Calendar of Observances 2021–2022

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VEDANTA SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CALENDAR OF OBSERVANCES AND OTHER SPECIAL DAYS 2021 – 2022 (PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS IN BOLD) 2021 KALI PUJA (In Hollywood) Nov 4 Thu KALI IMMERSION SRI RAMNAVAMI Apr 21 Wed Nov 6 Sat (In Newport Beach) SHANKARACHARYA May 17 Mon JAGADDHATRI PUJA Nov 12 Fri BUDDHA PURNIMA (In Hollywood) May 26 Wed SWAMI SUBODHANANDA Nov 16 Tue MEMORIAL DAY RETREAT May 31 Mon SWAMI VIJNANANANDA Nov 18 Thu (In Hollywood) PHALAHARINI KALI PUJA Jun 9 Wed THANKSGIVING Nov 25 Thu SNANA YATRA Jun 24 Thu HANUKKAH Nov 28–Dec 6 Su - Mo VIVEKANANDA DAY Jul 4 Sun SWAMI PREMANANDA Dec 12 Sun (In Trabuco) VIVEKANANDA DAY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Jul 10 Sat Dec 24 Fri (In South Pasadena) (6 PM) RATHA YATRA Jul 12 Mon JESUS CHRIST (Christmas Day) Dec 25 Sat HOLY MOTHER Birth Day & GURU PURNIMA Jul 24 Sat Dec 26 Sun Celebration SWAMI RAMAKRISHNANANDA Aug 6 Fri SWAMI SHIVANANDA Dec 30 Thu NEW YEAR'S EVE MEDITATION SWAMI NIRANJANANANDA Aug 22 Sun Dec 31 Fri (11:30 PM - Midnight) SRI KRISHNA PUJA Aug 29 Sun (In San Diego) 2022 SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI Aug 30 Mon KALPATARU DAY Jan 1 Sat SWAMI ADVAITANANDA Sep 6 Mon SWAMI SARADANANDA Jan 8 Sat LABOR DAY RETREAT Sep 6 Mon SWAMI TURIYANANDA Jan 16 Thu (In Hollywood) GANESH CHATURTHI Sep 10 Fri SWAMI VIVEKANANDA PUJA Jan 23 Sun SWAMI ABHEDANANDA Sep 30 Thu SWAMI VIVEKANANDA Jan 25 Tue MAHALAYA Oct 6 Wed SWAMI BRAHMANANDA Feb 2 Wed SWAMI AKHANDANANDA Oct 6 Wed SWAMI TRIGUNATITANANDA Feb 4 Fri NAVARATRI CHANTING Oct 6 – 15 SARASWATI PUJA Feb 5 Sat (Jai Sri Durga) Wed - Fri SWAMI BRAHMANANDA PUJA Feb 6 Sun DURGA PUJA (In Santa Barbara) Oct 9 Sat SWAMI ADBHUTANANDA Feb 16 Wed DURGA SAPTAMI Oct 12 Tue SHIVA RATRI Mar 1 Tue DURGA ASHTAMI Oct 13 Wed SRI RAMAKRISHNA BIRTHDAY Mar 4 Fri SANDHI PUJA (7.43 pm – 8.31 pm) Oct 13 Wed SRI RAMAKRISHNA Celebration Mar 6 Sun DURGA NAVAMI Oct 14 Thu SRI CHAITANYA Mar 18 Fri VIJAYA DASHAMI Oct 15 Fri SWAMI YOGANANDA Mar 21 Mon LAKSHMI PUJA Oct 19 Tue SRI RAMNAVAMI Apr 10 Sun .

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The Disporia of Borders: Hindu-Sikh Transnationals in the Diaspora Purushottama Bilimoria1,2
Bilimoria International Journal of Dharma Studies (2017) 5:17 International Journal of DOI 10.1186/s40613-017-0048-x Dharma Studies RESEARCH Open Access The disporia of borders: Hindu-Sikh transnationals in the diaspora Purushottama Bilimoria1,2 Correspondence: Abstract [email protected] 1Center for Dharma Studies, Graduate Theological Union, This paper offers a set of nuanced narratives and a theoretically-informed report on Berkeley, CA, USA what is the driving force and motivation behind the movement of Hindus and Sikhs 2School of Historical and from one continent to another (apart from their earlier movement out of the Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia subcontinent to distant shores). What leads them to leave one diasporic location for another location? In this sense they are also ‘twice-migrants’. Here I investigate the extent and nature of the transnational movement of diasporic Hindus and Sikhs crossing borders into the U.S. and Australia – the new dharmic sites – and how they have tackled the question of the transmission of their respective dharmas within their own communities, particularly to the younger generation. Two case studies will be presented: one from Hindus and Sikhs in Australia; the other from California (temples and gurdwaras in Silicon Valley and Bay Area). Keywords: Indian diaspora, Hindus, Sikhs, Australia, India, Transnationalism, Diaspoetics, Adaptation, Globalization, Hybridity, Deterritorialization, Appadurai, Bhabha, Mishra Part I In keeping with the theme of Experimental Dharmas this article maps the contours of dharma as it crosses borders and distant seas: what happens to dharma and the dharmic experience in the new 'experiments of life' a migrant community might choose to or be forced to undertake? One wishes to ask and develop a hermeneutic for how the dharma traditions are reconfigured, hybridized and developed to cope and deal with the changed context, circumstances and ambience.
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Swami Vivekananda
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 9 Letters (Fifth Series) Lectures and Discourses Notes of Lectures and Classes Writings: Prose and Poems (Original and Translated) Conversations and Interviews Excerpts from Sister Nivedita's Book Sayings and Utterances Newspaper Reports Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 9 Letters - Fifth Series I Sir II Sir III Sir IV Balaram Babu V Tulsiram VI Sharat VII Mother VIII Mother IX Mother X Mother XI Mother XII Mother XIII Mother XIV Mother XV Mother XVI Mother XVII Mother XVIII Mother XIX Mother XX Mother XXI Mother XXII Mother XXIII Mother XXIV Mother XXV Mother XXVI Mother XXVII Mother XXVIII Mother XXIX Mother XXX Mother XXXI Mother XXXII Mother XXXIII Mother XXXIV Mother XXXV Mother XXXVI Mother XXXVII Mother XXXVIII Mother XXXIX Mother XL Mrs. Bull XLI Miss Thursby XLII Mother XLIII Mother XLIV Mother XLV Mother XLVI Mother XLVII Miss Thursby XLVIII Adhyapakji XLIX Mother L Mother LI Mother LII Mother LIII Mother LIV Mother LV Friend LVI Mother LVII Mother LVIII Sir LIX Mother LX Doctor LXI Mother— LXII Mother— LXIII Mother LXIV Mother— LXV Mother LXVI Mother— LXVII Friend LXVIII Mrs. G. W. Hale LXIX Christina LXX Mother— LXXI Sister Christine LXXII Isabelle McKindley LXXIII Christina LXXIV Christina LXXV Christina LXXVI Your Highness LXXVII Sir— LXXVIII Christina— LXXIX Mrs. Ole Bull LXXX Sir LXXXI Mrs. Bull LXXXII Mrs. Funkey LXXXIII Mrs. Bull LXXXIV Christina LXXXV Mrs. Bull— LXXXVI Miss Thursby LXXXVII Friend LXXXVIII Christina LXXXIX Mrs. Funkey XC Christina XCI Christina XCII Mrs. Bull— XCIII Sir XCIV Mrs. Bull— XCV Mother— XCVI Sir XCVII Mrs.
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Numbers in Bengali Language
NUMBERS IN BENGALI LANGUAGE A dissertation submitted to Assam University, Silchar in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Arts in Department of Linguistics. Roll - 011818 No - 2083100012 Registration No 03-120032252 DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE ASSAM UNIVERSITY SILCHAR 788011, INDIA YEAR OF SUBMISSION : 2020 CONTENTS Title Page no. Certificate 1 Declaration by the candidate 2 Acknowledgement 3 Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1.0 A rapid sketch on Assam 4 1.2.0 Etymology of “Assam” 4 Geographical Location 4-5 State symbols 5 Bengali language and scripts 5-6 Religion 6-9 Culture 9 Festival 9 Food havits 10 Dresses and Ornaments 10-12 Music and Instruments 12-14 Chapter 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 15-16 Chapter 3: OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY Objectives 16 Methodology and Sources of Data 16 Chapter 4: NUMBERS 18-20 Chapter 5: CONCLUSION 21 BIBLIOGRAPHY 22 CERTIFICATE DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES ASSAM UNIVERSITY SILCHAR DATE: 15-05-2020 Certified that the dissertation/project entitled “Numbers in Bengali Language” submitted by Roll - 011818 No - 2083100012 Registration No 03-120032252 of 2018-2019 for Master degree in Linguistics in Assam University, Silchar. It is further certified that the candidate has complied with all the formalities as per the requirements of Assam University . I recommend that the dissertation may be placed before examiners for consideration of award of the degree of this university. 5.10.2020 (Asst. Professor Paramita Purkait) Name & Signature of the Supervisor Department of Linguistics Assam University, Silchar 1 DECLARATION I hereby Roll - 011818 No - 2083100012 Registration No – 03-120032252 hereby declare that the subject matter of the dissertation entitled ‘Numbers in Bengali language’ is the record of the work done by me.
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Conversations with Swami Turiyananda
CONVERSATIONS WITH SWAMI TURIYANANDA Recorded by Swami Raghavananda and translated by Swami Prabhavananda (This month's reading is from the Jan.-Feb., 1957 issue of Vedanta and the West.) The spiritual talks published below took place at Almora in the Himalayas during the summer of 1915 in the ashrama which Swami Turiyananda had established in cooperation with his brother-disciple, Swami Shivananda. During the course of these conversations, Swami Turiyananda describes the early days at Dakshineswar with his master, Sri Ramakrishna, leaving a fascinating record of the training of an illumined soul by this God-man of India. His memories of life with his brother-disciples at Baranagore, under Swami Vivekananda’s leadership, give a glimpse of the disciplines and struggles that formed the basis of the young Ramakrishna Order. Above all, Swami Turiyananada’s teachings in the pages that follow contain practical counsel on many aspects of religious life of interest to every spiritual seeker. Swami Turiyananda spent most of his life in austere spiritual practices. In 1899, he came to the United States where he taught Vedanta for three years, first in New York, later on the West Coast. By the example of his spirituality he greatly influenced the lives of many spiritual aspirants both in America and India. He was regarded by Sri Ramakrishna as the perfect embodiment of that renunciation which is taught in the Bhagavad Gita Swami Shivananda, some of whose talks are included below, was also a man of the highest spiritual realizations. He later became the second President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
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Ananda Katha
ANANDA KATHA BY NAGINA PRASAD CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter One October 1953: My friend Chandranathji and my vision of Baba. Baba sends His blessings and accepts me as a disciple. My initiation in November 1953 2 Chapter Two I am persecuted by my boss. Baba explains the real meaning of ahim’sa and the importance of iis’t’a mantra. 9 Chapter Three Jamalpur and the tiger’s grave. 11 Chapter Four Baba explains the meaning of varn’aghdana and warns against mean mindedness. The downfall of my persecutor. 15 Chapter Five February 1954: I get a sympathetic boss and am transferred to Begusarai. Manan Prasad miraculously loses weight. 19 Chapter Six Rainy Season 1954: My boss Asthanaji takes initiation and Baba appears before him. 22 Chapter Seven September 1954: Baba gives me the boon of only getting demotion when I myself desire it. My daughter dies and is miraculously resurrected and my wife takes initiation. 26 Chapter Eight The sufi saint Dattaji and his prophecy about Baba 30 Chapter Nine Winter 1954: Baba solves my difficulties in meditation and explains how His assistance is given from a distance. Shyam Charan Lahiri becomes ‘Vajra Bhairav’ at the tiger’s grave. Baba’s disciples of His previous lives. The ‘white lady’. The power and use of iis’t’a and guru mantras. Bindeshwariji’s daughter is initiated and her life is extended. My methods of pracar. 33 Chapter Ten November 1954: Demonstrations. Sunday 7th: Samadhis Sunday 14th Savikalpa and Nirvikalpa samadhi. Sunday 21st: Demonstration of death. Sunday 28th: Nirvikalpa samadhi. 42 Chapter Eleven Deep Narayanji and Vishvanathji are initiated and I try to feed Harisadhanji.
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Environmental Impact Assessment Due to Festivals
International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research IJETSR www.ijetsr.com ISSN 2394 – 3386 Volume 3, Issue 5 May 2016 Environmental Impact Assessment Due To Festivals Praveen Shivhare1, Professor Deepak Rastogi2 Civil Engineering Department, MITS College, Gwalior , (M.P.), India ABSTRACT In India, various festivals like Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Maa Durga Puja,and Deepawali are also generate water, air, and noise pollution and affects the all environmental attributes (air, water, land, ecology, sound, human aspect, economy, and resources). The festival of ‘Holi’ is proving to be an environmental risk due to the toxic colors used during the celebrations. Unlimited use of such toxic colors affects the human health an ecological balance. Present study analysis the trend and status of pollutants generated during festivals. As per data obtained from M.P. pollution control board Gwalior, it is observed that noise level is high than CPCB standards at three locations of Gwalior city. SPM level is also high during Deepawali festival. Study shows that characteristics of water are also affected. Celebrate dry Holi. Don’t use water. Use natural and home- made holi colors. Stone idols are worshipped. Idols made of stone are best as they can be worshipped every year. Immerse only those idols which are made of unbaked mud, clay or other biodegradable material. Use less number of firecrackers. The manufacture, sale or use of fire-crackers generating noise level exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C)pk at 4 meters distance from the point of bursting shall be prohibited. KEYWORDS: - Festivals, Air, Water, and Noise Pollution, Holi, Deepawali, Idol immersion.
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Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC
Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC 3001 Bel Pre Road · Silver Spring, MD 20906 Phone: (301) 603-1772 E-mail: [email protected] Website: vedantadc.org JANUARY 2020 SCHEDULE Minister: Swami Sarvadevananda Resident Monks: Swami Atmajnanananda Swami Brahmarupananda Swami Chidbrahmananda Br. Kumar Ramakrishna Order of India Sunday Lecture: 11 AM Tuesday Discussion Group 10 AM Talks with Swamiji 5 Swami Mahayogananda Own the Day Wednesday Discussion Group 11 AM Practice of the Presence of God 12 Swami Chidbrahmananda The Beauty of Age Wednesday Night Class 8 PM Vivekacudamani 19 Swami Vivekananda Puja See Under Special Programs Thursday Discussion Group 10 AM 26 Swami Brahmarupananda Bha g avad Gita What is in a Name? Friday Night Class 8:00 PM 3 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 10 Bha g avad Gita 17 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 24 Life of Holy Mother 31 Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 1 Special Programs Social Service The Vedanta Center participates in a volunteer 1 January Kalpataru Day program at Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring. Please Puja 11 am: let us know if you would like to take part. Service is : Flower offering and bhajans 12 noon on the third Friday of the month. 12:30 pm: Prasad lunch 19 Swami Vivekananda Puja Grocery Gift Cards 11 am: Introductory Talk We urge all of you to take part in our gift card 11:30: Puja, Bhajans, Flower Offering program. Gift cards for Giant, Shopper’s, and 1 pm: Prasad Lotte/Assi Plaza may be purchased at the Center following the Sunday lecture or during visiting hours, Ram Nam and are used just like a debit card when purchasing Ram Nam will be held at the Center on Saturday groceries.
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List of Festival Celebrations at Durga Temple for the Year 2020
LIST OF FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS AT DURGA TEMPLE FOR THE YEAR 2020 1. New Year Mata Jagran Wednesday, January 1st 2. Vaikunth Ekadeshi Puja Monday, January 6th 3. Lohri – Bonfire Celebration Monday, January 13th 4. Makar Sankranti Monday, January 14th 5. Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Wednesday, January 29th 6. Maha Shivaratri Utsav Friday, February 21st 7. Holika Dahan Monday, March 9th 8. Holi Mela To Be determined Tuesday, March 24th – 9. Vasant Navaratri Mahotsav Thursday, April 2nd 10. Durgashtami- Durga Hawan Wednesday, April 1st 11. Shri Ram Navami Thursday, April 2nd Shri Ramcharit Manas Akhand Paath 12. Saturday, April 4th Begins Shri Ramcharit Manas Akhand Paath 13. Sunday, April 5th Bhog Shri Hanuman Jayanti 14. Tuesday, April. 7th Samoohik Sundar Kand Paath 15. Baisakhi – Solar New Year Monday, April 13th 16. Akshaya Triteeya Saturday, April 25th 17. Guru Purnima Saturday, July 4th 18. Raksha Bandhan Monday, August 3rd 19. Shri Krishna Janmashtmi Tuesday, August 11th 20. Haritalika Teej Friday, August 21st Shri Ganesh Chaturthi 21. Saturday, August 22nd (Annual homam) 22. Labor Day – Annual Saraswati Puja Monday, September 7th Sharad Navaratri Utsav Saturday, October 17th – 23. Garba Dance (in hall downstairs) Saturday Oct 24th 24. Durga Ashtami Hawan Friday, October 23rd 25. Vijaya Dashami - Dussehra Sunday, October 25th 26. Dussehra Mela To be determined 27. Sharad Purnima Saturday, October 31st 28. Karva Chauth Puja Wednesday, November 4th 29. Dhan Teras Thursday, November 12th 30. Deepavali Saturday, November 14th 31. Annakoot (Goverdhan Puja) Sunday, November 15th 32. Tulsi Vivah Wednesday, November 25th Kartik Purnima - Kartik Deepam - 33. TBD Shata Rudrbhishak 34. Geeta Jayanti Friday, December 25th 35.
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ZEEMEDIA [email protected]
ZEEMEDIA [email protected] Collaborative Strategies C o h e s i v e G r o w t h ZEEMEDIA ZEE MEDIA CORPORATION LIMITED REGISTERED OFFICE 14th Floor, A Wing, Marathon Futurex, NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 400013 Maharashtra Tel.: +91 22 7106 1234 Fax: +91 22 2300 2107 Website: www.zeenews.india.com Annual Report 2017-18 OUR ZEEMEDIA PRESENCE INSIDE THIS REPORT Corporate Overview Collaborative Strategies Cohesive Growth 01 Growing Together with Viewer Engagement 02 Growing Together with Advertisers' Reach 03 Growing Together with Society and Government 04 Growing Together with Our Employees - Our Trusted Aides 05 Srinagar Steadfast Progress, Nurturing New Ventures 06 Jammu Raising the Bar with Innovations 08 Message to Shareholders 10 Growth Firmly Embedded in Value System 12 Chandigarh Dehradun Our Channels and Digital Platforms 13 Corporate Information 16 Noida STATUTORY REPORTS Lucknow Varanasi Notice 17 Jaipur Ajmer Directors' Report 26 Patna Corporate Governance Report 43 Kota Management Discussion and Analysis 56 Ranchi Kolkata Ahmedabad Bhopal Indore Vadodara FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Rajkot Raipur Surat Standalone Financial Statements 67 Nagpur Consolidated Financial Statements 121 Bhubaneswar Nasik Aurangabad Thane Mumbai BSE, Mumbai Pune Kohlapur Hyderabad FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Bengaluru Certain statements in this annual report concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. We have tried wherever possible to identify such statements by using words such as 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'expect', 'project', 'intend', 'plan', 'believe' and words of similar substance in connection with any discussion of future performance.
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Pacific Affairs: Volume 85, No. 4 – December 2012 844 This Reordering of Events in the Chronology I Am Arguing for Is Hugely S
Pacific Affairs: Volume 85, No. 4 – December 2012 This reordering of events in the chronology I am arguing for is hugely significant from a political point of view. Putting the agitation for Khalistan before the 1984 Operation Bluestar, apart from being factually wrong, might suggest that Operation Bluestar was an action to stop the Khalistan movement and almost provides legitimacy to the army action. However, putting the agitation for Khalistan after 1984 is not only historically accurate; it also signifies that it is the Operation Bluestar itself that alienated the Sikhs so deeply from India that a section of them launched the movement for Khalistan to secede from India. Although clearly Jakobsh does not offer any justification for Operation Bluestar, her unintended placing of events in the order that I have questioned here provides support to a likely, and indeed, common misinterpretation of the order of events. Her discussion on the Sikhs and the internet is absolutely fascinating and refreshing in raising challenging questions about the potentialities of the internet in not only opening new spaces for discussion on taboo subjects but also in creating new forms of authority in articulating what Sikhism is. This book, a scholarly work of high quality, is written in the spirit of critical reverence for the Sikh tradition and deserves wide circulation and readership. Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom Pritam Singh REVELRY, RIVALRY, AND LONGING FOR THE GODDESSES OF BENGAL: The Fortunes of Hindu Festivals. By Rachel Fell McDermott. New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. xviii, 372 pp. (Figures.) US$34.00, paper.
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Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019 Vikarin Nama Samvatsare Utarayane Nartana Ritau Mesha Mase Krishna Pakshe Manta Vasara Yuktayam New York City, NY Svati/Vishakha Nakshatra Siddhi Yoga Taitila/Gara Karana Dvitiyayam Titau ✯ Gold Retreat Star Sutra 6 Gulika 5:11AM – 6:52AM Svati Until 7:17AM Ganesha: Red Sunrise: 5:11AM Vikarin 5121 Tula Rasi: 19.09 Tithi 17 Yama 1:36PM – 3:18PM Siddhi Until 7:09PM Muruga: Yellow Sunset: 6:40PM Moon 4 - Phase 2 264483468 Rahu 8:33AM – 10:14AM Nataraja: Purple 1st Phase Taitila Until 2:51PM Creative Work Siddha Yoga Moon – Green Sivaloka Day Dvitiya Until 2:01AM Sun Chaitra•Chaitra Sunday, April 21, 2019 Vikarin Nama Samvatsare Utarayane Nartana Ritau Mesha Mase Krishna Pakshe Bhanu Vasara Yuktayam New York City, NY Vishakha/Anuradha Nakshatra Vyatipata*/Variyan Yoga Vanija/Visti* Karana Tritiyayam Titau Sun 1 Sutra 7 1 Gulika 3:18PM – 4:59PM Vishakha Until 6:28AM Ganesha: Blue Sunrise: 5:09AM Vikarin 5121 Vrischika Rasi: 3.03 Tithi 18 Yama 11:55AM – 1:37PM Vyatipata* Until 4:59PM Muruga: Yellow Sunset: 6:41PM Moon 4 - Phase 2 274483468 Rahu 4:59PM – 6:41PM Nataraja: Purple 1st Phase Vanija Until 1:23PM Routine Work Marana Yoga Moon – Orange Devaloka Day Tritiya Until 12:54AM Mon Chaitra•Chaitra Monday, April 22, 2019 Vikarin Nama Samvatsare Utarayane Nartana Ritau Mesha Mase Krishna Pakshe Indu Vasara Yuktayam New York City, NY Anuradha/Jyeshtha* Nakshatra Variyan/Parigha* Yoga Bava/Balava Karana Chaturthyam Titau Sun 2 Sutra 8 2 Gulika 1:37PM – 3:18PM Anuradha Until 6:13AM Ganesha: Blue Sunrise: 5:08AM Vikarin
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The Greatness of Misery
The Greatness of Misery Swami Chetanananda People generally love joyful stories with happy endings. But human life consists of happiness and misery, comedy and tragedy. Even when divine beings take human forms, they must obey this law of maya. Because happiness and misery are inevitable in human life, avatars accept this fact but are not affected by it. Most of the time, their minds dwell in their divine nature, which is above the pairs of opposites. They take human birthto teach ordinary people how to face problems and suffering, maintain peace and harmony, and experience divine bliss by leading a God-‐‑centred life. In every age, when religion declines and irreligion prevails, avatars come to reestablish the eternal religion. But they do not come alone. They are aended by their spiritual companions: For example, Ramachandra came with Sita, Krishna with Radha, Buddha with Yashodhara, Chaitanya with Vishnupriya, and Ramakrishna with Sarada. As the birds cannot fly with one wing, so avatars are accompanied by their Shakti, theirfemale counterpart. These spiritual consorts carry the avatar’s spiritual message and serve as an inspiration for others. Sita suffered throughout her life; and she taught how to forbear suffering by keeping her mind in herbeloved Rama. Radha tried to forget her pain of separation from Krishnaby focussing on her longing and passion for him. When Buddha left, Yashodhara was grief-‐‑stricken. She raised their son and led a nun’s life in the palace. She forgot her pain by practising renunciation and thinking of the impermanency of the world. Vishnupriya accepted Chaitanya’s wish to be a monk, releasing her husband to be a world teacher.
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