Rita was a concept in the Rigveda that was associated with cosmic order, as well as truth and justice. Rita can be said to be a Vedic version of the later concept of dharma. Linguists point out rita’s kinship to the Avestan word asha and Varuna’s place in ancient Persian…
Rishyasringa received his strange name, “deer-horned,” because his mother was a doe. It happened this way: the sage Vibhandaka had been living a strict celibate life at his asrama (hermitage) deep in the forest. One day he saw the beautiful apsara (celestial damsel) named Urvasi. He lost his seed…
The term rishi means “a seer,” or “one who is foresighted.” In the mythology the term rishi is interchangeable with sage, or may even be used for a distinÂguished priest (brahmin). Another related term would be guru (teacher). The seven sages (sapta-rishis) were also known as the maharishis—the seven. Some…
The Rigveda precedes all other Hindu scriptures in age and sacredness. The name Rigveda is a compound of rik (verses of “praise”) and veda (book of “knowledge,” or “wisdom”). It comes to us in such a highly crafted language (Samskrita, Sanskrit) that it was believed to have been received by…
Brahmin says- O son! Tell me, what should I do now? Sumati says- Now, you should become a Vanprasthi and lead a life of a Bhikshu by having control over your senses. You will attain that rare Yoga, which helps a man to unite with the almighty after freeing…
Yamadoot says- As a result of accepting money from a degraded person, a Brahmin takes birth as an ass. A Brahmin who carries out Yagya for a degraded person takes birth as worm after undergoing severe sufferings in different types of hell. A person takes birth as an ass or…
