Articles related to "Vedas"
The Puranas
The main scriptures in Hinduism are the Vedas and Puranas. The Vedas contain the phlosophy, whereas the Puranas contain the mythology. In paricular the Puranas have a wealth of information on creation, cosmology, time cycles, incarnations of Gods and the genealogy of legendary kings. The Puranas complement the Vedas by describing the concepts in a simple manner with the help of tales and parables. The two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are also popular sources of mythological information.
• bhagavad gita
• mahabharata
• vedas
• upanishads
• vid
More on the Vedas
The names of the Riga, Sama and Yajur Veda were derived from their content. The name of the Atharva Veda is derived differently.
• derivation
• vedas
• functions
• propagation
• riga
The Yajur and Sama Vedas
The Riga Veda is sublime and spiritual, whereas the Yajur and Sama Vedas and the Brahmanas of all four Vedas are ritualistic and mundane.
• yajur
• sama
• riga
• vedas
• brahmanas
Vedas: Purpose & Structure
Each of the four Vedas, Riga,Yajur, Sama and Atharva, has a different focus. This compilation was done by Veda Vyasa.
• vedic
• scriptures
• vedas
• structure
• purpose
Creation in the Riga Veda
According to the Riga Veda the One Supreme God did not create the Universe by fashioning it from preexisting material, but transformed himself into the Universe.
• hinduism
• creation
• upanishads
• riga veda
• visvakarma
The Atharva Veda
The Atharva Veda is an amalgamation of the primitive religion that predated Vedic thought and the philosophy of the earlier Riga, Yajur and Sama Vedas.
• atharva
• veda
• riga
• yajur
• sama
The Maruts
Diti wanted a son who would kill Indra. Kashyap granted her this wish but attached certain conditions. Diti was unable to fulfill these conditions and Indra entered her womb and cut the fetus into forty-nine pieces. These were born as the Maruts.
• diti
• syamantapanchaka
• saraswati river
• ganga
• yamuna
Utanka - I
Utanka was sent by his mistress to obtain the earrings of the Queen of King Paushya. After some unusual encounters he got the earrings but also received a strange warning and an unmerited curse.
• utanka
• veda
• paushya
• takshaka
• mahabharata
Utanka - II
Utanka is accosted by Takshaka, the king of the serpents, and loses the earrings to him. Through a strange string of events he recovers the earrings. He however wants revenge and puts in motion a plan that will enable him to end Takshaka's life.
• utanka
• takshaka
• veda
• indra
• airavata
Veda Vyasa and Bhagavata Purana
Krishna Dwaipayana, popularly Veda Vyasa, was not satisfied after writing the Mahabharata. Narada inspired him to write the Srimad Bhagavata Purana.
• krishna dwaipayana
• parashara
• satyavati
• kaliyuga
• vedas
Veda Vyasa and the Mahabharata
Veda Vyasa was the biological father of the brothers whose children fought against each other in the Great War. Later Vyasa dictated the epic to Ganesh.
• krishna dwaipayana
• veda vyasa
• mahabharata
• satyavati
• shantanu
Vedanta
As recorded in the Upanishads, the final section of the Vedas, Vedanta means knowledge of God or the Absolute Reality.
• vedanta brahman atman moksha vedas
The Humbling of Indra
Indra in his arrogance wants to build the greatest city ever. He is humbled when he learns that he is just one in a long line of Indras.
• indra
• vritta
• viswakarma
• brahma
• vishnu
Creation in the Upanishads
The universe is a manifestation of God. All matter contains innate divinity and evolution is the process of realizing that divinity.
• upanishads
• riga veda
• puranas
• ananda
• divine bliss
Eyebrow Treatments and Services
Perfectly arched, complementary colored eyebrows subtract years from the face and create a polished, look.
• eyebrows
• eyebrow tints
• spa services
• veda salons
• arches
From Polytheism to Monotheism
The hymns of the Riga Veda demonstrate the gradual transition from polytheism to monotheism in the Vedic society
• hinduism
• vedic
• polytheism
• riga veda
• monotheism
Polytheism, Monotheism and Monism
Polytheism is the belief in many gods, Monotheism in one God and Monism in the existence of one reality with diverse manifestations. All these are found in The Riga Veda.
• polytheism
• monotheism
• monism
• hinduism
• vedic
The All-pervasive Atma
Prajapati teaches Indra about what the Atma is, by telling him what it is not.
• atma
• upanishads
• pervasive
• chandogya
• sama
A Brief History of Yoga
A brief history of yoga before it came to North America for beginner yoga students.
• yoga history
• brief history of yoga
• history of yoga
• rig veda
• vedas
Glossary Q to S
Writing on Hinduism necessitates the use of non-English words that occur often need to be explained. This glossary explains words beginning with Q to S.
• radha
• riga veda
• vedas
• sama veda
• samhitas
The Birth of Krishna Dwaipayana
The sage Parashara is smitten by Satyavati the fisherman's daughter. Under very unusual circumstances they unite and Krishna Dwaipayana is born.
• satyavati
• dashraja
• matsyagandha
• yamuna
• parashara
Matsya Avatar - The Fish Incarnation
The Fish Incarnation is the first incarnation of Vishnu in which he retrieves the Vedas from the demon Hayagriva and also saves the pious king Satyavrata from the deluge so that life and religion can be preserved for the next cycle.
• matsya avatar
• fish incarnation
• vishnu
• manu
• satyavrata
Satyavati - I
Satyavati, the second wife of Shantanu, was born in an unusual way. She was accidentally conceived by a fish and given birth in human form. She was brought up by the leader of a fishing community. An encounter with the sage Parashara which resulted in the birth of Vyasa, set the stage for her tryst with Shantanu.
• uparichara
• chedi
• apsara
• adrika
• brahma
Hinduism and the Aryan Influence
Hinduism originated with the Aryans who came to the Indian subcontinent long before Christ. A new culture began to evolve then and is still continuing to evolve.
• hinduism
• aryan
• dravidians
• vedas
• vedic
The Four Ashrams or Life Stages
The human life span is divided into four ashrams. These are Brahmacharya, Grahasta, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. The Vedas define a specific purpose for each ashram.
• vedic philosophy
• vedas
• hinduism
• ashrams
• brahmacharya
The Supreme Being in Hinduism
The perception of the Supreme Being in Hinduism has changed according to the nature of the enquiry and the needs of the society.
• supreme being
• hinduism
• vedas
• upanishads
• epic
Creation in the Puranas
Two stories of creation of the universe from the Puranas are narrated. The Brahm manifests itself as Brahma, who then proceeds with the work of creation.
• creation
• universe
• puranas
• riga veda
• upanishads
Frogs
It is somewhat surprising that the frog is so important to Mythology and Folklore. Being an amphibean that transforms it is a symbol for birth, death and rebirth.
• frog
• frog mythology
• frog folktales
• egyptian mythology
• christian mythology
Hinduism and the Environment
The pagan element in Hinduism advocated Sustainable Development by deification of nature as seen in the hymns of the Riga Veda dedicated to Surya, Indra, Agni and others.
• sustainable development
• hinduism
• conservation
• natural resources
• environment degradation
India & Constellation Orion Myths
In ancient Hindu mythology, the constellation Orion was the god Prajapati, who had an incestuous relationship with the dawn.
• orion
• constellation orion
• hindu mythology about orion
• hunter constellation
• myths about orion
Introduction to Bhagavata Purana
The Bhagavata Purana as we have received it is narrated neither by Vyasa nor by Sukhdev, but by Suta Goswami.
• naimisharanya
• shaunaka
• bhagavata purana
• suta goswami
• lomaharshana
The Reverse Aryan Invasion
The Vedic civilization was indigenous to India and existed on the banks of Saraswati in 6000 BC. The Aryans left the Indus valley and migrated to Persia after 2000 BC.
• hinduism
• aryan
• invasion
• india
• iran
Hinduism: A Holistic Way of Life
Hinduism is not just a theology. It is a holistic way of life. The Vedas and Puranas deal with the arts and culture, medicine and health and other aspects of life.
• hinduism
• holistic
• yoga sutra
• patanjali
• vedas
Apsaras I
Apsaras have been variously described as fairies, angels, nymphs and sirens. Actually they are celestial maidens of exquisite beauty and alluring charm, and have the power and will to use both.
• apsaras
• indra
• gandharvas
• kashyap
• aditi
The Ten Incarntions
The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu refer to his appearances on earth as some living creature in order to destroy evil and establish righteousness. As a side issue they reflect the theory of evolution.
• vishnu
• incarnations
• bagwad gita
• arjuna
• krishna
Creation in the Bhagavata Purana
Having created the universe Brahma populates it with living beings that include plants, animals, humans and the immortals.
• puranas
• creation
• brahmavaivarta
• brahma
• creation myths
FAQs: scriptures, women and caste
Hinduism has a wide range of scriptures - philosophical, prescriptive and mythological. The role of women and the Caste System are some of the contentious issues.
• hindu
• scriptures
• shruti
• smriti
• hinduism
Glossary I to L
Writing on Hinduism necessitates the use of non-English words that occur often need to be explained. This glossary explains words beginning with I to L.
• ila
• vaivasvata manu
• sudyumna
• buddh
• soma
Hindu Philosophy
Hindu philosophy answers the same questions as the Western philosophies and is based on the same principles that Hindu theology is based. Yet it is different from both.
• hindu philosophy
• issues
• schools
• hindu theology
• vedas
Introduction to the Upanishads
The Upanishads represent knowledge obtained by sitting down near the feet of a guru, the focus of which is more the inner soul than the external reality.
• upanishads
• vedas
• vedanta
• samhita
• brahmana
The Genealogy of Akuti and Prasuti
The children of Akuti and Ruchi and Prasuti and Daksha populate the earth. They include Nara and Narayan and Sati.
• swayambhav manu
• shatrupa
• devahuti
• kardam
• akuti
The Itihasas and the Puranas
The Itihasas and the Puranas are full of stirring mythological narratives of avatars of the Supreme Being.
• scriptures
• epic period
• itihasas
• puranas
• vedas
The Nun of Amherst
Emily Dickinson's life resembled that of a monastic. She lived a quiet life of contemplation, and she filled her poems with flowers, birds, divinity, and immortality.
• emily dickinson
• nun of amherst
• nineteenth century
• american poet
• fascicles
Three Ayurvedic Doshas of India
The three doshas of Indian Ayurvedic medicine prescribe approaches to nutrition and health by identifying characteristic elements of the physical body, mind and emotions.
• pitta vata kapha dosha
• five elements of ayurveda
• ayurvedic traditional medicine
• tri-dosha or tridosha
• indian vedas
Glossary A to B
Writing on Hinduism necessitates the use of non-English words that often need to be explained. This glossary explains words beginning with A to B.
• adhisima krishnaagni
• aranyakas
• angiras
• arjun
• aryans
Glossary M to P
Writing on Hinduism necessitates the use of non-English words that occur often need to be explained. This glossary explains words beginning with M to P.
• madhu
• meru
• pushkar
• mahabharata
• pandavas
Somnath Jyotirlinga
Soma appeases Shiva in order to have a curse put on him removed and then builds a temple to his benefactor in gratitude.
• somnath
• dwadasa jyotirlingas
• india
• antarctica
• sanskrit
The Bhavishya Purana
The Bhavishya Purana presents a picture of the future of "Bharat Varsha". It also deals with Sun worship, temple structure, marriages and other issues.
• shatanika
• veda vyasa
• sumantu
• bhavishya purana
• hindu
The Brahmananda Purana
The Brahmananda Purana was originally narrated by Vayu Deva at the end of the yagna in which King Pururava was killed. It provides a graphic description of ancient India.
• brahmananda purana
• scripture
• hinduism
• kurukshetra
• lomaharshana