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

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 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

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

 The science of house building is very ancient in India. The knowledge has come down from creator Brahma through an unbroken succession of sages.

 According to the Vishwakarma Vaastu Shastra, the celestial architect Lord Brahma got a thorough knowledge of his science from Lord Shiva.

Read more here: » Vaastu: A Brief Introduction to Vaastu

Śiva's consort is Devi, God's energy or God as the Divine Mother who comes in many different forms, one of whom is Kali, the goddess of death. Parvati, a more pacific form of Devi is also popular. Śiva also married Sati, another form of Devi and daughter of Daksha, who forbade the marriage. Sati disobeyed her father. Daksha once held a Yajna (ritual sacrifice) to Vishnu, but did not invite Śiva. In disgust, Sati burned herself through yogic meditation (or, in another version, in the same fire Daksha used in his sacrifice). When Śiva's at ...

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 - Consorts, and the Burning of Kamadeva

Introduction to Hinduism

Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal. Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu. He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Introduction to Hinduism

This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices which require conscious effort. Part I of III.

In Part III: 1) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to enlighenment?, 2) What are the origins of kundalini yoga?, 3) What is the classical literature of kundalini yoga?, 4) What is the precise role of the guru in kundalini yoga?, 5) Can't I learn it through books?, 6) Where can I gain instruction on kundalini yoga?, 7) Where can I learn more?

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yogas FAQ (part III of III)

Chokhmah ("Wisdom"; חכמה) (or chochmah or hokhmah) in the Kabbalah of Judaism, is the uppermost of the Sephirot of the right line (kav yamin which is also the "Pillar of Mercy"). It is derived from the Hebrew word chokhmah (חכמה) which means "wisdom". It is to the bottom right of Keter, and with Binah across it. Under it are the sephirot of Chesed and Netzach. It commonly has four paths going to Keter, Binah, Tifereth, and Chesed. (Som ...

Including:

• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Introduction
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - The first of the intellectual powers of the soul
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Numerology
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - In the texts of Judaism
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Non-Jewish usages
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Chokhmah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Chokhmah Kabbalah

Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. It exists in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Bönpo, and New Age forms. Tantra's roots are in the village life of ancient India. The word "tantra" first appears in the written record in the middle of the first millennium CE. Tantra has persisted and often thrived throughout Asian history. Its practitioners have lived in India, China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Ind ...

Including:

• Tantra - History of Tantra
• Tantra - Hindu tantra
• Tantra - Tibetan tantra
• Tantra - Japan's Shingon sect
• Tantra - New Age tantra or Neo Tantra
• Tantra - Tantric practices
• Tantra - Tantra in the modern world
• Tantra - Hindu tantra
• Tantra - Buddhist tantra

Read more here: » Tantra: Encyclopedia - Tantra

Goswami Tulsidas (1532-1623; Hindi: तुलसीदास) was a medieval Hindi poet and philosopher. He was born in Rajpur, India in the district of Banda in Uttar Pradesh, during the reign of Humayun. Tulsidas wrote twelve books and is considered the greatest and most famous of Hindi poets. He is regarded as an incarnation of Valmiki, the author of Ramayana written in Sanskrit. He wrote Ramacharitamanasa (The Lake that is the Story of Rama), an epic devoted to Rama. This Ramayana is read and worshipped with great re ...

Including:

• Tulsidas - Life
• Tulsidas - Ramacharitamanasa
• Tulsidas - Other Works
• Tulsidas - His Doctrine
• Tulsidas - Sources and Manuscripts

Read more here: » Tulsidas: Encyclopedia - Tulsidas

Kathak is an Indian dance form that arose from the Vaishnava devotees dancing to the episodes from Krishna's life. Originally a Northern Indian temple dance, it was transformed to a court dance in the Mughal era. The new Muslim influence brought with it certain changes to the dance form: what had been a largely devotional practice now became more a courtly entertainment, and to that end various changes were effected. The demi-plié stance of most other Indian dance forms gave way to straight legs, and as many as 150 ankle bells on eac ...

Including:

• Kathak - Early history
• Kathak - Muslim influence
• Kathak - Change in the era of Radha-Krishna
• Kathak - Spread
• Kathak - Today
• Kathak - Modern Repertoire

Read more here: » Kathak: Encyclopedia - Kathak

Yadavs, known by various other names including Gopes, Gaurs, Yadavas, Ahirs ,Kurubas, Abhirs, Surabhirs, Suras, Surasena, Souryasaini, Ghosals,Rawals, Bhatis, Goudas, Pradhans, Rauts, and Yaduvanshis, are among five most ancient Aryan races of Bharata. They mostly follow Hindu religion, and are currently located in different parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Yadav - Mythology. According to Hindu mythology, Yadavas are descendants from Yadu, one of the five Aryan clans mentioned in the Rig Veda. Promine ...

Including:

• Yadav - Mythology
• Yadav - Manusmriti on Ahirs
• Yadav - Introduction
• Yadav - General profile
• Yadav - Major Yadav clans
• Yadav - Scythian origin
• Yadav - Famous Yadavs

Read more here: » Yadav: Encyclopedia - Yadav

Khatushyamji is the deity of Lord Krishna in Kaliyuga who had got the boon from shri krishna that he would be worshipped by his name in kaliyuga. Lord Krishna pleased with Barbareek's great sacrifice, granted him the boon that when Kaliyug descends, he would be worshipped by the name of Shyam in his form. His devotees would be blessed just by pronouncing his name from the bottom of their hearts. Their wishes would be granted and jobs would be completed if they worship Shyamji with a true heart and piety. Khatushyamji - Introduc ...

Including:

• Khatushyamji - Introduction
• Khatushyamji - Some popular names
• Khatushyamji - Location
• Khatushyamji - Nearest Places
• Khatushyamji - How to Reach
• Khatushyamji - In and around the temple
• Khatushyamji - Brief of the deity
• Khatushyamji - Architecture of the temple
• Khatushyamji - Important architectural characteristics
• Khatushyamji - Religious aspects of temple
• Khatushyamji - Unique features of the temple
• Khatushyamji - Temple timings
• Khatushyamji - Around the temple
• Khatushyamji - Festivals
• Khatushyamji - Ekadashi / Dwadashi
• Khatushyamji - Shri Shyam Stuti
• Khatushyamji - Accommodation
• Khatushyamji - Devotees
• Khatushyamji - Singers

Read more here: » Khatushyamji: Encyclopedia - Khatushyamji

Bhopāl (भोपाल) is a city in central India. It is the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal has earned the sobriquet City of 7 Lakes Bhopal - Introduction. Bhopal is a city in central India. It is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal is also the administrative headquarters of Bhopal District and Bhopal Division. Historically, Bhopal was also the name of a state of central India (See Bhopal (princely state)). On December 3, 1984, a Union Car ...

Including:

• Bhopal - Introduction
• Bhopal - History
• Bhopal - After Independence
• Bhopal - Bhopal City
• Bhopal - Law and Government
• Bhopal - Geography
• Bhopal - Demographics
• Bhopal - Major Parks
• Bhopal - Neighborhoods
• Bhopal - Major Industries/Products
• Bhopal - Sites of Interest
• Bhopal - Software Companies
• Bhopal - Educational Institutes

Read more here: » Bhopal: Encyclopedia - Bhopal

Cannabis has a long history of spiritual use, especially in India, where it has been used by wandering spiritual sadhus for centuries. The most famous religious group in the West to use cannabis in a spiritual context are the Rastafari movement, though they are by no means the only group. Some historians and etymologists have claimed that cannabis was used by ancient Jews, early Christians and Muslims of the Sufi order. Cannabis spiritual use - Rastafari use. It is not known when the Rastafari first made cannabis ...

Including:

• Cannabis spiritual use - Rastafari use
• Cannabis spiritual use - Judeo-Christian use
• Cannabis spiritual use - Muslim use
• Cannabis spiritual use - Hindu use
• Cannabis spiritual use - Sikh use
• Cannabis spiritual use - Others

Read more here: » Cannabis spiritual use: Encyclopedia - Cannabis spiritual use

Bolos are a fictional type of artificially intelligent war machine. They were first imagined by Keith Laumer, and have been featured in science fiction novels by him and others. Bolo self-aware tank - Description and History. Bolos are tracked armoured vehicles similar to the tanks of 20th century Earth, but differ in that they are much larger, far more powerful, heavily armed self-aware artificial intelligences. They were originally developed in the late 20th/early 21st century by the Bolo Division of Gene ...

Including:

• Bolo self-aware tank - Description and History
• Bolo self-aware tank - Bolo Offensive Systems
• Bolo self-aware tank - Bolo Defensive Systems
• Bolo self-aware tank - Artificial Intelligence
• Bolo self-aware tank - Bolo Marks Years of Introduction and Notable Bolos
• Bolo self-aware tank - Books

Read more here: » Bolo self-aware tank: Encyclopedia - Bolo self-aware tank

Animal worship is an ill-defined term, covering facts ranging from the worship of the real divine animal, commonly conceived as a "god-body," at one end of the scale, to respect for the bones of a slain animal or even the use of a respectful name for the living animal at the other end. Added to this, in many works on the subject we find reliance placed, especially for the African facts, on reports of travellers who were merely visitors to the regions on which they wrote. Animal cults may be classified in two ways: ...

Including:

• Animal worship - Classification by outward form
• Animal worship - Classification by inward meaning
• Animal worship - Pastoral cults
• Animal worship - Hunting cults
• Animal worship - Dangerous or noxious animals
• Animal worship - Animals regarded as human souls or their embodiment
• Animal worship - Totemistic cults
• Animal worship - Cults of secret societies and individual cults of tutelary animals
• Animal worship - Cults of tree and vegetation spirits
• Animal worship - Cults of ominous animals
• Animal worship - Cults probably derivative of animals associated with certain deities
• Animal worship - Cults of animals used in magic
• Animal worship - Animal Cults
• Animal worship - Bear
• Animal worship - Bison and Cattle
• Animal worship - Crow/Raven
• Animal worship - Dog
• Animal worship - Elephant
• Animal worship - Fish
• Animal worship - Goat
• Animal worship - Hawk
• Animal worship - Horse
• Animal worship - Leopard
• Animal worship - Lion
• Animal worship - Lizard
• Animal worship - Mantis
• Animal worship - Monkey
• Animal worship - Rabbit
• Animal worship - Serpent
• Animal worship - Sheep
• Animal worship - Tiger
• Animal worship - Wolf

Read more here: » Animal worship: Encyclopedia - Animal worship

Early history Sukhothai kingdom Ayutthaya kingdom 1768–1932 1932–1973 1973– Regional histories: Srivijaya Haripunchai Lannathai History of Isan The kingdom of Ayutthaya was a Thai kingdom that existed from the 1350 to 1767. King Ramathibodi I (Uthong) founded Ayutthaya (อยุธยา) as the capital of his kingdom in 1350 and absorbed Sukhothai, 640 km to the north, in 1376. Over the next four centuries the kingdom expanded to ...

Including:

• Ayutthaya kingdom - Historical overview
• Ayutthaya kingdom - Thai Kingship
• Ayutthaya kingdom - Social and Political Development
• Ayutthaya kingdom - Economic Development
• Ayutthaya kingdom - Contacts with the West
• Ayutthaya kingdom - The Final Phase
• Ayutthaya kingdom - List of rulers of the Ayutthaya Dynasty

Read more here: » Ayutthaya kingdom: Encyclopedia - Ayutthaya kingdom

Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre—first Hindu, then Buddhist—since its foundation. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and i ...

Including:

• Angkor Wat - History
• Angkor Wat - Style
• Angkor Wat - The site
• Angkor Wat - Outer enclosure
• Angkor Wat - Central structure
• Angkor Wat - Angkor Wat today
• Angkor Wat - Notes

Read more here: » Angkor Wat: Encyclopedia - Angkor Wat