“Mr Vyas, can we have a yoga session tomorrow at the Birla House at 7.30 in the morning?” “Yes madam, I will be there.” It is unusual of me to go to someone’s place and teach yoga, but in this case I made an exception because this was a request from no other than Lekha Poddar, herself—the scion of the Birlas, a great family, which helped me at the most critical phase of my life. Lekha is the daughter of GP Birla and sister of CK Birla, eminent industrialists of the country.

She is a pioneer in Rajasthan, turning heritage properties into hotels. She is extremely brilliant, sharp with a heart of gold. It made me nervous to think of teaching her yoga.

Ellaeenah's e-book resorts to simplify spirituality into a phenomenon that can be embraced by all. A few years ago, in the early stages of her unveilment (a process by which the ego is shed and spirit comes to light, as she beautifully puts it) the message/guidance that she was endowed with by Jade Fire (the Cosmic Master whom she connects to for receiving inner guidance) took her through some of the most rough spots in her life, helping her overcome anger, and attain harmony in all her relationships. She adds, “On urging from Jade Fire, I compiled these messages in the form of a book, And Jade Fire Said, written very simply, in a language that everyone, irrespective of their age and culture, can understand and apply in their daily life.”

Almost six lakh students of the Bangalore University are expected to gather at the Palace Grounds on Saturday as the state government's anti-terror campaign is set to end with a grand valedictory f

The divine water of the river Ganga is here to make the Mahashivaratri celebrations a really holy affair for Bangaloreans.

Starting at 9am on Sunday, Bangaloreans can get the theertha (a token offering of the holy water) at the city's 20 main Shiva temples. The Gangajal would be offered at over 1,500 Shiva temples across the state after Lord Shiva is given the ceremonial offering
(abhisheka) in the morning.

The Bhavnath fair at the foothill of Mt Girnar in Junagadh saw more than 10 lakh visitors on Monday, the Mahashivratri day. The show stealers were naked sadhus (saints) who with their swords, darts, daggers, lathis and mashals (torches) in their hands performed gymnastics on their way to their procession.

To manage the large crowd that was expected on Shivratri, the authorities had done all the arrangements. The route of the procession for the naked saints was cleaned and barricaded by poles at both sides.

He might be better known as a saint or Kabir of Kutch who with his simple messages in in Kutchi, Gujarati and Hindi imparts spirituality to the downtrodden.

But Mekan Dada's real work had been to save those who lost their way in the Rann of Kutch with the help of his dog, Motia, and his donkey, Lalia.

He is often now remembered as St Christopher of Kutch. His 375-year-old shrine at Dharang village on the edge of the Rann hosts an annual fair every year on Shivratri.