Creator; Who has created the Universe; Who is worthy of Worship; Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light; Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance; May He enlighten our intellect."

Here are a few steps you can take to incorporate the Gayatri Mantra into your daily practice:


Set aside a specific time of day to recite the mantra. Many Hindus recite the mantra in the morning and evening, but you can choose any time that works for you.
Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can sit and focus on the mantra without distractions.
Sit in a comfortable and upright position, with your back straight and your eyes closed.
Begin reciting the mantra slowly and clearly, focusing on the meaning and spiritual significance of the words.
Repeat the mantra 108 times, using a mala (a strand of 108 beads) or counting with your fingers.
As you recite the mantra, try to let go of any distracting thoughts and focus your mind on the words of the mantra and its spiritual significance.
After completing the 108 recitations, take a moment to sit quietly and reflect on your experience before continuing with your day.

It's important to note that the mantras are believed to be powerful and should be treated with respect, it is said that a teacher or Guru should be the one who should initiate a person into the recitation of mantras.

Follow us on

www.facebook.com/mysticadii

www.pinterest.com/mysticadii

www.instagram.com/mysticadii

Download Our App

onelink.to/mysticadii

A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated as a form of meditation and concentration. It is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation." Mantras can be in any language, but are often in Sanskrit, a sacred language of Hinduism and Buddhism. They are used as a tool for spiritual development and to invoke the blessings of deities, spiritual teachers, or specific qualities such as compassion or wisdom.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, mantras are typically used in conjunction with other practices such as yoga, meditation, and puja (worship). They can be recited silently or out loud, and they can be repeated a specific number of times or as many times as desired.

Mantras can be used for a variety of purposes such as purifying the mind, gaining spiritual insight, and achieving a sense of inner peace. They are also believed to have a powerful vibrational energy that can affect the mind and body in positive ways.

Mantras can be divided into three categories:


Vedic Mantras: These are the oldest mantras and are found in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. They are used for ritual and spiritual purposes.
Tantric Mantras: These mantras are used in tantra, a form of spiritual practice that seeks to elevate the individual to a higher level of consciousness.
Buddhist Mantras: These are used in Buddhism and are often associated with specific deities or concepts such as compassion or wisdom.

It's important to note that reciting a mantra without understanding its meaning or without proper guidance from a qualified teacher, may not yield the desired results.

→ English

Ganesha - God of New Beginnings, Success and Wisdom

Lord Ganesha is one of the most popular Gods in our Hindu culture. He is known to be the destroyer of obstacles and devotees worship him at the onset of any important work. He is one of the most distinctive Gods with an elephant head and a human body. Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati and is the brother of Kartikeya and Ashok Sundari. He is also the God of prosperity and fortune.





There are several stories in regards to his birth. In one of the stories he is born from Shiva and Parvati in a forest. Parvati was elated after her son's birth. She invited all the Gods to come and see the child's face but forgot to call Lord Shani. That is why Shani's evil eye fell on him and his head was burnt. This is when Lord Shiva replaces his head with an elephant head.





In the second story Shiva and Pravati visit a forest and happen to see an elephant couple joyfully playing with each other. Lord Shiva and Parvati also take forms of elephant and decide to stay in the forest for a while. During their stay in the forest Lord Ganesh is born.





This story is the most popular story about Ganesha's birth. Once Goddess Parvati and her friends Jaya and Vijaya were bathing in her apartment. Parvati had asked Nandi to stand outside the house and guard it. She told him not to allow anyone to enter until they finished bathing. However Shiva came unexpectedly at the door. Poor Nandi requested Shiva not to enter the house but Shiva did not listen. He entered the house. Parvati was furious after that. She wanted a personal guard now who will not let anyone enter the house without her permission not even Shiva. This is when she created Ganesha out of the dirt she rubbed off during her bath. She created a very handsome boy and gasped in joy looking at her son. Ganesha asked what shall he do for his mother. Parvati asked him to be a guard and stand at the entrance. She told him not to allow anyone. Shiva again turned up unexpectedly and wanted to enter the house. Lord Ganesha didn't let him. Shiva did not know then that he was created by Parvati and thought him to be some random person. Lord Ganesh also didn't know that Shiva was Parvati's husband. He did not allow Shiva to enter the house. Shiva turned angry and the fire from his third eye burnt Ganesha's head. When Parvati saw this she turned furious. Her rage and anger started burning the whole Universe. To calm her down and restore balance in the Universe Lord Shiva makes Ganesha alive again by replacing his head with an elephant's head. Lord Shiva was guilty and apologized for his anger. He then declared Ganesha as the chief of all Gods. He announced that all the worship and rituals should only begin by praying to Lord Ganesha first. Only after worshipping him the prayers would reach other Gods.





Ganesha is also known as the God of intellect. Once Ganesha and Kartikeyan argued who will marry first. This is when their parents Shiva and Parvati decided to conduct a competition among them. They told both of them that whoever goes around the entire world and reaches Kailasha first will be the first one to marry. Lord Kartikeyan immediately left Kailasha with the aim of covering the Universe first. However Lord Ganesha just circled his parents 7 times and said he has won the race. When Parvati and Shiva asked he said that it was written in Shastras that circling your parents 7 times is as good as moving through the whole world. Lord Shiva was impressed with his intellect and he won the race. Hence he was married to two beautiful sisters Buddhi (embodiment of Wisdom and intellect) and Siddhi (Embodiment of spiritual growth and success). He later had two sons from them Kshema (prosperity) from Siddhi and Labha (Fortune) from Buddhi.
/strong

Lord Krishna is considered to be the most important avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is the 8th incarnation of Vishnu who lived on Earth during the bronze age (Dwapar Yuga).

Krishna is known to be the Supreme most being and the father of this Universe. He is the greatest among all the other Gods according to Vaishnava traditions. The mere utterance of his name brings divine joy and ecstasy to his devotees. He is not only worshipped in India but has a huge devotee base in the West as well. Lord Krishna is also known by several other names like Govinda, Krsna, Gopal, Muralidhar, Kanha, and many others. 




Lord Krishna was born in the kingdom of Mathura. He was the son of princess Devaki and Vasudeva. Devaki's brother Kansa was the king of Mathura and he was an evil man. Kansa had been warned that his death was written in the hands of Devaki's 8th son. Kansa was a brutal and evil king and hence decided to slain Devaki's children. He killed all the 7 babies born before Krishna. He prisoned Devaki and Vasudeva as well so that they don't escape and all their children are killed in front of them  However when Krishna was born his father Vasudeva somehow managed to escape from the prison. He along with baby Krishna then visits Gokul. He then meets his friend Nanda. Nanda agrees to adopt Krishna. Nanda was the leader of cowherds and was married to Yashoda. Yashoda and Nanda became his foster parents and he grew up in the pastoral community. Subhadra and Balrama were his siblings. As a child, Krishna was very notorious. He would steal milk and butter and play pranks on everyone. Right from childhood, he was adored by everyone  especially womenfolk. Even at a tender age, he killed many demons. He killed the demoness Putana by sucking onto her breast. He also killed demon serpent Kalia. Krisha was known for miraculous activities right from his childhood. People knew that he was no ordinary human. Once Indra was angry at Krishna and the people of Vrindavan for not worshipping him. He decided to teach them a lesson by flooding the city of Vrindavan. The whole town was devastated by the flood. This is when Krishna came forward and lifted the hills of Gowardhan to provide shelter to the villagers. He held the mountain on his left hand as an umbrella and protected the villagers from the flood.




At the age of 11, Krishna visited Mathura and killed his demon uncle Kansa. He then freed his real parents and handed over the kingdom of Mathura to its real king Ugrasen (Krishna's grandfather). During Krishna's adolescence, he was always surrounded by gopis who would sing and dance for him. Krishna was always shown playing his flute. During this time he met his eternal lover Radha. Radha and Krishna together mark the epitome of love. It is said that Radha was so dear to Krishna that he considered her to be his soul. Even today they are always worshipped together. Their relation defines the relation of a soul with the Supreme soul metamorphically. However, the relation did not end in marriage. Although there are many reasons associated with their separation their love story is the most sacred and divine association in Hindu philosophy.




After killing hi uncle Kansa, Krishna met his real parents Devaki and Vasudeva. He and Balarama were welcomed in the royal family and they started their schooling as princes of the Yadu dynasty. Krishna was also a cousin brother to the Pandavas of Kuru dynasty as his father Vasudeva was the brother of queen Kunti. During this period Krishna became good friends with his cousin brothers the Pandavas and was especially close to Arjuna. After slaying Kansa, the kingdom of Mathura was in danger as Jarasandha (Kansa's father in law) along with Kalyavan (another powerful demon king) decided to ruin and destroy the entire city of Mathura. After several repeated attacks from them, Lord Krishna constructed the kingdom of Dwarka in the middle o

Vamana was the 1st human avatar of Lord Vishnu who incarnated himself as a brahmin boy to end the rule of the great demon Mahabali. Bali was the grandson of Prahalad,  who was one of the biggest Vishnu devotees. Lord Vishnu had saved Prahalad from his father Hirankashyap in his Narasimha avatar. Bali like his grandfather was a Vishnu devotee as well.

However, the mighty ruler of Patal Lok , Bali had become greedy for more power and wanted to rule all the three worlds (Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld). He decided to meditate upon Lord Brahma. After pleasing Brahma with his penance he became invincible and grew stronger than Gods as well. He decided to attack the Planet of Heaven and conquer the kingdom of heaven from Indra. 




Indra was defeated in the battle and hence the Gods lost their kingdom and became homeless. Indra was the son of sage Kashyap and Aditi. When Aditi heard of her son's defeat, she was devastated. After consulting with her husband she began meditating upon Lord Vishnu. Vishnu was pleased with her worship and decided to visit her. Aditi asked Vishnu to be born as her son. She wanted Vishnu to take back the kingdom of Heaven and Earth and return to the Gods. Vishnu granted her wish.




Soon Vishnu was born to Aditi and Kashyap. After his birth, he changed his form into a small brahmin boy. The boy was very small in size like a dwarf. He then decided to visit Bali. 




Bali, though being a demon was a very righteous king. The kingdoms prospered under his leadership. He was very kind to his subject and ensured no one returned empty-handed from his court. When Lord Vishnu as Vamana (Brahmin boy) was about to enter Bali's court, Bali was busy performing a powerful Yagya to gain more power. The rituals of this Yagya were taking place under the guidance of his teacher Shukracharya. As soon as Vamana entered the court, the whole place was illuminated with divine bright light. Bali knew that the Brahmin boy was special and not some ordinary Brahmin. He invited Vamana with due respect and made him seated on a special seat. He then asked Vamana to express his desire. He announced that whatever the Brahmin boy shall ask from him, shall be given to him. On hearing, this Vamana said that he didn't desire much and only wanted a strip of land long enough to hold his three steps. Bali agreed to this. 




Now this was a strange request and sage Shukracharya realized that this boy was none other than the Supreme Vishnu. He warned Bali stating that Lord Vishnu himself was here as Vamana to take away his kingdom. Bali, on the other hand, was a demon of his words. He told Shukracharya that since he has already agreed to grant the wish, he cannot fall back. 




In the next few moments, Vamana started to grow in size, and very soon he was limitless touching the endless sky. With his 1st step he covered the whole of Earth. With his 2nd step, he walked through the entire heaven. Now there was no place left for his 3rd step. He then asked Bali where should he place his third step as there was no place left.




Bali bowed down before the Lord and asked him to place his third step on his head as that was the only place he owned now. Granting Bali's request   Lord Vishnu placed his foot on Bali's head hence pushing him down to Patal Lok (Underworld). After this the kingdom of Heaven and Earth was given back to the Gods.




Lord Vishnu was still pleased with Bali as he was a good demon. He decided to bless Bali and asked him to wish for a boon. Bali being a worshipper of Vishnu like his grandfather asked Vishnu to stay with him in Patal Lok. Bali wanted to worship Vishnu every day. Lord Vishnu granted his wish and left Vaikunta to stay with him.




While Lord Vishnu was away from Vaikunta, Goddess Lakshmi started missing her

Goddess Durga is one of the most important deities in Hindu philosophy. She is the central deity in Shaktism and is considered to be the ultimate Brahman or reality. Durga means impossible to defeat. She is the fierce form of Adi Parashakti who is the slayer of demons. Though she personifies the divine feminine, she is endowed with all weapons of the male deities. She is the divine Shakti or force and the ultimate protector of this Universe. She is also known as the Goddess of war and has been invoked or worshiped upon before the onset of battles like Mahabharata and Ramayana. Goddess Durga is the most popular Goddess in eastern India and is worshipped extensively there. The 10 day festival of Durga Puja is the most important festival for East India. During this festival it is believed that Goddess Durga with her children Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi, and Saraswati descend on Earth. The nine forms known as Navadurga is worshipped during this 10-day festival. The 10th day known as Vijay Dashami is celebrated marking her victory over evil forces. Her consort Shiva is also worshipped during this festival.




It is believed that Goddess Durga is the ferocious form of Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati had to take her form to kill powerful demons like Mahisasur. This demon was blessed with a boon that no man or male God could slay them. This made him invincible and he started misusing his powers. His atrocity against women increased as well. He was creating havoc in the Universe and that is when Gods approached Parvati for assistance. The Gods gave all their mighty weapons and power to her. This is how Goddess Durga emerged from Parvati and killed Mahisasur.




In another tale Mahisasur tries to attack Kartikeya. Kartikeya himself is the God of war, but Mahisasur knew that no male god could kill him because of the boon given to him by Brahma. Goddess Parvati to protect her son takes the fiery form of Durga and kills Mahisasur. She is the epitome of motherly love who would go to any extent to protect her children. She is also known as Mahisasur Mardini because she killed Mahisasur. Her ten arms signify that she protects her devotees from all directions. She rides a lion or a tiger which signifies ultimate strength and power.




The nine different forms known as Navadurga are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. These forms are worshipped and meditated upon during the 10 day festival of Durga Puja. There are several other beautiful rituals associated with this grand festival. Few important ones.





The idol is made using the soil in front of a brothel. The soil in front of the brothel is considered very pure as it is believed that before entering into a brothel a man leaves behind all his purity into the soil. Hence this soil is used for making the Idol.





Kola Bou - She is a goddess who is married to Lord Ganesha during Durga Puja. She is known as the banana brie as she resides within a banana tree. On the 7th day (Saptami) a small banana tree representing her is bathed in sacred waters of Ganga and then decorated as a bride. The tree is then placed on the right-hand side of Lord Ganesha's idol. She is then worshiped as a new bride of Ganesha.




Sandhi Puja - This is the most important ritual conducted during Durga Puja. During this puja, the Chamunda form of Durga is worshiped and meditated upon. It is believed that Goddess Durga in the form of Chamunda kill demons, Chanda and Munda, during the period when Sandhi Puja rituals take place. She is worshiped by igniting 108 lamps. This ritual takes place during the end of 8th Day (Ashtami tithi) and the beginning of the 9th day (Navami)




Kumari Puja - This is another ritual where young girls are worshiped on the 8th or the 9th day of th