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SPIRITUALISM
I am a strong believer of the fact that there is no religion and one cannot
be discriminated based on his/her religion on birth. All men are equal in front of the Almighty.
There is only one religion, the religion of LOVE. One can feel God in others and
by loving his/her fellowmen, one can reach God.
I believe in these ideas by some of the great personalities.
Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.
- Swami Vivekananda
When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.
- Abraham Lincoln
But you need a religion or a faith to shape and mould you, to guide you in the right path
and to show you what is right and what is not. According to me, one can follow one or more of such
religions or believes to shape oneself, to prepare the self for Spiritualism. Well then
what is a religion: The English word "religion" is derived from the Latin word "religo"
which means good faith,ritual, and other similar meanings.
There are lot of religions followed by people throughout the world. Whatever be the religion one
follows, love and respect for fellow men is the main crux of all religion. The following are the
some of the religions follwed by people around the word.
HINDUISM
Statistically, there are over 700 million Hindus, mainly in Bharat (India), and Nepal.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal faith. Hinduism is not strictly
a religion. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. A detailed explanation
of Hindu texts are found in Veda page and the links pointed to from there.
Since Hinduism has no founder, anyone who practices Dharma can call himself a Hindu.
He can question the authority of any scripture, or even the existence of the Divine.
The Holy book of Hindus is The Bhagavad Gita.
Bhagavad Gita As it is
Bhagavad Gita
Multimedia version of Gita
Links on Hinduism
An explanation
Greatness of Hinduism
Breif introduction to Hinduism
Sacred Scripts
Hinduism in detail
World's Oldest Religion
A to Z of Hinduism
Applied Hinduism, Spirituality and Philosophy
Hinduism - Sites
Tradition
Carnatic music is the classical music of Southern India. The basic form is a monophonic
song with improvised variations. There are 72 basic scales on the octave, and a rich variety
of melodic motion. Both melodic and rhythmic structures are varied and compelling. This
is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions. Bhajans are songs of
praise adoration and devotion to God in all his splendor and different forms that he takes.
His or her personalities are numerous that we can relate to our personality and choose
the personality of God that matches us.
Carnatic Music
Carnatic Classicals
Bhajans
Bhajans - Lyrics
Bhajans MP3
Why Bhajans
Pujas
Books on Hinduism
Temples
Hindus believe that their lives are merely stages in the progression to ultimate
enlightenment. The temple is a place where God may be approached and where divine
knowledge can be discovered. All aspects of the Hindu temple focus on the goal of
enlightenment and liberation - the principles of design and construction, the forms of
its architecture and decoration, and the rituals performed. And all of these are determined
by ancient texts called shastras compiled by the priests, the brahmins. The vastushastras
were theoretical and idealised descriptions of the architectural traditions and conventions
to be followed.
Temples
Hindu temples, belief and history
Slokas
,Sloka is a Sanskrit word used to denote a prayerful verse written as per certain
strict grammatical rules. The slokas presented here can be used in our daily prayers.
These prayers are generally directed to specific God or Goddess forms such as Ganesh,
Rama, Devi, Krishna etc. Conveying the majesty and the Omnipotence of God, the slokas
portray vivid descriptions of the different God forms and their Divine powers. Anyone
who chants these powerful verses and invokes the appropriate God (Goddess) Forms and Names
mentally, will be able to achieve a steady and peaceful mind full of devotion.
That in short is the purpose of the slokas.
Slokas
Sanskrit Stotras
Stotrams
Stotras and Slokas - MP3
Shiva Stuthis
Slokas for Daily Recital
Slokas Collection
Sanskrit Dictonary
CHRISTIANITY
Christianity derives its name from Christ. Christianity is the religion followed by largest
population of people in the world. Christianity speaks of a personal God.
There is not much deep philosophy or Yoga Sadhana in Christianity. There is reason for this.
Jesus had to deal with the illiterate fishermen of Galilee. He gave them only moral
precepts and showed them the way of righteous living. The holy book of Christians is
called The Bible
The Holy Bible
Links on Christianity
Links on Christianity
Biblical Resources
Christianity
Christianity in Detail
Four spiritual Laws
ISLAM
Islam is the name given by Mohammed, the Prophet of Arabia, to the religion which
he founded. Islam is an Arabic word, which means peace. It means submission to the will
of God. It means surrender, acceptance of the revelation and commands of God. The personal
name of God is Allah. The aim of Mohammed's preaching was the establishment of the religion
of one God, Allah. Islam is a religion of universal brotherhood like Theosophy.
Firm, unswerving belief in one God is the essence of true religion according to Islamic
faith. It makes no distinction between caste and caste, creed and creed. Islam is the second
largest religion in the world. The holy book of Muslims is The Qur'an.
The holy Qur'an
Meanings of the Holy Qur'an
Links on Islam
Details of Islam
Islam
Islam - Question and Answers
More about Islam
Discover Islam
BUDDISM
Buddhism was founded by Gautama Sakya Muni, the rebel child of Hinduism.
It sprang up directly from Hinduism. Buddha never thought of founding a new religion.
He made no new discovery. He was proclaiming only the ancient and pure form of religion
which had prevailed among the Hindus. The holy book of Buddists is The Tipitaka. 
The Holy Tipitaka
Links on Buddhism
Topics in Buddism
Buddism - A detailed overview
Buddism in depth
An introduction to Buddism
Buddism - An insight
JAINISM
Jain" or more properly speaking "Jaina" means a follower of Jina,
which is applied to those persons who have conquered the lower nature, passion,
hatred, etc. The word �Jain� comes from the word �Jina� which means a conqueror. �Jina�
comes from the root �Ji���to conquer�. It means conquering the passions. It does not mean
conquering nations. The passions are considered as enemies of the soul. They taint the
natural qualities of the soul, obscure right belief, cause false knowledge and wrong
conduct. Lust, anger, pride and greed are considered as the major passions. The holy book of
Jains are many. Chief among them is The Tattvartha sutra
Jain books
Tattvartha sutra
Links on Jainism
Jainism in depth
Jainism
Jain world
More on Jainism
Jainism Simplified
SIKHISM
Sikhism was founded in the fifteenth century by Sri Guru Nanak Dev,
the first of Gurus born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib) in Seikhpura in the district
of Lahore (in Pakistan). He made no attempt to build up a new religion. He tried to have
a unifying religion to embrace both Hindus and Mohammedans. He insisted on the worship of
one God, the Creator and the Supreme Ruler. Who is all and apart from Whom any thought of
individual existence is only Maya. The holy book of Sikhs is The Adi Granth
The Adi Granth
Links on Sikhism
Sikhism in Detail
Sikhishm
Sikhism, History, believes and practices
Sikhism - A Detailed Insight
Basic principles of Sikhism
JUDIASM
 Judaism constitutes the religious doctrines and rites of the Jews as enjoined
in the laws of Moses. Judaism is based on Zoroastrianism. It has given rise to two
great religions of the world, i.e., Christianity and Islam. The Muslims admit that
their religion is founded on Judaism. The Koran also is very clear on this point.
Clearly, there is a religion called Judaism, a set of ideas about the world and
the way we should live our lives that is called "Judaism."
The holy book of the Jews is The Tanach 
The Tanach
Links on Judaism
Judiaism
Judaism in depth
More on Judaism
Judiasm in detail
Judaism
SUFISM
Sufism is liberal Islam, with a colouring of Vedanta. Sufism is Islamic in origin.
Sufism is the religion of love with Madhurya Bhava, with the concepts of the lover and
the Beloved. Sufism is not considered as an integral part of orthodox Islam.
Other scholars have traced an Indian origin of the movement. Indian mysticism and
Christian mysticism have affected the later developments of Sufism. Indian Sufism is a
blend of Persian Sufism and Hindu mysticism. Sufism is a school for the actualization of divine ethics.
It involves an enlightened inner being, not intellectual proof; revelation and witnessing, not logic.
By divine ethics, we are referring to ethics which transcend mere social convention;
a way of being which is the actualization of the attributes of God.
Links on Sufism
Sufism
More on Sufism
Sufism in detail
About Sufism
Sufism
Links on Sufism
ZOROASTIANISM
Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism are world religions but Zoroastrianism is
just a national religion now though it was a world religion in days of yore.
It is the religion of the Parsees. The correct name for the religion established
by Zoroaster is Mazdayasnism which means the worship of Mazda or the Lord. The holy
book of the Parsees is Zend Avesta 
The Zend Avesta
Links on Zoroastrianism
What is Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
More on Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism in depth
Zoroastrianism
TAOISM
Tao� is a Chinese word meaning �way�, �way of Heaven�, �Path� or �road� or �method�.
It indicates a line or principle of conduct. There is no proper English term for �Tao�.
It means the �Eternal Being�. The Founder of Taoism was Lao-Tze. Lao-Tze was born
in 604 B.C. in the village of Chu-Jhren, in Li country, belonging to the Ku province
of the State Chu. He was born under the plum tree (in Chinese �Li�). He adopted it as
his surname. The hair of the head was white when he was born. Hence he was called Lao-Tze
(old boy) or philosopher, one who is child-like even when old. The holy book is The Tao Te Ching 
The Tao Te Ching
Links on Taoism
Taoism, a detailed overview
Taoism
Taoism - Brief thoughts
Taoism in depth
Taoism, or the Way
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius was born in 551 B.C. in the feudal State of Lu, a portion of what
is now the province of Shangtung on the north-eastern seaboard of China. The name of
Confucius in Chinese is Kung-fu-tse, i.e., the statesman-philosopher Kung. The first
European scholars who visited China found that name hard to pronounce. So they turned
it into Latin and called him Confucius. Confucianism is not a religion in the customary
sense. It has neither priesthood nor any monastic order. It existed in China long
before the time of Confucius. The holy book is The Analects 
The Analects
Links on Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism - Overview
Links on Confucianism
More on Confucianism
What is Confucianism?
SHINTOISM
Shinto is an all-pervading indefinable way which is quite universal.
Shinto or Kaminomichi or the way of the Kami or the Gods is the name of the religion
observed by the Japanese from time immemorial. �Kami� means God or deity, or sometimes
soul. Shinto implies spontaneous following of the �Way of the Gods�. Shinto is not really
an �ism�. It is only a teaching. It is not a set of verbal theories or concepts. It is the
all-pervading way. It is very difficult to translate �Shinto� into English.
�Shinto� means �The way of the Gods� or the �God-like way� or �The way from the Gods�.
There is no proper equivalent for the term �Shinto� in English. Shinto is an all-pervading,
indefinable way which is quite universal. The holy book is Kojiki & Nihongi
Kojiki & Nihongi
Links on Shintoism
What's in Shintoism
Shintoism, the Religious Cult
Shintoism
Shintoism in detail
Handbook of Shintoism
BAHAISM
The Bah�'� Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions.
Its founder, Bah�'u'll�h (1817-1892), is regarded by Bah�'�s as the most recent in the
line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes
Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad. The holy book of the
Bahais is Kitab-i-Aqdas 
Kitab-i-Aqdas
Links on Bahaism
Bahaism, in detail
Bahaism and its claims
Bahaism, a description
Bahaism
 I have treid to list all major religions listed by most other websites. Please apologize
in case I had missed any religion and for any wrong information on any of the believes and
religion. Mail me in case of any errors, I will be more than priviledged to correct the errors.
� Gomathy Gowri Narayanan
Questions or Comments about this page?
Contact webmaster:Gomathy Gowri Narayanan
This site last updated: June 27 2003.
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