Yudhishthira Yudhisthira (Sanskrit) One of the principal heroes of the Mahabharata, eldest of the five Pandavas, son of Kunti by the god of justice, Dharma. Because he possessed virtuous character and all the attributes of a model ruler, he was selected as heir apparent to the throne of Hastinapura by his uncle Dhritarashtra: this choice led to the enmity of his cousin Duryodhana and his followers (the Kauravas or Kurus), and eventually to the great conflict on the field of Kurukshetra described in the opening chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. The Pandavas were victorious in this struggle, and Yudhishthira was crowned king.

One section of the Mahabharata is devoted to the attainment of svarga (heaven) by Yudhishthira. He set out on this pilgrimage with his dog, four brothers, and their wife Draupadi, who one by one fell by the way. Alone Yudhishthira and the dog ascended to svarga to be met by Dharma, who said the dog was not permitted to enter. Yudhishthira refused to enter without his dog and turned away from the goal, but Dharma explained that it was only a test of his compassion. Yudhishthira also descended into the underworld successfully, aiding his brothers and wife whom he found there, and they all ascended to svarga.

Orientalists have speculated as to whether there was a monarch named Yudhishthira at the time of the commencement of the kali yuga (3102 BC). The computation of periods in Hindu accounts, however, applied to cosmic events as well as to terrestrial catastrophes, and names were used in the same manner. Thus Yudhishthira, "the first King of the Sacea, who opens the Kali Yuga era, which has to last 432,000 years -- 'an actual King and man who lives 3,102 years BC,' applies also, name and all, to the great Deluge at the time of the first sinking of Atlantis. He is the 'Yudishthira born on the mountain of the hundred peaks at the extremity of the world beyond which nobody can go' and 'immediately after the flood' " (SD 1:369-70). About the time of the reign of Yudhishthira the epic tells of a small flood which destroyed the Yadavas. Yudhishthira is both an eponymous hero, and an epic hero, an historical character, such as were also Arjuna, Krishna, and the many other heroes mentioned in the Mahabharata, stated to have lived when kali yuga began, now some 5,000 years ago.

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Death perhaps is the only certainty in this world. Yet, the fear of death stalks most people. Literature — western and Indian — regards the fear of death as an intriguing and ubiquitous part of human life. We know we are mortals, yet we are afraid of the inevitable. We know we will die one day; yet we continue to behave as though we believe we are going to live forever. However, for people of knowledge, for the wise, death is the door to liberation, the passage to moksha.

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Yudhistira:

Yudhistira (Yudhishthira). Eldest brother of the Pandavas; also called Dharmaraja.

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Knowledge of Ancient Indian History and Culture: The Mahabharata contains also the immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave to Yudhishthira, when he was lying on the bed of arrows. The whole Mahabharata forms an encyclopaedia of history, morals and religion unsurpassed by any other epic in the world.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Charvaka carvaka (Sanskrit) A rakshasa (demon) who in the Mahabharata was a friend of Duryodhana, chief of the Kurus, and hence an enemy of the Pandavas.

When, at the conclusion of the great battle in which the Kurus were defeated, King Yudhishthira entered Hastinapura in triumph, Charvaka assumed the form of a Brahmin and reviled the king. Yudhishthira's Brahmins discovered the imposture and reduced Charvaka to ashes with the fire of their eyes, "i.e., magnetically by means of what is called in Occultism the 'black glance' or evil eye" (TG 79).

Also a materialistic philosopher whose doctrines are said to be imbodied in the Barhaspatya-sutras; a "denier of all but matter, who if he could come back to life, would put shame to all the 'Free thinkers' and 'Agnostics' of the day. He lived before the Ramayanic period, but his teachings and school have survived to this day, and he has even now followers, who are mostly to be found in Bengal" (ibid.).

(See also: Charvaka, carvaka , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Dharmaraja

“King of religious principles,” an epithet of Yama (the Lord of Death) and his son Yudhishthira. Yama enforces the principles of religion by punishing all transgressors, and Yudhishthira was famous for performing all his personal duties without deviation.

(See also: Dharmaraja , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Yudhishthira

The eldest of the five sons of Pandu. He was actually begotten in Pandu’s wife Kunti by Yamaraja, the maintainer of religious principles. Thus Yudhishthira strictly performed religious duties all his life and could never say anything untrue. He was installed as emperor of the world at the end of the Battle of Kurukshetra.

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This is a sitemap for Theosophy - Y . Click on a link and you will find multiple definitions and articles related to the word.

Y - Letter Y, Y Ching, ya`aqob, yabal, yachin, Yacna, Yadava, Yadaya, Yadus, Yah, Yahaweh, Yaheweh, Yah-Havvah, Yah-Hovah, Yaho, Yaho 'yahu, Yahweh, Yajna, Yajna-vidya, Yajur-Veda, Yajus, Yakin and Boaz, Yaksha, Yaksha yaksa, Yaldabaoth, Yam, Yama, Yamabooshee, Yamabushi, Yamabusi, Yamyad Yasht, Yana, Yang, Yao, Yardan, Yasatas, Yashts, Yasna, Yasodhara, Yathas, Yati, Yatudhanas, Yatus, Ya-va, Yavana, Yave, Yazatas, Yazathas, Year of Brahma, Years of Brahma, Ye-damma, Ye-dhamma, Yeheedah, Yehidah, yeho, Ye-hou-vih, Yehovah 'elohim, yehowah, yehowah nissi, Yellow, Yellow Caps, Yellow Father, Yellow Race, Yellow Races, Yellow-faced, Yepheth, Yered, yeredh, yerushalayim, yerushalem, Yesod, Yeu, Yezidis, Yezod, YHVH, Yi King, Yih-sin, Yi-King, Yima, Yi-shu-lu-chia-lun, Yisra'el, Y-King, Yliaster, Ymir, Yod, Yodcheva, Yodh, Yod-heva, Yoga Shastra, Yoga Vidya, yoga-bala, Yoga-ballu, yogacarya, Yogacharya, Yoga-Sastra, Yoga-Siddha, Yojana, Yom, yonah, Yong Grub, Yong-GrŸb, yoseph, Yourodevoy, Yowahous, Yudhishthira, Yudhisthira, Yudishthira, Yuh-kai, Yung-dang gYun-drun, Yu-posah, Yurbo Adonai, Yurbo-adonai, YŸrmungander,

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Also see these pages for material related to Theosophy:

Sanskrit Dictionary , Hinduism Dictionary , Buddhism Dictionary, Mysticism Dictionary , Spiritual Dictionary

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Anugita (Sanskrit) (from anu after, alongside + gita sung, chanted, song from the verbal root gai to sing, intone)

After-song; chapters 16-92 of the Asvamedhika-parvan, 14th book of the Mahabharata that deals with the asvamedha (horse sacrifice) conducted by Yudhishthira, a rite that stems from the Vedic period.

Like the Bhagavad-Gita, the Anugita is a discourse between Krishna and Arjuna, an "after-song" in which Krishna gives a fuller unfolding of teaching with many mystical allusions.

(See also: Anugita , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Dharma (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root dhri to bear, support)

Equity, justice, conduct, duty; right religion, philosophy, and science; the law per se; the rules of society, caste, and stage of life. Secondarily, an essential or characteristic quality or peculiarity, approaching closely to the meaning of svabhava.

Also a sage who married ten or thirteen daughters of Daksha, a judge of the dead; the personification of law and justice. In the Mahabharata, the father of Yudhishthira, chief of the Pandavas.

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What is Dharma? Dharma is so called, because it holds; Dharma alone holds the people, etc. The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhr - to hold - and its etymological meaning is - that which holds - this world, or the people of the world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Dharma is generally defined as - righteousness - or - duty. - Dharma is the principle of righteousness. It is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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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

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What is Dharma? Dharma is so called, because it holds; Dharma alone holds the people, etc. The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhr - to hold - and its etymological meaning is that which holds this world, or the people of the world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Dharma is generally defined as righteousness or duty. Dharma is the principle of righteousness. It is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Definition Of Dharma

When the mind is peaceful, content and full of positive feelings for all beings, then no amount of negative stimulation can disturb or distract it from its benign state. Even wild animals like lions, tigers, serpents are known to have lived peacefully in the habitats of hermits in ancient times because of the powerful spell of pure and positive vibrations emanating from those meditating sages.

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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

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

Morality is the gateway to religion. He who leads a moral or virtuous life attains freedom, perfection or Moksha.

Practice of ethics will help you to live in harmony with your neighbours, friends, your own family members, fellow-beings and other people. It will confer on you lasting happiness and Moksha.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Kunti (Sanskrit). The wife of Pandu and the mother of the Pandavas, the heroes and the foes of their cousins the Kauravas, in the Bhagavad-gita. It is an allegory of the Spirit-Soul or Buddhi. Some think that Draupadi, the wife in common of the five brothers, the Pandavas, is meant to represent Buddhi: but this is not so, for Draupadi stands for the terrestrial life of the Personality. As such, we see it made little of, allowed to be insulted and even taken into slavery by Yudhishthira, the elder of the Pandavas and her chief lord, who represents the Higher Ego with all its qualifications.

(See also: Kunti , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

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Vasishtha

A great sage, one of the mind-born sons of Brahma, reborn in a later age as a son of Mitra and Varuna. He served as priest for Lord Ramachandra, Indra, Vaivasvata Manu, Ambarisha, Harishchandra, Yudhishthira, and others.

(See also: Vasishtha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Jarasandha

A powerful enemy of Krishna’s, the emperor of the Magadha kingdom. Yudhishthira could not perform the Rajasuya sacrifice without first neutralizing Jarasandha’s opposition, so Krishna arranged for Jarasandha to be killed by Bhima.

(See also: Jarasandha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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