Reflections

Stotram is a sanskrit term which means 'hymn of praise'. It is a poetic composition on a form of divinity which is meant to be sung. Devi Stotrams are dedicated to the Divine Mother. Stotrams are a magical way to connect to the unseen power that takes care of us and the world. A popular stotram that is chanted on all the Navaratri days is Lalita Sahasranamam . Lalita means Divine Mother and Sahasranamam means thousand names. It is considered auspicious to chant thousand names of the Divine Mother on every friday. It brings peace, clarity and prosperity in the lives of people. Homes where Lalita Sahasranamam is chanted, never experience any shortage of basic necessities of life. It purifies the whole atmosphere and fills the person with positive energy. Lalita Sahasranamam is from Brahmand Purana and dwells on her different aspects and qualities. Devi Kavacham is another popular stotram that can be sung or heard everyday. Devi means Divine Mother and Kavacham me...

Having spent most of my childhood in North India in the capital city, Delhi and nearby areas with frequent trips to homeland nested in Himalayas, I never imagined my first trip down south to be so mesmerizing! One of the recent places I visited was Madhurai. The name Madhurai is derived from the Sanskrit word “ Madhur ” which means sweetness. This place is synonymous with Meenakshi Amman temple situated on the banks of River Vaigai.  It has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. It used to be the commercial and cultural centre for the great Pandya kings. According to the legend, the city got its name from the sweetness (Madhur) of nectar that was showered by the Hindu God Shiva from his matted hair when the city was built around this temple. The architecture of this city was built in accordance to the “Shilpa Shastras”, which are ancient texts about urban planning. The city architecture is built in the shape of lotus flower...