NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Varnashrama dharma

Varnashrama dharma (IAST:Varṇāśrama dharma) refers to the system of classes of social life and stages of individual life in Hinduism. Varna refers to the four naturally existing classes of society as given in the Hindu scriptures: Brahmin ("scholarly community"), Kshatriya ("warriors or politicians community"), Vaishya ("mercantile community") and Shudra ("service providing community") whereas Asrama refers to the four stages of individual life prescribed for all Hindus: Brahmacharya ("student life"), Grihastha ("householder life"), Vanaprastha ("anchorite life") and Sannyasa ("renunciate life"). The Hindu tradition holds this system as a dharma ("sacred law") sanctioned by the scriptures. IAST, or International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is the academic standard for writing the Sanskrit language with the Latin alphabet and very similar to National Library at Calcutta romanization standard being used with many Indic scripts. ... Hinduism (Sanskrit: , IAST: ), also known as , (IAST: ) and , (IAST: ) is a set of religious traditions that originated mainly in the Indian subcontinent. ... Hindu scriptures Hindu scripture is overwhelmingly written in Sanskrit. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. ... Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is the title of the princely military order in the Vedic society. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤¯ vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Brahmacharya is a Sanskrit word. ... Pronunciation Gri as the Gru in Gruel Has as the Hus in Husk tha as in thaw Word Root This is a Sanskrit word. ... A vanaprastha (from Sanskrit vana, forest, and prus, dwelling) is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires. ... Sanyasa (pronounced sanyaas) symbolises the conception of the mystic life in Hinduism where a person is now integrated into the spiritual world after wholly giving up material life. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The Sanskrit term Varna is derived from the root vrn meaning "to choose (from a group)." This is contrary to the assumption that 'varna' denotes color and hence signifies qualities of someone, just as Saguna Brahman means "with qualities." In the context of social hierarchies, it means "arrangement". When humans first settled down into agrarian and trading societies, many changes occurred in social relationships. People got organised into structures that could be stable and accommodating diverse individuals in diverse occupations. Societies are organic wholes self-sustained by diverse groups with differing occupations that optimise that society's well-being and growth. The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... Saguna Brahma, in Hindu philosophy, is God or Supreme Consciousness with gunas (qualities or attributes). ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Agriculture (a term which encompasses farming) is the art, science or practice of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. ...

The varna system is a functional hierarchy system proposed by the Brahmin texts to describe their society. It is an ideal system that did not exist anywhere in reality, as the Indian society was organised according to [Jatis], since time immemorial. The oldest mention of the caste system is in the Purusha sukta of Rigveda 10.90 which claims "Brahmana is the mouth of the purusha, rajanya his arms, vaishya is his thighs and shudra arose from his feet" - an obvious reference to the organic (purusha) nature of the society, sustained by the harmonious integration of functional groups (organs) working in unison. Please note the difference between structural functionalism, which was developed by Meyer Fortes and Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard, and structuralism, a theoretical concept developed by other (generally later) anthropologists like Claude LÃ©vi-Strauss and Edmund Leach. ...

In such organic hierarchies, it is recognised that proper functioning of each part is necessary for the stability of the whole. This led to the importance given to kartavya or "duties" (deontology). Each one is obligated to perform their duties relevant to their position in the system. Proper functioning is of utmost necessity for the stability of the whole structure. In moral philosophy, deontology is the view that morality either forbids or permits actions, which is done through moral norms. ...

Etymology

Varna is a Sanskrit term (वर्ण varṇa meaning type, order, colour or faith (faithless), preference, religious affiliation, conviction, or "to choose", or lustre. The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ...

See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... The Gathas are the most sacred of the texts of the Zoroastrian faith, and are traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... The Gathas are the most sacred of the texts of the Zoroastrian faith, and are traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ... Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and greater Persian cultures. ... Agni is a Hindu deity. ... Ushas (उषः úṣas-), Sanskrit for dawn, is the chief goddess (sometimes imagined as several goddesses, Dawns) exalted in the Rigveda. ...

Social development

The caste system is used by Hindus, particularly in India, Bali and Nepal for reasons of determining lineage and is passed down through patrilineal descent. It is based on four varnas. Sometimes mlechha (people excluded from caste) are referred to as fifth varna. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bali is an Indonesian island located at , , one of the Lesser Sunda Islands. ... Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to ones fathers lineage; it generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well. ...

Jati

The terms Varna (class) and Jati (caste) are two distinct concepts. Varna ("class") (from Sanskrit, literally "arrangement") is a supposed unification of all the Hindu sub-castes or jatis into either four groups: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, or into one of several varna-sankaras वर्ण संकर. Jati (Caste) is an endogamous group. Generally a sub-caste is divided into exogamus groups based on same gotras गोत्र. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. ... Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is the title of the princely military order in the Vedic society. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤¯ vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... Varna-sankara Varna-sankara (of hybrid varna) is a term used in the Hindu dharma-shastras to denote those communities which did not fit in any of the four varnas. ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. ... Endogamous group is a community in which the members generally marry within the group. ... Exogamous group is a section of society within which marriages are prohibited. ... A Gotra indicates lineage in the Hindu community. ...

Many of the Hindus could be classified into a specific varna. But not all. During the British rule, several cases went to court to settle the "varna" of a sub-caste. For example, the farmers are sometimes given Kshatriya status because many ruling Chieftains may have risen from them. On the other hand some classified them as Vaisya, based on an older occupation of artisans. Orthodox Brahmins may classify them as Shudras, because they do not have a tradition of undergoing through the thread ceremony, that would make them dvija द्विज . Dvija (sanskrit) means one who is twice born. ...

The twice born

The first three castes are seen as 'twice born'. They are allowed to study vedas. In India and Nepal the sub-castes within a Varna are called Jat or Jati (The caste is also used instead of Jat). Traditionally, each Jati members are allowed to marry only with their Jati members. People are born into their Jati and it cannot be changed. Once someone is born to certain sub-caste or Jati he or she cannot be changed to another Jati, although some groups throughout history have risen or fallen according to their deeds. Caste is a permanent attribute among the Hindus.

The occupations of the Vaishya are those connected with trade, the cultivation of the land and the breeding of cattle; while those of a Kshatriya consist in ruling and defending the people, administering justice, and the duties, of the military profession generally and ruling and expounding all Dharma. Both share with the Brahman the privilege of reading the Vedas. To the Brahman belongs the right of teaching and expounding the sacred texts vedas. Shudras were the serfs, and performed agricultural labour. Intermarriage between jatis was not encouraged. Religiously anyone who does not belong to the four Varnas is an outcast. Muluki Ain has incorporated the entire ethnic group of Nepal into Caste hierarchy.^{[citation needed]} A fruit stand at a market. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called crocadiles in vernacular and contemporary usage, kine or kyne in pre-modern English, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... J.L. Urban, statue of Lady Justice at court building in Olomouc, Czech Republic (1896-1901) Justice is the ideal, morally correct state of things and persons. ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Costumes of Slaves or Serfs, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Centuries, collected by H. de Vielcastel, from original Documents in the great Libraries of Europe. ...

Instances in Hindu texts and tradition

The Rig-Veda refers in the Purusha Sukta to the four principal varnas described in Manu's code, viz. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The term Varna is not associated with Brahmins or Kshatriyas in the Rig Veda, and the term Varna does not occur in the Purusha Sukta. It affirmed that varnashram dharma needs to be strictly followed as every soul has been given a specific duty by God. A soul is born into a varna as punishment/reward for its karmic influences—actions in past lives (Hindus believe in reincarnation). The Rig Veda à¤‹à¤—à¥à¤µà¥‡à¤¦ (Sanskrit á¹›gveda from á¹›c praise + veda knowledge) is a collection of hymns(each hymn is called a Rucha.) counted among the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and contains the oldest texts preserved in any Indo-Iranian language. ... The Manu Smriti or Laws of Manu, is one of the eighteen Smritis of the Dharma Sastra (or laws of righteous conduct), written c. ... Karma (Sanskrit: from the root , to do, [meaning deed] meaning action, effect, destiny) is a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. ...

The Purusha Sukta' hymn (Rig Veda 10:90) mentions the varnas and compares them to the body of the "primordial man": "The Brâhmana was his mouth, of both his arms was the Râjanya made. His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Sûdra was produced." (RV 10:90:12) In the Purusha Sukta hymn the word Varna is not used, and it is the only hymn of the Rig Veda where the words Vaishya and Sudra are used. The Purusha Sukta hymn is considered to be one of the youngest parts of the Rig Veda. In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤¯ vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

There is an Upanishadic story of a boy who went to a guru to study the various holy Hindu scriptures. His guru asked him what his varna was. Consulting his mother, who was actually a prostitute who didn't really know what her caste was, the boy returned to the guru and told him that he was all castes. He worshipped the Gods, thus fulfilling the duties that are ordinarily a Brahmin's, he earned his keep like a Vaishya, took care of cleaning the house, like a Shudra, and protected his family's interest like a Kshatriya. The guru was pleased and told the boy he was fit to be taught and initiated into the Brahmin's life. Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

The Dharmashastras (a collection of collections of Hindu codes and laws) say that caste is not just determined by birth, but by action in life according to the dharma of varna-ashram as well. The Dharmashastra is a volume of Hindu legal texts, covering moral, ethical and social laws. ... Look up life, living in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Brahmins (priests), The Kshatriyas (warriors, nobility), the Vaishyas (the craftsmen and men of commerce), and the Shudras (agriculture workers; menial workers) were the four varnas. A person of each varna was said to possess certain set of characteristics: the Shudras, they believed, were of the tamasic nature; the Vaishyas were either tamasic or rajasic; the Kshatriyas were believed to be noble, learned and selfless, his or her duty being the administration of the people and fighting of battles against intruders, often very spiritually inclined; and that the Brahmins were religious, pure, Society's bank of knowledge and wisdom for their memory of holy scriptures, the performers of rituals. However, there is a dispute as to which varna holds the greatest spiritual purity. Brahmins are associated with the evil Daksha, an arrogant brahmin that received the head of a goat, and according to scriptures caused all brahmins to be cursed by Nandi to never attain the greatest spiritual heights in Hinduism as Daksha insulted Shiva. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the door of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... In Hinduism, Daksha is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Aditi and Brahma. ... In Hinduism, Nandi is the white bull which Shiva rides, and the leader of the Ganas. ... Shiva (Sanskrit: à¤¶à¤¿à¤µ; Hindi: à¤¶à¤¿à¤µ (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Åšiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as ) is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. ...

Hindu tantrics are a part of Hinduism whose scriptural texts, the Agamic texts known collectively as the Tantras, assert their descent from the Vedas, especially the Atharva-Veda. Claiming that the Vedic rituals no longer necessary in Kali Yuga, that the fourth and final epoch of humanity in Hinduism shall see morality ebb to complete dissolution until the end of the earth, the Tantrics see themselves as natural continuations of the Vedas through Hindu yogic practices--and not of any particular caste, yet not Untouchables. now. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... The Atharva Veda is a sacred text of Hinduism, part of the four books of the Vedas. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... A woman practicing hatha yoga Yoga, meaning union in Sanskrit, is a family of ancient spiritual practices, and also a school of spiritual thought that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. ...

Many Hindu yogis and sages have, over the centuries, constantly commented about caste. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th century), the powerful bhakti of Krishna also denounced caste. He famously distributed the Hare Krishna mantra to non-brahmins all around India, claiming this was the True path to moksha. Deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (right) and Sri Nityananda (left) at Radha-Krishna temple in Radhadesh, Belgium Caitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Chaitanya) (1486 - 1534), was an ascetic Hindu monk and social reformer in 16th century Bengal, India (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh). ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Bhakti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Krishna (à¤•à¥ƒà¤·à¥à¤£ in Devanagari, IAST ) is according to various Hindu traditions the eighth or the ninth avatar of Vishnu. ... Hare Krishna Mantra in Devanagari. ...

Kanakadasa of the 15th century also denounced Casteism. He believed that Life in every human being is Divine, and that only the ignorant wrought injustice against their own brethren by practising the caste system. Kanakadasa (c 1509-1609 A.D.) belongs to the tradition of Haridasa literary movement which ushered in an era of devotional literature in Karnataka. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

Rigveda and Manu Smriti

In Sanskrit, Varṇa means color, as in quality (just as the term "Shaguna Brahman.") One of the hymns of the Rig Veda, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures, gives the following enumeration in the famous Purusha Sukta (RV 10.90): The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

Its rough translation is : "What became of his (the Cosmic Spirit's) face or mouth? What became of his two arms? What became of His two thighs? What were (the products of) the two feet called? From His face (or the mouth) came the brahmanas. From His two arms came the rajanya (the kshatriyas). From His two thighs came the vaishyas. From His two feet came the shudras."

In the Purusha Sukta hymn the word Varna is not used, and it is the only hymn of the Rig Veda where the words Vaishya and Sudra are used. The Purusha Sukta hymn is considered to be one of the youngest parts of the Rig Veda. In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤¯ vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

Manu Smriti is often quoted in reference to the Varna-caste system. The Manu Smriti is a later work that does not form a part of Hindu Scriptures, so it is of questionable relevance. Use of the Manu Smriti by the British colonialists has led to claims that it is used by politicians and sociologists to denigrate those of the Hindu faith.this article. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The Manu Smriti claims that by the time it was written, Hinduism included another class (untouchables) of people without a position in any of the four Varnas and therefore associated with the lowest of the jobs. The upper castes, who were supposed to maintain ritual and corporal purity, came to regard them as untouchables. The people of this "fifth varna" are now called Dalits (the oppressed) or Harijans; they were formerly known as "untouchables" or "pariahs". To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In South Asias caste system, an untouchable, dalit, or achuta is a person outside of the four castes, and considered below them. ... In South Asias caste system, a Dalit â€” formerly called untouchable â€” is a person outside the four castes, and considered below them. ... The Pariah or Pariar people are a large tribal group in India; they are members of the Dalit or formerly untouchable class of southern Indias Tamil Nadu state. ...

It is very clear that in the early Vedic times, the Varna system (if at all it existed) meant classes with free mobility of jobs and intermarriage. One hymn of the Rig Veda states: The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ...

While intermarriage between Brahmana bridegrooms and Kshatriya princesses was extremely common (even sanctioned by the later Manu Smriti), in many instances, marriages between Kshatriya princes and Brahmana brides was also observed (severely condemned by Manu Smriti). One of such instances is marriage of Yayati, a Kshatriya King, with Devayani, a daughter of the sage Shukracharya. Shukracharya is a Hindu Mythological Character. ...

In later times, with the elaboration of ritualism, the caste system became absolutely hereditary (the historians disagree as to when) and the Shudras were not even allowed to hear the sacred word of the Vedas.

"If the shudra intentionally listens for committing to memory the veda, then his ears should be filled with (molten) lead and lac; if he utters the veda, then his tongue should be cut off; if he has mastered the veda his body should be cut to pieces." (Manu Smriti XII. 4)

Opposition within Hinduism

Critics point that the effect of the system was to bind certain castes to sources of influence, power and economy while locking out others and thus create more affluence for higher castes and severe poverty for lower castes and the outcast Dalit. In the last 150 years Indian movements arose to throw off the economic and political yoke of the caste system.

In the religious epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira, is questioned by Yama in the form of a Yaksha, about what makes one a Brahmin. Yudhisthira, without hesitation, said that it is conduct alone that makes one a Brahmin. Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ), is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira (Sanskrit: à¤¯à¥à¤§à¤¿à¤·à¥à¤ à¤¿à¤°, yudhishthira) was the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, king of Hastinapura and Indraprastha, and World Emperor. ... This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism. ...

Ramananda, an ascetic of the Sri Ramanuja's Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, accepted all castes as his disciples. Mirabai, the 15th century mystical poet and Queen of Chittor is known to have ignored caste distinctions and elected the cobbler, Sant Rohidas, as her guru. Annamacharya, a 15th century telugu poet's famous Bramhamokkada song, preaches equality of all in the eyes of God and condemns the caste system. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the 19th century Hindu religious leader, also did not recognise caste distinctions and took his first alms as a twice-born Brahmin from a Shudra woman. Ramananda was a vaishnava saint, a Ramayat - devotee of Lord Rama. ... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (traditionally dated 1017â€“1137 CE) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Mirabai (à¤®à¥€à¤°à¤¾à¤¬à¤¾à¤ˆ) (1498-1547) (sometimes also spelled Meera) was a female Hindu mystical poet during the Mughal period of Indian history. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Image:Annamayya. ... The Telugu people are, unsurprisingly, Telugu language speaking people. ... Sri Thakur Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Bangla: à¦¶à§à¦°à§€à¦°à¦¾à¦®à¦•à§„à¦·à§à¦ž à¦ªà¦°à¦®à¦¹à¦‚à¦¸) (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was a Bengali saint. ... Dwija, literally means one who is born twice in Sanskrit. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. ...

The late Swami Krishnananda, the successor to Swami Sivananda and former head of Divine Life Society, noted the following about caste in his autobiography: Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ... Divine Life Society // Founder Swami Sivananda Saraswati Year & place of founding At Rishikesh in 1936, India Aims & ideals To Disseminate Spiritual Knowledge By publication of books, pamphlets and magazines dealing with ancient, oriental and occidental philosophy, religion and medicine in the modern scientific manner, and their distribution on such terms...

Paramahansa Yogananda also opposed what he called the 'tyranny' of the caste system as we know it today. He taught that the caste system originated in a higher age, but became degraded through ignorance and self-interest. Yogananda said: Vidura (Sanskrit: à¤µà¤¿à¤¦à¥à¤°, vidÃ¼ra) was a son of a maid-servent who served the Queens of Hastinapura, Queen Ambika and Ambalika. ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Paramahansa Yogananda (Bengali: à¦ªà¦°à¦®à¦¹à¦‚à¦¸ à¦¯à§‹à¦—à¦¾à¦¨à¦¨à§à¦¦ PÃ´romÃ´hongsho Joganondo, Hindi: à¤ªà¤°à¤®à¤¹à¤‚à¤¸ à¤¯à¥‹à¤—à¤¾à¤¨à¤¨à¥â€à¤¦; January 5, 1893â€“March 7, 1952), was an Indian yogi and guru. ...

In Hindu philosophy, the existence of the world is divided into four Yugas (ages): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga According to the rishis of ancient India, the world goes through a continuous cycle of these ages. ...

Ashrama

The traditional classification of the stages of a Hindu's life into Brahmacharya ("student life"), Grihastha ("householders life"), Vanaprastha ("anchorite life") and Sannyasa ("renunciate life") has been sanctioned in the Hindu scriptures. This classification is believed by the Hindus to lead to a fulfillment of the four aims of life, namely Dharma ("righteousness"), Artha ("wealtg"), Kama ("sensual gratification") and Moksha ("salvation"). To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Brahmacharya is a Sanskrit word. ... Pronunciation Gri as the Gru in Gruel Has as the Hus in Husk tha as in thaw Word Root This is a Sanskrit word. ... A vanaprastha (from Sanskrit vana, forest, and prus, dwelling) is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires. ... Sanyasa (pronounced sanyaas) symbolises the conception of the mystic life in Hinduism where a person is now integrated into the spiritual world after wholly giving up material life. ... Hindu scriptures Hindu scripture is overwhelmingly written in Sanskrit. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Artha is a Sanskrit term referring to the idea of material prosperity. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Notes

See also

Categories: Wikipedia articles needing copy edit | Articles with unsourced statements | Articles with sections needing expansion | Hindu law | Caste Hinduism (Sanskrit: , IAST: ), also known as , (IAST: ) and , (IAST: ) is a set of religious traditions that originated mainly in the Indian subcontinent. ... Åšruti (Sanskrit à¤¶à¥à¤°à¥à¤¤à¤¿, what is heard) is a canon of Hindu scriptures. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: à¤µà¥‡à¤¦) are the main scripture in Hinduism, and are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... The Upanishads (; Devanagari ) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most forms of Hinduism. ... Åšrauta refers to the tradition of the Åšruti in Hinduism. ... Smriti (Sanskrit à¤¸à¥à¤®à¥„à¤¤à¤¿, that which is remembered) refers to a specific canon of Hindu religious scripture. ... Itihasa (Sanskrit: à¤‡à¤¤à¤¿à¤¹à¤¾à¤¸ - itihÄsa in IAST notation, literally meaning that which happened) is the word for History. ... The (Devanagari: ) is a Sanskrit epic attributed to the poet Valmiki and is an important part of the Hindu canon (smá¹›ti). ... Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ), is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... Purana (Sanskrit à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤£, purÄá¹‡a, meaning ancient or old) is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as opposed to oral literature). ... Sutra (à¤¸à¥‚à¤¤à¥à¤°) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb siv-, meaning to sew (these words, including English to sew and Latinate suture, all derive from PIE *syÅ«-). It literally means a rope or thread, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms... Agama (Sanskrit, IAST Ä€gama) literally means that which has come down, i. ... now. ... Yantras - The Mystic Power: Yantra literally means Loom, Instrument or Machine. It is a Sanskrit word and is related to Hindu culture. ... Vedanta (VedÄnta, à¤µà¥‡à¤¦à¤¾à¤¨à¥à¤¤, pronounced as ) means the anta or culmination or essence of the Vedas. ... Look up avatar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... According to Advaita Vedanta, a philosophical branch of Hinduism, Ätman is the all-pervading soul of the universe. ... Brahm (à¤¬à¥à¤°à¤¹à¥à¤® in devanagari script) in the Vedantic (and subsequently Yogic) forms of Hinduism, is the signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being in this universe. ... Kosas are five cases or sheaths which cover the Atman in Hinduism. ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Karma is a concept in Hinduism, based on the Vedas and Upanishads, which explains causality through a system where beneficial events are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful events from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a persons reincarnated lives. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Maya (illusion). ... Ishta-Deva, or Ishta Devata is a term from Hinduism that means chosen Deity or revered aspect of God by a devotee and is a widely held concept in Smartism. ... The Nataraja is one of the most famous images of Lord Shiva Murtis (singular Murti, also spelled Murthi or Murthy) refers to deities or images used by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as points of devotional and meditational focus. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Illustration depicting the transmigration of the soul. ... According to the Indian school of Samkhya philosophy, the Tattva are a way of directly experiencing the 5 alchemical elements. ... In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God, or Parabrahman, in Gods personae as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. ... In early Hindu philosophy, turiya (also called caturtha) is a state of pure consciousness, or the experience of ultimate reality and truth. ... The guru-shishya tradition (also guru-shishya parampara or lineage) is a spiritual relationship found within traditional Hinduism which is centered around the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, ) to a Å›iá¹£ya (disciple, ). The term shishya roughly equates to the western term disciple, and in some parts of... Hindu philosophy (one of the main divisions of Indian philosophy) is traditionally seen through the prism of six different systems (called darshanas in Sanskrit) that are listed here and make up the main belief systems of Hinduism. ... Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu sects. ... Early Hinduism is a term used to designate the religious development of India before the historical period. ... Samkhya, also Sankhya, (Sanskrit: à¤¸à¤¾à¤‚à¤–à¥à¤¯ - Enumeration) is one of the schools of Indian philosophy. ... Nyaya (pronounced as nyÎ±:yÉ™) is the name given to one of the six orthodox or astika schools of Hindu philosophy - specifically the school of logic. ... Vaisheshika, also Vaisesika, (Sanskrit: à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥†à¤·à¤¿à¤•)is one of the six Hindu schools of philosophy (orthodox Vedic systems) of India. ... A woman practicing hatha yoga Yoga, meaning union in Sanskrit, is a family of ancient spiritual practices, and also a school of spiritual thought that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. ... The main objective of the Purva (earlier) Mimamsa school was to establish the authority of the Vedas. ... Vedanta (VedÄnta, à¤µà¥‡à¤¦à¤¾à¤¨à¥à¤¤, pronounced as ) means the anta or culmination or essence of the Vedas. ... now. ... Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. ... A ritual is a formalised, predetermined set of symbolic actions generally performed in a particular environment at a regular, recurring interval. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Aarti, Ã£rti, arathi, or Ã£rati is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. ... A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu or Sikh devotional song, often of ancient origin. ... Darshan is a Sanskrit and Hindu (also used to some extent in Urdu) term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. ... In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into the worship of some deity by a guru (diksha guru) who bestows mantra(s) and takes the karma of the initiate - at least in case of Vaishnava diksha, as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... A small prayer setup This article is about Hinduism. ... The company of the highest knowledge and Truth; the company of a Guru; contact with a person or an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the Truth. ... Stotras are Hindu prayers that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. ... Hindu wedding (vivah à¤µà¤¿à¤µà¤¾à¤¹ or shÄdÄ« à¤¶à¤¾à¤¦à¥€ in Hindi, panigrahana à¤ªà¤¾à¤£à¤¿à¤—à¥à¤°à¤¹à¤£ in Sanskrit, other terms are also used) ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Sanskrit, the language in which most holy Hindu ceremonies are conducted. ... In Hinduism, YajÃ±a à¤¯à¤œà¥à¤ž (Sanskrit yajÃ±Ã¡ worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice) is a Vedic ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit Brahman. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Adi Shankara with the Four Disciples Adi Shankara (Åšankara, Shri Shankaracharya, Adhi Shankaracharya, Ä€di ÅšhankarÄcÄrya; the first Shankara in his lineage), reverentially called Bhagavatpada Acharya (the teacher at the feet of the Lord) (approximately 8th century, but see below) was the most famous advaita philosopher, who had a... Sri Ramanuja Acharya (traditionally dated 1017â€“1137 CE) was an Indian philosopher and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri Vaishnavism. ... Shri Madhvacharya,(1238-1317), was the chief propounder of the Dvaita or dualistic school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three influential Vedanta philosophies. ... Sri Thakur Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Bangla: à¦¶à§à¦°à§€à¦°à¦¾à¦®à¦•à§„à¦·à§à¦ž à¦ªà¦°à¦®à¦¹à¦‚à¦¸) (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) was a Bengali saint. ... The affectionate term Holy Mother refers to Sarada Devi (1853-1920), Ramakrishnas wife and spiritual counterpart. ... Swami Vivekananda, whose pre-monastic name was Narendranath Dutta (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902) is considered one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the Vedanta philosophy. ... Narayana Guru It has been suggested that the section Sri Narayana Guru from the article Ezhava be merged into this article or section. ... Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo (Bangla: à¦¶à§à¦°à§€ à¦…à¦°à¦¬à¦¿à¦¨à§à¦¦, Sri Ã”robindo Sanskrit: à¤¶à¥à¤°à¥€ à¤…à¤°à¤µà¤¿à¤¨à¥à¤¦ SrÄ« Aravinda) (August 15, 1872â€“December 5, 1950) was an Indian nationalist, scholar, poet, Hindu mystic, evolutionary philosopher, yogi and guru. ... For a place-name in Azerbaijan see Ramana (settlement). ... Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887-1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. ... Swami Chinmayananda (à¤¸à¥â€à¤µà¤¾à¤®à¥€ à¤šà¤¿à¤¨à¥â€à¤®à¤¯à¤¾à¤¨à¤¨à¥â€à¤¦) (1916 - August 3, 1993) was born Balakrishna Menon (Balan) in Ernakulam, Kerala in a very devout Hindu family. ... Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927 - 2001), affectionately known as Gurudeva, was born in Oakland, California on January 5th, 1927. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ... A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (September 1, 1896â€“November 14, 1977) was born Abhay Charan De, in Kolkata, West Bengal. ... Baba Lokenath Brahmachari or simply Baba Lokenath was a semi-legendary Hindu saint and philosopher in Bengal. ... Hinduism encompasses many movements and schools fairly organized within Hindu denominations. ... Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that worships Shakti, or Devi -- the Hindu name for the Great Mother -- in all of her forms whilst not rejecting the importance of masculine and neuter divinity. ... Smartism, (or Smarta Sampradaya, Smarta Tradition), is a denomination of the Hindu religion. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is a List of Hindu deities. ... Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... yugas (DevnÄgari: à¤¯à¥à¤—) In Hindu philosophy the cycle of evolution of life is divided into four yugs (epochs or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dvapara Yuga Kali Yuga // The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a continuous cycle of... The Satya Yuga, also called Sat Yuga, Krta Yuga and Krita Yuga in Hinduism, is the Yuga (Age or Era) of Truth, when humankind is governed by gods, and every manifestation or work is close to the purest ideal and mankind will allow intrinsic goodness to rule supreme. ... The Treta Yuga is the second Yuga in the four yugas. ... Dvapara Yuga is the third out of four yugas, or ages, in the religion of Hinduism. ... Kali Yuga is also the title of a book by Roland Charles Wagner. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. ... Kshatriya (Hindi: , from Sanskrit: , ) is the title of the princely military order in the Vedic society. ... In the Hindu caste system, a Vaishya (Sanskrit à¤µà¥ˆà¤¶à¥à¤¯ vaiÅ›ya) is a member of the third of the four major castes of the varna system of traditional Indian society. ... Shudra or Sudra is the fourth Varna in the traditional four-section division in historic Indian society. ... In South Asias caste system, a Dalit; often called an untouchable; is a person of shudra; the lowest of the four castes. ...

Contents

Etymology

Social development

Jati

The twice born

Instances in Hindu texts and tradition

Rigveda and Manu Smriti

Opposition within Hinduism

Ashrama

Notes

Further reading

External links

See also

Contents

Etymology GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Social development

Jati

The twice born

Instances in Hindu texts and tradition

Rigveda and Manu Smriti

Opposition within Hinduism

Ashrama

Notes

Further reading

External links

See also

Etymology