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Rituals

Talks

Why do we offer milk and water to a linga?

Transcript: About rituals, Sadhguru. On Shivaratri we offer honey, milk on Shivalinga. Is there a scientific reason behind why we do that? Milk and honey is offered because most of the lingas that you're offering to are stone lingas. Alright? A stone linga, which is kept for worship or whatever else it may be, if you don't feed it with some kind of fat or oily material, either ghee or milk or something like this,...

... it will crack. It will become brittle and crack over a period of time. So, periodically, you have to apply either oil, or ghee, or milk, or whatever you like. Something through which the stone can absorb fatty material so that there is integrity to the stone. So once you're worshipping something, you don't want it to crack up. It's more like the maintenance. It is a certain maintenance. And also, it makes the linga, if it is properly consecrated, it'll reverberate better if it remins wet. See, if you apply oil or ghee, or even milk, the fat of the milk, the linga remains wet all the time. As I said earlier, you have to keep your body wet to receive. And similarly linga has to be wet for it to exude this. So one simple way of keeping it wet is, soak it in oil, or ghee, or honey, or milk. All these things which will keep it wet for a long period of time. If I pour water, that also is being done, it will remain for ten minutes and then it'll dry up. But if I pour milk, it stays wet for months on end. Because the fat has entered the pores in the rock. Is this the reason why even rudraksh in soaked in ghee? Of course. Otherwise, rudraksh will become brittle and crack up. You just put rudraksh on your body, because they share body heat and other things, in six to eight months it'll crack up. But if you periodically put it in ghee and milk, it will last for a lifetime and more.

Transcript: About rituals, Sadhguru. On Shivaratri we offer honey, milk on Shivalinga. Is there a scientific reason...

... behind why we do that? Milk and honey is offered because most of the lingas that you're offering to are stone lingas. Alright? A stone linga, which is kept for worship or whatever else it may be, if you don't feed it with some kind of fat or oily material, either ghee or milk or something like this, it will crack. It will become brittle and crack over a period of time. So, periodically, you have to apply either oil, or ghee, or milk, or whatever you like. Something through which the stone can absorb fatty material so that there is integrity to the stone. So once you're worshipping something, you don't want it to crack up. It's more like the maintenance. It is a certain maintenance. And also, it makes the linga, if it is properly consecrated, it'll reverberate better if it remins wet. See, if you apply oil or ghee, or even milk, the fat of the milk, the linga remains wet all the time. As I said earlier, you have to keep your body wet to receive. And similarly linga has to be wet for it to exude this. So one simple way of keeping it wet is, soak it in oil, or ghee, or honey, or milk. All these things which will keep it wet for a long period of time. If I pour water, that also is being done, it will remain for ten minutes and then it'll dry up. But if I pour milk, it stays wet for months on end. Because the fat has entered the pores in the rock. Is this the reason why even rudraksh in soaked in ghee? Of course. Otherwise, rudraksh will become brittle and crack up. You just put rudraksh on your body, because they share body heat and other things, in six to eight months it'll crack up. But if you periodically put it in ghee and milk, it will last for a lifetime and more.

May 11, 2021

2:18

Be Inspired / Society / Video

What will you say to people who are desperate for any sign of hope? | Sadhguru in Conversation with Karan Johar | #2

Synopsis: I was at a crossroad about 13 years ago. And my father was very critically ill. And at that juncture of my life, and before that, religion was organized in my life. It was what was taught to me. It was what I thought the right thing to do was. When he was in his last stage, there were things suggested to me. Which were, to me now, completely ridiculous. Including going...

... to a certain temple and feeding a cow of a certain colour. And doing a certain ritual at home. And all those things that one did without even thinking. Because as you said, when you spoke about the idiots on this planet, I was definitely one of those in that stage of my life. But sometimes you reach a critical stage where you seek any kind of desperate measure and you try to hold onto any hope. That even something that is advocated to you that goes against your train of intelligence or thought. To those people, what is your advice? Who have reached the end of the rope, and are hanging on, holding on to anything. Be it religion, be it spiritual, or be it an unfounded piece of advice.

Synopsis: I was at a crossroad about 13 years ago. And my father was very critically...

... ill. And at that juncture of my life, and before that, religion was organized in my life. It was what was taught to me. It was what I thought the right thing to do was. When he was in his last stage, there were things suggested to me. Which were, to me now, completely ridiculous. Including going to a certain temple and feeding a cow of a certain colour. And doing a certain ritual at home. And all those things that one did without even thinking. Because as you said, when you spoke about the idiots on this planet, I was definitely one of those in that stage of my life. But sometimes you reach a critical stage where you seek any kind of desperate measure and you try to hold onto any hope. That even something that is advocated to you that goes against your train of intelligence or thought. To those people, what is your advice? Who have reached the end of the rope, and are hanging on, holding on to anything. Be it religion, be it spiritual, or be it an unfounded piece of advice.

April 25, 2021

6:09

Be Inspired / Indian Culture / Video

Can a negative energy harm a positive energy? | Sadhguru in Conversation with Rakul Preet Singh | #4

Synopsis: In today’s competitive world. Or where people really think that you need to, you know, there’s cut throat competition. And you’re working towards it. And then there’s negativity. And say if someone is, for example, I’ll take an example of myself. I believe in completely just working towards your goal and being positive about it and not looking around on what’s...

... happening, or what people are doing. So, there’s a certain positive energy that you are surrounded with. Does negative energy really affect a positive energy? Like, you know people talk about evil eye, or drishti, that in our Indian culture is so much. I personally don’t believe it, but you know, you hear from people that if you’ve done a good job, there’s drishti. You know, you should come and do this pooja and there are rituals that are followed. So, can a negative energy harm a positive energy?

Synopsis: In today’s competitive world. Or where people really think that you...

... need to, you know, there’s cut throat competition. And you’re working towards it. And then there’s negativity. And say if someone is, for example, I’ll take an example of myself. I believe in completely just working towards your goal and being positive about it and not looking around on what’s happening, or what people are doing. So, there’s a certain positive energy that you are surrounded with. Does negative energy really affect a positive energy? Like, you know people talk about evil eye, or drishti, that in our Indian culture is so much. I personally don’t believe it, but you know, you hear from people that if you’ve done a good job, there’s drishti. You know, you should come and do this pooja and there are rituals that are followed. So, can a negative energy harm a positive energy?

April 14, 2021

11:19

Indian Culture / Society / Video

Are rituals still relevant? | Sadhguru at Shiva Nadar College | #9

Synopsis: My question today is, in the world that we live in today, there exists a multitude of paths to traverse, both, spiritually and religiously. For instance, in Hinduism, there is both, Veda and Vedanta. I can make a conscious choice as to what I would like to take up. But I’m confused. As a millennial I’m really doubting if a ritualistic approach is relevant today....

... So do you believe that rituals still hold and are relevant today?

Synopsis: My question today is, in the world that we live in today, there exists...

... a multitude of paths to traverse, both, spiritually and religiously. For instance, in Hinduism, there is both, Veda and Vedanta. I can make a conscious choice as to what I would like to take up. But I’m confused. As a millennial I’m really doubting if a ritualistic approach is relevant today. So do you believe that rituals still hold and are relevant today?

December 31, 2020

15:03

Video / Wisdom For Seekers

Navaratri – What is the significance of the festival of Navaratri

Synopsis: Navratri is a festival wherein for Nine days, the feminine nature of the divine are celebrated. The three forms of Devi -Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshiped. They also symbolise the 3 aspects of creation - 1) Tamas (birth) , 2) Rajas (activity, passion) and 3) Satva (breaking of boundaries, dissolution). The Linga Bhairavi Devi temple at the Isha Yoga Centre is consecrated to bring alive experience...

... of these 3 dimensions to anyone who is receptive.

Synopsis: Navratri is a festival wherein for Nine days, the feminine nature of the divine are celebrated. The...

... three forms of Devi -Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshiped. They also symbolise the 3 aspects of creation - 1) Tamas (birth) , 2) Rajas (activity, passion) and 3) Satva (breaking of boundaries, dissolution). The Linga Bhairavi Devi temple at the Isha Yoga Centre is consecrated to bring alive experience of these 3 dimensions to anyone who is receptive.

November 12, 2020

09:46

Video / Wisdom For Seekers

Mahashivratri not just a religious ritual

Synopsis: Is Mahashivratri just a religious belief and ritual or something more phenomenal happens on this day? What is the science behind its celebration and how can you benefit from this cosmic gift ? As Sadhguru explains, this day is not about any god or religion, but simply making use of nature's gift to us.

Synopsis: Is Mahashivratri just a religious belief and ritual or something more phenomenal happens on this day?...

... What is the science behind its celebration and how can you benefit from this cosmic gift ? As Sadhguru explains, this day is not about any god or religion, but simply making use of nature's gift to us.

February 19, 2020

07:14

Physical Health / Video

A Fire Wash to ward of Evil and cure ailments?

Synopsis: What is Fire Wash (or Drishti as known in local Indian culture)? Is it just a superstitious ritual to ward of Evil? In this talk, Sadhguru explains the science behind this ancient Yogic practice of cleansing the energy body of the human system and how many chronic ailments have been cured simply by this process, especially in children suffering from ADH ailments. The Yogic sciences prescribe - "Panch...

... Bhuta Shudhhi" or the cleansing of basic 5 elements of human system. What are the other "washes" and how can you benefit from them?

Synopsis: What is Fire Wash (or Drishti as known in local Indian culture)? Is it just a superstitious ritual to...

... ward of Evil? In this talk, Sadhguru explains the science behind this ancient Yogic practice of cleansing the energy body of the human system and how many chronic ailments have been cured simply by this process, especially in children suffering from ADH ailments. The Yogic sciences prescribe - "Panch Bhuta Shudhhi" or the cleansing of basic 5 elements of human system. What are the other "washes" and how can you benefit from them?

October 28, 2019

07:59

Death / Mysticism / Video

What is the significance of death rituals?

Synopsis: Sadhguru explains that once someone is certified by the doctor, still the person is not completely dead. Death happens as a process. After someone dies, fingernails keep growing up to 11 days. So, the withdrawal of life happens slowly as a process. With this understanding, there are various death rituals in India, which are carried out up to 14 days of a person's death

Synopsis: Sadhguru explains that once someone is certified by the doctor, still the person is not completely dead....

... Death happens as a process. After someone dies, fingernails keep growing up to 11 days. So, the withdrawal of life happens slowly as a process. With this understanding, there are various death rituals in India, which are carried out up to 14 days of a person's death

June 1, 2019

9:15

Articles

Article / Health & Wellbeing / Yogic Science

How Does Linga Bhairavi Devi Know What I Want?

We have many desires and aspirations. How does Linga Bhairavi Devi really know what I want? And, will she make all my desires come true? How does Devi really make things that we want manifest in our lives? Sadhguru tells us - a bicycle doesn't know where you want to go, it just enhances your journey. Like that, Devi isn't really interested in where you want to go, she just enhances your ability to go there. Read on to find out the best way to be to receive Devi's grace to manifest your aspirations and desires.

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October 15, 2019

4 min read

Article / Indian Culture / Storytelling / Zen Stories

A Blind Man Carrying A Lantern – A Zen Story

Sadhguru narrates a short zen parable of a blind man carrying a lantern, and then explains what the parable is trying to say. We create processes to benefit our lives. These become part of our culture. But most times we forget why these processes were created in the first place, and start following them blindly. Over time, these get distorted and don't serve the purpose that they were designed for. The new generation then wonders and gets confused about whether it is needed for our life or not. Sadhguru emphasizes this with an example of a certain tradition followed in Karnataka.

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July 30, 2019

3 min read

Article / Mysticism / Storytelling

Did Adi Shankaracharya Enter a Dead King’s Body

Is it really true that Adi Shankaracharya entered the body of a king for some time? Due to certain situations, Adi Shankaracharya got into a debate with a woman. The woman, knowing that Adi Shankaracharya was a brahmchari, trapped him into experiential questions on sexuality. Adi Shankaracharya excused himself for a month, and went into a cave. He went into a King's body who had just died due to a cobra bite. Sadhguru explains the mechanics of prana, and how it is possible for someone to enter into another body.

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May 9, 2019

4 min read

Article / Death

Why cremation is such an important ritual?

Why Cremation is such an important process - both for the Living and the Dead? What is the significance of dispersing ashes in the river? Sadhguru unravels it all....

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February 2, 2019

4 min read

Article / Physical Health

Does Energy Healing Really Work?

These days many alternate healing techniques are available. One of them is 'Energy Healing'. It uses instruments like Tensor and Frequency Generators, for healing purposes. What do these machine really do? How do they cure? Are these processes safe, or can they cause more harm then good? Sadhguru elaborates on this aspect in this article.

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June 28, 2018

3 min read

Article / Indian Culture

Are Traditions Important?

All traditions sprout from an inner experience. In order to share it with others, it becomes a system, then a tradition. Tradition sometimes becomes a religion and sometimes many other things. In India, to preserve the purity of what was transmitted, a tradition of oral transmission was followed, called the Guru-Shishya Paramparya. Tradition per se is not important; it is only a means for the current generation to experience some glorious experience what was the genesis of the tradition. Traditions get distorted over a period of time. Any tradition that does not work, will get demolished. If you can bring the original experience back to people, they will anyway preserve it.

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June 16, 2018

4 min read

Article / Death / Mysticism

What is Samskara and the Significance of Death Rituals?

Samskara is used for two aspects. One is, the genetic memory that we carry; memory coming from previous generations. Another is the rituals that are performed after one's death. These two meanings are connected. Whether the memory that we are carrying through are genetics is a bondage or an advantage for us, simply depends on how much distance we are able to create with it. The way to create this distance is through yogic practices, and through death rituals. Death rituals are not for remembrance, but to distance ourselves from the genetic memory of are parents.

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May 25, 2018

6 min read

Article / Physical Health / Yogic Science

What is a Fire Wash (Klesha Nashana Kriya)?

If you have observed, after taking a shower, you feel rejuvenated. This is because, when water flows over your body, it is not only about cleaning the dirt on your skin. Sadhguru says - "That is also happening of course, but beyond that, there is a certain cleansing of the akashic dimension of who you are". Around 12 to 18 inches of akash is around almost everyone. Cleaning this akash using fire is fire wash. Sadhguru says - "Using fire as a way of cleansing yourself is a very powerful system. This is known as Klesha Nashana Kriya, which means “to destroy or burn up the impurities in the system.”

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April 28, 2017

3 min read

Article / Health & Wellbeing / Yogic Science