Vedanta Sangamam

Mom: Vinay, it's Friday, you need to be a vegetarian today and make sure you drop by the temple on your way to work. Vinay: Mom, yesterday you said it was Ekadasi and made me fast. Then you said it's Thursday and I need to light the ghee lamp for Guru. I had already gone to temple to do that. Now, you say it's Friday and I have to be a vegetarian. Mom...it's Friday, I am meeting my college mates after work at the pub. I can't find veg food, neither can I make it to the temple. Mom: Oh boy, I have already told you, the astrologer says, your time is not at all good. You will be getting into trouble at work and you will have obstacles getting a good bride. You need to observe these fasts to overcome these misfortunes. Vinay: (while sipping coffee) Mom, you know, more than my work and getting married, you are my biggest headache now. *giggling* Mom: ( stern look, throws down the knife while cutting vegetables) Oh, so now I have become a headache for you after b

Temple Worship- A Guide Let me start with some definition of the word temple. In sanskrit, temple is called as  मन्दिर (Mandira)  The word  mandira   is derived from the words   man   which symbolises inner-self and   dir  which means a dwelling place. In several   Hindu   texts, the Lord is described as one's "inner-self". A   Hindu   temple can be a separate structure or part of a building. Most practising   Hindus   maintain an altar at their homes for daily worship and meditation. This interpretation makes much more sense. I would like to add to this. The word  mandira  can be seen to originate from the words  manas  and  dhiraya . The word  manas  means - imagination, intention, mind, spirit, mood, perception, intelligence, desire, thought. The verb  dhiraya  means - gets comfort, is encouraged.  dhiraya  in Sanskrit can be seen as the root of  dira  in Hindi .  Hence, mandira means a place where the mind gets comfort, intelligence and imagination is encour