Tea House: Interviews, Commentary, Reviews, Poetry
About Worship
Worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
Dakini Translations - Adele Tomlin
From the Ground Up - CA
The Spiritual Athlete’s Path to Enlightenment
Throughout this world, there are many mysterious and amazing feats that can be found. People are capable of doing most incredible things that we have never deemed possible.
Only by truly believing in ourselves can we accomplish what were thought as impossible goals.
Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei
In Mount Hiei of Japan, there can be found a small group of monks who live in a monastery and can accomplish many remarkable challenges. This mountain had .
Doleshwor Mahadev: The forgotten Head of Kedarnath
After a treacherous trip up the mountains, Bhimsen, one of the five Pandavas spotted a gigantic looking bull in a distance which he knew was Shiva in disguise. Bhimsen known for his brute strength, forcefully caught the bull. When the bull was caught, he tried to escape but unfortunately, the bull was torn into several parts because of Bhimsen’s strength.
Mahabharata, the Sanskrit epic depicts the struggle for power and conflict between two groups of .
The Tales of Padmapani Lokeshwar, Sankata and the Mahankal Bhairava
King Narendra Deva along with the tantric priest, Bandudatta and a local farmer, Lalit travelled all the way to Assam, to bring Padmapani Lokeshwar to Kathmandu but since they faced a lot of "sankat" (dangers) along the way, the priest Bandudatta summoned Sankata, the "deity who removes dangers".
In ancient Nepal, stories about gods and goddesses have existed from the beginning of time and they were an important part of everyday life.
They elaborated everything from .
Itum Bahal and the Legend of the Demon Guru Mapa
There are innumerable monasteries in Nepal where Buddhist teachings are passed on from one generation to the next. The presence of many ancient stupas, Buddhist temples, monasteries and Bahals (Buddhist monastery courtyards) made Kathmandu as one of the centers of Buddhism since the ancient times.
Some of the breathtaking and majestic sites are still fully functioning, while others are remnants of the ancient city’s glorious past.
Itum Bahal (Shree Bhaskar Deva Sanskarit Kesh Chandra Krit .
The Holy Sites and Vibrant Tales in Dang
The Pandeshwor Mahadev temple is thought to have been established by Pandavas during their exile. There’s also an interesting local legend regarding the Shiva lingam inside the temple and Saaj tree attached to the temple.
When we travel through the Dang Valley, which lies between the Mahabharat Range in the north and the Churia Range in the south, we travel back in time, into the exciting ancient tales of gods, goddesses, kings and queens. There .
Tales of Hiranya Varna Mahavihar – The Golden Temple
The golden temple and its sublime architectural design, the marvelous artefacts and engrossing stories have startled the minds of visitors and left them pondering for years.
Patan is a captivating ancient city boasting some majestic temples and monasteries poking out from behind modern buildings to those found along the old narrow alleys and streets
There are many shrines dedicated to Buddhism in Patan and you don’t have to be practicing Buddhism to appreciate the architectural significance .
The Patronage of Buddhism and Jainism by Ancient Indian Dynasties
Different dynasties, such as the Maurya, Satavahanas, Western Satraps, and Kushans, supported Buddhism and Jainism by building large architectural monuments such as stupas and cave complexes during their reign.
The Maurya dynasty, which existed in ancient India, was known for patronizing both Jainism and Buddhism, as well as supporting the construction of large cave complexes, stupas, and other architectural monuments. These structures were used by monastic orders during the rainy season.
After the decline of the .
Kathmandu, The Land of Bhairava
In popular lore, the god of time and death, Kaal Bhairava was considered to be the judge, jury, and executioner in ancient times. Anyone accused of the crime was made to stand before Kaal Bhairava for judgment.
Bhairava in the Indra Jatra festival
Under sunny skies, huge crowds packed the Durbar square in Kathmandu to witness the Indra Jatra festival. Among the many dazzling attractions, is a religious practice of the chariot procession of the living .
Appearances and Identifications of Vajrapani
Vajrapani is one of the earliest and most recognizable characters of Buddhist art. He is known for carrying a vajra scepter and being a close attendant to the historical Buddha according to the Mahayana Sutras. In Vajrayana, Buddhism Vajrapani is entrusted to safeguard all of the Tantra literature and in this regard, he is known as Guhyapati - the Lord of Secrets.
Different Forms of Vajrapani
Vajrapani manifests in a variety of forms and looks, ranging from placid .
Hinduism & Buddhism – In context of Nepal
Today, Hinduism is referred to as the oldest living religion followed in the whole world. More than 3000+ deities are found in some places near the homes of Hindus where they love and worship. Though the underlying philosophies of Hinduism are the same, the belief system has been adjusted over nearly 3000 years of existence. The concept is still the same and is adjusted over time to cope with social changes of a society.
Before .