Science of Knowledge & Wisdom

From The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section XXVI Yudhishthira asked: Which countries, which provinces, which retreats, which mountains, and which rivers, O grandsire, are the foremost in point of sanctity? Bhishma said: In this connection is cited the old narrative of a conversation between a Brahmana in the observance of the Sila and Unccha vows, O Yudhishthira, and a Rishi crowned with ascetic success. Meeting with each other and seated at their ease, the two began to converse on agreeable subjects connected with the Vedas and the Upanishads. Towards the conclusion of the discourse, the Brahmana in the observance of the Sila vow respectfully addressed the Rishi crowned with success. Endued with intelligence, he put this very question which thou, O Yudhishthira, hast put to me. The poor Brahmana said: What countries, what provinces, what retreats, what mountains, and what rivers should be regarded as the foremost in point of sanctity? Do thou discourse to me on th

From The Mahabharata, Santi Parva,  Section CLVIII     Addressing King Yudhishthira Bhishma said: I shall now tell thee of those who are called good and whose practice are pure. They who have no fear of an obligation to return to this world (after death), they who have no fear of the next world, they who are not addicted to animal food and who have no liking for what is agreeable and no dislike for what is otherwise, they to whom good behaviour is ever dear, they in whom there is self-restraint, they to whom pleasure and pain are equal, they who have truth for their high refuge, they who give but not take, they who have compassion, they who worship Pitris (deceased ancestors), gods and guests, they who are always ready to exert themselves for the good of others, they who are universal benefactors, they who are possessed of great courage (of mind), they who observe all the duties laid down in the scriptures, they that are devoted to the good of all, they who can give thei

Sacred Fire Ceremony AGNI Agni (fire) is the deity that represents all the other deities. Agni is said to be the mouth of the gods. Agni is known as the messenger of the gods. Whatever man has to say to the gods, to the higher powers, he conveys it through Agni. All the gods are fed through Agni. Agni is the link with the Supreme Lord of all the worlds. Agnihotra or Havan is a primary and fundamental rite during the performance of which oblations to the Supreme are offered in the consecrated fire. The rite is usually performed in the external fire in which the Supreme is invoked. In the Bhagavad Gita, Ch.7, Verse 9, the Lord says: "I am the brilliance in the fire." "The deities are said to have Agni for their mouth" –The Mahabharata, Santi Parva  Section CCCXLII "Agni is Vishnu. Entering all creatures, he upholds their life-breaths." -The Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Sec. CCCXLIII. Yajnas link human beings with the hidden cos