Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Hindu Sacred Texts
The overwhelming majority of Hindu sacred texts are composed in the Sanskrit language. Indeed, much of the morphology and linguistic phil...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sarasvati River: Encyclopedia Ii - Sarasvati River - The Sarasvati River In Hindu Texts
Sarasvati River - Rig Veda. The Hindu Vedas mention a river named Sarasvatī. In Sanskrit saras means a pool or water body, and vatī (...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Caste In Hindu Texts
The notion of Varna as an endogamous human types system for social harmoney rather than economic class system was first attested in the R...   » Read the article

Article - Hindu Philosophy: Hindu Philosophy And Its Various Schools And Systems
A clear understanding of mans relation to God is a matter of momentous importance to students of philosophy and to all aspirants. Philoso...   » Read the article

Article - Vedanta Philosophy: Hindu Philosophy - Vedanta Philosophy
Uttara Mimamsa or the Vedanta philosophy of Vyasa or Badarayana is placed as the last of the six orthodox systems, but, really, it ought ...   » Read the article

Article - Yoga: Hindu Philosophy - The Yoga
The word Yoga comes from the root Yuj which means to join. Yoga is restraint of the activities of the mind, and is the union of the indiv...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Scripture: Encyclopedia - Hindu Scripture
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Article - Buddhist Texts
There are a great variety of Buddhist texts. Buddhists place varying value on them: attitudes range from worship of the text itself, to d...   » Read the article

Article - The Alankaras: The Alankaras In The Hindu Scriptures
The Alankaras are grand rhetorical texts, treating of the science of perfection and beauty of ornamental language and of effective compos...   » Read the article

Article - Saiva Agamas: The Saiva Agamas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Saiva Agamas: The Saivas recognise twenty-eight Agamas, of which the chief is Kamika. The Agamas are also the basis of Kashmir Saivis...   » Read the article

Article - Vyakhyana Or Tika : Vyakhyana Or Tika In The Hindu Scriptures
A Vyakhyana is a running explanation in an easier language of what is said in the original, with little elucidations here and there. A Vy...   » Read the article

Article - Sakta Agamas : The Sakta Agamas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Sakta Agamas: There is another group of scriptures known as the Tantras. They belong to the Sakta cult. They glorify Sakti as the Wor...   » Read the article

Article - Vedangas: The Vedangas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Vedangas: There are six Angas or explanatory limbs, to the Vedas: the Siksha and Vyakarana of Panini, the Chhandas of Pingalacharya, ...   » Read the article

Article - Secular Writings: Secular Writings In The Vedic Scriptures
The Subhashitas are wise sayings, instructions and stories, either in poetry or in prose. Examples are Bhartriharis three centuries of ve...   » Read the article

Article - Hindu Scriptures: A Full Overview Of The Hindu And Vedic Scriptures
Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular heads. The six orthodox sections form the authoritative s...   » Read the article

Article - Four Vedas: The Four Vedas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Four Vedas and Their Sub Divisions : The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the A...   » Read the article

Article - Orthodox And Heterodox Systems: Vedic Philosophy - The Orthodox And The Heterodox Systems Of Indian Philosophy
The orthodox systems of philosophy believe in the authority of the Vedas. The heterodox systems of philosophy do not believe in the autho...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sarasvati River: Encyclopedia - Sarasvati River
The Sarasvati River is an ancient river that is mentioned in Hindu texts. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rig Veda mentions the Sarasvati betwe...   » Read the article

Article - Peace On Earth: Bound By A Common And Rich Heritage
Kabir, the inspired poet weaver of northern India, declared that there was neither Hindu nor Muslim, but only man as the embodiment of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rigveda: Encyclopedia - Rigveda
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Soma: Encyclopedia - Soma
Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Sauma) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Krishna: Encyclopedia - Krishna
Krishna (IAST kṛṣṇa, the Sanskrit for "the all-attractive one") is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu....   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia - Hinduism
Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika-Dharma - वैद�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts
There are a great variety of Buddhist texts. Buddhists place varying value on them: attitudes range from worship of the text itself, to d...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System
This article is in need of attention. You can help Wikipedia by editing it into a better article. Please also consider changing this noti...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic: Encyclopedia - Vedic
Vedic may refer to: Hindu scriptures: The Vedas, the oldest preserved Indo-Aryan texts Vedic Sanskrit, their language Vedic religion Ved...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shraddha: Encyclopedia - Shraddha
Shraddha are the funeral rites and funeral offerings for the dead among the Hindus. Shraddha also happens to be a popular Indian female n...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hanuman Chalisa: Encyclopedia - Hanuman Chalisa
Hanuman Chalisa (Hindi: हनुमान चालीसा Forty chaupais on Hanuman) is Tulsidas' most famous and read piece of liter...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mitakshara: Encyclopedia - Mitakshara
The Mitakshara is a legal treatise on inheritance, written by Vijnaneshwara in the 12th century. It became one of the most influential te...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zenana: Encyclopedia - Zenana
In India, a zenana is the part of a house reserved for the women among Hindu families of good caste. Only since 1860 have Christian women...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kama Sutra: Encyclopedia - Kama Sutra
Kamasutram, generally known to the Western world as Kama Sutra, is an ancient Hindu text on human sexual behavior, widely considered to b...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Amrita: Encyclopedia - Amrita
In Hindu mythology and Buddhist mythology, Amrita is the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality. The word itself literally mean...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Saptarishi: Encyclopedia - Saptarishi
Saptaŗişhi or Saptarşi (सप्तर्षि, pronounced as "səptərŞhi") in Sanskrit means the Seven Sages or rishis who are ex...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kekaya: Encyclopedia - Kekaya
Kekaya, the land of the Pauravas (people of the Puru tribe), was one of the janapadas of ancient India. Its location was in what is now t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Chant: Encyclopedia - Vedic Chant
The term Vedic chant refers to recitation of hymns of the Vedas, the most ancient scriptures of India, and the basis of the many Hindu tr...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Avidya: Encyclopedia - Avidya
Avidya, pronounced avidyā, is a Sanskrit word meaning Ignorance, delusion, unlearned, unwise. It is used extensively in Buddhist and Hin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Scripture: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Scripture - Post-vedic Hindu Scriptures
The new books that appeared afterwards were called Smriti. Smrti literature includes Itihasas (epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata), Puranas...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Scripture: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Scripture - The Bhagavad Gita
Many a Hindu has said that the most succinct and powerful abbreviation of the overwhelmingly diverse realm of Hindu thought is to be foun...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rigveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Rigveda - Text
From the time of its compilation, the text has been handed down in two versions: The Samhitapatha has all Sanskrit rules of sandhi applie...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rigveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Rigveda - Internal Evidence
The Rigveda is far more archaic than any other Indo-Aryan text preserved. For this reason, it has been in the center of attention of west...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Scripture: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Scripture - The Upanishads
While the Upanishads are indeed classed within the fold of the "Vedas," their actual importance to Hindu thought has far exceeded that of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Krishna: Encyclopedia Ii - Krishna - The Story Of Krishna
The tales of Krishna appear in a number of ancient and medieval Hindu texts - virtually every Purana tells the full life-story or some hi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Origins And Society
Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism. Main article: History of Hinduism Hinduism is the world's oldest major religion in existence. From a ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Criticism
Hinduism is criticized based on current or past regressive social customs such as Dowry, Sati and casteism. Many also criticize it by lin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Soma: Encyclopedia Ii - Soma - Soma In Indian Tradition
Soma - Vedas. In the Vedas, or Vedic scriptures, Soma is portrayed as sacred and as a god (deva). The god is the plant and the drink; t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Hindu Philosophy: The Six Vedic Schools Of Thought
The six Āstika or orthodox (accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyāya, Vaisheshika, Sāmkhya, Yoga, P...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Core Concepts
Hinduism - The Eternal Way. "Sanātana Dharma" (सनातन धर्म, The Eternal Values ), the traditional name of Hinduism, s...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Denominations
Each of the Hinduism's four major denominations share rituals, beliefs, traditions and personal deities with one another, but each sect h...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Alternative Cultures Of Worship
Hinduism - The Bhakti schools. Main article: Bhakti The Bhakti (Devotional) school takes its name from the Hindu term that signifies ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Important Symbolism And Themes In Hinduism
Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows. Main article: Tilaka The tilaka (or tilak) is a mark worn on the forehead a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sarasvati River: Encyclopedia Ii - Sarasvati River - Helmand River
The Sarasvati river has been identified with various present-day or historical rivers, particularly the Ghaggar Hakra River in India and ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Puranas: Sanskrit Hinduism Dictionary Ii On Puranas
puranas: hindu mythological texts   (See also: puranas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and So...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Texts - Canonical Texts
These are, in some way or other, texts associated with Gautama, the historical Buddha. Different schools, however, are not always in agre...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Texts - Non-canonical Texts
Non or semi-canonical texts have been important from very early in Buddhism. Extensive commentaries exist in Pali for the Pali Canon and ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Transition In Caste
There is the Upanishadic story of a boy who went to a guru to learn the Hindu scriptures. His guru asked him what his caste was. Consulti...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Texts - Vajrayana Texts
Buddhist texts - Buddhist tantras. The canon of the Vajrayana schools includes a number of Nikaya-related texts from a number of the sc...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Texts - Texts Of The Nikaya Schools
There is some dispute over what to call the more conservative stratum of Buddhist schools and the texts associated with them. The most wi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Texts: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Texts - Mahayana Texts
See Mahayana Sutras for a list of sutras categorised by source, without discussion. Buddhist texts - Perfection of Wisdom Texts. Deal w...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rigveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Rigveda - Hindu Tradition
According to Indian tradition, the Rig-Vedic hymns were collected by Paila under the guidance of Vyāsa, who formed the Rig-Veda Samhita ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upanishads: A Spiritual Dictionary On Upanishads
Upanishads: Ancient Hindu text. Part of the Vedas.   (See also: Upanishads , Body Mind and Soul)      » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Calendar - History
The Hindu Calendar descends from the Vedic times. There are many references to calendrics in the Vedas. The Vedānga (adjunct to Veda) ca...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Mythology: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Mythology - The Deluge
The story of a great flood is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts, particularly the Satapatha Brahmana. It is compared to the accounts of th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rigveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Rigveda - More Recent Indian Views
Generally speaking, the Indian perception of the Rig-Veda has moved away from the original ritualistic content to a more symbolic or myst...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Puranas: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Puranas
Puranas: Hindu mythological texts   (See also: Puranas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Sou...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Kama Sutra: New Age Spiritual Dictionary On Kama Sutra
Kama Sutra (Hindu) "Love Text", sex manual attributed to Vatsyayana 1st century   (See also: Kama Sutra , Body Mind...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Soma: Encyclopedia Ii - Soma - Persian Haoma
The Iranian peoples called the drink Haoma. In Persia, the early Aryan rituals were reformed by Zoroaster. Our knowledge is sketchy, but ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Soma: Encyclopedia Ii - Soma - Candidates For The Soma Plant
Even in the Rigveda, Soma is described as growing far away, in the mountains, and has to be purchased from travelling traders. This is co...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: Eastern Philosophy Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: Hindu sacred texts of the Aryan invaders written between 1500-800 BCE which includes the Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and A...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavad Gita: Parapsychology Dictionary On Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita: Essential text of Hindu philosophy; contains essential yoga concepts.   (See also: Bhagavad Gita , Psychic, Ps...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: A Spiritual Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: An ancient sanskrit text. The entire body of ancient, sacred revelations of truth. Chief amongst which are the Rigveda, Saamav...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Hinduism-related Articles: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Hinduism-related Articles - Science Medicine And Cosmology
List of Hinduism-related articles - Time. Hindu Calendar Vedic timekeeping ... See also:List of Hinduism-related articles, List of ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavad Gita: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary On Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita: "The Song of God." The sacred philosophical text often called "the Hindu Bible," part of the epic M...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upanishads: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iii On Upanishads
Upanishads: The second great collection of ancient sacred Hindu texts, the Upanishads followed the Vedas and set forth doctrines such ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Arya: Encyclopedia Ii - Arya - Buddhism
The word Arya is very frequently used in Buddhist texts. Buddhist texts refer to this term much more often than do Hindu or Jain texts. B...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sacrifice: Encyclopedia Ii - Sacrifice - Sacrifice In Hinduism
Hindus believe in Ahimsa (non-violence). Even the oldest of their religious texts speak about earth, fire, water and air but not about an...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Prayer: Encyclopedia Ii - Prayer - Prayer In Other Religions
Prayer - Hindu Prayer. Hinduism has incorporated many kinds of prayer, from fire-based rituals to philosophical musings. Prayer was par...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Kaliyuga: New Age Spirituality Dictionary On Kaliyuga
Kaliyuga (Sanskrit) In Hindu cosmology, the current, pleasure-loving age - the last of four repeating ages (yugas): that of iron in wh...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Kaliyuga: New Age Spirituality Dictionary On Kaliyuga
Kaliyuga (Sanskrit) In Hindu cosmology, the current, pleasure-loving age - the last of four repeating ages (yugas): that of iron in wh...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Modern Perceptions Of Caste
The caste system was first exposed to the modern Western world during the Portuguese occupation and rule of India. Later other European n...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Quotes About Caste
The late Swami Krishnananda, the successor to Swami Sivananda and former head of Divine Life Society, noted the following about caste in ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Hinduism-related Articles: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Hinduism-related Articles - Denominations And Regional Festivals
List of Hinduism-related articles - Smartism. Harihara Ishta-deva List of Hinduism-related articles - Shaivism. Shaivism List of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Hinduism-related Articles: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Hinduism-related Articles - Animals People Places And Things In Hindu Mythology
List of Hinduism-related articles - Places. Alakapuri Ganges River List of Hinduism-related articles - Animals. Vahana List of H...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Indian Hindu Dictionary On Brahman
Brahman (Brahamana): the highest of the four Hindu castes. The priestly caste consists of many sub-castes depending on the area the pr...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: Spiritual Sanskrit Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: the most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. Most ancient texts revealed to the sages and saints of India which explain an...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Manu Dharma Shastra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Manu Dharma Shastra
Manu Dharma Shastra: (Sanskrit) "Sage Manu's law book."   An encyclopedic treatise of 2,685 verses on Hindu law assemb...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Carvaka: Encyclopedia Ii - Carvaka - Brihaspati And Lokayata
It is said that the Hindu sage Brihaspati, the preceptor of the Vedic gods, founded and preached the Lokayata thought, though this involv...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedanta: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary On Vedanta
Vedanta: Literally, "the end of the Vedas;" the Upanishads; the school of Hindu thought, based primarily on the Upanishads, ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedanta: Hinduism Sanskrit Dictionary Iv On Vedanta
Vedanta: Vedanta: (lit.) The end of the Vedas; the  Upanishads; the school of Hindu thoughts (based primarily on the  Upa...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavad-gîtâ: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iii On Bhagavad-gîtâ
Bhagavad-Gîtâ: meaning "Song of God", The epic poem Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Krishna, part of the 2000-year-o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Jati
Mixed in with the Varna caste system was the Jati sub-caste system. The Jati was effectively a system similar to guilds, and was associat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Caste System: Encyclopedia Ii - Indian Caste System - Origins Of The System
Indian caste system - Aryan invasion. According to this theory, the caste system began with the arrival of the Aryans in India. The Ary...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Yoga - Vedic Ca. 2000-1500 Bce
Yoga was first clearly expounded in the Vedic shastras (Hindu religious texts). Those that estimate Yoga's age to be four thousand years ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Krishna: Encyclopedia Ii - Krishna - Literary Sources
The earliest text that records the deeds of Krishna is the Mahabharata. He is described as the incarnation of Vishnu and is one of the mo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Gnosticism: Encyclopedia Ii - Gnosticism - Theology And Cosmology
Some historians accept that there is a significant amount of Buddhist/Hindu influence in Gnostic interpretations of the Bible. The standa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Gnosticism: Encyclopedia Ii - Gnosticism - Theology And Cosmology
Some historians accept that there is a significant amount of Buddhist/Hindu influence in Gnostic interpretations of the Bible. The standa...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhashya: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Bhashya
bhashya: n (Sanskrit) "Speech, discussion." Commentary on a text. Hindu philosophies are largely founded upon the interpreta...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhashya: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Bhashya
bhashya: n (Sanskrit) "Speech, discussion." Commentary on a text.   Hindu philosophies are largely founded upon the in...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahma: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Brahma
Brahma: (Sanskrit) The name of God in His aspect of Creator. Saivites consider Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra to be three of five aspects of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Banjarmasin: Encyclopedia Ii - Banjarmasin - History
In the fourteenth century, Banjarmasin was part of the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit, but it passed to Muslim rulers in the late fifteenth c...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upaveda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Upaveda
Upaveda: (Sanskrit) "Secondary Vedas."   A class of texts on sacred sciences, composed by rishis over the course of ti...   » Read the article