Pilgrims are flocking to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer on the occasion of the annual Urs. Popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, the dargah symbolises a touching synthesis of the hopes and prayers of various faiths and communities.

Both Hindus and Muslims remember Moinuddin Chishti as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, revering him for his simple teachings and eclectic philosophy. The Khwaja believed that no spiritual exercise, penitence, prayer, or vigil had greater value than bringing succour to distressed hearts and helping the needy. He directed all his efforts towards alleviation of human misery.

(See also: Chishti Shrine , 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: » Chishti Shrine: Pilgrimage of Faith - Chishti's Shrine  

Indian dance cannot be isolated from the art of literature, painting sculpture and music. Indian dance has a unique body of myths and legend to support the view that the art occupied a central place in the society and religion of the people of India.

The dance styles of Traditional Indian Dance are known as Bharathanatiyam, KathaKali , Kuchipodi , Manipuri, Orrissi and Kathak of each evolved it's own individual vocabulary of movement. Indian Dance is a spiritual practice and a "collaboration with God".

Read more here: » Spiritual Dance: Traditional Indian Dance

The essence of yoga is humility! Therefore, it is not surprising that the symbol of yoga or yogamudra is a posture that fosters an attitude of humility. Can one say more on the importance and vital significance of humility in the practice and philosophy of yoga? The phrase 'practice and philosophy' itself is redundant because, in Indian Ontological systems, philosophy translates as darsana , which suggests a first-hand personal experience of the seeker. So, philosophy in India was totally devoid of mere armchair ruminations or meanderings of white collared scientists in their ivory towers.

Read more here: » Yoga Philsophy: Yoga and humility

 Samkhya:

one of the schools of Indian philosophy

(See also:  Samkhya , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

Soniaji, Hinduism is Not Just Ramayana

Today, one major Indian political party talks about Hindutva, while the other seems confused about its strategy. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the Congress have been hauled over the coals by the media for flirting with 'soft Hindutva'. But nobody seems to have noticed that the two parties are essentially squabbling over a trivialised interpretation of phenomenology, whereas the vast treasures of ontology found in Hinduism are lying around, waiting to be claimed.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Soniaji, Hinduism is Not Just Ramayana!

Telugu New Year's Day

THIS FALLS on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April) according to Chandramana. This is a day of rejoicing. This is new year's day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and also the Telugu people all over the world.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Telugu New Year's Day: Hindu Traditions - Telugu New Year's Day

Vedanta:  The system of Indian philosophy that forms the basis of most modern forms of Hinduism. The term Vedanta in Sanskrit means the "conclusion".  Its source is the Upanishads which are the conclusion of the Veda.

(See also: Vedanta ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

Art is a collaboration between God and man, raising him to the exclusive band of creators and taking him deeply within and around his handiwork. It is a unique result of a unique temperament with its beauty derived from mutable disconcern of his environment. Leela Ganapathy, retired Professor of Arts, share her vivid knowledge about the Indian Arts and Dance are recognised as a bridge between the divine and our day to day life and our society.

Read more here: » Spiritual Dance: Dance in Spiritual Indian Art

Today is the martyrdom day of Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed. In 61 Hizrat (680 AD) a battle took place at Karbala, Iraq, on the banks of the river Euphrates.

A large army mobilised by Yazid, descendant of the Umayyad regime, besieged a small group led by Imam Husain, and forced them to pay allegiance to the Caliph and submit to his authority. Husain and his small group put up a brave resistance but were killed in the fierce battle.

(See also: Imam Husain , 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: » Imam Husain: Husain's Sacrifice To Uphold Truth  

 Mimansa:

one of the schools of Indian philosophy

(See also:  Mimansa , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

Sad-darshanas: The six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta.

(See also: Sad-darshanas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

 Nyaya:

one of the schools of Indian philosophy

(See also:  Nyaya , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

Maryada Purusha , Rama Navami , Rama nama, Rama nama mantra, Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. Just uttering the syllable 'Ra' can purge us of all sin. The following syllable 'Ma' ensures that expunged sins do not return to plague us.

The Rama nama mantra stands for Supreme Reality. Chanting Rama's name produces a rhythmic sound that soothes and relaxes the mental and physical system. Mental recitations are equally, if not more, effective. 'Ra' is taken from the Astakshari Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya and 'Ma', from Panchakshari Mantra, Namah Shivaya . The word Rama stands for one who is always present in the hearts of yogis and makes them feel happy. Rama nama liberates from ego and desires. If you are depressed, the mantra will lift your spirits.

(See also: Rama Navami , 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: » Rama Navami: In Praise of Rama, Maryada Purusha  

The moon of Muharram has been sighted. This is the beginning of the New Year of Muslims according to the tenements of Islam and the Shariat. This New Year reminds us of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of our Beloved Prophet.

According to Islamic history, there was a noted chieftain in the holy city of Mecca, Abde Munaf. Two twins were born to him, but they were Siamese twins with their backs joined by birth. The chieftain approached the wise men of the city for advice, and they said, "Now they are children, but when they grow up they will face problems."

(See also: Muslim New Year , 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: » Muslim New Year: A Poignant Plea for Truth and Justice  

Shankara Jayanthi:

Shankara is our Vedanta Guru. He was God incarnate. He was born at a time when Indian thought and culture were decaying; when they underwent sore distraction; when ethical glory and the widespread influence of the Buddhistic cult was gradually dying; when there was complete chaos and confusion

Shankara Jayanthi falls on the 5th day of the bright half of Vaisakh (May-June). On this day, study his works, pray and meditate.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Shankara Jayanthi: Hindu Traditions - Shankara Jayanthi

Technologically we live in a borderless world. In reality, however, we exist in compartments, separated by walls of caste, religion and geography. We acknowledge the information explosion as being a great achievement and take pride in describing ourselves as a knowledge-based society. Snowed under as we are with mounds of information, we are facing a paradox - we find that ignorance levels are growing as well. The rate at which we are accumulating information is not commensurate with the rate at which our awareness is growing.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Peace or Violence, Make Your Choice

darsana:

darsana (dharshana). Any of the six principal systems of ancient Indian philosophy; insight or vision of truth.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

vaisesika:

vaisesika - one of the schools of Indian philosophy

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Indian Philosophy Dictionary

I wasn't sure what woke me up - the mellifluous call of the muezzin to prayer or the peacocks' "peeuing", calling out frantically to each other. The dial-light on my watch showed that it was exactly three in the morning. That's the right time to wake up, my guide from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had advised me the previous evening, as we walked around Fatehpur Sikri, Agra. I went to him but he was still fast asleep.

(See also: Ramzan , 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: » Ramzan: Ramzan Diary From Fatehpur Sikri  

Rajneesh Chandra Mohan Jain (December 11, 1931 - January 19, 1990), better known during the 1970s as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later as Osho was an Indian spiritual teacher or guru. He lived in India and the United States and was the spiritual head of the Osho-Rajneesh movement, a controversial new religious movement. As is customary with spiritual teachers in India, Osho received several honorifics over his life. He was known as Acharya Rajneesh (teacher Rajneesh), later Shree Rajneesh and finally Bhagwan ...

Including:

• Rajneesh - Osho's philosophy
• Rajneesh - Osho on meditation
• Rajneesh - Biographical notes
• Rajneesh - Childhood and awakening
• Rajneesh - The Commune
• Rajneesh - The U.S. chapter
• Rajneesh - Back in Pune
• Rajneesh - Quotations
• Rajneesh - Bibliography

Read more here: » Rajneesh: Encyclopedia - Rajneesh

Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: सांख्य) is a school of Indian philosophy, and is one of the six astika or Hindu philosophical schools of India. It is regarded as the oldest of the orthodox ...

Including:

• Samkhya - Epistemology
• Samkhya - The metaphysics of Samkhya

Read more here: » Samkhya: Encyclopedia - Samkhya

The usefulness of dividing philosophy into Western philosophy and other philosophies is open to challenge, not the least for speaking down to those other philosophies. To say this is not to deny that there are important traditions in philosophy that are intimately bound up with historical and geographical circumstances. The term Eastern philosophy refers very broadly to the various philosophies of Iran, India, China, and Japan. When one uses the term "philosophy" in an academic context, it typically refers to the philoso ...

Including:

• Eastern philosophy - Philosophical and religious traditions
• Eastern philosophy - Hinduism
• Eastern philosophy - Sufism & Islamic philosophy
• Eastern philosophy - Confucianism
• Eastern philosophy - Taoism
• Eastern philosophy - Legalism
• Eastern philosophy - Buddhism
• Eastern philosophy - Jainism
• Eastern philosophy - Maoism
• Eastern philosophy - Shinto
• Eastern philosophy - Arguments against the Eastern philosophy designation
• Eastern philosophy - The perception of God and the gods
• Eastern philosophy - Gods' relationship with the universe
• Eastern philosophy - The role and nature of the individual
• Eastern philosophy - Syntheses of Eastern and Western philosophy

Read more here: » Eastern philosophy: Encyclopedia - Eastern philosophy