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

Two kinds of light

When Bhooma Devi told Brahma that She could not bear the burden of the Earth, Brahma, accompanied by Siva and the celestials, asked Lord Narayana for

Significance of mantras

Purpose of the avatar

The Ramayana is also known as ‘Sitaayaa’s Charitam Mahat’, the magnificent life story of Sita, and Paulastya Vadam, the killing of the son of Pulastya, Ravana. The former title is the poet’s heartfelt tribute to the Divine Mother, who, as Sita, is a cut above in many respects, especially in Her compassion towards all. An embodiment of patience and penance, she, like Rama, is committed to the truth and dharma that is central to the epic. The other title refers to the direct purpose of Rama

Draupadi’s surrender

Faith in the supremacy of the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God is of utmost significance in each one’s life. This is nowhere so explicitly manifest than in Draupadi’s fervent appeal with tremendous faith in Krishna, pointed out Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar in a discourse. Her plight is unique for though she is in the presence of the Pandavas and the worthy elders such as Bhishma, Drona and others to whom she appeals for justice, they are only silent spectators and unable to help. In this

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Faith

Facing life with fortitude

Faith

Deep seated bhakti

Faith

Two kinds of light

Faith

Significance of mantras

Faith

Repository of mercy

Faith

Realising the supreme one

Born to Devaki

If this world is thought of as a lotus, then the connection between Lord Krishna and the earth may be likened to that between the Sun and a lotus.

Desika’s pen picture

Bhooma Devi asked for Brahma’s help, because She was overburdened. Brahma, Siva and the celestials approached Lord Narayana, who was reclining on the

Hurdles to dharma

In the Bala Kanda, the arrival of Vishwamitra in Ayodhya heralds many auspicious happenings that are to lead the story in its long and arduous course.

Divine Power Shakti

The Saundarya Lahari is a grand work extolling the greatness of Ambal. In the first 41 verses, many secret and sacred truths such as the Sri Chakra,

Purpose of the avatar

The Ramayana is also known as ‘Sitaayaa’s Charitam Mahat’, the magnificent life story of Sita, and Paulastya Vadam, the killing of the son of

Divine will prevails

The Purana and the Itihasa stories reflect the truth that the events in the lives of individuals are governed by Divine Will and that destiny’s sway

Sharing ‘Nonbu Kanji’ during Ramzan: Gruel for the fasting soul

Slow-cooked in huge cauldrons, the rice-based nonbu kanji is an integral part of iftar meals, distributed to those in need during Ramzan

Draupadi’s surrender

Faith in the supremacy of the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God is of utmost significance in each one’s life. This is nowhere so explicitly

Subtle shades of dharma

Draupadi raised a legal point that had to be settled when she heard that Yudhishtira had lost her in the wager and that she was henceforth a slave to

Unborn One is born

The Supreme One is described in Purusha Suktam as ajAyamAna, that is One without birth. But the Purusha Suktam also describes Him as bahudhA vijAyate

Lord Siva’s will

Thirumoolar in his Thirumandiram pays obeisance to Uma Devi, whose penance was blessed in Thiruvavaduturai. Thirumoolar stayed in Thiruvavaduturai,

The One who controls

Lord Narayana’s abode, Paramapada, is a place beyond time, whereas the Earth is bound by time. And yet the Lord chose to come to this Earth on many

Greatness of Hastigiri

In his Varadaraja stavam, Kooratazhvan says the Vedas longed to be like Hastigiri, the hill on which Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram stands. The Vedas

Reducing Earth’s burden

Why did Lord Narayana choose to live among cowherds in His Krishna avatara? It was because He wanted to show that He was going to lessen the Earth’s

Yoga Maya’s forewarning

Krishna was taken to Gokula by Vasudeva in order to protect Him from Kamsa. In Gokula, a girl was born to Yasoda. She was taken away by Vasudeva, who

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Birth of the epic

Two great sages of high penance who are ‘kavis,’ that is, poets endowed with excellent poetic vision, are seen in conversation in the first chapter of

Songs of devotion

The Thevaram hymns are songs of devotion that are the outcome of divine inspiration and hence remain relevant to sincere devotees who wish to seek

A strange wish is sought

Periyapuranam is valued as much for the social, cultural and economic milieu it captures as for the way it transmits the depth of Siva devotion

Siva the Supreme Lord

Saivism holds that Siva is the Supreme Lord spoken of as Brahman in the Upanishads and one who confers liberation on those desirous of it. A jivatma

The Lord’s Vibhuti

The prime qualifying factor for the disciple keen to learn and imbibe spiritual truths is absolute faith in the teaching and in the preceptor, says

Uniqueness of Brahman

A sutra is a short statement in which is packed much profound thought. The second sutra in the Brahma Sutra takes up the issue of the jagat karanatvam

Yadu’s generosity

The Supreme One chose to incarnate in the Yadu vamsa to show the world the virtues of this family, said V.S. Karunakarachariar in a discourse. In

Filmmaker Farha Khatun’s documentary ‘Holy Rights’ discusses the topic of triple talaq and woman qazis

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Saiva Agamas equal to Vedas

Saint Thirumoolar’s verses known as Thirumandiram are part of the collection of verses known as Thirumurai. Saint Thirumoolar had many disciples,

Delightful Krishna

It is the Krishna avatara that has been the delight of Azhvars and of many poets, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. Krishna gave the world the

The three gunas

Uddhava wonders why a person behaves differently at different times. Lord Krishna explains that this is due to the three gunas — sattva, rajas and

Essence of sacred literature

Kooratazhvan’s Varadaraja stava is in praise of Lord Varadaraja of Kanchi. It is based on the Vedas and the Divya Prabandham, and therein lies its

Anand Patwardhan’s documentary ‘Reason’ exposes the culture of fear

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The greatness of Yadu

Krishna’s leelas began even before the avatara began, said V.S. Karunakarachariar in a discourse. Parikshit refers to Yadu as the embodiment of

His boundless grace

The Brahma Sutra, also known as the Vedanta Sutra, explains the philosophy of the Upanishads while trying to consolidate the various strands of the

The cause of Srishti

Srutis and the sastras exist to aid the entire world and the beings in it. They teach us to attain the highest goal, that is, release from samsara.

Goodness of Good Friday

Good Friday, the remembrance day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, is highly significant. For Christians, it is the day when the Son of God was nailed on

Siva Advaita system

Spiritual tradition venerates the acharyas who are deemed as incarnations to spread the import of the Vedas and the agamas. Posterity is indebted to

Nirguna and Saguna

Sastras face an inherent paradox when guiding those engaged in the quest for Eternal Truth. The fact is that none can claim to know fully the Infinite

The Buddhist nuns who learn Kung Fu and lend a strong helping hand

The Drukpa order of Buddhist nuns that performs Kung Fu has been shortlisted for the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize 2020

Gifts from Kailasa

From the details of Adi Sankara’s life culled from the Sankara Vijayam, it is clear that he is the greatest acharya in our tradition who achieved

Serving the Lord

In Vishnu temples, Divya Prabandham (the verses of the Azhvars) and the Vedas are recited whenever the utsava idol (processional deity) is taken round

A divine drama

Pamban Swamigal was an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, and wanted to take up sanyasa in Pazhani. While his friend asked him if he had received a

A great disciple

Ramanujacharya’s disciple Kooratazhvan had all the traits that an Acharya would desire in his sishya. Ramanujacharya and Kooratazhvan travelled to

Greatness of Yamuna

River Yamuna has a greatness which is unmatched, elaborated M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. When infant Krishna was taken by Vasudeva to

Benefits of penance

Saint Thirumoolar acknowledges in his Thirumandiram that Lord Siva revealed to him the Saiva agamas. Having acquired knowledge of these sacred texts,

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