On the occasion of the 148th birthday of Rabindranath Tagore - the first Hindu Nobel Laureate, here're some of his thoughts on god and religion taken from his various works. Tagore's mystical poetry, music and art continue to inspire us:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high / Where knowledge is free / Where the world has not been broken up into fragments / By narrow domestic walls / Where words come out from the depth of truth / Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection / Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way / Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit / Where the mind is led forward by thee / Into ever-widening thought and action / Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

Find out what's in store for you this month. Read your Vedic Astro Forecast for May 2008 by renowned Vedic Astologer 'Jyotish' Asish Kumar Das. The focus of these predictions are your health, family and work. Select your zodiac sign to read about your monthly forecast.

Akshaya Tritiya falls this Thursday, when the Sun and Moon are simultaneously at their peak of brightness. The word "Akshaya" means imperishable or eternal - that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. Read more to find out why Hindus consider it a 'golden day.'

The 'tulsi' or holy basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshipped in the morning and evening by Hindus at large. A Hindu household is considered incomplete without a tulsi plant in the courtyard. Vaishnavites or believers of Lord Vishnu wear beaded necklaces made of tulsi stems. Apart from its religious significance, the tulsi is also an ayurvedic remedy for a number of common ailments.

Illustration © Subhamoy Das

Hinduism believes in the concept of reincarnation. What determines the state of an individual in the next existence is karma which refers to the actions undertaken by the body and the mind. In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life according to dharma. This involves doing what is right for the individual, the family, the community and also for the universe itself. Dharma is like a cosmic norm and if one goes against the norm it can result in bad karma. So, dharma affects the future according to the karma accumulated. Therefore, one's dharmic path in the next life is determined by their past karma.

Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times: Secrets to Attaining Inner Peace and Harmony by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha is a unique commentary on the Gita – the most profound of Hindu scriptures. He draws parallels from the verses of the Gita and casts them in the chapters of our everyday lives. Read Review

More About the Holy Gita

• Bhagavad Gita Online
• In Praise of the Bhagavad Gita
• Bhagavad Gita For Busy People
• Learn a Verse from the Bhagavad Gita

Kali, the Dark Goddess is depicted with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. But the love between this mother goddess and her human children is a unique relationship. Kali is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond, in spite of her fearful appearance. In this relationship, the worshipper becomes a child and Kali assumes the form of the ever-caring mother. Her three eyes represent past, present, and future, — the three modes of time — an attribute that lies in the very name. 'Kala' in Sanskrit means time.

Image © ExoticIndia.com

Vaastu - the ancient Indian science of geopathy can help you live a happy and healthy life if your house is compliant to certain natural laws. Hindus believe that for peace, happiness, health and wealth one should abide by the guidelines of Vaastu while building a dwelling. It tells us how to avoid diseases, depression and disasters by living in structures, which allow the presence of a positive cosmic field.

Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon. The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us. Let's learn more about this simian symbol of strength on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti which falls on April 20, 2008.

• Hanuman Hymn: Aarti
• Hanuman Photo Gallery
• Hanuman Chalisa: Real Audio

Image © ExoticIndia.com

The earthly incarnations of Vishnu have many avatars. His ten avatars are Matsyavatara (fish), Koorma (tortoise), Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana (the dwarf), Parasurama (the angry man), Lord Rama (the perfect human of the Ramayana), Lord Krishna (the divine diplomat and statesman), and the yet to appear 10th incarnation called the Kalki avatar.