Category: Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

12 Adityas – Twelve Sun Gods and Their Divine Associates

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 24, 2023

12 aditya sun god

The Sun-God Surya takes on various forms as the 12 Adityas. They have been described elaborately in the Bhagavata Purana. Every month of the year, a distinct Aditya shines. Surya (Sun), as Indra, vanquishes the foes of the deities. As Dhata, he fashions living creatures. As Parjanya, he precipitates rain. As Tvashta, he resides in the flora and fauna. As Pusha, he fosters the growth of crops. As Aryama, he exists in the air. As Bhaga, he pervades the bodies of all living beings. As Vivasvana, he abides in fire and facilitates cooking. As Vishnu, he annihilates the adversaries of the gods. As Amshumana, he once again manifests in the wind. As Varuna, Surya dwells in the waters, and as Mitra, he inhabits the moon and the oceans.

Amidst the chants of Sama, Rig, and Yajur Vedas, the sun-god is celebrated by the sages for his true essence. The Gandharvas vocalize their admiration for him, and the Apsaras dance to his chariot’s tune. As the Nagas assist in tying the chariot’s ropes and the Yaksas fasten the horses, the mighty Raksasas push it forward. Preceding the chariot, the Valakhilyas, a group of sixty thousand Brahmin sages, recite Vedic mantras and offer prayers to the all-powerful sun-god. Thus, the ruler of the sun, along with his six categories of companions, journeys in every direction throughout the twelve months, spreading among the dwellers of this cosmos the purity of consciousness, both for the present and the afterlife. Lord Surya’s chariot is drawn by seven horses, earning him the title of Saptashwa (Master of Seven Horses). These horses are Gayatri, Samvrihati, Ushnik, Jagati, Trishtubh, Anushtubh, and Pankti. The names of the 12 Adityas and their associates are described below.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Vishnu Bhagwan – Vishnu is God : The Supreme Deity of the Universe

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 23, 2023

garuda vishnu lakshmi dashavatar

Lord Vishnu is one of the three divine beings in the Trimurti and is recognized for his role as the sustainer of the universe, as well as being one of the primary deities in Hinduism. He is worshiped by many and is known to reside in Vaikuntha loka, which is a spiritual realm. In Vaikuntha loka, he is referred to as Narayana. Krishnaloka is considered the supreme planet of the spiritual world and is believed to be the transcendental abode of Krishna. It is divided into three sections, Dwarka, Mathura, and Goloka. In this abode, the Supreme Lord manifests himself into four plenary expansions – Krishna, Balarama, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. In this article we shall discuss as to why Vishnu is also referred to as Bhagwan or God.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Radha Krishna

Wives of Krishna: Unveiling the Story of Their Divine Marriages

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 21, 2023

krishna wife 16108 wives of krishna

The Adi Purush, as referred to by Lord Brahma, is none other than Lord Krishna, who is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Around 5000 years ago, Lord Krishna appeared on earth and manifested His eternal spiritual pastimes. He was born as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison cell of His demoniac maternal uncle, Kansa. To fulfill His divine mission, Vasudeva escaped from Kansa’s prison shortly after Krishna’s birth and exchanged Him with the newborn daughter of Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda in Gokul. Thus, Krishna was brought up in the cowherd community under the care of His foster parents. He was a mischievous boy who loved to steal milk and butter from the Vraja gopis’ houses, but despite His teasing and harassment, everyone adored Him. As He grew up, Krishna left Vrindavan and went to Mathura, where He became the leader of the Yadus. Lord Krishna had a total of 16,108 wives, out of which eight were considered his principal wives or “Ashta Bharya”. The names of these eight wives of Krishna were Rukmini, Jambavati, Mitravinda, Satyabhama, Nagnajiti, Bhadra, Kalindi, and Lakshmana. Each wife gave birth to ten sons, making Lord Krishna the father of 80 children. Lord Krishna had rescued 16,100 women from the control of the evil demon Narakasura, who had been keeping them forcibly. However, when these women returned to their families, none of them were accepted back. As a result, Lord Krishna married them to provide them with social and economic security. In this article we shall discuss about the enchanting wives of Krishna and their legendary marriages.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Moksha: The Ultimate Goal of Life in Hinduism

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 19, 2023

moksha release from birth and death

The word “Moksha” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mukti,” which essentially means freedom. Moksha alludes to freedom from this material world and its painful bondages. This material world is characterized by four defects – birth, disease, old age, and death. All of these four conditions, coupled with the sufferings inflicted by natural disasters, other living beings, and the fear and anxiety of one’s mind, torment man throughout his life. According to Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma), Moksha is the condition where one is released from this cycle of birth and death and is happily united with God. Hence, Moksha is considered the ultimate goal of human life, and it is attained through discipline and spiritual practice. Moksha is a state of eternal bliss, devoid of any anxiety, where one realizes their spiritual identity and relationship with the Supreme Lord.

esa brahmi sthitih partha
nainam prapya vimuhyati
sthitvasyam anta-kale ‘pi
brahma nirvanam rcchati
(Bhagavad Gita 2.72)
–
This is the path of a spiritual and divine existence, upon achieving which one is not confused. By being situated in this way, even at the time of death, one can enter the realm of God.

There are five kinds of salvation (Moksha) that a spiritual practitioner can obtain at the end of his life in order to be released from the bondages of birth and death :

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Kali Yuga

Concepts of Hindu Time (Kala) | Brahma’s Life span | Timespan of Yugas in Hinduism

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 11, 2023

four yugas hindu time brahma's lifespan

The Hindu worldview is centered on the idea of eternal and cyclical time, which is closely linked to the concept of the soul (atman). Hindus believe that the true self exists forever, not only in the future but also in the past. Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma does not have a beginning or an end, and the end of one phase leads to the start of another. The destruction of the universe is only a sign of its rebirth. As a result, the material world is believed to undergo perpetual cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction. We are currently believed to be in the Kali Yuga, with approximately 5000 human years already passed and an estimated 427,000 years remaining until its conclusion.

According to Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma), there are four Yugas – Satya, Treta, Dvarapara, and Kali. A thousand cycles of these 4 Yugas are said to comprise a ‘Kalpa’ or a single day of Brahma. The same (a thousand cycles of 4 Yugas) is the duration of Brahma’s night. At the beginning of Brahma’s day, the universal entities come into being and life becomes manifest. When Brahma sleeps during his night, the water of the causal ocean floods the universal planetary systems sparing only the abode of Brahma and a few higher planets. Brahma lives for 100 years and at the end of his lifespan, a complete universal dissolution occurs causing the universe to unmanifest itself. Therefore the universe suffers partial destruction at the end of Brahma’s day and a complete dissolution at the end of his lifetime. The Vedic scriptures explain that the concept of time differs in various planetary systems. For example, 1 day of Brahma equals a 1000 cycle of four Yugas. Similarly, 1 celestial day (a day in the heavenly planets where demigods reside) equals 6 months by human calculation. Also, 1 celestial night equals 6 human months. In the next section, we shall illustrate the time span of the four Yugas.

sahasra yuga paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh
ratrim yuga sahasrantam te ho ratra vido janah
(Bhagavad Gita 8.17)
–
A thousand ages taken together form the duration of Brahma’s day. Same is the duration of his night.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Radha Krishna

Radha Krishna : Eternal love story of the Divine Couple

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 9, 2023

iskcon vrindavan krishna balaram temple radha krishna

Yatha radha priya visnos-tasyah kundam priyam tatha
Sarva gopisu saivaika visnor atyanta vallabha
(Laghu Bhagavatamrita, 45)
–
Srimati Radharani is dear to Krishna, and her Kunda, known as Radha Kunda, is also similarly dear to Him. It is the favorite place of Krishna. Of all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the dearest to Krishna.

Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the ultimate enjoyer and the ruler of all. He is ‘Isvara’ and the cause of all causes. Srimati Radharani embodies His Hladini shakti (internal potency) and is the most remarkable of all His devotees and the most intimate servant of the Lord. Despite Krishna being the supreme enjoyer, Radharani experiences a higher level of ecstasy through serving Sri Krishna, which even baffles the Supreme Lord, who longs to experience it first-hand. Thus, taking on the mood and golden complexion of Srimati Radharani, Sri Krishna descended as Lord Chaitanya in the age of Kali. The heart of Sri Chaitanya was a mirror of Srimati Radhika’s emotions, overflowing with feelings of union and separation from Krishna. It is said that there is no difference between Lord Chaitanya and the union of Radha and Krishna (Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Radha Krishna Nahe anya). Sri Radhika loves and worships Krishna as a simple cowherd boy of Vrindavana, ignoring His status as the mighty king of the Yadus or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She is consumed by Krishna’s sweetness and is willing to sacrifice anything, even her existence, to please Him. Her love for Krishna defies conventional logic, the limits of sacrifice, and the depths of emotional intensity.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

How many Years in One Yuga | Yuga Cycle | Timespan of Hindu Yugas

Post author By gaudiya
Post date December 30, 2022

How many Years in One Yuga Timespan of Yugas

According to Sanatan Dharma, there are four Yugas – Satya, Treta, Dvarapara, and Kali. A thousand cycles of these 4 Yugas are said to comprise a ‘Kalpa’ or a single day of Brahma. The same (a thousand cycles of 4 Yugas) is the duration of Brahma’s night. At the beginning of Brahma’s day, the universal entities come into being and life becomes manifest. When Brahma sleeps during his night, the water of the causal ocean floods the universal planetary systems sparing only the abode of Brahma and a few higher planets. Brahma lives for 100 years and at the end of his lifespan, a complete universal dissolution occurs causing the universe to unmanifest itself. Therefore the universe suffers partial destruction at the end of Brahma’s day and a complete dissolution at the end of his lifetime. The Vedic scriptures explain that the concept of time differs in various planetary systems. For example, 1 day of Brahma equals a 1000 cycle of four Yugas. Similarly, 1 celestial day (a day in the heavenly planets where demigods reside) equals 6 months by human calculation. Also, 1 celestial night equals 6 human months. In the next section, we shall illustrate the time span of the four Yugas.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Radha Krishna

108 Names of Lord Krishna with Meanings | Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Lord Krishna

Post author By gaudiya
Post date December 26, 2022

108 names of krishna

Krishna is also referred to as ‘Bhagavan Swayam’ in Srimad Bhagavatam, thereby implying that He is the source of all avatars (incarnations) of Godhead. Krishna is ‘Svayam rupa’ or the original supreme personality of Godhead, and is also referred to as ‘puskala’ or the most complete. He has innumerable names, describing His various qualities, pastimes and incarnations.

Ete camsa kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam
Indrari vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)
–
All these incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of plenary portions of the Supreme Lord, but Lord Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. All of His incarnations appear whenever there is a disturbance created by atheists. These incarnations appear to protect the theists.

In this article, we shall describe 108 names of Krishna, along with their meanings, meditating upon which devotees will be able to purify themselves and seek His refuge.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Gautama Buddha – Ninth incarnation of Vishnu

Post author By gaudiya
Post date September 25, 2022

gautama buddha siddhartha

namo buddhaya suddhaya daitya-danava-mohine
mleccha-praya-kshatra-hantre namas te kalki-rupine
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.40.22)
–
Obeisances to Your form as the faultless Lord Gautama Buddha, who will bewilder the miscreants by composing anti Vedic scriptures. I also offer obeisances to Lord Kalki, the annihilator of the barbarians posing as kings.

Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha was born in India six hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. He is regarded as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. His father Suddhodana was the ruler of the Indian province of Gaya. One night Maya, Suddhodana‘s wife, had a vivid dream where she was transported to a golden house in the Himalayas. Thereafter she was cleaned and laid on a silken bed. A white elephant touched her right side with a lotus, after which a baby entered her womb. On waking up, Maya narrated the entire incident to Suddhodana. The King then summoned one of his advisers who was an expert in astrology. He predicted that soon the queen would give birth to a son who would become a saintly king or a famous religious teacher. The prediction came to pass. The queen gave birth to a beautiful son after nine months, who possessed all the signs of a great personality. His parents named Him Siddhartha Gautama. The queen died shortly after giving birth to Siddhartha.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Parashurama – The warrior | Sixth incarnation of Vishnu

Post author By gaudiya
Post date September 16, 2022

jamadagni parashurama kamadhenu

Parashurama, the warrior, is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He appeared as the son of Jamadagni and Renuka. He was a descendant in the line of sage Bhrigu. Parashurama had annihilated the royals who, becoming excessively proud, turned irreligious and ignored the laws enacted by the brahmanas (priests). Sukadeva Goswami had recited the pastimes of Parashurama to Maharaja Parikshit in the ninth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Below is a brief synopsis of the same.

Kartaviryarjuna, the king of the Haihayas, had received one thousand arms by performing severe austerities and pleasing Lord Dattatreya, a plenary expansion of Lord Narayana. Not only did he become undefeatable in war, but had also acquired immense beauty, influence, strength, mystic powers, yogic prowess, etc. He had once playfully stopped the flow of river Narmada with his thousand hands. This caused the city of Ravana, the king of asuras, to become inundated with water. When Ravana attempted to insult Kartaviryarjuna in front of his women, Kartaviryarjuna easily captured Ravana and held him captive in the city of Mahishmati, and then released him neglectfully. Such was the prowess of Kartaviryarjuna.