New Search

If you are not happy with the results below please do another search

66 search results for: Purana

2

Academic Books (especially for RE specialists)

in

Further Reading (word document version) Academic Books (especially for RE specialists) A Very Short Introduction to Hinduism by Kim Knott (Oxford University Press) ISBN: 0-19-285387-2 A succinct and accessible introduction to the tradition Hinduism – A Short Introduction by Klaus. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) ISBN: 1-85168-220-1 A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism by K. K. Klostermaier […]

4

Scriptural Verses B – Core Values and Virtues

in ,

Scriptural Verses B (word document download) Verses on Core Values and Virtues Please also refer to the section on proverbs for further relevant verses. In here, there are four main categories, namely: A. Godly / Spiritual Qualities (general) B. Demonic / Materialistic Qualities (general) C. Specific Virtues D. Miscellaneous A. Godly / Spiritual Qualities (general) […]

6

Further Resources

in

Academic Books (especially for Secondary RE teachers and Libraries) A Very Short Introduction to Hinduism by Kim Knott (Oxford University Press) ISBN: 0-19-285387-2 A succinct and accessible introduction to the tradition Hinduism – A Short Introduction by Klaus. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) ISBN: 1-85168-220-1 A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism by K. K. Klostermaier (Oneworld, Oxford) […]

7

STO-311 – Shiva Drinks the poison

in

STO-311-sec Lord Shiva is one of the many sons of Brahma. He was born from between his father’s eyebrows, when Brahma became angry with his four sons, the Kumaras, who refused his request to get married. Shiva can therefore be very angry, as exhibited in his form as Rudra, or when he destroys the creation. […]

8

(P) Stories connected with Raksha Bandhan

in

STO-401 There are number of stories or incidents connected with Raksha Bandhan, and we narrate five, as follows: The Bhavishya Purana cites a story that the Devas (demigods) once battled with the Asuras (demons) for twelve years. However, the Devas, headed by the mighty Indra, were losing the war. As they prepared to fight again, […]

9

(E) Shiva Drinks the poison

in

STO-311 Lord Shiva is one of the many sons of Brahma. He was born from between his father’s eyebrows, when Brahma became angry with his four sons, the Kumaras, who refused his request to get married. Shiva can therefore be very angry, as exhibited in his form as Rudra, or when he destroys the creation. […]

10

Krishna

in

Download PDF: PCT-305 Krishna is often considered the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Many think him to be God himself, and the terms Vishnu and Krishna are often used synonymously. He is perhaps the most popular deity, especially in North India and within the UK. Krishna is depicted with two hands, usually playing his flute. He wears […]

11

Vishnu

in

Download PDF: PCT-302 Vishnu is one of the Trimurti. He presides over sattva-guna (the quality of goodness) and is the maintainer/sustainer. He is also one of the three main focuses of worship. Vishnu resides in the spiritual realm (Vaikunthaloka), where he is known as Narayana. In this world, he has three principal forms: (1) The […]

12

9. What Krishna Teaches Us

in

Download PDF: PCT-009 What Krishna Teaches Us There are many stories about Krishna. He was very clever, but a little bit naughty as well. Sometimes, he would take butter and cream from the fridge and eat it. He would feed it to the monkeys. When the monkeys were very full, he would say “This butter […]

13

ART-1203 The Life of Ramanuja (1017 – 1137 CE)

in

Word document download: ART-1203 Ramanuja is one of the three preeminent Vedantic theologians; the others are Madhva and Shankara.  Shri Ramanuja is known as the greatest exponent of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified monism). He appeared around 1017 A.D in a pious brahmana family. His birthplace is a small village some 25 miles southwest of Madras (now […]

14

ART-0529 Ujjain: The Gurukula (school) of Lord Krishna

in

Word document download: ART-0529 Ujjain is one of the main Kumbha Mela sites. See the Teachers’ Book, pages 72, 78 (Sandipani Muni painting) and page 101 (Mathematics). See also STO-320, the story of the turtle incarnation. According to the Aranya Parva of the Mahabharata, Ujjain is one of the seven sacred cities (dhamas) known as […]

15

ART-0526 Somnath

in

Word document download: ART-0526 Somnath is particularly important for Shaivas, but related sites are closely connected to Krishna. For a picture of a linga, see the Teachers’ Book, page 135. Somnath near Veraval in Gujarat was once the most revered shrine in the country, for it had one of the twelve pre-eminent Jyotirlingas (the glowing […]

16

ART-0517 Naimisharanya

in

Word document download: ART-0517 Naimisharanya is perhaps the most famous of the sacred forests. It is connected with Lord Brahma (Teachers’ Book, pages 34,48). For information on circumambulation see page 59, and for information on Vyasa and the Vedas, see pages 30,124. Naimisharanya is the spot where the Bhagavat Purana was spoken by Suta Goswami […]

17

ART-0508 Haridwar: Gateway to Lord Hari

in

Word document download: ART-0508 Haridwar is connected with Krishna (Hari) and is one of the four Maha Kumbha Mela sites (See Teachers’ Book, page 72). Haridwar is on the west bank of the Ganges River at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains. Haridwar means “The gateway to Hari (Lord Vishnu)”. The Bhagavat Purana, written 5000 […]

18

ART-0507 Guruvayor: Where Heaven Meets Earth

in

Word document download: ART-0507 Guruvayor is a small but important centre of Krishna worship in South India. Guruvayor is a peaceful city with a spiritual atmosphere and is considered to be “The Dwarka of the South”. The Guruvayurappan Temple is one of the most important and oldest temples in all of South India. This temple […]

19

ART-0503 Chidambaram

in

Word document download: ART-0503 Chidambaram is most closely related to Shiva in his form as Nataraja (See the Teachers’ Book, pages 48 and 52). Chidambaram Temple is in South India. ‘Cid’ means ‘consciousness’ and ‘ambaram’ means “expanding skies”. ‘Chidambaram’ can be translated as ‘expanding consciousness’. Chidambaram is a home of famous Nataraja, Shiva as the […]

20

The Life of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

in ,

Word document download: FCT-1203 His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in this world in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent religious scholar and the founder of sixty-four Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes) in India, liked this educated […]

21

THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT

in ,

Word document download: FCT-1201 What is the Hare Krishna Movement? The Hare Krishna movement is the popular name for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Who started ISKCON? In 1965, an elderly monk, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), travelled alone from India to establish the culture of Krishna consciousness in the […]

22

THE BHAGAVAD GITA

in ,

Word document download: FCT-1102 Bhagavad Gita means “The Song of the Lord”. It was spoken by Lord Krishna who is considered Bhagavan (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) to his friend Arjuna just prior to the Battle of Kurukshetra. Present day Kurukshetra is located one hundred miles north-west of New Delhi. It is composed of seven […]

23

THE VEDIC (HINDU) SCRIPTURES

in ,

Word document download: FCT-1101 The term ‘Hinduism‘ is somewhat arbitrary but broadly refers to the tradition whose members follow the sacred texts called the Vedas or the Vedic scriptures. There are two main categories of Vedic literature: – the shruti (that which is heard) – the smriti (that which is remembered). All traditions accept the […]

24

THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ISKCON

in ,

Word document download: FCT-1001 3000 B.C. The end of Dvarapa-yuga, (the copper age), and beginning of Kali-yuga (the iron age, the age of quarrel); the advent of Lord Krishna; the compilation of Vedic literature by Vyasadeva. These writings include the Bhagavad Gita, spoken originally by Lord Krishna and the Bhagavat Purana, describing His pastimes. Both […]

26

HINDU MARRIAGE

in ,

Word document download: FCT-0602 Marriage is one of the most important of the samskaras (Hindu rites of passage). It is not only a social institution but also a religious sacrament. It is the only one compulsory for women and for men from the shudra varna. Traditionally, there is no such thing as divorce, though there […]

27

THE SCIENCE OF REINCARNATION

in ,

Word document download: FCT-0101 The soul (atma or atman) exists in all species of life and is the source of consciousness. The atma is eternal and unchangeable, as distinct from the temporary and ever-changing material body. It was not created at any time nor can it ever be destroyed. At the time of death the […]

28

ART-0505 Dwarka

in ,

Dwarka: The Capital of Lord Krishna 5000 Years Ago Dwarka is connected to Lord Krishna and is mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavat Purana. It is one of the four holy dhamas (See Teachers’ Book, page 72). Over 5000 years ago, after He left Mathura, Lord Krishna spent one hundred years in his capital, […]

29

ART-0522 Pushkar

in ,

Pushkar: The Place of Lord Brahma Pushkar is the only prominent site connected to Brahma, the creator. According to Vedic tradition, the empowered creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, chose Pushkar as a site for his temple and it has attracted sages and ascetics for thousands of years. Once Lord Brahma desired to have a […]

30

ART-0527 Tirupati

in ,

Tirupati/Tirumala: A Glimpse of the Opulence of God Tirumala is where the Venkateshwara (Shri Balaji) Temple is located. Tirumala is located twelve miles from Tirupati on Vyenkata Hill at an altitude of 2,800 feet. The Venkateshwara temple is 414 feet long, 263 feet wide and covers an area of 2.2 acres. “Venkateshwara” means “The Lord […]