Charvaka:

The founder of the well-known materialistic school of Hindu philosophy.

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

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Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

atheism: The rejection of all religion or religious belief, or simply the belief that God or Gods do not exist. See: charvaka, materialism, nastika.

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

nastika: (Sanskrit) "One who denies; unbeliever." Opposite of astika, "one who asserts."

The terms astika (orthodox) and nastika (unorthodox) are a traditional classification of Indian schools of thought. Nastika refers to all traditions that reject and deny the scriptural authority of the Vedas. This includes Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, the Charvaka materialists and others. Astika refers to those schools that accept the revealed authority of the Vedas as supreme scripture. This includes the four major sects: Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

See: atheism, Charvaka, materialism.

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

Carvaka. See CHARVAKA

(See also: Carvaka , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Charvaka carvaka (Sanskrit) A rakshasa (demon) who in the Mahabharata was a friend of Duryodhana, chief of the Kurus, and hence an enemy of the Pandavas.

When, at the conclusion of the great battle in which the Kurus were defeated, King Yudhishthira entered Hastinapura in triumph, Charvaka assumed the form of a Brahmin and reviled the king. Yudhishthira's Brahmins discovered the imposture and reduced Charvaka to ashes with the fire of their eyes, "i.e., magnetically by means of what is called in Occultism the 'black glance' or evil eye" (TG 79).

Also a materialistic philosopher whose doctrines are said to be imbodied in the Barhaspatya-sutras; a "denier of all but matter, who if he could come back to life, would put shame to all the 'Free thinkers' and 'Agnostics' of the day. He lived before the Ramayanic period, but his teachings and school have survived to this day, and he has even now followers, who are mostly to be found in Bengal" (ibid.).

(See also: Charvaka, carvaka , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Charvaka: (Sanskrit) "Good or sweet voice or word."

Indian philosopher (ca 600 bce) who fashioned the school of pure materialism bearing his name. One of the great skeptics of all time. See: nastika.

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

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

Atheism is a Truly Divine Science

In 'The Song Divine', Krishna classifies nature as material nature and supernature. He says that supernature is incomprehensible to people who are not in tune with the subtlety of infinity. We think we choose to live, but the fact is we have no independent will to be born. Beyond food, sex and territory, animals are not aware of any other reality; they also do not have any aspirations towards immortality. Since there is no fear or idea of death in their lives, they have no concept of God or codified system of philosophy. They live by instinct and die without seeking to prolong their lives.

Read more here: » Atheism: Atheism is a Truly Divine Science

The orthodox systems of philosophy believe in the authority of the Vedas. The heterodox systems of philosophy do not believe in the authority of the Vedas.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Orthodox And Heterodox Systems: Vedic Philosophy - The Orthodox And The Heterodox Systems Of Indian Philosophy

The word ‘transmigration’ means passing from one life to another. The one great and fundamental tenet of most schools of Indian Philosophy, with the exception of the Charvaka or the materialist, is the belief in the immortality of the soul. The soul passes through a number of lives for attaining perfection. This is technically called ‘transmigration of souls’.

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: Transmigration Of Souls