--> Skip to main content

Posts

Quotes from Vedas on Knowledge

The Vedas, ancient texts of Hinduism, contain numerous passages on knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment. Here are a few quotes from the Vedas that emphasize the importance of knowledge: A person who does not have knowledge cannot be considered truly alive. - Rig Veda 1.25.7 Knowledge is that which liberates. - Atharva Veda 11.5.1 Knowledge is the greatest treasure; it cannot be stolen, nor can it be consumed by fire. - Atharva Veda 10.1.20 Knowledge is the light which illuminates the darkness of ignorance. - Yajur Veda 40.17 The one who has attained true knowledge sees the same divinity in all beings. - Rig Veda 10.191.4 Lead me from unreal to real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Those who know, they see; they who see, they know. - Rigveda Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul. - Atharvaveda Let noble thoughts come to us from every side. - Rigveda He who knows the Vedas but does not know the Atman, knows noth


Recent posts

May 4 2024 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Saturday, May 4 2024 – It is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 5:38 PM on May 4. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dwadashi tithi or the twelfth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 3:10 PM on May 5. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on May 4, 2024 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi nakshatra till 7:33 PM on May 4. Then onward it is Uttara Bhadrapada or Uthrattathi nakshatra till 5:53 PM on May 5. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Ra

What We Know Is A Drop In The Ocean – Hinduism Teaching

The concept "What we know is a drop in the ocean" resonates deeply with Hindu teachings, encapsulating the idea of the vastness of knowledge and the limitations of human understanding. In Hinduism, this sentiment aligns with the notion of Maya, the illusion that the material world is the ultimate reality, obscuring the infinite nature of existence. Limitations of Human Knowledge: Hinduism acknowledges the finite nature of human perception and intellect. It teaches that our understanding of the universe is limited by our senses, experiences, and cultural conditioning. What we perceive and comprehend is only a tiny fraction of the cosmic reality . The Ocean of Consciousness: Hindu philosophy describes the universe as a manifestation of Brahman, the ultimate reality or cosmic consciousness. This Brahman is likened to an ocean of infinite knowledge and existence, transcending all boundaries of time, space, and comprehension. Hindu saints have always reminded us that what is

Temporal Power – Authority In Hindu Philosophy

Adhikara is a polyvalent word generally referring to temporal power, authority or right. In grammar, adhikara is a governing rule under which a set of rules are enumerated. In philosophy , a section dealing with a particular topic is called adhikara. In the Nyaya system of philosophy (Nyayasutra of Gautam), it means commencement or beginning. It is defined as ability and power to lay down an injunction. In Vedanta, particularly in the commentaries of Upanishads, Gita and Brahmasutra, it means the same. Shankara uses the term in the sense of relevance, duty, authority, eligibility, and competence. Bhaskara and later Vedantins frequently use this word in the sense of ‘injunction laying down eligibility’. In Samkhya, it means context, relevant topic, discussion, occasion, and proximity, whereas in Yoga it means ability or power. In legal treatises, adhikara means ownership, lordship, right, title, property, duty and so on. Besides these meanings, it means administrative rules. In Smriti

Agnivesha

Agnivesha, also known as Agniveshya, holds a significant place in Hindu mythology and ancient Indian texts like the Mahabharata and Puranas. Born as the son of Devadatta, an incarnation of Agni, the fire god, Agnivesha is revered as a rishi or sage. He is also known by the names Kanina and Jatukarna. Within the broader framework of Vedic literature, Agnivesha is credited as the progenitor of the Brahmana group of Agniveshyayana, also known as Prarava Agniras. This lineage traces its ancestry back to Agnivesha, indicating his esteemed position in the ancient Indian social and intellectual hierarchy. According to the Mahabharata, Agnivesha played a pivotal role as the teacher of Drona, who himself is a prominent figure in Hindu tradition and is renowned as the martial arts guru of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Agnivesha's teachings and guidance to Drona underline his stature as a revered guru and scholar. Moreover, Agnivesha is depicted as a disciple of the venerable Sage Agastya

Acintyabhedabheda - Philosophical Doctrine Of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Acintya Bhedabheda is the philosophical doctrine of C haitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 – 1533 CE) and his followers. Achintyabhedabheda highlights the ‘incomprehensible difference-non-difference’ nature of Reality. It represents a Vaishnava tradition. It is also known as Chaitanya-Mata, and the Gaudiya Vaishnavism school but more generally the Bengal school of Vaishnavism. Among all the philosophies advocating both bheda (difference) and abhead (identity), it is Nimbarka’s philosophy of Bhedabheda that comes closest to the Bengal school of Vaishnavism. However, there are substantial differences between them. Nimbarka believes in two categories of reality – the independent reality and the dependent reality – the former is Brahman or God and the latter comprises the world and the being. The relationship between these two categories of reality has the nature of both difference and identity, i.e., bhedabheda. The logical challenge involved in explaining the possibility of both difference and

Agnijvala Hell In Hinduism

In Hinduism, the concept of hell is complex and varied , with different texts describing various hells and their punishments for different sins or transgressions. Agnijvala is indeed one of the hells described in the Garuda Purana, an ancient Hindu text that covers a wide range of topics including cosmology, rituals, and moral conduct. According to the Garuda Purana, Agnijvala is a hell reserved for those who have violated the rules of an ashrama (a hermitage or spiritual community) or disturbed the peaceful life there. In this hell, it is described that the souls of such individuals are subjected to extreme heat or are roasted as a form of punishment for their disruptive actions. The idea behind the punishment in Agnijvala hell is not merely physical torture, but also a symbolic representation of the spiritual consequences of disrupting the harmony and order of a spiritual community or environment. In Hinduism, the ashramas are considered sacred spaces where individuals pursue spi

Purpose Of Brahmacharya Ashrama In Hinduism

In the Vedic age the lifespan of an individual was divided into four ashramas, stations of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and Sannyasa. According to Hindu ancient tradition , every individual had to pass through the stage of brahmacharya before taking up any of the next stages of life. In Hinduism, the Brahmacharya Ashrama consisted in staying with the teacher, serving him or her, studying the Vedas, following a life of self-control, and also performing certain austerities. The students remained with the teacher for a fixed period of time after the completion of which they were free to choose their way of life — either returning home to live as a householder or continuing to stay with the teacher while practicing lifelong celibacy along with other spiritual disciplines, service, and study. The former type was called Upakurvana brahmacharya and the latter Naishtika brahmacharya. The final purpose of the Brahmacharya Ashrama and its activities was spiritual enlightenment a

May 3 2024 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, May 3 2024 – It is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 8:05 PM on May 3. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 5:38 PM on May 4. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on May 3, 2024 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time till 12:41 PM.  Nakshatra  – Satabhisha or Sadhayam or Chathayam nakshatra till 9:13 PM on May 3. Then onward it is Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi nakshatra till 7:33 PM on May 4. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Dhanishta or

True Spiritual Man Has No Followers – Hindu Teaching

In Hinduism, the concept of a true spiritual person not having followers is deeply rooted in the idea of self-realization and the pursuit of liberation (moksha). Let's explore this teaching further: Self-Realization (Atman): Hinduism emphasizes the understanding of one's true self, known as Atman. The ultimate goal is to realize that the individual self (Atman) is identical to the universal self (Brahman), the ultimate reality. This realization leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). Individual Journey: The path to self-realization is considered a highly personal journey. Each individual must embark on their own quest for truth, seeking to understand the nature of reality and their place within it. This journey cannot be undertaken by proxy; it requires personal effort and introspection. Guru-Disciple Relationship: While Hinduism acknowledges the importance of spiritual guidance (guru), the relationship between a guru and disciple is not one o

Acharya Hrudayam

Acharya Hrudayam is an important Tenkalai Sri Vaishnava commentary in the manipravalam style (a mixture of Sanskrit and Tamil words) on Tiruvaymoli of Nammalvar. Acharya Hridyayam’s author, Alakiya Mannavalapperumal Nayanar (13 th century CE), popularly called Nayanar, was the younger brother of Pillai Lokacharya (author of Sri Vachana Bhushana). The main purpose of Acharya Hrudayam is to be bring out the inner meaning of Thiruvaimozhi, which is considered as the Tamil Veda. Alakiya Mannavalapperumal Nayanar maintained that a real devotees of Bhagavan Vishnu is above caste considerations, and that the Tamil words of the Alvars, such as Tiruvaymoli are on the same level of authority as Vedas in Sanskrit. Archaryahridayam contains 234 churnikas (sentences ) divided into four sections; almost all the words in the work are taken from the hymns of the Alvars, and put in a rhyming language with the minimum of Sanskrit words. Nayanar claims that the Tamil sacred texts are also true an