The Jiva or the individual soul along with Pranas, the mind and the senses leaves his former body and obtains a new body. He takes with himself Avidya, virtues and vicious actions and the impressions left by his previous births.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Prana: Soul’s Journey After Death

birth chart: Janmapatrika. An astrological map of the sky drawn for a person's moment and place of birth. Also known as rashi chakra or zodiac wheel, it is the basis for interpreting the traits of individuals and the experiences, prarabdha karmas, they will go through in life.

See: jyotisha, karma.

(See also: Birth chart , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Twins

If your dream entails giving birth to twins, or if you are dreaming about baby twins, please see " birth ". Twins in astrology represent opposites, and we may use this symbolism to explain our dream. The twins could suggest a duality in thoughts, ideas, feelings, or states of consciousness. The details of the dream will give you a clue to whether or not these varying aspects are in harmony or in conflict with each other. The twins could also represent the balance that is extremely important to our emotional and psychological health. Old dream interpretation books say that dreaming about adult twins foretells of "double trouble followed by double joy."

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Twins , Meaning of Dreams about Twins , Dream Interpretation Twins )

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Jatakarma:

Jatakarma: rite of - or first cleansing (birth-ceremony). (BV-2) The jatakarma birth ceremony, which can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut, entails the touching of the tongue of the new-born trice with ghee preceded by introductory prayers. The birth ceremony for Krishna is also called Nandotsava. The day of yearly celebrating His birth is called Janmastami [the eight day of the month of Bhadra (August-September)]. [SB 10-5]

(See also: Jatakarma , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Manu (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root man to think]

In Hindu mythology, the son of Svayambhuva, father and husband of Ila, parents of humanity as well as the prajapatis and other manus, who are the entities collectively which appear first at the beginning of manifestation, and from which everything is derived. They are identical with the sishtas, and function as prajapatis in a smaller but strictly analogical manner. Manu is collective humanity: "Manu is the synthesis perhaps of the Manasa, and he is a single consciousness in the same sense that while all the different cells of which the human body is composed are different and varying consciousnesses there is still a unit of consciousness which is the man. But this unit, so to say, is not a single consciousness: it is a reflection of thousands and millions of consciousnesses which a man has absorbed.

"But Manu is not really an individuality, it is the whole of mankind. You may say that Manu is a generic name for the Pitris, the progenitors of mankind. They come . . . from the Lunar Chain. They give birth to humanity, for, having become the first men, they give birth to others by evolving their shadows, their astral selves. They not only give birth to humanity but to animals and all other creatures. . . . But, as the moon receives its light from the Sun, so the descendants of the Lunar Pitris receive their higher mental light from the Sun or the 'Son of the Sun.' For all you know Vaivasvata Manu may be an Avatar or a personification of Mahat, commissioned by the Universal Mind to lead and guide thinking Humanity onwards" (TBL 78).

The manus are said to have emanated the ten prajapatis or progenitors of mankind, called also maharshis (great rishis). It is said of Brahma that he emanated himself as Manu, and that he was born of, and was identical with, his original self, while he constituted his female portion Sata-rupa (hundred forms). There are 14 manus in any manvantara ("between manus") arranged in pairs, a root-manu and a seed-manu for each portion of a cycle.

These pairs of manus in a planetary round, a root-manu on globe A and a seed-manu on globe G, are given as:

1)    Svayambhuva, Svarochisha;

2)    Auttami, Tamasa;

3)    Raivata, Chakshusha;

4)    Vaivasvata (our progenitor), Savarna;

5)    Daksha-savarna, Brahma-savarna;

6)    Dharma-savarna, Rudra-savarna;

7)    Rauchya, Bhautya.

"Vaivasvata, thus, though seventh in the order given, is the primitive Root-Manu of our fourth Human Wave (the reader must always remember that Manu is not a man but collective humanity), while our Vaivasvata was but one of the seven Minor Manus, who are made to preside over the seven races of this our planet. Each of these has to become the witness of one of the periodical and ever-recurring cataclysms (by fire and water) that close the cycle of every Root-race. And it is this Vaivasvata -- the Hindu ideal embodiment, called respectively Xisuthrus, Deukalion, Noah and by other names -- who is the allegorical man who rescued our race, when nearly the whole population of one hemisphere perished by water, while the other hemisphere was awakening from its temporary obscuration" (SD 2:309).

Manu is in one sense the Third Logos; in another the spiritual man, the monad, the real and deathless spiritual ego in us, which is the direct emanation of the one Life or the absolute deity of our universe. The manus collectively, in this sense, are the four higher classes of dhyani-chohans who were the fathers of the concealed man -- the subtle inner man.

Thus root-manus and seed-manus are sishtas, for the seed-manu at the end of a life-wave's evolution on a globe is virtually identic with the root-manu on that same globe when the life-wave reaches it again to begin on that globe a new course of racial development or evolution. The difference between root- and seed-manus being that the root-manus are really the seed-manus plus the most evolved monads of the life-waves reaching the globe first, conjoining with the seed-manus and thus slightly modifying things.

Manu is likewise the name of a great ancient Indian legislator, the alleged author of the Manava-dharma-sastra or Laws of Manu.

(See also: Manu , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Emerson, Plato, Pythagoras had perfect belief in the doctrine of reincarnation. The doctrine of reincarnation is the foundation of Hinduism and Buddhism. The ancient Egyptians believed it. The Greek philosophers made it the corner-stone of their philosophy.
Man clings to this earthly life. This clinging to life proves that there is past experience and existence. This proves also that there is a future life. Man likes this life immensely and strongly yearns for a future life also.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Doctrine Of Reincarnation

Hinduism and Children: Hindus loves their children dearly. They believe that their children are gifts from gods and products of their previous karma. Many presume that their children were related to them in their past lives or were their close friends. Since a Hindu firmly believes in rebirth, he views his own life from a wider perspective that encompasses not just this life but many other lives that preceded it as well as succeed it, and his individual existence as a part of a great cosmic cycle.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Children: Hindu view in Children and Parenting

George Armstrong Custer - First generation. George Armstrong Custer was a fifth-generation descendant of Arnold Kuster and his third wife Rebecca. Arnold was born in Kaldenkirchen, Westphalia, Holy Roman Empire on June 9, 1669. He later emigrated to Hanover, Pennsylvania. Rebecca was a native of the city born in 1671. They had eight children. Arnold is known to have died in 1739. ...

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George Armstrong Custer, George Armstrong Custer - Birth, George Armstrong Custer - Early life, George Armstrong Custer - Civil War, George Armstrong Custer - McClellan and Pleasonton, George Armstrong Custer - Brigade command and Gettysburg, George Armstrong Custer - Marriage, George Armstrong Custer - The Valley and Appomattox, George Armstrong Custer - Indian Wars, George Armstrong Custer - Battle of the Little Bighorn, George Armstrong Custer - Controversial legacy, George Armstrong Custer - Monuments and memorials, George Armstrong Custer - Family tree, George Armstrong Custer - First generation, George Armstrong Custer - Second generation, George Armstrong Custer - Third generation, George Armstrong Custer - Fourth generation, George Armstrong Custer - Fifth generation, George Armstrong Custer - Custer in popular culture, George Armstrong Custer - Films, George Armstrong Custer - Custer's Revenge, George Armstrong Custer - Music, George Armstrong Custer - Alternate history, George Armstrong Custer - Timeline

Read more here: » George Armstrong Custer: Encyclopedia II - George Armstrong Custer - Family tree

Christmas symbolises peace and goodwill towards all; that is why ceasefires are inspired by Christmas. It also means that we should ready ourselves to receive the child God, who epitomises the spirit of giving and receiving.

For many of us, sadly, the spirit of Christmas is ''hurry''.And yet, eventually, the hour comes when the rushing ends and the race against the calendar mercifully comes to a close. It is only now perhaps that we truly recognise the spirit of Christmas. Christmas itself is eternal, said Burton Hillis.

(See also: Christmas , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Christmas: Imitation of Christ, Peace on Earth - - about Christmas  

A new-born child manifests marks of joy, fear and grief. This is inexplicable unless we suppose that the child, perceiving certain things in this life, remembers the corresponding things of the past life. The things which used to excite joy, fear and grief in the past life, continue to do so in this life. The memory of the past proves the previous birth, as well as the existence of the soul.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Previous Births: Proofs For The Existence Of Previous Births

Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

Hinduism prescribes both ritual and spiritual practices for the final liberation of men. The ritual aspect is meant to make man more spiritual in the end, not vice versa. Each and every important event in the life a Hindu, who has chosen to lead a normal householder's life calls for the performance of certain rites. These rites are intended mainly to invoke the blessings of various gods and ensure success in the performance of his ordained duties. They are performed during various stages in his life for different ends. Some of the important rites of Hinduism are described here.

Read more here: » Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

Definitions of the term vary. The term eugenics is often used to refer to a movement and social policy that was influential during the first half of the 20th century. In an historical and broader sense, eugenics can also be a study of "improving human genetic qualities". It is sometimes more broadly applied to describe any human action whose goal is to improve the gene pool. Some forms of infanticide in ancient societies, present-day reprogenetics, pre-emptive abortions and designer babies have been (somet ...

See also:

Eugenics, Eugenics - What is eugenics?, Eugenics - History, Eugenics - Galton's theory, Eugenics - Eugenics and the state 1890s-1945, Eugenics - Stigmatization of eugenics in the post-Nazi years, Eugenics - Modern eugenics and genetic engineering, Eugenics - Criticism, Eugenics - Pseudoscience, Eugenics - Objectification of hereditary traits, Eugenics - Slippery slope, Eugenics - Genetic diversity, Eugenics - Counterarguments, Eugenics - Eugenics in popular culture

Read more here: » Eugenics: Encyclopedia II - Eugenics - What is eugenics?

Followers of Advaita philosophy say that the soul and the Divine are one. But, when a soul takes birth encased in a physical body, its new physical identity after birth and the process of socialisation overtake and even obliterate the memory of its connection with the Divine.

As the external identity strengthens with a first name, family name, religion, caste, and the "mine and thine" tendency, the ego strengthens and the world and everything in it begin to appear real.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life and Death: Don't Rock Your Boat On the Sea of Life

The doctrine of reincarnation or transmigration of souls is a fundamental tenet of Hinduism. The word reincarnation literally means embodiment again, coming again into a physical body. The individual soul takes again a fleshy covering. The word transmigration means passing from one place to another - passing into a new body.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Reincarnation: The Doctrine Of Reincarnation

samskaras of birth: From the rite of conception to the blessings of the new-born child.

-       garbhadhana: "Wombplacing." Rite of conception, where physical union is consecrated with the intent of bringing into physical birth an advanced soul.

-       punsavana: (Sanskrit) "Male rite; bringing forth a male." A rite performed during the third month of pregnancy consisting of prayers for a son and for the well-being of mother and child. A custom, found in all societies, based on the need for men to defend the country, run the family business and support the parents in old age. The need for male children in such societies is also based on the fact that women outlive men and leave the family to join their husband's family. -

-       simantonnayana: "Hair-parting." A ceremony held between the fourth and seventh months in which the husband combs his wife's hair and expresses his love and support.

-       jatakarma: "Rite of birth." The father welcomes and blesses the new-born child and feeds it a taste of ghee and honey.

See: samskara, samskaras.

(See also: Samskaras of birth , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Earthly desires are enlightenment

(Jpn.: bonno-soku-bodai)

A Mahayana principle based on the view that earthly desires cannot exist independently on their own; therefore one can attain enlightenment without eliminating earthly desires. This contrasts with the Hinayana view that extinguishing earthly desires is a prerequisite for enlightenment.

According to the Hinayana teachings, earthly desires and enlightenment are two independent and opposing factors, and the two cannot coexist; while the Mahayana teachings reveal that earthly desires are one with and inseparable from enlightenment. This is because all things, even earthly desires and enlightenment, are manifestations of the unchanging reality or truth-and thus are non-dual at their source.

The Universal Worthy Sutra, an epilogue to the Lotus Sutra, states, "Without either cutting off earthly desires or separating themselves from the five desires, they can purify all their senses and wipe away all their offenses."

T'ien-t'ai (538-597) says in Great Concentration and Insight, "The ignorance and dust of desires are enlightenment, and the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."

In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren (1222-1282) states: "The idea of gradually overcoming delusions is not the ultimate meaning of the 'Life Span' chapter of the Lotus Sutra. You should understand that the ultimate meaning of this chapter is that ordinary mortals, just as they are in their original state of being, are Buddhas," and, "Today, when Nichiren and his followers recite the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are burning the firewood of earthly desires, summoning up the wisdom-fire of enlightenment."

(See also: Earthly desires are enlightenment , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary

Main article: Sampooranathevan In 1809, Muthukutty was born in the southern most tip of south India, in a holy place named Swamithoppe (then part of a Tamaraikulam village) in the Kanyakumari District. His parents, Ponnu Nadar and Veiyelal, of the lower caste and of very poor means, initially named him Mudisoodum Perumal, meaning "Lord Vishnu with a crown", but due to objections from those ...

See also:

Ayya Vaikundar, Ayya Vaikundar - Birth of body and spirit, Ayya Vaikundar - The transformation, Ayya Vaikundar - The incarnation of Ayya Vaikundar, Ayya Vaikundar - Tavam, Ayya Vaikundar - Incinerating evil spirits, Ayya Vaikundar - Seizing the powers of witchcraft sorcery and other esoteric magical practices, Ayya Vaikundar - Vaikundar as Pantaram, Ayya Vaikundar - Ordeals, Ayya Vaikundar - Post-imprisonment activities, Ayya Vaikundar - Attaining Vaikundam, Ayya Vaikundar - Five Citars

Read more here: » Ayya Vaikundar: Encyclopedia II - Ayya Vaikundar - Birth of body and spirit

1880 - May - August. May 13 - In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performs the first test of his electric railway. June 29 - France annexes Tahiti July 1 - First performance of O Canada, the song that would become the national anthem of Canada. July 16 - First woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada - Dr. Emily Howard Stowe. 1880 - September - December. September 5 - First successful test of an electric Tram in the ...

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1880, 1880 - Events, 1880 - May - August, 1880 - September - December, 1880 - Unknown date, 1880 - Births, 1880 - Unknown Birth Dates, 1880 - Deaths

Read more here: » 1880: Encyclopedia II - 1880 - Events

Once during their numerous love games, things got out of hand between Shiva and Parvati. What had started in jest turned into a serious matter with an incensed Shiva threatening to walk out on Parvati. No amount of coaxing or cajoling by Parvati could reverse matters. Left with no choice, Parvati multiplied herself into ten different forms for each of the ten directions. Thus however hard Shiva might try to escape from his beloved Parvati, he would find he ...

See also:

Mahavidya, Mahavidya - Birth of Das Mahavidyas, Mahavidya - Worship of Das Mahavidyas

Read more here: » Mahavidya: Encyclopedia II - Mahavidya - Birth of Das Mahavidyas

Cheetah acquires sexual maturity in 20 to 24 months. Mating season is throughout the year. Females give birth to one to five kittens¹ after a gestation of ninety to ninety-five days. The kittens weigh from 150 to 300 g (5 to 10 oz.) at birth. Unlike some other cats, cheetahs are born with their characteristic spots. Cheetah kittens are also born with a downy underlying fur on their necks, extending to mid-back. This gives them a mane or mohawk type appearance, this fur is shed as the cheetahs grow older. Death-rate is very high during the e ...

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Cheetah, Cheetah - Description, Cheetah - Classification, Cheetah - Reproduction and social life, Cheetah - Food, Cheetah - Habitat, Cheetah - Genetics, Cheetah - King Cheetah, Cheetah - Other Cheetah Colour Morphs, Cheetah - Woolly Cheetah, Cheetah - Economic importance, Cheetah - Conservation status, Cheetah - Cheetahs in art and literature

Read more here: » Cheetah: Encyclopedia II - Cheetah - Reproduction and social life

Full Name: Allah Rakha Rahman. Original Name: A. Sekhar Dileep Kumar. Pet Names: Indian Mozart, Madras Mozart, 'Isai Puyal' (Musical Storm). Date of Birth: Thursday, 6th of January, 1966. Birth Place: Chennai. Born and Brought up in: Chennai. Religion: Islam Languages known: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and Hindi. School: PSBB, MCCHSS and various Schools Formal Qualifications in Music: Professional training in Hindustani, Carnatic classical styles. Degree in Western Classical Music from Trinity College Lond ...

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A. R. Rahman, A. R. Rahman - Early Years, A. R. Rahman - Music Career, A. R. Rahman - International Accolades, A. R. Rahman - Awards and Nominations, A. R. Rahman - Partial discography, A. R. Rahman - Films, A. R. Rahman - Non-Film, A. R. Rahman - Fundamental Facts:

Read more here: » A. R. Rahman: Encyclopedia II - A. R. Rahman - Fundamental Facts:

 - varna: The four varnas are as follows. - brahmin

(brahmana): "Mature, evolved soul." Scholarly,

pious souls of exceptional learning. Hindu scriptures

traditionally invest the brahmin class with the

responsibility of religious leadership, including

teaching and priestly duties. - kshatriya:

"Governing; endowed with sovereignty." Lawmakers

and law enforcers and military, also known as

rajanya. - vaishya: "Landowner, merchant."

Businessmen, financiers, industrialists; employers.

Those engaged in business, commerce and

agriculture. - shudra: (Sanskrit) "Worker, servant."

Skilled artisans and laborers. It is in keeping with

varna dharma that sons are expected to follow the

occupation of their father, as that is the occupation

that was chosen prior to birth.

 - jati: "Birth; position assigned by birth; rank, caste,

family, race, lineage." Jati, more than varna, is the

specific determinant of one's social community.

Traditionally, because of rules of purity each jati is

excluded from social interaction with the others,

especially from interdining and intermarriage. In

modern times there is also a large group (oneseventh

of India's population in 1981) outside the

four varnas. These are called scheduled classes,

untouchables, jatihita ("outcaste"), chandalas (specifically those who handle corpses) and harijan, a

name given by Mahatma Gandhi, meaning "children

of God." "Untouchable" jatis included the nishada

(hunter), kaivarta (fisherman) and karavara (leather

worker).

The varna dharma system - despite its widespread

discrimination against harijans, and the abuse of

social status by higher castes - ensures a high

standard of craftsmanship, a sense of community

belonging, family integrity and religio-cultural

continuity. Caste is not unique to Hinduism and

India. By other names it is found in every society.

The four varnas, or classes, and myriad jatis,

occupational castes, or guilds, form the basic

elements of human interaction.

See: dharma, Dharma

Shastras, jati.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Birth Dictionary