Why did Akbar kill Birbal?

Why did Akbar kill Birbal? Birbal died because of Akbar. The Yusufzai tribes of Afghanistan began a rebellion against Mughal rule on the eastern bank of the Indus River. The soldiers sent by Akbar to crush the rebellion had been killed. Akbar sent the wise Birbal with his new army reinforcements to Attock in 1586 to help commander Jain Khan. Birbal and the army moved into a narrow pass in Swat Valley (present day Pakistan), Afghan soldiers lay in ambush in the hills were there, and they started firing shells from above. After this, in the major defeat of Akbar, Birbal and more than 8000 soldiers were killed. The saddest thing was that his body was never found. This was the biggest military loss for Akbar. It is said that he did not eat or drink anything until he was saddened by the loss of his favorite royal prince Birbal. He was very sad because due to the body of Birbal not being found, his last rites could not be performed. Akbar the Great had declared that this was his biggest tragedy since he assumed the throne.

Why is Nandi so dear to Lord Shiva?

Why is Nandi so dear to Lord Shiva? Now the question also arises that if Ravana is the biggest devotee of Shiva, then why Nandi is so dear to Mahadev. There is also an interesting story attached behind it. According to this story, when the Asuras were churning the ocean, Halahal poison emerged from the churning of the ocean. Seeing the poison, both Sur and Asura refused to drink poison, in such a situation, Mahadev himself drank that poison to protect the whole world. But while drinking poison, some drops fell on the ground, which Nandi licked. Lord Shiva was pleased to see this love and dedication of Nandi and he gave Nandi the title of his biggest devotee. In this way, along with the ride of Lord Shiva, Nandi also came to be known as his biggest devotee. Along with being a devotee of Lord Bholenath, Nandi also got the privilege of becoming his vehicle. In any Shiva temple, there is an idol of Nandi ji outside the temple and since then it is believed that he conveys the message of the

Full Transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji's Kashmir Program !

Full Transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji's Kashmir Program ! “Good morning everybody. Wow! Kashmir ki kaliyan khil gayi hain! (The buds of Kashmir have blossomed!) I feel so happy being here in Kashmir. The love and affection I am receiving from you all fills my heart with joy. It’s such a wonderful day that we are all here to take a pledge — that we will see that Kashmir is free from drugs. My dream has always been a society free from violence, bodies free from disease, minds free from confusion, intellects free from inhibition, and souls free from sorrow. This is the birthright of every human being. I like to see a smile on everyone’s face. I am happy — you are already smiling. That is the 'Art of Living'! --- *The Five Golden Principles of the Art of Living* Art of Living is based on five simple yet powerful principles: 1. Balance of mind. In life, we all get happy times and tough times. But in all times, keep your mind balanced. Have faith that only the best will happen to you. 2. Accept people as they are. You cannot expect everyone to be like you. Just as you want others to accept you as you are, learn to accept them as they are. You know, when you point a finger at someone, three fingers point back at you! So introspection is necessary for growth. 3. Don’t be a football of others’ opinions. We often get carried away by what others think about us. Don’t let yourself be manipulated. Be motivated, not manipulated. Be a thinker — have your own ideas, while listening to everyone. 4. Drop the past. How many of you have made mistakes? Raise your hands. Yes, everyone has! So when you make a mistake, just say, “Okay, I made a mistake — now let’s move on.” You would like others to forgive and forget your mistakes, right? Then you must also forgive and forget others’. 5. Live in the present moment. Live in the now. Have a scientific temper. Learn to question, to reason, but also to stay joyful and spontaneous. --- *Gurudev on the Modern Mind's Attention Span* You know, when I was studying in college, the class period used to be 55 minutes. The bell would ring after 55 minutes. Today, do you know what is the attention span? Thirty seconds! Are you all here? (smiles) Those sitting in the gallery, are you here? You talk to someone, but their mind is somewhere else. Right? You don’t like it when people don’t pay attention to you. So, this constant distraction, social media, and anxiety about the future — all this creates stress. “What will happen to me? What will I become?” This constant worry drains your energy. And when people lose energy, they look for escape — and that’s when they fall into drugs. --- *The Real Cause of Drug Addiction* Why do people take drugs? One, because they don’t want to live with stress. They think drugs give relief. Two, because they are not happy with normal sensory experiences — they want something higher, something more exciting. So, they seek an “altered state of consciousness.” But the tragedy is — they go in the wrong direction to find it. Those who are addicted — don’t blame them. Don’t push them away. Embrace them. Understand them. Help them. Many want to come out of it but don’t know how. That’s where we can help. The secret is in their own breath. With a few minutes of Sudarshan Kriya (taught in Basic Course of Art of Living) and meditation, a sea change happens inside. The mind becomes clear, stress disappears, and joy returns. So today, let’s take a vow — we will neither take drugs nor let anyone around us take drugs. If someone has gone into it, we’ll help them come out. --- *On Depression and Aggression* One more big issue among youth today — depression and aggression. When you see someone with a long face, don’t just pass by. Stop. Shake hands. Hug them. Ask them, “Hey, what’s wrong?” Sometimes, a two-minute conversation can save a life. In youth, energy can go in two wrong directions — aggression or depression. But this is the time to be creative, joyful, and full of enthusiasm. Let’s not waste our youth in anger or sadness. --- *The Mind and the Heart* You know, the mind always wants something new — new fashion, new gadget, new iPhone! But the heart always loves the old — old friends, old memories. Life is a combination of both — old and new. Like a tree — roots are old, shoots are new. So, keep the scientific temper of the mind, and the warmth of the heart. --- *The Great Heritage of Kashmir* I was just telling some professors earlier — when I travelled around the world, I came across a book called Spandakarika, a text of Kashmiri Shaivism. It talks about vibrations — that everything in the universe is vibration. Modern physics discovered this only recently, but it was written here in Kashmir thousands of years ago! Like how India gave the world the concept of zero — Kashmir gave the world the science of consciousness. We must own it and take pride in it. Kashmiri youth are brilliant, dynamic, and full of heart. The only obstacles are stress and small-mindedness. Let’s overcome both. --- *Questions from the Youth* Q: In a region that has seen decades of unrest, how can young people cultivate peace and resilience? Gurudev: We need to heal past wounds and move on. Meditation will help — it is not foreign to Kashmir. It is your heritage! Kashmir gave meditation to the world. It doesn’t interfere with religion. Religion is separate; spirituality is universal. Meditation sharpens the intellect, energizes the body, and brings happiness to the mind. Q: How do you see the role of Kashmiri women in peace and progress? Gurudev: Kashmiri women have great power. They influence men deeply and can bring peace to society. They can play a big role in rebuilding and healing. Q: How can Kashmiri art, language, and music be revived in modern times without losing their essence? Gurudev: We must pay attention to our art — carpets, crafts, painting, music — and take pride in them. Women can lead this revival. Q: What message would you like to give the youth of Kashmir to promote harmony? Gurudev: Travel! Travel across India and the world. When you meet people from everywhere, you realize — everyone is part of you. Life is short — there is less time to love, so why fight? Even so-called “bad” people are not bad — just misguided, misunderstood, or misfortunate. They need compassion, not condemnation. There are no outsiders. All belong to us. --- *Closing Guidance* Now tell me — how many of you have neck and shoulder pain from too much screen time? (smiles) Many of you raised your hands! Alright, I’ll show you a small exercise — it’ll relieve you instantly. Stretch your arms behind your head… turn… (Gurudev demonstrates playfully). Keep doing this every day! --- *Final Message by Gurudev* You are the light — Jyoti Svaroop — within you is the radiance of the Divine. Recognize it. Awaken it through meditation. There’s less time to love and serve, so don’t waste it in anger or stress. Serve, sing, meditate, and smile. That is the *Art of Living*.

Why is Lord Vishnu mostly in the sleeping posture, however every other god is usually seen sitting?

Why is Lord Vishnu mostly in the sleeping posture, however every other god is usually seen sitting? Yog Nidra : According to sacred texts ; Lord Vishnu undergoes Yoga Nidra for a certain time of a year. Seers and devotees believe; it is his provable way to remember Lord Shiva , his beloved deity. Many devotees believe ; Lord Sri Hari recharges himself to create; sustain and destroy world. Chaturmaas : It is known as Chaturmaas (four months) ; when all auspicious acts are forbidden. Hindu monks do not travel during this specific period and indulge in meditative prayers. Anant shesh : Lord Vishnu reclines on Anant Shesh ji - his divine serpent. Anant shesh happens to be among the greatest devotees of Lord Sri Hari Vishnu. He epitomizes Kundalini Shakti (mystical powers) and utmost devotion. Powers : Anant Shesh guards Lord Sri Hari against all form of negative energy. It also acts as couch ; cover and fan for Lord Sri Hari Vishnu. Devuthani : After four months ;Lord Sri Hari gets up from his divine sleep on Devuthani Ekadashi. Naturally, all auspicious deeds start from that day. Facts : Lord Sri Hari not only sleeps ;but sits on his couch. All deities have personal symbols -Lord Shiva’s Baghambar (tiger’ skin) ; Goddess Durga’ lion.) Each symbol in Hindu philosophy has a specific and subtle meaning. Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sita Ram Narayan Jai Sri Lakshmi Bhumi Anant Shayanam Narayan Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Shiv Shambo

God created man and the whole world with so many varieties,- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Valluri

God created man and the whole world with so many varieties, so many good things. God made so many types of vegetables, fragrances, flowers and thorns, dragons and horror, to please man and keep him entertained. But man got more and more depressed. God then acted tough and man had to start pleasing Him. And so, man kept himself busy pleasing God and he became happier since he had no time to get worried or depressed. So, when you have someone to please, it keeps you on your toes and you feel happier. But if your whole aim is just to please yourself, you will get depressed. Pleasure simply brings more craving. But the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.

God created man and the whole world with so many varieties - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

God created man and the whole world with so many varieties, so many good things. God made so many types of vegetables, fragrances, flowers and thorns, dragons and horror, to please man and keep him entertained. But man got more and more depressed. God then acted tough and man had to start pleasing Him. And so, man kept himself busy pleasing God and he became happier since he had no time to get worried or depressed. So, when you have someone to please, it keeps you on your toes and you feel happier. But if your whole aim is just to please yourself, you will get depressed. Pleasure simply brings more craving. But the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.

A beautiful writeup from Sudha Murthy , which appealed to me and I share it with you

A beautiful writeup from Sudha Murthy , which appealed to me and I share it with you I feel...... "Barely the Day Started and... it's Already six in the evening. Barely Monday Arrived.. And it's Already Friday. Before we could Realise..... The Month is Already Over..... And, And.... The Year is Almost Over. As of now...... Already 40, 50 or 60+Years of Our Lives have passed... ... And Suddenly We Realise that we Lost our Parents, Friends and some Beloved Ones...... And then we Realize it's Too Late to Go Back....... So... Despite Everything Let's Try To Enjoy the Remaining Time. Let's keep looking for Activities that we like... Let's put some Colour in our Grey (if we aren't Bald yet)........ Let's Smile at the Little Things in Life that put Balm in our Hearts....... And despite Our Physical Discomfort...... Lets continue to Enjoy with Serenity the Time Left in Us.... That Let's try to Eliminate The Afters... I'm Doing it After... I'll Say After....... I'll Think about it After....... Yes..... We are habituated to Leave everything to Postponing.... High time we understand '′After′′ is " Never Ours"...... Aren't We Aware..... Afterwards Means, The Coffee gets Cold... Afterwards Means, Our Priorities tend to Change....... Afterwards Means, the Charm is Broken....... Afterwards Means Health Passes... Afterwards Means... The Day becomes The Night... And Suddenly Afterwards Life Ends..... So Let's Leave Nothing for Later. If we continue to Harp on Afterwards / Later Syndrome.. We will Lose the Best Moments..... Best Experiences.... Best Friends..... Best Time with Family... Lets Wake Up..... Realise The Day is Today... The Moment is Now.... Lets Face Stark Reality ... We are No Longer at the Age where we can Afford to Postpone.. Share it with Like Minded Similar Aged Persons who No Longer Have Luxury To Postpone....... (Or maybe you'll leave it for... ′′ Later"... And you'll never Share it....).