Sandhya-vandana - the chanting of Vedic mantras such as brahma-gayatri at dawn, noon and sunset.

(See also: Sandhya-vandana, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sandhya-vandana:

Sandhya-vandana: Worship at dawn and dusk. (BV-1)

(See also: Sandhya-vandana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

sandhya-vandana:

sandhya-vandana (-vandhana). Morning, noon, or evening prayers.

(See also: sandhya-vandana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sandhyopasana literally means - worship at the junctions of time. - It is a prayer and worship offered to the Lord at the junction (Sandhi) of night and morning, forenoon and afternoon and at the junction of evening and night. The Arghyapradana to the sun and the meditation on and recitation of Gayatri, form the heart of the worship. Properly understood, the whole Sandhya is an earnest prayer addressed to the Lord to forgive all ones sins committed during ones routine, daily activities and to bestow illumination and grace.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sandhyopasana: Worship at the junctions of time - Sandhyopasana

All the pleasure and pain we experience from worldly matters disturb us. We become restless. To really enjoy life, we must learn to control the mind. Dhyana or meditation has been described by our shastras as the ideal way to exercise mind control. When we sit in absolute silence and are free from thought, we will feel enormous energy swell within us.

Dhyana is: Doing nothing. Nothing is done in this technique; even all thoughts are kept aside. We can feel the internal energy, and we become internally strong. The state of dhyana is the meeting point of the internal and external world. The ancient trikal sandhya is the basic background of dhyana.

(See also: Dhyana, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

An initiated journey thru the mayor Hindu Spiritual rituals by Sri Swami Sivandanda.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: An overview of Hindu Rituals

Yajnopavita or the sacred thread is worn by the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and the Vaisyas. Wearing the sacred thread is a very holy and sacred ceremony amongst the Hindus. Brahmin boys between the ages of five and eight are invested with the sacred thread on a very auspicious day. By this ceremony, they become fit for the repetition of Gayatri. A Brahmin becomes a true Brahmin only after this ceremony.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yajnopavita: Hindu Symbols - Significance Of The Sacred Thread Yajnopavita

In a meeting of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lokamanya Tilak said: - A Hindu is he who believes that the Vedas contain self-evident and axiomatic truths. -

The Hindu Maha Sabha has given another definition: - A Hindu is one who believes in a religion which has originated in India. -

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Who Is A Hindu

Brahmacharya is the period of study and discipline. The student should not indulge in any pleasures. He stays in the house of his preceptor and studies the Vedas and the sciences.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sanatana Dharma: The Brahmacharin or the Celibate Student in Sanatana Dharma

Lord Yama is the King of justice. His city is built of diamonds and jewels. It is effulgent and impregnable. It is full of palaces and mansions. It has four gateways. It is surrounded by high ramparts. It measures a thousand Yojanas. Chitragupta, the recorder of fate of all human beings, also dwells in this city of Justice. He records the good and evil of men. This marvellous city was created by the architect of the universe (Visvakarma) by the power of his Yoga

This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Lokas Or Planes: The City Of Justice

Purva Mimamsa or Karma-Mimamsa is an enquiry into the earlier portion of the Vedas, an enquiry into the ritual of the Vedas or that portion of the Vedas which is concerned with the Mantras and the Brahmanas only. The Purva Mimamsa is so called, because it is earlier (Purva) than the Uttara Mimamsa, not so much in the chronological as in the logical sense.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Purva Mimamsa: Hindu Philosophy - The Purva Mimamsa

There are great truths behind the ancient mythology of Hinduism. You cannot ignore a thing simply because it has a garb of mythology. Do not argue. Shut up your mouth. Keep your intellect at a respectable distance when you study mythology. Intellect is a hindrance. It will delude you. Give up arrogance and vanity. Cultivate love for imagery. Sit like a child and open your heart freely. You will comprehend the great truths revealed by mythology. You will penetrate into the hearts of the Rishis and sages who wrote the mythology. You will really enjoy mythology now..

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols

Outward symbols are necessary and beneficial. When viewed from the right angle of vision, you will find that they play a very important part in your material as well as spiritual life. Though they may look very simple and unimportant, they are very scientific and effective.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Symbols: Symbols in Hinduism

There are four Asramas or stages in life, viz., Brahmacharya or the period of studentship, Grihastha or the stage of the householder, Vanaprastha or the stage of the forest-dweller or hermit, and Sannyasa or the life of renunciation or asceticism. Each stage has its own duties. These stages help the evolution of man

The four Asramas or orders of life are Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma in Hinduism: The Four Asramas in Hindu Dharma

Karma Yoga Lesson IX

All worship began as the worship of the dead, The offer of thilah, good thoughts, and akshatas undying affection to the manes; The tarpana; The fire mystery; The use of incense; the modern fire worship suggested; The Lord's prayer and Fateha; The obligations to other lives in Nature; The Eucharist; The duty to the Universal Mind, Brahma.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson IX (of XI )

The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.

A map over the different sects and cults in Hinduism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Hinduism - A Fellowship Of Faiths And A Federation Of Philosophies - about Hindu Sects and Cults

Smartism is a denomination of the Hindu religion. This term is usually used to denote a certain category of Brahmins. Smartas consider the Vedas supreme. The majority of members of Smarta community are followers of Advaita. In practicality, Smarta and Advaita have become almost synonymous because of the prevalence of Advaita philosophy among Smarta Brahmins. But not all believers in Advaita are Smartas. In ancient times, all Brahmins who specialized in the Karma Kanda of the Vedas, and who followed the Vedas and Shastras (both Smriti ...

Including:

• Smartism - Definition
• Smartism - Why They Became Distinguished From Others
• Smartism - Main Beliefs
• Smartism - Smarta Contributions to Advaita
• Smartism - Smarta Contributions to other Philosophies
• Smartism - Smartas Who Split Away From Their Group
• Smartism - Important Religious Books Followed
• Smartism - Prominent Communities

Read more here: » Smartism: Encyclopedia - Smartism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (Bengal) Vaishnavism, is a sect of Hinduism founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya is the disciplic succession following this particular type of Vaishnavism (and Vaishnava Theology), which worships Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya and other Vaishnava schools: main theological differences. Krishna is the original form of God, the source of Vishnu and not His avatar. This teaching - shared by Nimbar ...

Including:

• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya and other Vaishnava schools: main theological differences
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Modern times
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism - Gaudiya Vaishnava organizations

Read more here: » Gaudiya Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia - Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Urmila Matondkar (born on February 4, 1973 in Mumbai, India) is a Bollywood actress. Urmila Matondkar - Career. She started her career as a child artist; perhaps the best known of her early movies is the 1983 Masoom. Her first big hit was the 1995 Rangeela, in which she played a star-struck dancer. She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award for her work in Rangeela. This was her first film with director Ram Gopal Varma -- but not her last. She has starred in many subsequent RGV ...

Including:

• Urmila Matondkar - Career
• Urmila Matondkar - Awards
• Urmila Matondkar - Filmography

Read more here: » Urmila Matondkar: Encyclopedia - Urmila Matondkar

The Vishnu sahasranāma (literally: "Vishnu of the thousand names") is a list of 1,000 names for Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the only Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu). More particularly, the Vishnu sahasranāma is one of the most sacred and chanted stotras in Hinduism. It is recited, often with a preface, as a prayer by many Vaishnavites. As described in the 149th chapter of Anushāsanaparva in the epic Mahabharata, the names were handed down to Yudhisthira by grand sire Bh ...

Including:

• Vishnu sahasranama - Etymology
• Vishnu sahasranama - Interpretation
• Vishnu sahasranama - Pronunciation and Merits of Recitation
• Vishnu sahasranama - Prayer
• Vishnu sahasranama - Shlokas
• Vishnu sahasranama - Recitation and aggregation
• Vishnu sahasranama - Tradition of recitation
• Vishnu sahasranama - Inclusion of other deities
• Vishnu sahasranama - Quotes about Vishnu Sahasranama
• Vishnu sahasranama - Benefits of chanting Vishnu Sahasranama
• Vishnu sahasranama - Books

Read more here: » Vishnu sahasranama: Encyclopedia - Vishnu sahasranama