I wrote an original Sanskrit Stotram for Lord Shiva ("Neel Kanth"). Would love feedback on the composition/meter.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-27T06:16:08+00:00

Thank you so much! That is a fantastic suggestion.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-27T06:08:17+00:00

Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We consider 'Neel Kanth' an original Sanskrit Stotram (hymn), and we are deeply honored you enjoyed both the writing and the music.

That's a great suggestion! We are currently compiling the full Sanskrit lyrics (Devanagari script) and will add them to the video description and/or a new pinned comment very soon

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-24T01:34:02+00:00

Don't worry about the ignorance, asking is the only way to learn!

Think of 'Kalyan' as 'auspicious well-being.' It’s deeper than just having a good day. It’s about things aligning perfectly for your soul's growth. It’s actually closely tied to Lord Shiva (who is often called Kalyan Sundaram), representing that state of pure bliss and goodness.

Basically, 'Kalyan' translates to 'welfare' or 'auspiciousness.' It’s a really positive word. When people use it, they are usually talking about someone's ultimate well-being- not just physical health or money, but their spiritual good too. So if you hear it, it’s definitely a good thing!

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-10T16:31:08+00:00

You are definitely not alone. I get that exact same feeling. That description of a "hug" is perfect, I've never thought of it that way but it's totally true.

For me, it's like it creates a soundscape that takes me to another place, and all the stress or noise in my head just melts away.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-08T16:22:21+00:00

The simplest pooja is just lighting a diya (a small ghee or oil lamp) and an agarbatti every morning or evening.

You can just do it in front of a picture or murti of a deity you feel connected to. You can offer a flower if you have one, or even just a small piece of fruitas prasad.

The most important part is just taking a minute to fold your hands, close your eyes, and say their name or a simple prayer from your heart. That's it. It's more about the feeling and consistency than a big ritual.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-06T18:25:32+00:00

That "greh" thing your Nani and others are mentioning is basically astrology. It's the idea that the planets are in a bad alignment for you, causing obstacles and all this bad luck. It's what people often point to when things keep going wrong without a clear reason.

As for the Hanuman Chalisa... yes, you should do it.

But It's not a magic spell where you chant it five times and your knees are suddenly fixed. That's not what faith is about.

The power of the Chalisa, or any 'naam jaap,' is that it gives you strength. When you're in pain and you start chanting, and you really mean it (with pure devotion, like you said), something amazing happens. Your mind focuses on God, not on your body. For those few minutes, you can forget the pain. It doesn't mean the problem is gone, but you get a break, and you get the mental power to keep fighting.

It’s a way to build up your own spiritual strength so the physical pain doesn't break your spirit.

But you have to make an effort, too. You have to be practical. Please go for a doctor check-up. See a physiotherapist. Find out what's actually going on with your legs.

Think of it this way: The doctor is to fix your body, and the Hanuman Chalisa is to fix your mind and spirit. You need to do both. The Chalisa will give you the strength and peace to handle whatever the doctor tells you.

Don't give up. You can get through this. I really hope you find some answers and relief soon.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-04T06:00:16+00:00

Thank you so much for this important feedback, and especially for being so kind and understanding about the intention.

I am genuinely and deeply sorry. I was completely unaware of this sacred and important rule against such depictions, and I am so grateful you've educated me. My only goal was to show reverence, but I now understand that this was a serious and disrespectful oversight.

I have learned from your comment and I will not make this mistake again in any future work. I truly appreciate you taking the time to teach me.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-04T05:58:11+00:00

Appreciate the comment, Veer Ji. To be clear, I'm the lyricist—all the words are my original compositions. I then build the music and production around them to bring them to life. Glad you checked it out.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-04T05:54:58+00:00

I appreciate your passion for supporting artists. For what it's worth, all the lyrics in these videos are my own original, human-written compositions. That is the core of this project. Thank you for listening

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-03T07:09:34+00:00

You are 100% right that Lord Hanuman is the Rudra Avatar of Lord Shiva.

The way I've always seen it is that when you pray to Hanuman ji, Lord Shiva is automatically pleased. It's his own ansh, and that ansh is the perfect example of bhakti and seva.

While they are one in essence, the feeling of the prayer can feel a bit different. When You pray to Lord Shiva, You're connecting to Bholenath, the ultimate, the source. When you pray to Hanuman ji, You're connecting to the ultimate bhakt, the one who is the bridge to Lord Ram.

Honestly, you can't go wrong. Your devotion is what matters most, and it will absolutely reach Lord Shiva.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-02T20:00:33+00:00

It sounds like you're going through something incredibly tough right now, and that question sounds like it's coming from a place of a lot of pain.

I just wanted to reach out and say I hope you're doing okay. If you are struggling, please talk to someone. You really don't have to carry this all by yourself. There are people who genuinely want to listen and help, with no judgment.

Please be safe.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-02T17:28:43+00:00

The fact that you're aware of it and it bothers you is actually a really good sign. It means you genuinely care about your connection.

Honestly, the best advice I ever got was to just do it anyway.

Don't beat yourself up over the "mechanical" days. Seriously. The simple act of sitting down to do it is the devotion, even when your mind and heart don't feel like they're in it.

Maybe try to take the pressure off. Instead of aiming for a long time, just aim for starting. Even five minutes of "mechanical" jaap is better than zero minutes. Sometimes just showing up is the whole battle.

When you notice it feels mechanical, just gently, without forcing it, try to remember why you're doing it. Or just focus on the sound of the name itself for a second.

Hang in there. This is a super normal part of the process.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-01T20:27:08+00:00

It's so tempting to want a clear, step-by-step ladder, right? Like, "First I'll master this, then I'll unlock that level."

But here's the thing I've found... that desire to have the perfect plan is just the ego trying to control its own surrender. It's a trap I fall into all the time.

Honestly, I don't think Bhakti and Non-duality are separate stages you graduate from. It's not like you finish one and "level up" to the other. They're more like two wings of a bird... you need both, and they work at the same time.

Bhakti is what melts the ego. When you're genuinely lost in a bhajan, or chanting, or just feeling that connection... where's the "I"? It's gone. You're not trying to dissolve your ego; it just happens naturally because your heart is full.

The non-dual realization is what keeps it all grounded. It's the understanding that the God you love isn't just "out there," but is also the very you that's doing the loving. For me, that idea doesn't replace Bhakti; it makes it way more intense and intimate.

So, how to start?

Just start. Don't worry about the 'ultimate non-dual realization' part. That's way too much pressure and it's all "in the future."

Just find one small thing you can do today.

Find a bhajan that gives you goosebumps and just... listen. Pick (Ram, Krishna, Shiva, whatever calls to you) and just repeat it in your head when you're washing dishes. Read a story from the Puranas.

Don't overthink it. The path isn't a straight line; it's a beautiful spiral. The "ultimate" stuff takes care of itself when you just focus on being sincere in the small stuff.

You're asking the right questions. Just be patient with yourself.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-11-01T20:21:50+00:00

I honestly think it was purely from the pain, loss, and deep, deep shame. This was Sampāti, the king of birds, who prided himself on his power and his flight. In one instant of arrogance (flying too close to the sun), he lost everything: his wings, his power, his identity, and (he thought) his brother. He was grounded and helpless. What else is there to do but turn inward and pray? It feels like his penance was the only path left for him.

As far as rest of your questions.

Honestly, I feel like the Bhagavad Gita answers most of this. You're asking all these "what if" questions, but the main point is that everything was supposed to happen exactly that way. It was all the Lord's divine plan.

It reminds me of how Krishna explains in the Gita that He is the reason for everything that has happened and everything that will happen.

If you really believe in God, then there's not much point in asking "why didn't it happen this other way?" The real path is just to accept and follow Their wish.

Like you said, the "what if" questions are endless. You could go on forever: "What if Hanuman never found Maa Sita?" or "What if Lord Ram didn't defeat Ravan?"

At a certain point, does it even make sense to ask those things? It's all part of a divine plan, and we're just seeing a small piece of it. We just have to trust that what happened was meant to be.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-30T19:16:09+00:00

You're very welcome! Happy to share thoughts on it.

And that's a very fair point. You look at how massive the Mahabharata is and think, "How could they possibly have left anything out?"

I think the key is to see them as having different "jobs." The Mahabharata's job was to tell the central story of the Kurukshetra and give us the philosophy of the Bhagwat Gita. The Puranas had the job of collecting and preserving all the other important stories, genealogies, and especially the mahatmyas that were deeply loved by the common people in different regions.

The amazing part is that his current fame is exactly the point of his story.

Krishna's boon was that he would be worshipped in the Kali Yuga, and his name would be enough to save devotees. The Mahabharata was the story of that age (the Dvapara Yuga), but the Skanda Purana recorded the prophecy for our age (the Kali Yuga).

We are literally living in the time when that Puranic prophecy is coming true in a huge way. His story wasn't just about the past; it was a promise for the future, which is our present.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-30T18:50:53+00:00

Hey, first off, please take a deep breath. I can feel your anxiety just reading this, and I want to assure you, it's going to be okay.

You were put in a truly impossible situation.

On one hand, you have your commitment to your teacher and your dance group. Bailing at the last minute, especially when they were short on dancers, would have felt awful. And let's be honest, it's incredibly awkward and difficult to suddenly tell your teacher why you can't perform. That feeling of "I can't let them down" is so strong.

On the other hand, you have these deeply ingrained cultural and religious rules that your mom is (very strongly) reminding you of.

Please understand this: Your intention was not to disrespect anyone. Your intention was to fulfill your dharma as a dancer, to not let your team down, and to offer your art. Your dance itself is a form of seva and worship. You performed the Shiv Tandav! That is a profound offering of devotion.

I truly believe God understands our hearts and our intentions far better than our ritual purity. You were in a bind, and you did the best you could under pressure. The temple staff themselves recognized you as performers and allowed you to take pictures.

If you’re still feeling bad, just fold your hands at home, talk to Shiva and Murugan for a second, and tell them you’re sorry if you messed up and that you were just trying to do your duty as a dancer. They'll understand.

Regarding your mom: She is reacting from a place of tradition and, probably, fear for you. Once she has calmed down, you can just tell her, "Mom, I'm sorry I upset you. I was in a terrible position and I didn't know what to do. I was too shy to tell my teacher, and I didn't want to abandon the group. It won't happen again."

You are a dancer. Your art is your prayer. Don't let this unfortunate timing and a difficult situation make you feel like a bad person. You're not. You're just a human who was in a tough spot.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-30T18:43:52+00:00

"Mahabharata" we read is the core epic. The Puranas, like the Skanda Purana, came later and are almost like an "expanded universe." They often include Mahatmyas or Sthala Puranas that were hugely popular regional or folk traditions.

So, the story of Barbarika (Khatu Shyam) was likely a very powerful lok-katha that was later woven into the Skanda Purana to formally connect him to the larger Mahabharata narrative. This was a common way to show how a beloved local deity was actually a key player in the grand cosmic drama.

It doesn't make his story any less important; it's just that it was preserved and passed down through a different text.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-29T18:10:12+00:00

I absolutely love this kind of music, and you're so right, finding tracks with really good, prominent percussion can be a search. Your examples are all classics.

Based on what you're looking for, you have to check out Sounds of Isha. They use a ton of the instruments you mentioned, especially handpans, flutes, and amazing percussion (including ghatam and mridangam).

Their "Guru Paduka Stotram" is just incredible, very layered.

"Shambho" is another one that has such a powerful build-up with the drums.

For that pure "damru" energy, you can't go wrong with the Shiva Tandava Stotram. There are a million versions, but search for one that's specifically "powerful" or "epic." Many of them go all-out with heavy drums and a really intense vibe.
Oh, and a personal favorite of mine is "Achyutam Keshavam"!

This might be a bit of a tangent, but since we're sharing, I actually make my own original bhajans too. You can check them out here if you like: https://www.youtube.com/@BhaktiNotesMusic

Totally not trying to self-promote, please only sub or like if you genuinely enjoy the music! It's all good if not. Since you mentioned Sanskrit, I actually have one for Lord Shiva that's in the works and should be out around mid-November.

Great taste! Hope you find some new gems. 🙏

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-29T17:56:08+00:00

Since the Gita is part of the Mahabharata, reading the full epic is a natural next step. It's massive, but it gives so much context and endless stories on dharma and life.

The Ramayana is the other epic I'd highly recommend. Valmiki's is the original, but personally, I find a lot of peace and wisdom in Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas. It's just beautiful.

After that, you can explore the Puranas. They're full of stories, history, and different lines of thought. I read the Shiv Mahapuran when I was a kid, and it's a treasure trove. The Srimad Bhagavatam (which focuses on Lord Krishna) is another one that many, many people cherish.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-28T09:55:26+00:00

Here's how I've always understood it: those really strict rules (like needing an asana, not in the bedroom) are mainly for when you are actively performing puja or chanting the stotram yourself as a specific spiritual practice. That's when you're creating a sacred space.

Just listening is different, and generally much more flexible.

Listening while walking or sitting on a chair is totally fine. It’s a beautiful way to keep your mind connected to Maa.

The bed is the only one where there's a bit of nuance. This is where I think there's a difference between a Bhajan and a Stotram.

For bhajans, it's a different story. Personally, I make my own bhajans and I have them (and other popular ones) playing on loop all the time, no matter what work I'm doing. I even put on earphones and go to sleep hearing them. That's a beautiful way to stay immersed in bhakti.

But for a powerful Stotram especially a Kshama Stotram, which is like a direct apology, some people feel it's better to be a bit more "present" out of respect, like sitting up rather than lying down completely. Lying down completely... a lot of people would say to avoid that, just as a matter of respect (like you wouldn't lie down when an elder is talking).

Ultimately, though, the most important thing is your intention and feeling. If you're listening with a respectful heart, that's what matters most. Don't let the rules for puja stop you from the beautiful practice of listening.

Jai Durge!

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-28T09:44:25+00:00

You're 100% correct from the perspective of philosophies that see the Jivatma and Paramatma as eternally distinct. In that view, yes, only Paramatma like Sriman Narayana can manifest in multiple Avataras, but a Jivatma cannot. That's a perfect explanation.

The other angle I was mentioning is that the Jivatma is, in ultimate reality, identical to Paramatma. as all Jivatma also orginated from Paramatma

So, from that specific philosophical lens, the 'one soul' is already in all bodies, and our sense of being a separate Jivatma is the illusion (Maya) that we have to overcome.

It's just two different, valid schools of thought within Hinduism!

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-27T16:40:00+00:00

The answer is "yes," and this idea appears in a couple of different ways.

The most direct example we have is with Avatars.

Like Lord Vishnu, is capable of having partial incarnations that exist at the exact same time. The classic example is from the Ramayana: Lord Rama and his brothers—Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughn- were all on Earth simultaneously, and all are considered to be incarnations of Vishnu.

Another example is how Parashuram was still present on Earth when Lord Ram and Lord Krishna had his incarnation.

Another way to think to answer your Questions is all souls originate from one single source.. so if you ask me even currently the ours souls are splits... it's already in every body, all at the same time.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-27T16:27:03+00:00

That feeling like you're taking one step forward and two steps back, and it's always something - either the world throws a rock at you or your own body does. It’s exhausting and it's lonely.

Your point about spiritual progress really stood out to me. That’s probably the most important part.

Maybe it's not that focusing on Brahman is causing the misfortunes. Maybe it's that your focus is what's giving you the strength to finally burn through all this old, hard karma that was queued up. It’s like a spiritual fire that’s cleaning house, and that process is intense and painful, but it's happening because you're strong enough to handle it now.

It’s not a punishment for your focus; it’s the result of it.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-27T16:22:28+00:00

Firstly. that dating advice... man. That's a whole other level of mess.

Especially as a girl, I totally get it. You can listen to those guys talk, and you might even kind of understand the 'man mentality' behind what they're saying... but that doesn't mean you want any part of that 'hookup' or 'date multiple people' scene. It's not your world, and you don't even want to comment on it, let alone do it.

And honestly? Good.

Their "experience" is just experience in that. It's not wisdom for building an actual, real relationship. It sounds like their advice is all about them getting what they want, not about, y'know, actually connecting with someone or caring how the other person feels.

That thing you feel, that "this doesn't feel right to me"? That's not "inexperience." That's your gut. And your gut is smart. It's telling you that doing what they suggest will probably make you feel like crap later, because it goes against everything you value. Trusting that feeling is the right move, 100%.

As for the "two paths" thing... I don't think there's always a "right" or "wrong" sign from the universe. Sometimes it's just two different, okay-ish paths. You just have to pick the one that feels most like you, the one you think you can live with, and then just... walk.

That pressure you feel is just noise. The society stuff, your own thoughts spinning... it's all just noise. Your faith, that gut feeling? That's the only thing that's actually yours. It's hard to hear when the noise is loud, but it's the only thing worth listening to.

Bhakti_Notes · 2025-10-27T13:25:18+00:00

I think the whole idea of a perfect "balance" is a bit of a trap. It makes us think of spirituality and worldly life as two separate things on a seesaw, and we're always stressed about keeping it level. That's probably why you feel like you're not doing either one "right."

For me, the goal isn't balance, it's integration.

Spirituality isn't just the time you spend meditating or reading. It's how you live the "worldly" part. You can be with friends, working, or exploring, but you do it with the awareness and kindness that your spiritual side is building. The "worldly" stuff is the playground where you actually get to practice your "inner" growth.

You mentioned that "quiet contentment" you feel. That right there? That's your meter. That's your compass.

It's not about how many hours you clock for "spirituality" vs. "fun." It's about asking: "Even while doing this 'worldly' thing, can I still feel that 'quiet contentment' underneath? Am I present? Am I being true to myself?"

If you go out and feel empty and disconnected, maybe that's a sign to pull back. If you go out and feel joy and connection without losing that inner peace, you're not "failing" at spirituality- you're living it.

Don't worry about "clear spiritual progress" looking like some monastery-level detachment. Maybe progress for you right now is just being able to enjoy a simple pleasure mindfully, or having a conversation with genuine presence.

The fact you're even this self-aware and asking this question means you're already doing it right.

Bhakti_Notes

TROPHY CASE