Hinduism and Worship: Yagna - the ritual worship of Hinduism

Yagna or yajna is an outer form of worship in which offerings are made to different deities in a prescribed and systematic manner by qualified priests to supplicate them, so that they would assist the worshipper in achieving certain results in life.

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There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has a garb of mythology. Do not argue. Shut up your mouth. Keep your intellect at a respectable distance when you study mythology. Intellect is a hindrance. It will delude you. Give up arrogance and vanity. Cultivate love for imagery. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote the mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now..

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Outward symbols are necessary and beneficial. When viewed from the right angle of vision, you will find that they play a very important part in your material as well as spiritual life. Though they may look very simple and unimportant, they are very scientific and effective.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Hinduism and Maya

Maya is the power that deludes. From where does this power come? It comes from Prakriti or Nature. Prakriti is the creation of God. First He creates Prakriti and then enters into it. And when He enters into it, He becomes enveloped with his own maya leading to his own delusion and bondage.

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Hinduism and prayers: Hindu prayers

In the spiritual realm a prayer has a greater significance. Continuous recitation of gods name (nam japam) would lead to purification of the mind and inner transformation. It is the best way to develop communion with God and realize the inner self. Following are some of the basic concepts about prayers in Hinduism.

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Hindu view on Science, Knowledge and Education

Hindu scriptures recognize two types of knowledge: the lower knowledge and the higher knowledge. Knowledge of the rites and rituals and scholarly study of scriptures is considered to be lower knowledge, while higher knowledge is the knowledge of Atman and Brahman gained through personal experience or self realization. Of the two, the Higher Knowledge alone is true, because it liberates the individuals from the cycle of births and deaths.

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Hinduism and Death: The Hindu view on Death

Hinduism believes in the rebirth and reincarnation of souls. Death is therefore not a great calamity, not an end of all, but a natural process in the existence of soul as a separate entity, by which it reassembles its resources, adjusts its course and returns again to the earth to continue its journey. In Hinduism death is a temporary cessation of physical activity, a necessary means of recycling the resources and energy and an opportunity for the jiva (that part which incarnates) to review its programs and policies.

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Hinduism versus Islam: Hinduism and Islam Compared

Similarities and differences between Hinduism and Islam.

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Hinduism and suicide: Hindu view on suicide

Hinduism does not approve suicide. Hindus believe that human life is very precious, which is attainted after after hundreds and thousands of births and provides an unique opportunity to each individual to make a quantum jump into higher planes of existence or attain immortality. Even gods and other celestial beings do not have this opportunity unless they come down to earth and take birth as human beings. 

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Hinduism and Jiva: The Constitution of Man - The Jiva

In Hinduism man is the microcosm who contains within himself all the constituents and manifestations of the Universal Self. It is by looking into oneself, by knowing and understanding oneself, one can experience the Truth of the Supreme Self. In the Katha Upanishad, Lord Yama declares to Nachiketa that it is through self-contemplation (adhyatma-yogadhigamena) that the wise man realizes the Primal God and leaves behind him both joy and sorrow (mortal existence).

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In Hindi, Raksha means 'protection'. This word is derived from the Sanskrit language. Raksha is the basic spirit with which the festival Rakshabandhan is celebrated in India. In this festival, a sister ties a string, known as Rakhi, around the wrist of her brother, asking him to protect her. The brother reciprocates by gifting his sister a present and renewing his vow to protect her. In Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book stories Raksha the Demon is the name of the M ...

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A general view of Ayyavazhi may seem make it similar to, or serves as an offshoot of, Hinduism. But in regards to religious practices, belief, and sociology, Ayyavazhi differs from traditional Hinduism. Hindu's view Vedas, rather than the Akilam, as Books of Perfection. Ayyavazhi also believe they were, (but not rather than Akilam) at one point, but feel they were corrupted by later, and that Kaliyan bought the Vedas as a Boon and so all the Previous religious books including Agamas and Puranas lost their Substances, and so Akilattira ...

Including:

• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Differences between Ayyavazhi and Hinduism
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Religious Practices
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Beliefs
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Sociology
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Similarities between Ayyavazhi and Hinduism
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Religious Practices
• Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Theology

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Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Hinduism is one of the most ancient world religions, tracing its origins back over 5,000 years. Today there are more than 900 million Hindu people worldwide, but mainly in Bharat (India), and the nations of the Indian subcontinent. As the Hindu religion was born in India, its criticism is irreversibly link ...

Including:

• Criticism of Hinduism - Social oppression
• Criticism of Hinduism - Varna System
• Criticism of Hinduism - Status of Women
• Criticism of Hinduism - Hindu Response and reform
• Criticism of Hinduism - Hindu fundamentalism
• Criticism of Hinduism - Hindu response
• Criticism of Hinduism - Ideology clash with Abrahamic religions
• Criticism of Hinduism - Hindu renaissance

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Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. The history of Hinduism begins around 7,000 years ago and continues till the dawn of the Gupta Empire in India, and the organized, written records and preservation of important historical documents. Hinduism was synthesized in these misty centuries, from the ancient Indo-Iranian Vedic religion, the religious and philosophical practices of the peoples of the Indus Valley Civil ...

Including:

• History of Early Hinduism - Analyzing the History
• History of Early Hinduism - At the birth of Hinduism
• History of Early Hinduism - The Aryans of India and Iran
• History of Early Hinduism - The Indus Valley Civilization
• History of Early Hinduism - Influences of the Indus Valley and Dravidian People
• History of Early Hinduism - The Indigenous Peoples within India
• History of Early Hinduism - Composition of the Vedas
• History of Early Hinduism - From the Ancient Vedic Religion
• History of Early Hinduism - Influences from the Indus Valley
• History of Early Hinduism - The Classical Age: Ramayana and Mahabharata

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Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (देवी, Devī in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. Some of her other names include Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani. She is known as the goddess of strength, the female aspect of divinity, usually considered to have an equal role with the male aspect as energy or the driving force (Shakti), without which the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, is impotent. Vaishnodevi's main temple is situated in Jammu regio ...

Including:

• Devi - Shakta
• Devi - Aspects

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Main Article: History of Early Hinduism The base of Hinduism consisted not only of Vedic religion, but the religious systems of the Dravidian peoples, and the Indus Valley Civilization. History of Hinduism - Influences of the Indus Valley and Dravidian Peoples. ...

See also:

History of Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Origins, History of Hinduism - Analyzing the History, History of Hinduism - Literature, History of Hinduism - Archaeology, History of Hinduism - Hindu Mythology, History of Hinduism - Early Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Influences of the Indus Valley and Dravidian Peoples, History of Hinduism - Evolution of Hindu Philosophy, History of Hinduism - Socio-Religious Reform Movements, History of Hinduism - Hinduism and Jainism, History of Hinduism - Hinduism and the rise of Buddhism, History of Hinduism - Hinduism during the Golden Age in Bharat, History of Hinduism - Shankaracharya and the revival of Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Cultural expansion in South-East Asia, History of Hinduism - Hinduism in Medieval Ages, History of Hinduism - Islamic Invasion, History of Hinduism - Goa Inquisition, History of Hinduism - Bhakti Movement, History of Hinduism - The Reign of Shivaji, History of Hinduism - Modern Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Reform Movements, History of Hinduism - Converts

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History of Hinduism - Islamic Invasion. Main article: Islamic conquest of South Asia See also: Hindu Temples - What Happened to Them Many Muslims in the Indian sub-continent and surrounding areas (Afghanistan; Iran) are Muslim today because there ancestors converted to Islam by love, peace and good teachings of Muslim sufis and saints. It took several centuries to finally spread Islam in all portions of India. Most Indian Muslims who converted to Islam belonged to the Hi ...

See also:

History of Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Origins, History of Hinduism - Analyzing the History, History of Hinduism - Literature, History of Hinduism - Archaeology, History of Hinduism - Hindu Mythology, History of Hinduism - Early Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Influences of the Indus Valley and Dravidian Peoples, History of Hinduism - Evolution of Hindu Philosophy, History of Hinduism - Socio-Religious Reform Movements, History of Hinduism - Hinduism and Jainism, History of Hinduism - Hinduism and the rise of Buddhism, History of Hinduism - Hinduism during the Golden Age in Bharat, History of Hinduism - Shankaracharya and the revival of Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Cultural expansion in South-East Asia, History of Hinduism - Hinduism in Medieval Ages, History of Hinduism - Islamic Invasion, History of Hinduism - Goa Inquisition, History of Hinduism - Bhakti Movement, History of Hinduism - The Reign of Shivaji, History of Hinduism - Modern Hinduism, History of Hinduism - Reform Movements, History of Hinduism - Converts

Read more here: » History of Hinduism: Encyclopedia II - History of Hinduism - Hinduism in Medieval Ages

sound: Shabda. As the darshana, or "seeing," of the Divine is a central article of faith for Hindus, similarly, hearing the Divine is spiritually indispensable. The ears are a center of many nadis connected to inner organs of perception. Gurus may when imparting initiation whisper in the ear of disciples to stimulate these centers and give a greater effect to their instructions.

During temple puja, bells ring loudly, drums resound, conches and woodwinds blare to awaken worshipers from routine states of consciousness.

Meditation on inner sound, called nada-anusandhana, is an essential yoga practice. Listening to the Vedas or other scripture is a mystical process. Traditional music is revered as the nectar of the Divine.

See: Aum, nada, Siva consciousness.

(See also: Sound, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism. Main article: History of Hinduism Hinduism is the world's oldest major religion in existence. From a Hindu perspective, the Sanatana Dharma propounds eternal and universal principles with no beginning or end. Hindu puranas and astronomical evidence within place Lord Krishna's birth at a date of 3100 BCE Krishna's incarnation was preceded by Lord Rama's, sometimes dated at over 5,000 BCE, or even millions of years ago according to the Ramayana. It is belie ...

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Hinduism, Hinduism - Core Concepts, Hinduism - The Eternal Way, Hinduism - Basic beliefs, Hinduism - Practice Yoga Dharma, Hinduism - The four objectives Of Life, Hinduism - The four stages of Life, Hinduism - The four classes of the society, Hinduism - Nature of God, Hinduism - Denominations, Hinduism - Hindu sacred texts, Hinduism - Shruti, Hinduism - Bhagavad Gītā, Hinduism - Smriti, Hinduism - Origins and society, Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism, Hinduism - Etymology, Hinduism - Vedic religion, Hinduism - Hindu nationalism, Hinduism - Temples, Hinduism - Current geographic distribution, Hinduism - Hindu philosophy: the six Vedic schools of thought, Hinduism - Pūrva Mīmāmsā, Hinduism - Yoga, Hinduism - Uttara Mimāmsā: Vedānta and its three main schools, Hinduism - Alternative cultures of worship, Hinduism - The Bhakti schools, Hinduism - Tantra, Hinduism - Important symbolism and themes in Hinduism, Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows, Hinduism - Ahimsa non-violence vegetarian diet and the cow, Hinduism - Hindu symbolism, Hinduism - Murtis icons, Hinduism - Sanskrit, Hinduism - Mantra, Hinduism - Criticism, Hinduism - Hinduism, Hinduism - Related systems and religions

Read more here: » Hinduism: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism - Origins and society

Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Religious Practices. There are some religous practices of Ayyavazhi similar to that of Hinduism. Like Hinduism the male worshippers of Ayyavazhi do not wear any upper garments during worship. Footwear is prohibited in worship centers. Also in Ayyavazhi, the female worshippers do not go the worship centers during the period of Menses, like Hindus. The practice of circumambulation is quiet commonly seen in Ayyavazhi like in Hinduism. In Ayyavazhi the devotees use to take a bath and circumambu ...

See also:

Ayyavazhi and Hinduism, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Differences between Ayyavazhi and Hinduism, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Religious Practices, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Beliefs, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Sociology, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Similarities between Ayyavazhi and Hinduism, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Religious Practices, Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Theology

Read more here: » Ayyavazhi and Hinduism: Encyclopedia II - Ayyavazhi and Hinduism - Similarities between Ayyavazhi and Hinduism

Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows. Main article: Tilaka The tilaka (or tilak) is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body for spiritual reasons. It is believed to symbolize the need to cultivate supramental consciousness, which is achieved by opening the mystic "third eye." It is most commonly seen as a dot (or Bindu) worn by women, especially ...

See also:

Hinduism, Hinduism - Core Concepts, Hinduism - The Eternal Way, Hinduism - Basic beliefs, Hinduism - Practice Yoga Dharma, Hinduism - The four objectives Of Life, Hinduism - The four stages of Life, Hinduism - The four classes of the society, Hinduism - Nature of God, Hinduism - Denominations, Hinduism - Hindu sacred texts, Hinduism - Shruti, Hinduism - Bhagavad Gītā, Hinduism - Smriti, Hinduism - Origins and society, Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism, Hinduism - Etymology, Hinduism - Vedic religion, Hinduism - Hindu nationalism, Hinduism - Temples, Hinduism - Current geographic distribution, Hinduism - Hindu philosophy: the six Vedic schools of thought, Hinduism - Pūrva Mīmāmsā, Hinduism - Yoga, Hinduism - Uttara Mimāmsā: Vedānta and its three main schools, Hinduism - Alternative cultures of worship, Hinduism - The Bhakti schools, Hinduism - Tantra, Hinduism - Important symbolism and themes in Hinduism, Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows, Hinduism - Ahimsa non-violence vegetarian diet and the cow, Hinduism - Hindu symbolism, Hinduism - Murtis icons, Hinduism - Sanskrit, Hinduism - Mantra, Hinduism - Criticism, Hinduism - Hinduism, Hinduism - Related systems and religions

Read more here: » Hinduism: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism - Important symbolism and themes in Hinduism