Ishtadeva:

One's chosen Deity or God of worship.

(See also: Ishtadeva , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Meditation Experiences by Sarasvati Buhrman PhD - Part I

Sometime after 350 B.C. a great yogi sage wrote the "Yoga Sutra". This brief translation should wet your appetite. This describes the transformation of mind that will unfold over a course of sadhana (spiritual practice), focusing on the relationship between the mind and the object of meditation.

Read more here: » Meditation: Meditation Experiences According to the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutra

In Smartism, a denomination of Hinduism, an Ishta-deva or Ishta devata or Ishta-devatha is a term meaning "the god one prays most." It is derived from the Sanskrit roots for good and god. Traditionally it alludes to the particular god (from among 330 millions as believed by Hindus) who is the saviour of the family (akin to a Patron Saint, chosen by a devotee. In such a concept held by Smartas, di ...

Including:

• Ishta-deva - Murti
• Ishta-deva - Misunderstanding from outsiders
• Ishta-deva - Disagreement within Hinduism
• Ishta-deva - ISKCON and new religious movements

Read more here: » Ishta-deva: Encyclopedia - Ishta-deva

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are 9 forms of bhakti yoga. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga). Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti. Bhakti is the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless an ...

Including:

• Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti
• Bhakti yoga - The Bhagavad Gita

Read more here: » Bhakti yoga: Encyclopedia - Bhakti yoga

Murtis (singular Murti, also spelled Murthi or Murthy) refers to deities or images used by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as points of devotional and meditational focus. They are sometimes abstract, but more often anthropomorphic representations of forms of God like Shiva or Ganesh, Rama or Krishna, Saraswati or Kali. Because the mind is in turbulence (vritti) and incapable of focussing on God as a formless, abstract concept, God is worshiped in a form. Murti is made according to prescriptions of shilpa shas ...

Read more here: » Murti: Encyclopedia - Murti

Bhakti is the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless and overwhelming love of God as the beloved Father, Mother, Child, or whatever relationship or aspect of God that finds appeal in the devotee's heart. The philosophy of Bhakti seeks to tap into the universal divinity through personal form, which explains the proliferation of so many gods and Goddesses in India, often reflecting the personal inclinations of small regions or groups of people. This also explains Hinduism's pluralism and ability to absorb other faith-based religions. However, the bhakti movements are monotheistic movements that has be ...

See also:

Bhakti yoga, Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti, Bhakti yoga - The Bhagavad Gita

Read more here: » Bhakti yoga: Encyclopedia II - Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti

Shiva is referred to as 'the good one' or the 'auspicious one'. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction). Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman. He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infan ...

See also:

Shiva, Shiva - Introduction, Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva, Shiva - Other Legends, Shiva - The Sons of Shiva, Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva, Shiva - Other Forms and Legends, Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism, Shiva - Origin Theories, Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia II - Shiva - Introduction

Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव or श्रीशिव (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as "shιvə") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Śiva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Śiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Śiva is "the destroyer", ...

Including:

• Shiva - Introduction
• Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva
• Shiva - Other Legends
• Shiva - The Sons of Shiva
• Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva
• Shiva - Other Forms and Legends
• Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism
• Shiva - Origin Theories
• Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia - Shiva

Cult of personality is a term for what is perceived to be excessive adulation of a single living leader, especially a head of state. The term was coined by the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party Nikita Khrushchev in his 1956 "Secret Speech" denouncing Joseph Stalin to the 20th Party Congress. The phenomenon that Khrushchev described, however, is much older. A cult of personality differs from charismatic authority in that it has a negative connotation by definition, and is thus a pejorative term. It also differs fro ...

Including:

• Cult of personality - History
• Cult of personality - Characteristics
• Cult of personality - Examples

Read more here: » Cult of personality: Encyclopedia - Cult of personality

The beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation, founded by the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba (major article) can be characterized as a rather traditional but syncretistic form of Hinduism. Additionally, believers have faith in the guru as an purna avatar (full divine incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti, who is predicted in the Bhagavad Gita. In non-Hindu terms, this means that his followers see him as God. Followers are engaged in singing bhajans and charity. Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisati ...

Including:

• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Important teachings
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Ashrams in India and the person of Sathya Sai Baba
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Youth stories
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Practices in the ashrams and the person of Sathya Sai Baba
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Activities in local Sathya Sai Baba groups
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Celebrations and commemorations
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Bibliography

Read more here: » Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation: Encyclopedia - Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation

Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु, with honorific Shri Vishnu; śrī viṣṇu, श्रीविष्णु ), is a form of God, to whom many Hindus pray. For Vaishn ...

Including:

• Vishnu - Etymology
• Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu
• Vishnu - Theological attributes and more
• Vishnu - Relations with other Deities
• Vishnu - Iconography
• Vishnu - Worship
• Vishnu - Names
• Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia - Vishnu

An icon (from Greek εἰκών, eikon, "image") is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it, or by analogy, as in semiotics; in computers an icon is a symbol on the monitor used to signify a command; by extension, icon is also used, particularly in modern popular culture, in the general sense of symbol — i.e. a name, face, picture or even a person readily recognized as having some well-known s ...

Including:

• Icon - Images in religion
• Icon - Icons in Christianity
• Icon - Images from Constantine to Justinian 337-430
• Icon - The Iconoclast Period
• Icon - Icons in Greek-speaking regions
• Icon - Icons in Russia
• Icon - Icon traditions in other regions
• Icon - The Protestant Reformation
• Icon - Icons and images in contemporary Christianity
• Icon - Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic teaching about Icons
• Icon - Eikon in the Septuagint
• Icon - Eikon in the New Testament
• Icon - Icons in Hinduism

Read more here: » Icon: Encyclopedia - Icon

Harihara is a term used to denote the unity of Vishnu and Shiva as one and the same with Hari being the name of Vishnu and Hara that of Shiva. This is a popular concept, especially among those trying to bridge the gaps between Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Smartism holds this concept as a tenet. There is scriptural support for those assertions as both the Shri Rudram and Vishnu sahasranama indicate that Vishnu and Shiva are one. As Swami Sivananda discussed, in his book, All about Hinduism, " A bigoted Virasaivite ent ...

Including:

• Harihara - Geography

Read more here: » Harihara: Encyclopedia - Harihara

Ayyavazhi Religion - Bible stories - Biblical names - Born-again Christian laypeople - Buddhist terms and concepts - Cathedrals - Christian denominations - Christians - Deities - Demons - Di Indigetes (Roman gods & goddesses) - Dramatic portrayals of Jesus Christ - Founders of major religions - Greek mythological characters - Hinduism - Islamic terms - Jesus-related articles - Major world religions - Monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England - Mormonism - Muslims - Names for the Biblical nameless - Ninety-nine n ...

See also:

List of religious topics, List of religious topics - List of lists, List of religious topics - 0-9, List of religious topics - A, List of religious topics - B, List of religious topics - C, List of religious topics - D, List of religious topics - E, List of religious topics - F, List of religious topics - G, List of religious topics - H, List of religious topics - I, List of religious topics - J, List of religious topics - K, List of religious topics - L, List of religious topics - M, List of religious topics - N, List of religious topics - O, List of religious topics - P, List of religious topics - Q, List of religious topics - R, List of religious topics - S, List of religious topics - T, List of religious topics - U, List of religious topics - V, List of religious topics - W, List of religious topics - X, List of religious topics - Y, List of religious topics - Z

Read more here: » List of religious topics: Encyclopedia II - List of religious topics - List of lists

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light, or even his identification with the Sun. He appears as striding across the heavens in three paces, by Rigvedic commentators explained as denoting the threefold manifestations of light in the form of fire, lightning, and the Sun, or as designating the three daily stations of ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu

Shiva is referred to as 'the good one' or the 'auspicious one'. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction). Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman. He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infan ...

See also:

Shiva, Shiva - Shivalingas, Shiva - Introduction, Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva, Shiva - Other Legends, Shiva - The Sons of Shiva, Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva, Shiva - Other Forms and Legends, Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism, Shiva - Origin Theories, Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia II - Shiva - Introduction

Christianity originated as a movement within Judaism during a time when there was great concern about idolatry. There is no evidence of the making and use of painted icons or of similar religious images by Christians within the New Testament writings. However, Eastern Orthodox theologian Rev. Dr. Steven Bigham writes (Early Christian Attitudes Toward Images, Orthodox Research Institute, 2004), "The first thing to note is that there is a total silence about Christian and non-idolatrous images. It is important to note that the si ...

See also:

Icon, Icon - Images in religion, Icon - Icons in Christianity, Icon - Images from Constantine to Justinian 337-430, Icon - The Iconoclast Period, Icon - Icons in Greek-speaking regions, Icon - Icons in Russia, Icon - Icon traditions in other regions, Icon - The Protestant Reformation, Icon - Icons and images in contemporary Christianity, Icon - Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic teaching about Icons, Icon - Eikon in the Septuagint, Icon - Eikon in the New Testament, Icon - Icons in Hinduism

Read more here: » Icon: Encyclopedia II - Icon - Icons in Christianity

Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Youth stories. Followers believe that SSB was born on 23 November 1926, as described in the authorized biography by Narayana Kasturi. They believe that the Indian guru Aurobindo was referring to him when he said that the divine had descended on earth on 24 November 1926. [1] Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Practices in the ashrams and the person of Sathya Sai Baba. The popularity and the donations by ...

See also:

Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Important teachings, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Ashrams in India and the person of Sathya Sai Baba, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Youth stories, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Practices in the ashrams and the person of Sathya Sai Baba, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Activities in local Sathya Sai Baba groups, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Celebrations and commemorations, Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Bibliography

Read more here: » Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation: Encyclopedia II - Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Ashrams in India and the person of Sathya Sai Baba

Shiva is One and Shiva is all. A very precise and lucid explanation of Siva is contained in Mandukya Upanishad. His is the three states of waking, dreaming, and dream less sleep for enjoyment. But He is that which is indescribable, non-changing, non-dual, ever blissful progenitor of the three states. In short: the Self of all. He is the fourth state called Turiya: "The Fourth is thought of as that which is not conscious of the internal world, nor conscious of the external world, nor conscious of both the worlds, nor dense with conscio ...

See also:

Shiva, Shiva - Shivalingas, Shiva - Introduction, Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva, Shiva - Other Legends, Shiva - The Sons of Shiva, Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva, Shiva - Other Forms and Legends, Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism, Shiva - Origin Theories, Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia II - Shiva - Introduction

Vishnu - In the Vedas. In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Li ...

See also:

Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu