Articles & Guides
Original, hand-written guides to the texts, traditions, and daily practices of Hindu devotion — background reading to sit alongside the scriptures in our library.
Krishna Janmashtami — Meaning, Timing, and How It Is Observed
The midnight birth of Krishna, kept with fasting, cradles, and Dahi Handi. When Janmashtami falls, what it marks, and how it is observed across India.
3 min read Understanding the textsWhat Is a Chalisa? The Forty-Verse Hymn, Explained
A chalisa is a forty-verse devotional hymn built for daily recitation. Where did the form come from, why forty verses, and how is it structured?
4 min read PracticeHow to Begin a Daily Recitation Practice (Nitya Path)
Starting a daily recitation is simpler than it looks. A practical guide to choosing a text, setting a time and place, and building a habit that lasts.
4 min read Understanding the textsChalisa, Aarti, Stotra, Mantra — What's the Difference?
Four words for four different things. How a chalisa, an aarti, a stotra, and a mantra actually differ — in origin, form, and how each is used in worship.
4 min read FestivalsDiwali and Lakshmi Puja — The Five Days, the Meaning, and How to Worship
More than one night — Diwali is five days, and Lakshmi Puja is its centre. What each day marks, why the lamps are lit, and how the goddess is welcomed in.
3 min read FestivalsNavratri and Durga Puja — Nine Nights of the Goddess
Nine nights, nine forms of the goddess, and a tenth day of victory. How Navratri and Durga Puja are observed, and the texts that carry the worship.
2 min read FestivalsGanesh Chaturthi — The Arrival and Farewell of the Remover of Obstacles
Ganesh arrives as a clay image, is worshipped for up to eleven days, and is carried to the water for visarjan. The meaning and practice of Ganesh Chaturthi.
2 min read FestivalsMaha Shivaratri — The Great Night of Shiva
A night-long vigil, a fast, and the bathing of the lingam. What Maha Shivaratri marks and how it is kept — the one festival observed by staying awake.
2 min read FestivalsRam Navami — The Birth of the Ideal King
The midday birth of Rama, maryada purushottama, kept with fasting and the reading of his story. When Ram Navami falls and how it is observed.
2 min read FestivalsVasant Panchami — Saraswati Puja and the First Day of Spring
The day of Saraswati, the colour yellow, and a child's first written letters. What Vasant Panchami marks and how the goddess of learning is worshipped.
2 min read FestivalsHanuman Jayanti — The Birthday of the Devotee's Devotee
The birthday of Hanuman, kept with the Chalisa, sindoor, and strength. When Hanuman Jayanti falls, why the date varies by region, and how it is observed.
2 min read FestivalsThe Sun's Festivals — Makar Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, and Chhath
The sun is the one deity worshipped by facing him directly. A guide to Makar Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, and Chhath — the great festivals of Surya.
2 min read