Rajesh Kamath's Blog, page 5

A Tiny White Lie

Once, someone had requested Mohanji for a solution to their life issues. As a resolution, Mohanji wanted them to chant a particular mantra and offer a coconut at a Baba temple. He had conveyed this to yours truly in the morning. Amidst all the activities, yours truly forgot to do it. Late afternoon a message from the Boss on the phone, “Did you inform?” sent yours truly in panic mode – I forgot not only to do the task but also the task. Hectic prayers were exchanged with Mohanji, the known and u...

What’s in a Name?

When I joined Mohanji in 2015, I smoked regularly and at a good clip– 20-40 cigarettes a day, depending on the level of perceived stress. Mohanji had christened me Dhoomananda (Dhooma meaning smoke and Ananda being bliss (one who attains bliss through smoking). He also used the shorter nickname Dhooma. With Mohanji’s grace, I quit before the Kailash Inner Kora pilgrimage, the only place where He strictly prohibited the habit other than a powerful remote Himalayan ashram, where I was almost enlig...

A One Legged Bird

At the Bangalore ashram, we offer food at the altar before we eat to express gratitude on behalf of our Mohanji community to all the Divine beings and the Masters of the Tradition for strengthening, supporting, protecting, empowering and guiding humanity and all beings on Earth. Part of the consecrated food is mixed with the other food from the table and offered to the birds and small animals that frequent our space.

Before eating, Mohanji always checks to ensure that the Divine beings and ou...

Many a Slip Between the Cup and the Lip

Mohanji and I were at the airport one morning to catch a flight. After we checked in, we headed to the gate. Mohanji was walking ahead of me, and I caught up with him. When Mohanji turned his head in my direction, I was shocked to see His lips swollen the size of a small lemon. Everything was perfectly normal throughout the morning– from the time in our host’s home, the drive to the airport, and through check-in. He was walking ahead of me, and nothing happened that could have affected His lip. ...

A Tale of a Travelling Monkey

After travelling with Mohanji, I got into the habit of frequenting spiritual hotspots almost every weekend. If I were home in Mumbai, I would get on my motorcycle and go to Ganeshpuri or a similar power spot. If travelling, I would find out the closest spiritual hotspots to my client’s location and arrange my trip on a Monday or a Friday to use the weekend for exploration. During that period, I received an out-of-the-blue message from Mohanji, “Traveling monk, how are you?”  I don’t recall my re...

Asses to Asses Dust to Dust

[NOTE: Any resemblance to real persons or other real-life entities is purely coincidental. All characters and other entities appearing here are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, dead or alive, or other real-life entities, past or present, is purely coincidental]

A long, long time ago, in a Bangalore ashram lived a Boss (whose name starts with M) and his followers who lovingly served him. One day, the cleaning lady turned truant. The Boss said that it is customary for inhabitants to...

Global Sadhana (Spiritual Practice) Google Calendar

I have received several requests to create a simple way to notify people of important spiritual events happening in advance, so they can plan their spiritual practice and prepare for it.

With that view, I have created a Google calendar which can be accessed from the convenience of your phone. The calendar contains the events which describe the importance of the day, the relevant background, the spiritual practices that are most potent for the day, the benefits, the timings, if any.

Those with An...

Lord Shani (Saturn) – The Butt Kicking Planet

[image error]22nd May 2020 is Shani Jayanthi (birthday). Lord Shani is the deified form of the planet Saturn. The son of the Sun and the brother of Lord Yama (the Lord of death), he is considered the Lord of justice and karma. While Lord Yama distributes the fruits of ones thoughts, words and actions after death, Lord Shani distributes the rewards and punishments during ones life itself. Instant karma!

Saturn is the one of the most dreaded planets in Hindu astrology because its effects are usually...

Lord Narsimha

Tomorrow (6th May 2020) is Narsimha Jayanthi the birthday of Lord Narsimha.

Lord Narasimha was the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who happened on Earth with a specific mission that lasted a very short duration to kill the powerful, arrogant, vicious and despotic demon king Hiranyakashyapu and restore dharma on the earth. Lord Vishnu took the Narasimha avatar to save his devotee, Prahlada, from his father the demon, Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu was the brother of Hiranyaksha who was...

Lord Parashurama, the Bad-ass Warrior Brahmin

Today (25th April 2020) is the birthday of Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Like every avatar, he was born at a time of major upheaval. In his era, the world was suffering at the hands of tyrannical kshatriyas (ruling class). He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and performed terrible penance to please Lord Shiva, who in turn gave Lord Parashurama his unconquerable and indestructible battle axe, (hence his name Parashu-Rama the Rama who wields the axe) and taught him ...