Latest news with #SriKrishna


Mint
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
ISKCON responds to YouTuber's chicken prank at group's veg eatery in London: If ‘Gita could be taught at schools….'
After a video of British YouTuber 'Cenzo' eating chicken from KFC inside ISKCON's vegetarian Govinda's Restaurant in London triggered public outrage, ISKCON London has said that if the Hindu holy book 'Gita could be taught at schools and universities', then such 'wanton acts of aggression against innocent persons" would stop. The incident took place last week at the popular pure vegetarian eatery. Cenzo, who is of African descent, entered the restaurant and asked if meat was served. Upon learning that it wasn't, he proceeded to eat his own KFC takeaway chicken meal at a table there. He even offered the chicken meal to nearby patrons and staff. The entire incident was captured on camera, and the video went viral on social media. Soon, Cenzo was removed from the restaurant by the staff. In an official statement released on July 20, ISKCON London said: 'If the truth of the Gita could be taught at the schools and universities then such wanton acts aggression against innocent persons would cease.' 'Every child should know that we are not these temporary material bodies and minds, rather we are eternal spirit souls and servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna,' it said. Calling all living beings 'spiritual sparks' originating in the Supreme source, ISKCON said all lives are sacred and should be respected. It further said: 'We forgive and sincerely pray for the perpetrators of this undignified act, who due to ignorance are probably unaware or simply don't care about the pain they are causing by making such childish videos.' 'May they awaken to the divine consciousness of seeing all living beings as equal on the spiritual platform, to no longer judge and act based upon superficial considerations, to grow to appreciate the beauty of culture, tradition, moral values and the truth of scripture, and to understand that the real peace formula is in loving devotion to the Supreme,' ISKCON London added. Meanwhile, Cenzo issued an apology through a video. He claimed that he was unaware of the restaurant's religious links.


The Hindu
13-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Shiroor Mutt performs ‘Kattige Muhurtha' ahead of next year's ‘paryaya'
The Shiroor Mutt performed 'Kattige Muhurta', the third among the four preparatory rituals scheduled ahead of the paryaya of Sri Krishna Mutt in Udupi, on Sunday. Vedavardhana Tirtha, the seer of Shiroor Mutt, will ascend the 'Paryaya Peetha', also called the 'Sarvajna Peetha', for the first time on January 18, 2026. He was anointed the 31st seer of the Shiroor Mutt on May 14, 2021. The biennial paryaya marked the transfer of responsibilities of the management of the mutt-cum-temple, and exclusive right to worship Lord Krishna, from one mutt to another, among the ashta (eight) mutts in Udupi. Storing firewood in the form of a chariot commenced with the 'Kattige Muhurtha' to undertake mass feeding activities during the two-year 'paryaya' of the Shiroor mutt. The firewood chariot would be erected on the northeastern side of the Madhwa Sarovara. As part of the ritual, 25 truckloads of firewood would be collected and stacked, according to Diwan of Shiroor Mutt Uday Kumar Saralatthaya. Stacking of firewood in the form of a chariot will be over by December, he said. Mr. Saralatthaya said the ritual of stacking firewood for paryaya has, for ages, commenced during the 'Ashada' month. Collecting wood during this month helps trees to regenerate, he said. It is also said that people had no jobs during the rainy season in the olden times. Hence, the process of storing firewood for 'paryaya' used to start during the rainy season to provide employment to people, and one seru (a unit) of rice was given as remuneration for one bunch of firewood. Special poojas performed On Sunday, special pujas were performed to the presiding deities of Shiroor Mutt ahead of Kattige Muhurtha. Thereafter, people carried firewood on their heads, by hand, and on the bullock cart from Laxmi Thota, Kalsanka, to the Krishna Mutt premises. They had darshan of Sri Chandramouleeshwara and Sri Anantheshwara before arriving at the Kashta Muhurta site. Pujas were performed on the piled firewood there. The first preliminary, the 'Baale Muhurtha', was performed on December 26, 2024. It marked the planting of plantain saplings in the backyard of Shiroor mutt to ensure a plentiful supply of plantain leaves, which are used for anna dana (mass feeding) at the Sri Krishna mutt. The second preliminary Akki Muhurtha, which marks the collection of rice from devotees for mass feeding at the 800-year-old Sri Krishna mutt-cum-temple established by Sri Madhwacharya, propounder of the Dwaita philosophy, was held on March 6 this year. The Bhatta Muhurtha, the last ritual, is pending. Yashpal Suvarna, MLA for Udupi, Gururaj Ghantihole, MLA for Byndoor, K. Raghupathi Bhat, former MLA for Udupi and Udupi City Municipal Council president Prabhakara Poojary were among those who were present during 'Kattige Muhurtha'. Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha inaugurated the office of the reception committee of the next year's paryaya on the occasion. He said that 'pattadhikari' of Dharmasthala and Rajya Sabha Member, D. Veerendra Heggade, will be the honorary president of the committee. Udupi MLA will be its president, and senior priest of Kateel Durgaparameshwari temple, Gopalakrishna Asranna, Tejaswi Soorya, MP, and Ranjan Pai, Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group, will be the executive presidents.


Time of India
11-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kattige Muhurta as part of Paryaya on July 13
Mangaluru: The third ritual as part of the Paryaya festival, the 'Kattige Muhurta', will be held on July 13. Udaya Kumar Saralatthaya, the Diwana of Sri Shiroor Mutt, Udupi, told reporters on Friday, that the 'Kattige Muhurta' is the third ritual being held prior to the Paryaya festival in Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt. The 'Akki Muhurta' to offer 'annadana' during the next Paryaya of 2026-2028, was already held. It is a custom in the mutt to offer 'naivedya' to the deity by cooking rice and cereals using only firewood. The preparation for the collection of firewood for this purpose is known as Kattige Muhurta, he said. "Devotees consider naivedya as prasada. It is believed that Srimad Madhvacharya himself offered naivedya to Sri Krishna. Devotees accept this naivedya as prasada and hence the kattige muhurta has its own significance. The ritual will be held during the 'Simha Lagna' at 9.15 am on Sunday. There is a rule to collect wood during the month of Aashada. This is because, during the rainy season, the cut trees can sprout again and grow for up to 16 years. About 25 truckloads of wood from the kari (karmaru) tree are gathered and stacked in an artistic chariot model approximately 50ft high and 25ft wide at the northeastern corner of the Madhva Sarovara," he explained. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pensia privată facultativă NN Pensia Facultativă NN Vezi oferta Undo Dignitaries, scholars, diwanas, and devotees offer prayers at the shrines of Chandramoulishwara, Sri Anantheshwara, Sri Krishna, Mukhya Prana, and Garuda prior to the Kattige Muhurta ritual. This religious tradition is being followed in Udupi since the Sri Vadiraja era, he said, adding that the ritual will be held at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh. Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna said that Udupi City Municipal Council has earmarked Rs 50 lakh to illuminate the city during the 10-day Shiroor Paryaya festival to be held in Jan, 2026.


Hans India
22-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of mind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to 'Mental Yoga' – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of 'Vedanta Kesaris' – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (The writer is a Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)


Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Unlocking inner peace with mental yoga – A path to true well-being
In a world that often feels like a relentless pursuit of external validation, where the latest trend or the next social media approval dictates our emotional compass, a fundamental truth often gets lost: our inherent capacity for profound inner peace and unwavering joy. While the discourse around well-being frequently centres on physical health, it's time we recognise a critical missing piece – our mental and emotional equilibrium. We see individuals with all the material comforts, yet plagued by an undeniable sense of hollowness. They crave connection, acceptance, and love, often spiralling into distress when left to their own company. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai This isn't merely a societal observation; it's a profound human dilemma. Can one truly be a good companion to others, or find genuine fulfilment in relationships, if they cannot even enjoy their own solitude? This critical question echoes through the ages, and its answer, as articulated in ancient wisdom traditions like the Upanishads, points to a fundamental forgetting – a disconnection from our authentic, beautiful selves. Yogaschittavritti nirodhaha implies that yoga is for the cessation of the vagaries of themind. Sri Krishna in Bhagawad Gita says, Samatvam Yoga Uchyate - equanimity is Yoga. Putting the two together it simply means that choosing the quality of one's thoughts and emotions and remaining equanimous is the path and goal of yoga. For too long, the popular perception of yoga has been confined to impressive physical postures – the 'asanas'. While these offer undeniable physical benefits, they represent only a fraction of yoga's transformative potential. Today, I want to introduce you to "Mental Yoga" – a powerful, yet often overlooked, dimension of this ancient practice that directly addresses our deepest yearning for mental and emotional well-being. Mental Yoga, at its core, is the cultivation of a steady and equanimous mind. It's about training our awareness, not just of our breath or our body, but of our internal landscape – our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Through practices like meditation, we begin to uncover the true nature of our being: eternal, pure, enlightened, liberated, and blemish-free. When we truly comprehend this profound truth, the incessant search for external validation simply ceases. Why would you seek approval from the transient when you are the embodiment of the eternal? The wisdom traditions speak of "Vedanta Kesaris" – lions among men who have not only understood but experienced this truth. Their characteristics offer a compelling blueprint for mental fortitude: they are fearless, unperturbed by any external stimuli, free from worry, devoid of craving, untouched by hatred, and unswayed by fleeting elation. They embody sthitaprajña – a state of unwavering steadiness. Imagine a life where circumstances, however challenging, do not dictate your inner state. Where efficiency and clarity in action stem not from anxious striving, but from a profound inner calm. This is the promise of Mental Yoga. It's not about suppressing emotions, but understanding their impermanence and not allowing them to derail your inner peace. The ultimate joy that arises from this practice is not a fleeting burst of happiness, but a deep, abiding bliss – anando brahmeti vyajanat. It is an oceanic joy, a supreme contentment that, once attained, becomes an inseparable part of your being. This is your birth right. In a world grappling with a mental health crisis, where anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent, Mental Yoga offers a potent and accessible solution. It empowers individuals to reclaim their inner sovereignty, to find joy not in external acquisitions, but in the profound realisation of their own inherent nature. It is time to embrace the profound power of meditation and the complete science of yoga – not just as a physical discipline, but as a holistic path to mental and emotional liberation. This isn't just about feeling better; it's about fundamentally transforming your relationship with yourself and the world, and in doing so, reclaiming the wealth of bliss that is truly yours. (Author: Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai About the Author : Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai- Founder of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission)