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To attain jitendriyata is to achieve full control over ones senses. This leads to what is called God-realisation. In this controlled state all pain and suffering cease permanently.

There are different paths to achieve this height: Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, swara yoga, nada yoga, astanga yoga; all of these lead to the same goal of achieving communion with God. The shortest and most suitable path ordained in this Kali Yuga is bhakti yoga.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Lasting Happiness Through Bhakti Yoga

Although there are many Asanas (8,400,000 according to the scriptures) the practice of the 12 basic yoga postures brings out the essence and all major benefits of this wonderful system.

Read more here: » Yoga Postures: What is Proper Exercise - 12 Basic Yoga Postures

Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj, was the eighth ruler of the Guhilot Dynasty, and the founder of the Mewar Dynasty (734) of Rajputana, India. He belonged to the Guhilote clan (cula) and thus claimed descent from the Hindu sun-God Bappa Rawal - Campaigns. Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of islam. For a few hundred years they had no success. Bin Qasim was able to defeat Dahir in Sindh but was routed by Bappa Rawal. Qasim attacked Chittore, which was ...

Including:

• Bappa Rawal - Campaigns
• Bappa Rawal - Marriage

Read more here: » Bappa Rawal: Encyclopedia - Bappa Rawal

This article is about the garment worn by Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi women. For the capital of the Iranian province of Mazandaran, see Sari (city). A sari (also spelled saree) is a garment worn by many women in the Indian subcontinent. It consists of a long strip of cloth which can be wrapped in various styles. The most common style is wrapped around the waist, then one end is draped over the shoulder. It is usually five to six yards of unstitched cloth worn over a midriff-baring blouse (known as a choli), ...

Including:

• Sari - Types of saris
• Sari - Bangladesh Saris
• Sari - Burmese Saris
• Sari - Indian Saris
• Sari - Nepali Saris
• Sari - Sri Lankan Saris
• Sari - Origins and history
• Sari - Bibliography

Read more here: » Sari: Encyclopedia - Sari

Practice Of Yoga Asanas

1. The practice of Yoga Asanas helps to prevent disease and maintain a high standard of health, vigour and vitality. It cures many diseases.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga Asanas: Practice Of Yoga Asanas and Health

Rajput - Organization of Indian kingdoms during invasions and facts related to the wars.. There is a big misconception that India was conquered very easily by Muslims. Facts are very different and are discussed on the page pointed to by the heading of this section. Rajput - Bappa Rawal. Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of islam. For a few hundred years they had no success. Bin Qasim was able to defeat Dahir in Sindh but was routed by Bappa Rawal ...

See also:

Rajput, Rajput - Definition, Rajput - The Rajput Rule of India, Rajput - Social Hierarchy, Rajput - Origins, Rajput - Myths, Rajput - Character, Rajput - History, Rajput - Rajputs and Invasions of India, Rajput - Organization of Indian kingdoms during invasions and facts related to the wars., Rajput - Bappa Rawal, Rajput - Prithviraj Chauhan, Rajput - Rana Ratan SinghGoraBadal, Rajput - Maharana Hammir, Rajput - Hammir Dev Chauhan, Rajput - Rana Kumbha, Rajput - Rana Sanga, Rajput - Rao Maldeo Rathore, Rajput - Maharana Pratap, Rajput - Durga Das Rathore, Rajput - Genetics, Rajput - Prominent Rajput clans & their main centers

Read more here: » Rajput: Encyclopedia II - Rajput - Rajputs and Invasions of India

Main article : Ganga River The Ganga acquires its name after its two headstreams - the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi join at Devprayag. The Ganga enters the plains from the Himalayas at Haridwar. It is joined by a large number of tributaries from the north. Among them, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi enter the northern plains of India from Nepal. The Yamuna and the Son are the two main right bank tributaries of the Ganga. The Yamuna joins the Ganga at the Allahabad sangam. Beyond Farakka, the Gang ...

See also:

Major Rivers of India, Major Rivers of India - Classification, Major Rivers of India - On the basis of origin, Major Rivers of India - The Indus River System, Major Rivers of India - Jhelum, Major Rivers of India - Chenab, Major Rivers of India - Ravi, Major Rivers of India - Beas, Major Rivers of India - Sutlej, Major Rivers of India - The Ganges River System, Major Rivers of India - Yamuna, Major Rivers of India - Chambal, Major Rivers of India - Betwa, Major Rivers of India - Son, Major Rivers of India - Ghaghara, Major Rivers of India - Gandak, Major Rivers of India - Other tributaries, Major Rivers of India - The Bramhaputra River System, Major Rivers of India - The Narmada River System, Major Rivers of India - The Tapti River System, Major Rivers of India - The Godavari River System, Major Rivers of India - The Krishna River System, Major Rivers of India - The Kaveri River System, Major Rivers of India - The Mahanadi River System, Major Rivers of India - Rivers in Mythology, Major Rivers of India - Ganga, Major Rivers of India - Yamuna, Major Rivers of India - Narmada, Major Rivers of India - Kaveri

Read more here: » Major Rivers of India: Encyclopedia II - Major Rivers of India - The Ganges River System

The tales of Krishna appear in a number of ancient and medieval Hindu texts - virtually every Purana tells the full life-story or some highlights from it. In the absence of any historical biography, this summary is based on the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana. The Mahabharata and its addendum Harivamsa are the oldest sources of the tale. Whilst all the four books are considered sacred by the Hindus, the two Puranas are the most theologically venerated. The scenes from the tale are set in north India, in ...

See also:

Krishna, 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 II - Krishna - The story of Krishna

While in recent years the word "yoga" has been heard more in gyms than in religious discourse, "yoga" in its original sense has little to do with exercise. "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit verb yuj, to yoke or unite. The goal of yoga is to unite oneself with God; the practice of yoga is the path we take to accomplish this.

Read more here: » Yoga: The Meaning of Yoga

Hindu - Ethnic and Cultural Fabric. See also: Indo-Aryan, Aryan Invasion Theory, Demographics of India & History of India Hinduism has one of the most gentically and ethnically diverse body of adherents in the world. Hinduism, its religious doctrines, traditions and observances are very typical and inextricably linked to the culture and demographics of India. The ancient religion finds its roots amongst peoples who migrated to the subcontinent from Central ...

See also:

Hindu, Hindu - Origins of the word Hindu, Hindu - Who is a Hindu?, Hindu - Hallmarks of Hindu Society, Hindu - Ethnic and Cultural Fabric, Hindu - Linguistics of Hinduism, Hindu - Dietary Habits and Doctrines, Hindu - Ceremonies Observances and Pilgrimage, Hindu - Religion for the common Hindu, Hindu - Hindu people, Hindu - Hinduism, Hindu - Other Dharmic religions, Hindu - Literature, Hindu - External links

Read more here: » Hindu: Encyclopedia II - Hindu - Hallmarks of Hindu Society

Acarya:

Acarya (sometimes spelled Acharya in English): a preceptor, instructor; cf. guru

(See also: Acarya ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Mathura (Sanskrit) The birthplace of Krishna, situated in the province of Agra on the right bank of the Yamuna River.

(See also: Mathura , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

The Kushan Empire (c. 1st–3rd centuries) was a state that at its height, about 105–250, stretched from Tajikistan to the Caspian Sea to Afghanistan and down into the Ganges river valley in northern India. The empire was created by the Kushan tribe of the Yuezhi, a people from modern Xinjiang, China, possibly related to the Tocharians. They had diplomatic contacts with Rome, Sassanian Persia and China, and for several centuries were at the center of exchange between the East and the West. Kushan Empire - Origins. < ...

Including:

• Kushan Empire - Origins
• Kushan Empire - A multi-cultural Empire
• Kushan Empire - Heraios 1-30 CE
• Kushan Empire - Kujula Kadphises 30-80 CE
• Kushan Empire - Vima Taktu 80-105 CE
• Kushan Empire - Vima Kadphises 105-127 CE
• Kushan Empire - Kanishka I 127-147 CE
• Kushan Empire - The Kushans and Buddhism
• Kushan Empire - Depiction of Kushan devotees in the art of Gandhara
• Kushan Empire - Contacts with Rome
• Kushan Empire - Contacts with China
• Kushan Empire - Decline
• Kushan Empire - Main Kushan rulers

Read more here: » Kushan Empire: Encyclopedia - Kushan Empire

Kanishka was a king of the Kushan Empire in South Asia, in the 2nd century of the common era, famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. His capital was in the modern city of Peshawar in Pakistan. Kanishka - A great Kushan king. Kanishka was a Kushan of Yuezhi ethnicity. He probably spoke an Indo-European language related to Tocharian, and he used the Greek script in his inscriptions. Kanishka was the successor of Vima Kadphises, as demonstrated by an impressive geneaology of the ...

Including:

• Kanishka - A great Kushan king
• Kanishka - Conquests in India and Central Asia
• Kanishka - Kanishka's coinage
• Kanishka - Hellenistic phase
• Kanishka - Iranian/Indian phase
• Kanishka - Kanishka and Buddhism
• Kanishka - Buddhist coinage
• Kanishka - Kanishka casket
• Kanishka - Transmission of Buddhism to China
• Kanishka - Notes

Read more here: » Kanishka: Encyclopedia - Kanishka

Mahāyāna (literally "great vehicle"; from the Indian language of Sanskrit. Chinese: 大乘, Dàshèng; Japanese: 大乗, Daijō; Vietnamese: Đại Thừa; Korean:대승, Dae-seung) is one of the major branches of Buddhism. (See Yana for the classification of Buddhism into vehicles, and Schools of Buddhism for further information.) Mahayana originated in the Indian subcontinent, and some of the areas in which it is practiced today are India, China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. From Mahayana d ...

Including:

• Mahayana - Doctrine
• Mahayana - Universalism
• Mahayana - Enlightened wisdom
• Mahayana - Compassion
• Mahayana - Salvation
• Mahayana - Headline text
• Mahayana - Origins
• Mahayana - Epigraphical evidence
• Mahayana - Scriptures
• Mahayana - The 4th Buddhist Council
• Mahayana - Expansion 1st c.CE–10th c.CE
• Mahayana - Bibliography
• Mahayana - Older works

Read more here: » Mahayana: Encyclopedia - Mahayana

In Hindu mythology, Ravana (Devanagari: रावण, IAST Rāvaṇa; sometimes transliterated Raavana and as Ravan) is the principal antagonist of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. According to Ramayana, he was a king of Lanka (now Sri Lanka) many thousands of years ago. Ravana is depicted in art with up to ten heads, signifying that he had knowledge spanning all the ten directions. Ravana - Birth and Early Life. Ravana was born Dasagriva (One with Ten Heads) th ...

Including:

• Ravana - Birth and Early Life
• Ravana - Tapasya
• Ravana - Emperor of the World and Evil
• Ravana - Conquest of Lanka
• Ravana - Emperor of the Three Worlds
• Ravana - Violations of Women
• Ravana - Downfall
• Ravana - Assessment
• Ravana - In Scriptures
• Ravana - In Ayya Vazhi
• Ravana - Ravana's family

Read more here: » Ravana: Encyclopedia - Ravana

Buddhist symbolism appeared from around the 3rd century BCE, and started with aniconic symbolism, avoiding direct representations of the Buddha. Anthropomorphic symbolism appeared from around the 1st century CE with the arts of Mathura and the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara, and were combined with the previous symbols. Various symbolic innovations were later introduced, especially through Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols. Among the earliest and most common symbols of Buddhism ar ...

Including:

• Buddhist symbolism - Early aniconic symbols
• Buddhist symbolism - The 32 signs of a Great Man and 80 Secondary Characteristics
• Buddhist symbolism - The Mudras
• Buddhist symbolism - The eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan & Nepali Buddhism
• Buddhist symbolism - International symbols of the World Fellowship of Buddhists

Read more here: » Buddhist symbolism: Encyclopedia - Buddhist symbolism

Bagrām (Also Begram, anciently Kapici or Kapisa) is an antique city 60 kilometers northwest of Kabul in Afghanistan, near today's city of Charikar. It was built at the junction of the Ghorband and the Panjshir valley, acting as a passage point to India on the Silk Road, towards Kabul and Bamiyan. Bagram - Origins. The city was destroyed by Cyrus, restored by Darius, and then fortified and rebuilt by Alexander the Great as Alexandria of the Caucasus. Begram then became one of the capita ...

Including:

• Bagram - Origins
• Bagram - The Begram treasure
• Bagram - Today

Read more here: » Bagram: Encyclopedia - Bagram

Buddhist art originated in the Indian subcontinent in the centuries following the life of the historical Gautama Buddha in the 6th to 5th century BCE, before evolving through its contact with other cultures and its diffusion through the rest of Asia and the world. A first, essentially Indian, aniconic phase (avoiding direct representations of the Buddha), was followed from around the 1st century CE by an iconic phase (with direct representations of the Buddha). From that time, Buddhist art diversified and evolved ...

Including:

• Buddhist art - Aniconic phase 5th century - 1st century BCE
• Buddhist art - Iconic phase 1st century CE – present
• Buddhist art - Northern Buddhist art
• Buddhist art - Afghanistan
• Buddhist art - Central Asia
• Buddhist art - China
• Buddhist art - Korea
• Buddhist art - Japan
• Buddhist art - Tibet and Bhutan
• Buddhist art - Vietnam
• Buddhist art - Southern Buddhist art
• Buddhist art - Burma
• Buddhist art - Cambodia
• Buddhist art - Thailand
• Buddhist art - Indonesia

Read more here: » Buddhist art: Encyclopedia - Buddhist art

The Western Kshatrapas, or Western Satraps, (35-405 CE) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states). They were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, and the Satavahana (Andhra) who ruled in Central India. Altogether, there were 27 independent Kshatrapa rulers during a period of about 350 years. The word Kshatrapa stands for satrap, and its equivalent in Pe ...

Including:

• Western Kshatrapas - History
• Western Kshatrapas - Coinage
• Western Kshatrapas - Main rulers

Read more here: » Western Kshatrapas: Encyclopedia - Western Kshatrapas

Vrindavan, in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh is a town on the site of the original forest of Vrindavana. It is about 15km away from Mathura city, near the Agra-Delhi highway. Also known by the name Vrindaban, Brindavan, or Brindavana, it is the site of the orginal mythic forest or forested region, in which the Hindu deity Krishna spent his childhood. He was raised there in the cowherding village of Gokula by foster parents. Two major categories of the stories of Krishna are placed in this forest. First, there are the st ...

Including:

• Vrindavan - External links

Read more here: » Vrindavan: Encyclopedia - Vrindavan

Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). It is part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) family. It was started on 1 October 1984, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and has since spread throughout India. The core ideology of the organisation is Hindutva. It claims to have 1,300,000 members, of which 850,000 are workers. The Bajrang Dal runs akhadas like RSS's shakhas (branches). There are about 2,500 akhadas compared to 49,500 shakhas of the RSS and 48,000 units of the VHP. The slogan of the Bajrang Dal is "S ...

Including:

• Bajrang Dal - Origin
• Bajrang Dal - List of presidents

Read more here: » Bajrang Dal: Encyclopedia - Bajrang Dal