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Anala
Agni ( ) is the Hindu god of fire. As the guardian deity of the southeast direction, he is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu temples. In the classical cosmology of Hinduism, fire (''Agni'') is one of the five inert impermanent elements ('' Pañcabhūtá'') along with sky (''Ākāśa''), water (''Apas''), air (''Vāyu'') and earth (''Pṛthvī''), the five combining to form the empirically perceived material existence (''Prakṛti''). In the Vedas, Agni is a major and most invoked god along with Indra and Soma. Agni is considered the mouth of the gods and goddesses and the medium that conveys offerings to them in a '' homa'' (votive ritual). He is conceptualized in ancient Hindu texts to exist at three levels, on earth as fire, in the atmosphere as lightning, and in the sky as the sun. This triple presence accords him as the messenger between the deities and humans in the Vedic scriptures. The relative importance of Agni declined in the post-Vedic era, as he was i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nila (Ramayana)
Nila (), also spelled as Neela, is a character in the Hinduism, Hindu epic Ramayana. He is a vanara chieftain in the army of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya (Ramayana), Ayodhya and avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the commander-in-chief of the vanara army under the vanara king Sugriva, and is described as leading the army in Rama's battle against the rakshasa king Ravana of Lanka (identified with modern-day Sri Lanka) and as killing many rakshasas. Legend In the Ramayana, Nila is described as the son of Agni, the god of fire, and as the "Kapishreshtha (foremost among the vanaras) in effulgence, reputation, and prowess". An important part of the epic describes the role played by the vanara army in the rescue of Sita, the wife of Rama who is kidnapped by Ravana, the rakshasa king of Lanka. The many stories forming the epic are retold in various adaptations. Search for Sita The ''Ramayana'' describes Nila as the commander-in-chief of the vanara army, under the king Sugriva. Sugriva ord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hindu Cosmology
Hindu cosmology is the description of the universe and its states of matter, cycles within time, physical structure, and effects on living entities according to Hindu texts. Hindu cosmology is also intertwined with the idea of a creator who allows the world to exist and take shape. Substance All matter is based on three inert ''Guṇa, gunas'' (qualities or tendencies):James G. Lochtefeld, Guna, in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M, Vol. 1, Rosen Publishing, , pages 224, 265, 520Theos Bernard (1999), ''Hindu Philosophy'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 74–76 * ''sattva'' (goodness) * ''rajas'' (passion) * ''Tamas (philosophy), tamas'' (darkness) There are three states of the ''gunas'' that make up all matter in the universe: * ''pradhana'' (root matter): ''gunas'' in an unmixed and unmanifested state (equilibrium). * ''Prakṛti, prakriti'' (primal matter): ''gunas'' in a mixed and unmanifested state (agitated). * ''mahat-tattva'' (matter or Hiranyagarbha, univers ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arti (Hinduism)
''Arti'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a '' puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate deities. ''Arti'' also refers to the hymns sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered. Sikhs have ''Arti'' ''kirtan'' which involves only devotional singing; the Nihang order of Sikhs also use light for ''arti''. Etymology and origin ''Aarti'' is thought to have descended from ''Vedic'' ''fire rituals or yajna''. ''Aarati'' is derived from the Sanskrit word () which means something that removes , “darkness”.James Lochtefeld, An illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, , page 51 A Marathi language reference says it is also known as (). According to Steven Rosen, ''arti'' means "before night" or symbolic end of the night to the worshipper's "material sojourn - he or she is now situated in the light of God's devotion."Rosen, Steven (2006). ''Essential Hinduism''. Praeger Publisher ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diwali
Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual victory of ''Dharma'' over ''Adharma'', light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.Jean Mead, ''How and why Do Hindus Celebrate Divali?'', Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu calendar, Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (month), Ashvin (according to the Hindu calendar#amanta, amanta tradition) and Kartika (month), Kārtikabetween around mid-September and mid-November.''The New Oxford Dictionary of English'' (1998) – p. 540 "Diwali /dɪwɑːli/ (also Diwali) noun a Hindu festival with lights...". The celebrations generally last five or six days. Diwali is connected to various religious events, deities and personalities, such as being the day Rama returned to his Kosala, kingdom in Ayodhya (Ramayana), Ayodhya with h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diya (lamp)
A diya, diyo, deya, deeya, dia, divaa, deepa, deepam, deep, deepak or saaki () is an oil lamp made from clay or mud with a cotton wick dipped in oil or ghee. These lamps are commonly used in the Indian subcontinent and they hold sacred prominence in Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain prayers as well as religious rituals, ceremonies and festivals including Diwali. Traditional use Diyas are symbolically lit during prayers, rituals, and ceremonies; they are permanent fixtures in homes and temples. The warm, bright glow emitted from a diya is considered auspicious, regarded to represent enlightenment, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom. Diyas represent the triumph of light over dark, good over evil with the most notable example of this being on the day of Diwali. Diwali is celebrated every year to celebrate the triumph of good over evil as told in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Diwali marks the day Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned home to Ayodhya after 14 years in exile, after the def ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Upanayana
''Upanayana'' () is a Hindu educational sacrament, one of the traditional saṃskāras or rites of passage that marked the acceptance of a student by a preceptor, such as a ''guru'' or ''acharya'', and an individual's initiation into a school in Hinduism. Some traditions consider the ceremony as a spiritual rebirth for the child or future ''dvija'', twice born. It signifies the acquisition of the knowledge of and the start of a new and disciplined life as a brahmāchārya. The Upanayanam ceremony is arguably the most important rite for Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya males, ensuring his rights with responsibilities and signifying his advent into adulthood''.'' The tradition is widely discussed in ancient Samskṛta texts of Hinduism and varies regionally. The sacred thread or yajñopavīta (also referred to as ''Janeu'', ''Jandhyam'', ''Pūṇūl, Muñja and Janivara'' Yonya) has become one of the most important identifiers of the ''Upanayana'' ceremony in contemporar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saptapadi
Saptapadi () or ''saat phere'' (), is regarded to be the most important rite (Sanskrit: ) of a Hindu wedding ceremony. In this rite, the bride and the groom tie a knot and take seven steps together, or complete seven rounds around a sacred fire, accompanied by one vow for each step. After the seventh, the marriage is considered complete. Description The saptapadi is an ancient ritual that dates back to the Vedic period. The circumambulation of the sacred altar of fire is a rite that is performed differently in various regions of South Asia. In some regions, the couple walks around the altar seven times. In other regions, the couple takes seven steps to complete a single circumambulation. Each of the seven has a different meaning. At each step or circuit, the couple may also take vows. Vows made in the presence of the sacred fire are considered unbreakable, with Agnideva held as both witnessing and blessing the couple's union. Vows In southern and western India, the se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hindu Wedding
A Hindu wedding, also known as (, ) in Hindi, () in Marathi, () in Bhojpuri, () in Bengali, () or () in Odia, () in Tamil, () in Telugu, () in Kannada, and ''kalyanam'' (, ; ) in Malayalam and other languages, is the traditional marriage ceremony for Hindus. The weddings are very colourful, and celebrations may extend for several days and usually a large number of people attend the wedding functions. The bride's and groom's homes—entrance, doors, walls, floor, roof—are sometimes decorated with colors, flowers, lights and other decorations.Yee, A. (2008 May 17Sari nights and henna parties ''The Financial Times''. The word ''vivāha'' originated as a sacred union of two people as per Vedic traditions, i.e. what many call marriage, but based on cosmic laws and advanced ancient practices. Under Vedic Hindu traditions, marriage is viewed as one of the saṁskāras performed during the life of a human being, which are lifelong commitments of one wife and one hu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Upanishads
The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hinduism. They are the most recent addition to the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, and deal with meditation, philosophy, consciousness, and ontological knowledge. Earlier parts of the Vedas dealt with mantras, benedictions, rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices.A Bhattacharya (2006), ''Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology'', , pp. 8–14; George M. Williams (2003), Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, , p. 285Jan Gonda (1975), ''Vedic Literature: (Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇas)'', Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, While among the most important literature in the history of Indian religions and culture, the Upanishads document a wide variety of "rites, incantations, and esoteric knowledge" departing from Vedic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homa (ritual)
In Indian religions, a homa (Sanskrit: होम), also known as havan, is a fire ritual performed on special occasions. In Hinduism, by a Hindu priest usually for a homeowner (" grihastha": one possessing a home). The grihasth keeps different kinds of fire including one to cook food, heat a home, among other uses; therefore, a Yajna offering is made directly into the fire. A homa is sometimes called a "sacrifice ritual" because the fire destroys the offering, but a homa is more accurately a " votive ritual". The fire is the agent, and the offerings include those that are material and symbolic such as grains, ghee, milk, incense, and seeds. It is rooted in the Vedic religion, and was also adopted in ancient times by Buddhism and Jainism. The practice spread from India to Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Homa rituals remain an important part of many Hindu ceremonies, and variations of homa continue to be practiced in current-day Buddhism, particularly in parts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Cavendish (occult Writer)
Richard Cavendish (12 August 1930 – 21 October 2016) was a British historian who was considered Britain's foremost authority on the subjects of occultism, religion, the tarot, and mythology. Personal life Cavendish was born in 1930 at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, the son of a Church of England clergyman. He lived with his partner in the United States for eight years, in New York City and Los Angeles. His daughter is the journalist and life peer Camilla Cavendish. Career Cavendish was educated at Christ's Hospital and at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he specialized in medieval studies. He wrote both on the political and social history of Great Britain and on the history of folk magic and occultism in the British Isles and Europe. Among his best-known works are ''The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout the Ages''; ''The Tarot''; ''A History of Magic''; and the 24-volume set '' Man, Myth & Magic'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soma (deity)
Soma may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Soma-datta, a character in the 11th-century Indian story collection '' Shringara-manjari-katha'' * Soma (''Brave New World''), the freely distributed happiness drug in the 1932 Aldous Huxley novel ''Brave New World'' * Soma, a character in '' Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?'' * Prince Soma, a character in '' Black Butler'' * Soma Cruz, the protagonist of ''Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow'' and ''Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow'' * Soma Peries, a character in ''Mobile Suit Gundam 00'' * Soma Schicksal, a character in '' Gods Eater Burst'' * Soma Yukihira, the main protagonist in '' Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma'' * Jarlskona Soma, a character in '' Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' * Ryu Soma, a character in '' Argento Soma'' * Soma, a mystical mana-like substance from The Qwaser of Stigmata, present within human breast milk. Music * Soma (band), an Australian dark ambient musical project ; Albums * ''Som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
