About.com Hinduism

Kirtan: Group Chants to Heal the Heart

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:33:11 +0000

For many, meditation doesn't come easy. That's where 'kirtan' - an ancient participatory music experience — offers an avenue to escape effortlessly to a place of mental quiet and stillness, where you can feel your soul! Although the kirtan involves music, the underlying art of kirtan chanting is not actually about musical ability or training — it is about the heart. Everyone can participate, regardless of age or cultural background. The purpose of this music is to get us out of our heads and into our hearts. Typically, the songs can last for 20-30 minutes each with a few moments of silence in between each song so you can soak it all up. Kirtan artiste Ragani Buegel writes... Read more

Kirtan: Group Chants to Heal the Heart originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 07:33:11.

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Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:10:05 +0000

Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times: Secrets to Attaining Inner Peace and Harmony by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha is a unique commentary on the Gita - the most profound of Hindu scriptures. He draws parallels from the verses of the Gita and casts them in the chapters of our everyday lives. Read Review

More About the Holy Gita

Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 01:10:05.

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Polygamy, Arranged Marriage, Love Marriage & Hindu Law

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:21:39 +0000

According to the scriptures, a Hindu marriage is indissoluble in life. Marriage is sacrosanct, for the Hindus believe that marriage is not only a means of continuing the family but also a way of repaying one's debt to the ancestors. Nevertheless, polygamy was rampantly practiced in ancient Hindu society.

In India, most people tend to equate Hindu marriage with arranged marriage. Even today, love marriage is indicted by orthodox Hindus and priests. This is mainly because such a wedlock usually defies the barriers of caste, creed and age.

Polygamy is not for Hindus. It is banned by the law of the land. Interestingly, when it was found that an increasing number of Hindu men have been showing a propensity to convert to Islam whenever they wanted a second wife, the Indian Supreme Court plugged this legal loophole for all potential Hindu bigamists. In a historic ruling, on May 5, 2000, the apex court said that if it is found that a newly converted Muslim has embraced the faith only to embrace another wife or two, he should be prosecuted under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Indian Penal Code. Thus, bigamy for all Hindus, was ultimately outlawed. Read more

Polygamy, Arranged Marriage, Love Marriage & Hindu Law originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 23:21:39.

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Four Famous Female Figures of Vedic India

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:10:15 +0000

Women of the Vedic period (c 1500-1200 BCE), were epitomes of intellectual and spiritual attainments. The Vedas have volumes to say about these women, who both complemented and supplemented their male partners.

Myriad hymns of the Vedic era bear testimony to the wisdom of contemporary women and names of 27 women-seers emerge from them. But most of them are mere abstractions except for a few, such as Ghosha, Lopamudra, Sulabha Maitreyi, and Gargi, who are some of the most significant female figures of the Vedic period. Read more

Four Famous Female Figures of Vedic India originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 03:10:15.

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Why & How to Chant?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:04:07 +0000

Broadcaster, scientist and columnist Gyan Rajhans says he firmly believes that the sound of mantras can lift the believer towards the higher self. These sound elements of Sanskrit language are permanent entities and are of everlasting significance. In the recitation of Sanskrit Mantras the sound is very important, for it can bring transformation in you while leading you to power and strength...

QUICK POLL: Do You Chant?

Why & How to Chant? originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 14:04:07.

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Prasada: Divine Food Offering

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:28:29 +0000

Food plays an important role in Hindu rituals, and the food offered to the gods is called "prasada." The Sanskrit word "prasada" means "mercy," or the divine grace of God.

We can make the preparing of food, the offering of food to God, and the eating of the food offered, into a powerful devotional meditation. If, as a meditative discipline, we can offer our food to God with devotion before eating it, Stephen Knapp writes, not only are we not implicated in the karma involved in acquiring the food, but we can actually make spiritual progress by eating the offered food. Our devotion, and God's grace, subtly transforms the food offered from material nutrition to spiritual mercy... Read more

Prasada: Divine Food Offering originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 14:28:29.

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Lord Shiva: The Fascinating Deity

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:02:19 +0000

Shiva is 'shakti' or power, Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names - Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath - Lord Shiva is perhaps the most complex of Hindu deities. Hindus recognize this by putting his shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities.

He is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Sometimes he is depicted riding a bull called Nandi decked in garlands. Although a very complicated deity, Shiva is one of the most fascinating of Hindu gods... Read more

Lord Shiva: The Fascinating Deity originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 03:02:19.

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Vishnu: The Preserver of Life

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:51:25 +0000

The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth. Vishnu's earthly incarnations have 10 major avatars. The devout followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas, and his consort is Lakshmi. Vishnu is popularly worshiped as Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati in the southern India.

Vishnu: The Preserver of Life originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 22:51:25.

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Brahma: Lord of Creation

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:32:09 +0000

In Hinduism, the whole creation is seen as the dynamic game of the Trinity of Gods: Brahma - the creator, Vishnu - the sustainer, and Shiva - the destroyer. Brahma is the creator of the universe and of all beings, as depicted in the Hindu cosmology. The Vedas, the oldest and the holiest of Hindu scriptures, are attributed to Brahma, and thus Brahma is regarded as the father of dharma. He is not to be confused with Brahman which is a general term for the Supreme Being or Almighty God.

Brahma: Lord of Creation originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 01:32:09.

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Vaastu for a Happy & Healthy Home

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:06:41 +0000

Vaastu - the ancient Indian science of geopathy can help you live a happy and healthy life if your house is compliant to certain natural laws. Hindus believe that for peace, happiness, health and wealth one should abide by the guidelines of Vaastu while building a dwelling. It tells us how to avoid diseases, depression and disasters by living in structures, which allow the presence of a positive cosmic field. Read more

Vaastu for a Happy & Healthy Home originally appeared on About.com Hinduism on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 22:06:41.

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