Tattva

While the Tantric system has often been viewed as a later development within the greater field of Hinduism, a deeper study reveals that the roots to Tantric teachings exists within the Vedas themselves. Tantric teachings are based in and as old as the Vedas itself, representing another side of the Vedic approach. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is an excerpt from the book Glimpses of Hindu Genius, by Ravi Kumar.

An interesting development is taking place these days: Many foreigners have taken inspirations from Bhagwad Gita and they are putting their efforts to promote it. Once upon a time we were fighting our battles all alone. But now with these educated and resourceful persons joining Hindu forces, our strength has increased. Every time someone utters uncharitable remarks on India or Hinduism, Francois Gautier (the French journalist based in India) gives a fitting reply. Some of our people have been sold out to the foreign media. But Francois Gautier is there. Koenraad Elst and Michel Danino are there. They are a special breed of people who have been inspired by Hindu philosophy and Hindu way of life. Read the rest of this entry »

DasaMahavidhya 3 - Shri Lalitha Tripurasundari, as her name says is one of extreme beauty not only in form but of our own perception. Read the rest of this entry »

A great part of the global population is still illiterate. Among these literates very few are educated. Educated ones are not necessarily knowledgeable and being knowledgeable doesn’t necessarily mean wise. Confused? But it’s true. A university certificate assures – at best – your presence at college but not your learning or quality. Yet, we often tend to confuse literates with educated and educated with knowledgeable and the knowledgeable with wise ones. Now, among the literates and educated many tend to consider themselves as “wise.” But being wise and considering oneself to be wise are two different things. It’s not necessary that education is a prerequisite to be wise. History will firmly testify this fact. So what is wisdom? How does one get it? I have been bothered by this question for years now. Read the rest of this entry »

Introduction:
Ram Naam (rhythmic chanting of the word Ram) has been the core of Hindu religion. Lord Sri Ram is regarded as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is the symbol of courtesy and virtue, and a man of values and morals. He is also known as Maryada Purushottama, which means “perfect man” in Sanskrit. Lord Ram is an example of idealism, as he proved to mankind that he was an ideal son, an ideal brother and an ideal husband. Lord Vishnu incarnated to earth with the aim to eradicate the evil forces of his age. Therefore, Ram Naam itself is a divine mantra or prayer. When Rishi Vashishta gave the name Ram to King Dashratha and Queen Kaushalaya’s son, the Demi-Gods in heaven rejoiced. It is proclaimed that Lord Ram was given this name in order to help mankind attain salvation and overcome obstacles in life. The word Ram is an embodiment of bliss and salvation. Read the rest of this entry »

DasaMahavidhya 2 - Maha Tara, is often said to be a savior, a goddess who helps us across difficult situations and offers the knowledge of Moksha. She is the unmanifest sound that is spread all over and that which supports the universe. Tara is often meditated upon for the purification of the mind for she is the purifying force of all the vital breaths. In fact, the sound of breath is her original, spontaneous and un-uttered mantra (So’ham). She is also the knowledge that arises by differentiating the meanings through sounds, and hence she is the patron goddess of all Mantra seekers and makers. Like Kali, she too is blue in color. She has tangled brown hair, has serpents as her ornaments with her four hands carrying a Kapala (a bowl made from a skull), a blue lotus, a head chopper and a pair of scissors. She wears a garland of severed human heads and is often shown straddling upon a corpse. Tara is much adored in the Buddhist traditions as well.

Deepak Saagar is a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati.

Young Hindu:

I do agree that Krishna and Rama are avatars of God. But where is that God? Sitting somewhere in heaven or another loka? Read the rest of this entry »

Maha Kali, the first of the ten Mahavidhyas, is perhaps one of the best known goddesses of Hinduism. She is the very force behind the movement of time, our very life and the order that maintains it. Fearful though she appears, she is capable of granting the ashta siddhis to her Upasakas. She is portrayed as dark blue in colour, her eyes wide open, her tongue rolling wildly, dressed with severed human heads and hands and wearing garlands of skulls with various arms bearing different weapons. She is often shown straddling over a corpse (which is in the form of Shiva) amidst a blood spattered battle field or a cremation ground. She represents death and beyond, thus standing for all eternity as the only ultimate truth.

Deepak Saagar is a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati.

When we browse through the philosophical concepts and spiritual manuals of various Hindu schools and sects, we can see that the spiritual evolution conception of God can be broadly classified into 3 stages.

First, the Vedic (which includes Veda Samhita, Aranyakas, Brahmanas and Upanishads). Second, the Agamic or tantric (which includes various tantric texts of various schools such as Shaivas, Shaktas, Vaishnavas and Ganapathyas). Although Aghoras, like Naths, form a separate category themselves, they can be clubbed in Tantras under Vamachara (Left hand Path). The third stage is the Puranas. Read the rest of this entry »

The intent of this essay is to delineate the use of scientific method in core Sanatana Dharma. By core  Sanatana Dharma I mean the practices that are encapsulated in source texts such as the Vedas. I have borrowed the thread of argument from the integral philosopher Ken Wilber (1).

I am going to make a statement:  Sanatana Dharma is scientific. The spiritual techniques under the umbrella of Sanatana Dharma follow the strict definition of science. The whole purpose of this essay is to prove this.

Read the rest of this entry »