Month: May 2022

The Art of Yoga: The Science Behind Yoga and Meditation

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 31, 2022

yoga ashtanga

The yoga system was originally meant for realizing God, and all varieties of yoga practice are assumed to bring one to that point. Success in Yoga ultimately depends on the quality of one’s consciousness and the will of the Supreme Person, rather than on our own gymnastic endeavors. The various yogic asanas, breath control, and withdrawal of the senses are meant to help pacify the mind so that one can focus one’s entire attention on the Supreme Lord (Paramatma) who is eternally present within our heart. In this article, we shall present all the relevant information and scriptural evidence that one needs to know concerning Yoga.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

The Science of Yoga : Discover the Secrets to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Well-Being

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 28, 2022

yoga ashtanga

Yoga, contrary to popular opinion, does not refer to some impossible physical postures. The actual meaning of Yoga does not merely refer to bending, curving your body, or even holding your breath. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. The practice aims to create a union between body, mind, and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. The yoga system was originally meant for realizing God, and all varieties of yoga practice are assumed to bring one to that point. Success in Yoga ultimately depends on the quality of one’s consciousness and the will of the Supreme Person, rather than on our own gymnastic endeavors. The various yogic asanas, breath control, and withdrawal of the senses are meant to help pacify the mind so that one can focus one’s entire attention on the Supreme Lord (Paramatma) who is eternally present within our heart.

cornerstone Lord Nityananda

All about Lord Nityananda (Nitai)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 23, 2022

nitai nityananda

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is none other than Lord Balarama, the first expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Narottam das Thakur sings ‘vrajendra nandana yei, saci suta haila sei, balarama haila Nitai’. Vrajendra Nandana is Lord Krishna, the master of Vraja (Vrindavana) and Saci suta means the son of mother Saci.So the same person who previously had been the darling of Vrindavana has now incarnated as Sri Chaitanya, the son of Saci mata. Similarly, the person who previously had been Lord Balarama has now appeared as Nityananda Prabhu.

Lord Nityananda was born on shukla trayodashi tithi of 1474 AD (the year 1395 of the Saka era) in the village of Ekachakra (Birbhum, West Bengal, India). Nityananda Prabhu freely distributed the treasure of the Lord’s love, attaining which is rare even for demigods like Brahma, to one and all without judging one’s qualification (Brahma-ra durlabha prema sabakare yache). His uncommon unique pastimes moved even the atheists to cry tears of love. In this article, we shall discuss in detail about Lord Nityananda’s amazing life and pastimes.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

What is Jnana Yoga ? | Bhagavad Gita

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 21, 2022

books knowledge jnana yoga

The process of Yoga connects one to his/her spiritual essence. There are several kinds of Yoga, but it has been broadly classified into 3 – Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga. We have discussed Karma Yoga previously. In this article, we shall be discussing Jnana Yoga in detail. Jnana Yoga involves mental speculation, evaluating ideas, through logic and discourse, and aspiring to ultimately comprehend what is what. Jnana Yoga is the realization of the self through philosophical discussions. Jnana Yoga involves discrimination between matter and spirit through mental speculation. Hence Jnana Yoga promotes knowledge through seclusion, study, and sense abnegation. Activities and necessities of life are minimized in Jnana Yoga, as the focus is placed on becoming free from sensual desires that deceive the soul. By rejecting matter, Jnana Yogis aim at attaining liberation (moksha).

cornerstone Vaishnava acharyas

Pancha Tattva – The Absolute Truth in five features

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 17, 2022

pancha tattva

Pancha Tattva tmakam Krishnam
Bhakta rupa svarupakam
Bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam
Namami bhakta saktikam
–
I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, who is non-different from His features as a devotee (Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu), devotional manifestation (Sri Nityananda Prabhu), devotional incarnation (Sri Advaita Acarya), devotional energy (Sri Gadadhara Pandita) and pure devotee (Sri Srivasa Pandita).

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Lord Nityananda, His incarnation Sri Advaita Acharya, His internal potency Sri Gadadhara Pandita, and His marginal potency Srivasa Pandita. Lord Chaitanya is in the midst of them as the Supreme Lord.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

The Power of Bhakti Yoga : A Journey to Unconditional Love and Devotion

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 15, 2022

chaitanya pancha tattva bhakti yoga

According to the ‘Sandilya Bhakti Sutra’, Bhakti is the transcendental attachment to Krishna, the Supreme Lord. The process of reawakening this transcendental loving relationship between God and the living entity is called ‘Bhakti Yoga’. Bhakti or pure devotional service is free from all traces of Karma (fruitive activities) and Jnana (speculative knowledge). A devotee established in Bhakti Yoga, constantly serves Krishna, engaging his mind, intellect and all of his senses in the Lord’s service. Bhakti Yoga purifies one and frees one from all material designations. Upon attaining pure love of God, one neither hankers nor laments. He is freed from all attachments and detachments, and takes no pleasure in material things. Lord Krishna explains the exalted stature of Bhakti Yoga in Bhagavad Gita as follows –

tapasvibhyo ‘dhiko yogi
jnanibhyo ‘pi mato ‘dhikah
karmibhyas cadhiko yogi
tasmad yogi bhavarjuna
(Bhagavad Gita 6.46)
–
A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the wise speculative thinker and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, under all circumstances, be a yogi.

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
(Bhagavad Gita 6.47)
–
And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me (Krishna) with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service (bhakti), is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu cornerstone Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview

All about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gauranga)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 12, 2022

Contents : Identity, Pastimes and Teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Identity – Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ?

cornerstone Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

What is Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) | Explore Hindu Dharma

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 12, 2022

Dharma is often interpreted as “duty,” “religion” or “religious duty” and yet its definition is more profound, defying the concise English translation. The word ‘Dharma’ originates from the Sanskrit root “dhri,” which means “to sustain.” Another correlated meaning of ‘Dharma’ is ‘that which is indispensable and fundamental to something’. The word ‘Sanatan’ translates to ‘eternal’ and the phrase ‘Sanatan Dharma’ alludes to that which is eternally integral to a living entity. That which is ‘Sanatan’ does not have either a beginning or an end. Likewise, ‘Sanatan Dharma’ is timeless, non-sectarian and not limited by any boundaries. Religion conveys the idea of faith, and faith of a person may change. But ‘Sanatan Dharma’ is that which cannot be changed. For instance liquidity cannot be taken away from water, nor can heat be taken away from fire.

Contents – An Overview of Sanatan Dharma

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Radha Krishna

Cows and Krishna | Exploring the Significance of Cows in Sanatan Dharma

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 10, 2022

cows india sacred krishna

Namo brahmanya devaya
Go brahmana hitaya ca
Jagad dhitaya Krsnaya
Govindaya namo namah
(Vishnu Purana 1.19.65)
–
I offer my obeisances again and again to Lord Krishna, who is always worshiped by qualified brahmanas and is very dear to them. He is always concerned with the welfare of the cows, the brahmanas, and the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, known as Krishna and Govinda.

The above mantra, quoted in Vishnu Purana, is used to worship and offer bhoga to Lord Krishna. The above prayer lays a striking emphasis on the protection of cows and the brahmanas. Brahmanas, or the intellectuals, are the symbols of spiritual education. In Vedic India, cows were treated as mothers and they sustained the entire society with their milk. From the above verse, it is abundantly clear that cows were very dear to Krishna. In fact, the Bhagavad Gita quotes Lord Krishna in saying –

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Who is a Karma Yogi ? | Bhagavad Gita

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 7, 2022

bhagavad gita teachings slokas summary karma yogi yoga

Lord Krishna explains in Bhagavad Gita that merely by refraining from work, one cannot attain freedom from the reactions of this material world. By practicing renunciation alone, one cannot achieve perfection. It is because, one is forced to work in this world, as per the qualities (Sattva, rajas, tamas), he has acquired from material nature. Therefore, one who refrains from external activities but dwells upon sense objects in his mind is a pretender who only deludes himself. On the other hand, one who sincerely endeavors to regulate his senses, with the help of his mind and intelligence, and executes Karma Yoga, is by far superior. The word ‘Karma’ refers to various actions, and the word ‘Yoga’ refers to the process that connects us to our spiritual essence. One who practices ‘Karma Yoga’ is referred to as ‘Karma Yogi’. In this article, we shall be discussing Karma Yoga in detail.