Sankalpa Yoga is ‘reso-will’, the power that is born of resolve, will and determination. This esoteric yogic science was widely practised 5 ,000 years ago. But the misuse of the power of Sankalpa Yoga led to a great deal of destruction. Over time, this form of yoga slipped into oblivion, but it was preserved and guarded by Himalayan masters.

Read more here: » Yoga: Celebrate Life With Sankalpa Yoga

Sankalpa - Formative will; determination.

(See also: Sankalpa, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Sankalpa:

spiritual resolve.

(See also: Sankalpa, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Sankalpa Yoga is 'reso-will', the power that is born of resolve, will and determination. This esoteric yogic science was widely practised 5,000 years ago.

Sankalpa Yoga is the science of creation. Like everything in nature, gyana (knowledge) comes through sankalpa. Sankalpa Yoga does not belong to anyone in particular, nor is it registered by any organisation. It belongs to all those who want to practise it. There is no one to command you, no bondage, no milestones.

(See also: Sankalpa Yoga, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

It is the mind that really does all actions. A desire arises in your mind and then you think. Then you proceed to act. The determination of the mind is put into action. First there is Sankalpa or thought and then comes action.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Brahmacharya: Mental Discipline (Bhava)

Detailed description of how a Homa is performed.
During a homa, various rituals are performed successively in order to activate various energies and to also develop the right emotion to perform the homa. Some of these rituals are common and must be observed before every homa. After these rituals are performed, the main homa would begin wherein the rituals differ depending on which deity you invoke. The common rituals for all homas are described.

Read more here: » Homas: The different steps in a Homa and their significance

sankalpa: (Sanskrit) "Will; purpose; determination."

A solemn vow or declaration of purpose to perform any ritual observance. Most commonly, sankalpa names the mental and verbal preparation made by a temple priest as he begins rites of worship.

During the sankalpa, he informs all three worlds what he is about to do. He recites the name of the Deity, and the present time and place according to precise astrological notations and announces the type of ritual he is about to perform. Once the sankalpa is made, he is bound to complete the ceremony.

See: puja.

(See also: Sankalpa, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Jiva Goswami was one of the most prolific and important writers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of Hinduism, and one of the famous Six Goswamis of Vrindavana. He was also the nephew of two of the chief Goswamis, Rupa Goswami (1489 – 1564 CE) and Sanatana Goswami (1488 – 1558 CE). Jiva Goswami - His Birth and Early Years. There seems to be some controversy amongst biographers about Jiva Goswami’s birth. Some opine that he lived from 1511 – 1596 CE, while others claim that he lived from 1533 to 1618 CE. ...

Including:

• Jiva Goswami - His Birth and Early Years
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Leaves Home
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva in Vrindavana
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Goswami’s Contributions
• Jiva Goswami - Achintya-bhedabheda Philosophy
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva Goswami’s Literary Achievments
• Jiva Goswami - 1-Harinamamrita Vyakarana
• Jiva Goswami - 2-Sutra-malika
• Jiva Goswami - 3-Dhatu-sangraha
• Jiva Goswami - 4-Radha-Krishna Archana Chandrika
• Jiva Goswami - 5-Rasamrita-sesa
• Jiva Goswami - 6-Madhava-mahotsava
• Jiva Goswami - 7-Sankalpa-kalpadruma
• Jiva Goswami - 8-Gopala-virudavali
• Jiva Goswami - 9-Bhavartha-suchaka-champu
• Jiva Goswami - 10-Gopala-tapani Upanisad commentary
• Jiva Goswami - 11-Commentary on Brahma-samhita
• Jiva Goswami - 12-Commentary on Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu
• Jiva Goswami - 13-Commentary on Ujjvala-nilamani
• Jiva Goswami - 14-Commentary on Yogasara-stavaka
• Jiva Goswami - 15-Agni Puranastha gayatri-bhasya
• Jiva Goswami - 16-Padma Puranokta Krishna-pada-padma-chihna
• Jiva Goswami - 17-Sri Radhika-kara-pada-sthita-chihna
• Jiva Goswami - 18-Laghu Vaishnava Toshani
• Jiva Goswami - 19-Gopala-champu
• Jiva Goswami - 20-Sad Sandarbhas Six Sandarbhas
• Jiva Goswami - Jiva’s Demise
• Jiva Goswami - Bibliography

Read more here: » Jiva Goswami: Encyclopedia - Jiva Goswami

In the devotional school of Indian philosophy known as Vaishnavism, the process of total surrender to God (in this case Vishnu or Krishna) is called ‘Saranagati’ (Skt. Surrender). Saranagati is divided into six divisions: 1) Accepting those things that are favorable for devotion to God (anukulyasya sankalpa) 2) Rejecting those things that are averse to surrendering to God (pratikulyasya varjanam) 3) Considering God to be one’s protector in all circumstances (raksisyatiti visvasa) 4) Accepting God as ones maintainer (goptrtve varanam) 5) Surrende ...

Read more here: » Saranagati: Encyclopedia - Saranagati

The Sanskrit word ‘vrata’ denotes ‘religious vow’. It is one of the most widely used words in the Hindu religious and ritualistic literature. Derived from the verbal root ‘vrn’ (‘to choose’), it signifies a set of rules and discipline. Hence ‘Vrata’ means performance of any ritual voluntarily over a particular period of time. The purpose is to propitiate a deity and secure from it what the vrati, the performer wants. This whole process, however, should be undertaken with a sankalpa or religious resolve, on an auspicious da ...

Including:

• Vrata - Etymology
• Vrata - Three Types
• Vrata - Time based vrata
• Vrata - Based on Deity
• Vrata - Impact on Society
• Vrata - Rules of Vratas

Read more here: » Vrata: Encyclopedia - Vrata

puja: (Sanskrit) "Worship, adoration."

An Agamic rite of worship performed in the home, temple or shrine, to the murti, sri paduka, or other consecrated object, or to a person, such as the satguru. Its inner purpose is to purify the atmosphere around the object worshiped, establish a connection with the inner worlds and invoke the presence of God, Gods or one's guru.

During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the Divine and beseeching divine blessings, while making offerings in accordance with established traditions. Puja, the worship of a murti through water, lights and flowers in temples and shrines, is the Agamic counterpart of the Vedic yajna rite, in which offerings are conveyed through the sacred homa fire. These are the two great streams of adoration and communion in Hinduism.

Central steps of puja include:

1)    achamana, water sipping for purification;

2)    Ganapati prarthana, prayers to Ganesha;

3)    sankalpa, declaration of intent;

4)    ghanta, ringing bell, inviting devas and dismissing asuras;

5)    avahana, inviting the Deity ;

6)    mantras and dhyana, meditating on the Deity;

7)    svagata, welcoming;

8)    namaskara, obeisance;

9)    arghyam, water offerings;

10) pradakshina, circumambulation;

11) abhisheka, bathing the murti;

12) dhupa, incense-offering;

13) dipa, offering lights;

14) 1naivedya, offering food;

15) archana, chanting holy names;

16) arati, final offering of lights;

17) prarthana, personal requests;

18) visarjana, dismissal-farewell.

Also central are pranayama (breath control), guru vandana (adoration of the preceptor), nyasa (empowerment through touching) and mudra (mystic gestures). Puja offerings also include pushpa (flowers), arghya (water), tambula (betel leaf) and chandana (sandalpaste).

-       atmartha puja: Karana Agama, v. 2, states: Atmartha cha parartha cha puja dvividhamuchyate, "Worship is two-fold: for the benefit of oneself and for the benefit of others." Atmartha puja is done for oneself and immediate family, usually at home in a private shrine.

-       parartha puja: "Puja for others." Parartha puja is public puja, performed by authorized or ordained priests in a public shrine or temple.

See: pujari, puja, yajna.

(See also: Puja, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

sankalpa:

sankalpa. Will, resolve.

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

Sankalpa:

Sankalpa: Resolve, will (SSS-II)

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

Sankalpa:

Sankalpa: thought; desire; imagination.

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

SANKALPA: thought, imagination

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

Bhagavath-sankalpa:

Bhagavath-sankalpa. Will of God.

(See also: Bhagavath-sankalpa, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sankalpa or Samkalpa (Sanskrit) [from sam-klrip to be brought into existence, wish, produce]

A conception or idea formed in the mind or heart; thought, ideation, desire. The Vedas say that the whole universe is evolved through sankalpa -- the ceaselessly acting impulsions of karma driven by cosmic kama -- and hence it is only through sankalpa that the universe retains its karmic structure, appearances, and continuance.

(See also: Sankalpa, Samkalpa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

sathya-sankalpa:

sathya-sankalpa. True Resolve.

(See also: sathya-sankalpa, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

sankalpa-siddha:

sankalpa-siddha. Master of will.

(See also: sankalpa-siddha, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

SUDDHA SANKALPA: pure will

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