question regarding our religion - Page 2

Created

Last reply

Replies

17

Views

2k

Users

8

Likes

38

Frequent Posters

shruthiravi thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Stunner Thumbnail + 2
Posted: 10 years ago
#11
Want to add few more points. You told Hindus can worship God in any form they like. And for me it is most beautifully explained in Krishna Avatar. Krishna is son to Devaki and Yasodha, lover to Radha, husband to Rukmini, friend to Panchali and Arjun, brother to Balram and Subhadra.
If you look at Krishna in every relation you can see that he was available to everyone in their hour of need in the way they worshipped him. When coming to Panchali when she needed him or being with Arjuna as his charioteer he becomes a friend to them, coming to Rukmini to take her he becomes her husband, the naughty child plays with Yasodha, allows his sister to choose the man she loves as a caring brother. So it tells you whichever way you worship him he will come to you in that form giving you freedom of worship.
One more thing in our ancient culture woman are not treated secondary human beings. Shakthi is treated at par with Shiva. Ardhanareeshwara sankalpa itself is a proof of that. Our culture tells man and woman are different but one is incomplete without other. It never tells one is inferior to other.
It is the later patriarchal society which created those notions. I am very happy that shows like Maha Kumbh is bringing out our culture and beliefs in a positive light.
shikaDD thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Dazzler Thumbnail Networker 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 10 years ago
#12

Originally posted by: shruthiravi

Want to add few more points. You told Hindus can worship God in any form they like. And for me it is most beautifully explained in Krishna Avatar. Krishna is son to Devaki and Yasodha, lover to Radha, husband to Rukmini, friend to Panchali and Arjun, brother to Balram and Subhadra.

If you look at Krishna in every relation you can see that he was available to everyone in their hour of need in the way they worshipped him. When coming to Panchali when she needed him or being with Arjuna as his charioteer he becomes a friend to them, coming to Rukmini to take her he becomes her husband, the naughty child plays with Yasodha, allows his sister to choose the man she loves as a caring brother. So it tells you whichever way you worship him he will come to you in that form giving you freedom of worship.
One more thing in our ancient culture woman are not treated secondary human beings. Shakthi is treated at par with Shiva. Ardhanareeshwara sankalpa itself is a proof of that. Our culture tells man and woman are different but one is incomplete without other. It never tells one is inferior to other.
It is the later patriarchal society which created those notions. I am very happy that shows like Maha Kumbh is bringing out our culture and beliefs in a positive light.



yup u r absolutely correct
krishna story tells that god is with u in every form s a friend brother or parents even as teacher n guest n i think
matru devo bhava
pitru devo bhava
acharya devo bhava
athithi devo bhava these sanskrit lines is clearly explained by krishna in mahabharata
shikaDD thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Dazzler Thumbnail Networker 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 10 years ago
#13


thank you😊
Tweeg thumbnail
19th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail + 2
Posted: 10 years ago
#14
Re Hinduism:

As far as Vedic religion is concerned, it is not for the Hindus; it is for all living entities. That is the first thing to be understood. Vedic religion is called sanatana-dharma, "the eternal occupation of the living entity." The living entity is sanatana [eternal]. God is sanatana, and there is sanatana-dharma. sanatana-dharma is meant for all living entities, not just the so- called Hindus. Hinduism, this ism', that ism'"these are all misconceptions. Historically, sanatana-dharma was followed regularly in India, and Indians were called Hindus' by the Muslims. The Muslims saw that the Indians lived on the other side of the River Sind, and the Muslims pronounces Sind as Hind. Therefore they called India Hindustan' and the people who lived there Hindus'. But the word Hindu has no reference in the Vedic literature, nor does so-called Hindu dharma. Now that sanatana-dharma or Vedic dharma, is being distorted, not being obeyed, not being carried our properly, it has come to be known as Hinduism. But that is a freak understanding. We have to study sanatana-dharma; then we'll understand what Vedic religion is. [To a devotee] Read from the Eleventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, eighteenth verse.

Re demigods and Deity worship

"Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world." (Bhagavad Gita 4.12)
"Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone." (Bhagavad Gita 7:22.)

Demigods and demigoddesses are often mentioned in Vedic literature as the extraordinarily powerful controllers of the material world. The Supreme Being, Krishna, doesn't directly manage the affairs of the universe; He appoints other qualified living entities"His devotees"to act on His behalf.
For example, Krishna entrusts Brahma with creating the universe and Shiva with annihilating it. Krishna's expansion, Vishnu, takes charge of its maintenance, but in a "hands off" style; He posts other demigods to look after the various aspects of universal management.
The Vedas sometimes encourage worship of demigods as a reward system to encourage pious activity. People desiring temporary, material benedictions worship demigods, with the goal of with goal of enjoying worldly, heavenly pleasures in this life and the next.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna discourages such materialistic worship, reminding us that such benedictions, like the demigods themselves, are limited and temporary. He recommends that anyone seeking true, lasting happiness should worship Him instead, since He's the ultimate source of all benedictions and demigods anyway.

Lord Krishna is non different from His form. When we worship His form, we are worshipping Him. He says in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.51
[Lord Sankarsana to King Citraketu] All living entities, moving and nonmoving, are My expansions and are separate from Me. I am the Supersoul of all living beings, which exist because I manifest them. I am the form of the transcendental vibrations like omkara and Hare Krsna Hare Rama, and I am the Supreme Absolute Truth. These two forms of Mine'namely, the transcendental sound and the eternally blissful spiritual form of the Deity'are My eternal forms; they are not material.

Re cow protection

namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krsnaya
govindaya namo namah
My Lord, you are the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and the of the entire world.
Purport: In this prayer we see that special mention is made of the cows, indicating that special protection must always be given to the cows who are very dear to the Supreme Lord. The Lord is very fond of cows and we are encouraged to give reverence and love to the cow. For the cowherd men and the cows, Krsna is the supreme friend. Therefore, He is worshiped by the prayer " namo brahmanya-devaya go brahmana -hitaya ca". His pastimes in Gokula, are always favorable to the brahmanas and the cows, His first business is to give all protection to the cows and the brahmanas. In fact ,comfort for the brahmanas are secondary, and comfort for the cows are His first concern ( Srimad Bhagavatam 10.8.16 Purport)

Re caste:

catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. The Lord says that "The four divisions of social order -- namely the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas, sudras -- these divisions were created by Me," and guna-karma-vibhagasah, "not by birthright but by identification of qualities and actual work." In the similar way, in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also, it is stated that yasya hi yad varnabhivyanjakam, laksanam syat. Yasya hi yad laksanam syad varnabhivyanjakam, tat tenaiva vinirdiset [SB 7.11.35]. The whole Vedic system is to pick up qualitative persons. There is no such thing as birthright qualification.

Re Bhagavad Gita
http://www.gitadaily.com/what-is-the-bhagavad-gita-as-it-is/

No offences meant to anyone. Just sharing what I've read and am trying to imbibe.

shruthiravi thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Stunner Thumbnail + 2
Posted: 10 years ago
#15
@tweeg what a beautiful translation of those Sanskrit lines.In my community those lines are part of the prayer that is said daily. I guess most people chant it without understanding the meaning. I am also a great admirer of BG and have tried to imbibe some of the teachings in my life.
shikaDD thumbnail
12th Anniversary Thumbnail Dazzler Thumbnail Networker 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 10 years ago
#16
@tweeg i did not knw most of those sanskrit poems n their meaning
thank you for sharing with us
Edited by shikaDD - 10 years ago
Tweeg thumbnail
19th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail + 2
Posted: 10 years ago
#17

Originally posted by: shikaDD

@tweeg i did not knw most of those sanskrit poems n their meaning
thank you for sharing with us


Shikadd I've quoted from the Bhagavad Gita As It is - written by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Prabhupad. Actually, everything in the info I provided is from him. I'm a fan 😊. I try to read BG every evening. It puts things into perspective.
Other quotes are from Srimad Bhagavatsm - also translated by His Divine Grace. Actually, SB is just amazing. It's full of drama and action - much better than what's on tv. 😊
RKDramebaaz thumbnail
15th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail + 4
Posted: 10 years ago
#18
This is one amazing post. I love different aspects of our religion and this explanations to common questions asked by foreigners is now one of my favorite. Everytime I am asked why we worship cows, I say something very similar. I tell them that the source of food (milk and grains) came from cows and Bulls. Cows gave milk and Bullocks ploughs the fields. To me, that was the only explanation that made sense. I always believed in the depths of our religion. There is so much to understand beyond all the andhvishwas. I love talking and debating about this with my best friend. The best topic!

Related Topics

Top

Stay Connected with IndiaForums!

Be the first to know about the latest news, updates, and exclusive content.

Add to Home Screen!

Install this web app on your iPhone for the best experience. It's easy, just tap and then "Add to Home Screen".