For the Love of Yoga with Nish the Fish

Since it was Chaitra Navarātri last week, as part of our last Friday morning Abhinava Gupta Paramārthasāra class, we explored some key śaiva ideas that appear in the opening teaching of the Devī Māhātmyam. In this talk, we first explain the mythic context in the Bhagavad Gītā, the Upanishads and of course, the Devī Māhātmyam and explain from a śaiva perspective, why all these aesthetic and poetic features of the teacher are central to our metaphysical and soteriological framework!Also, we distinguish between soteriology, metaphysics, epistemology and of course, axiology/aesthetics. We explain how the latter is especially emphasized in the śaiva tradition, making śaiva tantra unique in its soteriological framework that embraces art, pleasure, relationships & engaging with the world at large.You'll find a playlist of all our Navarātri themed lectures around the Devī Māhātmyam here:https://www.patreon.com/collection/784368and you'll find our previous classes on the Paramārthasāra of Abhinava Gupta (i.e Introduction to Tāntrik Śaiva Monism, Svatantrya Vada) here:https://www.patreon.com/collection/106196Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

This is rather foundational discussion about the role of pūjā (ceremonial worship) in spiritual life in the modern age. As you know, the Tāntrik tradition is above all, when we consider the primary sources, about rituals and ceremonies. Now, these can often be very intimidating to learn given their technical and often elaborate nature. And this is especially a problem when you love pūjā but don't have the time and/or inclination to get all the materials and worship for 5 or 6 hours at a time, every single day! What then can you cut out in order to create your own personalized practice that makes sense for you? Is it even okay to personalize and customize the rituals presented in the texts? And if so, how do we make executive decisions like this at all on our own without compromising the efficacy of the complete system with our own idiosyncratic editing? We also have a cool discussion in the beginning about how pūjā is the perfect spiritual practice for the modern digital age. I also introduce you to some pretty esoteric Kaula deities: Ānanda Bhairava & Ānanda Bhairavi and their yāmala, which forms the third deity in the trinity: Samvit Devī or often just Vijayā or Suvijayā in some of the Kaula texts. Naturally, we point out the obvious purvāmnaya flavor in this presented of the devi-traya, trinity of Kula deities! All of this will probably whet your appetite to learn pūjā. As such, here's a step by step, mantra by mantra pūjā tutorial using several paddhathis (ritual manuals), classical and modern without copious (some might even say, gratuitous) exegesis:https://www.patreon.com/collection/233799Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

In our What Is Our Lineage, Actually? | Tradition vs. Innovation lecture, we started an inquiry into lineage, responsibility and accountability by taking into consideration all the subtleties and nuances of our tradition, from a historical and somewhat academic perspective. I offer a few stories from various sampradāyas (traditions) to show how multifaceted all of this can be to drive home the complexity of the Ramakrishna lineage and the ideals which we, across different interpretations, stand for. All of that was part of my own personal reflection on how to responsibly share my enthusiasm and delight about this tradition, which is a delicate balancing act between honoring my own instincts, inspirations and interpretations with what we call ekavākyatā (lineage consistency). In this talk, which acts as a sequel of sorts, I take a much more personal approach and using a reflection on svadhārma as per the Bhagavad-gītā, I articulate some of my most cherished ideas about being yourself & following your heart, as an expression of svatantrya, the innate playfulness of Reality. However, while I do just want to say what is in my heart to say, I also offer a few methods of accountability and means for calling me out on anything and everything!For whom my ramblings have not been helpful and appropriate, I apologize sincerely and pray you'll find the traditions, interpretations and practices that do. Naturally, you will because Hinduism is nothing if not maximally diverse and inclusive! For those who my ramblings have been somewhat interesting at least, I am deeply grateful for your support and indebted for your kindness, patience & understanding. On this sacred first day of Navaratri and Ugadi, the New Year, I offer you this from my heart to yours! namah śīvāyah.Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

A reflective deep dive into how tradition and innovation collide in tantric and Vedic lineages. Short segments explore whether medieval rules like nirukta and Panini’s grammar still matter. The talk contrasts diverse Vedantic readings, shows how traditions adapt, and raises practical safeguards for modern practitioners. It ends by linking lineage questions to specific puja and vow practices.

A rather foundational and exciting discussion about linguistic mysticism in both its psychological and metaphysical dimensions. We first sketch out the Sanskrit language system and then we make a case for how words sculpt our reality, on a psychological level. But then, we daringly go beyond mere linguistic mysticism to a far deeper insight on the inseparability of the world and language. The world IS language!And so if Tantra is a tradition that promises to create change in the world through its application (which is to say, change in the mind since, having proven that world is only ever internal and never external, to change the mind is to fundamentally alter the "world" experienced within it), then naturally the main modality employed in tantra is language, or rather, the power of the Word. Also, I was trying to share my wifi password but then accidentally turned off the wifi at the end so the video dropped. By I think that was a good place to end our discussion anyway! Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Sanskrit words are multivalent: they mean many different things in many different contexts. And so understanding the context in which a charged word like "God" or "Tantra" is used is very important since almost all of our misunderstandings between one other might just come down to this: we assume we all mean the same thing and have the same experiences with terms that we use in common, like "God" and "Tantra." Because this is simply not the case, we take some time in this video to carefully specify and define just what we mean in our community when we use the word "Tantra"! And just as Sanskrit words are complex, the Sanskritic traditions are doubly so. The world of Śaiva & Śākta Tantra is dizzying in its dazzling display of diversity and so approaching things with care, subtlety and nuance is doubly important! And for this, once again, we must define just what we mean when we say "Tantra"! Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Tonight is the eclipse full moon celebrating the birthday of Sri Chaitanya, the Incarnation of Divine Love (premāvatara) and commemorating both the burning of the demoness Holikā (as per the Vaishnava story of Prahlāda, the demon boy who loved Vishnu) as well as the burning of Kāmadeva, or Cupid (as per the Shaiva and Shakta Puranic stories of Shiva burning Kāmadeva and Lalitā defeating Bandhāsura).Since many are already familiar with the celebration of Holi (pelting each other with colored powders) and since we gave a talk on it last year called What is Holi?, I thought this year, it would be nice to offer a few more esoteric reflections on the celebration with regards to Tantrik Non-Duality! Find all our talks on Tāntrik Vaishnavism here. Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Besides the fact that Sri Krishna and Ma Kali share the same bīja mantra and besides the significant historical and cultural overlap between these two traditions in Bengal, there is a certain esoteric "bħāvic" connection between these two deities, one of madness and ecstasy that we see so perfectly expressed in Sri Ramakrishna. In this talk, we explore that bhāva of mad love, with some important digressions into the Tāntrik understanding of Deity and of Mantra. Happy Holika/Kama Dahanam! Happy Chaitanya PurnimaHappy Vasant Purnima/ Spring Eclipse Full Moon!You'll find all of our Tāntrik Vaishnavism lectures here & all our stuff on Mā Kālī here. Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

A deep dive into pañca-makāras and the ritual use of meat, fish, wine, sex and mudra in Vāmācāra Tantra. Stories of curses on alcohol and meat and the mantras used to lift them get explored. The talk examines ethical, historical and ritual complexities around sacrifice, initiation, and safeguards. It also touches on Ananda-Bhairava, non-dual Self-awareness, and how transgressive practices can point to pure consciousness.

A deep dive into Śiva's strange, playful nature and how that shapes a unique Shaiva theology. Talks range from ritual, dhyana, and initiation to debates about suffering, divine will, and aesthetic theodicy. Covers myths like Sati and Daksha, diverse Shaiva schools and practices, inner alchemy risks, and the role of guru and transmission in spiritual transformation.