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Vibuthi
In Hinduism, ''vibhuti'' (), also called ''bhasmam'' or ''tirunīru'', is sacred ash made of burnt dried wood, burnt cow dung and/or cremated bodies used in Agamic rituals. Devotees of Shiva apply ''vibhuti'' traditionally as three horizontal lines across the forehead (also known as ''tripundra)'' and other parts of the body. According to the ''Shiva Purana'', the particles of ash which cling to the skin when ''tripundra'' is applied are to be considered to be individual lingams. The scriptures further state that ''bhasma'' purifies the soul and elevates the devotee of Shiva, and that works done without wearing ''bhasma'' are fruitless. There are various methods for the application of the ashes, according to the ''Shiva Purana'', and various mantras to be recited during application. Other uses Another meaning of ''vibhuti'' is a 'glorious form', in contrast with avatar, a reincarnation of Brahman. In the third chapter of the Yoga Sutras, which is called ''vibhuti-pada'' (c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Hindu Man With Tripundra Tilaka Forehead Markings
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient Greek letter alpha, from which it derives. The uppercase version consists of the two slanting sides of a triangle, crossed in the middle by a horizontal bar. The lowercase version is often written in one of two forms: the double-storey and single-storey . The latter is commonly used in handwriting and fonts based on it, especially fonts intended to be read by children, and is also found in italic type. In English, '' a'' is the indefinite article, with the alternative form ''an''. Name In English, the name of the letter is the ''long A'' sound, pronounced . Its name in most other languages matches the letter's pronunciation in open syllables. History The earliest known ancestor of A is ''aleph''—the first letter of the Phoenician ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole Para Brahman, supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, ''Mahavishnu''. It is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Its followers are called Vaishnavites or ''Vaishnava''s (), and it includes sub-sects like Krishnaism and Ramanandi Sampradaya, Ramaism, which consider Krishna and Rama as the supreme beings respectively. According to a 2020 estimate by The World Religion Database (WRD), hosted at Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs (CURA), Vaishnavism is the largest Hindu sect, constituting about 399 million Hindus. The ancient emergence of Vaishnavism is unclear, and broadly hypothesized as a History of Hinduism, fusion of various regional non-Vedic religions with worship of Vishnu. It is considered a merger of several popular non-Vedic theistic traditio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoga Concepts
Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of Asana, physical, mental, and Spirituality#Asian traditions, spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with Yoga (philosophy), its own philosophy in History of India, ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various Soteriology, salvation goals, as practiced in the Hinduism, Hindu, Jainism, Jain, and Buddhism, Buddhist traditions. Yoga may have pre-Vedic period, Vedic origins, but is first attested in the early first millennium BCE. It developed as various traditions in the eastern Ganges basin drew from a common body of practices, including Vedas, Vedic elements. Yoga-like practices are mentioned in the ''Rigveda'' and a number of early Upanishads, but systematic yoga concepts emerge during the fifth and sixth centuries BCE in ancient India's sannyasa, ascetic and Śramaṇa movements, including Jainism and Buddhism. The ''Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'', the classical text on Hindu yoga, samkhya-based but ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brihajjabala Upanishad
The ''Brihajjabala Upanishad'' (, ) is one of the minor Upanishads, written in Sanskrit language. This Hindu text is attached to the ''Atharvaveda'', and is one of 14 Shaiva Upanishads. It describes the process of producing Vibhuti (Bhasma), or sacred ash, methods of using it for tilaka Tripundra on various parts of the body, and its meaning in Shaivism. The text also mentions Rudraksha as prayer beads. Klaus Klostermaier classifies the ''Brihajjabala Upanishad'' along with the ''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'', the ''Rudrakshajabala Upanishad'', the ''Kalagni Rudra Upanishad'' and the ''Akshamalika Upanishad'' as Shaiva texts that explain symbolism of rites and objects of worship in Shaivism. It is also spelled as ''Brihad jabala Upanishad'', ''Brihajjabalopanishad'' and ''Brihat Jabala Upanishad''. History The date of composition and the author of this text are unknown. It is likely a late medieval, post-12th century era Upanishad and it is neither part of the 17th century compi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhasmajabala Upanishad
''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'' () is one of the minor Shaiva Upanishads of Hinduism written in Sanskrit language. It is associated with the ''Atharvaveda''. The ''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'', in a manner similar to Brihajjabala Upanishad and Akshamalika Upanishad describes Vibhuti (Bhasma) or sacred ash, and Rudraksha beads as symbols and for body art. The text describes how the ash and beads are to be produced, its application on the body. The importance of holy city of Varanasi and its Shiva temple are mentioned in the text. Klaus Klostermaier classifies the text along with the ''Brihajjabala Upanishad'', the '' Rudrakshajabala Upanishad'', the ''Kalagni Rudra Upanishad'' and the '' Akshamalika Upanishad'' as Shaiva texts that explain symbolism of rites and objects of worship in Shaivism. History The date of composition and the author of this text are unknown. Like most sectarian Upanishads, the text is likely a late medieval, post-12th century era Upanishad and it is neither part ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tilaka
In Hinduism, the tilaka (), colloquially known as a tika, is a mark worn usually on the forehead, at the point of the Ajna, ''ajna chakra'' (third eye or spiritual eye) and sometimes other parts of the body such as the neck, hand, chest, or the arm. The ''tilaka'' may be worn daily for decorative purposes, as a symbol for religious affiliation, for rites of passage or for special spiritual and religious occasions, depending on regional customs. It is also used as an expression of honour or to welcome someone upon arrival.Axel Michaels (2015), Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and Its Significance for Ritual Theory', Oxford University Press, , pp. 100-112, 327 Tilakas come in an assortment of styles or shapes and are adorned using various material such as "ash from sacrificial fire or cow dung, sandalwood paste, turmeric, clay, charcoal or red lead." Variations and meaning Different Hindu denominations use different materials and shapes to make the tilaka.Makhan Jha, ''Anthropology o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rudraksha
A ''rudraksha'' (IAST: ') refers to the dried Pyrena, stones or seeds of the genus ''Elaeocarpus'' specifically, ''Elaeocarpus ganitrus''. These stones serve as prayer beads for Hinduism, Hindus (especially Shaivism, Shaivas) and Buddhism, Buddhists. When they are ripe, ''rudraksha'' stones are covered by a blue outer fruit so they are sometimes called "blueberry beads". The stones are associated with the Hindu deity Shiva and are commonly worn for protection and for chanting mantras such as Om Namah Shivaya (; ). They are primarily sourced from India, Indonesia, and Nepal for jewellery and japamala, malas (garlands) and valued similarly to semi-precious stones. ''Rudraksha'' can have up to twenty one "faces" (, ) or locules – naturally ingrained longitudinal lines which divide the stone into segments. Each face represents a particular deity. Etymology ''Rudraksha'' is a Sanskrit compound word consisting of "''Rudra''"() referring to Shiva and "'"() meaning "eye". Sanskri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kumkum
Kumkuma is a powder used for social and religious markings in India. It is made from turmeric or any other local materials. The turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder into a red color. In India, it is known by many names including ''kuṅkumam'' (Sanskrit कुङ्कुमम्, Tamil குங்குமம், and Malayalam കുങ്കുമം), ''kumkuma'' ( Telugu కుంకుమ), ''kukum'' (Konkani कुकूम्), ''kunku'' (Marathi कुंकू), ''kanku'' ( Gujarati કંકુ), ''kumkum'' ( Bengali কুমকুম and Hindi कुमकुम), and ''kunkuma'' (Kannada ಕುಂಕುಮ). Application Kumkuma is most often applied by Indians to the forehead. The reason involves the ancient Indian belief that "the human body is divided into seven vortices of energy, called chakras, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. The sixth chakra, also known as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bindi (decoration)
A bindi (from Sanskrit '' bindú'' meaning "point, drop, dot or small particle") is a coloured dot or, in modern times, a sticker worn on the centre of the forehead, originally by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists from the Indian subcontinent. A bindi is a bright dot of some colour applied in the centre of the forehead close to the eyebrows or in the middle of the forehead that is worn in the Indian subcontinent (particularly amongst Hindus in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka)Khanna 1979: p. 171 and Southeast Asia among Balinese, Javanese, Sundanese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Vietnamese, and Myanmar Hindus. A similar marking is also worn by babies and children in China and, as in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, represents the opening of the third eye. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism the bindi is associated with the ajna chakra, and Bindu (symbol), BinduMercier (2007). p. 267. is known as the third eye chakra. Bindu (symbol), Bindu is the point or dot around whic ... [...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] |
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle (4 December 17955 February 1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher. Known as the "Sage writing, sage of Chelsea, London, Chelsea", his writings strongly influenced the intellectual and artistic culture of the Victorian era. Carlyle was born in Ecclefechan, a village in Dumfriesshire. He attended the University of Edinburgh where he excelled in mathematics and invented the Carlyle circle. After finishing the arts course, he prepared to become a minister in the Burgher (Church history), Burgher Church while working as a schoolmaster. He quit these and several other endeavours before settling on literature, writing for the ''Edinburgh Encyclopædia'' and working as a translator. He initially gained prominence in English-language literary circles for his extensive writing on German Romanticism, German Romantic literature and philosophy. These themes were explored in his first major work, a semi-autobiographical philosophical novel entitled ''Sartor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo (born Aurobindo Ghose; 15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950) was an Indian Modern yoga gurus, yogi, maharishi, and Indian nationalist. He also edited the newspaper Bande Mataram (publication), ''Bande Mataram''. Aurobindo studied for the Imperial Civil Service, Indian Civil Service at King's College, Cambridge, King's College, in Cambridge, England. After returning to India, he took up various civil service works under the Maharaja of the princely state of Baroda State, Baroda. He became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti. He was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Emperor v. Aurobindo Ghosh and others, Alipore Conspiracy and then released, after which he moved to Pondicherry (city), Pondicherry and developed a spiritual practice he called Integral ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
