Guruji,My grandfather 's brother died this year, should we celebrate Diwali? I researched about it online but got no good answer. I am confused, I read that I can celebrate but my elders say different? Please help me.

If we read Upanishads, such queries will never come to our mind. There is lot of difference between the conveyances of Upanishads and Purnanas. .

SirOne more query.I have seen in many stories where Asuras torture Devas, Indras and others will go to Vaikunda or Kailash requesting Lord Vishnu or Siva to destroy the asuras.Is that mean, Indras and other Devas in lower worlds have power to see Lord Vishnu and Siva and visit their worlds whenever they want.

I have forgotten to add an important point. From the date of initiation, if there is no visible spiritual evolution in the disciple, it signifies that there is something seriously wrong either with Guru or his/her disciple. At this stage, their relationship needs to be reviewed. In general, it would take three years for an earnest disciple to realize the Self under the guidance of his/her Guru. In many instances, realization could happen much before that.

There are two aspects in Guru-disciple relationship. A disciple should be in touch with his Guru as much as possible. A disciple should not hesitate to seek clarifications from his Guru. A disciple may think that a particular doubt is not very significant to seek an answer from his Guru. But this doubt could change his spiritual path. Doubt means doubt and should be clarified immediately with his Guru. If someone says, “follow my orders”, then I am sorry, he is not a Guru at all. Guru should never be looked upon as someone in a higher pedestal. I have been repeatedly emphasizing that even God should not worshiped on a higher pedestal as it signifies duality. Therefore, a Guru should be a friend, philosopher and guide.The one with no pomp and vanity and no crowd around him is the right kind of Guru one should seek. Most importantly, a Guru should be easily accessible. A Guru should not forget that he was also a novice a few years ago. Though by and large, spiritual path is the same for everyone, but during higher levels everybody’s path is surely different and a Guru has to take forward each of them differently. A Guru relies upon one’s age, profession, available free time, his current spiritual status, etc to evaluate a disciple’s spiritual status. Based on these categories, a Guru takes forward a disciple in spiritual path. Information available on www no doubt is significant and at least 50% of the information is authentic. But this cannot be totally followed, for the reasons explained above. A disciple’s job is not over after getting a mantra initiated. The bondage between a Guru and his disciple should exist till the disciple is liberated. It should always remain as a sacred and trusted relationship.

It is often seen in the traditional lineages that the ultimate key lies in the hands of the guru. Rarely does a disciple gets to ask his guru various confusions arising in the mind. The guru has just this wholesome formula, "follow my orders, I know what is best for you." So a disciple continues, sometime spending very long periods under a certain guru and then suddenly one fine morning realises that he is not going anywhere but stuck in the same place where he started. And then starts the mental churning and a great disbelief sets in about the whole concept of guru and more importantly the path he followed with so much devotion! This is just one of the many scenarios which many spiritual aspirants experience nowadays!What I am trying to ask you are two different questions:1. How does a "novice" with a very vague ideas on Guru, but who wants to kick start his spiritual journey understand who is perfect for him?2. Secondly in this world of "information overflow" what should be the primary duty of a "21st century disciple" who googles for answers, rather in approaching his Guru?Thanking you in advance!

River Ganges and any sea. These are the best places to perform this.

I am an Assamese Brahmin. My father expired on 9th June 2010. we have completed our rituals as per Assamese norms. only the Asthi Visharjan is remaining till date.please guide us where Asthi Visharjan can be done / which is the beast place as per Hindu norms / Puranas?

That is why, I differentiated between gods and realized souls like Sages and Saints.

I didnt Understand this. If Devas like Indra are greed and do some bad thing and are born in earth due to this ,it is actually adding new karma.I suppose doing bad thing is an act originated in their mind.Please clarify.