Highest intelligence: Intuition, the all-knowing wisdom of the soul.

All of God’s children are endowed with the highest intelligence: intuition, the all-knowing wisdom of the soul.

Intuition is that power of Spirit inherited by the soul by which truth is perceived directly, without the medium of any other faculty.

Intuition is soul guidance, appearing naturally in man during those instants when his mind is calm. 

Nearly everyone has had the experience of an inexplicably correct “hunch” or has transferred his thoughts accurately to another person.

Every man has the power of intuition, as he has the power of thought. 

As thought can be cultivated, so intuition can be developed. 

In intuition we are in tune with Reality — with the world of Bliss, with the “unity in diversity,” with the inner laws governing the spiritual world, with God. …but it needs to be developed:  

In the life of every person, two forces of knowledge are operative from birth: 

(1) the power of human reason, along with its satellites of sensation, perception, conception, and so forth; 

(2) the power of intuition. 

The former is developed through social institutions and interactions. 

The latter usually remains uncultured, undeveloped, because of want of proper guidance and methods of training.

So long as one’s intuition remains undeveloped, he is guided mainly by the limited understanding of mortal intelligence, with only occasional promptings of intuitive wisdom. 

Thus he engages in some good actions, but also in many wrong actions, and acquires many bad habits. 

Through the operation of the law of cause and effect, or karma, he finds himself following helplessly his own self-created destiny, which often leads to misery.

A life can be successful, healthy, and complete — balanced with wisdom and happiness — when activity is guided by God’s inner, intuitive direction.

The only way to know and to live in truth is to develop the power of intuition. 

Then you will see that life has a meaning, and that no matter what you are doing the inner voice is guiding you.

While animals are guided primarily by instinct, and ordinary man is guided by his ego, the yogi who is united to the Self is guided by the soul.

This intuitive power can be developed by learning the step-by-step methods of scientific deepest meditation that lead to Self-realization. - Gurudev Paramhansa Yogananda.

What is the meaning of Mahalaya? Why do we celebrate Mahalaya?

Mahalaya, marks the beginning of Devi-Paksha and the end of the Pitri-Paksha (the Shradh).

It is an auspicious day for Eastern Indians and Bengalis, who celebrate it with much enthusiasm.

Mahalaya is observed seven days before the Durga Puja.

Mahalaya marks the beginning of Navratri and Durga Puja. ...

It is believed that Goddess Durga starts her journey to earth with her family on the day of Mahalaya.  

Mahalaya is the last day of the Pitra Paksha or the period when Hindus offer homage to their deceased ancestors.

Come autumn and everybody seems to get into the festive mode, which starts pretty much from today.

While there is one too much folklore associated with the occasion, the most famous is Mahalaya being an invitation of sorts to the mother goddess to begin her journey from Kailash to her paternal home (earth), along with her children. 

This invitation is extended through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs like Jago Tumi Jago and Bajlo Tomar Alor Benu.

This day also holds a special meaning for Hindus, who perform the ritual of Tarpan (offering). 

Men clad in dhotis go to the banks of the river Ganga and offer prayers to their deceased forefathers and perform pind-daan.

In the 1930s, Mahalaya was first broadcast over the radio. 

Later, it was recorded and played during the day in the voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra.

The legendary narrator recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth in his unique style.

Since morning, Bengalis and eastern Indian all over the world have been tweeting about it.

                                                            End

Purana - Ancient Indian Literature, Truth and Myth - 4th Part (Last).

                          TRIDEV - L to R - Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh.

12. – Linga Purana – In it there are 11,000 verses. 

Linga Discusses Lingam, it is the symbol of Lord Shiva, and origin of the universe.

It also contains many stories of Lingam, one of which entails how Agni Lingam solved a dispute of Supremacy between Vishnu and Brahma.

13. – Narada Purana – It has 25,000 verses. 

This is also known as Naradiya Purana. 

It discusses the Four Vedas   and the Six Vedanta .

It has dedicates one chapter each, from Chapters 92 to 109, to summarize the other 17 Maha Puranas and itself. 

It lists major rivers of India and places of pilgrimage, and a short tour guide for each.

In it there are discussion of various philosophies, Soteriology, Planets, Astronomy, Myths and Characteristics of major Deities including Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Krishna, Rama, Lakshmi and others.

14. – Padm Purana - In it there are 55,000 verses. 

It has large compilation of diverse topics. 

The north Indian manuscripts of Padm Purana are very different than South Indian versions.

There are various recessions in both groups in different languages (Devanagari and Bengali,for example) shows major inconsistencies. 

Padm Purana describes cosmology, the world and nature of life from the perspective of Vishnu. 

It also discusses festivals, numerous legends, geography of rivers and regions from North-west India to Bengal to the kingdom of Tripura.   

Major sages of India, various Avatars of Vishnu and his cooperation with Shiva, the story of Rama-Sita that is different than the Hindu epic Ramayana. 

Like Skanda Purana, it is a detailed treatise on travel and pilgrimage centres in India.

15. – Shiv Purana – It has 24,000 verses. 

This Purana discusses about Shiva and his stories.

16. - Skand Purana – In this Purana there are 81,100 verses.  

This Purana describes the birth of Skanda (Karthikeya), son of Shiva. 

This Purana is the longest Purana; it is an extraordinarily meticulous pilgrimage guide, containing geographical locations of pilgrimage centres in India, with related legends, parables, hymns and stories.

Many untraced quotes are attributed to this text.

17. – Vaman Purana – It has 10,000 verses. 

It describes North India, particularly Himalayan foothills region. 

18. – Varah Purana – In it there are 24,000 verses. 

This Purana is dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s Varah Avtar.

It is Vishnu-related worship manual, with large Mahatmya sections or travel guide to Mathura and Nepal. 

Presentation focuses on Varaha as incarnation of Narayana, but rarely uses the terms Krishna or Vasudeva. Many illustrations also involve Shiva and Durga.

All major Puranas contain sections on  Devi (goddesses) and  Tantra. 

But of these the six most significant ones are: Markandaya Purana, Shiv Purana, Linga Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, and Padm Purana.      

  

The Padm Purana, Uttara Khanda (236.18-21), itself a Vishnu Purana. 

It classifies the Puranas in accordance with the three (3) Guna) character or qualities; - 

truth, passion and ignorance.

 The 3 Guna (character or quality) are -  

a.      Sattva  (truth) - Varah Purana,  Padm Purana, Narada Purana, Garuda Purana,       Vishnu Purana , Bhagwat Purana.

b.      Rajas (Passion) - Brahmanda Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Vishnu Purana, Markandaya Purana, Brahma Purana, Vaman Purana.

c.       Tamas (Ignorance) - Agni Purana, Matasaya Purana, Linga Purana, Kurma

 Purana, Shiv Purana, Skand Purana.  

                                          This is the End of Purana .