The first among the Navadurgas is Shailaputri. Shaila means stone, and putri means daughter. Praying to this aspect of Mother Divine brings strength (like a stone). It brings commitment. When the mind is wavering, chanting the name of this Devi Shailaputri helps the mind to be centered and committed. It gives us strength, courage, and composure.
Read more at http://www.artofliving.org/navratri/navdurga
Sri Sri: There is a saying in Hindi, ‘jaisa anna, waisa mann’. What you put in your tummy, that’s how your mind works. This is an ancient saying. It’s almost in every culture. If someone behaves strangely, they ask ‘Hey, what have you eaten today?’
Sri Sri: These are three different levels, primary, higher secondary and college. A student only wants to take some knowledge and leave. A disciple goes one step further and forms a relationship, he is connected with the heart and mind. And a devotee, well he controls God himself, he makes God is servant! If one is a master he is a devotee, if he wants to do seva, he is a disciple and if he wants to simply takes something and go then he is a student.
Sri Sri: Just be in the moment, feel fresh and alive! See the entire past as a dream and doubt the present as to whether this could be a dream, then you are already in wonderment.
Padma Shri Dr Kiran Seth, 66, was studying in the US when he had an epiphany during a Brooklyn concert by dhrupad maestros Ustad Aminuddin Dagar and Ustad Fariduddin Dagar. When he came back to India and started teaching mechanical engineering at IIT Delhi, he realized most of his students were cut off from any form of Indian classical music. This inspired him to start a small organization called SPIC MACAY in 1977, to expose young people to India's vast cultural heritage. The organization grew and grew, and is today the largest voluntary non-governmental body of its kind. It organizes more than 5,000 concerts each year and has a presence in 800 Indian cities and towns. It is estimated to have impacted more than 3 million students from schools and colleges, many of whom credit SPIC MACAY with giving them their first taste of classical music.
The disharmony outside is a direct reflection of the disharmony within a large majority of the population. Bringing in art and other aspects of Indian and world culture into our lives can make all the difference.
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UP government would soon get ownership of the Banke Bihari temple at Vrindavan and Vindhyachal Devi temple transferred from the respective trusts to its name. Principal secretary religious affairs Navneet Sehgal said advice was sought from the department of law on how to get an Act in place for the two shrines before taking up the ownership.
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Lucknow’s first Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Plant at Shivri will soon have a wide belt of trees to improve surrounding area’s air quality. Jyoti Envirotech, the NGO that is already collecting garbage from 57 out of 110 wards in Lucknow will be planting trees to ensure good air quality at Shivri.
Jyoti Envirotech will also need to process the leachate (waste moisture) use it within the treatment plant for sprinkling during composting. Else, the leachate would be harmful for surrounding environment, and should not be thrown outside premises.
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