A Catechism of Hinduism -III.1 : Swami Krishnananda

-

12/02/2019
III.1

Q: Which are its Scriptures?

A: The principal Scriptures of Hinduism are :

• the Vedas, consisting of the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads
• the Smritis, of which the most important are of Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parasara
• the Itihasas, viz., the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (which contains the Bhagavadgita)
• the eighteen Puranas.

Q: Which are the other important books written on it, and who are their authors?

A: The other important texts associated with Hinduism, apart from the basic canons mentioned above, are : 4.

• the Agamas and Tantras (mystical and esoteric texts)
• the Purva-Mimamsa and the Uttara-Mimamsa schools of theology and philosophy
• the writings of the great exponents and commentators in the field of philosophy and religion, such as the Acharyas, viz., Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhya, Vallabha, Nimbarka, Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Krishna Chaitanya, as well as the propounders of the religious schools of Vaishnavism, Saivism and Shaktism in a variety of ways, which are all too vast to be enumerated here. The latter include the writings of the saints and sages who taught religion in its manifold phases.

Q: What is the method of prayer?

A: Within the fold of the Hindu religion, prayer is mainly an inward contemplative submission before the Almighty felt as an immediate presence. But in popular practice, this inward feeling of presence is usually expressed as recitations or chants of mantras or passages from the scriptures, such as the Vedas, Itihasas and Puranas. Prayer is offered either individually by one’s own self in private, or collectively in a congregation, as it may be necessary. It may be verbally articulated or mentally contemplated with feeling.

Q: What are the rituals?

A: Ritual in the Hindu religion is a manifestation through external performances of one’s inward feeling of worship and adoration of the Almighty.

The basic rituals consist of : 5.

• ceremonial worship known as puja, as is usually seen being conducted in temples and shrines
• recitation of the Divine Name, known as japa
• prayer, known as prarthana
• ceremonies connected with the stages of one’s life, the seasons of the year, as well as special occasions or holy days connected with the advent of a Divine Incarnation, the birthday of the Saint, or the departing day of any person.
The most important duties of a householder are the five great sacrifices known as the pancha-mahayajnas (i.e., the daily service to gods, guests, ancestors, sages, and the lesser creations like animals and birds) and the daily obligatory prayer known as sandhya-vandana, the latter imperative being applicable to all stages of life except of the sannyasin.

 To be continued ..


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Biography :

-
Image
Personal Life & Legacy : Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel tied the knot at the age of 18, to Jhaverba, who was twelve years of age then. Following the traditional Hindu customs, which allowed the bride to stay with her parents until her husband had a decent income and an established household, the two stayed apart for a few years until Sardar Patel had definite income to fall back on. Along with Jhaverba, he set up a house in Godhra. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Manibehn, in 1904, and a son, Dahyabhai, two years later. In 1909, Jhaverba, who was suffering from cancer, underwent a major surgical operation. Though the operation was successful, Jhaverba’s health continued to decline. She passed away the same year. Patel was against remarrying and instead raised his children with the help of his family. Patel’s health started declining in the summer of 1950. Though he was taken care of intensely, his health worsened. To recuperate, he was flown to Mumbai, where he ...
Read more

Gospel of Lord Krishna : Sri Swami Sivananda -5.

-
Image
27/11/2018 5. Repeatedly Lord Krishna extols righteousness. The greatest Bhakta is—not one who goes on rolling the beads, with selfishness, lust, anger and greed enshrined in his heart but—one who is endowed with all auspicious qualities, and who is devoted to the welfare of humanity. Lord Krishna does not define Jnana as scriptural erudition or an intellectual appreciation of philosophic truths or the capacity and cleverness to string words together and to indulge in vain debating. He defines Jnana as the sum total of the best of virtues. Read the thirteenth Chapter of the Bhagavadgita, you will understand this clearly. The Lord says: watch for these qualities in a man. If they are present, he is a Jnani, a saint; you can safely follow him and adopt him as your spiritual guide. If they are absent, avoid him, even though he may be an expert in the play of words and has learnt the whole of the Vedas and Sastras by heart. For, if you find that a tree is full of mango-fruits,...
Read more

The Discovery of Man - 2. Swami Krishnananda.

-
Image
Chinmaya Mission:  An enriching weekend of fun, learning, and personal growth took place at Chinmaya Mission New Zealand, where participants engaged in a transformative adults' retreat.  The event provided a deep exploration of the essence of faith, emphasizing its pivotal role in one's spiritual journey.  Through insightful discussions, guided meditations, and interactive sessions, attendees gained a profound understanding of how faith shapes and strengthens their inner path.  The retreat not only offered spiritual enrichment but also fostered a sense of community and connection, making it a memorable and impactful experience for all involved. ============================================================================= Friday 23, Aug 2024. 05:30. Article Philosophy: The Discovery of Man:2. Swami Krishnananda (Taken from the January 1974 issue of the Divine Life magazine) Post-2. ============================================================================ Humanity h...
Read more