BRAHMA Hinduism lacks any unified system of beliefs and ideas. It is a phenomenon and represents a broad spectrum of beliefs and practices which on one hand are akin to paganism, pantheism and the like, and on the other very profound, abstract, metaphysical ideas. Since religion and culture are nearly interchangeable terms in Hinduism, emotive expressions like 'bhakti' (devotion) or 'dharma' (what is right) and 'yoga' (discipline) are used to depict essential aspects of the religion. Hinduism believes in idol worship, reincarnation, karma, dharma and moksha. Some moral ideals in Hinduism include non-violence, truthfulness, friendship, compassion, fortitude, self- control, purity and generosity. Human life is divided into four stages, and there are defined rites and rituals for each stage from birth till death. Traditional Hinduism has two life- long dharmas that one can follow: ‘Grihastha Dharma’ (Domestic Religion) and ‘Sannyasin Dharma’ (Ascetic Religion). The ‘Grihastha Dharma’ has four goals: ‘kāma’ (sensual pleasure), ‘artha’ (wealth and prosperity), ‘dharma’ (the laws of life), and ‘moksha’ (liberation from the cycle of births). The ‘ Sannyasin Dharma’ recognizes ‘moksha’ as its ultimate goal.

VISHNU According to Swami Vivekananda, "the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times" constitutes the sacred Hindu texts. Collectively referred to as the Shastras, there are two types of sacred writings in the Hindu scriptures: Shruti (heard) and Smriti (memorized). Sruti literature refers to the habit of ancient Hindu saints who led a solitary life in the woods, where they developed a consciousness that enabled them to 'hear' or cognize the truths of the universe. Sruti literatures are of two parts: the Vedas and the Upanishads. There are four Vedas: The Rig Veda -"Royal Knowledge" The Sama Veda - "Knowledge of Chants" The Yajur Veda - "Knowledge of Sacrificial Rituals" The Atharva Veda - "Knowledge of Incarnations" There are 108 extant Upanishads, of which 10 are most important: Isa, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taitiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka. Smriti Literature refers to 'memorized' or 'remembered' poetry and epics. They are more popular with Hindus, because they are easy to understand, explains universal truths through symbolism and mythology, and contain some of the most beautiful and exciting stories in the history of religion world literature. The three most important of Smriti literature are: The Bhagavad Gita - The most well known of the Hindu scriptures, called the "Song of the Adorable One", written about the 2nd century BC and forms the sixth part of Mahabharata. It contains some of the most brilliant theological lessons about the nature of God and of life ever written. The Mahabharata - The world's longest epic poem written about 9th century BC, and deals with the power struggle between the Pandava and the Kaurava families, with an intertwining of numerous episodes that make up life. The Ramayana - The most popular of Hindu epics, composed by Valmiki around 4th or 2nd centuries BC with later additions up to about 300 CE. It depicts the story of the royal couple of Ayodha - Ram and Sita and a host of other characters and their exploits.

Ganesha: The Lord of Success About the elephant-headed deity - the Hindu god of success, the importance of his form and how he got his head. Ganesh Chaturthi About the Great Ganesha festival. Read how to celebrate this auspicious occasion and pray for inner strength and success in all your undertakings... Ganesha Gallery: Paintings & Sculptures Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu deities. We present here a selection of contemporary Ganesha paintings and sculptures...

Who is Krishna? The great exponent of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is the ninth and the most powerful incarnation of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity of deities. Read all about the 'Dark Lord', his life and teachings... Christ-Krishna Connection Similarities in the names, lives and teachings of the greatest figures of the world's greatest religions have enough fuel for the curious mind to prod into the proposition that they were indeed one and the same person. Indeed it's hard to ignore a host of likenesses between Jesus Christ and Lord Krishna. The Story of the Birth of Lord Krishna The birth of Krishna is in itself a transcendental phenomenon that generates awe among the Hindus and overwhelms one and all with its supra mundane happenings. Lord Krishna Speaks on Knowledge Krishna knowledge quotations wisdom gyan gita 10 questions faq Lord krisna krsna vedanta guru teach intellect geetha bhagavad books spiritual writings readings literature life meaning Hinduism information vedic tradition Hindu hinduism scriptures vivekananda Hindu Indian India religion

Lord Hanuman Hanuman, the mighty monkey deity is among the most popular gods in the Hindu pantheon. Read how an ape can become so venerable, and about the exciting exploits of this simian icon that never fail to thrill us. The Greatness of Hanuman The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us. His greatness lies in his complete merger with his Lord, which also formed the base of his genial qualities. Hanuman's Life & Education Read about the story of Hanuman's birth, childhood and education. Hanuman in Hindu Epics It is hard to find a mythical character who features prominently in both the great epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

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GODDESS.. Saraswati: Goddess of Knowledge & Arts Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants to her often begin and end Vedic lessons. Kali: The Dark Mother Goddess Kali, the Dark Mother is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond. Get close to Kali - the fearful goddess with a heart of a mother! Lakshmi: Goddess of Wealth & Beauty! All about the Hindu deity Lakshmi - the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Goddess Durga Goddess Durga is the mother of the universe and is worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being. Kali: The Dark Mother The love between the Divine Mother and her human children is a unique relationship. Kali, the Dark Mother is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond. Get close to Kali - the fearful goddess with a heart of a mother! Lakshmi: Goddess of Wealth & Beauty About the domestic deity Lakshmi - the goddess of prosperity, wealth, purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

did u really read it

Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Being or Brahman. The most fundamental of Hindu deities are the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. But many other gods such as Ganesha, Krishna, Rama, Hanuman, and goddesses like Lakshmi, Durga, Kali and Saraswati top the popularity chart with Hindus across the world

1. Ganesha Easily recognizable as the elephant-deity riding a mouse, Ganesha is arguably he most popular Hindu God, and one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is depicted has having a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth. 2. Shiva The most powerful and fascinating deity in Hinduism, who represents death and dissolution. One of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity, and known by many names - Mahadeva, Pashupati, Nataraja, Vishwanath, Bhole Nath - Shiva is perhaps the most complex of Hindu deities. Hindus recognise this by putting his shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities and worshipping Shiva as a phallic symbol called the ‘Shiva Limgam’ in most temples. 3. Krishna The great exponent of the Gita, Krishna is the ninth and the most complete avatar of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity. Of all avatars he is the most popular and perhaps the one closest to the heart of the masses. This blue-skinned deity has influenced the Indian thought, life and culture in myriad ways - not only its religion and philosophy, but also into its mysticism and literature, painting and sculpture, dance and music, and all aspects of Indian folklore.

4. Rama Rama, the perfect avatar of the Supreme Protector Vishnu, is an all-time favorite among Hindu deities. The most popular symbol of chivalry and virtue, Rama is “ the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all, the ideal king." He is widely believed to be an actual historical figure - a "tribal hero of ancient India" - whose exploits form the great Hindu epic of Ramayana or The Romance of Rama. 5. Hanuman Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, described in the epic Ramayana, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon. Believed to be an avatar of Lord Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion. In times of trouble, it is a common faith among Hindus to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn - "Hanuman Chalisa". Hanuman temples are among the most common public shrines found in India. 6. Vishnu The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth. Vishnu ’s earthly incarnations have 10 major avatars. The devout followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas, and his consort is Lakshmi. Vishnu is popularly worshipped as Lord Venkateshwara in the southern India.

7. Lakshmi Goddess Lakshmi means "Good Luck" to Hindus. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a full- bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility. 8. Durga The Mother Goddess — known variously as Durga, Bhavani, Sherawali, Amba, Chandika, Gauri, Parvati, Vaishno Devi — represents the fiery powers of the gods. The name “Durga” means “inaccessible”, and she is the personification of the active side of the divine “ shakti” energy of Lord Shiva. Durga is usually portrayed as riding a lion, and carrying weapons in her many arms. She is the protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil. 9. Kali Kali, or the dark goddess, is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. She is depicted as having born from the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with the evil forces. Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are sullied with blood. She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.

10. Saraswati Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants to her, called the 'Saraswati Vandana' often begin and end Vedic lessons. The goddess of wisdom, art and music, she is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning.

Intresting and very informative topic. Though topic lacks proper editing but still this is an fine topic u posted

As U haven't edited out the words referring to pics U might have uploaded some as attachments, bro. May Ganesha rain blessings on U, bro!

where parabrahma? parabrahma is the ultimate

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