The Complex Meaning of Namaste
Namaste Readers! The word ‘Namaste’ has lot of prominence in Hinduism. It is pronounced as Na-Ma-Stay. It is a symbol of modesty and humility. In the Hindu religion, people mutually …
Hinduism Role and Importance of Durga
Durga, the 10-armed goddess, represents the essence of femininity and highlights the battle of good over evil. The deities of the universe and the Earth’s elements are found in Durga, …
Gods and Goddesses of Ancient India
For those familiar with world theology, Hinduism shares something in common with the Chinese religions and Japanese Shinto. All three are known as polytheistic religious faiths as there are multiple …
Hinduism Characteristics and Attributes of Garuda
Vishnu is the Supreme Being, or God, or Ultimate Reality. The Garuda has a large gold body, a white face, and an eagle’s beak. He is a less prominent presence …
Goddess Lakshmi
Diwali is a festival, an incarnation of almighty in its various forms. Goddess Laksmi is one of them. She is worshipped, loved and earnestly prayed on the third day of …
Why is Lakshmi Poojan done on Diwali
Diwali is an important festival which is celebrated all over India, and by people of all religions in India. It is one of the only festivals, which transcends all religious …
Significance of Aarti in Hindu Rituals
Several years ago, while searching for a name for my then unborn daughter, I was particularly attracted by the name “Aarti”. The original intent was to choose a name that …
Sikhism Theory and Origins
The founder of the Sikh religion was ironically born into a Hindu family; his name was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He became the disciple responsible for spreading the truth, word …
Mahabharata Draupadi
The entire Mahabharata, is riddled with situations that raise many questions and are interpreted in many ways, sometimes to the dismay of some sections of the society. I have personally …
How is Laxmi Puja done on Diwali
How is Laxmi Puja done on Diwali? Diwali is the most important and commonly celebrated festival of Hindus in India and around the world. Diwali, derived from the Sanskrit word …
History of Govardhana Parvat
Krishna, also known as the “Butter Thief”, is believed to be the eighth avatar out of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. He is one of the supreme gods of …
Understanding Hinduism
Hinduism: An Introduction The word Hindu has a Persian origin. It came from the Persian name of the river Sindhu (in English Indus), along the banks of which the religion …
Hinduism Characteristics and Attributes of Matangi
Literally speaking, Hindu is a resident of land through which the river Indus flows. Over the years and during colonization of the land, the word “Indu” transformed into “Hindu”. The …
A look at Hinduisms Effect on World Religions
A Look at Hinduism’s Effect on World Religions: A Simple Look at Entropy, Henotheism, and The Shape of Religion to Come In the study of religions, all is entropy. Remember …
Hinduism Characteristics and Attributes of Dhanwantari
Dhanwantari (Dhanvantari or Dhanvantri) is known in Hinduism as one of the first “doctors”. In the “Vedas”, which are the oldest examples of Sanskrit literature as well as being the …
Who was Shree Sai Baba of Shirdi
Every year thousands of Indians take a pilgrimage to a city called Shirdi, located in Maharashtra State, in India. This is where a man called Sai Baba took shelter in …
Defining the Main Hindu Symbols
Om Om is the most important religious symbol for Hindus. It is composed of three sounds a-u-m and this threefold nature is central to its significance. It represents the three …
The Goals of Life in Hinduism
The ultimate goal of life in Hinduism is “MOKSHA”. Another word for Moksha is “MUKTI”. Both these words literally mean liberation. Liberation from what? Liberation from the bonds of the …
Introduction to Krsna Consciousness
I am a Krsna devotee, also known as a Hare Krishna guy. To understand Krsna is not a very easy task. We have got more than one hundred books based …
Hindu Deities Vamana
This Avatar of Lord Vishnu is of particular significance to the inhabitants and descendants of the people of Kerala with key importance to the harvest time festival called Onam. Onam …
Understanding the Role of Karma in Hinduism
Karma may be better known as a Buddhist concept, but it is a very important aspect of the Hindu religion as well. While the term has become quite well known …
The Importance of Tantra in Hinduism
There are several forms of tantra in the Hindu religion: Shaiva, Vaisnava, Ganapatya, and Shakta as a few examples. Tantra is what you call your esoteric traditions in religion such …
Hindu Hinduism South India Festivals Navrathri Golu Doll Festival
Nav’ means nine and Ratri’ means nights. Navrathri is the period of nine days and nights that draws relevance from Indian mythology. The Navrathri festival celebrates the victory of Goddess …
Sati Pratha a Crime
Sati leaves Shiva to attend a yagna (ceremony), uninvited; being misinterpreted as the Sati Pratha, where a woman is burned alive upon her husband’s death. The story behind Sati Pratha …
Understanding Yoga in Hinduism
The Upanishads, a text of teachings from spiritual masters, describes the union with the true Self as the ultimate goal of Hinduism. This desired goal involves balance, purity, tranquility, and …
Hinduism Introduction to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana
The Mahabharata and Ramayana are one of the two biggest epics of Hinduism. The Mahabharata was written by the saint Vyasa. The Mahabharatha is one of the longest narrative poems …
Basic Priniciple of Yoga from a Hindu Perspective
When one speaks of a principle, the natural thought is of a truth that transcends given boundaries. A principle is defined as a “fundamental truth or law as the basis …
The Historical Significance of Sacred Cows in Hinduism
Hindus revere cows as a symbol or life. Unlike many misconceptions about the significance of cows in Hindu culture, cows are not nor have they ever been worshiped. In ancient …
The Significance of Bindis
I have always wondered what the red dot in the middle of the foreheads of the people of India represented. I certainly knew that those dots weren’t genetic. But, I …
Hinduism Characteristics and Attributes of Indra
The god Indra is the king of the Vedic gods, and is god of thunder, lightning, and rain. The Vedic gods themselves were deities worshiped by tribal Aryan invaders from …
Hindu Gods and Goddesses: The many forms of Shiva
Hinduism is among the world’s oldest religions and boasts over 900 million followers around the globe. Over 80% of the population of India consider themselves to be Hindu. The Hindu …
A Hindu Kingdom in India
Something very frightening is going on in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat. The Constitution of India is being systematically and insidiously chipped away. It is being made increasingly apparent that if you …