Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra" (primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal sound, but also because most mantras begin with it. As a seed syllable (bija), it is also considered holy in Esoteric Buddhism. In Devanagari it is written ॐ (Unicode U+0950) and in Tibetan script ༀ (Unicode U+0F00). Aum - The ...

Including:

• Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om
• Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition
• Aum - Origin
• Aum - Philosophy of AUM
• Aum - Om in Jain tradition
• Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition
• Aum - Om in Sikh tradition
• Aum - When you pronounce AUM:
• Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM
• Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia - Aum

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Omkara, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition

Aum - Origin. Found first in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Aum has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman (the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the sound 'Aum' in Hindu cosmology. Indeed, so sacred is it that it is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu mantras and incantations. It is undoubted ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition

In vedanta, the second capsule of the Brahma Sutras is the most fundamental, cardinal, sacrosanct, and is also the most famous. Janmadyasya yatah - Brahman is that from which the birth and the evolution of the universe follow.

It says Brahman is that ultimate 'world’ which we gain access to by distilling the world down to its inmost content, or the furthest stop from where we get off by travelling backwards in time-space. Astronomical observations have confirmed more or less beyond doubt that stars, galaxies and clusters of super galaxies are receding from the earth and from one another.

The clinching evidence comes from the Doppler Effect or the Red Shift. The shift in the spectral lines towards the longer wavelengths identified by the red colour in the spectrum confirms that the source of light is moving and is not at rest.

(See also: Big Bang Theory, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism Daily Rituals

In Hinduism, these rituals are always meant to inculcate feelings of devotion and to bring about the divine orientation of human life. As a part of his householders responsibilities, a devout Hindu is expected to perform certain rituals every day starting from morning till evening.

Read more here: » Hinduism Rituals: Hinduism and the performance of Rituals

The approaches to the path are many and different personalities are satisfied by different techniques and methods. Each one of us may be advised to experiment with the variety of streams and then to choose to stay with the one that seems most comfortable. Of course, the more fortunate may intuitively be drawn to a select method fairly early in their search and can thus take off from where they left off in a past incarnation.

The many systems are like rivers that lead into the one sea. All will finally lead to the One goal. Yet, some techniques take you across slowly as with a boat, while others get you to the far side by plane.

(See also: Meditation Techniques, Meditation, Meditation for Beginners, Meditation Techniques)

Underground is a book by Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami about the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway by Aum Shinrikyo in 1995. Described as a work of "journalistic literature," Underground was originally written in Japanese and was translated into English by Alfred Birnbaum and Philip Gabriel. Underground combines essays by the author with personal interviews with 60 survivors. The English edition includes interviews with 8 former and current Aum members which were originally published in Japanese as Post-Underground. ...

Including:

• Underground stories - Related topics

Read more here: » Underground stories: Encyclopedia - Underground stories

Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव or श्रीशिव (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as "shιvə") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Śiva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Śiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Śiva is "the destroyer", ...

Including:

• Shiva - Introduction
• Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva
• Shiva - Other Legends
• Shiva - The Sons of Shiva
• Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva
• Shiva - Other Forms and Legends
• Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism
• Shiva - Origin Theories
• Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia - Shiva

Aum namah Śivāya (IAST transliteration, refer to Sanskrit for pronunciation) is among the foremost Vedic mantras. Its general translation is "adoration (namas) to Śiva", preceded by the mystical syllable Aum. It is called Panchakshara, or "having five syllables". Śaivite mystics hold that within its celestial tones and hues resides all of the intuitive knowledge of Śaivism. The Aum namah Śivāya mantra apears for the first time, yet without the Aum, in a traditional Vedic prayer to Rudra called Śri R ...

Including:

• Aum namah Sivaya - A Hindu Śaivite view on the Aum namah Śivāya mantra

Read more here: » Aum namah Sivaya: Encyclopedia - Aum namah Sivaya

Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃 Asahara Shōkō) (born March 2, 1955) is the founder and former guru of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo (now known as Aleph), convicted of masterminding the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway as well as several other crimes. He was sentenced to death. As of November 2005, the sentence has not been carried out, pending an appeal. Shoko Asahara - Early years. Shoko Asahara was born as Chizuo Matsumoto (松本智津夫 Matsumoto Chizuo) to a large and po ...

Including:

• Shoko Asahara - Early years
• Shoko Asahara - Relentless religious search
• Shoko Asahara - Birth of Aum Shinrikyo
• Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine
• Shoko Asahara - Tokyo subway gas incident accusations and trial

Read more here: » Shoko Asahara: Encyclopedia - Shoko Asahara

A mantra is a religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words and vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras originated in India with Vedic Hinduism and were later adopted by Buddhists and Jains, now popular in various modern forms of spiritual practice which are loosely b ...

Including:

• Mantra - Introduction
• Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism
• Mantra - Mantra Japa
• Mantra - Some Hindu mantras
• Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth
• Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
• Mantra - The shanti mantras
• Mantra - Universal prayer
• Mantra - Other examples
• Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra
• Mantra - Remarks
• Mantra - What is Dharma?
• Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om
• Mantra - Mantras and Prayers
• Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan
• Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound
• Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism
• Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism
• Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
• Mantra - Om mani padme hum
• Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists
• Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia - Mantra

The Greek word λόγος or logos is a word with various meanings. It is often translated into English as "Word" but can also mean thought, speech, reason, principle, standard, or logic among other things. It has varied use in the fields of philosophy, analytical psychology, rhetoric and religion. Logos - Use in ancient philosophy. In ancient philosophy, Logos was used by Heraclitus, one of the more eminent Pre-Socratic Greek philosophers, to describe human knowledge and the inherent order in ...

Including:

• Logos - Use in ancient philosophy
• Logos - Use in rhetoric
• Logos - Use in Christianity
• Logos - Similar concepts

Read more here: » Logos: Encyclopedia - Logos

Nataraja (literally, The King of Dance) is the dancing posture of Lord Śiva, the aspect of God as the Destroyer in Hinduism. The upper right hand holds the Drum (called Udukkai in Tamil and Dhamarukha in Hindi), which symbolizes sound originating Creation. The upper left hand contains Agni or the fire, which signifies Destruction. The opposing concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction. The second right hand shows Abhaya (fe ...

Including:

• Nataraja - Origin

Read more here: » Nataraja: Encyclopedia - Nataraja

The Shri Rudram Chamakam (TS 4.5, 4.7) is a Vedic stotra dedicated to Rudra, an earlier aspect of Shiva. Shri Rudram is also known as Sri Rudraprasna, Satarudriya, and Rudradhyaya. It consists of two texts from book four of the Taittiriya Samhita, which is a part of the Krishna Yajurveda. The first part, Shri Rudram corresponds to chapter five, and the second part, Camakam to chapter seven. As part of the Yajurveda, the second oldest Vedic text after the Rigveda, the age of the text may well be in th ...

Including:

• Shri Rudram Chamakam - Text
• Shri Rudram Chamakam - Shri Rudram
• Shri Rudram Chamakam - Chamakam
• Shri Rudram Chamakam - Interpretation

Read more here: » Shri Rudram Chamakam: Encyclopedia - Shri Rudram Chamakam

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Shaivism (also spelled Saivism, IAST Śaivism; see Sanskrit for pronunciation) is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. Followe ...

Including:

• Shaivism - Philosophy and Worship
• Shaivism - History
• Shaivism - Features of Shaivism
• Shaivism - Within Hinduism
• Shaivism - Shaiva Upanishads

Read more here: » Shaivism: Encyclopedia - Shaivism

The Star of David (Hebrew Magen David or Mogen Dovid מגן דוד, Arabic Najmat Dawuud نجمة داوود). It is also known as Solomon's Seal, or Seal of Solomon (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Shield of David, Arabic Khatam Sulayman خاتم سليمان) is a generally recognized symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity, although it has been used also in Islam as well as the Eastern Religions. Geometrically it is a hexagram. It i ...

Including:

• Star of David - Origin
• Star of David - Shape
• Star of David - Shield form
• Star of David - Shield with stars
• Star of David - Used by Jews
• Star of David - Used by Arabs and Muslims
• Star of David - Used by the Nazis
• Star of David - Other uses
• Star of David - Heraldry
• Star of David - Red Magen David
• Star of David - Occurrence in Eastern Religions
• Star of David - Theosophy
• Star of David - Zion Christian Church
• Star of David - Latter-day Saints Mormons
• Star of David - Raelism
• Star of David - Notes
• Star of David - Footnotes

Read more here: » Star of David: Encyclopedia - Star of David

Monotheistic faiths believe that there is a supreme being, who is necessarily unique, and the different names given to that being in different languages could in principle be translated as English God. However, the "real" name of God plays an important role in some cultures. Names of God - List of Names. Aten is the earliest name of a God associated with monotheistic thought. See also the Great Hymn to the Aten by Akhenaten. Ahuramazda "Lord Wisdom" is the name of the supreme be ...

Including:

• Names of God - List of Names
• Names of God - Taboos
• Names of God - Judaism
• Names of God - Literature and fiction

Read more here: » Names of God: Encyclopedia - Names of God

The doctrine of Aum Shinrikyo is based on original Buddhist sutras (scriptures), known as the Pali Canon. Besides the Pali Canon, Aum Shinrikyo uses other texts, such as Tibetan sutras, Yoga-Sutra by Patanjali and Taoist scriptures. The sutras are studied together with comments, written by Shoko Asahara himself. The learning system (kyogaku system) has several stages, similar to university education: only those who complete a preliminary stage can move on and advance to further steps if they successfully pass the examination. The collection of publi ...

See also:

Shoko Asahara, Shoko Asahara - Early years, Shoko Asahara - Relentless religious search, Shoko Asahara - Birth of Aum Shinrikyo, Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine, Shoko Asahara - Tokyo subway gas incident accusations and trial

Read more here: » Shoko Asahara: Encyclopedia II - Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine

Om

(Sanskrit) A mantram used in meditation. Aum In the Upanishads it is often regarded as the seed of all mantras, containing all origination and dissolution. It is known as 'pranava', or 'reverberation', and is the supreme 'aksara', or syllable

(See also: Om, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Om

(Sanskrit) A mantram used in meditation. Aum In the Upanishads it is often regarded as the seed of all mantras, containing all origination and dissolution. It is known as 'pranava', or 'reverberation', and is the supreme 'aksara', or syllable

(See also: Om, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)