- OM
Om is the mystic and the holy word which sums up all truth in the universe. According to Hinu mythology, which is understood to have a beginning over 5000 years ago, God is
-Omnipresent meaniing present everywhere.
-Omnipotent meaninng infinitely powerful.
God is thus, eternal, formless and the soul Parmatma, the supreme energy which controls the whole universe.
OM (or AUM) symbolises God as nirgun, meaning without form, the Absolute.
OM is pronouced at the beginning and/or end of rituals and prayers. This pronouncing is understood to create vibrations which link up with the supreme energy Parmatma, the life source of all creation in the universe.
To make one understand nirgun & sagun aspects, RAMKRISHN PARAMHANS used to give example of water, which is nirgun in it's usual form and sagun when in snow/ice form.
According to Hindu mythology the supreme energy as sagun is TRINITY (TRIMURTY), an immense energy which controls the universe and it's activites.
T R I N I T Y
Brahmaji, who
Vishnuji, who
Shivji,who
creates everything
protects people
destroys evil
SAMUDRA MANTHAN
Churning of the ocean by the gods and demons to extract amrit (nectar/ambrosia) to achieve immortality. Legend has it that as powers of gods waned due to a curse by sage Durvasa, they approached Brahmaji for guidance. He advised them to seek Visnhuji's help who, in turn, advised them to churn the ocean jointly with demons to extract amrit, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the giant snake Vasuki as the rope. Vishnuji would himself incarnate as the giant tortoise Kurma and hold the mountain on his back.
Churning of the ocean resulted in extraction/appearance of things as listed below (not necessary in original sequence):
1. Surabhi- The divine cow claimed by gods (also called KAMDHENU).
2. Varuni- The goddess of wine.
3. Parijaat- The celestial tree taken by Indr Dev and transplanted in Amravati.
4. Rambha- The celestial dancer.(Apsara)
5. Chandra- The cool moon taken by Shivji for adornment on his head.
6. Vish- The poison consumed by Shivji.
7. Kastubha- The precious stone claimed by Vishnuji.
8. Airawat- The elephant with wings, taken by Indr Dev as his vehicle.
9. Uchchaisravas- The white horse having black tail, claimed by famous demon King Bali.
10.Panchjanya- The conch (shankh) taken by Vishnuji.
11.Lakshmiji- The goddess of wealth, taken by Vishnuji as his wife.
12.Saranga- The bow, taken by Vishnuji.
13.Kaumodaki- The mace (gada), also taken by Vishnuji.
14.Dhanvantri- The physician god, holding jar of medicines and amrit (nector/ambrosia).
As the gods and demons started quarrelling over the possession of Amrit, Vishnuji appeared as a beautiful apsara Mohini to lure away demons and deceitfully distributed amrit only among the gods.
GANGA
This goddess representing the holy river of Ganges is shown as an extremely fair woman, wearing a white crown, sitting on the sea-animal, crocodile, holding in her right hand a water lily and her left hand a lute.
The legend says that she was produced from the sweat of Vishnuji's feet, which Brahma caught and filled in his Kamandala (vessel-container). This goddess bears a great importance in holy books. Puranas declare that the sight, the name and the touch of Ganga absolves one from all his sins and that bathing in Ganga bestows blessings of the highest order.
It is preferred that the bones of the deceased are brought to Ganga and cast into the holy river. It is said that this leads to salvation of the deceased.
Hindus particularly choose this river for holy rituals because the merits of works performed here become manifold in their results.
Another name of Ganga is Vishnupadi, the one flowing from the foot of God Vishnu.
PURAANS (600 BC-200 BC)
Believed to be eighteen in number, 6 each addressed to Vishnuji, Brahmaji & Shivji and termed Satvik, Rajasik, Tamasik Puraans respectively, these were written during the Puranic or the Epic period and are a collection of lots of detailed tales on gods and their incarnations, which constitute much of the Hindu mythology. Vishnu Puraan, Shiv Puraan etc., are examples.
SANATAN DHARM
Sanatan Dharm is the real name of Hindu faith. It literally means an ever-lasting faith. It is said so because ingrained in its belief are those guidelines, which provide life, conditions of maximum possible existence. This is the Dharm not only for the believers but valid for all human beings. Hence its fundamental belief VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (the whole world is a family). Basic features of this faith are :-
A. Concept of Karma: AS you sow, so shall you reap (which incidentally, also gives rise to the belief in the cycle of rebirth by which way, one is accountable to one's acts in previous birth and is rewarded or punished in the next birth)
B. Joint family system: Seniority (by age/relationship) is given more importance and respect
C. Caste system: Where Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras are expected to be engaged in specific areas of social, financial and services, respectively.
Om is the mystic and the holy word which sums up all truth in the universe. According to Hinu mythology, which is understood to have a beginning over 5000 years ago, God is-Omnipresent meaniing present everywhere.
-Omnipotent meaninng infinitely powerful.
God is thus, eternal, formless and the soul Parmatma, the supreme energy which controls the whole universe.
OM (or AUM) symbolises God as nirgun, meaning without form, the Absolute.
OM is pronouced at the beginning and/or end of rituals and prayers. This pronouncing is understood to create vibrations which link up with the supreme energy Parmatma, the life source of all creation in the universe.
To make one understand nirgun & sagun aspects, RAMKRISHN PARAMHANS used to give example of water, which is nirgun in it's usual form and sagun when in snow/ice form.
According to Hindu mythology the supreme energy as sagun is TRINITY (TRIMURTY), an immense energy which controls the universe and it's activites.
| T R I N I T Y |
|
|
|
| Brahmaji, who | Vishnuji, who | Shivji,who |
| creates everything | protects people | destroys evil |
SAMUDRA MANTHAN
Churning of the ocean by the gods and demons to extract amrit (nectar/ambrosia) to achieve immortality. Legend has it that as powers of gods waned due to a curse by sage Durvasa, they approached Brahmaji for guidance. He advised them to seek Visnhuji's help who, in turn, advised them to churn the ocean jointly with demons to extract amrit, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the giant snake Vasuki as the rope. Vishnuji would himself incarnate as the giant tortoise Kurma and hold the mountain on his back.
Churning of the ocean resulted in extraction/appearance of things as listed below (not necessary in original sequence):
1. Surabhi- The divine cow claimed by gods (also called KAMDHENU).
2. Varuni- The goddess of wine.
3. Parijaat- The celestial tree taken by Indr Dev and transplanted in Amravati.
4. Rambha- The celestial dancer.(Apsara)
5. Chandra- The cool moon taken by Shivji for adornment on his head.
6. Vish- The poison consumed by Shivji.
7. Kastubha- The precious stone claimed by Vishnuji.
8. Airawat- The elephant with wings, taken by Indr Dev as his vehicle.
9. Uchchaisravas- The white horse having black tail, claimed by famous demon King Bali.
10.Panchjanya- The conch (shankh) taken by Vishnuji.
11.Lakshmiji- The goddess of wealth, taken by Vishnuji as his wife.
12.Saranga- The bow, taken by Vishnuji.
13.Kaumodaki- The mace (gada), also taken by Vishnuji.
14.Dhanvantri- The physician god, holding jar of medicines and amrit (nector/ambrosia).
As the gods and demons started quarrelling over the possession of Amrit, Vishnuji appeared as a beautiful apsara Mohini to lure away demons and deceitfully distributed amrit only among the gods.
GANGA
This goddess representing the holy river of Ganges is shown as an extremely fair woman, wearing a white crown, sitting on the sea-animal, crocodile, holding in her right hand a water lily and her left hand a lute.
The legend says that she was produced from the sweat of Vishnuji's feet, which Brahma caught and filled in his Kamandala (vessel-container). This goddess bears a great importance in holy books. Puranas declare that the sight, the name and the touch of Ganga absolves one from all his sins and that bathing in Ganga bestows blessings of the highest order.
It is preferred that the bones of the deceased are brought to Ganga and cast into the holy river. It is said that this leads to salvation of the deceased.
Hindus particularly choose this river for holy rituals because the merits of works performed here become manifold in their results.
Another name of Ganga is Vishnupadi, the one flowing from the foot of God Vishnu.
PURAANS (600 BC-200 BC)
Believed to be eighteen in number, 6 each addressed to Vishnuji, Brahmaji & Shivji and termed Satvik, Rajasik, Tamasik Puraans respectively, these were written during the Puranic or the Epic period and are a collection of lots of detailed tales on gods and their incarnations, which constitute much of the Hindu mythology. Vishnu Puraan, Shiv Puraan etc., are examples.
SANATAN DHARM
Sanatan Dharm is the real name of Hindu faith. It literally means an ever-lasting faith. It is said so because ingrained in its belief are those guidelines, which provide life, conditions of maximum possible existence. This is the Dharm not only for the believers but valid for all human beings. Hence its fundamental belief VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (the whole world is a family). Basic features of this faith are :-
A. Concept of Karma: AS you sow, so shall you reap (which incidentally, also gives rise to the belief in the cycle of rebirth by which way, one is accountable to one's acts in previous birth and is rewarded or punished in the next birth)
B. Joint family system: Seniority (by age/relationship) is given more importance and respect
C. Caste system: Where Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras are expected to be engaged in specific areas of social, financial and services, respectively.