Top and Best  Quotes About Hinduism Sayings and Hinduism Quotes Wise Old Sayings 

Hinduism Sayings and Quotes. Hinduism dies if untouchability lives, and untouchability has to die if Hinduism is to live. Hinduism has sinned in giving sanction to untouchability. Hinduism insists on the brotherhood of not only all mankind but of all that lives.

 1. "In Hinduism, conscience, reason and independent thinking have no scope for development."

Swami Vivekananda was born in 1863 in Calcutta. His parents named him Narendranath Dutta, or Naren for short. As a young man, Vivekananda joined the course in philosophy at the Scottish Churches College of Calcutta (Kolkata), and also became a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a great mystic and devotee of Kali. Ramakrishna was a phenomenal enlightened being, and he saw great potential in Naren. Seeing his capability to percieve, Ramakrishna named him Vivekananda, where Viveka means perception in Sanskrit. Swami Vivekananda went out into the world to spread Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s message. In 1893, he was invited to the World Parliament of Religions, in Chicago. As a representative of Hinduism. he gave several speeches to great acclaim within the Parliament and the world at large. He is credited with playing a big part in bringing an understanding of Hinduism to the Western mindset.

Vivekananda stressed the importance of coming together for the betterment of society and urged Indians to adopt the Indian culture and the path of Karma Yoga, or the yoga of action. According to this, the path to salvation lies through active work in this world in selfless devotion, with bothering about the fruits of one’s actions. The respect that Vivekananda gained in the western part of the world had a great impact on his Indian contemporaries. British ideas of the Hindu way of life had looked at it as a collection of superstitious nonsense and pointless ritualism. Vivekananda’s outspoken defense of the Hindu way of life and his explanation of various facets of Indian culture won him many admirers in the East and the West. He fired the imaganation of Indian youth and became a national hero. His ideals had a big influence on many Independence-era politicians. The great liberal, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and the fervent socialist, Jawaharlal Nehru, both acknowledged their debts to Vivekananda in their later years.

Though Vivekananda praised the nobler ideas of the Hindu spiritual tradition, he was also an inveterate critic of certain discriminatory practices such as untouchability, which he characterized as a social custom not justified by religion. In 1887, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission, as an organisation for the dissemination of Ramakrishna’s spiritual path. Vivekananda’s trips to several Western countries paved the way for the global spread of the Ramakrishna Mission. The Mission has published the eight volumes of his collected works, which contain his books on Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Karma Yoga, as well as his numerous speeches.

Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai.

Uniqueness of Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings and message

The sayings of Sri Ramakrishna stand on a unique pedestal. Sri Ramakrishna possessed not only a great intellect and an artistic mind, but had the additional qualification that he had ‘seen God face to face; talked with Him’ and shared the Divine life. Hence Sri Ramakrishna’s words on these transcendental themes come with a weight of authority derived from the Supreme Being Himself.

There are more than 1100 sayings and parables of Sri Ramakrishna. The manner and method of his teaching, as well as his relationship with his disciples, were in many respects unique. He never undertook the work of teaching in an egoistic sense. He was the humblest of men, without any sense of ego in him, and he attributed all that he achieved to the Divine Mother of the universe. And it was because of this very fact of his having surrendered his ego completely to the Divine that the Guru Shakti (the redeeming power of the Lord) manifested itself through his body and mind in so remarkable a degree, sanctifying and enlightening all that came within their influence.

Sri Ramakrishna had the strange capacity to make himself interesting and intelligible to people of diverse temperaments and stages of intellectual developments. He could astound learned Pandits like Sasadhar and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar by the profundity of his wisdom, and he could also bring himself to the intellectual level of the ignorant village woman, to have her simple doubts cleared.

Sri Ramakrishna preached no particular dogma, creed or philosophy. What he did was convey to people a spirit that transformed their outlook on life and gave them an insight into the ultimate nature of the world and of human personality. In doing this, he relied not on formal sermons and discourses, but on loving contacts, illustrations drawn from Nature, a life of purity and self-control, and above all the practice of silent Japa and meditation. His instructions, whether on philosophy, devotion or conduct would take the form of witty sayings, striking analogies and illuminating parables.

Question: What is Jnana Yoga?

Sri Ramakrishna: Jnana Yoga is communion with God by means of knowledge. Knowledge (Jnana) varies in degree and kind from person to person. There is first the Jnana or insight of men of the world – ordinary mortals. This knowledge is not sufficiently powerful. It may be compared to the flame of a lamp, which illumines only the interior of a room. The Jnana of a Bhakta (devotee) is a stronger light. It may be compared to the light of the moon which reveals things both inside and outside a room. But the Jnana of the Avatara is still more powerful, and may be likened to the sun. He is the sun of Divine knowledge whose light dispels the accumulated ignorance of ages.

Methods of Jnana Yoga: The Ego:

If a man knows his own self, he knows other beings and God. What is my ego? Ponder deeply, and you will know that there is no such thing as ‘I’. As you peel off the skin of an onion, you find it consists only of skin; you cannot find any kernel in it. So too on analysing the ego, you will find that there is no real entity that you can call ‘I’. Such an analysis of the ego convinces one that the ultimate substance is God alone. When egotism drops away, Divinity manifests Itself.

Bhakti(Devotion) The path of Love

Nothing can be impressed on smooth glass, but when the surface is coated with proper chemicals, pictures can be impressed upon it, as in photography. In the same way, on the human heart coated with the chemicals of Bhakti, the image of Divinity can be impressed.

Unless one screens the eyes of unbroken horses, they will not move a single step. Is it possible to realise God unless one’s passions have already been controlled? In a sense not. But that is true only of Jnana Yoga, the path of Knowledge. The knowing one says, “One must first be pure if one desires to see God. One must first control one’s passions. First self-discipline, then knowledge of God.”There is however, another path leading to God – the path of devotion (Bhakti Yoga). If one man gains love of God, if once the chanting of His holy name begins to thrill the devotee with joy, what effort is needed for the control of passions afterwards? The control comes of itself. Can a man suffering from intense grief be in a mood to enter into a quarrel, or to enjoy a feast, or to give his mind up to the pleasures of the senses? So one absorbed in the love of God cannot think of sense-pleasures.

A poet has compared devotion to God to a tiger. As the tiger devours animals, devotion also swallows up all the ‘arch-enemies’ of man, such as lust, passion and the rest. Once the devotion to God is fully awakened, all evil passions like lust and anger are completely destroyed.

Why does a Bhakta (devotee) forsake everything for the sake of God?

The insect flies from darkness as soon as it sees a light. The ant loses its life in the syrup without leaving it. So does the Bhakta cling to God forever, and leaves all.

The Master: Does the moth seek darkness once it has seen light?

Questioner: It does not - it will rather rush into the flame and perish.

The Master: But such is not the case with the true worshipper of God. The Divine Light to which he is drawn does not burn and cause death. It is like the lustre of a gem, shining yet soft, cool and soothing. It burns not, but illumines the heart with peace and joy.

Worship of Images

While raising a building, the scaffolding is indispensable; but when the work is completed, no one feels the necessity of it. So also image-worship is necessary in the beginning but not afterwards.

Do you believe in a God with form or in a formless God?"

"In the formless aspect," was the reply.

The Master asked: But how can you grasp the formless aspect all at once? When the archers are learning to shoot, they first aim at the plantain tree, then at a thin tree, then at a fruit, then at the leaves, and finally at a flying bird. First meditate on the aspect with form. This will enable you to see the formless later.

As a boy begins to learn writing by drawing big scrawl before he can master a smaller hand, so we must acquire the power of concentration by first fixing the mind on forms; and we have attained success therein, we can easily fix it upon the Formless.

You see many stars in the sky at night, but not when the sun rises. Can you therefore say that there are no stars in the heaven during the day? O man, because you cannot find God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.

Adopt adequate means for the end you seek to attain. You cannot get butter by crying yourself hoarse, “There is butter in the milk!” If you wish to make butter, you must turn the milk into curds, and churn it well. Then alone you can get butter. So if you long to see God, practise spiritual exercises. What is the use of merely crying, “Lord! Lord?”

Satsang -Company of the holy - Benefits of Pious Company

When going through spiritual exercises do not associate with those who never concern themselves with matters spiritual. Such people scoff at those who worship God and meditate upon Him and they ridicule piety and the pious. Keep yourself aloof from them.

As many people warm themselves in the fire kindled by someone else who has taken the trouble of collecting the firewood and other necessary things, similarly many fix their mind on the Lord by associating with and following the instruction of holy men who have come to know the Lord after many a hard penance.

God is one, but His aspects are many. As the master of a house is father to one, brother to another and husband to a third, and is called by different names by different persons, so the one God is described in various ways according to the particular aspects in which He appears to particular worshippers.

The Destiny of Man

The digit one may be raised to a figure of any value by adding zeros after it; but if that one is omitted, zeroes by themselves have no value. Similarly so long as the jiva (individual soul) does not cling to God, Who is the One, he has no value, for all things here get their value from their connection with God. So long as the Jiva clings to God, Who is the value-giving figure behind the world, and does all his work for Him, he gains more and more thereby; on the contrary, if he overlooks God and adds to his work many grand achievements, all done for his own glorification, he will gain nothing there from.

First gain God, and then gain wealth; but do not try to do the contrary. If, after acquiring spirituality, you lead a worldly life, you will never lose your peace of mind.

Do you talk of social reform? Well, you may do so after realising God. Remember, the Rishis of old gave up the world in order to attain God. This is the one thing needful. All other things shall be added to you, if indeed you care to have them. First see God, and then talk of lectures and social reforms.

A newcomer to a city should first secure a comfortable room for his rest at night, and after keeping his luggage there, he may freely go about the city for sightseeing. Otherwise he may have to suffer much in the darkness of night to get a place for rest. Similarly, after securing his eternal resting place in God, a newcomer to this world can fearlessly move about doing his daily work. Otherwise, when the dark and dreadful night of death comes over him, he will have to encounter great difficulties and sufferings.

Man in Bondage

There are three dolls- the first made of salt, the second made of cloth, and the third of stone. If these dolls are immersed in water, the first doll made of salt will become dissolved and lose its form. The second doll made from cloth will absorb a large quantity of water but retain its form. The third doll, made of stone, will remain impervious to water. The first doll made from salt represents the man who merges his self in the universal and all-pervading Self and becomes one with It. He is the liberated man. The second doll from cloth represents the Bhakta (devotee) or the true lover of God, who is full of Divine bliss and knowledge. And the third doll made of stone, represents the worldly man who will not admit even a particle of true knowledge into his heart.

Death and Reincarnation

When an unbaked pot is broken, the potter can use the mud to make a new one; but when a baked one is broken, he cannot do the same any longer. So when a person dies in a state of ignorance, he is born again but when he becomes well baked in the fire of true knowledge and dies a perfect man, he is not born again.

A grain of boiled paddy does not sprout again when sown. Only unboiled paddy sends forth the shoot. Similarly when one dies after becoming a Siddha, a perfect man, he has not to be born again, but an Asiddha, an imperfect man, has to be born again until he becomes a Siddha.

Perseverance

The hereditary peasant does not give up tilling the soil though it may not rain for twelve years; but a merchant who has recently taken to agriculture is discouraged by one season of drought. The true believer is never discouraged even if he fails to see God in spite of lifelong devotion.

Faith

A stone may remain in water for numberless years; yet the water will never penetrate into it. But clay is soon soaked into mud by the contact of water. So the strong heart of the faithful does not despair in the midst of trials and persecutions, but the man of weak faith is shaken even by the most trifling cause.

Sri Ramakrishna taught more by his life than by words. He never wrote or lectured, but imparted all his teachings in the shape of informal conversations, some of which have been faithfully recorded by his disciples.

 The following is a list of several common Hindu terms. We also recommend that you read our article What Is Hinduism , as we have pronunciations of many of ...

A

Aalaya - Temple

Abhaya - Fearless; refuge

Abhishekam - Ceremonial cleansing of the Lord's idol

Acharya - One who shows the right path for others to follow; a preceptor

Adisesha - Primeval serpent mythologically conceived to bear the world on his 1000 hoods. Traditionally believed to support Lord Sri Venkateswara upon seven of his hoods, Narasimha on his coiled frame, Mallikarjuna on his twisted tail, and Srikalahastivara at the opening of his mouth.

Aditya - Sun God

Alankaram - Decoration

Alvar - Seer of a specific religious order in the Vaishnavaite Cult

Amrit - Nectar which when consumed, grants immortality

Angapradakshinam - A vow whereby pilgrims lie prostrate and roll around the temple

Ankurarpanam - The start of the Brahmotsavam festival

Alipiri - Starting point at the foot of the hills, for pilgrims who wish to reach Tirumala on foot

Annadanam - Distribution of free food

Annam - Food

Annamacharya/Annamayya - (1408-1503 AD); the earliest musician to compose songs in favour of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Appams - A sweet dish made of rice flour and offered to the Lord

Archaka - Priest

Archana - Worship of the Lord

Arjita Seva - Any seva for the performance of which pilgrims pay a fee

Ashta - Eight

Asthanam - Royal Court/Official Chamber of the King

Asva - Horse

Aushadha - Medicine

Avatara - A manifestation of God on Earth, with a specific mission.

B

BIRRD - Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled

Bahumanam - Gift

Balaji - Another name for Lord Sri Venkateswara

Bhagaswamyam - Partnership

Bhakti - Devotion

Brahma - God of Creation

Brahmins - Hindu priests

C

Chakra - The sacred disc (weapon of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu)

Chakkera Pongal - Sweet dish made of sugar, milk and rice

Chandanam - Sandalwood

Chandra - Moon

Chaulam - Ear lobe-piercing ceremony

Cherupulu - Food offered to the Lord

Chinna - Small

Chitrannam - A rice preparation, rich in spices

Choultry - Guesthouse where accommodation is free of charge. Also called Dharmasala.

D

Daanam - Charitable offering

Dadhyodanam - Dish made of spiced rice and curd

Daiva - Divine

Dakshina - South; Offering money to the Lord

Dala - Leaf

Darsanam/Darshan - Viewing the idol of the Lord

Dasavataram - Ten incarnations of Sri Maha Vishnu

Deepam - Lamp

Devas - The Gods

Devasthanam - Abode of the Gods

Dhanya - Cereal

Dharma - Set of righteous principles to be followed

Dharmasala - Guesthouse where accommodation is free of charge. Also called Choultry.

Dhoti - Cloth tied around the waist like a sarong

Dhvajasthambham - A sacred pillar in front of the Sri Venkateswara temple

Dhyana Yoga - Meditation

Divya Ananda Nilaya Vimana - Dome of the abode of divine bliss

Divya Vimana - Divine dome

Dosa - Pancake made with rice flour, black gram flour and oil

Dupatta - Long scarf draped across the shoulders and worn with the salwar kameez.

Dvara gopura - Gateway with a sculpted tower above it

Dvara/Dvaram/Dwaram - Entrance; gateway

Dvarapalakas - Door-keepers

E

Ekangi - Celibate disciple of the Sri Vaishnava Jiyar Matham

Ekantam - Private

Ekanta Seva - Private service conducted for the Lord, to which pilgrims are not admitted

G

Gadha - Mace which is the sacred weapon of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Gajam - Elephant

Gangala - Brass vessel

Garbha griha - The sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Venkateswara Temple which houses the idol of the Lord

Garuda - A white-necked Brahmani Kite .He is considered the vehicle of Sri Maha Vishnu

Ghat - mountain. Also see Ghats (Eastern)

Ghats (Eastern) - Mountain range for a part of these ranges that runs along south-eastern India. Tirumala-Tirupati .

Gopuram - The sculpted upper crest of a temple

Gotram - The sect to which a devotee belongs

Grihastha - Donor

Gurkha - Security guard

Guru - Teacher

H

Hamsa - Swan

Harati - Waving a plate (in which a sacred flame is lit) in front of the Lord's image. Also called Nirajana

Harikatha - Musical rendering of divine stories

Hiranyakasipu - Demon King who tried to destroy the Earth

Hiranyaksa - Younger brother of Hiranyakasipu, who succeeded the latter as Demon King

Homam - Sacred fire

Hundi - Receptacle for depositing offerings (in cash and kind) for the Lord

I

Ishta Daivam - Favourite deity

J

Janaloka - One of the seven regions above the Earth

Japam - Sacred word that is chanted repeatedly

Jata - Twisted hair that hangs down in coils at the back of the Lord Sri Venkateswara's idol

Jeghanta - Cymbals

Jilebi - Spiral-shaped sweet dish made of flour and jaggery jelly

Jyeshtha - Name of a month in the Hindu calendar

K

Kainkaryam - Ritualistic offering to God or worship of God

Kali Yuga - The Dark Age

Kalpa - Age or aeon. Also called Yuga

Kalyana Katta - Place where devotees have their hair cut as an offering to the Lord

Kalyanam - Marriage

Kalyana Mandapam - Marriage Hall

Kalyanotsavam - Celebration of the divine marriage between Lord Sri Venkateswara and Sri Padmavathi Devi

Kankanam - Metal bracelet worn around the wrist

Kapila - Grey-coloured

Karma Yoga - deeds

Karpooram - Camphor

Kasturitilakam - Lineament of musk drawn on the Lord's forehead

Katika - Placed on the waist

Keertanas - devotional songs

Kiritam - Crown

Koil - Temple

Koluvu - Darbar

Kula Daivam - Family Deity

L

Laddu - Spherical-shaped sweet made of flour and jaggery/sugar

M

Madhura bhakti - Deep devotion

Maha - Great

Mahatmya/Mahatmyam - Greatness

Mahatva - Importance

Makara Kundalas - ornaments shaped like an alligator, that adorn the ears of the main idol of the Lord

Mandapam - structure or monument with rich sculpture meant for a specific purpose like performing fine arts

Mantra - Sacred word(s) to be chanted repeatedly

Mantrodaka - Sacred water

Matsya Avatara - Manifestation of Lord Vishnu as a fish

Muhurtam - Auspicious time

Mukhadvaram - Main entrance (door) at the front of the temple

Mukkoti - Three crore (merging of three crore teerthams in the Swami Pushkarini).

Mukti/Moksha - Liberation of the soul

Mulaberam - The central idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Murthi - Statue

Mutyam - Pearl

N

Nacchimars - The Lord's two consorts - Sridevi and Bhudevi

Naivedyam - Food offering

Namakarana- Naming ceremony

Namam - White caste-mark on the Lord's forehead

Narada - The supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu; a connoisseur of all arts; a devarishi (according to the Bhagavad Gita 10:26)

Narasimha - Lord Vishnu's manifestation, with the face of a lion and the body of a human

Narayana - Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Nava - Nine

Nayaka - Leader

Nija - Real, Original

Niluvudopidi - Offering to the Lord, the clothes/ornaments that one is wearing when one visits the temple

Nirajana - See harati

Nivedana - Offer/present

O

Om - The sacred syllable

Om Sri Venkatesaya Namah - Saluting the Lord by reciting His name

P

Padmam - Lotus

Padmavathi - Consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Pallaki - Palanquin

Panchangam - Indian almanac

Panchanga Sravanam - Listening to the forecast as directed by the Sastras

Pandal - Canopy

Panyarams - Laddus. See Laddus.

Papam - Sin

Parinayam - Marriage

Parishad - Union of Scholars

Pataloka - The nether world

Pati - Husband

Patrika - Letter

Pavithra - Sacred

Payasam - Watery sweet made with milk, sugar, cardamom and cashewnuts

Periya Jiyar - Saint of the Sri Vaishnava Jiyar Matham

Periyatirdadi - The first devotee

Pinda Prasadam - Ceremony conducted in memory of the departed

Pitambaram - Yellow silk cloth

Pongal - Rice dish cooked with cereals and spices

Puja/Pooja - Ritualistic worship of God

Poojari - One who performs rituals, chants prayers and worships God as a representative of the devotee

Poolangi - Of flowers

Poorna - Complete, full

Pracharam - Spreading

Pradakshinam - Path for circumambulating the temple

Pradhana acharya purusha - Chief priest

Prahlada - Son of the Demon King Hiranyakasipu and a staunch devotee of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Prakaram - Wall surrounding the temple

Pralaya Kalpa - The Great Deluge

Prarthana - Prayer

Prasadam - Food offered first to the Lord and then distributed (as sacred) among devotees

Prasanna - Pleased

Pratima - Bronze icon

Pratyeka - Special

Pravachanam - Hymn sung in praise of the Lord

Prayoga - Ready for release

Pulihora - A rice dish made with tamarind/lime and spices.

Puranas - Ancient Hindu scriptures

Purohit - Priest

Purohit Sangam - An association of priests

Pushkarini - Sacred water tank

Pushpa Yagam - Vedic ritual involving offering of flowers to God.

Pushpam - Flower

R

Rakshasa - Demon

Rama Pattabhishekam - The coronation of Lord Rama

Ranganayaka - One of the manifestations of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. Also refers to the Deity at Sri Rangam.

Ratham - Chariot

Rishi - Sage

S

Sabha - Meeting;Group

Sadas - Meeting of intellectuals

Sahasra - Thousand

Sahasra Deepa - Thousand earthen lamps

Sakarabath - Sweetened rice

Salwar Kameez - Traditional Indian dress consisting of a loose knee-length top and a loose pant gathered at the ankles.

Samarpana - Offering

Samrakshana - Protection

Samsara Sagara - The ocean of Life

Sangam - Union

Sankalpam - Desire

Sankeertanas - Songs written in praise of the Lord

Sanku - The sacred conch of the Lord

Saranagati - To fall at a person's feet

Sari - traditional dress of Indian women

Sarovaram - Lake

Sarva - All

Sarvadarsanam - Viewing of the Deity for all; the time allotted for it.

Sastanga Danda Pramanam - prostrating before the Lord

Sastras - Various texts of ethical science dealing with code of conduct, morality, rituals etc.

Seera - Sweet dish

Seshachala - One of the famous seven hills of Tirupati believed to be the manifestation of the Snake God, Adisesha

Seshavahanam - Vehicle of the Lord (shaped like the Snake God Adisesha)

Seva - Service/Worship unto the Lord

Seven Hills - The seven hills of Lord Venkateswara's abode. They are Vrishabhadri, Garudadri, Seshadri, Anjanadri, Vedadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri; from Tirupati, the seven hills have to be crossed to reach Tirumala

Sikharam - Pinnacle

Simha - Lion

Sishya - Disciple

Sloka - Stanza

Smaraka - in memory of .

Soma - Moon

Somalatha - A plant whose juice intoxicates if drunk; plant offered to the sacred fire in Somayaga

Somayaji - The person who performs somayaga

Sopanamarga - Stairway (Stone footpath leading to Tirumala)

Sravanam - Season of rainfall (according to the Hindu calendar), usually in August

Sri Bhu Devi - Also called Sri Padmavathi Devi; one of the two consorts of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the other being Sri Lakshmi Devi

Sri Lakshmi Devi - Also called Sri Devi; one of the two consorts of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the other being Sri Bhu Devi

Sri Maha Vishnu - 'The Preserver' who is believed to have manifested Himself on Tirumala as Lord Sri Venkateswara, to save mankind in the Kali Yuga

Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya - The sacred text which extols the glory of Lord Venkaterswara and His abode.

Srinivasa - Lord Venkateswara

Srivaru - Lord Venkateswara

Sthala Mahathmya - The greatness of a place

Sudarsana - The sacred disc weapon of Lord Vishnu

Suddhi - Cleansing

Sukhasana - A Yogic pose

Suprabhatam - Auspicious time at dawn, when the Lord is woken and prayers chanted

Surya - Sun

Sveta - White

Sveta Varaha - The incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu as a fearsome white boar, to restore the Earth after the Great Deluge

Swami - God

T

Takeed - Receipt

Tatva - Substance

Tene - Honey

Thiru/Tiru - Respected, holy

Thirumanjanam - Fragrant powder prepared out of sandalwood and turmeric

Thomala Seva - Worship with garlands

Teertham - Holy water

Tirumala - Meaning 'the holy hill'; abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara situated atop the seven hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Tirumala Raya - a chieftain of the Araviti family, who renovated the Tirumala Raya Mandapam in the Sri Venkateswara temple

Tirupati - The sacred town of Lord Venkateswara at the foot of the seven hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in India

Trimurthi - The holy trinity, comprising Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu

Tulabharam - Offering one's weight in coins to the Lord

U

Ubhaya Nacchiyars - The two consorts (Sri Devi and Bhu Devi) of the utsava murthi of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

Unjal - Cradle

Upanayanam -The ceremony of the investiture with the sacred thread

Utsava Murthi - Processional image of the Lord

Utsavam - Festival

Uttariyam - Garment for covering the shoulders or upper half of the body

Uyala Mandapam - Place where the Lord's idol is placed in a cradle and worshipped

V

Vada - Food item made of cereals and spices

Vaggeyakara - Composer

Vahana - The Lord's vehicle

Vaikuntam - Celestial abode of Sri Maha Vishnu

Vanabhivruddhi - Improvising gardens

Vanam - Garden; forest

Varada - boon

Varaha Kshetra - Place belonging to Varaha

Varahavatara/Varahaswami/Sveta Varaha - Incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu as a boar with a human body

Vasantam - The Spring season

Vasanthotsavam - A festival held in Spring

Vastram - Clothes

Vayu Deva - The God of Wind

Veda - That knowledge which is worth knowing

Vedic Mantras - Sacred hymns

Venkateswara - He who cleanses the sins of His devotees

Vigraham - Statue

Vimana/Vimanam - Dome

Vinjamara - Whisk

Visesha - Important

Vishnu - (Vyapana Seelanath Vishnuhu) That which is all-pervading; the Supreme Being who is the saviour of the universe; also see Sri Maha Vishnu

Vishvaksena - Chief commander of the Lord's army

Y

Yaga/Yagna - Vedic ritual in which various items are offered to God through a sacred fire

Yajnopavita - sacred thread worn by males of certain Hindu castes

Yuga - Aeon

Principles of Srivaishnavism

Srivaishnavism is a philosophy and a religion based on the Upanisads and the divine hymns of Alwars. This system of philosophy explains the nature of souls, matter and God and the relation between them in a rational manner based on testimony and prescribes two basic paths namely Bhakti and Prapatti to get liberation from the vicious cycle of birth and death and attaining the highest state bliss which is nothing but divine service to Sriman Narayana( in paramapada). Srivaishnavism lays equal emphasis on ethical religious way of life and performance of religious duties. It is this practical aspect that gives distinction to Vaishnava philosophy that is far more important than the philosophy!

This song composed by Narasimha Mehta (a Gujarati poet of 15th century) summarises practical Vaishnava values in an unique way :

He is a true Vaishnava who knows and feels another’s calamities as his own.

Ever ready to serve, he never boasts.

Keeping his thought, word and deed pure.

Blessed is the mother of such a person.

He treats women as he would treat his own mother

He keeps his mind calm and does not stain his lips with falsehood;

Nor does he touch another’s wealth.

No bonds of attachment can hold him.

Ever in tune with Rama-nama (name of God), within his body is present all places of piligrimage.

Free from greed and deceit, passion and anger,

This is a true Vaishnava

We can find the echo of such statements emphasizing the religious and ethical values in almost all the world religions. However, the distinctive feature of Vaishnava dharma lies in the fact that a Vaishnava believes in Vishnu, the Supreme Being who pervades the entire universe as enunciated in the Isavasya Upanisad - isa vasyam idam sarvam yatkincha jagatyam jagat. Hence, a Vaishnava should therefore love all beings and treat them as equal and hate none. He should live with the peace of mind and lead a humble pious life dedicating himself to the service of God and his devotees. Such a way of life will bring him not only happiness in this world but an everlasting bliss in the other world.

One of the essential requirements for a Vaishnava in order to lead a religious life is to have a well qualified Acharya or Guru. Even the most meritorious person and a sinner of the worst kind needs the guidance of an Acharya or preceptor. The inner meaning of the philosophical truths cannot be attained by just self study of Vedanta.. A special feature of Vaishnaivism is the emphasis on daily worship of the entire lineage of Acharyas starting from Narayana, the first Acharya (preceptor) to the present Acharya.

For one to be fully qualified as a Vaishnava, one has to undergo the five-fold sacrament, namely pancha-samskara.

The distinctions of caste, creed, learning and social status have no bearing on being a Vaishnava. Garuda purana explicitly states that a person who has the eight-fold bhakti in Vishnu should be honored, even if he is a mleccha or person who does not conform to Hindu ideals.

A devout Vaishnava performs certain prescribed daily duties meticulously with true devotion. These duties are :

1) abhigamana or morning prayers,

2) upadana or collection of materials for worship,

3) ijya or formal worship of God, 4) svadhyaya - recitation and study of scriptures,

5) yoga or contemplation on God.

There are certain easier religious practices such as the nine-fold bhakti mentioned in srimad-bhagavatam :

1) listening to the glory of Vishnu (sravana),

2) singing the glory of God (kirtana)

3) constantly remembering His greatness, (smarana)

4) service to God (padasevana),

5) offering worship to God’s image (archana),

6) prostrating before God(vandana),

7) developing feeling of subbordination to God (dasya),

8) developing friendly disposition to God (sakhya) and

9) surrendering oneself to God.

These practices do not require preparatory and purificatory activities except deep love for God.

A vaishnava has to fully realize that he (sesa) is absolutely dependent on God (sesin) and that his intrinsic duty is to serve God at all times (sarvakala) and all ways (sarvavastha). He should realize that he is a mere tool in the hands of God and do all actions not for his selfish purpose but with a spirit of providing pleasure to God. This is nishkama karma or self-less action and this is the height of renouncement of ego (ahankara) and the notion of mine (mamakara). A service done in this spirit removes one’s sins by earning the grace of God. Though any act can be taken as kainkarya or service to God, there are certain services mostly related to temple activities ranging from the simplest act of bringing flowers to the great task of construction of a temple to Sri-Hari. Some examples of kainkarya are : lighting lamps, waving fan to the diety, preparing and offering food to God, bringing water for worship, recitation of hymns and slokas, cleaning the floors of the temple etc. A true kainkarya is done not for monetary or social gain but as a source of divine pleasure to Sri-Hari.

Along with service to God, a true Vaishnava should serve Godly people or Bhagavatas. In fact service to His devotees is MORE IMPORTANT

Vedas : Vedas present an approach to universe and also relationship of man vis a vis universe.Vedic approach is that our planet is part of our universe and systems of universe have an influence on the life in our planet. Meditation and other activities emphasized in vedas is essentially to attract beneficial cosmic radiation's to our planet , which inturn help to form an environment conductive to healthy development of body and mind of human.

Vedic approach centres around " God or Parabrahman" who is responsible for creation, progress and destruction of the universe.Further he regulates every action of the universe.With the advent of cosmic and space research, this vedic approach is gaining recognition.Frank.J.Tipler, Prof. of Mathematical physics , in his book "The physics of immortality" discusses various theories of cosmology (omega point theory) and points out that the present observations are based on visible universe which is only a small fraction of the total universe.By defining the universe as the totality of all that exists (including the invisible portion of the universe), he points out the existence of a person / force/ source that is omnipresent (unlimited power) omnicent (knowing everything)and omnipresent (present everywhere).In this way he supports the vedic concept of God.

Vedic approach that time is cyclic in character , also finds scientific support.Vedic concept is that one " Chaturyuga " - comprising of " Kaliyuga " , " Dwaparayuga " , "Tretayuga " and "Satyayuga " -is the basic cycle on which wheel of time moves.( This is approximately 4.32 million human years ) . 1008 cycles of chaturyuga constitutes "One day " at the ultimate source of creation.This is referred to as " Kalpa " .The creation begins at the beginning of a Kalpa ( called Laya ) and there will be complete destruction at the end of "Kalpa" ( called Pralaya ).Creation and destruction are continuous process , not only in our planet but also in the entire universe.

Srivaishnavism :

Vedas are starting point of all Indian philosophies . Ramanuja has also based " Srivaishnavism" on vedic principles. Srivaishnavism is as old as veda itself ." Alwars" , Supreme devotees of Lord Vishnu , are foremost amongst the Srivaishnava teachers .They are overwhelmed by the desire for incessant communion with the lord.They remain immersed in singing the divine glories of the Lord.The songs composed and sung by them are known as "Divya Prabhandam " .There are in all 4000 songs all in Tamil. These songs bring out " Saranagathi " ( or surrender ) approach to god realization. These songs bring out the essence of Vedas and hence are also referred to as "Tamil Vedas".There are 12 Alwars who spread Vishnu Bhakti Cult and surrender.Ramanuja gave a scientific explanation of Srivaishnavism and hence has become synonymous with Vishishtadvaita.

God is the absolute reality , endowed with all auspicious and excellent attributes which are unsurpassable.He is the inner ruler of matter ( a non-sensuous thing or Achit ) as well as Souls or Atman ( a sensuous thing or Chit ).In the state of cosmic dissolution (Pralaya) which occurs at the end of a kalpa (cycles of four yugas), the matter and soul exist in a subtle state in Him possessing none of the qualities which make them objects of experience or cognizing subjects.From this subtle state , creation evolves by the will of God. Subtle matter ( Achit) develop into gross form and will be of 24 types such as "Prakriti " , etc.Mixture of the various types of Achit is our world and body of living things.Souls (Chit) expand their consciousness ,entering into connection with bodies appropriate to their past Karmas (Actions) and continue the cycle of births and deaths , known as "Sansara". Out of compassion for the souls , God also teaches vedas - a treatise discussing nature of souls, prakriti or nature, God or Paramatman, causes of samsara and ways to get out of samsara etc- through Brahma and a lineage of sages Srivaishnavism explains saranagathi approach to cross samsara.

Three realities :

Srivaishnavism recognizes three realities - namely Chit ( Sensuous objects) , Achit ( Non Sensuous objects ) and Eshwara ( God) .This is referred to as "Tatwa Thraya" . Achit is of 24 types , such as Prakriti , etc . Achit has no capacity to show itself .It is dependent on Chit for this purpose .Both Chit and Achit are subordinate to Eshwara. Saranagathi is the main process for "Moksha "- that is redeeming of Samsara.

Thus , according to Srivaishnavism , every individual in this world is an inseparable combination of Soul (Chit) , Prakriti ( Achit) and Eshwara ( Antaryami ). Every soul gets a body ( evolved out of prakriti ) in accordance with his Karmas. the soul and body are inseparable and interdependent in an individual. Eshwara ( Antaryami) resides in the body but does not take part in the worldly activities of the body .However , His help is available for the soul to cross the Samsara.