Swami Rama Tirtha rekindled the poetic vision of the Upanishads. His exposition of Vedanta through lectures and talks imparted a transcendental perspective to the ancient texts. He advocated greater brotherhood and bonding through a realisation of the true meaning of the spiritual law.

The essence of this is captured in a beautiful composition called The Faith: "What care I for caste or creed? / It is the deed; it is the deed/ what for class or clan? / It is the man, it is the man /...What for crown or crest? / It is the heart within the breast".

(See also: Swami Rama Tirtha, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Rama Tirtha: One the key spiritual figures in late nineteenth and early twentieth century India. A former university professor of mathematics in the Punjab, Swami Rama Tirtha traveled throughout India and even to Japan and America, preaching the truths of Advaita Vedanta and vigorously teaching the practice of Pranava Yoga.

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

Pre-modern Vedantins: Adi Shankara Bhaskara Vallabha Caitanya Nimbarka Baladeva Vidyabhushana Vacaspati Misra Suresvara Vijnanabhiksu Badarayana Basavanna Kanakadasa Hubli Siddaroda swamy Modern Vedantins: Ramakrishna Paramahansa Swami Vivekananda Ramana Maharshi Nisargadatta Maharaj Sri Aurobindo Swami Sivananda Swami Chinmayananda Paramahansa Yogananda Swami Parthasarathy Swami Rama Tirtha < ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Despite the stupendous achievements in various fields today, peace and happiness continue to elude humankind. Although peace and happiness have to be generated from within, we have started relying more and more on external factors to solve our internal problems.

The progress we see today is mainly of the external world. But, this is no measure of individual evolution. If the individual wants to be peaceful and happy, he must uplift himself.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj is presently one of the foremost spiritual leader of the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates in the world today. He is a the dearly beloved disciple of Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj and who is in turn the equally beloved disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Early life. His Divine Grace Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj appeared in 1924 in Assam, India, on Ra ...

Including:

• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Early life
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - Taking Shelter of the Divine Master
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - Preaching in the Indian Sub continent
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Worldwide Preaching
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - A Fearless Preacher
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Teachings
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Writings
• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj - His Present Mission

Read more here: » Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj: Encyclopedia - Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Main articles: Yoga, and List of yoga schools, and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]]Including:

• Yogi - Modern Yogis

Read more here: » Yogi: Encyclopedia - Yogi

Vedanta (Vedānta, वेदान्त, pronounced as //vé: dα:n tə//) means the anta or culmination or essence of the Vedas. It is a principal branch of Hindu philosophy. As per some, it is a form of Jnana Yoga (one of the four basic yoga practices in Hinduism; the others are: Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga), a form of yoga which involves an individual seeking "the path of intellectual analysis or the discrimination of truth and reality." As per other ...

Including:

• Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta
• Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta
• Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion
• Vedanta - Formalization
• Vedanta - Vedanta and science
• Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia - Vedanta

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, which are popular as fitness exercises. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and has influenced other religious and spiritual pr ...

Including:

• Yoga - Yoga practice and intention
• Yoga - The word yoga
• Yoga - Diversity of yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and religion
• Yoga - Common themes
• Yoga - Origins
• Yoga - Hindu yoga
• Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga - Patanjali
• Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy
• Yoga - Hatha yoga
• Yoga - Natya yoga
• Yoga - Buddhist yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and tantra
• Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia - Yoga

A Hindu (archaic Hindoo) is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan (सनातन) Dharma or Vedic Dharma. It is the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of Bharat (India), Nepal and the island of Bali While almost all Indians were known as Hindus to the outside world till the 20th century, many ...

Including:

• 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 - Hindu

The origin of Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami can be traced to a story in the Ramayana. During the war between Lord Rama and Ravana , Ravana took the help of Mahiravana who was the king of underworlds. Lord Anjaneya took this Panchamukha form to destroy the demon Mahiravana. Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami was the main deity of Sri Ragavendra Tirtha, the saint of Mantralaya.The place where he mediated on Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami is now known as Pa ...

See also:

Panchamukha Hanuman, Panchamukha Hanuman - Significance of the Five Faces, Panchamukha Hanuman - Origin of Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya, Panchamukha Hanuman - External

Read more here: » Panchamukha Hanuman: Encyclopedia II - Panchamukha Hanuman - Origin of Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya

Pre-modern Vedantins: Adi Shankara Bhaskara Vallabha Caitanya Nimbarka Baladeva Vidyabhushana Vacaspati Misra Suresvara Vijnanabhiksu Badarayana Modern Vedantins: Ramakrishna Paramahansa Swami Vivekananda Ramana Maharshi Nisargadatta Maharaj Sri Aurobindo Swami Sivananda Swami Chinmayananda Paramahansa Yogananda Swami ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

While the traditional Vedic 'karma kanda', or ritualistic components of religion, continued to be practiced through the Brahmins as meditative and propitiatory rites to guide society to self-knowledge, more jnana- or knowledge-centered understandings began to emerge. These were mystical streams of Vedic religion that focused on meditation, self-discipline and spiritual connectivity rather than on rituals. Etymologically, veda means "knowledge" and anta means "end", so the literal meaning of the term "Vedānta" is "the en ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion

History is replete with Yogis that have inspired people for many generations. Yogini Meera from the Bhakti tradition, Shankaracharya from the Jnana Yoga tradition, Patanjali, who formalized the system of Raja Yoga, are just a few examples. Among modern Yogis, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a Bhakti Yogi, stands tall. A devotee of Mother Kali and a teacher of Advaita Vedanta, he preached that "all religions lead to the same goal." His student, Swami Vivekananda, a follower of Adva ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Notable Yogis

All forms of Vedanta are drawn primarily from the Upanishads, a set of philosophical and instructive Vedic scriptures which deal mainly with forms of meditation. "The Upanishads are commentaries on the Vedas, their putative end and essence, and thus known as Vedānta = 'End of the Veda'. They are considered the fundamental essence of all the Vedas and although they form the backbone of Vedanta, portions of Vedantic thought are also ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta

In the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain traditions, the spiritual goals of yoga are seen as inseparable from the religions of which yoga forms a part. Some yogis make a subtle distinction between religion and yoga, seeing religion as more concerned with culture, values, beliefs and rituals; and yoga as more concerned with Self-Realization, i.e., direct perception of the ultimate truth. In this sense, religion and yoga are complementary. Sri Ramakrishna likened religion to the husk, and direct experience to the kernel. Both are needed, "but if one wants to get at the kernel itse ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Yoga and religion

The word "yoga" - from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to yoke") - is generally translated as "union" or "integration." This may be understood as union with the Divine, or integration of body, mind, and spirit. One who practices yoga is called a yogi or in Sanskrit, a yogin (masculine) or yogini (feminine). These designations are sometimes reserved for advanced practitioners. The word "yoga" may also be written יוגה, योग, ಯೋಗ, Joga, Ioga, Joog ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - The word yoga

Over the long history of yoga, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples of subdivisions and synthesis. It is common to speak of each form of yoga as a "path" to enlightenment. Thus, yoga may include love and devotion (as in Bhakti Yoga), selfless work (as in Karma Yoga), knowledge and discernment (as in Jnana Yoga), or an eight-limbed system of disciplines emphasizing meditation (as in Raja Yoga). These practices occupy a continuum from the religious to the scientific. They need not be mutually exclusive. (A person who ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Diversity of yoga

Yoga - Bhagavad Gita. Main article: Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita famously distinguishes several types of "yoga", corresponding to the duties of different nature of people. Capturing the essence and at the same time going into detail about the various Yogas and their philosophies, it constantly refers to itself as such, the "Scripture of Yoga" (see the final verses of each chapter). The book is thought to have been written some time between the 5th and the 2nd century BC. In it, Krish ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Hindu yoga

Images of a meditating yogi from the Indus Valley Civilization are thought to be 6 to 7 thousand years old. The earliest written accounts of yoga appear in the Rig Veda, which began to be codified between 1500 and 1200 BC. It is difficult to establish the date of yoga from this as the Rig Veda was orally transmitted for at least a millennium. The first Yoga text dates to around the 2nd century BC by Patanjali, and prescribes adherence to "eight limbs" (the ...

See also:

Yoga, Yoga - Yoga practice and intention, Yoga - The word yoga, Yoga - Diversity of yoga, Yoga - Yoga and religion, Yoga - Common themes, Yoga - Origins, Yoga - Hindu yoga, Yoga - Bhagavad Gita, Yoga - Patanjali, Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy, Yoga - Hatha yoga, Yoga - Natya yoga, Yoga - Buddhist yoga, Yoga - Yoga and tantra, Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Yoga - Origins