DOCSLIB.ORG

Jai Karunamayi Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Jai Karunamayi Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha Situated on the seventh hilltop of Tirumala, and located about 60 miles south of Amma’s Penusila Ashram, is the temple of Lord Venkateswara—the most visited place of worship in the world, and center of Hinduism. Lord Venkateswara, or Balaji as He is commonly known, is a form of Lord Vishnu who out of His Love for all incarnated in this age, the Kali Yuga, to uplift and relieve the suffering of humanity. His name translates as the Destroyer of Sins, and Lord Venkateswara (left) is praised unequivocally in the Hindu scriptures as the one who grants all kinds of wealth, and who can be sought for attaining moksha, or spiritual liberation. The murti, or statue, of the Lord found here stands majestically at 8 feet in height, adorned with gold and diamond ornaments. More exceptional yet, the deity itself is Svayambhu, or self born—no sculptor is credited with creating or installing the form of the Lord found here, rather it is a manifestation of the Divine. Devotees find peace and indescribable bliss in Lord Venkateswara’s company—it is difficult to imagine a greater blessing in one’s lifetime than to behold His glory in Amma’s Divine Presence. The Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy Temple houses the awe-inspiring Deity and is located on the Venkatadri hilltop, which is believed to be part of a celestial mountain brought to the earth from Lord Vishnu’s heavenly realm, Vaikunta. The ancient shrine has its roots in Vaishnavism, a sect of Hinduism advocating the principles of equality and love. In 2007, the temple surpassed the Vatican as the most visited place of worship, and today it hosts anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 visitors, daily—a number which soars up to 500,000 during festival times. Lord Venkateswara resides in the Garbha Griha , or inner sanctum, of the temple, where He stands beneath an intricately fashioned, gold-plated dome called the Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana (right). The gilt dome acts like an antenna, attracting & transmitting an abundance of cosmic energy to visitors, charging their bodies with spiritual energy and eradicating their karma. According to the Sthala Purana and several ancient Indian legends, Lord Venkateswara is an incarnation of Maha Vishnu, who after descending to earth meets and weds Padmavathi Devi, a divine manifestation of the Goddess Maha Lakshmi. In order to finance their glorious marriage ceremony, the Lord borrows a considerable amount of money from Kubera, the most wealthy among the Gods. Out of remembrance for this divine wedding and to repay the Lord’s loan, visitors to the temple often leave gifts or make deposits in the Temple’s Hundi, or donation pot. Throughout the ages, rulers from each of the southern subcontinent’s great dynasties paid homage at the Lord’s shrine. Their substantial offerings of gold and diamonds contributed to the temple’s current status as one of the world’s richest places of worship. The base of the temple’s gold-plated Dhvajastambha, or banner post, can be found illuminated by the glow from hundreds of ghee lamps (right). And on occasion, a bejeweled Lord Venkateswara is seen wearing His diamond-studded kiritam, or crown (left). While the affluence of this spiritual center can be glimpsed in its material objects, they remain only a symbol of the Lord’s True Wealth. No visit to this sacred place of pilgrimage is complete without receiving the blessings of Sri Padmavathi Devi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara and an incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi. As Her name suggests, Padmavathi Devi is said to have been born out of a lotus blossom near the present-day temple erected in Her name. Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru Temple can be found in the town of Tiruchanoor, about 3 miles from the foot of the Tirumala Hills. This holy site hosts millions of pilgrims yearly, making it one of the most visited places dedicated to the ‘Goddess of Wealth’ in all of India. Festivals celebrating the glory and inexhaustible love of Padmavathi Devi are held regularly throughout the year. On Her birthday, She is offered mountains of flowers (right) and a variety of enchanting gifts from Lord Venkateswara. On other occasions the Goddess is escorted onto the Padma Sarovaram, the temple’s holy water tank, by illuminated floats (below). Cascading down the sacred foothills of Tirumala, Kapila Theertham emerges from the picturesque landscape and can be seen on the way to Lord Venkateswara’s shrine. These natural waterfalls are named after the great sage Kapila Maharishi, who is said to have spent years in meditation and worship of the Lord Shiva in a nearby cave. Today the only Shiva Temple in Tirupati stands at the entrance to the sage’s cave, and countless visitors come to wash away their sins in the adjoining falls. The vibrant Tirumala countryside abounds with holy Theerthams , or sacred tanks, waterfalls, and lakes. Bathing in these holy Theerthams is said to confer a variety of blessings to the devout and rinse away all kinds of negativity. Situated alongside the shrine of Lord Venkatewswara is the most celebrated Theertham, the Swami Pushkarini. This pool of water (below) is believed to have been brought down from the Heavens and contain the waters of all holy rivers, including the Ganges. A dip in these celestial waters has the power to heal the sick, fulfill wishes, and cleanse sins. Easily recognized by its imposing seven-story Gopuram (right), the Govinda Raja Swamy Temple is the home of Lord Venkateswara’s older brother. The temple boasts two main shrines—one of which is dedicated to a reclining Lord Vishnu, for whom the temple is named. The other hosting Sri Parathasarathi, Lord Krishna as Arjuna’s Charioteer. The shrine to Govinda Raja Swamy was consecrated by Saint Sri Ramanuja in the 1130 AD, however other parts of the sanctuary date back to the ninth century. Known for its historical wealth, Chandragiri Fort was constructed near the start of last millennium and has since witnessed the rule of many South Indian dynasties. Chandragiri initially served the Yadavaraya rulers and later the Vijyanagara kings, as evidenced by an on-site statue of Krishnadevaraya—the legendary ruler was also a patron of Lord Venkateswara’s shrine. The main structure to be found on the hill is the Raja Mahal, or ‘King’s Palace’ (left). This three-story palace is an exemplary display of the period’s Hindu architecture and was constructed from stone, brick, and lime mortar—completely neglecting use of timber. The edifice has since been converted into a museum while maintaining the palace’s regal flair, promising that visitors to Chandragiri will enjoy both the ornately fashioned interior as well as the slue of historic artifacts on display in the fort. Chandragiri literally means ‘Moon-Hill’ and at night the center comes alive with a show of lights (right). The Queen’s Palace, or Rani Mahal, as well as the ruins of several temples can be found while exploring the Chandragiri’s campus. This mysterious rock arch is one of the only of its kind in Asia and dates back to the pre-Cambrian age, suggesting an antiquity of several million years to the Tirumala Hills. Sila Thoranam (right), as the archway is known, translates as the ‘garland of stone’ and many legends hold that the formation has an ethereal connection to Lord Venkateswara. The natural spectacle was discovered during excavations in the 1980’s when the archway connecting two dissimilar sets of rock was found. There are only two other known natural rock bridges in the world today of such great age, and Sila Thoranam is the oldest in India. The Sri Venkateswara Museum (left) holds a vast collection of temple artwork, textiles, musical instruments, divine sculptures, pottery, photographs and is a storehouse of historic details for curious visitors to Tirupati. The Temple’s decorative landscape and gardens occupy over 450 acres of land across Tirumala and Tirupati. The gardens meet the extraordinary demand of providing fresh flowers for the daily worship in each temple across Tirumala. Flowers are also supplied for garland-making and used to decorate the shrines and processional floats of the God’s at festival times. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Copyright by Aarti Bhalodia-Dhanani 2012
    Copyright by Aarti Bhalodia-Dhanani 2012 The Dissertation Committee for Aarti Bhalodia-Dhanani certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Princes, Diwans and Merchants: Education and Reform in Colonial India Committee: _____________________ Gail Minault, Supervisor _____________________ Cynthia Talbot _____________________ William Roger Louis _____________________ Janet Davis _____________________ Douglas Haynes Princes, Diwans and Merchants: Education and Reform in Colonial India by Aarti Bhalodia-Dhanani, B.A.; M.A. Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin May 2012 For my parents Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without help from mentors, friends and family. I want to start by thanking my advisor Gail Minault for providing feedback and encouragement through the research and writing process. Cynthia Talbot’s comments have helped me in presenting my research to a wider audience and polishing my work. Gail Minault, Cynthia Talbot and William Roger Louis have been instrumental in my development as a historian since the earliest days of graduate school. I want to thank Janet Davis and Douglas Haynes for agreeing to serve on my committee. I am especially grateful to Doug Haynes as he has provided valuable feedback and guided my project despite having no affiliation with the University of Texas. I want to thank the History Department at UT-Austin for a graduate fellowship that facilitated by research trips to the United Kingdom and India. The Dora Bonham research and travel grant helped me carry out my pre-dissertation research.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Introduction: Siting and Experiencing Divinity in Bengal
    chapter 1 Introduction : Siting and Experiencing Divinity in Bengal-Vaishnavism background The anthropology of Hinduism has amply established that Hindus have a strong involvement with sacred geography. The Hindu sacred topography is dotted with innumerable pilgrimage places, and popu- lar Hinduism is abundant with spatial imaginings. Thus, Shiva and his partner, the mother goddess, live in the Himalayas; goddesses descend to earth as beautiful rivers; the goddess Kali’s body parts are imagined to have fallen in various sites of Hindu geography, sanctifying them as sacred centers; and yogis meditate in forests. Bengal similarly has a thriving culture of exalting sacred centers and pilgrimage places, one of the most important being the Navadvip-Mayapur sacred complex, Bengal’s greatest site of guru-centered Vaishnavite pilgrimage and devo- tional life. While one would ordinarily associate Hindu pilgrimage cen- ters with a single place, for instance, Ayodhya, Vrindavan, or Banaras, and while the anthropology of South Asian pilgrimage has largely been single-place-centered, Navadvip and Mayapur, situated on opposite banks of the river Ganga in the Nadia District of West Bengal, are both famous as the birthplace(s) of the medieval saint, Chaitanya (1486– 1533), who popularized Vaishnavism on the greatest scale in eastern India, and are thus of massive simultaneous importance to pilgrims in contemporary Bengal. For devotees, the medieval town of Navadvip represents a Vaishnava place of antique pilgrimage crammed with cen- turies-old temples and ashrams, and Mayapur, a small village rapidly 1 2 | Chapter 1 developed since the nineteenth century, contrarily represents the glossy headquarters site of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), India’s most famous globalized, high-profile, modern- ized guru movement.
    [Show full text]
  • Particulars of Some Temples of Kerala Contents Particulars of Some
    Particulars of some temples of Kerala Contents Particulars of some temples of Kerala .............................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 9 Temples of Kerala ................................................................................. 10 Temples of Kerala- an over view .................................................... 16 1. Achan Koil Dharma Sastha ...................................................... 23 2. Alathiyur Perumthiri(Hanuman) koil ................................. 24 3. Randu Moorthi temple of Alathur......................................... 27 4. Ambalappuzha Krishnan temple ........................................... 28 5. Amedha Saptha Mathruka Temple ....................................... 31 6. Ananteswar temple of Manjeswar ........................................ 35 7. Anchumana temple , Padivattam, Edapalli....................... 36 8. Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple ......................................... 38 9. Arathil Bhagawathi temple ..................................................... 41 10. Arpuda Narayana temple, Thirukodithaanam ................. 45 11. Aryankavu Dharma Sastha ...................................................... 47 12. Athingal Bhairavi temple ......................................................... 48 13. Attukkal BHagawathy Kshethram, Trivandrum ............. 50 14. Ayilur Akhileswaran (Shiva) and Sri Krishna temples ...........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Chakra the Source of the Cosmos
    Sri Chakra The Source of the Cosmos The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY Blossom 22 Petal 3 December 2017 Blossom 22, Petal 3 I N Temple Bulletin 3 T Past Temple Events 4 H Upcoming Temple I Events 6 S Balancing Your Life I in the Two Modes of Existence 8 S Kundalini: A S Mosaic Perspective 11 U Sahasra Chandi 13 E Kailash Yatra 17 Ganaamritam 20 Gurus, Saints & Sages 23 Naivēdyam Nivēdayāmi 26 Kids Korner! 29 2 Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam • 6980 East River Road • Rush, NY 14543 • Phone: (585) 533 - 1970 Sri Chakra ● December 2017 TEMPLETEMPLETEMPLE BULLETINBULLETINBULLETIN Rajagopuram Project As many of you know, Aiya has been speaking about the need for a more permanent sacred home for Devi for a number of years. Over the past 40 years, the Temple has evolved into an import- ant center for the worship of the Divine Mother Rajarajeswari, Temple Links attracting thousands of visitors each year from around the world. Private Homa/Puja Booking: It is now time to take the next step in fulfilling Aiya’s vision of srividya.org/puja constructing an Agamic temple in granite complete with a tradi- tional Rajagopuram. With the grace of the Guru lineage and the Rajagopuram Project (Granite loving blessings of our Divine Mother, now is the right time to Temple): actively participate and contribute to make this vision a reality. srividya.org/rajagopuram The new Temple will be larger and will be built according to Email Subscriptions: the Kashyapa Shilpa Shastra. By following the holy Agamas, srividya.org/email more divine energy than ever will be attracted into the Tem- ple, and the granite will hold that energy for 10,000 years, bring- Temple Timings: ing powerful blessings to countless generations into the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Study of Caste
    H STUDY OF CASTE BY P. LAKSHMI NARASU Author of "The Essence of Buddhism' MADRAS K. V. RAGHAVULU, PUBLISHER, 367, Mint Street. Printed by V. RAMASWAMY SASTRULU & SONS at the " VAVILLA " PRESS, MADRAS—1932. f All Rights Reservtd by th* Author. To SIR PITTI THY AG A ROY A as an expression of friendship and gratitude. FOREWORD. This book is based on arfcioles origiDally contributed to a weekly of Madras devoted to social reform. At the time of their appearance a wish was expressed that they might be given a more permanent form by elaboration into a book. In fulfilment of this wish I have revised those articles and enlarged them with much additional matter. The book makes no pretentions either to erudition or to originality. Though I have not given references, I have laid under contribution much of the literature bearing on the subject of caste. The book is addressed not to savants, but solely to such mea of common sense as have been drawn to consider the ques­ tion of caste. He who fights social intolerance, slavery and injustice need offer neither substitute nor constructive theory. Caste is a crippli^jg disease. The physicians duty is to guard against diseasb or destroy it. Yet no one considers the work of the physician as negative. The attainment of liberty and justice has always been a negative process. With­ out rebelling against social institutions and destroying custom there can never be the tree exercise of liberty and justice. A physician can, however, be of no use where there is no vita­ lity.
    [Show full text]
  • Ashirwad Holidays Is Pune/Mumbai Based B2b & B2c Tour Planner Company. the Head Office & Central Operational Office of A
    Ashirwad Holidays is Pune/Mumbai based b2b & b2c tour planner company. The head office & central operational office of Ashirwad Holidays is located in Pune. Ashirwad Holidays branch offices / booking offices spread all over Maharashtra. We also have collaborated offices in all major cities in India. We have our own b2b network for all domestic and international packages. We mainly deals in domestic & international tour packages, air packages, train packages, family packages, honeymoon packages, group tour packages, corporate tours, company tours, school & college trips. We have more than two thousand ready packages with all types of hotel categories, like, 2 start, 3 star, 4 star & 5 star. Ashirwad Holidays provide all packages in very low cost than other companies, online companies, because we have direct contract for hotel booking, bus/car booking, air ticketing and for all tour requirements. We also have very low expenditure on advertisement, offices, office staff and on other things that’s why it’s benefit that we can provide low cost packages to tourist with world class services. Why Ashirwad Holidays for tour Packages booking? Most trusted b2b & b2c tour planner company with best service and best price guaranty. More than 2000 ready packages in details with all types of hotel categories option (2star, 3star, 4star, 5star) in English & Hindi language. We provide low cost tour packages than other companies include online companies. Air Packages, Train Packages, Volvo Packages, Helicoptor Packages option available. Own network for direct booking. No third party booking. Hotel as per choice option available. On tour hotel change facility*. We only provide new/good conditioned Ac vehicle.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to 275 SIVA STHALAMS Glorified by Thevaram Hymns (Pathigams) of Nayanmars
    Guide to 275 SIVA STHALAMS Glorified by Thevaram Hymns (Pathigams) of Nayanmars -****- by Tamarapu Sampath Kumaran About the Author: Mr T Sampath Kumaran is a freelance writer. He regularly contributes articles on Management, Business, Ancient Temples and Temple Architecture to many leading Dailies and Magazines. His articles for the young is very popular in “The Young World section” of THE HINDU. He was associated in the production of two Documentary films on Nava Tirupathi Temples, and Tirukkurungudi Temple in Tamilnadu. His book on “The Path of Ramanuja”, and “The Guide to 108 Divya Desams” in book form on the CD, has been well received in the religious circle. Preface: Tirth Yatras or pilgrimages have been an integral part of Hinduism. Pilgrimages are considered quite important by the ritualistic followers of Sanathana dharma. There are a few centers of sacredness, which are held at high esteem by the ardent devotees who dream to travel and worship God in these holy places. All these holy sites have some mythological significance attached to them. When people go to a temple, they say they go for Darsan – of the image of the presiding deity. The pinnacle act of Hindu worship is to stand in the presence of the deity and to look upon the image so as to see and be seen by the deity and to gain the blessings. There are thousands of Siva sthalams- pilgrimage sites - renowned for their divine images. And it is for the Darsan of these divine images as well the pilgrimage places themselves - which are believed to be the natural places where Gods have dwelled - the pilgrimage is made.
    [Show full text]
  • 5 : How Hindus Worship
    29 March 2020 #5 4-6 : Describe the different forms of worship : HOW HINDUS WORSHIP 7-9 : Explain the importance of worship Key Question : What are Puja and Arati? KEY DIFFERENCES IN WORSHIP IN SHAIVISM AND VAISHNAVISM : Read through the information sheets and create a table of differences between the way Shaivites and Vaishnavas worship. Shaivism Vaishnavism 4-6 : Describe the Arati ceremony / 7-9 : Explain the ritual of Puja Key Question : What are Puja and Arati? VAISHNAVISM : Vaishnavism is one particular tradition or denomination within Hinduism, which focuses on the worship of Vishnu. It has become very popular in Britain in the last sixty years due to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement. Vaishnava worship is based on the Upanishads, the Vedas and the Puranas, especially the Bhagavad Gita and concentrates on the concept of bhakti (personal devotion). Worship often consists of praying specific mantras (for example ‘Hare Krishna’) and the practice of repetitive prayer known as ‘japa’. Some consider Shiva to be a Vaishnava, and one well-known picture shows Rama praying before Shiva, that is, an avatar of Krishna praying before the god Shiva. Vaishnavas consider that Vishnu is within them as the ‘antaryami’ or God within, and their aim in life is to serve Vishnu or one of his avatars in the spiritual realm of vaikuntha. 4-6 : Describe the Arati ceremony / 7-9 : Explain the ritual of Puja Key Question : What are Puja and Arati? SHAIVISM : Shaivites, or Shaivas, are the second largest group of Hindus in India today.
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Indian Culture and Heritage
    Culture: An Introduction MODULE - I Understanding Culture Notes 1 CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION he English word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship. In sum it means cultivating and refining Ta thing to such an extent that its end product evokes our admiration and respect. This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do) of Sanskrit language. Three words came from this root ‘Kri; prakriti’ (basic matter or condition), ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) and ‘vikriti’ (modified or decayed matter or condition) when ‘prakriti’ or a raw material is refined it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken or damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’. OBJECTIVES After studying this lesson you will be able to: understand the concept and meaning of culture; establish the relationship between culture and civilization; Establish the link between culture and heritage; discuss the role and impact of culture in human life. 1.1 CONCEPT OF CULTURE Culture is a way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in and the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms, we can say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things. It is also the things Indian Culture and Heritage Secondary Course 1 MODULE - I Culture: An Introduction Understanding Culture that we have inherited as members of society. All the achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
    [Show full text]
  • The Emergence of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Manipur and Its Impact on Nat Sankirtana
    ISSN (Online): 2350-0530 International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH ISSN (Print): 2394-3629 July 2020, Vol 8(07), 130 – 136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i7.2020.620 THE EMERGENCE OF GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM IN MANIPUR AND ITS IMPACT ON NAT SANKIRTANA Subhendu Manna *1 *1 Guest Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi University DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i7.2020.620 Article Type: Research Article ABSTRACT The Gaudiya Vaishnavism that emerged with Shri Chaitanya in the Article Citation: Subhendu Manna. fifteenth century continued even after his passing in the hands of his (2020). THE EMERGENCE OF disciples and spread to far-away Manipur. Bhagyachandra – the King of GAUDIYA VAISHNAVISM IN Manipur along with his daughter Bimbabati Devi, visited Nabadwip and MANIPUR AND ITS IMPACT ON NAT SANKIRTANA. International Journal established a temple to Lord Govinda which stands till today in the village of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH, called Manipuri in Nabadwip. Therefore, the strand of Bengal’s Gaudiya 8( ), 130-136. Vaishnavism that Bhagyachandra brought to Manipur continues to flow https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaa through the cultural life of the Manipuri people even today, a prime layah.v8.i7 7.2020.620 example of which is Nat Sankirtana. The influence of Gaudiya Vaishnavism on Nat Sankirtana is unparalleled. Received Date: 02 July 2020 Accepted Date: 27 July 2020 Keywords: Nat Sankirtana Pung Gaudiya Vaishnavism 1. INTRODUCTION The state of Manipur, in the North-Eastern region of India, currently occupies an area of 22,327 square Nagaland, at its south Mizoram. Assam is to its west and Myanmar is to the east.
    [Show full text]
  • Why I Became a Hindu
    Why I became a Hindu Parama Karuna Devi published by Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Copyright © 2018 Parama Karuna Devi All rights reserved Title ID: 8916295 ISBN-13: 978-1724611147 ISBN-10: 1724611143 published by: Jagannatha Vallabha Vedic Research Center Website: www.jagannathavallabha.com Anyone wishing to submit questions, observations, objections or further information, useful in improving the contents of this book, is welcome to contact the author: E-mail: [email protected] phone: +91 (India) 94373 00906 Please note: direct contact data such as email and phone numbers may change due to events of force majeure, so please keep an eye on the updated information on the website. Table of contents Preface 7 My work 9 My experience 12 Why Hinduism is better 18 Fundamental teachings of Hinduism 21 A definition of Hinduism 29 The problem of castes 31 The importance of Bhakti 34 The need for a Guru 39 Can someone become a Hindu? 43 Historical examples 45 Hinduism in the world 52 Conversions in modern times 56 Individuals who embraced Hindu beliefs 61 Hindu revival 68 Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj 73 Shraddhananda Swami 75 Sarla Bedi 75 Pandurang Shastri Athavale 75 Chattampi Swamikal 76 Narayana Guru 77 Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru 78 Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha 79 Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 79 Sarada Devi 80 Golap Ma 81 Rama Tirtha Swami 81 Niranjanananda Swami 81 Vireshwarananda Swami 82 Rudrananda Swami 82 Swahananda Swami 82 Narayanananda Swami 83 Vivekananda Swami and Ramakrishna Math 83 Sister Nivedita
    [Show full text]
  • Vedic Brahmanism and Its Offshoots
    Vedic Brahmanism and Its Offshoots Buddhism (Buddha) Followed by Hindūism (Kṛṣṇā) The religion of the Vedic period (also known as Vedism or Vedic Brahmanism or, in a context of Indian antiquity, simply Brahmanism[1]) is a historical predecessor of Hinduism.[2] Its liturgy is reflected in the Mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites that often involved sacrifices. This mode of worship is largely unchanged today within Hinduism; however, only a small fraction of conservative Shrautins continue the tradition of oral recitation of hymns learned solely through the oral tradition. Texts dating to the Vedic period, composed in Vedic Sanskrit, are mainly the four Vedic Samhitas, but the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and some of the older Upanishads (Bṛhadāraṇyaka, Chāndogya, Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana) are also placed in this period. The Vedas record the liturgy connected with the rituals and sacrifices performed by the 16 or 17 shrauta priests and the purohitas. According to traditional views, the hymns of the Rigveda and other Vedic hymns were divinely revealed to the rishis, who were considered to be seers or "hearers" (shruti means "what is heard") of the Veda, rather than "authors". In addition the Vedas are said to be "apaurashaya", a Sanskrit word meaning uncreated by man and which further reveals their eternal non-changing status. The mode of worship was worship of the elements like fire and rivers, worship of heroic gods like Indra, chanting of hymns and performance of sacrifices. The priests performed the solemn rituals for the noblemen (Kshsatriya) and some wealthy Vaishyas.
    [Show full text]