A Wisdom Archive on Upanayana

The Upanayana is a Hindu samskara for children of the three highest castes. It is the beginning of serious study with a guru and also means that the child is fully a part of the religious community. Young male members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya caste may perform a coming of age ceremony, the Upanayana commonly known as Janoy, or the thread ceremony. The Janoy is many strings rolled together to resemble an umblical cord to symbolise the New birth as a student and from this day on he belongs to the ...

Read more here: » Upanayana: Encyclopedia - Upanayana

The rites that pertain to the stages of life of man are called Samskaras. The Samskaras are purificatory rites which sanctify the life of the Hindu. They give a spiritual touch to the important events in the life of the individual from conception to cremation. They mark the important stages of a mans life. Just as the outline of a picture is lighted up slowly with the filling in of many colours, so also is Brahmanya with scriptural Samskaras. There are the Samskaras of childhood, of boyhood, of manhood and of old age and death.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: The Ten Scriptural Samskaras

Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras
Hinduism prescribes both ritual and spiritual practices for the final liberation of men. The ritual aspect is meant to make man more spiritual in the end, not vice versa. Each and every important event in the life a Hindu, who has chosen to lead a normal householder's life calls for the performance of certain rites. These rites are intended mainly to invoke the blessings of various gods and ensure success in the performance of his ordained duties. They are performed during various stages in his life for different ends. Some of the important rites of Hinduism are described here.
 

Read more here: » Hinduism Rituals: Hindu Samskaras

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

The world over, women continue to suffer community-sponsored injustice, whether they live in a secular or non-secular country. We can know how progressive a community is, by the way it treats its women.
 
Shocked at the condition of Indian women, Swami Vivekananda said that there was no reason to view women as being inferior to men or as obstacles to salvation - contrary to popular misconception, there is no scriptural sanction for oppressing women.

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

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Shanti Alone Can Help Save Shakti

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

Hinduism and Children: Hindus loves their children dearly. They believe that their children are gifts from gods and products of their previous karma. Many presume that their children were related to them in their past lives or were their close friends. Since a Hindu firmly believes in rebirth, he views his own life from a wider perspective that encompasses not just this life but many other lives that preceded it as well as succeed it, and his individual existence as a part of a great cosmic cycle.

Read more here: » Hinduism and Children: Hindu view in Children and Parenting

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

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

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

Shree Basava (also known as Basaveshwara or Basavanna) is known as the founder of the lingayat (Lingayats) religious sect in India. He brought on a social transformation, often referred as "revolution," in that he changed the lower caste people into a higher thinking of God or Shiva. He is said to have been a mystic by temperament, an idealist by choice, a statesman by profession, a man of letters by taste, a humanis ... Including:

• Lord Basava - Early Life
• Lord Basava - The Great Religious Development
• Lord Basava - Philosophy
• Lord Basava - Views on Basaveshwara today

Read more here: » Lord Basava: Encyclopedia - Lord Basava