tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23395253434284298902024-02-19T16:33:21.869+08:00All About HinduismHinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India, characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-75759035171180723212011-10-12T12:46:00.000+08:002011-10-12T12:46:15.209+08:00Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcjTozDpDfE6t5PjoDq-oI0q_WXLF5hugyOzn3aaMQyVJv1Fz0OwQ4zPnsbLQ-Kkm1CUg7pirJ57CHG80Qt0A_DLAdCKSXh9bLC7PVjlZIOXP-ikdcmrBmfMPbOJsmdMP8o0yIKFRiSE4/s1600/112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcjTozDpDfE6t5PjoDq-oI0q_WXLF5hugyOzn3aaMQyVJv1Fz0OwQ4zPnsbLQ-Kkm1CUg7pirJ57CHG80Qt0A_DLAdCKSXh9bLC7PVjlZIOXP-ikdcmrBmfMPbOJsmdMP8o0yIKFRiSE4/s200/112.jpg" width="190px" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Chaitanya was born of Vaishnava (devotees of Lord Vishnu) parents, Sachi Mata and Jagannatha Misra in Navadwip, Bengal, India in the year of 1486. His whole life was dedicated to the teachings of Lord Krishna. Even as a young boy in <span style="color: white;">school</span>, he taught that every letter of the alphabet relates directly to Lord Krishna. He would challenge scholars much older then himself to discussion on the Vedas. He would be undefeated, later taking his opponents as his disciples to help him spread the pure cult of Bhakti Yoga.</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wI649U6jnoY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span></div><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In his middle years, Chaitanya took sanyasa and traveled freely throughout South India, rejecting the impersonalistic interpretation of the Vedas and favoring pure loving service to the personality Lord Krishna. With raised hands and regular dancing, Chaitanya went from town to town singing the names of Lord Krishna with great ecstatic love. He converted thousands of followers to the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama and introduced public <i>kirtans</i> called <i>sankirtan</i> or walking <i>kirtans</i>.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/ILX_QkR5fLE/0.jpg" height="266" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ILX_QkR5fLE&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ILX_QkR5fLE&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span></div><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Among the Vaishnava community, Chaitanya was considered a direct incarnation of Lord Krishna. His purpose in coming was to teach that the highest religious principle for the age of Kali was to constantly chant the holy names of the Lord. By following the four regulative principles, namely no meat eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication and no gambling, and regular chanting of Hare Krishna, a living entity could fully revive his dormant God consciousness. </span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/APZITGOhpmc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He taught that all living beings are separated parts and parcels of the Lord, originally endowed with a unique transcendental relationship. When the living entity is in contact with the material world, that pure devotional relationship is covered by Maya and exhibited as love for the body and extended bodily attachments. But when the living entity becomes freed from Maya by the practice of <i>bhakti-yoga</i>, he regains his real identity as an eternal loving servant of the Lord and at the time of death, he returns to Godhead. These teachings are identical to the teachings of Lord Krishna, spoken in the Bhagavad-Gita five thousand years earlier.</span> </div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-73507517366169227982011-09-26T23:54:00.000+08:002011-09-26T23:54:48.608+08:00Our Beloved Amma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLbjZt4L1kXrddyZn-f8PEnOuHiNyExbsTSSMKaRgVm6W1uf4geav279RIG2WZI8oeVfggkGiJMJA76WRuZHXHqmUZi8jzp65Fz0-oBuXNpZAJVQIdRwTNi1JtLykE1aAZ8XAolWB4sN2/s1600/amma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLbjZt4L1kXrddyZn-f8PEnOuHiNyExbsTSSMKaRgVm6W1uf4geav279RIG2WZI8oeVfggkGiJMJA76WRuZHXHqmUZi8jzp65Fz0-oBuXNpZAJVQIdRwTNi1JtLykE1aAZ8XAolWB4sN2/s320/amma.jpg" width="251px" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mata Amritanandamayi was born as Sudhamani in the small village near Quilon (Kollam) in Kerala on September 27, 1953 to a fishing family. She had to end her education at the age of nine to take care of her siblings. She is said to have had many mystical experiences even as a child.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mata Amritanandamayi is a highly revered spiritual leader of India to have millions of followers not only in India but also abroad. She is much reputed as ‘The Hugging Saint’ or ‘ <strong _extended="true">Amma</strong> ' meaning mother. She is well known for her humanitarian activities. Ma Amritanandamayi offers a hug to everyone who approaches her.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryTVaFDMKYdV5aF1T4lfqJ7FWWMPoZMpfxSXO6AxtKq8l15-SFNUOARXrmqdIUpG79or1T8iNLUrn6CYifGdYBH81EYjMkEkA11ZQ0oKqjJ5aWWR0QSFkiarqbye0JCs7biEn34ShYQ7X/s1600/3411962467_2fb8791c91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="132px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryTVaFDMKYdV5aF1T4lfqJ7FWWMPoZMpfxSXO6AxtKq8l15-SFNUOARXrmqdIUpG79or1T8iNLUrn6CYifGdYBH81EYjMkEkA11ZQ0oKqjJ5aWWR0QSFkiarqbye0JCs7biEn34ShYQ7X/s200/3411962467_2fb8791c91.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">She spread the message of love and compassion to the world. Her Devotees and the people who have visited her experience the positive aura around her. Even if you go to her with a troubled mind and mind heavy with troubles after meeting her one would feel as if the burdens were taken away by the loving and comforting embrace of the Mother. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mata Amritanandamayi received several awards and recognitions for her humanitarian activities and has helped millions of people through her Charitable Organization all over the World. Some of these activities include providing food, shelter for the homeless, medical aid, hospitals, pension to widows, educational institutions, orphanages, home for the aged, helping victims of natural disasters etc. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">See also:</span> <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/amma-embracing-world.html">Amma,Embracing the world</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UV19rtJ8yOU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-35233347857419872642011-09-26T12:24:00.000+08:002011-09-26T12:24:13.018+08:00Amma embracing the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m64I1ytc3r9HicDZTzUG0L522qzZl4M9yx_cdGGYdMmh6Xss7slwVA0yE2I078EDKmqRlwR3pHssatmsT5fdoy5b40Uoq-OwW-tYGwpri6tDdo1xLEN-E9y8XBio5nr8A_RYjk2EfWrn/s1600/050725_postt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m64I1ytc3r9HicDZTzUG0L522qzZl4M9yx_cdGGYdMmh6Xss7slwVA0yE2I078EDKmqRlwR3pHssatmsT5fdoy5b40Uoq-OwW-tYGwpri6tDdo1xLEN-E9y8XBio5nr8A_RYjk2EfWrn/s1600/050725_postt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="csc-header csc-header-n5" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amma was deeply affected by the profound suffering she witnessed. According to Hinduism, the suffering of the individual is due to his or her own karma - the results of actions performed in the past. Amma accepted this concept, but she refused to accept it as a justification for inaction. Amma contemplated the principle of karma until she revealed an even more profound truth, asking a question which she continues to ask each of us today. "If it is one man's karma to suffer, isn't it our dharma (duty) to help ease his suffering and pain?"<br />
With this simple yet profound conviction - that each of us has a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate - Amma moved forward with confidence in her life of service and compassionate care for all beings, uniquely expressed by the motherly embrace she offers to all who seek solace in her arms.<br />
</span></div><div class="csc-header csc-header-n5" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In Amma's community, it was not permissible for a 14-year-old girl to touch others, especially men. But despite adverse reactions by her parents, Amma followed her heart, later explaining, "I don't see if it is a man or a woman. I don't see anyone different from my own self. A continuous stream of love flows from me to all of creation. This is my inborn nature. The duty of a doctor is to treat patients. In the same way, my duty is to console those who are suffering."<br />
</span></div><div class="csc-header csc-header-n5" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrseGgXpvAVezIi7JapPiXIJ1oXfak-61YGbG4fnn0E6oJ4xF9J3rhedH2hH5R-0MLEzZ48k0NZPracdJU77AwHyFWAywZYlFWFe2ROMLGmOfOpNXGf_czdwqadd5mxzTps7aZlkwgxNZx/s1600/2009_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrseGgXpvAVezIi7JapPiXIJ1oXfak-61YGbG4fnn0E6oJ4xF9J3rhedH2hH5R-0MLEzZ48k0NZPracdJU77AwHyFWAywZYlFWFe2ROMLGmOfOpNXGf_czdwqadd5mxzTps7aZlkwgxNZx/s200/2009_15.jpg" width="200px" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Amma says that love expressed is compassion, and compassion means accepting the needs and sorrows of others as one's own. More than 20 years ago, the administrators of a local orphanage confessed to Amma that they were out of funds. They told Amma that before long, they would have no choice but to turn the children out on the street. Amma diverted the money that had been saved to build her ashram's first prayer hall and used it to assume the care for the orphans instead. With this, Embracing the World was born.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/12sCzuHohzw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wwi3r84YDAk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBad1Btdlls?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nhkSPNuG4cE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-49280216018944493282011-09-25T12:49:00.000+08:002011-09-25T12:49:46.771+08:00Isha Foundation - Inner Engineering Video<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/R8PVfCwJA14?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Inner Engineering is offered as an intensive program for personal growth. The program and its environment establish the possibility to explore the higher dimensions of life and offers tools to re-engineer one's self through the inner science of yoga. Once given the tools to rejuvenate, people can optimize all aspects of health, inner growth and success. For those seeking professional and personal excellence, this program offers keys for meaningful and fulfilling relationships at work, home, community, and most importantly, within one's self.</span></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-72152970514553601932011-09-14T12:00:00.000+08:002011-09-14T12:00:02.262+08:00Three modes (gunas)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITDsxDz6K3QgzoaPLolz6jvphap201CNlHJg56hrKKO04VJD10eBueSdbpQmdTP5aR8wSr_M0Rt3lY-5c4AfBlsg5bT6VmedbCLfQ_LMAKJcBBUe8YnuOMp1M7VCLby5P6iEBSS5tCrME/s1600/0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITDsxDz6K3QgzoaPLolz6jvphap201CNlHJg56hrKKO04VJD10eBueSdbpQmdTP5aR8wSr_M0Rt3lY-5c4AfBlsg5bT6VmedbCLfQ_LMAKJcBBUe8YnuOMp1M7VCLby5P6iEBSS5tCrME/s200/0.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">According to Vedic scriptures all variety of species of life is created by a combination of three basic modes of material energy, in Sanskrit called gunas. Here is again seen a limitation of other languages because they lack suitable synonym. Closest is probably the Latin word modus. Guna is therefore a kind of modus operandi (means of functioning) of material energy. They are called: </span></div><blockquote><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/sattva-guna.html">sattva-guna</a> <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">(harmony, goodness)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/raja-guna.html">raja-guna</a> <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">(activity, passion)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">- <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/tama-guna.html">tama-guna</a> <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">(inertia, ignorance)</span></div></blockquote><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bodies of individual species can be compared to various apartments or houses of different sizes, shapes and colors temporarily inhabited by embodied soul. Bodily forms limit (under the control of three modes) its freedom of movement and activities as well as possibilities of individual enjoyment. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">See also: <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/development-and-disappearance-of-self.html">http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/development-and-disappearance-of-self.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-13966994822229239572011-09-14T11:59:00.000+08:002011-09-14T11:59:23.181+08:00Gunas Diagram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpDAdc3UT3BPA3X5kUG6hG-OCSpRH3O_qyy0poW7M1E6uXw5i_7GVOzuiImKamOkuyXbYKJEI0CvuCCsPZ-cyKcBMqvvYa-_G2YkEHlSM77uRC7RdF8VCuLPDlUSu_-V3_FhDVlo7V6nr/s1600/gunas_diagram%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpDAdc3UT3BPA3X5kUG6hG-OCSpRH3O_qyy0poW7M1E6uXw5i_7GVOzuiImKamOkuyXbYKJEI0CvuCCsPZ-cyKcBMqvvYa-_G2YkEHlSM77uRC7RdF8VCuLPDlUSu_-V3_FhDVlo7V6nr/s320/gunas_diagram%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-76598604312035807302011-09-14T11:57:00.000+08:002011-09-14T11:57:01.508+08:00The Development and Disappearance of Self<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1w9xW2qX86oGrsYZiL81yquTEDwdQJ080iDscaC7tiL-IW-U_oqpoTqwLD_JROQY5Yc_P1lb93x0GxpikhRWJ2o7dXmkvssDkLjh4EhjxI_nENGqeiX7_5OLgKrQsrkaNrCt5qqo12xF/s1600/BB233+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1w9xW2qX86oGrsYZiL81yquTEDwdQJ080iDscaC7tiL-IW-U_oqpoTqwLD_JROQY5Yc_P1lb93x0GxpikhRWJ2o7dXmkvssDkLjh4EhjxI_nENGqeiX7_5OLgKrQsrkaNrCt5qqo12xF/s400/BB233+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-20663926529181204512011-09-14T11:49:00.000+08:002011-09-14T11:49:35.442+08:00Sattva Guna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">On the spiritual Path, sattva is an intermediate step from ignorance, coarseness, and subjection to passions — to realization of the Divine.</span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says much about the sattvic qualities, such as harmoniousness, calmness of mind, subtlety of consciousness, the ability to control own emotions with refusal of the coarse emotional manifestations, prevalence of the state of subtle and joyful love, absence of egocentrism, violence.</span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">From the methodological standpoint, it is important to stress that the sattvic qualities can be developed only if the body is healthy and cleansed from coarse energies. To become sattvic, one needs, among other things, to exclude completely meat and fish from the nutrition.</span></div><div class="article"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHYImkdTy5CZETAl-kLfFzHLGmJgxXGEQwjTS67CNYVRtGe5I4mnoCGxtwhOkgNEsFsSxed4IDC9e6RzVSUkEK5s0rUTjEq5COxU7Ko6wet3vB0lj4VW7Y2-0LsAxye8sYKk52NYZE0q2/s1600/Self-Realization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHYImkdTy5CZETAl-kLfFzHLGmJgxXGEQwjTS67CNYVRtGe5I4mnoCGxtwhOkgNEsFsSxed4IDC9e6RzVSUkEK5s0rUTjEq5COxU7Ko6wet3vB0lj4VW7Y2-0LsAxye8sYKk52NYZE0q2/s320/Self-Realization.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The sattvic qualities can be steadfast only in a person who has passed fully through the stage of kshatrism, developed vigor, <i>personal power</i>, high intellect, and gained thorough knowledge about the most important in life.</span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">However, Krishna said that one has to go still higher — higher than sattva, to mergence with God, and this calls for new efforts, new struggle with oneself. One has to keep this in mind, since sattva may turn out to be a trap: it captivates one with its bliss attained on this stage. It makes one “relaxed”, offers to abandon further efforts.</span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div class="article"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">But it is impossible to bypass the sattva guna. It is impossible to merge with God without mastering the qualities inherent to this guna.</span><br />
</div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-61329162316579108872011-09-14T11:44:00.000+08:002011-09-14T11:44:34.777+08:00Raja Guna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lKcebDpouL60EXFGyXqavXtKqm5ZIPo_TXvXYSBhpi7gruf6r7cP2kIts_ayTq7ptVYyAy54dl7ztZUtQu5iKaBxfWGLpdN2oDn38nbGorkvU7hAt1gy7cCCpk8MdZERM17_IbJRNcck/s1600/passion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lKcebDpouL60EXFGyXqavXtKqm5ZIPo_TXvXYSBhpi7gruf6r7cP2kIts_ayTq7ptVYyAy54dl7ztZUtQu5iKaBxfWGLpdN2oDn38nbGorkvU7hAt1gy7cCCpk8MdZERM17_IbJRNcck/s320/passion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rajas, is responsible for motion, energy and preservation and thereby upholds and maintains the activity of the other two gunas, known as sattva and tamas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rajas is the force which promotes or upholds the activity of the other aspects of Nature (prakriti) such as one or more of the following: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">1) action, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">2) Change, mutation; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">3) passion, excitement; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">4) birth, creation, generation. I</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">f a person or thing tends to be extremely active, excitable, or passionate, that person or thing could be said to have a preponderance of rajas. It is contrasted with the quality of tamas which is the quality of inactivity, darkness, and laziness, and with sattva, which is the quality of purity, clarity, calmness and creativity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rajas is viewed as being more positive than tamas, and less positive than sattva, except, perhaps, for one who has "transcended the gunas" and achieved equanimity in all fields of relative life. The rajas stage of life gives a slight clue to the realization of the Absolute Truth in the forms of fine sentiments in philosophy, art and culture with moral and ethical principles, but the mode of sattva is a still higher stage of material quality, which actually helps one in realizing the Absolute Truth.</span></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-71233685869279969362011-09-14T11:38:00.000+08:002011-09-14T11:38:52.360+08:00Tama Guna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The classification between sattva, rajas and tamas is seen in various facets (including dietary habits) of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, where tamas is the lowest of the three. Tamas is a force which promotes darkness, death, destruction and ignorance, sloth, and resistance. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The result of a <i>tamas</i>-dominated life is demerit by karma: demotion to a lower life-form. A <i>tamasic</i> life would be marked by laziness, irresponsibility, cheating, maliciousness, insensitivity, criticizing and finding fault, frustration, aimless living, lack of logical thinking or planning, and making excuses. <i>Tamasic</i> activities include overeating, oversleeping and/or the consumption of drugs and alcohol.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREetqUfgc63fsdQR2u8rb3mVVHnKDJz996-IoMxDN_fF5CHc_zz0XHnRlOhVlEr3umba5cuhwN69lX1b8QueVxcFdQ4QF9UCb0qiS9ZV5O2zlpbd_5J7TdO6hNifiYcTA3TWnUC_uuq8C/s1600/ignorance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREetqUfgc63fsdQR2u8rb3mVVHnKDJz996-IoMxDN_fF5CHc_zz0XHnRlOhVlEr3umba5cuhwN69lX1b8QueVxcFdQ4QF9UCb0qiS9ZV5O2zlpbd_5J7TdO6hNifiYcTA3TWnUC_uuq8C/s200/ignorance.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is the most negative guna because of its rejection of Karmic law and the central principle of dharmaic religions; that one's Karma must be worked out and not ignored.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The gunas are defined and detailed in Samkhya, one of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy. Each of the three gunas has its own distinctive characteristics and it is believed that everything is made up of these three. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tamas is lowest, heaviest, slowest, and most dull (for example, a stone or a lump of earth). It is devoid of the energy of the rajas and the brightness of sattva.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Tamas cannot be counteracted by tamas. It might be easier to counteract it by means of rajas (action), and it might be more difficult to jump directly from tamas to sattva.</span></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-91810626866441736402011-09-05T11:21:00.001+08:002011-09-05T11:21:30.883+08:00Purusharthas - objectives of man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="p1" closure_uid_563za7="144"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Purusha means human being and artha means object or objective. Purusharthas means objectives of man. According to Hindu way of life, a man should strive to achieve four chief objectives (Purusharthas) in his life. They are:</span></div><div class="p1"><span closure_uid_167rqu="169" style="background-color: black; color: white;">1. <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/dharma.html">dharma</a> (righteousness),<br />
2. <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/artha.html">artha</a> (material wealth),<br />
3. <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/kama.html">kama</a> (desire) and<br />
4. <a href="http://solelyhinduism.blogspot.com/2011/09/moksha.html">moksha</a> (salvation).</span></div><div class="p1" closure_uid_563za7="161"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_563za7="161"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuR1GDZgraeU_7fE8H45JjU_J5y4rdwZ9ntDwr2TsyPzy8xDCYyr9OO1Ud_HG-ikKofjmdxnTRvs9Tl2yybymyQgjFsjV4jI0VAbMAmF9sE4ORwODMBaRrWAabArxHquDqooT3UTTM5i9/s1600/purusharthas_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuR1GDZgraeU_7fE8H45JjU_J5y4rdwZ9ntDwr2TsyPzy8xDCYyr9OO1Ud_HG-ikKofjmdxnTRvs9Tl2yybymyQgjFsjV4jI0VAbMAmF9sE4ORwODMBaRrWAabArxHquDqooT3UTTM5i9/s320/purusharthas_1.png" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Every individual in a society is expected to achieve these four objectives and seek fulfillment in his life before departing from here. The concept of Purusharthas clearly establishes the fact that Hinduism does not advocate a life of self negation and hardship, but a life of balance, achievement and fulfillment.</span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-45388866474396975202011-09-05T11:21:00.000+08:002011-09-05T11:21:00.730+08:00Dharma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_knyp1t="342" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiF7t_R78OrhG6Gs7YNLFU1MYL7odqN5HyCHa4QSqB0_xpIRDD-FkyD3Dd8X1wmR_tARZnp_qu3KAdaaRLcXOjlM6rbPZq0Tfe5I4aXq2ldYH42BYOjHjL1vNBo4eRwJ-Huly8UqkClAOl/s1600/law_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiF7t_R78OrhG6Gs7YNLFU1MYL7odqN5HyCHa4QSqB0_xpIRDD-FkyD3Dd8X1wmR_tARZnp_qu3KAdaaRLcXOjlM6rbPZq0Tfe5I4aXq2ldYH42BYOjHjL1vNBo4eRwJ-Huly8UqkClAOl/s200/law_2.jpg" width="200px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Dharma is a very complicated word, for which there is no equivalent word in any other language, including English. Dharma actually means that which upholds this entire creation. It is a Divine law that is inherent and invisible, but responsible for all existence. Dharma exists in all planes, in all aspects and at all levels of creation. In the context of human life, dharma consists of all that an individual undertakes in harmony with Divine expectations and his own inner spiritual aspirations, actions that would ensure order and harmony with in himself and in the environment in which he lives. Since this world is deluded, a human being may not know what is right and what is wrong or what is dharma and what is adharma. Hence he should rely upon the scriptures and adhere to the injunctions contained there in. In short, dharma for a human being means developing divine virtues and performing actions that are in harmony with the divine laws.</span> </div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="160" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="160"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="160"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Dharma is considered to be the first cardinal aim because it is at the root of everything and upholds everything. For example see what happens when a person amasses wealth without observing dharma or indulges in sexual passion against the social norms or established moral values. Any action performed without observing dharma is bound to bring misery and suffering and delay ones salvation. Hinduism therefore considers it rightly as the first cardinal aim of life.</span></div></div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="159" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="159"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_kk0zk4="159"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFcmmnRTPp0gF2BnZyganHeYpmkou3t6ZXtq2ElMZgxX3ZaiBJHWqfIxQxjK9pQ6F5TWejGpoFshk8Xi4AWwtXJ60ZBbieR21yNqD1NbcVe67RaqnkENvNhJvf5G1LYLvWjqg2VnSkntD/s1600/wheel_of_the_dharma-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFcmmnRTPp0gF2BnZyganHeYpmkou3t6ZXtq2ElMZgxX3ZaiBJHWqfIxQxjK9pQ6F5TWejGpoFshk8Xi4AWwtXJ60ZBbieR21yNqD1NbcVe67RaqnkENvNhJvf5G1LYLvWjqg2VnSkntD/s200/wheel_of_the_dharma-sm.jpg" width="200px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In ancient India dharmashastras (law books) provided guidance to people in their day to day lives and helped them to adhere to dharma. These law books were written for a particular time frame and are no more relevant to the modern world. The best way to know what is dharma and what is adharma, is to follow the religious scriptures such as the Bhagavad gita and the Upanishads or any other scripture that contains the words of God.</span></div></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-23178511861053366002011-09-05T11:19:00.000+08:002011-09-05T11:19:25.296+08:00Artha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="p1"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9I3RKL3ARBql_JN83Zc55FgTv2v6r35a4gdP0CiXmTC9ZboMzwAuMtx3DcTCauYxKSBAc1gnVv192KS5LdzqxAXwqWjJELy_gsdpVpvllVdzXrN7kLy7O5vVG2bJ8VW7LZAKYS2YKUKj/s1600/12-commandments-of-wealth-af.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9I3RKL3ARBql_JN83Zc55FgTv2v6r35a4gdP0CiXmTC9ZboMzwAuMtx3DcTCauYxKSBAc1gnVv192KS5LdzqxAXwqWjJELy_gsdpVpvllVdzXrN7kLy7O5vVG2bJ8VW7LZAKYS2YKUKj/s320/12-commandments-of-wealth-af.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Artha means wealth. Hinduism recognizes the importance of material wealth for the overall happiness and well being of an individual. A house holder requires wealth, because he has to perform many duties to uphold dharma and ensure the welfare and progress of his family and society. A person may have the intention to uphold the dharma, but if he has no money he would not be able to perform his duties and fulfill his dharma. Hinduism therefore rightly places material wealth as the second most important objective in human life. Lord Vishnu is the best example for any householder who wants to lead a life of luxury and still be on the side of God doing his duties. As the preserver of the universe, Lord Vishnu lives in Vaikunth amid pomp and glory, with the goddess of wealth herself by his side and yet helps the poor and the needy, protects the weak, upholds the dharma and sometimes leaving everything aside rushes to the earth as an incarnation to uphold dharma.</span></div></div><div class="p1" closure_uid_3qq1uf="159"><br />
</div><div class="p1" closure_uid_3qq1uf="159"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hinduism advocates austerity, simplicity and detachment, but does not glorify poverty. Hinduism also emphasizes the need to observe dharma while amassing the wealth. Poverty has become a grotesque reality in present day Hindu society. Hindus have become so poverty conscious that if a saint or a sage leads a comfortable life, they scoff at him, saying that he is not a true yogi. They have to remind themselves of the simple fact that none of the Hindu gods and goddesses are really poor.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hinduism believes that both spiritualism and materialism are important for the salvation of human beings. It is unfortunate that Hinduism came to be associated more with spiritualism, probably because of the influence of Buddhism, where as in truth Hinduism does not exclude either of them. As Swami Vivekananda rightly said religion is not for the empty stomachs. Religion is not for those whose main concern from morning till evening is how to make both ends meet. Poverty crushes the spirit of man and renders him an easy prey to wicked forces.</span></div></div><div class="p1" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpK0UwX3gvYkSP-gvVHhILpfYbUp2aGEkeNuywAClhDYMnAel8d68HOYvOXIwaE39obS3R-JHmNFIGBVVYonn18Ww4jnn791jr6XmqUcmRuK-zTH0E02r0v6qCEE1G5JktHC_ga_Rclcj/s1600/Creating%252520and%252520managing%252520wealth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpK0UwX3gvYkSP-gvVHhILpfYbUp2aGEkeNuywAClhDYMnAel8d68HOYvOXIwaE39obS3R-JHmNFIGBVVYonn18Ww4jnn791jr6XmqUcmRuK-zTH0E02r0v6qCEE1G5JktHC_ga_Rclcj/s200/Creating%252520and%252520managing%252520wealth.jpg" width="200px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In ancient India Artha shastras (scriptures on wealth) provided necessary guidance to people on the finer aspects of managing their wealth. Kautilya's Artha Shastra, which is probably a compilation of many independent works, gives us a glimpse of how money matters were handled in ancient India.</span></div></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-68184659780740355682011-09-05T11:16:00.000+08:002011-09-05T11:16:47.169+08:00Kama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Kama in a wider sense means desire and in a narrow sense, sexual desire. Hinduism prescribes fulfillment of sexual passions for the householders and abstinence from it for the students and ascetics who are engaged in the study of the scriptures and in the pursuit of Brahman.</span> <br />
<div class="p1"><br />
<br />
<span closure_uid_lbj15l="150" style="background-color: black; color: white;">The Bhagavad gita informs us that desire is an aspect of delusion and one has to be wary of its various </span><br />
<span closure_uid_lbj15l="150" style="background-color: black; color: white;">movements and manifestations. The best way to deal with desires is to develop detachment and perform desireless actions without seeking the fruit of ones actions and making an offering of all the actions to God. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span closure_uid_lbj15l="150" style="background-color: black; color: white;">This way our actions would not bind us to the cycle of births and deaths.</span></div><div class="p1"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hinduism permits sexual freedom so long as it is not in conflict with the first aim, i.e. dharma. Hindu scriptures emphasize that the purpose of sex is procreation and perpetuation of family and society, while the purpose of dharma is to ensure order in the institution of family and society. A householder has the permission to indulge in sex, but also has the responsibility to pursue it in accordance with the laws of dharma. Marriage is a recognized social institution and marriage with wife for the purpose of producing children is legitimate and in line with the aims of dharma.</span></div><div class="p1" closure_uid_vamx9e="146"><br />
<br />
<span closure_uid_lbj15l="145" style="background-color: black; color: white;">One of the important sects of Hinduism is Tantricism. It recognizes the importance of sexual freedom in the liberation of soul. The Tantrics accept sex as an important means to experience the blissful nature of God and the best way to experience God in physical form. They also refer to the concept of Purusharthas to justify their doctrines. They believe that sexual energy is divine energy and it can be transformed into spiritual energy through controlled expression of sex.</span></div><div class="p1" closure_uid_vamx9e="145"><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Just as the dharmashastras were written for the sake of dharma, and artha shastras for artha, kama shastras were composed in ancient India for providing guidance in matters of sex. We have lost many of them because of the extreme secrecy and social disapproval associated with the subject.</span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-35822461223912745682011-09-05T11:15:00.000+08:002011-09-05T11:15:53.926+08:00Moksha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="p1" closure_uid_o2iuij="171"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp7iRZWYw4tRMR2S962jLfSe_Fji3vNVXKOXGCifZQQEXyjxJt_UCuotd-J3bW4DkqCiEhGsyHOn4YPCPr9uf6RCgJacF3xOLFqDMAEBowEvSwPv-MrkYpjbyC38zlYRN6jBoHJCf6QkM/s1600/moksha%252520in%252520the%252520Hindu%252520Tradition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp7iRZWYw4tRMR2S962jLfSe_Fji3vNVXKOXGCifZQQEXyjxJt_UCuotd-J3bW4DkqCiEhGsyHOn4YPCPr9uf6RCgJacF3xOLFqDMAEBowEvSwPv-MrkYpjbyC38zlYRN6jBoHJCf6QkM/s320/moksha%252520in%252520the%252520Hindu%252520Tradition.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If dharma guides the life of a human being from below acting as the earth, showing him the way from above like a star studded mysterious sky is moksha. Dharma constitutes the legs of a Purusha that walk upon the earth; both artha and kama constitute his two limbs active in the middle region; while moksha constitutes the head that rests in the heaven.</span></div></div><div class="p1"><br />
<span closure_uid_8w369q="173" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Human life is very precious because of all the beings in all the worlds, only human beings have the best opportunity to realize the Higher self. It is also precious because it is attained after many hundreds and thousands of lives. Rightly, salvation should be its ultimate aim.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span closure_uid_8w369q="174" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Moksha actually means absence of moha or delusion. Delusion is caused by the inter play of the triple gunas. When a person overcomes these gunas, he attains liberation. The gunas can be overcome by detachment, self control, surrender to god and offering ones actions to God.</span></div></div><div class="p1" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">If dharma is the center of the wheel of human life, artha and kama are the two spokes and moksha is its circumference. If dharma is at the center of human life, beyond moksha there is no human life, but only a life divine.</span></div></div><div class="p1"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The four Purusharthas are also like the four wheels of a chariot called human life. They collectively uphold it and lead it. Each influences the movement of the other three, and in the absence of any one of them, the chariot comes to a halt.</span></div><div closure_uid_o2iuij="155"></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-66263548057976124942011-09-04T12:27:00.000+08:002011-09-04T12:27:55.388+08:00purpose of life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc3m5xdKUWHwDkHV_vrOfoeaaibwD4rkEltiCsZdZNjMCvX39UiFRKMebvR1CbUU7SsIxT2sfGGe_szPkjZlkMd7rf6lO_vXSGWhxSgbh8dzG09OTboy-8fCdAVHqsqoQgMsh0elVnxS7/s1600/alnmiah8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimc3m5xdKUWHwDkHV_vrOfoeaaibwD4rkEltiCsZdZNjMCvX39UiFRKMebvR1CbUU7SsIxT2sfGGe_szPkjZlkMd7rf6lO_vXSGWhxSgbh8dzG09OTboy-8fCdAVHqsqoQgMsh0elVnxS7/s320/alnmiah8.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The <strong closure_uid_6a9e9g="181">purpose of life</strong> in Hinduism is thus to minimize bad karma in order to enjoy better fortune in this life and achieve a better rebirth in the next. The ultimate spiritual goal is to achieve release (<em>moksha</em>) from the cycle of samsara altogether. It may take hundreds or thousands of rebirths to get rid of all of one's accumulated karma and achieve moksha. The person who has become liberated (attained moksha) creates no more new karma during the present lifetime and is not reborn after death.</span> </div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-79167932838329362662011-09-04T12:13:00.000+08:002011-09-04T12:13:06.182+08:00The Process<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD12eEXhUPfIjvsw_BCS2VV8RDaKcy7FlbMKDkdhRwMQ-FLXcBX-pmeaz37wkOS55UmN_hoqvNX4nim2pLKnLKDMoM6N1Y8wIogwzspjNHkZWeCmL8DWN-5WNFzr1pVcOAStz6JXG6XVw/s1600/hinduism%252520karma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvD12eEXhUPfIjvsw_BCS2VV8RDaKcy7FlbMKDkdhRwMQ-FLXcBX-pmeaz37wkOS55UmN_hoqvNX4nim2pLKnLKDMoM6N1Y8wIogwzspjNHkZWeCmL8DWN-5WNFzr1pVcOAStz6JXG6XVw/s1600/hinduism%252520karma.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The <strong>process</strong> by which karma is understood to work through various rebirths is as follows:</span><br />
<ol><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Good or bad actions create impressions (<em>samskaras</em>) or tendencies (<em>vasanas</em>) in the mind, which in time will come to fruition in further action (more karma). </span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The seeds of karma are carried in the subtle body (<em>linga</em>), in which the soul transmigrates. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The physical body (<em closure_uid_s7nxnh="175">sthula sarira</em>) is the field in which the fruit of karma is experienced and more karma is created. </span></li>
</ol></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-41406017945517362652011-09-04T12:02:00.001+08:002011-09-04T12:14:26.927+08:00Types of Karma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDb6yK5vn-bnfOZ8y7SJQHbtf3oiAo9-0mLwlF1otjRmHmIPZT2QVeFA4IvkKYa8-hegGBQ3V2n7-zQ8s_gZ2skzqU5ver7OncEMc8_xH7s7YjPeHl8uARbrk-CPGcYQFXmvc_UD8EK96/s1600/karma%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDb6yK5vn-bnfOZ8y7SJQHbtf3oiAo9-0mLwlF1otjRmHmIPZT2QVeFA4IvkKYa8-hegGBQ3V2n7-zQ8s_gZ2skzqU5ver7OncEMc8_xH7s7YjPeHl8uARbrk-CPGcYQFXmvc_UD8EK96/s200/karma%25285%2529.jpg" width="200px" xaa="true" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In Vedanta and Yoga teachings, there are <strong>three types of karma</strong>:</span></div><ol><li closure_uid_dnbth6="235" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><em>Prarabdha karma</em> - karma experienced during the present lifetime </span></span></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><em>Sancita karma</em> - the store of karma that has not yet reached fruition </span></span></li>
<li closure_uid_dnbth6="173" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><em>Agamin or sanciyama karma</em> - karma sown in the present life that will come to fruition in a future life </span></span></li>
</ol></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-77849612780168585752011-09-04T11:53:00.001+08:002011-09-04T12:04:51.160+08:00The Creator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_ntgdxq="233" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div closure_uid_3x8nks="172"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJPGtyy2Pzaf4p-_Qz13Ir8_uAGkn0SRzgztxqG6_Muxqt1PruPMDO5eU8fxDzgDwVL8s32PucvRZfdqCdvSfKJ_3_u1vk03KBCiPaC2REo7NL1g_fNNNgDAYlSyfiWoDoKJZlyyRyPWH/s1600/Brahma01-310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJPGtyy2Pzaf4p-_Qz13Ir8_uAGkn0SRzgztxqG6_Muxqt1PruPMDO5eU8fxDzgDwVL8s32PucvRZfdqCdvSfKJ_3_u1vk03KBCiPaC2REo7NL1g_fNNNgDAYlSyfiWoDoKJZlyyRyPWH/s320/Brahma01-310.jpg" width="248px" xaa="true" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The Ultimate Reality that is behind the universe and all the gods is called by different names, but most commonly <strong>Brahman</strong> (not to be confused with the creator god Brahma or the priestly class of Brahmans). </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In the <em>Rig Veda</em>, Ultimate Reality is referred to as "the One." In the <em>Purushasukta</em>, it is "Purusha," and in the <em>Upanishads</em> it is called "Brahman," "the One," and several other names. Most modern Hindus refer to the Ultimate Reality as Brahman. </span></div><div closure_uid_3x8nks="190" closure_uid_ntgdxq="170" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"></span></span></div><div closure_uid_ntgdxq="170"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The <em>Upanishads</em> describe Brahman as "the eternal, conscious, irreducible, infinite, omnipresent, spiritual source of the universe of finiteness and change." Brahman is the source of all things and is in all things; it is the Self (<em>atman</em>) of all living beings. </span></div><div closure_uid_ntgdxq="187"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"></span></span></div><div closure_uid_ntgdxq="187"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Brahman is impersonal Being in itself, but it can be known through the many gods and goddesses that are manifestations of Brahman. </span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-15542932435535715102011-09-03T11:55:00.000+08:002011-09-03T11:55:18.368+08:00My Goat is missing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_xhpjfv="167" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlN1RF-HNRibT0hsWC_N9YDCfiipeqgk-uVtNfHUqebGYI62yX7Oe7O9_pNfur84Uis6aGZMyxq_ATRYCK71PUYODQGTMhPw8AonP_G2k_wpvwugvgubvsYSDXAwWkLq55x-7y7HqbV4v/s1600/kartikeya4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlN1RF-HNRibT0hsWC_N9YDCfiipeqgk-uVtNfHUqebGYI62yX7Oe7O9_pNfur84Uis6aGZMyxq_ATRYCK71PUYODQGTMhPw8AonP_G2k_wpvwugvgubvsYSDXAwWkLq55x-7y7HqbV4v/s320/kartikeya4.jpg" width="236px" xaa="true" /></a><span closure_uid_xhpjfv="166" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Once a person by name Narada came to Kartikeya (Murugan) and said, "0 Lord, I was performing the sacred 'Ajamedha' sacrifice. But the 'ajar' (goat) which is to be killed and offered as sacrifice has disappeared. I have searched in vain. Some angels or Rakshasas must have taken it away. The sacrificial rites have come to a halt. You are the protector of all sacrifices and the Lord of the Universe. You are the son of Shiva, the highest deity in any sacrifice. You protect those who are supplicants and fulfil the desires of all virtuous persons. Please get back for me that goat so that my ritual may be completed."<br />
<br />
Kartikeya sent Veerabahu, one of heroes, to search for Narada's goat.<br />
<br />
There was no sign of that goat anywhere in the world. Then Veerabahu went to <br />
Vaikunta, the world of Mahavishnu, and found it there. He learnt that as ordered by Vishnu, his men had taken the goat there to protect its life. Veerabahu brought the goat to Kartikeya. But Kartikeya kept quiet, without immediately handing over the goat to Narada.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_xhpjfv="168" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial;">Thereupon Narada requested again and said, "Lord, please get me my goat. I will make a sacrificial offering of it and complete my yajna."<br />
<br />
"Look, the killing of any animal," Kartikeya told him, "is not correct, for performing <br />
any Yajna (sacrifice). The Vedas, which are our ancient religious texts, do not prescribe it. Any yajna has to beperformed in a non-violent manner. The word 'Aja', which stands for a goat, also means that which is not born, meaning rice. So 'Ajamedha' is the Yajna wherein boiled rice is offered to the fire-god, Agni. So complete your Yajna eschewing violence. Then you will get the full credit and profit from the sacrifice."<br />
<br />
Narada accepted this learned exposition of the Yajna. He took the goat with Kartikeya's permission, but did not kill it, and brought it up. He performed his Yajna in a non-violent manner and set an ideal for the future generations.</span></div><div closure_uid_xhpjfv="167"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"></span></span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-76835313848082693032011-09-03T11:43:00.000+08:002011-09-03T11:43:18.235+08:00Who is Elder?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVw9iG57uIhwW78jxhRikj0hBx5LzowrmSkIpWQwKOaWfOVSLE49nkQiLMBy5t3CBDkbsYSMBxMUC4exjqK4wNHypZRpvcweRD3Kr7ZAmV_QS_VM7NC4gYQHap9mU-YNJlR3F6_UwFybc/s1600/vinayaka+wins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVw9iG57uIhwW78jxhRikj0hBx5LzowrmSkIpWQwKOaWfOVSLE49nkQiLMBy5t3CBDkbsYSMBxMUC4exjqK4wNHypZRpvcweRD3Kr7ZAmV_QS_VM7NC4gYQHap9mU-YNJlR3F6_UwFybc/s1600/vinayaka+wins.jpg" xaa="true" /></a></div><div closure_uid_3mybfq="147"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya(Murugan) once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; you did not go around the world?" Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!" Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory</span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-40802584902568478422011-09-03T11:33:00.001+08:002011-09-03T11:38:16.590+08:00Syamantaka gem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_24dtzl="144"><div closure_uid_xps1fd="147"><span closure_uid_xps1fd="148" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Briefly, Satrajit, who secured a jewel syamantaka from Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord of Dwaraka asked for it saying it would be safe with him Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting wearing the jewel but was killed by a ion. Jambavan of the Ramayana fame killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with. When Prasena did not return, Satrajit falsely accused Krishna of killing Prasena for the sake of the jewel. </span></div><div closure_uid_xps1fd="147"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_xps1fd="147" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGu-vVUMw45RYPqqSjn2uSGAvlXXj4K_9r8EhQWyRgTOqp9rbLOy9hpSe7SCKEhKpFA0x5TKIHI-kptnXqUjC_Ddb93bI5CKbwwFGg5iECWzIgZICER_UzfI9IG6qRIra8pywgjRjgxjU/s1600/krishna_and_Jambavan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGu-vVUMw45RYPqqSjn2uSGAvlXXj4K_9r8EhQWyRgTOqp9rbLOy9hpSe7SCKEhKpFA0x5TKIHI-kptnXqUjC_Ddb93bI5CKbwwFGg5iECWzIgZICER_UzfI9IG6qRIra8pywgjRjgxjU/s200/krishna_and_Jambavan.jpg" width="146px" xaa="true" /></a><span closure_uid_xps1fd="148" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Krishna, in order to remove the stain on his reputation, set out in search of the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave, with his child. Jambavan attacked Krishna thinking him to be an intruder who had come to take away the jewel. They fought each other for 28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body terribly weakened from the hammering of Krishna's fists, finally recognized Him as Lord Rama.</span></div></div><div closure_uid_24dtzl="144" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_24dtzl="144"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD5CLAEuishhUCmhI9MgVzaPgSuB5nruLthdlwsG5Bi7SzzltozpczGt04QiFziZOKGgxELIW6M6g0s_N27ZB6KJkD_o5FYLtQWPBMJu9-bpku4O6bKuuddcnix-JkeB7f5WJBQ0xUNE7/s1600/syamantakajambavati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD5CLAEuishhUCmhI9MgVzaPgSuB5nruLthdlwsG5Bi7SzzltozpczGt04QiFziZOKGgxELIW6M6g0s_N27ZB6KJkD_o5FYLtQWPBMJu9-bpku4O6bKuuddcnix-JkeB7f5WJBQ0xUNE7/s200/syamantakajambavati.jpg" width="161px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span closure_uid_xps1fd="145" style="background-color: black; color: white;">As a repentance for his having fought Krishna, daughter Jambavati in marriage. Krishna returned to Dvaraka with Jambavati and the jewel, and returned it to Satrajit, who in turn repented for his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna the jewel and his daughter Satyabhama in marriage. Krishna accepted Satyabhama as his wife but did not accept the jewel.</span></div></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-61624453769784911012011-09-03T11:30:00.000+08:002011-09-03T11:30:45.915+08:00Curse of the moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_nj8zoo="140" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEdOFXO4VK1vHSNi622WEnB7DmDh17Zi_W4UBIFL8AZ3R9f6S4aouveSeOxHbmaForH0SpGuv0x0YMu4aF7aoELNXfpi0-whLun5IiUX3MENMOd1O1DDdFZ_l681BN_an6CvolwVVa3uE/s1600/61581_141050709273598_109224652456204_216457_217091_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEdOFXO4VK1vHSNi622WEnB7DmDh17Zi_W4UBIFL8AZ3R9f6S4aouveSeOxHbmaForH0SpGuv0x0YMu4aF7aoELNXfpi0-whLun5IiUX3MENMOd1O1DDdFZ_l681BN_an6CvolwVVa3uE/s200/61581_141050709273598_109224652456204_216457_217091_a.jpg" width="133px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">One day while travelling round the universe on his rat, Ganesha came to Chandraloka on his rat, Ganesha came to Chandraloka(the realm of the Moon). The Moon saw him. The Moon, very handsome, was proud of his appearance. On seeing the elephantfaced, big-bellied Ganapati riding on a rat, he- laughed at Ganesha with contempt. This was an insult and Ganesha was very angry about the Moon. </span></div><div closure_uid_nj8zoo="140" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_nj8zoo="140" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">His eyes grew red He pronounced a curse "Oh Moon, your handsome appearance has made you too handsome appearance has made you too vain. Fool, I am worshipped in all the worlds, but you laugh at me. Receive now the fruits of your foolish pride. Let your beauty, which is the cause for your arrogance and ignorance vanishing! From now on, whoever sees you on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada month, the day of my birth, will suffer because of unjust accusations." The curse shattered the Moon's pride. </span></div><div closure_uid_nj8zoo="140" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_nj8zoo="140"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">He realized his mistake, and felt sorry. Standing devotedly with folded hands Standing devotedly with folded hands before Ganesha he prayed to him. "Sir, forgive me and my ignorance. Take back the curse and protect me." forgive me and my ignorance. Take back the curse and protect me." Then the kind Ganesha grew calm. He consoled the unhappy Moon. He said,"Moon, you have realized your fault. What is important is the destruction of your pride. Anyhow, my curse cannot be in vain But those who are subjected to false accusations will be saved and regain their good name if they see you on the second good name if they see you on the second day of the bright fortnight also or listen to the story of the Syamantaka gem." The Moon was satisfied. day of the bright fortnight also or listen to day of the bright fortnight also or listen to the story of the Syamantaka gem." The Moon was satisfied.</span></div></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-66575634079193016162011-09-02T12:05:00.000+08:002011-09-02T12:05:47.803+08:00Vaishnava Rituals and Practices<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span closure_uid_p5tsmo="171" style="background-color: black; color: white;">Vaishnavites can often be identified by certain sectarian marks on their foreheads and bodies. Vaishnava marks vary, but usually include a U, Y, or T shape drawn in white along with a red dot representing Lakshmi Like all religions influenced by the Indian religious worldview Vaishnavites recognize the importance of meditation in religious practice.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGo7wqhZ7paA-OsuDWYR75qIAPy4DwpzXv0NnNeWXQaeISH_vR9qql2OMOmkoCrToJMzmOql0ATXP9hnJsCJQHUaXSUsSCfajnivw-yiyP_GZlRYs0vxPu09fNd5PHOuQknls5x-QNlfQ/s1600/220px-Iyengar_Brahmin_Caste_Marks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGo7wqhZ7paA-OsuDWYR75qIAPy4DwpzXv0NnNeWXQaeISH_vR9qql2OMOmkoCrToJMzmOql0ATXP9hnJsCJQHUaXSUsSCfajnivw-yiyP_GZlRYs0vxPu09fNd5PHOuQknls5x-QNlfQ/s320/220px-Iyengar_Brahmin_Caste_Marks.jpg" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><span closure_uid_p5tsmo="171" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> However, Vaishnavas generally emphasize religious devotion religious feeling and morality over doctrine and contemplation; to put it another way, they focus on the heart, not the head. Vaishnavas love to recount the love story between Rama or Sita or daydream about Krishna's attractive features and amorous antics Religious ecstasy and feelings of companionship with Vishnu are the main goals of Vaishnava religious ritual</span></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339525343428429890.post-75403908754634272852011-09-02T12:01:00.000+08:002011-09-02T12:01:43.889+08:00Vaishnava Religious Beliefs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a> <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Vaishnavites, like Saivites, believe that there is only one Supreme God, who simultaneously permeates all creation and exists beyond it, being both immanent and transcendent. Like other Hindu denominations, Vaishnavism acknowledges the existence of many lower Gods under the Supreme One. These gods, like all of creation, are encompassed by Vishnu, either as manifestations of the Supreme Being or as powerful entities who are permeated by Him. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYyVSBmJDaFraA1t3y4WFboW7PjdWujoqlV-beaZxpZeCK_uIpPODFnNe51zH37swQ3LGx7cRsupwXGsSVpj24YMkCEe29KShtivYV7uYwEd1iQ0JL5Gpl_pZ4vpcK72icaU-N0ho42jz/s1600/vishnu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYyVSBmJDaFraA1t3y4WFboW7PjdWujoqlV-beaZxpZeCK_uIpPODFnNe51zH37swQ3LGx7cRsupwXGsSVpj24YMkCEe29KShtivYV7uYwEd1iQ0JL5Gpl_pZ4vpcK72icaU-N0ho42jz/s320/vishnu.jpg" width="278px" xaa="true" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The distinctive religious belief of Vaishnavism is its emphasis on God as a personal being; i.e., someone you can know and have a relationship with. Vaishnavas often identify six qualities of God: all knowledge, all power, supreme majesty, supreme strength, unlimited energy and total self-sufficiency. One popular name for God among Vaishnavites is an ancient name from the Vedas: <em>Purushottama</em>, "the Supreme Person." </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">For most Vaishnavas, the divine Self within is Vishnu himself, but not all of Vishnu. In other words, Vishnu is more than the Self and more than the universe. Likewise, when a Vaishnavite merges into God upon liberation, his or her individual nature is not lost. Vaishnavites believe people are meant to be God's companions for all eternity.</span></div><!-- bottomnav --><div closure_uid_2lpss3="146" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_2lpss3="146"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Many Vaishnavas emphasize Vishnu's consort Lakshmi as much, if not more, than Vishnu. She is regarded not as another God, but as another aspect of the Supreme God. Many Vaishnavas call Lakshmi "Sri" (pronounced "shree"), which means "auspicious one."</span></div><span id="goog_1743880259"></span><span id="goog_1743880260"></span></div>Murugappanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18340336430620199810noreply@blogger.com0