Faith column from The Hindu, Religion, Hinduism, Sacred Texts - The Hindu

Three categories of kings

Kings fall into one of three categories, uttama, madhyama and adhama, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse. An ideal king consults his ministers and

The two sampaths

Gita relevant always

The Bhagavad Gita talks of yoga. One of the meanings of the word yoga, is ‘yoke.’ Yoga is what yokes the jivatma to the Paramatma. In other words, it takes the jivatma close to the Paramatma. Yoga also involves thyaga. But what is this thyaga in the context of yoga? To attain something good, we have to give up something. In the case of yoga as spoken of in the Gita, it means that we give up attachment to the fruits of our actions. This is called sattvika thyaga. Although the whole of the Gita

Reason for avataras

The Lord is anxious to reveal His auspicious qualities to the world, and hence He takes avataras, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan, in a discourse. In Paramapada, He does not get an opportunity to reveal His qualities like vaatsalya, sauseelya, saulabhya etc. Vaatsalya means that even if someone has some flaws, we do not mind them. But in Paramapada, no one has any flaws. So, there is no scope for the display of vaatsalya in Paramapada. The cow is a herbivorous animal, and yet, when it has a calf, it

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Eid-ul-Adha: Festival of the sacrifice

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Faith

Acts of charity

Faith

Three categories of kings

Faith

The two sampaths

Faith

Gita relevant always

Faith

Reason for avataras

Faith

Vyasa advises Arjuna

Swaroopa and vritti jnana

The atma chaitanya jnana that destroys ignorance is shown to be distinct, superior and also the reason for all kinds of objective knowledge gained by

The Lord’s Sankalpa

Krishna avatar, celebrated as the most fascinating and eventful one, has left a tremendous imprint on posterity. It is held that the Supreme Lord

Symbolic quest

Beyond the narratives in the Bhagavata Purana, there are many useful pointers for those keen on spiritual quest. First of all, these instil bhakti as

Many mental modes

Spiritual texts emphasise the importance of being sensitive to the workings of the mind. The human mind is powerful and gets easily sullied owing to

Bhagavata explains creation

The version of creation presented by Maitreya to Vidura in the Bhagavata Purana is according to the word of scriptures which state that Srishti, Stiti

Essence of Sastras

Life is a puzzle, to understand which, we need to study the Vedas. But the Vedas are not easily comprehended. Sages like Bharadwaja spent centuries

The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid-ul-Zuha, the Festival of Sacrifice (Bakrid), is one of the two major festivals of Muslims. It falls in the month of Zilhaj, the last month of

Worship with love

In his Kandar Alankaram, (verse 51), Arunagirinatha says that one should give food to the hungry, for this act will be of great help to the giver when

Now, religious rituals get a digital makeover

How customs and rituals like avani avittam are going online, with the ban on social gatherings due to COVID-19

Ranganatha’s acceptance

Maraneri Nambi was a disciple of Alavandar. But Maraneri Nambi’s family members were not devout Sri Vaishnavas, and Maraneri Nambi did not want them

Attachment and suffering

Dhritarashtra is an example of how attachment can lead us to disaster, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse. Dhritarashtra and Pandu were brothers,

None His equal

The name Viratah in the Vishnu Sahasranama is in praise of Rama’s detachment, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. Even the prospect of ruling

Hurdles to salvation

Ignorance of the basic dichotomy between body and the atma is the greatest hurdle for the jivatma. He easily identifies with the body and until he is

Jnana, not a rule or law

The major section of the Vedas deals with karmas one performs with thought, word and deed. In them, many types of karmas for different goals that are

The fortunate prapanna

The importance of the state of mind at the moment of death is emphasised in the Upanishads and in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna says, ‘He who at the time

Jnana alone liberates

The comparative efficacy of the paths of karma and jnana as sadanas for the spiritual aspirant in the attainment of the highest Purushartha, moksha,

Import of sastras

Sastras are not easily understood by all and the Lord incarnates time and again to reinforce their importance and also to show by example how to lead

Atma anatma bhava

Vedanta teaches how the rule of karma operates in the universe and is binding on individuals who are compelled to act. But it teaches them the way to

In praise of Lord Rama

One of the names in praise of the Rama avatara in the Vishnu Sahasranama is Tushtah — He who was pleased. What was it that pleased Him? He was happy

God’s plans

Sundaranatha, a devotee of Lord Siva, is well versed in the Vedas. He leaves Kailasa to meet his friend sage Agastya. But in life everything happens

Seek His feet

The Bhagavad Gita says samsara is not easily understood. While it is true that we understand it superficially, we do not understand all that it

Yogi Samasa’s answers

Samasa is one of the nine yogis who advise King Nimi, said P.T. Seshadri, in a discourse. King Nimi asks Samasa about what happens to those who are

Azhwar praises Nayanmar

Nayanmars, who were devotees of Siva, sang only in praise of Siva. Azhvars, who were devotees of Vishnu, sang only in praise of Vishnu. But there is

Rama made others happy

Rama is described as Subhekshanah in the Vishnu Sahasranama. It means that that Rama had beautiful eyes. This name signifies that if a person did not

Epitome of detachment

Except for a few realised souls who have attained Poorna Vairagya, it is not possible for the majority of the people living in this world to be

Maya, mother of ignorance

According to scriptures, ignorance is without a beginning. Then, is it to be presumed that ignorance is also endless? Is there no chance for the

Time is unyielding

Time, like Maya is the most subtle and powerful aspect of the Supreme Lord and though not perceivable, the effects of the passage of Time are felt and

Vignettes of behaviour

A synoptic overview of the Mahabharata story is narrated in the Devi Bhagavata by the Suta Pauranika. Though brief, it is told in such a way that much

Spiritual disciplines

Many caught in samsara are desirous of getting out of it. But the way out is not easy at all. It requires much determination along with tremendous and

Cosmic forms

The Lord’s cosmic manifestations are as ineffable as His Infinite nature and hence in the puranas and elsewhere, metaphorical descriptions are used in

Rama, the Supreme One

In the Vishnu Sahasranama, the name Parama Spashtah is in praise of Rama. It means He whose Supremacy is obvious. But how does it suit Rama, who never

Immeasurable kindness

Thirumoolar makes us see the impermanence of life, said R. Narayanan in a discourse. None of the relatives we hold dear will accompany us when we die.

Virtue of patience

Patience is a virtue few people have. Being hasty is second nature to most of us. But patience has its rewards, and haste its undesirable

Vishnu in four yugas

King Nimi asked Yogi Karabhajana about how Vishnu was worshipped and how He should be worshipped. Yogi Karabhajana told King Nimi that in each yuga,

The peepal tree

The 15th chapter of the Gita opens with a reference to samsara as a peepal tree. But this tree is different from other trees, for its roots are at the

An ideal incarnation

In the Ramayana, we get an introduction to Rama’s qualities, right at the beginning. Valmiki asks Narada who is the gunvaan who has 16 auspicious

Essence of prapatti

The Upanishads state in one voice that attainment of Brahma Jnana is the ultimate goal of all jivatmas. They also point out that one who fails to know

Way of the devout

Suka explains to Parikshit that Vidura proceeds to meet Sage Maitreya on the banks of the Ganga, to receive instruction on the highest knowledge.

Bhishma’s fierce vow

Bhishma stands out as an exceptional character for many reasons. His antecedents reveal that he is actually one of the eight ‘Vasus’ and this birth as

Insight of the Yogi

The entire teaching in the Gita clearly shows how the paths of karma, jnana and bhakti get subsumed in the act of surrender or prapatti. The Karma

The Lord’s incarnations

The Gita explains the purpose of the Lord’s incarnations as primarily to protect the good, destroy the evil and to establish dharma in the world. The

Means for salvation

Sastras explain that unless one is rid of all karma, there is no salvation. So, one desirous of salvation has no short cut except to strive to bring

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