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Bhagavata 11.28.1: para-svabhava-karmani na prasamsen na garhayet | visvam ekatmakam pasyan prakrtya purusena ca || 1 || "One should neither praise nor criticize the conditional nature of others, seeing the whole universe as one spiritual being, characterized by the interplay of Purusa and Prakrti.

Lord Krsna states in the Gopala-tapani Upanisad (Uttara 4), aputah puto bhavati yam mam smrtva avrati vrati bhavati yam mam smrtva niskamahsa-kamo bhavati yam mam smrtva asrotri srotri bhavati yam mam smrtva “By remembering Me, one who is impure becomes pure. By remembering Me, one who follows...

The prediction of Islam as given in the Bhavishya Purana [From the third part of the Pratisarga Parva.] Shri Suta Gosvami said: In the dynasty of king Shalivahana, there were ten kings who went to the heavenly planets after ruling for over 500 years. Then gradually the morality declined on the...

I saw many people saying that yoga is Hindu and hence Non-Hindus should avoid doing yoga, but to tell you yoga is neither religion , nor Hindu or anti any religion. Yoga is basically art of living with healthy body and sound mind.

The Hindu cosmology holds that time runs in a spiral pattern. Cycles get repeated but the point of origin and the point of conclusion never meet. According to this belief, creation has happened on earth for six times already, followed by destruction and that we are slowly but steadily heading...

ivaidtaaiKala Saas~asauQaajalaQao maihtaaopa inaYatkxiQataaqa-inaQao | =dyao kxlayao ivamalaM carNa Bava SaMkxr doiSakx mao SarNama\ ||1|| VIDITAKILA SASTRA SUDHA JALATHE MAHITOPA NISATKATHI TARTHANIDHE HRDAYEKALAYE VIMALAM SARANAM BHAVA SANKARA DESIKA ME SARANAM ||1|| O THOU, THE KNOWER OF...

Detailed Overview of Hindu Samskaras are as follows: CH. 1 THE SOURCES OF ENQUIRY CH. 2 THE MEANING & THE NUMBER OF THE SAMSKARAS CH. 3 THE PURPOSE OF THE SAMSKARAS CH. 4 THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE SAMSKARAS CH. 5 THE PRE - NATAL SAMSKARAS CH. 6 THE SAMSKARAS OF CHILDHOOD CH. 7 THE EDUCATIONAL...

1. The Meaning of the word ‘Samskara’ The word Samskăra defies every attempt at its correct translation into English. Ceremony or Latin caerimonia does not give the full meaning of this word. Rather it corresponds with Sanskrit Karman, religious act in general. Samskŕra does not mean "more...

Life has been a great mystery to man. Its origin, growth, decadence and disappearance have always exercised his thoughts and emotions. The Hindu Samskaras were just an attempt to fathom and to facilitate the flow of this mystery. Through observations and experiences and through faltering and...

Introductory The last sacrament in the life of a Hindu is the Antyesti or the Funeral with which he closes the concluding chapter of his worldly career. While living, a Hindu consecrates his worldly life by performing various rites and ceremonies at the different stages of his progress. At his...

(i) The Importance of Marriage The Vivaha is the most important of all the Hindu Samskaras. The Grhyasutras generally begin with it, because it is the origin and centre of all domestic sacrifices. They presuppose that every man, in his normal conditions, is expected to marry and run a home...

Names, Meaning and Purpose of the Samskara When the mind of the child was prepared to receive education, the Vidyarambha Samskara was performed to mark its beginning, and alphabets were taught. The Samskara is variously named. It is called vidyarambha, akshararambha, Aksharasvikarana and...

Origin The birth of a child was a very impressing scene for the early man. Owing to its wonderfulness, he attributed this event to some superhuman agency. He also apprehended many dangers on this occasions, for the avoidance of which various taboos and observances arose. The helplessness of the...

1. The Meaning The rite through which a man placed his seed in a woman was called Garbhadhana. Saunaka gives the similar definition though in slightly different words; "The rite by the performance of which a woman receives semen scattered (by her husband) is call Garbhalambhanam or...

1. Introductory The Samskaras are a complex combination of various elements. They express beliefs, sentiments and knowledge of the ancient Hindus about the nature of human life and the universe and their relation with the superhuman powers that were supposed to guide or control the destiny of...

1. Introductory An investigation into the real purpose and significance of ancient institutions like the Hindu Samskaras is beset with many difficulties. First of all, the peculiar circumstances under which they arose are buried deep under thick crusts of ages, and around them have clustered a...

THE SOURCES OF INQUIRY Introductory The Grhyasutras, the oldest manuals of the Hindu Samskaras, do not cite their authorities as the Dharmasutras do for their contents. The cause of this silence is that the Samskaras, mostly being domestic rites and ceremonies, were based more on precedent...

Even though the usage of the bindi is profoundly common among the women following Hindu or Jain customs, these days, however, women belonging to all races, religions, creed, castes, etc. have started wearing this dot of beauty. It is also important to note that bindis are not just worn by the...

Conventionally, this decoration dot is worn in the center of the area between the eyebrows. The reason behind the choice of this space for adorning the bindi is attributable to a Vedic belief. According to this belief, the space between the eyebrows is considered to be the sixth chakra i.e., one...

The colour red and matrimony go together, denoting auspicious circumstances, prosperity, and fertility. A woman crossing over the threshold into her new home becomes its ‘new guardian’ of sorts. This is also why a widow replaces a red Bindi with a black dot, indicating her dissociation from...