Ghar Mandir—Home of the divine

2026-03-30 - 03:05

Hindus believe that actions and life’s occurrences are but part of cycles aimed at spiritual empowerment and eventual merging with the Supreme Godhead. Every year, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha publishes Hindu calendars detailing the dates of all religious events. Hindus recently observed a two-week period called “Khalmaas,” the end of the Hindu Lunar year, and at this time, it was considered inappropriate to commence any new undertakings, spiritual and or otherwise. Major festivals we recently celebrated were Saraswati Panchami on February 23rd and Maha Shiv Raatri devoted to Lord Shiva, the Lord of transformation and re-absorption on February 15th. At the commencement of the new Hindu Lunar year on March 19th, we are observing a nine-day period (Nau-Ratam) devoted to various forms of the female aspect of God. This nine-day festival is immediately followed by celebrations (Ram Naumi) of the birth of Lord Shri Ram (the sixth incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu, the sustaining aspect of the Holy Trinity). The cycles referred to earlier occur at different rates of time, in different dimensions or planes and at different levels of existence. Lord Brahma, known as the Creator within the Trimurti (the Hindu trinity), is responsible for bringing the universe and all living beings into existence. Goddess Saraswati, Brahma’s consort and the goddess of knowledge, art and wisdom, provides the creative energy and intellect necessary for Brahma to organise the cosmos; she wields The Vedas [original scripture of Hindus] in one of her hands. The Vedas contain knowledge of all cycles of creation. One creation consists of (1) the “beginning of time,” or points of all origin; (2) the “continued existence,” or the passage of time through different eras or ages and (3) the “end of time” (final annihilation or Apocalypse). At the end of this creation, Mother Saraswati will not be subsumed in it and will bear witness to the commencement of a new cycle of creation. Lord Shiva, who is commonly referred to in western literature as “the destroyer,” is the God responsible for re-absorption of all creation at the end of time. Thereafter, the female aspect of God or the Devi holds “everything” in a form of dormant energy or existence for a period of time until the “big bang” occurs. At this time, creation commences again. Common creation theories range from literal theological interpretations to scientific evolution, attempting to explain the origin of the universe and life. The associated theories of creation are exceedingly complex, yet the Hindu belief is crystal clear. The series of cosmically patterned events described above are linked to our Hindu Lunar year. Our worship of God in both masculine and feminine forms; of his/her various forms and attributes; and at astrologically appointed times during the Lunar year, recognises that we are inextricably linked to the cosmic existence of God both spatially and temporally. Our actions, which we perceive on a physical level, affect our soul on a spiritual or microcosmic level, and both levels of existence are linked to God’s cosmic existence or the macrocosmic level. A thorough analysis and explanation of this statement was delivered to Hindus and the world by none other than Lord Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita. He explained, at Chapter II, Verse 12, that there was never a time that he or any individual was non-existent, and there will never come a time when any of us shall ever cease to be. In the Gita, Lord Krishna revealed his transcendental form to his friend and disciple, Arjuna, after bestowing him with divine eyesight. The greatness of the Lord is simply indescribable. However, the Gita says that if a thousand suns could blaze out together in the sky, that might perhaps be something like the glory of the great manifestation. Arjuna beheld multitudinous universes and forms in the body of the Lord. We are but a mere drop, or speck in God’s infinite creation. By virtue of keeping fasts and worshipping God according to our Hindu scriptures, we pray that God showers his infinite mercy upon us that we may merge in oneness with him. It is necessary to continue to explore the tenets of Sanatan Dharma, which our ancestors and the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, steadfastly subscribed to in the past and continue in Hindu homes.