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Śāstra-tattva-vinirṇaya
''Śāstra-tattva-vinirṇaya'', also transliterated as ''Shastra-tattva-vinirnaya'' ("A Verdict on the Truth of the Shastra"), is a Sanskrit-language text written by Nilakantha Gore (or Goreh, later Neremiah Goreh) during 1844–1845 in Benares, British India. It is a Hindu apologist response to the Christian writer John Muir's ''Mataparīkṣā''. Authorship Nilakantha Gore, a Marathi-speaking Chitpavan Brahmin wrote the text at Benares during 1844-1845, at the age of 19. Around four years later, he later converted to Christianity, and was baptized with the name Nehemiah. Contents The text comprises 784 ''anuṣṭubh'' verses in 6 chapters: # Repudiation of the Opponent's Way of Examining the Authoritativeness of Religion (''Parokta-mata-prāmāṇya-parīkṣā-prakāra-nirākaraṇaṃ''), 28 verses # Investigation of Faults in the Opponent's Religion (''Para-mata-dūṣaṇa-nirūpaṇaṃ''), 71 verses # Beneficial Instruction (''Hitopadeśa''), 71 verses # Investig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nilakantha Gore
Nehemiah Goreh (born Nilakantha Gore; 1825—1895) was a Hindu convert to Christianity in British India. As a Hindu apologist, he wrote the Sanskrit-language text '' Śāstra-tattva-vinirṇaya'' and a Hindi-language synopsis of it, defending Hinduism against Christian missionaries. Later, he converted to Christianity, and wrote texts critical of Hinduism, including '' Shad-darshana Darpana''. Early life Nilakantha Gore (or Goreh) was born in a Marathi-speaking Chitpavan Brahmin family in 1825, in the Kashipura village of Deccan region. His ancestors were hereditary counselors to the ruler of Bundelkhand. His uncle served as an advisor to the Maratha vassal ''Nawab'' Ali Bahadur of Banda. The family later retired from public service, and settled in the Maratha enclave in the Assi Ghat area of Benares (Varanasi). At Benares, the family maintained ''Anna-purna-chattar'', a charitable institution for pilgrims. Goreh's family did not let him attend the Benares Sanskrit College, c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hindu Apologetics
Apologetics (from Greek ) is the religious discipline of defending religious doctrines through systematic argumentation and discourse. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their beliefs against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called Christian apologists. In 21st-century usage, ''apologetics'' is often identified with debates over religion and theology. Etymology The term ''apologetics'' derives from the Ancient Greek word (). In the Classical Greek legal system, the prosecution delivered the (), the accusation or charge, and the defendant replied with an ', the defence. The was a formal speech or explanation to reply to and rebut the charges. A famous example is Socrates' Apologia defense, as chronicled in Plato's ''Apology''. In the Koine Greek of the New Testament, the Apostle Paul employs the term ''apologia'' in his trial speech to Festus and Agrippa when he says "I make my defense" in Acts 26:2. A cognate form appears in Paul's Le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mataparīkṣā
''Mata-parīkṣā'' is a Sanskrit-language text by the Christian author John Muir. It criticizes Hinduism, and portrays Christianity as the true faith. It was written in British India in 1839, and revised twice. As suggested by the title ''Mata-parīkṣā'' (Sanskrit for "An Examination of Religions"), Muir portrayed himself as an impartial judge of religions. William Hodge Mill criticized the text for discussing the Christian philosophy in isolation instead of encouraging the readers to get baptized and join the Church. Contents The book is written in form of a dialogue between a student and a teacher. The following is a synopsis of 1839 edition: # Description of God's Attributes (''Īśvara-guṇa-varṇana'') #: The student notes that various religions contradict each other, and therefore, not all of them can be true. The teacher explains that an intelligent person must analyze religions, accept the true one, and reject all others. He then describes the various attribu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another, they existed between 1612 and 1947, conventionally divided into three historical periods: *Between 1612 and 1757, the East India Company set up "factories" (trading posts) in several locations, mostly in coastal India, with the consent of the Mughal emperors, Maratha Empire or local rulers. Its rivals were the merchant trading companies of Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, and France. By the mid-18th century three ''Presidency towns'': Madras, Bombay and Calcutta, had grown in size. *During the period of Company rule in India, 1757–1858, the Company gradually acquired sovereignty over large parts of India, now called "Presidencies". However, it also increasingly came under British government oversight, in effect sharing sovereig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brahmin
Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). The traditional occupation of Brahmins is that of priesthood (purohit, pandit, or pujari) at Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies, and the performing of rite of passage rituals, such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers.James Lochtefeld (2002), Brahmin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing, , page 125 Traditionally, Brahmins are accorded the supreme ritual status of the four social classes, and they also served as spiritual teachers (guru or acharya). In practice, Indian texts suggest that some Brahmins historically also became agriculturalists, warriors, traders, and had also held other occupations in the Indian subcontinent.GS Ghurye (1969), Caste and Race in India, Popular Prakasha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eternal Life (Christianity)
Eternal life traditionally refers to continued afterlife, life after death, as outlined in Christian eschatology. The Apostles' Creed testifies: "I believe... the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." In this view, eternal life commences after the Second Coming of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ and the Resurrection of the Dead#Christianity, resurrection of the dead, although in the New Testament's Johannine literature there are references to eternal life commencing in the earthly life of the believer, possibly indicating an inaugurated eschatology. According to mainstream Christian theology, after death but before the Second Coming, the saved live with God in an Intermediate state (Christianity), intermediate state, but after the Second Coming, experience the physical resurrection of the dead and the physical recreation of a the New Earth, New Earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrectio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhagavan
The word Bhagavan (; ), also spelt as Bhagwan (sometimes translated in English as "Lord", "God"), is an epithet within Indian religions used to denote figures of religious worship. In Hinduism it is used to signify a deity or an ''avatar'', particularly for Krishna and Vishnu in Vaishnavism, Shiva in Shaivism and Durga or Adi Shakti in Shaktism.James Lochtefeld (2000), "Bhagavan", The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A–M, Rosen Publishing. , page 94Friedhelm Hardy (1990), The World's Religions: The Religions of Asia, Routledge, , pages 79-83 In Jainism the term refers to the Tirthankaras, and in Buddhism to the Buddha. In many parts of India and South Asia, Bhagavan represents the concept of a universal God or Divine to Hindus who are spiritual and religious but do not worship a specific deity. In '' bhakti'' school literature, the term is typically used for any deity to whom prayers are offered. A particular deity is often the devotee's one and only Bhagavan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karma In Hinduism
Karma is a concept of Hinduism which describes a system in which beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a soul's ( jivatman's) reincarnated lives, forming a cycle of rebirth. The causality is said to apply not only to the material world but also to our thoughts, words, actions, and actions that others do under our instructions. Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, ''The hidden power in humans'', Ibera Verlag, page 23., For example, if one performs a good deed, something good will happen to them, and the same applies if one does a bad thing. In the Puranas, it is said that the lord of karma is represented by the planet Saturn, known as Shani. According to Vedanta thought, the most influential school of Hindu theology, the effects of karma are controlled by God (Isvara). There are four different types of karma: ''prarabdha'', ''sanchita'', and ''kriyamana'' a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hindu Philosophy
Hindu philosophy or Vedic philosophy is the set of philosophical systems that developed in tandem with the first Hinduism, Hindu religious traditions during the Iron Age in India, iron and Classical India, classical ages of India. In Indian philosophy, of which Hindu philosophy is a prominent subset, the word used for philosophy is ''Darshana'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन; meaning: "viewpoint or perspective"), from the Sanskrit root 'दृश' () meaning 'to see, to experience'. The schools of thought or ''Darshanas'' within Hindu philosophy largely equate to the six ancient orthodox schools: the ''Āstika and nāstika, āstika'' (Sanskrit: आस्तिक) schools, defined by their acceptance of the Vedas, the oldest collection of Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit texts, as an authoritative source of knowledge. Of these six, Samkhya (सांख्य) is the earliest school of Dualism (Indian philosophy), dualism; Yoga (philosophy), Yoga (योग) combines the metaphysics ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Krishna
Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is widely revered among Hindu divinities. Krishna's birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar calendar, lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar. The anecdotes and narratives of Krishna's life are generally titled as ''Krishna Līlā''. He is a central figure in the ''Mahabharata'', the ''Bhagavata Purana'', the ''Brahma Vaivarta Purana,'' and the ''Bhagavad Gita'', and is mentioned in many Hindu philosophy, Hindu philosophical, Hindu theology, theological, and Hindu mythology, mythological texts. They portray him in various perspectives: as a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Idol Worship
Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic God as if it were God. In these monotheistic religions, idolatry has been considered as the "worship of false gods" and is forbidden by texts such as the Ten Commandments. Other monotheistic religions may apply similar rules. For instance, the phrase '' false god'' is a derogatory term used in Abrahamic religions to indicate cult images or deities of non-Abrahamic Pagan religions, as well as other competing entities or objects to which particular importance is attributed. Conversely, followers of animistic and polytheistic religions may regard the gods of various monotheistic religions as "false gods" because they do not believe that any real deity possesses the properties ascribed by monotheists to their sole deity. Atheists, who do n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rasa Lila
The Raslila (), also rendered the Rasalila or the Ras dance, is part of a traditional story described in Hindu texts such as the Bhagavata Purana and Gita Govinda, where Krishna dances with Radha and the gopis of Braj. Rasalila has also been a popular theme for other India classical dances including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Manipuri Raas Leela, Kuchipudi, and Kathak. The Indian classical dance of ''Kathak'' and ''Manipuri Raas leela'' are evolved from the rasalila of Braj. Kathak, also known as ''Natwari Nritya'', was revived in the 1960s by the Kathak dancer, Uma Sharma. Etymology The term ''raslila'' is derived from the Sanskrit words ''ras'' which means "nectar", "emotion" or "sweet taste" and '' lila'' meaning "act," "play" or "dance." Thus, it is more broadly defined as the "Dance of Divine Love" or "Sweet act of Krishna." Legend The Raslila takes place one night when the gopis of Vrindavana, upon hearing the sound of Krishna's flute, sneak away from their household ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
