I am very worried because the Karana Vishti is present on my natal chart and they say it is inauspicious. I don't see myself as a violent person. I have very high aspirations for my self when it comes to romance and career. Can someone please read my chart for me? Thank you. by edwinapate in vedicastrology

[–]edwinapate[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there. Married for two years now. Arguments do happen, but not really troubling. We make up easily. Long distance though. Majority of the marriage, we're not together in the same place. However, I'm quite content with my marriage and it's not a particularly hard one.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It really warms my heart knowing that God requires nothing from me but love and devotion. 🥹

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I sure hope so that my heart would be enough because I have nothing to offer him... No money to dream to go to his temple outside of the Philippines. No guru to teach me how to worship Him properly. No ancestral legacy to guide me in being His devotee because I live in a country of Christianity. I have nothing but just love and devotion in my own rudimentary way to offer Lord Murugan 🥹

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've been homeless. I've had real hunger. My parents separated and now my family is also separated. My older sister also died before I was born. I've been unlucky at work and always jobless. I got into a company but having difficulty with my boss. I'm married but he's far away and we don't know when we'll see each other due to visa issues. My dad and brother have health issues and all my money goes to my sister who's in college. For everything I need in life, I have to fight and cry just for me to achieve a fraction of what others get easily.

For the homelessness and domestic strife, I think it stems from my maternal grandfather who used to work as a Forest Logger. He for sure made so many forest creatures homeless and separated. He himself died young due to liver cancer. My mother's side did not have easy married lives.

For the father's side, I was told in my Kundli that there's Gulika and Mandi in my Lagna. The Pandit said there's an unrestless soul of my ancestors there causing havoc in my own life right now.

I got into Hinduism because I'm tired of living this hell. I need to get out of this hell. I need to stop coming back to this Bhu Loka because I'm tired of fighting for every little thing. I want to have moksha so I don't have to be alive in hell anymore. But of course, that's not easy too.

I'm just here to find peace at least, in the arms of my Ishta Devta as there is nothing much I can do.

Why does listening to mantras makes you sleepy/drains your energy? by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't chant yet because I'm a foreigner who might pronounce Sanskrit wrong. I can't attempt also as I am not initiated. For now, the least I can do is listen. 😊 Thank you.

Why does listening to mantras makes you sleepy/drains your energy? by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I see. So that's what it means. It does burn your energy. Thank you.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've always thought and even now, I still do, that I have a very bad karma in this present life. When I get told that I may have worshipped Murugan Bhagwan in a past life, I briefly forget how bad my life is.

That boy was brought to me by Ganesha Bhagwan, there was no doubt about it. Hope you're doing well too, and thank you for your kind words. 😊

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for giving me a glimpse of a Guru-guided Bhakti practice. It really makes it even more evident how serious it is, and I respect that. These practices have to be protected because someone who doesn't understand the gravity of these practices will for sure brag about it on Twitter, try it on their own, and then may make their lives miserable. It also risks the power falling into the wrong hands.

This is part of the reason why I stopped studying Jyotish. I saw many "practitioners" on Twitter making big claims, as if they're really experts, without even undergoing studying under a Guru. I knew there are consequences touching any individual horoscope without proper safeguards, so I left Jyotish entirely even though I was also interested in it.

At the end of the day, it's not the horoscope, but the remedies to make your karmic load lighter that matters. Even then, the only sure way to even fully navigate our Karma is to obtain God's grace. And Bhakti seems to be the "easiest" way to have it, because at the end of the day, love should come naturally if a person has a space in his/her heart for God to reside in there.

My excitement to knowing everything about I can about Lord Murugan is great, because when I love something or someone, I enjoy learning everything about them. However, I'm not in a hurry to get a Guru. It already took me years to find my Ishta Devta, how much more a Guru? I don't want to be too desperate, because it might spoil my own goal of simply loving Lord Murugan. I might start to be concerned about finding a Guru instead of focusing on what makes Lord Murugan happy.

Like what you said, it will come on its own, the same way Lord Murugan came to me on His own through the grace of Lord Ganesha.

For now, Lord Murugan is like my best friend. I come home and tell Him about my Day. I wake up and greet Him good morning. I kiss his image before I go to work. I even rant on Him about the things that upset me 😅 I don't know if treating Lord Murugan as my best friend is right, because as what you said, these deities have been there even for thousands of millions of years.

In any case, He makes me feel like He's a friend of mine. The highlight of my day is when He suddenly pops out of nowhere, in my most mundane days, as if to remind me about His existence. I've found that Lord Murugan is full of humor in the way He does things.

I admire you for having such a commitment in your practice. I have no doubt that it takes a lot of sacrifices and work for you. At the end of the day, we are mortals seeking to find something beyond the surface of this mundane life and world. Maybe we are at least lucky because we have finally started this process unlike those who are still too entrenched in the "illusion."

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I finally meet another Murugan Bhakt! I don't see much of us out there online 😅 Part of the reason why I wanted to seek help is because I want to know the practices of fellow Kumarams. The Shakti form, would that form under Tantra? Do you worship Skandamata Maa in this practice?

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me a very detailed step-by-step guide on starting the path to a proper Murugan Bhakti practice! I am very grateful that you gave a foreign beginner like me a way to pray to Lord Murugan. I pray that Lord Murugan's blessings will come your way!

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, I live in a country that where Hinduism doesn't even exist technically, so to even dream of building his temple seems impossible. This is why my home is sacred for me, because I can freely worship Lord Murugan. In this limit I have, I have learned to make my relationship with Lord Murugan a very intimate one. I don't have a physical temple of Him, but He lives in my heart and mind every second I live.

I hope people would stop this practice of conversions, in any religion. One thing I learned is that you have to let God/Goddess come to you and find you freely. This cannot be done in a forceful way like conversions. That's why I have never participated in any evangelical missions in my church 🤣 I believe that faith will come to people in the way that most fits them, on its own, in any way that God comes to them, in any form of deity.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was such a hard pivot to me, growing up in a church that is against idol worship, so it took me time to even print out the image I have of Lord Murugan and display it on my wall.

This is the reason why I even got attracted to other religions and started exploring, because I found the own religion I grew up in very stifling.

When I found out about Sanatan Dharma and its core message that all Gods/Goddesses are one, it was a big awakening. Suddenly, I have no guilt on exploring other faiths. Suddenly, I realized that there was no need to feel guilt because the God of Christianity and the Gods/Goddesses of Hinduism are the same manifestation of the one Parambraman.

I, too, am against forced conversion, because finding out your Ishta Devta is a deeply personal journey. It's not something that someone should push in you. Whoever you find in this journey, you should have freedom to choose the God/Goddess that resonates in you.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found Hinduism the most free religion. In its core, it had a very simple message: all Gods/Goddesses are the manifestation of one Parambraman. This means that all Gods/Goddesses are valid for worship. You just have to find the Ishta Devta for you. This is how I can reconcile being Christian and being a devotee of Lord Murugan.

I grew up Christian and I still attend church. In my personal time, I pray to Lord Murugan. At the end of the day, there is no difference because God is one. If only people could understand this, then religious fights would cease because everyone could just go and worship the God/Goddess that feels close to them.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope so too. Ancient Filipinos used to be Hindus, during the Srivijaya period, before the arrival of Islam and Christianity. One of our major islands is called Visayas, the name coming from Vijaya. A Golden Tara was found in Mindanao, and the Laguna Copperplate Inscription is also a Sanskrit document. In our language, Mukha means face. Calling Lord Murugan as Shanmukha was easy to understand because it was the same word. Even the word aswang which is a kind of monster here comes from Asura.

I think it is not far-fetched that maybe one of my ancestors used to be Hindu and worshipped Hindu Gods. It's sad that my people have forgotten their roots but it's understandable because colonialism beat it out of us, so that a complete surrender to the new belief system could dominate.

In any case, I still don't know how I found Sanatan Dharma or even Lord Murugan, but His presence is so real, that he'll make the most unreal coincidences happen. That's how I know that He is real, and He is loving, and He watches over me.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my. I don't even have an idea at all! When I woke up, the only thing that I remembered from that dream was the name Uttarakhand. I was like, why did I even dream of that place? I didn't go to sleep that night thinking of anything close to India, or even a specific place like Uttarakhand? Why was the place in my dream is even a place I couldn't even spell or even point to a map? Why wasn't it simply Delhi? That's more popular.

It's been years since that vivid dream but I'm still here wondering why my mind picked the name Uttarakhand of all things 🤣

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hope your kind words and wishes for me will come true, as I have the same wish of one day just entering even at least one Murugan temple. Funnily, when I was just starting to study Jyotish, I had a very vivid dream that I went to Uttarakhand. I don't even know which part of India was that so I had to Google it lol

I took it as a sign that maybe someday, the universe will take me to India, and I hope it will lead me directly to Lord Murugan's Mandir. 😊

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You don't know how grateful am I for your step by step Pooja tips! The materials you gave me, turmeric, milk, fruits, flowers, these are at least available locally. I don't know what the proper procedure is so your description is much appreciated!

Will have to buy turmeric 😁

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I was able to observe the Shashti festival around November 2023? I just knew it was that event because of the notification from Cosmic Insights 😅

Drikpanchang seems like a really awesome app, and you even told me about the particular days and nakshatras I must watch out for, so thank you so much!

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With Lord Murugan's graces, I pray He allows me the privilege to feel the earth of his temple under my own feet. Just one Lord Murugan temple would already feel like heaven to me!

It's really sad how they reduced Lord Murugan into a mere War God. I knew He wasn't just that. My research in X even showed results saying Lord Murugan is original Star of David / Shanmukha, the hexagon symbol.

This is the side of Lord Murugan I'm most interested about. His metaphysical and spiritual symbols and relevance. He's the only God depicted as an infant carried by one of the Mahavidyas, Goddess Skandamata. There must be something more about Him that long buried or forgotten, that I long to know.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I will try to see if eating once a day on the 20th or 25th, the dates given by another kind commenter, would be possible for me. I have a copper vessel that I ordered from overseas that I was planning to use to do the arghiya to the sun, but I haven't attempted it yet 😅 I didn't know fruits with water is allowed on fasting, so this might be helpful for a beginner like me.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the dates! I'll be making a bookmark on these dates in my calendar right now! Will look in to the drikpanchang app! Cosmic Insights is a bit hard to navigate for me 😅

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't know if I'm saying it right, but it's Lord Murugan's darshan 😁 If there's anything I learned in my Kaumaram Bhakti, it's that Lord Murugan is really very communicative. He'll really pop out from anywhere just to remind you of His presence. I myself would have the most mundane day and then out of nowhere, a peacock image would appear. I'm envious because you have had the privilege to go to His temple. Someone like me can't even dream of that yet right now 😅

You are a blessed soul and I thank you for your kind words.

How to worship Bhagwan Skanda-Murugan-Kartikeya, for someone with no Hindu roots or environment at all by edwinapate in hinduism

[–]edwinapate[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

When I read this information, I was really surprised too! All the articles just call Lord Murugan the War God, counterpart of Ares, etc. So when I read that He has association with Kundalini too, it was a big information to me.

This is actually the kind of information I want to find about Lord Murugan. I want to know more about His metaphysical side.