The most important of these are a voluminous group of works known as the Puranas, of which there are eighteen main. The two great Hindu Epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are other major works of Hindu mythology. Recent evidences are conclusively proving that both are accounts of real events, not merely beliefs. The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana are very much religious scriptures. Their stories are deeply embedded in Hindu philosophy and serve as parables and sources of devotion for Hindus into t ...

See also:

Hindu mythology, Hindu mythology - Definition and Misconception, Hindu mythology - Vedic mythology, Hindu mythology - Sources, Hindu mythology - Epics, Hindu mythology - Cosmology, Hindu mythology - The wars, Hindu mythology - The weapons, Hindu mythology - The Deluge, Hindu mythology - The Peoples of the Epics, Hindu mythology - Sapta Rishis, Hindu mythology - Swarga, Hindu mythology - Naraka, Hindu mythology - House of Ikshvaku, Hindu mythology - Bharatavarsha

Read more here: » Hindu mythology: Encyclopedia II - Hindu mythology - Epics

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

Main article: death deity Several mythologies had gods who embodied Death or aspects of Death: Ankou (Breton) Izanami (Shinto) Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec) The Morrigan (Irish/Celtic) Mors (Roman) Mot (Canaanite) Odin (Norse) Osiris (Egyptian) Anpu (Egyptian) Shemal (Semitic) Sielulintu (Finnish) Thanatos (Greek) Yama (Hinduism) Yan Luo (Chinese) Razgriz (Russ ...

See also:

Death personification, Death personification - Death in mythological portrayals, Death personification - In India, Death personification - In Japan, Death personification - Death angels in religion, Death personification - Form and functions, Death personification - Identical with Satan, Death personification - Scholars and the Angel of Death, Death personification - In Judaism, Death personification - In Islam, Death personification - In Mexico, Death personification - Death as a fictional character, Death personification - List of works using Death as a fictional character, Death personification - Death in popular fiction, Death personification - Movies, Death personification - Television, Death personification - Literature, Death personification - Comics, Death personification - Computer and video games, Death personification - Bibliography

Read more here: » Death personification: Encyclopedia II - Death personification - Death in mythological portrayals

Main article: death deity Several mythologies had gods who embodied Death or aspects of Death: Ankou (Breton) Izanami (Shinto) Mictlantecuhtli (Aztec) The Morrigan (Irish/Celtic) Mors (Roman) Mot (Canaanite) Odin (Norse) Osiris (Egyptian) Anpu (Egyptian) Shemal (Semitic) Sielulintu, Kalma, Surma (Finnish) Thanatos (Greek) Yama (Hinduism) Yan Luo (Chinese) Razgriz (Russ ...

See also:

Death personification, Death personification - Death in mythological portrayals, Death personification - In India, Death personification - In Japan, Death personification - Death angels in religion, Death personification - Form and functions, Death personification - Identical with Satan, Death personification - Scholars and the Angel of Death, Death personification - In Judaism, Death personification - In Islam, Death personification - In Mexico, Death personification - Death as a fictional character, Death personification - List of works using Death as a fictional character, Death personification - Death in popular fiction, Death personification - Movies, Death personification - Television, Death personification - Literature, Death personification - Comics, Death personification - Computer and video games, Death personification - Bibliography

Read more here: » Death personification: Encyclopedia II - Death personification - Death in mythological portrayals

In addition to the worship of the Classical pantheon of the Greek deities found on their coins (Zeus, Herakles, Athena, Apollo...), the Indo-Greeks were involved with local faiths, particularly with Buddhism, but also with Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism. Main article: Greco-Buddhism The Edicts of Ashoka, inscribed during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka (273-232 BCE), claim that the Greek populations of the northwestern Indian subcontinent (in today's Afghani ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion

Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art. Main article: Greco-Buddhist art In general, the art of the Indo-Greeks is poorly documented, and few works of art (apart from their coins and a few stone palettes) are directly attributed to them. Traditionally, no sculptural remains have been attributed to the Indo-Greeks, although their Hellenistic heritage and artistic proficiency would naturally have encouraged such creations (as neighbouring and contemporary Ai-Khanoum abundantly suggests). On ...

See also:

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika Vahana is the being or object that serves as the mount or vehicle of a deity in Indian mythology. Vah in Sanskrit ...

Including:

• Vahana - Symbolism
• Vahana - Origins
• Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia - Vahana

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita ...

Read more here: » Ushas: Encyclopedia - Ushas

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita G ...

Read more here: » Yami: Encyclopedia - Yami

Vak or Vac IPA [va:c] (stem vāc-, nominative vāk) is the Sanskrit word for "speech", "voice", "talk", or "language". Personified, Vak is a goddess, most frequently she is identified with Bharati or Sarasvati, the goddess of speech. In the Veda she is also represented as created by Prajapati and married to him; in other places she is called the mother of the Vedas and wife of Indra. See also. Hindu deities List of Hindu deities < ...

Read more here: » Vac: Encyclopedia - Vac

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gi ...

Read more here: » Tvashtri: Encyclopedia - Tvashtri

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

Read more here: » Hinduism: Encyclopedia - Hinduism

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gi ...

Read more here: » Vivasvat: Encyclopedia - Vivasvat

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika Brahmastra is an arrow created by Brahma. One of the deadliest of weapons that a person can possess (as in Hindu Puranas), it is ofte ...

Read more here: » Brahmastra: Encyclopedia - Brahmastra

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Git ...

Read more here: » Itihasa: Encyclopedia - Itihasa

A Mandir is a Hindu temple. It is usually dedicated to a primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other deities associated with the main deity. (In the US though, most mandirs are dedicated to multiple deities.) Most practising Hindus maintain a mandir in their homes for daily worship and meditation. Mandir - Prana Pratishta. Prana Pratishta is the ceremony to invoke the divine spirit/energy into the statue made in God's form. Once this ceremony has been performed the murti (or 'icon' NOT 'idol ...

Including:

• Mandir - Prana Pratishta
• Mandir - Elements of Worship
• Mandir - Mandir Construction
• Mandir - Basic norms to be followed in a mandir
• Mandir - Local village deities and temples
• Mandir - Management

Read more here: » Mandir: Encyclopedia - Mandir

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Read more here: » Pushan: Encyclopedia - Pushan

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita ...

Read more here: » Svaha: Encyclopedia - Svaha

List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma. Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva. Mahadeva Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi. Bhavani Durga Jagaddhatri Parvati Shakti Uma Mahavidya Kali Tara Tripura Sundari Bhuvaneshvari Bhairavi Chhinnamasta Dhumavati Bagalam ...

See also:

List of Hindu deities, List of Hindu deities - A, List of Hindu deities - B, List of Hindu deities - C, List of Hindu deities - D, List of Hindu deities - E, List of Hindu deities - G, List of Hindu deities - H, List of Hindu deities - I, List of Hindu deities - K, List of Hindu deities - L, List of Hindu deities - M, List of Hindu deities - N, List of Hindu deities - P, List of Hindu deities - R, List of Hindu deities - S, List of Hindu deities - T, List of Hindu deities - U, List of Hindu deities - V, List of Hindu deities - Y, List of Hindu deities - Aspects, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Vishnu, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations, List of Hindu deities - Mental son of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations of Vayu, List of Hindu deities - Avatara of Lakshmi, List of Hindu deities - Manifestation of Durga, List of Hindu deities - Avatars of Vishnu

Read more here: » List of Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - List of Hindu deities - Aspects

Hinduism - The Eternal Way. "Sanātana Dharma" (सनातन धर्म, The Eternal Values ), the traditional name of Hinduism, speaks to the idea that certain spiritual principles hold eternally true, transcending man-made constructs, representing a pure science of consciousness. This consciousness is not merely that of the body or mind and intellect, but of a transcendental state that exists within and beyond our existence, the unsullied Soul of all. Religion to the Hindu is the eternal sear ...

See also:

Hinduism, 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

Read more here: » Hinduism: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism - Core Concepts

In iconography, the vahana is both the symbol and the emblem of the deity that it carries. Nandi the bull, vahana of Shiva, represents strength and virility. Parvani the peacock, vahana of Skanda, represents splendour and majesty. The swan, mount of Saraswati, represents grace and beauty. As the assistant of a deity, the vahana serves the function of doubling his or her powers. Durga the warrior could not have destroyed the demon Mahishasura without the aid of her mount, Manashthala the lion. Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, dispenses bot ...

See also:

Vahana, Vahana - Symbolism, Vahana - Origins, Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia II - Vahana - Symbolism

Although the devotee is free to worship in any manner as long as it is respectful and not offensive, some common elements of worship in a mandir are darshan, puja, bhajan, pradakshina and prasad. ...

See also:

Mandir, Mandir - Prana Pratishta, Mandir - Elements of Worship, Mandir - Mandir Construction, Mandir - Basic norms to be followed in a mandir, Mandir - Local village deities and temples, Mandir - Management

Read more here: » Mandir: Encyclopedia II - Mandir - Elements of Worship