The Vedas came to be divided into the Rigveda (hymns), Brahmanas (commentaries), Aranyakas (forest texts), and Upanishads (a treasury of mystical and devotional texts). The Satapathabrahmana was considered to be the oldest Brahmana. It was a great source of mantras, or incantations. The mythological point of view changed between…
The word brahman is more context-sensitive than most Sanskrit terms. It is neuter in gender and evolved into one of the most important concepts in Hindu theology and philosophy. For one school of Hinduism Brahman came to mean the Absolute as impersonal and formless—and should be capitalized in English….
This is the first of the four asramas, or stages of life. The other three are householder (grihastha), forest dweller (vanaprastha), and renunciate (samnyasa). A brahmacari was one who stayed in the household of the teacher (guru, or acarya) and learned scriptures, rituals, and ascetic practices. It was a period…
Once, Bhairav who was entrusted with the job of a doorkeeper became so infatuated with Parvati’s beauty that he tried to prevent her from going outside. Parvati became furious and cursed him to be born as a mortal man on the earth. Bhairav became very sad but now the damage…
Sanatkumar says: “O Narada! A fast on Ekadashi (eleventh day) in both the phases of a month pleases Sri Hari and fulfills all the desires. On the eleventh day of each phase, one should not dine. Those who dine on the eleventh day commit severe sins. Salvation from sins like…
Sanatkumar says:”Now I am narrating about an excellent fast for the benefit of the world. Listen to it carefully O Narada! This fast must be observed in the months of Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadrapad or Ashwin. On any day during the brighter phase of these months, the devotees must drink Panchgavya…
