Sri Madhwacharya - Biography - English

Sri Madhvacarya, also known as Vasudeva, Ananda Tirtha and Purnaprajna, is one of India’s greatest theologians. He is the founder of dvaita philosophy, and is one of the most important commentators on the Upanisads, Bhagavad-gita and the Brahma-sutras. In addition, he wrote many original works that dealt with important aspects of his new doctrine. In all, he wrote 37 works. Not only did Madhvacarya’s powerful literary output help to establish his teachings during his own lifetime, it has inspired a vast literary tradition that continues to the present day.

His doctrine asserts that this world is real and that there is an eternal and immutable difference between the individual soul and God.

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1. Sri Madhwacharya - His life and Times - CNK Aiyar

2. The Life And Teachings of Sri Madhvacharyar - C.M. Padmanabha Char

Sandilya Bhakti Sutra with Sanskrit & English Commentaries

All systems of Hindu philosophy have sutra literature of their own like Brahma sutras, Sankhya Sutras, Yoga Sutras, etc. Some darshanas have more than one sutras. Though the sutras of Narada Maharshi are most popular Bhakti Sutras, the sutras of Sandilya are to the Bhakti doctrine, what Brahma Sutras are to the Vedanta philosophy. While Narada’s Sutras  are Sadhana-oriented, those of Sandilya are more of academic and polemic nature.

Svapnesvara’s commentary, the earliest one on these Sutras, gives a nice exposition of the terse Sutras and also describes the dialectics involved in the Bhakti doctrine. It was published in for the first time in Sanskrit by BD Basu in 1861 and its English translation by EB Cowell was published first in 1878.

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Bhakti Aphorisms of Sandilya - Swapneswara's Commentary in English - EB Cowell

Bhakti Aphorisms of Sandilya - Swapneswara's Commentary in Sanskrit - BD Basu

Sandilya Bhakti Sutra with Sandkrit Text with English Commentary by Bhaktiprajnan Yati

Srimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya of Bal Gangadhar Tilak - English, Hindi & Marathi

English version of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak's classic and well-known work on Gita - "Srimad Bhagavad Gita Rahasya".

Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920), was a great patriot, philosopher, social reformer and freedom fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities infamously and derogatorily called the great leader as "Father of the Indian unrest". He was also conferred upon the honorary title of Lokmanya, which literally means "Accepted by the people (as their leader)". Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of "Swaraj" (self-rule) in Indian consciousness. His famous quote, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it !" is well-remembered in India even today.

Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the author of this work, interprets Gita as the scripture of Karmayoga. Karmayoga is performing one's duty without having any desire for its fruits. According to Tilak Gita teaches selfless action as is said in Chatper 2, Verse 48:

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि संगं त्यक्त्वा धनन्जय।
सिध्यसिध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥

yogasthah kuru karmaani sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya
siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhuutvaa samatvam yoga ucyate

Remaining steadfast in yoga, oh Dhananjaya (Arjuna), perform actions, abandoning attachment, remaining the same to success and failure alike. This evenness of mind is called yoga.

This book consists of two parts. The first part is the philosophical exposition and the second part consists of the Gita, its translation and the commentary.

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Complete Works of Sri Sankaracharya (Sanskrit) - 20 Volumes

Adi Sankaracharya (788-821 CE) was a great saint & philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, a sub-school of Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the soul and Brahman, in which Brahman is viewed as without attributes. He hailed from Kalady of present day Kerala. Sankara travelled across India and other parts of South Asia to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He founded four mathas (monasteries), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta. Adi Sankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dasanami monastic order and the founder of the Shanmata tradition of worship.

His works in Sanskrit concern themselves with establishing the doctrine of Advaita (Non-dualism). He also established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mimamsa school established strict ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. Sankara represented his works as elaborating on ideas found in the Upanishads, and he wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic Canon (Brahma Sutra, Principal Upanishads and Bhagavadgita) in support of his thesis. The main opponent in his work is the Mimamsa school of thought, though he also offers some arguments against the views of some other schools like Samkhya and certain schools of Buddhism that he was partly familiar with.

The Works of Sri Sankaracharya [Memorial Edition], 20 volumes published in 1910 by Sri Vani Vilas Press, Srirangam, remains to this day the standard collection of the complete works of Sri Sankaracharya. It includes Sri Sankaracharya's major commentaries as well as his other works, as given in the list below.

1. Brahmasutra-bhashya
2. Brahmasutra-bhashya
3. Brahmasutra-bhashya
4. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 1: Isa, Kena [2], Katha, Prasna
5. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 2: Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya
6. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 3: Taittiriya, Chhandogya 1-3
7. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 4: Chhandogya 4-8
8. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 5: Brihadaranyaka 1-2
9. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 6: Brihadaranyaka 3-4
10. Upanishad-bhashya, vol. 7: Brihadaranyaka 5-6, Nrisimhapurvatapani
11. Bhagavad-Gita-bhashya, vol. 1: chaps. 1-9
12. Bhagavad-Gita-bhashya, vol. 2: chaps. 10-18
13. Vishnusahasranama and Sanatsujatiya Bhashyas
14. Vivekachudamani, Upadeshasahasri
15. Miscellaneous Prakaranas vol. 1: Aparokshanubhuti, etc. [7 works]
16. Miscellaneous Prakaranas vol. 2: Prabodhasudhakara, etc. [25 works]
17. Stotras, vol. 1 [30 works]
18. Stotras, vol. 2 [35 works, plus Lalita Trisatistotra Bhashya]
19. Prapanchasara, vol. 1
20. Prapanchasara, vol. 2

There are thus a total of 118 works, counting the two Kena Upanishad bhashyas separately, in this collection. Both Indian and Western scholars agree that many of these works must have been written by later Sankaracharyas rather than the original or
Adi Sankaracharya. But there is no agreement on which ones are genuinely his. Moreover, there are many other texts attributed to Sankaracharya that are not found in this collection, some of which may have been written by Adi Sankaracharya. So it is not a definitive collection of his writings. Nor does it lay any claim to being a critical edition. Its readings can often be improved by comparison with other printed editions and manuscripts. It is
simply the standard collection we have at present.

A detailed article on the bibliography of "Collected Works of Sri Sankaracharya" is available at this web-page.

DOWNLOAD LINKS - Works of Sri Sankaracharya - 20 Volumes (1910 Edition)

Complete 20 Volume Set in a Single PDF


Or In Separate Volumes

Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 01
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 02
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 03
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 04
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 05
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 06
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 07
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 08
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 09
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 10
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 11
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 12
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 13
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 14
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 15
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 16
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 17
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 18
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 19
Works of Sri Sankaracharya Volume 20

The whole set is also available at www.archive.org

Works of Sankaracharya with Hindi Translation

Aitareya Upanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1938
Bhagavad Gita Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Harikrishnadas Goyandaka 1953
Brahmasutra Sankarabhashya Ratnaprabha with Hindi Translation Part 1- CP Sukla 1934
Brahmasutra Sankarabhashya Ratnaprabha with Hindi Translation Part 2- CP Sukla 1934 
Brahmasutra Sankarabhashya Ratnaprabha with Hindi Translation Part 3- CP Sukla 1936
Brihadaranyakopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation GIta Press 1955
Chandogyopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation GIta Press 1956
Isavasyopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1940
Kathopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1951
Kenopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1935
Mandukyopanishad & Karika with Sankara Bhashya Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1936
Mundaka Upanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1935
Prasna Upanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1935
Svetasvataropanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1938
Taittiriyopanishad Sankara Bhashya with Hindi Translation - Gita Press 1936
Viveka Chudamani with Hindi Translation - Munilal Gupta (Gita Press)
Aparokshanubhuti with Dipika & Hindi Tika - Ramswarup Dvivedi 1908
Panchikaranam with Hindi Tika - Mahadeva Sarma Pandey 1941
Prabodhasudhakara with Hindi Translation - Munilal Gupta 1936
Sanatasujatiyam Sankarabhashya with Hindi Translation - GS Haldar 1932
Saundaryalahari with Hindi Tika - Vishnutirth Maharaj 1949
Vishnu Sahasranama Sankarabhashya with Hindi Translation 1934

Drops of Nectar - Swami Ramsukhdasji

Drops of Nectar is a collection of one thousand nectarine teachings of Swami Ramsukhdasji.

Poojya Swami Ramsukhdasji (1902-2004) was an enlightened sage whose life was fully dedicated for the propagation of the teachings of Gita among the masses. He has authored more than 50 books on Gita and other spiritual topics. His books have been translated into English and also in all prominent Indian languages.

Most of his books in Hindi and English are available online for reading at http://swamiramsukhdasji.org/swamijibooks/index.htm

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Brihat Stotra Ratnakarah (Sanskrit)

As the title mentions, this book might perhaps be the largest collection of stotras (hymns) of Hindus. It contains 182 Sanskrit stotras  of Ganesa, Vishnu, Siva, Surya, Devi, Datta, Avataras, Rama, Maruti, Krishna and of various holy rivers in addition to Vedanta stotras such as "Atmabodha" and "Sadhanapanchakam".

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Sri Ramanujacharya - A biography

Ramanuja (11th Century CE), also known as Ramanujacharya, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete. He is seen by Sri Vaishnavas as the third and most important teacher (Acharya) of their tradition (after Nathamuni and Yamunacharya), and by Hindus in general as the leading expounder of Visishtadvaita, one of the classical interpretations of the dominant Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.

Ramanuja may have written 9 books. They are also referred to as the nine precious gems, the Navarathnas.

1. His most famous work is known as the Sri Bhasya or Brahma Sutra Bhasya. It is a commentary on the Brahma Sutras.

2-4. Gadhya Thrayam (three prose hymns). All three are: Vaikunta Gadyam describing in great detail Vaikuntha, Sriranga Gadyam, a prayer of surrender to the feet of Ranganatha, Saranagati Gadyam, an imagined dialogue between Ramanuja and Shri (Lakshmi) and Narayana where he petitions Lakshmi to recommend Narayana to give him

5. Vedartha Sangraha (a resume of Vedanta). It sets out Ramanuja’s philosophy, which is theistic (it affirms a morally perfect, omniscient and omnipotent God) and

6. Vedanta Saara (essence of Vedanta) an appendix to Sri Bhasya

7. Vedanta Deepa (the light of Vedanta), another

8. Gita Bhashya ( his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita)

9. Nithya Grantham (About the day to day activities to be performed by all SriVaishnavas)

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Eknath - Biography

Eknāth (1533-1599) was a great saint and prominent Marāthi religious poet in the Hindu tradition in India.

Saint Eknath is believed to be the first person in Middle-age Maharastra who have abolished concept of Untouchability by his actions. His well described poems advocate soft corner and equal treatment among all living beings even with animals.

For his spiritual development in his youth, Eknath had accepted the discipleship of a Guru named Janārdan Swāmi- a saint and scholar and highly ranked minister in the kingdom of Devgarh.

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Sri Narayana Guru - Complete Works - Malayalam

This book is a compilation of the complete works of Sri Narayana Guru(1854 - 1928), a great Indian seer of 20th century who visualized the ultimate reality in himself. The Guru was born in Chempazhanthi, Kerala in 1854. A great philosopher-poet of modern India, the Guru, and erudite scholar of Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil, belonged to the great Indian philosophical tradition of Advaita. As the force being the social reform movement, the Guru paved the way for a progressive Kerala society. Gurudevan, as he was fondly known to his followers, led a quiet but significant social revolution. The Guru was instrumental in setting the spiritual foundations for social reform in today's Kerala and was one of the most successful social reformers who tackled caste in India.

This book contains 57 works of the Guru in Malayalam, Sanskrit and Tamil. They are categorised into 5 sections:

1. Hymns of Gods and Goddesses
2. Moral & ethical teachings
3. Philosophical Works
4. Translations of Classics
5. Prose works

This volume brings together all the original writings of Narayana Guru in a digitised form for the first time. This work is in the free domain now.

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Guru Gita Malayalam ഗുരുഗീത അര്‍ത്ഥസഹിതം

ശ്രീവേദവ്യാസരചിതമായ സ്കന്ദപുരാണാന്തര്‍ഗതമായ ഗുരുഗീത ശിവപാര്‍വതീസംവാദരൂപത്തിലാണ് അവതരിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ശ്രീ പാര്‍വ്വതിയുടെ ചോദ്യങ്ങള്‍ക്കുത്തരമായി ശ്രീ പരമേശ്വരന്‍ ഇതില്‍ ഗുരുതത്വവും, ഗുരുപൂജാവിധികളും, ഒരു ശിഷ്യന് അവശ്യം വേണ്ട സദ്ഗുണങ്ങളും വിശദമായി വര്‍ണ്ണിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ഗുരുഭക്തരായ സാധകര്‍ക്ക് ഗുരുതത്വമറിഞ്ഞ് സദ്ഗുരുവിനെ സേവിക്കുവാനും, ഗുരുഗീത നിത്യം പാരായണം ചെയ്യുവാനും ഈ പുസ്തകം വളരെയധികം പ്രയോജനപ്പെടും.

ഗുരുര്‍ബ്രഹ്മാ ഗുരുര്‍വിഷ്ണുഃ ഗുരുര്‍ദേവോ മഹേശ്വരഃ
ഗുരുസ്സാക്ഷാത് പരംബ്രഹ്മ തസ്മൈ ശ്രീ ഗുരവേ നമഃ

അജ്ഞാനതിമിരാന്ധസ്യ ജ്ഞാനാഞ്ജനശലാകയാ
ചക്ഷുരുന്മീലിതം യേന തസ്മൈ ശ്രീ ഗുരവേ നമഃ

എന്നാരംഭിക്കുന്ന സുപ്രസിദ്ധമായ ഗുരുസ്തോത്രം ഗുരുഗീതയില്‍ നിന്നുള്ളതാണ്.

ഡൗണ്‍ലോഡ്

Narada Bhakti Sutra - Sanskrit text with English translation

An English translation of Narada Bhakti Sutras by Y. Subramanya Sharma.

Narada Bhakti Sutra is the manual of Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti-yoga is the art of attaining the Divine through pure love. And there is no greater teacher than the Vedic sage Narada to impart the lessons of Divine Love.

Narada's 84 jewellike aphorisms on devotion, known as the Narada-bhakti-sutra, reveal the secrets of love of God - what it is, and isn't; what its effects are; what helps or hinders our progress along the path; and much more. For the sincere seeker of life's ultimate goal, the Narada-bhakti-sutra is essential.

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Sri Ram Charit Manas - Hindi Text with English Translation

Sri Ramcharitmanas is a great Hindu scripture and poetic classic written by Goswami Tulsidas (16th Century CE). This poem is also known as Tulsi-krita Ramayana, or "The Ramayana of Tulsidas".

Today, Sri Ram Charit Manas is considered one of the greatest works of Hindi literature, and with its composition the story of Ramayana was available for the first time to the common man to sing and perform, and over time this gave birth to the tradition of Ramlila, dramatic enactment of the text.

Sri Ramcharitmanas bestows upon its readers the gifts of Devotion (bhakti), Divine Knowledge (Gyan) and Salvation (Mukti).

Source of E-text:

http://www.gitapress.org/ & http://www.ramcharitmanas.in/

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Saundarya Lahari - Sanskrit Text + English Commentary

This book contains the Sanskrit text, English transliteration, translation, commentary, diagrams and an appendix on prayoga (application) of "The Saundarya Lahari"of Adi Shankara by S.S. Sastri and T.R.S. Ayyangar. "Saundarya Lahari" meaning "Waves Of Beauty" is one of the most famous Sanskrit hymns of Devi (Goddess). Its hundred and three shlokas (verses) eulogize the beauty, grace and munificence of Goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva.

The Saundarya Lahari is not only a poem. It is a tantra textbook, giving instructions on puja and offerings, many yantras, almost one to each shloka; describes tantric ways of performing devotion connected to each specific shloka; and details the results ensuing therefrom. There are many interpretations and commentaries but best of these are arguably those that provide word-to-word translations, as also the yantras, the devotion to be performed and the results of the devotion.

The Saundarya Lahari is often viewed as being composed of two parts.

Verses 1 - 41 describe the mystical experience of the union of Shiva and Shakti and related phenomena. In fact, it opens with the assertion that Only when Shiva is united with Shakti does he have the power to create.

This part of the text is often referred to, quite appropriately, as the Ananda Lahari, the wave of bliss.

Verses 42 to 100 are more straightforward---they describe the physical beauty of the Goddess and are sometimes referred to as the Saundarya Lahari itself. Many scholars, however, refer to the entire text with one name, namely, Saundarya Lahari.


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Adhyathm Ramayanam - Malayalam - Tunchathu Ezhuthachan

Adhyathma Ramayanam is the Malayalam version of Ramayana written by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan in the early 17th Century. Ezhuthachan is considered as the Father of the Malayalam language. The speciality of his version of Ramayana is that it is full of devotion. It has been so popular in Kerala that it has been sued for daily chanting in all Hindu homes in Kerala for more than 300 years. Keralites celebrate mid-July to mid-August as Ramayana Masam (Ramayana Month) every year.

This ebook comprises of 6 kandas:

1. Bala Kanda
2. Ayodhya Kanda
3. Aranya Kanda
4. Kishkindha Kanda
5. Sundara Kanda
6. Yuddha Kanda

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Srimad Bhagavad Gita - "Sadhak Sanjivani' Hindi Commentary by Swami Ramsukhdas

An exhaustive Hindi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by one of the greatest scholars of Gita in 20th century.

Poojya Swami Ramsukhdasji (1902-2004) was an enlightened sage whose life was fully dedicated for the propagation of the teachings of Gita among the masses. He has authored morethan 50 books on Gita and other spiritual topics. His books have been translated into English and also in all prominent Indian languages. The famous "Sadhak Sanjivani", his
masterpiece, contains Sanskrit slokas of Gita, meaning of each word in the slokas and meaning & commentary upon the slokas (verses).

His discourses in Hindi and books in several languages are available for online viewing and download at http://www.swamiramsukhdasji.org/

Source of e-text: http://www.gitapress.org/

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Sri Lalita Ashtotharam Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation

108 names of Divine Mother (Sri Lalita) - Sanskrit Text, English Transliteration and Translation.

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Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram - Malayalam

Lalita sahasranama is the most popular and sacred hymn for the worshippers of the Goddess Lalita Devi, i.e. the Divine Mother, in the form of her and the male gods' feminine power, Shakti. Etymologically, "Lalita" means "She Who Plays". It is supposedly one of the most complete stotras, one need only recite it to gain 'Moksha'.

The thousnad names of the divine Mother are organised as in a hymn, i.e. in the way of stotras. This hymn occurs in the Brahmanda Purana. It is a dialogue between Hayagriva, an (avatara) of MahaVishnu and the great sage Agastya. Lalitha sahasranama was composed by 8 vaag devis (vaag devathas) upon the command of Devi Sri Lalitha.

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The life and teaching of Tukaram by J. N. Fraser & J. F. Edwards

 
Sant Tukaram, a prominent Maharashtrian saint and religious poet, was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in 17th century CE. Tukaram was a devotee of Lord Vittala (or Vithobā) - an incarnation of Lord Krishna, who in turn, is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is quite renowned for his contribution to the Bhakti Movement of Maharashtra.

Like Namdev, Janabai, and Eknath, Tukaram wrote in archaic Marathi a large number of devotional poems identified in Marathi as abhang (अभंग). A collection of 4,500 abhang known as the Gāthā is attributed to Tukaram. It is believed that he was a contemporary of Shivaji Maharaj.

Tukaram puts bhakti at the centre of his spiritual life. In one of his verses, he declares that Bhaktimarg is "the only way to God in this age". Another provides a succinct statement of his philosophy of religion: "God has no form, nor any name, nor any place where he can be seen; but wherever you go, you see God."

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Vishnu Purana - English Translation by_Manmatha_Nath_Dutt

The Vishnu Purana is one of eighteen Maha Puranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna (gem of Puranas). Presented as a dialogue between Parashara and his disciple Maitreya and divided into six parts, the major topics discussed include creation of the universe, stories of the avatars (divine descents) of Vishnu, etc.

Conforming to the Puranic tradition, Vishnu Purana also expounds the most sublime Vedantic truths through stories.

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Hindu Fasts & Festivals - Swami Sivananda

A hand-book explaining the spirit and significance of all major Hindu fasts and festivals.

All Hindu festivals have a deep spiritual import or high religious significance. All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in them. In every festival there is bathing in the morning before sunrise in the river or tank or well. Every individual will have to do some Japa, prayer, Kirtan, recitation of Sanskrit verses and meditation.

Man gets tired on account of hard work or monotonous actions. He wants some change or variety. He wants relaxation. He wants something to cheer him up. These festivals make him cheerful and happy, and give him rest and peace.

In this book, the author has explained the significance and the philosophy of many of the important Hindu fasts and festivals like Deepavali, Shivaratri, Navaratri, Ram Navami, Krishna Jayanti, Makar Sankranti, etc.

For more free books by Swami Sivananda, visit http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/

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