Incarnation, which literally means enfleshment, refers to the conception, and live birth of a sentient creature (generally human) who is the material manifestation of an entity or force whose original nature is immaterial. Incarnation should be carefully distinguished from the phenomenon of apotheosis, which is the temporary manifestation of a divine or archetypal force, entity or energy within and through a human being during the course of ritual, religious ex ...

Including:

• Incarnation - Ayyavazhi
• Incarnation - Buddhism
• Incarnation - Christianity
• Incarnation - Importance of the doctrine
• Incarnation - Hinduism
• Incarnation - Rastafari

Read more here: » Incarnation: Encyclopedia - Incarnation

See also:

Incarnation, Incarnation - Ayyavazhi, Incarnation - Buddhism, Incarnation - Christianity, Incarnation - Importance of the doctrine, Incarnation - Hinduism, Incarnation - Rastafari

Read more here: » Incarnation: Encyclopedia II - Incarnation - Buddhism

The doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ is central to the traditional Christian faith as held by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and most Protestants. Briefly, it is the belief that the Second Person of the Christian Godhead, also known as the Son or the Logos (Word), "became flesh" when he was miraculously conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. In the Incarnation, the divine nature of the Son was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person. This person, Jesus Christ, was both truly God and truly man. The incarnation is commemorated and celebrated each year at the Feast ...

See also:

Incarnation, Incarnation - Ayyavazhi, Incarnation - Buddhism, Incarnation - Christianity, Incarnation - Importance of the doctrine, Incarnation - Hinduism, Incarnation - Rastafari

Read more here: » Incarnation: Encyclopedia II - Incarnation - Christianity

Krishna (IAST kṛṣṇa, the Sanskrit for "the all-attractive one") is according to common Hindu tradition the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, however, he is seen as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the fountain head of all avatars. Krishna appears in a number of stories in different cultures and traditions. Sometimes these contradict each other, though ther ...

Including:

• Krishna - The name
• Krishna - Texts stories and literature
• Krishna - The story of Krishna
• Krishna - The incarnation
• Krishna - Birth and childhood
• Krishna - Boyhood and youth
• Krishna - Krishna the prince
• Krishna - The Kurukshetra war
• Krishna - The last days
• Krishna - The worship of Krishna
• Krishna - Early references
• Krishna - The Bhakti tradition
• Krishna - Gita Govinda - the song of the cowherd
• Krishna - Recent Krishna bhakti movements
• Krishna - Krishna in Jainism
• Krishna - Krishna in Buddhism
• Krishna - Chronology

Read more here: » Krishna: Encyclopedia - Krishna

Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Some Hindus (primarily in the northern regions of India) believe that Gautama is the 9th incarnation (see avatar) of Vishnu; there are accounts of the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu that are pro- and anti-Buddhist (i.e., either Vishnu "really meant" what he said while incarnated as Buddha or he was just messing with the Nastikas). This is not a majority view, however.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Similiarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Read more here: » Hinduism vs Buddhism: Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Hanuman, the monkey-god, was an ardent devotee of Rama. His devotion took him wherever he was required to help Rama tide over difficulties. Most famously, Hanuman searched and found Ram's kidnapped consort Sita, brought vital healing herbs from the mountain to make a seriously wounded Lakshman well, and acted as the commander of Ram's forces.

Hanuman, therefore, is popularly referred to as the sankat mochan , resolver of problems, easy to please. He was born on Chaitra Shukla Purnima, and there are many legends surrounding his birth. He is also known as Shankarsuvan, Kesarinandan, Pawansut - that is, son of Shankar, of Kesari and Anjani and of Pawan, the god of the winds respectively.

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

In the Jagannath Puri festival the king works as a sweeper, cleaning the pathway ahead of the chariot, denoting that no labour is insignificant if done for a higher cause. People from all communities get together to draw the chariots with great enthusiasm, upholding the spirit of celebration and exalting the concept of dignity of labour.

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

Twenty-five kilometres south west of Thrissur in Kerala, there is an ancient Rama temple at Thriprayar. In front of the temple flows the Thriprayar river. When Vishnu incarnated as Vamana and expanded His form to pervade the whole universe, His feet touched sathyaloka, Brahma's abode. A flabbergasted Brahma, on seeing the Lord's all-encompassing form, offered argya for washing Vishnu's feet. Part of the water fell on earth to form the Thriprayar Thiru Paadayar - a river with its source in Vishnu's feet.

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

Buddhism is generally regarded as a non-theistic religion. Although it does teach the existence of “gods” (devas), these are merely heavenly beings who temporarily dwell in celestial worlds of great happiness. Such beings, however, are not eternal in that incarnational form and are subject to death and eventual rebirth into lower realms of existence. However, a distinction needs to be drawn between the seemingly non-deistic and non-theistic teachings of the Buddha in the Pāli Canon and the “agamas”, and the mystically-hued id ...

Including:

• God in Buddhism - The God Idea in Early Buddhism
• God in Buddhism - Mahayana and Tantric Mystical Doctrines
• God in Buddhism - Literature

Read more here: » God in Buddhism: Encyclopedia - God in Buddhism

H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002) is a renowned teacher of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche is the fourteenth recognized Chagdud incarnation. Chagdud means “iron knot,” and is said to derive from one Sherab Gyaltsan, the first Chagdud incarnation, who folded an iron sword into a knot with his bare hands. This feat deeply impressed the emperor of Mongolia and inspired him to shower honors on Chagdud. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche demonstrated the same extraordinary power several t ...

Read more here: » Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche: Encyclopedia - Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche

"Om mani padme hum" (Tibetan: there is no translation directly, the pali or sanskrit is always used. Pronunciation varies, see the transliterations). This is probably the most famous mantra in Buddhism, the six syllabled mantra of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit. Chenrezig in Tibetan). The mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara. The Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees.

• Om mani padme hum - Pronunciation
• Om mani padme hum - English transliteration
• Om mani padme hum - Meaning
• Om mani padme hum - Karandavyuha Sutra definition
• Om mani padme hum - H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama's definition
• Om mani padme hum - Gen Rinpoche's definition
• Om mani padme hum - Donald Lopez's definition
• Om mani padme hum - Karma Thubten Trinley's definition
• Om mani padme hum - External sources

Read more here: » Om mani padme hum: Encyclopedia - Om mani padme hum

In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is the reincarnation of a lama or other spiritually significant figure. The most famous example is the Dalai Lama, who is said to be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Believers claim he has existed in 14 incarnations since 1391. The first recognized tulku in Tibet was the Karmapa (or more precisely, the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi (1024-1283). The Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Bud ...

Including:

• Tulku - A list of notable tulku lineages
• Tulku - External link

Read more here: » Tulku: Encyclopedia - Tulku

In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Lamas (taa-la'i bla-ma) form a tulku lineage of Gelugpa leaders which trace back to 1391. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama to be the present incarnation of Avalokitesvara ("Chenrezig" [spyan ras gzigs] in Tibetan), the bodhisattva of compassion. Between the 17th century and 1959, the Dalai Lama was the head of the Tibetan government, controlling a large portion of the country from the capital Lhasa. The Dalai Lamas never had authority over every region of Tibet nor over t ...

Including:

• Dalai Lama - List of Dalai Lamas

Read more here: » Dalai Lama: Encyclopedia - Dalai Lama

Padmasambhava (also Padmakara or Padma Raja) (Ch: 蓮華生上師; Tib: Padma Jungne), in Sanskrit meaning "lotus-born", founded the Tibetan or Tantric school of Buddhism in the 8th century. In Bhutan and Tibet he is better known as Guru Rinpoche ("Precious Master") where followers of the Nyingma school regard him as the second Buddha. Padmasambhava - Life and Teachings. According to tradition Padmasambhava was incarnated as an 8 year old child appearing in a lotus blos ...

Including:

• Padmasambhava - Life and Teachings
• Padmasambhava - Manifestations

Read more here: » Padmasambhava: Encyclopedia - Padmasambhava

Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, is a city in the Bijapur District of Karnataka state in southern India. Founded by Pulakesin I, an early ruler of the Chalukyas, the town of Badami is located at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastyatirth water reservoir - an artificial lake - on three sides. Known for its rock-cut cave temples which were exquisitely sculpted anywhere between the 6th-8th centuries AD, this ancient city was once the capital of the Chalukyan dynasty. The Bhutanatha temple, a sm ...

Read more here: » Badami: Encyclopedia - Badami

Neo-Buddhism is a modern Buddhist revivalist movement in India. As a popular movement, Neo-Buddhism began on October 14, 1956 when B. R. Ambedkar, the 20th century's most prominent Untouchable converted to Buddhism along with nearly 400,000 of his followers. Neo-Buddhism - Origins. At the beginning of the 20th century, Buddhism was all but dead in India, the land of its origin. Certain tribal groups in Bengal continued to follow Buddhism, as did peoples in Ladakh and Sikkim where Tibetan culture was influen ...

Including:

• Neo-Buddhism - Origins
• Neo-Buddhism - 22 Vows
• Neo-Buddhism - Distinctive interpretation
• Neo-Buddhism - Buddhism in India after Ambedkar
• Neo-Buddhism - S. N. Goenka
• Neo-Buddhism - Recent developments

Read more here: » Neo-Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Neo-Buddhism

The term Shambhala Buddhism has come into use as an umbrella term referring to the teachings of Karma Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism as propagated by the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, mixed with the various Shambhalian teachings and practices revealed by the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (the 11th Trungpa Tulku). The present head of the lineage is Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Trungpa Rinpoche's eldest son and Shambhala heir. Shambhala Buddhism - Distinguishing Characteristics of Shambhala Budd ...

Including:

• Shambhala Buddhism - Distinguishing Characteristics of Shambhala Buddhism
• Shambhala Buddhism - Shambhala Training
• Shambhala Buddhism - Shambhala Terma
• Shambhala Buddhism - The Kalachakra the Rigden Kings and Gesar of Ling
• Shambhala Buddhism - Zen and Japanese arts
• Shambhala Buddhism - Elements of Bön Taoism Confucianism and Shinto
• Shambhala Buddhism - Dorje Kasung
• Shambhala Buddhism - Maitri and Mudra
• Shambhala Buddhism - Other Practices
• Shambhala Buddhism - History of Shambhala Buddhism
• Shambhala Buddhism - The Shambhala Buddhist community today
• Shambhala Buddhism - Shambhala International
• Shambhala Buddhism - Spiritual Teachers
• Shambhala Buddhism - Shambhala Land Centers
• Shambhala Buddhism - Larger Shambhala Mandala
• Shambhala Buddhism - Related Publications

Read more here: » Shambhala Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Shambhala Buddhism

The Jataka is a voluminous body of folklore and mythic literature, primarily associated with the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as written in the Pali language (from about the 3rd century, A.D.); however, the stories found in the Jataka have been found in numerous other languages and media --many of them being translations from the Pali versions, but others are instead derived from vernacular traditions prior to the Pali compositions. Sanskrit and Tibetan Jataka stories tend to maintain the Buddhist morality of their Pali equiva ...

Read more here: » Jataka: Encyclopedia - Jataka

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 most important characters of the epic. The 18 chapters of the 6th book (Bhishma Parva) that constitute the Bhagavad Gita contain the advice of Krishna to the Pandava, Arjuna, on the battlefield. These chapters are the most well known of the Hindu texts and its importance in Hindu religious thought cannot be overestimated. Every religious school of Hinduism was expected to produce a commentary on it if it had ...

See also:

Krishna, Krishna - The name, Krishna - Literary sources, Krishna - The story of Krishna, Krishna - The incarnation, Krishna - Birth and childhood, Krishna - Boyhood and youth, Krishna - Krishna the prince, Krishna - The Kurukshetra war, Krishna - Later life, Krishna - The worship of Krishna, Krishna - Early references, Krishna - The Bhakti tradition, Krishna - Spread of Krishna-Bhakti movement, Krishna - Recent Krishna Bhakti movements, Krishna - Krishna in Jainism, Krishna - Krishna in Buddhism, Krishna - Krishna in the performing arts, Krishna - Chronology

Read more here: » Krishna: Encyclopedia II - Krishna - Literary sources