Bhagavad Gita Quotes

Bhagavad Gita Quotes on faith, work, Gift, motivation and self. Bhagavad Gita is Lord Krishna's battlefield discussion with Arjuna and is part of the Hindu Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.


Bhagavad Gita Quotes

1) One can become whatever one wants to be, if one constantly contemplates on the object of desire with faith.

2) Much better to do one's own work even if you have to do it imperfectly than it is to do somebody elses work perfectly.

3) A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return.

4) Sever the ignorant doubt in your heart with the sword of self-knowledge. Observe your discipline. Arise.

5) Little by little, through patience and repeated effort, the mind will become stilled in the Self.

Worlds Tallest Shiva Statue Kailashnath Mahadev Nepal

Worlds Tallest Shiva Statue Kailashnath Mahadev Nepal

Kailashnath Mahadev Statue in Nepal is famous as the World’s Tallest Lord Shiva Statue till date with 143 feet height. The statue is located on a hill in Sanga, around 20 km from Kathmandu, on the border of Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts. The construction of the statue was started in 2004 and the statue was opened to public on 21st June 2011, during the Teej Festival.


The materials used for the construction of Kailashnath Mahadev Statue include copper, steel bars, concrete, cement and zinc. Being the world’s tallest statue of Hindu God Shiva, Kailashnath Mahadev Statue has become a famous tourist attraction in Nepal and is visited by thousands of tourists from across the globe.

Barahi Temple Phewa Lake in Pokhara Nepal

Barahi Temple Phewa Lake in Pokhara Nepal

Barahi Temple in Phewa Lake is a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Varahi situated in Pokhara, Nepal. This beautiful Hindu temple of Goddess Barahi is located on an island in the center of Phewa Lake (Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake), which is the second largest lake in Nepal. Barahi Island Temple is one of the major tourist attractions in Pokhara Valley in Nepal. Goddess Barahi is the divine wife of Lord Baraha, one of the Dasavataras of Hindu God Vishnu. Barahi is also one of the Matrikas, a group of Seven Mother Goddesses in the Hinduism.

Barahi Mandir is set in stunning surroundings and one has to hire a boat to visit it. The two storied pagoda enshrines the boar manifestation of Ajima goddess, representing the female force Shakti. Tourist can see devotees carrying male animals and fowl to be offered to goddess as a sacrifice. 

Lord Ganesha or Ganesh - The God of India

Lord Ganesha or Ganesh - The God of India


Lord Ganesh or Ganesha is one of the most commonly worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. Lord Ganesh is also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Vigneshwara, Ganesa, Vignesh, and Pillaiyar. Lord Ganesha is depicted as an elephant headed figure with a large belly and four hands. The elder son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Ganapathi is highly revered as the Remover of Obstacles and Lord of Beginnings, God of Education, Knowledge, Wisdom and Wealth. Lord Ganesh is the one who is worshiped at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies. The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit word, derived from ‘Gana’, meaning a ‘Group or Mass’ and ‘Isha’, meaning Lord or Master. Skanda, also called as Kartikeya or Lord Murugan, is the brother of Ganesha.

Story on how Ganesha Got the Elephant Head

According Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva beheaded the head of Lord Ganesh and later it was replaced with that of an elephant. However, Brahma Vaivarta Purana says that when Ganesha was born, all the gods gathered to see him. Though Lord Shani was also present there, he refused to look at the child. However, on the insistence of Parvati, he looked at the baby which caused its head to be burned to ashes. Then, it was Lord Vishnu who replaced the missed head with that of an elephant.

Popular Festivals of Lord Ganesha

Vinayaka Chaturthi

Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesha Chaturthi is an important festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Also known as Vinayaka Chavithi, the festival commemorates the birthday of the Lord and is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada (mid August - mid September), starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period).

Ganesh Jayanti

Ganesh Jayanti Festival is also known as Magha Shukla Chaturthi, Vinayak Chaturthi and Varad Chaturthi. This festival also celebrates the birthday of Ganesha. But this is held during the Shukla Paksha Chaturthi day (fourth day of the bright fortnight or the waxing moon) in the month of Maagha (January/February). This festival is more popular, particularly in the Indian state of Maharashtra, where it is called as Tilkund Chaturthi.

During the day, the idol of Ganesha is made from turmeric or sindhoor powder or cow dung and worshipped.  The idol is immersed in water on the fourth day after the festival. The lord is offered a special food prepared from sesame seeds. Some devotees observe fast during the day.

Important Temples of Lord Ganesha in India

There are numerous temples dedicated to Lord Ganesh in India. Some of the most popular among them are Ashtavinayak temples, Chintamani Ganesh Temple in Madhya Pradesh; Dhundiraj Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; Ranthambore Ganesh Temple in Rajasthan; and Ganesha temples in Wai, Maharashtra.

The Ashtavinayak temples on Lord Ganesh - a group of eight Ganesha temples around Pune, Maharashtra – are the most popular Ganesh temples in India. Each of these eight shrines houses a particular form of Ganapati and they form the most important pilgrimage for the devotees. The eight Ashtavinayaka are

1) Moreshwar Temple in Morgaon

2) Siddhivinayak Temple in Siddhatek
3) Ballaleshwar Temple in Pali
4) Varadavinayak Temple in Mahad
5) Chintamani Ganesh Temple in Theur
6) Girijatmaj Temple in Lenyadri
7) Vighnahar Temple in Ozar
8) Mahaganapati Temple in Ranjangaon

Ganesha Temples in Tamil Nadu

Karpaka Vinayakar Temple in Pillayarpatti
Rockfort Ucchi Pillayar Kottai in Kumbakonam



Ganesh Temples in Karnataka

Shri Ganapathi Temple Idagunji, Karnataka
Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple in Mangalore, Karnataka

Ganapathi Temples in Kerala

Maha Ganapathi Temple in Pampa
Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram
Kottarakkara Ganapathi Temple
Maha Ganapathi Temple in Sulthan Batheri

Hindu Gods Goddess Vahana Vehicles

Hindu Gods Goddess Vahana Vehicles

List of Hindu Gods Vahanas. It can be seen that every Hindu Gods and Goddess have particular vahanas or vehicles which serves as the seat or mount of the god. This vahana is usually an animal or bird and each vahana symbolizes the various energies which exist in the universe. Each Hindu deity associated with a vahana represents his or her control over this particular energy. Below is the list of Hindu Gods vahanas.

Vahana of Hindu Gods and Goddess

Brahma – Seven Swans
Vishnu – Garuda or Eagle
Shiva – Nandi or Bull

Goddess Parvati – Lion
Goddess Lakshmi – Elephant. An Owl is considered as Goddess Lakshmi’s vahana in some parts of India, mainly Bengal
Goddess Saraswati – Hamsa or Swan
Goddess Durga – Tiger, Lion

Representation of Lord Shiva and Parvati with Vahana Nandi

Lord Surya or Sun God – A chariot driven by Seven White Horses Lord Ganesh – Mooshika or Mouse
Lord Muruga or Kartikeya – Peacock
Lord Ayyappa – Tiger

Goddess Ganga – Crocodile
Goddess Yamuna – Tortoise

Lord Indra – Airavatha or the White Elephant
Lord Agni – The Ram
Lord Yama – The Male Buffalo
Lord Vayu – Thousands Horses
Lord Varuna – Seven Swans, Crocodile or Makara

Amarnath Yatra – India pilgrimage tour

Amarnath Yatra – India pilgrimage tour

The sacred Amarnath Yatra is the encapsulation of the culture, ethos, secularism and religious fervor that still elevates the charm and beauty of India, which is the cradle of the world’s oldest organized religion, Hinduism. The gods, goddesses and deities are not only the embodiments of a supernatural power here, but are the great path-illuminators who help the human civilization to walk on the way to salvation. The trinity god Shiva in Hinduism is considered to be static as well as dynamic; creator as well as destroyer at the same time. Among various other abodes of Lord Shiva, the Amarnath cave in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is the one such holy destination that attracts thousands (sometime lacks) of pilgrims every year despite its harsh geographical conditions.

Pilgrims from all around the world set off to the holy Amarnath Yatra every year to get the blessings of Lord Shiva and to delve into the eternal knowledge of life and death. There are various mythical stories interwoven in and around this holy cave among which one story depicts that Lord Shiva once disclosed the eternal truth of life and death to Goddess Parvati in this sacred cave only. Located 13,000 feet above the sea level, this cave is believed to be as old as time.

Resembling the Shiva Lingam is an ice stalagmite in the cave which becomes almost 9 feet tall when fully grown. This naturally manicured ice lingam never fails to move, amaze and convince the pilgrims to the unquestionable divinity of Lord Amarnath. There are two routes through which the pilgrims can reach the holy cave; the traditional southern route which is believed to be taken by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, starts from Pahalgam. A 40 kilometer long way covers en-route Chandanwadi, Seshnag, Ganesh top, Panchtarani and Sangam. Another route is the shortest one spanning over just 16 kilometers of road, but is hardest one and is quite difficult to climb.

Amarnath yatra Route Map
For people who are unable to cross such a long distance on foot, the Amarnath Yatra by helicopter is also available. An Amarnath Yatra by helicopter is a great deal for people who are struggling with their hectic schedule and has little time to go for a long trip. While reaching the sacred shrine by helicopter, the pilgrims can savor a green ride to the valley of gods and goddesses. The bird’s eye view of the valley with floating river amid the green woodland is a great feast for the visual senses of the pilgrims.


The great Amarnath Yatra is not just a holy journey to the shrine of lord Shiva, but is a merriment festival that bears witness to the unity between the Hindus and the Muslims. A large number of Muslim people help the pilgrims by various means to reach the sacred destination. Each yatri or pilgrim has their own story to narrate and after the end of this sacred voyage, the voyagers experience an overwhelming peace. For many it is an annual affair that give them strength of mind to work and fight with adversities throughout the year. There are thousands of foreign travelers also who set off to the Amarnath Yatra while they are in their tour to India.