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  1. Fireside_Hindu

    Ramayana Study Guide?

    I've found a version on amazon that has a English translation although not the transliteration. I can read Devanagari so that not an issue luckily. I'm going to experiment a little and see if I can come up with a good study process with it.
  2. Fireside_Hindu

    Ramayana Study Guide?

    I like the idea of using the Ramacharitmanas as the study version. Easier to get multiple copies with translations as opposed to English prose translations of Valmiki. The only part I would regret not having is the Tulsidas does not include the "abandoning" of Sita at the end. Even if it is a...
  3. Fireside_Hindu

    Ramayana Study Guide?

    Namaste all, I've been wishing a lot lately that there were a set of books or study guide materials related to the Ramayana that would allow a group of interested Hindus to gather, read, discuss and deepen their knowledge/appreciation of their faith as it relates to different topics in the...
  4. Fireside_Hindu

    Your 'primary' scripture(s)?

    The Ramayana and the Gita Primarily, although I read the Lakshmi Tantra and found it very meaningful to my practice as a Shakta.
  5. Fireside_Hindu

    So I'm Interested in Shaktism

    Namaste and Welcome. I'm a Goddess devotee - specifically Mahalakshmi, but I also venerate other forms of the Goddess. I find the author David Frawley's work to be very educational and easy to understand when it comes to the worship of the Goddess in Hinduism. He is a westerner, but has...
  6. Fireside_Hindu

    Female Hindus, how do you approach Radha?

    I consider myself a shakta and I'm a hetero female. The truth is I don't give Radha much thought though, as her particular form of the goddess is not one I venerate specifically. I have an intellectual understanding of her symbolism and purpose within Krishna Bhakti circles and I don't read too...
  7. Fireside_Hindu

    When esoteric stuff gets intellectual

    Excellent Excellent Post. I sometimes catch myself rolling my eyes at some of my western counterparts who talk about "Chakra Cleanses" and Kundalini Awakening seminars like it's something you can comprehend in a weekend workshop. I don't understand these things, and I don't expect to. A...
  8. Fireside_Hindu

    Hinduism Book Recommendations

    As a Shakta I can confirm that certain terms and practices associated with Goddess worship have been muddied to the point where it's extremely difficult to figure out the exact nature of the yogic path. However, from my own reading and experience is good to start with exploring the basic four...
  9. Fireside_Hindu

    Aadheenam pictures

    Stunning! I have been invited by the monks to visit whenever I can. I find the money and opportunity but now I see what I have to look forward too. It looks like a real sanctuary.
  10. Fireside_Hindu

    Language and translation

    What I would do is read a couple different translation of a text I did this for the gita. But also I would ask Hindus directly about what certain passages mean, because you'll get the cultural meanings from that as well. Once you see how different concepts are interpreted in different texts...
  11. Fireside_Hindu

    Language and translation

    Based on my limited experience as a native English speaker and intermediate Hindi speaker - the meaning of the original Sanskrit is almost always misinterpreted. A lot of it is that there aren't theological or philosophical concepts in English speaking cultures that can accurately describe...
  12. Fireside_Hindu

    Preparations for MahaShivaratri

    If you scroll through my facebook Illustration page I often post the images of posters I make for the various temples I am a devotee at. Thanks for asking! Ashley Moore Illustration
  13. Fireside_Hindu

    Preparations for MahaShivaratri

    I prepared the poster for my local mandir's Mahashivratri celebration. I'll likely go to mandir and do abhishekam but I won't stay all night. Shivratri is a very nice contemplative time.
  14. Fireside_Hindu

    Hanuman's Bell

    Namaste All, I have noticed in many depictions of Lord Hanuman that he has a bell tied to his tail. I can't seem to find a clear answer as to what it might signify. Do any of you know? Thanks in advance =)
  15. Fireside_Hindu

    Attending temple (or not)... something on my mind lately

    I can totally relate @Jainarayan I've been attending temple regularly for more than 5 years now but my inherent social anxiety has never left me. Like you, no one has ever been unkind to me, but it has always been a discomfort I can't shake. I am usually fine after about 20 minutes, but I have...
  16. Fireside_Hindu

    I have to either do puja more often, or trim it

    I have an art background so I get caught up in symmetry and hierarchy of scale. Like I want MahaLakshmi to be central but then Little Krishna and my Ram Parivar look off. It feels wrong to buy new murtis to deal with this funky part of my brain but I'm tempted all the time.
  17. Fireside_Hindu

    I have to either do puja more often, or trim it

  18. Fireside_Hindu

    I have to either do puja more often, or trim it

    I'm the same way now. I'll learn something new outside the context of the puja if I want to add it eventually, but I have a set of mantras I have memorized that I use every time to keep it simple.
  19. Fireside_Hindu

    Temple Visits from "Outsiders"

    A priest friend of mine from my first temple is named Raghavendra. Popular name =)
  20. Fireside_Hindu

    SBNR and Hinduism.

    I agree! I think though, the SBNR answer is all too often used to avoid such philosophical discussion. Very rarely does anyone elaborate on what they mean by saying "I'm SBNR". At least in my experience. There are some popular swamis I can think of that strike me as SBNR but they have a strong...
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