Sage Yajnavalkya of Mithila (perhaps 1800 BC) advanced a 95-year cycle to synchronize the motions of the sun and the moon. He is also credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana, in which the references to the motions of the sun and the moon are found. He is also a major figure in the Upanishads. His deep philosophical teachings in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, and the apophatic teaching of 'neti neti' etc. is found to be st ...

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YAJNAVALKYA: A great sage of yore.

(See also: YAJNAVALKYA, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Yajnavalkya:

Yajnavalkya: a great sage of yore.

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

The Four Vedas and Their Sub Divisions : The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the Atharva-Veda. The Yajur-Veda is again divided into two parts, the Sukla and the Krishna. The Krishna or the Taittiriya is the older book and the Sukla or the Vajasaneya is a later revelation to sage Yajnavalkya from the resplendent Sun-God.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Four Vedas: The Four Vedas in the Hindu Scriptures

The Celebrated Hindu Law-Givers

From time to time, a great law-giver would take his birth. He would codify the existing laws and remove those which had become obsolete. He would make some alterations, adaptations, readjustments, additions and subtractions, to suit the needs of the time and see that the way of living of the people would be in accordance with the teachings of the Veda. Of such law-givers, Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara are the most celebrated persons. Hindu society is founded on, and governed by, the laws made by these three great sages.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Law-Givers: The Hindu Law-Givers in the Hindu Scriptures

Hinduism lays great emphasis on ethical discipline. Yama (self-restraint) and Niyama (religious observances or canons) are the foundations of Yoga and Vedanta.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethical Codes In Hinduism

Without ethics, you cannot have progress in the spiritual path. Ethics is the foundation of Yoga. Ethics is the corner-stone of Vedanta. Ethics is the strong pillar on which the edifice of Bhakti Yoga rests. Ethics is the gateway to God-realisation.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethics, Spirituality And Religion

" That is the essence of science: Ask an impertinent question and you are on the way to the pertinent answe r", wrote Dr J Bronowski in Ascent of Man.

This statement is probably equally - or perhaps more - valid in our spiritual quests. The Kathopanishad starts with Nachiketa posing a question to his father Vajasravasa, who was giving away gifts after a Yagna .

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

The ethics of the Hindus is subtle, sublime and profound. All religions have taught ethical precepts such as:

- Do not kill, do not injure others, love your neighbour as your self, - but they have not given the reason. The basis of Hindu ethics is this:

- There is one all-pervading Atman. It is the innermost soul of all beings. This is the common, pure consciousness. If you injure your neighbour, you really injure yourself. If you injure any other creature, you really injure yourself, because the whole world is nothing but your own Self. -

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: The Foundational Principles Of Hindu Ethics

Hindu view on Science, Knowledge and Education

Hindu scriptures recognize two types of knowledge: the lower knowledge and the higher knowledge. Knowledge of the rites and rituals and scholarly study of scriptures is considered to be lower knowledge, while higher knowledge is the knowledge of Atman and Brahman gained through personal experience or self realization. Of the two, the Higher Knowledge alone is true, because it liberates the individuals from the cycle of births and deaths.

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Brahmacharya is abstaining from all kinds of Maithuna or sexual enjoyment forever, in all places and in all conditions, physically, mentally and verbally. Quotes from different vedic scriptures on Brahmacharya.

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

Read more here: » Brahmacharya: Garland of Brahmacharya

According to the Hindu view of creation, it was sound and not light that appeared first. In Vedic parlance it is called Nada Brahma or the Sound Celestial. Vedic rishis believed that the evolution of the Brahmand or universe was caused as a result of Bindu Visphot or an atomic explosion, that produced infinite waves of sound, which represent cosmicascent and expansion.

The sound was a monosyllable: Om . Since Om is related to the beginning of the universe, Hindus consider it the most sacred syllable with which Vedic mantras commence.

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

Adi Sankaracharya and Ramanujacharya were great philosophers. Their road maps to the Absolute reflect the essence of Indian spiritual thought and tradition, although they held divergent views - while Sankara advocated monism or advaita, Ramanuja believed in vishishtadvaita, that contains elements of both advaita and dvaita philosophy.

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

Yours faithfully - A letter ends there. However, faith is the beginning of the human quest for self-discovery and the Absolute. Faith can be neither forced nor taught; it is an experience that transcends trust, reason, belief and ideology.

Belief in religious scripture confines the mind; the trust we repose in an individual, too, is a limiting factor. The intellect can only too often weave a cobweb of theories, and reason can cause mistrust, taking us away from discovering the great scope and depth of an infinite power that's faith, that can otherwise serve as an effective spiritual guide.

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

The nature of Atman is pure consciousness, and though the phenomena are perceived to be taking place, in reality they are only aspects of consciousness. Consciousness is not affected by them. The Atman is 'hidden’ inside all of us, as a bee is hidden inside a lotus flower. It will be futile to seek it in the water or air outside.

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

Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular heads. The six orthodox sections form the authoritative scriptures of the Hindus. The four secular sections embody the later developments in classical Sanskrit literature.

The six scriptures are: Srutis, Smritis, Itihasas, Puranas, Agamas and Darsanas.

The four secular writings are: Subhashitas, Kavyas, Natakas and Alankaras.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Scriptures: A full overview of the Hindu and Vedic Scriptures

The mark of Dharma is Achara or good conduct. Achara is the mark of the good. From Achara is Dharma born. Dharma enhances life. Man attains prosperity and fame, here and hereafter, through the practice of Dharma.

Good conduct is the highest Dharma. It is the root of all Tapas or austerities. Righteousness, truth and good works, power and prosperity - all originate from conduct.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethics in Hindu Darma

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita

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The Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" (mukhya) Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is associated with the White Yajurveda and the Shatapatha Brahmana. It figures as number 10 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads. It is widely known for its philosophical statements, and is ascribed to Yajnavalkya. Its name is literally translated as "great-fore ...

Including:

• Bṛhadāraṇyaka - Literature

Read more here: » Bṛhadāraṇyaka: Encyclopedia - Bṛhadāraṇyaka

Brahmarishi Viswamitra or Vishwamitra is one of the most venerated sages of Hinduism. He was a kshatriya by birth, but transcended to become a Brahmin with his hard penance. He is also known for discovering the Gayatri Mantra. Hindu scriptures mention that only 24 Rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of, and thus wielded the whole power of, the Gayatri Mantra. Sage Vishwamitra is supposed to be the first, and Sage Yajnavalkya the last. Through the power attained this way, Vishwamitra was able to creat ...

Including:

• Viswamitra - Kaushika
• Viswamitra - Quarrel with Vasishta
• Viswamitra - Alternate Version
• Viswamitra - Tapasya
• Viswamitra - Alternate Version
• Viswamitra - Rise to Brahmarishi
• Viswamitra - Kaushika's Passions
• Viswamitra - Legends
• Viswamitra - Trisanku
• Viswamitra - Harishchandra's Sacrifice
• Viswamitra - In the Ramayana
• Viswamitra - Gotra

Read more here: » Viswamitra: Encyclopedia - Viswamitra