Mythology
Encountering Kali
Encountering Kali explores one of the most remarkable divinities the world has seen. The Hindu goddess Kali is simultaneously understood as a bllod-thirsty warrier, a deity of ritual possession, a Tantric sexual partner. and an all-loving, compassionate mother. popular and scholarly interst in her has been on the rise in the West in recent years. Responding to this phenomenon, Mc Dermott and Kripal's volume focuses on the complexities involved in interpreting kali in both her indigenous south Asian setting and her more recent Western incarnations.
Garuda : The Chariot of Vishnu
Garuda had been a powerful vehicle of Visnu, who participated in several wars fought by his master with the demons. The event of his bringing of the nectar from the heaven in order to relieve his mother of the bondage of the serpents is quite interesting, which, along with other events, has been suitably deal with in this works. Garuda not only adored the flags of the rulers but his seals were also embossed over the important documents in the past.
Gayatri
Gayatri is a sacred mahamantra. It is a universal prayer. The Vedas, Upanishads, puranas and various other ancient Hindu Scriptures sing in one voice the glory of Gayatri - the profound prayer. Since the Vedic times, Gayatri has been a daily prayer of the Hindus, chanted every morning and evening, addressed to Savitr, the power behind the Sun. Gayatri is considered the most exalted prayer, because unlike the other mantras, it does not seek material or worldly gains. It is a prayer that seeks the highest enlightement, the realization of the supreme being, which according to our sanathana Dharma, is the highest goal of every human being. Gayatri is, undoubtedly, the prayer or meditation meant for men and women everywhere, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or nationality Om Gayatri.
Goddess Laksmi: Origin and Development
Hanuman : The Only Devotee
Hanuman is the most important warrior of Ramayana. Though he had been a silent soldier with Sugriva, but his personality gained importance after his coming in contact with Rama. He played a leading role in the Kiskindha, Sundra and Yuddha-Kanda of Ramayana. Indeed it would be no exeggeration to say that he is the auspicious, brave and the illustrious hero of the Sundara-Kanda the selfless service rendered to Rama, Sugriva, Laksmana, Sita besides his own colleagues is beyond comparison.
Hindu Deities
Hinduism is the term now used to summarize the religious aspirations of the majority of Indians. It includes a variety of highly intellectual, metaphysical and philosophical systems, as well as the naive demonology and magico-religious beliefs of the masses. Hinduism is also a synthesis of three, originally separate religious traditions: the Dravidian, the Aryan and the aboriginal.
Laksmi : The Consort of Visnu and Goddess of Wealth
Laksmi in Indian religious thought happens to be the spouse of Lord Visnu, she is said to have emerged as one of the gems from the churning of the ocean, jointly undertaken by the demons and the gods. Immediately after her emerging from the ocean she accepted lord Visnu as her lord. She has been in worship since time immemorial as an individual goddess as well as in the company of her lord Visnu.
Om
Om: The Sound Symbol is on the various meanings Om, unfolded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. The first part contains linguistic interpretation of Om, Om as a word Symbol-pratika, Superimposition of the three states of experience on AUM by the Upanisad, Om as a phonetic Symbol of Brahman, and the mantra So'ham being Om.
On the Meaning of the Mahabharata
Plant Myths and Traditions in India
