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Bhakti: Mirabai's Greatest Wealth

Many of us make the mistake of being 'part time devotees' - of course, we are busy, we have important work, personal commitments and we are too exhausted by it. At the end of the day, we don't even feel like lighting the lamp or praying. Sometimes, we begin to think how does lighting a lamp bring a difference to our already hectic lives? [READ: How Do You Light Deepam and Best Time to Light Diya ] [Image by Julia Volk @ Pexels] As I ponder about this, my view is that the problem isn't with the lamp or the light - the problem is our 'know-it-all' attitude of self-inflicted superiority. Unknowingly, we live in a society that thrives on 'showing off' and less on the subtle aspects of life, the smaller joys and delights of real life. Which is where something as seemingly 'small' and 'mundane' as lighting a lamp becomes ...

Power of Hanuman's Work

As you start work - here's a question for you - are you disciplined about how you work and what you do every day? From dawn to dusk, we work - all of us are engaged in some task or another. Many tend to work almost on autopilot. Happens, doesn't it? Sometimes, we engage in activities that may not be of use to us and results in waste of time. Distractions trouble us - it could be a colleague talking loudly in the phone, and we may do the same too, without realising we are distracting others at work. ( Source: Radio Sai.org) Often, we are not conscious of how this impacts the quality of our work and time, not to mention our energy and attitude to work. The way we work reflects in the minds of our children. They watch us and we barely realise what they imbibe. Now life wasn't easy for our elders - in fact, they had none of the comforts that we do today...

Officer on Duty on Netflix: Kunchacko Boban's electrifying performance!

Kunchacko Boban's Malayalam movie 'Officer on Duty' is now available on Netflix! Before the OTT release, I had watched the film in a nearby theatre. Now, you can watch this Kunchacko Boban thriller on Netflix. Note: All images in this blog are sourced from Kunchacko Boban's verified Facebook page. [ READ: Watch Padmarajan's Movies ] Officer on Duty on Netflix: Director, Star Cast, Music Directed by Jithu Ashraf, the leading stars are Kunchacko Boban and Priyamani, with a solid, heart wrenching performance by Jagdish and a stellar line-up of young talent. The 'negative' roles make a chilling impact in this thriller film. Jakes Bejoy's music is refreshing, different and I found myself liking the unique vibe. While watching Officer on Duty, one is reminded fleetingly of chilling scenes from a yesteryear superhit film - Mammootty's Johny Walker. In this film, which I remember watching in a theatre in Guruvayur, Mammootty plays the role of an elder brothe...

Revisiting My Old Blog Posts: What I Learnt

Have you ever read your old blogposts and been struck by how your outlook and language have changed? Recently, I read some of my earliest posts on this blog. And I felt quite emotional about it. [ READ: My Sun is my Light ] Few points sprang to my mind: I used to write about personal things - it was a space to share my daily reflections, and now I no longer do that - now I am more guarded and wary. I used to write about things I feel strongly about - now I accept life as it is My dreams, my reflections, my musings have changed even in terms of my language - i am no longer the person who began writing this blog. Sometimes, when I read my old posts, I feel as though I'm seeing a stranger, who has no resemblance to me. Makes me wonder, "Who is this? Was it me?" Here are some of those old posts: Parents are Love It's Rainy...What Would You Eat? Wake Up Time: There's No Woman in the Moon Conversations with My Mother I find myself reading these posts and asking, "...

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. When lighting diyas on Fridays, it is better to use ghee than oil, if possible. [READ: What Does Deepam Represent , Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. What time should we light the diya in the evening? An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset - this is the golden gateway - when the colour of the sky changes completely. Can we do pooja at 3 am? Yes you can do pooja at 3 am - from 3.30 am onwards, as it is considered to be Bramhamuh...

Maha Shivaratri Worship: Benefits You Cannot Imagine!

(Image: Sri Sathya Sai Baba Facebook page) Maha Shivaratri 2025: Wondering why Maha Shivaratri is special and why not to sleep during Shivaratri? As a kid, I loved sitting up through the night and praying to Shiva till dawn. Bhajans used to take place in my parents' home and people used to flock to our home to pray. Wherever I am, I try to attend all night bhajans and prayers to celebrate this beautiful and glorious celebration of Shiva. Maha Shivaratri: Significance Most people ask why Maha Shivaratri is celebrated. To understand what is the significance of Maha Shivaratri , we need to understand the essence of why we worship Shiva and why He is shown to reside in the mighty Kailasa. A thorough study of the Shiva Purana is a good place to start. Without equipping ourselves with knowledge through the Vedas and the Puranas, none of us can fully comprehend the glory and splendour of Maha Shivaratri. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, " Purity, Sacredness and Steadiness is the cr...