10 Things to do in Varanasi...

Here’s what you must do when visiting Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously

 inhabited cities in the world…

Varanasi’s been in the news for a lot of reasons this year – from PM Modi being elected as an MP in the Lok Sabha and winning the seat from Varanasi to the Clean Ganga campaign again initiated by the PM. But as an explorer if you’re visiting Benaras aka the holy city of Varanasi here’s what you must do…

1. Varanasi is the city of temples thus brace yourself for paying homage to the almighty at their respective places. Though every temple has its own importance few you should not miss are-

Kashi Vishwanath mandir

Sankatmochan mandir

Durga mandir

Kalbhairav mandir

2. The city is famous for yummy delicacies that will surely satisfy your stomach. Things you can feast upon are:

Malaiyo at Chowk

                                                                                    

Banarasi Pan at Lanka

Lassi at Ramnagar Kila

Thandae at Godowlia

Kachori at kachori gali

*Street food across the city(golgappa,chat,longlata,rasmalai,momos)

3. A visit to ghats at the time of Ganga aarti will definitely calm your mind and you will feel blessed. A mere walk along the ghats will soothe your soul. If lucky enough you may run into one of the many foreigners who flock this place for a spiritual experience.

4. Treat yourself to a shopping spree -The local market is full of variety and worth the visit. From world famous Banarasi saree and kurta at 'Lucknow chikan ghar' to shoes and bags at Nai sadak to the market at Godowlia, the city has almost everything to satisfy all your shopping desires. Don’t hesitate to bargain.

5. An early morning or late evening ride in the lush green campus of BHU with your friends to accompany will be a memorable experience. Do visit BHU farms, just ahead of IIT BHU for a quiet and                                                                                              peaceful time.

6. Ramnagar fort is situated on the eastern bank of the river Ganga opposite Tulsi Ghat and was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh.It has both heritage and cultural importance. A visit to the place is a real treat as you get to see a lot of old royal memorabilia. It also has a museum and a park to keep you entertained.

7. Take a tour to the centre of Buddhism, Sarnath situated 30km north-east of Varanasi Cantt. Railway Station. It has the Deer Park where Lord Buddha gave his first Sermon. Various structures there even date back to 500BC.

8. For a surreal feel of the city take an enthralling boat ride in the river Ganga along the Ghats. The scenes will calm your inner self. The noise of vehicles honking, people praying, the aarti’s, in the morning ride’s you even get to hear the birds chirping. Everything is just so auspicious. And yes keep your DSLR ready.

dashashwamedh ghat

9. Celebrating the festivals that are unique to the city with the locals would be really enjoyable. Some of these festivals are.

*Dev Deepawali at ghats

*Bharat Milap at Nati Imali

10. And the last one.

Forget the main road and lose yourself in the streets or galis of Benaras. They have enough to keep you occupied for hours. You will be in for the experience of your life as you will witness the most unique street life here. Even a small talk with the Chaiwala or Panwala becomes more interesting than you ever imagined. Don't worry about getting lost – someone will surely help you find a way out!

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zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe

zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe
tu bahaut der se mila hai mujhe

humsafar chaiye,hujum nahin
ek musafir bhi kafila hai mujhe

dil dhadakata nahin sulagata hai
wo jo khwahish thi aabila hai mujhe

labkusha hoon to is yakeen ke saath
katl hone ka hausila hai mujhe

kaun jane ke chahtaon pe faraz 
kya gavaya hai kya mila hai mujhe

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20 minutes peaceful journey of meditation

So get ready for a 20 minutes peaceful journey of meditation

Did you know by spending just a little time preparing for your meditation, you can actually have a deeper experience in meditation? For your ease, the tips given below will help you prepare for your meditation. Once done, click on the guided meditation below to begin your meditation.1

#1 Choose A Convenient Time

Meditation is essentially relaxation time, so it should be done entirely at your convenience. So, after the meditation you do right now, for the subsiquent meditations, choose a time when you know you are not likely to be disturbed and are free to relax and enjoy. 

The hours of sunrise and sunset, while nature transitions between day and night, are also ideal for the practice.

#2 Choose A Quiet Place

Just like a convenient hour, choose a place where you not likely to be disturbed.

Quiet and peaceful surroundings can make the meditation experience more enjoyable and relaxing.

 

 

#3 Sit In A Comfortable Posture

Your posture makes a difference too. Make sure you are relaxed, comfortable and steady.

Sit straight with your spine erect; keep your shoulders and neck relaxed, and eyes closed throughout the process.

That you have to sit in Padmasana (the lotus position) to meditate is a verycommon myth of meditation.

#4 Keep A Relatively Empty Stomach

A good time to meditate is before having a meal.

After food, you might doze off while meditating. However, do not force yourself to  meditate when you are very hungry.

You will find it difficult because of hunger cramps or you may even keep thinking   about food the whole time! In this case, you can meditate after two hours after having food.

#5 Start With A Few Warm-ups

A few warm-up or sukshma yoga exercises before sitting to meditate helps improve circulation, removes inertia and restlessness and makes the body feel lighter.

You will be able to sit steadily for a longer time.

# 6 Take A Few Deep Breaths

This is again preparation for easy meditation. Deep breathing in and out as well as doing some nadi shodhan pranayama before meditating is always a good idea.  

This helps to steady the rhythm of the breath and leads the mind in to a peaceful meditative state.

#7 Keep A Gentle Smile On Your Face

You will see the difference.

A gentle smile throughout keeps you relaxed, peaceful and enhances your meditation experience.

#8 Open Your Eyes Slowly & Gently

As you come close to the end of the meditation, don't be in a hurry to open your eyes and start moving about.

Open your eyes slowly and gradually and take time to become aware of yourself and your surroundings. 

Feeling lack of motivation or restlessness? Are emotions taking a toll on your personal and work life? Fill in the form below to learn more about how meditation can aide you in overcoming daily issues and improve your life.

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Power Of Meditation

“In meditation, healing can happen. When the mind is calm, alert and totally contented, then it is like a laser beam – it is very powerful and healing can happen.” - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Only a healthy bud can blossom. In the same way, only a healthy being can succeed.

So,what is it to be healthy?

To attain a perfect state of health, one has to remain mentally calm, steady and emotionally stable. ‘Swasthya’ means health. It also means being in one's self. Swasthya or health is not just confined to the body and the mind but it is also connected with the consciousness. The clearer the consciousness is, the more well-being is gained.

Meditation Increases Prana (Life Energy)

Prana (the vital life energy) is the very basis of health and well being, for both body and mind. You can gain prana through meditation. When your body is alive with more prana, you feel alert, energetic, and full of good humor. A lack of prana results in lethargy, dullness and poor enthusiasm.

Dealing With Illness - Through Meditation

It is said that the root of an illness is in the mind/consciousness. So, by attending to the mind, clearing it of any disturbances, the recovery speeds up. Illnesses can develop from:

• Violation of natural law: such as over-eating
• Imposed by nature: such as common cold, an epidemic
• Release of past impressions or Karma

Nature itself provides a cure for these illnesses. Health and illness are a part of physical nature. By practicing meditation, the stresses, worries, anxieties drop off and gives rise to a positive state of mind, which has a positive impact on the physical body, brain and nervous system, then illnesses change.

Health and illness are a part of physical nature. You should not worry too much about it. When you worry about illness, you are giving more power to the illness. You are a combination of health and illness. When you keep that in mind and have a positive state of mind, then illnesses change.

• Heal the mind – through meditation
• Meditation prevents stresses from entering the body system and also releases accumulated stress.Health,happiness and a positive state of Being wells up
• The practice of meditation brings a coolness to the brain, it’s like servicing the whole body-mind complex

Clear Emotional Pollution - With Meditation

A time may come in the future, when people will be fined for being depressed, because they are creating emotional pollution! The words that you hear from people around you, affect your state of mind. They either give you peace and joy, or create disturbance (such as jealously, anger, frustration or sadness). You’re affected because the mind is not in its Self; it is not centered. Meditation is the key to control 'emotional pollution'.

Blossom With Meditation

Meditation can bring about a spiritual transformation. As you learn more about life, the mystery of the whole Creation unfolds. Then the questions that arise in the mind are - What is the meaning of Life? What is its purpose? What is this world, what is love, what is knowledge...?

Once these questions arise in you, know that you are very fortunate. These questions need to be understood; you cannot find the answers in books. You have to live through them and witness the transformation. That is perfect health; you are transformed from within. And the bud becomes a totally blossomed flower.

Heal The World Through Meditation

Meditation purifies the environment. Meditation and Sudarshan Kriya have transformed aggression and violence in people - to compassion, love and care. For example, notice how you feel when you enter a room where someone is really angry ? It leaves you feeling the same!

Similarly, when there is a harmonious or a happy activity, you feel good. You may wonder why. Feelings are not isolated in one's body - they are all around. It is in the whole environment, because the mind is subtler than the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether). If there is a fire somewhere, the heat is not just in the fire, it is also radiating throughout the place.

Note: If you are unhappy or depressed, you are not the only one who is feeling it; you are spreading it to the whole environment.

In the current global situation of conflicts and disease, it's important to meditates a little every day. Through meditation, you can nullify the negative vibrations in the environment, thereby creating a more harmonious environment.

The Healing Breath & Meditation

A jewel in The Art of Living is the healing breath, known as the Sudarshan Kriya.

This unique breathing practice is a potent energizer:

• Every cell becomes fully oxygenated and flooded with new life
• It flushes out negative emotions from the body
• It releases tensions, frustrations and anger
• It clears anxiety, depression and lethargy
• It gives relief to both the mind and body

After the practice, one is left calm and centered with a clearer mind. A sense of joy in the moment prevails, and you're able to smile from your heart.

'Do the Healing Breath and meditate. These practices completely transform you, and kindle the love deep inside.'

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