Encyclopedia - Yajurveda: Encyclopedia - Yajurveda
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yajurveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Yajurveda - Versions
There are two primary versions of the Yajurveda: Shukla (white) and Krishna (black). The Shukla Yajurveda consists of vedic hymns, while ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yajurveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Yajurveda - Large Numbers
The Yajurveda documents the earliest known use of numbers up to a trillion (parardha). It even discusses the concept of numeric infinity ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yajna: Encyclopedia - Yajna
In Hinduism, Yajna or Yagya यज्ञ(Sanskrit yajñá "worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice") is a Vedic ritual of ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Aum Namah Sivaya: Encyclopedia - Aum Namah Sivaya
Aum namah Śivāya (IAST transliteration, refer to Sanskrit for pronunciation) is among the foremost Vedic mantras. Its general translati...   » Read the article

Article - Vastu Shastra: Vasthu In The Vedas
Vasthu in The Vedas Each Veda has a subsidiary: ayurveda (knowledge of life) for rgveda, dhanurveda (knowledge of tools and weapon) for...   » Read the article

Article - Kundalini Yoga: Yoga-kundalini Upanishad, Part I
Part I of III of Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad is the eighty-sixth among the 108 Upanishads. It forms part of th...   » Read the article

Article - Kundalini Yoga: Yoga-kundalini Upanishad, Part Ii
Part II of III of Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad is the eighty-sixth among the 108 Upanishads. It forms part of t...   » Read the article

Article - Kundalini Yoga: Yoga-kundalini Upanishad, Part Iii
Part III of III of Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad is the eighty-sixth among the 108 Upanishads. It forms part of ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Aditya: Encyclopedia - Aditya
In Hinduism, the Adityas are a group of solar deities, sons of Aditi and Kasyapa. In the Rigveda, they are seven deities of the heavens, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Priesthood: Encyclopedia - Vedic Priesthood
The Vedic priesthood is the collective term for the priests of the Vedic religion. Known as purohita, the priests are divided into severa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shatapatha Brahmana: Encyclopedia - Shatapatha Brahmana
Shatapatha Brahmana (Brahmana of one-hundred paths) is one of the prose texts describing the Vedic ritual. It belongs to the vājasaneyi ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shri Rudram Chamakam: Encyclopedia - Shri Rudram Chamakam
The Shri Rudram Chamakam (TS 4.5, 4.7) is a Vedic stotra dedicated to Rudra, an earlier aspect of Shiva. Shri Rudram is also known as Sri...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Ashvamedha: Encyclopedia - Ashvamedha
The Ashvamedha, or the horse-sacrifice is one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion (1st millennium BC, the last recorded...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shukla: Encyclopedia - Shukla
Shukla is Sanskrit for "white", also bright phase of lunar fortnight, as opposed to Krishna, or dark phase. The Shukla yajurvedis (follow...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bṛhadāraṇyaka: Encyclopedia - Bṛhadāraṇyaka
The Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" (mukhya) Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is associated with the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Taittiriya Upanishad: Encyclopedia - Taittiriya Upanishad
The Taittiriya Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shvetashvatara Upanishad: Encyclopedia - Shvetashvatara Upanishad
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads. It is associated with the Black Yajurveda. It figures as number 1...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kaṭha: Encyclopedia - Kaṭha
The Kaṭha Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is associated with the Taittiriya school o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Aum Namah Sivaya: Encyclopedia Ii - Aum Namah Sivaya - A Hindu Śaivite View On The Aum Namah Śivāya Mantra
The meaning of the Namah Śivāya mantra was explained by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami: "Namah Śivāya is the most holy name of God �...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Upanishad: Encyclopedia Ii - Upanishad - List Of Upanishads
Upanishad - Principal Upanishads. The following is a list of the ten "principal" (mukhya) Upanishads that were commented upon by Shanka...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Gayatri: Encyclopedia Ii - Gayatri - Mantra
The Gayatri Mantra is the most revered mantra in Hinduism. It consists of the prefix :oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ ॐ भूर्भु�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atharvaveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Atharvaveda - Status
The Atharvaveda, while undoubtedly belonging to the core Vedic corpus, in some ways represents an independent parallel tradition to that ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedas - Organization
The Mantras are collected into anthologies called Samhitas. There are four Samhitas, the Rk (= Poetry), Sāman (=Song), Yajus(=Prayer) an...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Deshastha Brahmin: Encyclopedia Ii - Deshastha Brahmin - Classification
In present day, they are sometimes refered to as Debra in colloquial Marathi. They are chiefly classified as Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmins a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoni: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoni - Historical Perspective
The ancient Aryans were a community that, through centuries of development, realized advances in a wide range of fields ranging from astr...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hare Krishna: Encyclopedia Ii - Hare Krishna - History
The mantra is first attested in the kalisaṇṭāraṇopaniṣad (Kali Santarana Upanishad), a Vaishnava Upanishad associated with the B...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sringeri Sharada Peetham: Encyclopedia Ii - Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Philosophy And Traditions Of The Maṭha
The maṭha Gurus follow the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. As per the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, the matha is incharge of the ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: A Spiritual Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: An ancient sanskrit text. The entire body of ancient, sacred revelations of truth. Chief amongst which are the Rigveda, Saamav...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedas: Sai Baba Dictionary On Vedas
Vedas: Vedas: [see also Vedas] Sacred scriptures of the Hindu religion. (BV-32). The Sacred scriptures revealed by the Supreme Bein...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia - Vedas
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization: Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization
The Vedic civilization is the Indo-Aryan culture associated with the Vedas, the earliest known records of Indian history. Mainstream scho...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia - Hinduism
Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika-Dharma - वैद�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Early Hinduism: Encyclopedia - History Of Early Hinduism
Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. The ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Gayatri: Encyclopedia - Gayatri
Gayatri (gāyatrī) is the feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. It can be:- The name of a Vedic poetic meter...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Religion: Encyclopedia - Vedic Religion
The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. Its liturgy is reflected i...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia - Mantra
A mantra is a religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration
Indo-Aryan migration refers to the migration and expansion of the Indo-Aryans during the 2nd millennium BC or earlier. Archaeological and...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shakha: Encyclopedia - Shakha
Shakha (IAST śākhā), literally "branch" or "limb", is the Sanskrit term for a recension or version of Vedic texts according to a parti...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Brahmana: Encyclopedia - Brahmana
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atharvaveda: Encyclopedia - Atharvaveda
Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad G�...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Sanskrit: Encyclopedia - Vedic Sanskrit
Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas, the earliest sacred texts of India. The earliest of the Vedas, the Rigveda, was composed in ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Ghee: Encyclopedia - Ghee
Ghee (Hindi घी, from Sanskrit ghṛta घृत "sprinkled") is a type of clarified butter important in Indian cuisine and tradition....   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yajnavalkya: Encyclopedia - Yajnavalkya
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 cre...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoni: Encyclopedia - Yoni
The word yoni is the Sanskrit word for the 'female reproductive organ'. Translated directly into English, it could mean vulva or vagina. ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atharvaveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Atharvaveda - Recensions
The Caraṇavyuha (attributed to Shaunaka) lists nine shakhas or schools of the Atharvaveda: paippalāda ... See also:Atharvaveda, Atha...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - Archaeology
The Indo-Aryans were nomadic or at least peripatetic, following their herds of cows around from pasture to pasture. Consequently they had...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Ashvamedha: Encyclopedia Ii - Ashvamedha - The Vedic Sacrifice
The Ashvamedha could only be conducted by a king. Its object was the acquisition of power and glory, the sovereignty over neighbouring pr...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Core Concepts
Hinduism - The Eternal Way. "Sanātana Dharma" (सनातन धर्म, The Eternal Values ), the traditional name of Hinduism, s...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoni: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoni - Yoni Worship
After the Aryan race intermingled with the indigenous communities of ancient India, a form of idolatory, or idol worship, developed. Whil...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Early Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Early Hinduism - At The Birth Of Hinduism
Hinduism was born out of the very complex, controversial, humane and violent dynamics of the ancient peoples of India. It involved spirit...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Religion: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Religion - Post-vedic Religions
Vedic religion evolved into the Hindu paths of Yoga and Vedanta, a religious path considering itself the 'essence' of the Vedas. The Vedi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shri Rudram Chamakam: Encyclopedia Ii - Shri Rudram Chamakam - Text
The Shri Rudram Chamakam is divided into Shri Rudram or Namakam, which describes aspects of Rudra. Additionally, the devotee asks for the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Civilization - Overview
The reconstruction of the history of Vedic India is based on text-internal evidence, and on matching information from the texts with arch...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Civilization - Overview
The reconstruction of the history of Vedic India is based on text-internal evidence, and on matching information from the texts with arch...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Sanskrit: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Sanskrit - History
Five chronologically distinct strata can be identified within the Vedic language. Rigvedic. The Rigveda is by far the most archaic of th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Remarks
The following subsections contain remarks on the nature and use of mantras in their context as Hindu religious practice. Mantra - What i...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedas - Religious Views: Monism, Monotheism, Henotheism And Polytheism
The religion of the Vedic period, particularly at its earliest, was distinct in a number of respects, including reference to females in p...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoni: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoni - Yoni Massage
The history of yoni massage is not fully known. However, studies of carvings at places such as Khajuraho in India, and texts such as the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Sanskrit: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Sanskrit - Grammar
Vedic had a subjunctive absent in Panini's grammar and generally believed to have disappeared by then at least in common sentence constru...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedas - Religious Views: Monism Monotheism Henotheism And Polytheism
The religion of the Vedic period, particularly at its earliest, was distinct in a number of respects, including reference to females in p...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedas - Study
In the dharmashastras the study of the Vedas was regarded as a religious duty of the three upper varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishya...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Criticism
Hinduism is criticized based on current or past regressive social customs such as Dowry, Sati and casteism. Many also criticize it by lin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedas: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedas - Position And Compilation
Hindu tradition regards the Vedas as uncreated, eternal and being revealed to sages (Rishis). The hymns of the Rig-Veda Samhita are belie...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Sanskrit: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Sanskrit - Phonology
Sound changes between Proto-Indo-Iranian and Vedic Sanskrit include loss of the voiced sibilant z. Vedic Sanskrit had a labial fricative ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Civilization - Vedic Religion
Main article: Vedic religion. Texts considered to date to the Vedic period are mainly the four Vedas, but the Brahmanas, and some of the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Mantra In Hinduism
Mantras were originally conceived in the great Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. Within practically all Hindu scriptures, the writing ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Introduction
Mantras have some features in common with spells in general, in that they are a translation of the human will or desire into a form of ac...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Mantra In Buddhism
Buddhism, naturally following from Vedic society, also developed its own system and understanding of mantra, which while similar to that ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Mantra In Indo-tibetan Buddhism
Conze distinguishes three periods in the Buddhist use of mantra. Initially, like their fellow Indians, Buddhists used mantra as protectiv...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vedic Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Vedic Civilization - Rigvedic Period
The origin of the Vedic civilization and its relation to the Indus Valley civilization and related cultures and an Indo-Aryan migration a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Mantra - Mantra In Other Traditions Or Contexts
Transcendental Meditation, also known simply as 'TM', uses simple mantras as a meditative focus. TM was founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Y...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Important Symbolism And Themes In Hinduism
Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows. Main article: Tilaka The tilaka (or tilak) is a mark worn on the forehead a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Alternative Cultures Of Worship
Hinduism - The Bhakti schools. Main article: Bhakti The Bhakti (Devotional) school takes its name from the Hindu term that signifies ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Early Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Early Hinduism - Analyzing The History
Assessing the history of early Hinduism, involving the birth of its most sacred and fundamental tenets is extremely difficult, as the his...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - Overview
The separation of Indo-Aryans proper from Proto-Indo-Iranians has been dated to roughly 2000 BC–1800 BC. The Nuristani languages probab...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atharvaveda: Encyclopedia Ii - Atharvaveda - Dating
From alleged internal astronomical references (AVS XI.7), it has been surmised that the Atharvanic period included the time when the Plei...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - History
When British and European language students first encountered Sanskrit in the late 18th century, they naturally assumed Sanskrit was the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - Linguistics
The linguistic facts of the situation are little disputed. However, linguistic data alone cannot determine whether this migration was pea...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - Physical Anthropology
Brian E. Hemphill and Alexander F. Christensen's study (1994) of the migration of genetic traits does not support a movement of Aryan spe...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Early Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Early Hinduism - Composition Of The Vedas
See Also: Vedas, Shruti Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas M...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Gayatri: Encyclopedia Ii - Gayatri - Goddess
Originally the personification of the mantra, the goddess Gayatri is considered the veda mata, the mother of all Vedas and the consort of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Origins And Society
Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism. Main article: History of Hinduism Hinduism is the world's oldest major religion in existence. From a ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Hindu Philosophy: The Six Vedic Schools Of Thought
The six Āstika or orthodox (accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyāya, Vaisheshika, Sāmkhya, Yoga, P...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Hindu Sacred Texts
The overwhelming majority of Hindu sacred texts are composed in the Sanskrit language. Indeed, much of the morphology and linguistic phil...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hinduism: Encyclopedia Ii - Hinduism - Denominations
Each of the Hinduism's four major denominations share rituals, beliefs, traditions and personal deities with one another, but each sect h...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Ashvamedha: Encyclopedia Ii - Ashvamedha - Vedanta And Modern Hinduism
In vedantic interpretations, the Ashvamedha is understood as a ritual to get connected to the "inner Sun". In this tradition, it is claim...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indo-aryan Migration: Encyclopedia Ii - Indo-aryan Migration - Philology
Indo-Aryan migration - Rig Veda. The Rigveda is by far the most archaic testimony of Vedic Sanskrit. It describes a pastoral or nomadic...   » Read the article