Harishchandra, in Hindu mythology is the 28th king of the Solar Dynasty. His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour". Harishchandra had two unique qualities. The first being, he kept his word and never went back on what he uttered as a promise. The other being, he never uttered a lie in his life. These twin qualities were tested heavily in his life by various circumstances that led him to penury and separation ...

Including:

• Harishchandra - The Legend of Harishchandra's ideal life
• Harishchandra - Representations in Hindu mythology

Read more here: » Harishchandra: Encyclopedia - Harishchandra

The Ramakrishna Mission is an association founded by Sri Ramakrishna's chief disciple and religious leader, Swami Vivekananda on May 1, 1897. The Mission carries on missionary and philanthropic work in conjunction with householders (Grihastha) disciples. Ramakrishna Mission - Management. The Ramakrishna Mission acquired a legal status when it was registered in 1909 under Act XXI of 1860. Its management is vested in a Governing Body. Though the Mission with its branches is a distinct legal entity it is close ...

Including:

• Ramakrishna Mission - Management
• Ramakrishna Mission - The Motto
• Ramakrishna Mission - Math and Mission
• Ramakrishna Mission - Emblem of Ramakrishna Math and Mission
• Ramakrishna Mission - Presidents of the Ramakrishna Mission
• Ramakrishna Mission - Prominent Monks
• Ramakrishna Mission - Major Publications
• Ramakrishna Mission - Related Links

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Lalita sahasranama is a hymn that describes the 1000 names of Devi or Lalita and praises God as the Divine Mother or God's Shakti or Power. A sahasranama is a litany of one thousand names of God or Goddess. sahasra is one thousand and nama is name. There is at least one such sahasranama for each deity in Hinduism. Lalita Sahasranama is a hymn described in the Brahmanda Purana and is one of the most sacred stotras in Hinduism. It was recited as a result of conversation between Hayagri ...

Including:

• Lalita sahasranama - Related Links

Read more here: » Lalita sahasranama: Encyclopedia - Lalita sahasranama

In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This Trimurti concept is a tenet strongly held in Smartism as well as Ayyavazhi mythology. Brahma - the Creator Vishnu - the Preserver Shiva - the Destroyer The trimurti itself is conceived of as a deity and artistically represented as a three-faced human figure. Brahma is no longer as relevant as he once was, some would say the all-in-one Devi or Shakti, the Divine Moth ...

Including:

• Trimurti - Symbolizations
• Trimurti - Change of the Hindu Trinity
• Trimurti - Other uses

Read more here: » Trimurti: Encyclopedia - Trimurti

Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika-Dharma - वैदिक धर्म) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendant of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. An array of deities, all manifestations of the one supreme monistic Ishvara, are venerated. Beliefs, codes and principles vary fr ...

Including:

• 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

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Smartism is a denomination of the Hindu religion. This term is usually used to denote a certain category of Brahmins. Smartas consider the Vedas supreme. The majority of members of Smarta community are followers of Advaita. In practicality, Smarta and Advaita have become almost synonymous because of the prevalence of Advaita philosophy among Smarta Brahmins. But not all believers in Advaita are Smartas. In ancient times, all Brahmins who specialized in the Karma Kanda of the Vedas, and who followed the Vedas and Shastras (both Smriti ...

Including:

• Smartism - Definition
• Smartism - Why They Became Distinguished From Others
• Smartism - Main Beliefs
• Smartism - Smarta Contributions to Advaita
• Smartism - Smarta Contributions to other Philosophies
• Smartism - Smartas Who Split Away From Their Group
• Smartism - Important Religious Books Followed
• Smartism - Prominent Communities

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Brahmanism, popularly known as Hinduism, developed its ritual, worship and philosophy from Aryan scriptures; the Vedas. Over the years this civilization, culture and tradition were trickled down to the lower caste of the social hierarchy of the Hindu society through puranas as well as Ithihasas like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Brahmanism considers Brahmin caste as hereditary creators, preservers and propagators of religion. A Brahmin (less often Brahman) is a person born in the priestly Brahmin caste. The word is related to but not to be confused with religious conception of the t ...

Including:

• Brahmanism - Theology
• Brahmanism - Pantheism
• Brahmanism - Caste
• Brahmanism - Sub castes
• Brahmanism - Maharashtrian sub-castes:
• Brahmanism - South Indian brahmin sub-castes:
• Brahmanism - The four stages of life
• Brahmanism - Sacramental rites
• Brahmanism - Vegetarianism
• Brahmanism - Moksha
• Brahmanism - Evolution of Brahminism
• Brahmanism - Brahmin Supremacy
• Brahmanism - Trimurti
• Brahmanism - Challenge To Brahmin Supremacy and Caste System
• Brahmanism - Buddhism
• Brahmanism - Charvaka
• Brahmanism - B.R. Ambedkar
• Brahmanism - Famous Brahmins

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grihastha ashrama: (Sanskrit) "Householder stage."

See: ashrama dharma.

(See also: Grihastha ashrama, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

grihastha: (Sanskrit) "Householder."

Family man or woman. Family of a married couple and other relatives. Pertaining to family life. The purely masculine form of the word is grihasthi. The feminine form is grihasthin.

Grihasthi also names the home itself.

See: ashrama dharma, extended family, grihastha dharma, joint family.

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

dampati: (Sanskrit) "House lord(s)." A term for husband and wife as the dual masters and sovereign guides of the Hindu home (dama). See: grihastha dharma.

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

ashrama dharma: "Duties of life's stages."

Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life- brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire)- in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure) and moksha (liberation).

See: ashrama dharma.

(See also: Ashrama dharma, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

stri dharma: (Sanskrit) "Woman's duty."

Traditional conduct, observances, vocational and spiritual patterns which bring spiritual fulfillment and societal stability. Characterized by modesty, quiet strength, religiousness, dignity and nurturing of family. Notably, she is most needed and irreplaceable as the maker of the home and the educator of their children as noble citizens of tomorrow.

See: grihastha dharma.

(See also: Stri dharma, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

There are four principal kinds of dharma, as follows. They are known collectively as - chaturdharma: "four religious laws."

1. rita: "Universal law." The inherent order of the cosmos. The laws of being and nature that contain and govern all forms, functions and processes, from galaxy clusters to the power of mental thought and perception.
2. varna dharma: (Sanskrit) "Law of one's kind." Social duty. Varna can mean "race, tribe, appearance, character, color, social standing, etc." Varna dharma defines the individual's obligations and responsibilities within the nation, society, community, class, occupational subgroup and family. An important part of this dharma is religious and moral law. See: jati, varna dharma.
3. ashrama dharma: "Duties of life's stages." Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life- brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire)- in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure) and moksha (liberation). See: ashrama dharma.
4. svadharma: "Personal path, pattern or obligation." One's perfect individual pattern through life, according to one's own particular physical, mental and emotional nature. Svadharma is determined by the sum of past karmas and the cumulative effect of the other three dharmas. It is the individualized application of dharma, dependent on personal karma, reflected on one's race, community, physical characteristics, health, intelligence, skills and aptitudes, desires and tendencies, religion, sampradaya, family and guru.

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

extended family: Brihatkutumba or mahakutumba.

One or more joint families plus their broader associations and affiliations. Unlike the joint family, whose members live in close proximity, the extended family is geographically widespread. The extended family is headed by the patriarch, called brihatkutumba pramukha (or mukhya), recognized as the leader by each joint family. He, in turn is under the guidance of the kulaguru, or family preceptor.

It includes the following, in order of their precedence: priests of one's faith; elder men and women of the community; in-laws of married daughters; married daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, and the spouses and children of these married girls; members of the staff and their families and those closely associated with the joint family business or home; maternal greatgrandparents and grandparents, parents, uncles and their spouses, aunts and their spouses, children and grandchildren of these families; very close friends and their children; members of the community at large.

See: grihastha, grihastha dharma, joint family.

(See also: Extended family, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

joint family: Kutumba or kula.

The Hindu social unit consisting of several generations of kindred living together under the same roof or in a joining compound. Traditionally, joint families live in a large single home, but in modern times accommodations are often in individual, nuclear homes within a shared compound. The joint family includes the father and mother, sons, grandsons and great-grandsons with their spouses, as well as the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters until they are married - thus often comprising several married couples and their children.

The head of the joint family, called kutumba mukhya (also mukhya or kartri), is the father, supported by the mother, and in his absence, the elder son, guided by his mother and supported by his spouse. From an early age, the eldest son is given special training by his father to assume this future responsibility as head of the family. In the event of the father's death, sacred law does allow for the splitting of the family wealth between the sons.

Division of family assets may also be necessary in cases where sons are involved in different professions and live in different towns, when there is an inability for all to get along under one roof, or when the family becomes unmanageably large. The main characteristics of the joint family are that its members 1) share a common residence, 2) partake of food prepared in the same kitchen, 3) hold their property in common and, 4) ideally, profess the same religion, sect and sampradaya. Each individual family of husband, wife and children is under the guidance of the head of the joint family. All work together unselfishly to further the common good. Each joint family extends out from its home to include a second level of connections as an "extended family (brihatkutumba or mahakutumba)."

See: extended family, grihastha dharma.

(See also: Joint family, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharma is natural. Jain Acharya Samantabhadra writes: "Vatthu sahavo dhammo" the dharma is the nature of an object. It is the nature of the soul to be free, thus for the soul, the dharma ia paralaukika, beyond worldly. However the nature of the body is to seek self-preservation and be engaged in pleasures. Thus there are two dharmas. Dharma - The two Dharmas. Acharya Haribhadra (approx. 6-7th cent.) discusses dharma in Dharma-Bindu. he writes (Translation by Y. Malaiya): soayam-anushhThaatRi-bhedat dvi-vidho ...

See also:

Dharma, Dharma - Meanings and origins of the word Dharma, Dharma - Dharma in Hinduism, Dharma - Origin and development in Hinduism, Dharma - Proto-dharma: rta in the Vedas, Dharma - Developing conceptions, Dharma - Dharma as a Purushartha, Dharma - Kane's view, Dharma - In Jainism, Dharma - The two Dharmas, Dharma - In Buddhism, Dharma - The teachings of the Buddha, Dharma - Qualities of Buddha Dharma, Dharma - Dharmas in Buddhist phenomenology, Dharma - Dharma as righteousness

Read more here: » Dharma: Encyclopedia II - Dharma - In Jainism

family life:

See: grihastha ashrama, extended family, joint family.

(See also: Family life:, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

marital: Having to do with marriage.

See: grihastha, griheshvara and grihani.

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

Aryaman: (Sanskrit) "Close friend; matchmaker; Sun God." A Vedic Deity who personifies hospitality, the household and grihastha life. He presides over matrimonial alliances, and protects tradition, custom and religion. He is also invoked during shraddha (funeral-memorial) ceremonies.

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

Aryaman: (Sanskrit) "Close friend; matchmaker; Sun God." A Vedic Deity who personifies hospitality, the household and grihastha life. He presides over matrimonial alliances, and protects tradition, custom and religion. He is also invoked during shraddha (funeral-memorial) ceremonies.

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

It is said that the great sage Vishwamitra, once approached Harishchandra and informed him of a promise made by the king during the sage's dream to donate his entire kingdom. (Accounts differ on how the sage had got the promise from the king. Some other legends say, it was by way of pacification when the king had once disturbed the sage's penance to his consternation.) Harishchandra was so virtuous, that he immediately made good his word and don ...

See also:

Harishchandra, Harishchandra - The Legend of Harishchandra's ideal life, Harishchandra - Representations in Hindu mythology

Read more here: » Harishchandra: Encyclopedia II - Harishchandra - The Legend of Harishchandra's ideal life