Questions about Hinduism! Let's Discuss!

[zenzero]

Friend dharma seeker,

Thoughts will remain till there are questions left unanswered LOL.

Its just a *thought*; starting with the original thought all are mere thoughts.
Sanatan dharma is gone deep into thoughts. That too is a WAY.
Stilling the original thought too is a WAY.

Love & rgds

 

[dharma_seeker]

Hey Dharma, I realise that I have yet to reply to your post. I want to let you know that I am currently occupied and will not have access to internet for a week or so. When I get back from my trip I will write straight away. Until then!

Not a problem. Will wait for your answer!

 

[Charzhino]

I see many, probably all Hindus worshipping the Ishwara/personal form of God (Visnu, Siva, Ganesh, etc), but why doesn't anyone worship the actual Brahman (not Brahma) in itself since he is the source of everything?

 

[Metempsychosis]

I see many, probably all Hindus worshipping the Ishwara/personal form of God (Visnu, Siva, Ganesh, etc), but why doesn't anyone worship the actual Brahman (not Brahma) in itself since he is the source of everything?

All is brahman,there is no difference between personal and impersonal.The universe is nothing but a reflection of brahman..Just as image of candle is seen on the mirror.But there is no difference between infinite which is superposed on infinite.The waves are oceans itself and nothing else.You are probably thinking something like allah(which is not in the creation as some may say),when u think of brahman.

All the sages of the vedas were yogis.They didnt even required mind for worship.They didnt require personal form,but they were not cheap idol breakers.Abrahamic revolted against paganism,Hinduism absorbed paganism under its panentheistic view.

Just because you see someone worshiping personal form does not mean he is not worshiping impersonal brahman.

Strictly speaking,brahman cannot be worshiped,it has to be realized.When you come to the end of neti-neti (not this ,not this),the brahman is attained.But when it attained,the questioner disappears.

 

[Andal]

All is brahman,there is no difference between personal and impersonal.The universe is nothing but a reflection of brahman..Just as image of candle is seen on the mirror.But there is no difference between infinite which is superposed on infinite.The waves are oceans itself and nothing else.You are probably thinking something like allah(which is not in the creation as some may say),when u think of brahman.

All the sages of the vedas were yogis.They didnt even required mind for worship.They didnt require personal form,but they were not cheap idol breakers.Abrahamic revolted against paganism,Hinduism absorbed paganism under its panentheistic view.

Just because you see someone worshiping personal form does not mean he is not worshiping impersonal brahman.

Strictly speaking,brahman cannot be worshiped,it has to be realized.When you come to the end of neti-neti (not this ,not this),the brahman is attained.But when it attained,the questioner disappears.

To add to this good answer, certain theistic philosophies have placed Brahman as an energy of Isvara so by worshiping Isvara one is also worshiping Brahman.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[dharma_seeker]

I see many, probably all Hindus worshipping the Ishwara/personal form of God (Visnu, Siva, Ganesh, etc), but why doesn't anyone worship the actual Brahman (not Brahma) in itself since he is the source of everything?

you cannot worship IT since it is not SAGUNa and therefore there is no SAGUNA BHAKTI and thus no worshipping. Thus It is only meditated upon not worshipped like making idols etc.

 

[dharma_seeker]

To add to this good answer, certain theistic philosophies have placed Brahman as an energy of Isvara so by worshiping Isvara one is also worshiping Brahman.

Aum Hari Aum!

Is this Dvaita?

 

[Andal]

Is this Dvaita?

I'm not super sure about Dvaita but it is Dvaitadvaita and Vishishtadvaita

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Metempsychosis]

To add to this good answer, certain theistic philosophies have placed Brahman as an energy of Isvara so by worshiping Isvara one is also worshiping Brahman.

Aum Hari Aum!

My stance was advaita alone that does not represent Hinduism at all.But the fact is, dvaita, vi****aadvaita, dvaitaadvata, always seems to be more true than advaita which is because advaita takes rather absolute stance.


regards,

 

[bp789]

Can someone explain to me what is Vishishtadvaita?

 

[Metempsychosis]

Can someone explain to me what is Vishishtadvaita?

Visistadvaita is qualified non-dualism.Vishnu is the Absolute God. The Soul and the Universe are only parts of this Absolute and hence, Vishishtadvaita is panentheistic. Soul is qualitatively same as Vishnu but quantitatively different(lesser) .The relationship of God to the Soul and the Universe is like the relationship of the Soul of Man to the body of Man. Individual souls are only parts of Brahman. God, Soul and Universe together form an inseparable unity which is one and has no second. This is the non-duality part. Matter and Souls inhere in that Ultimate Reality as attributes to a substance. This is the qualification part of the non-duality.

Ramanujacarya was the best proponent of the school. Hence it came to be known as Ramanuja darsana. Specifically, his commentary on Brahma Sutras is called Sri Bhashya.Visistadvaita is closely related to Sri Vaishnava(Iyengar).It is a break off from the advaita school of Adi Sankara.
Sri Ramanujacarya was himself a smarta brahmin from South India.

Regards,

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Visistadvaita is qualified non-dualism.Vishnu is the Absolute God. The Soul and the Universe are only parts of this Absolute and hence, Vishishtadvaita is panentheistic. Soul is qualitatively same as Vishnu but quantitatively different(lesser) .The relationship of God to the Soul and the Universe is like the relationship of the Soul of Man to the body of Man. Individual souls are only parts of Brahman. God, Soul and Universe together form an inseparable unity which is one and has no second. This is the non-duality part. Matter and Souls inhere in that Ultimate Reality as attributes to a substance. This is the qualification part of the non-duality.

Ramanujacarya was the best proponent of the school. Hence it came to be known as Ramanuja darsana. Specifically, his commentary on Brahma Sutras is called Sri Bhashya.Visistadvaita is closely related to Sri Vaishnava(Iyengar).It is a break off from the advaita school of Adi Sankara.
Sri Ramanujacarya was himself a smarta brahmin from South India.

Regards,

I did not know that Ramanujacarya was from the Smarta school. Did he except the idea of the panchadevata or did he think that Vishnu was the only complete truth.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

All the sages of the vedas were yogis.They didnt even required mind for worship.They didnt require personal form,but they were not cheap idol breakers.Abrahamic revolted against paganism,Hinduism absorbed paganism under its panentheistic view.

Well said!!!

 

[Satsangi]

I differ from equating Paganism with Murti Pooja; infact it is a great mistake/blunder to equate the two. The Murti in Hinduism is consecreted with the Vedic Mantras and typically Prana Pratishtha is done by a God realized Saint. That Murti is as good as God Himself; the power of these Murtis is abundantly seen in the Great Tirthas of India.

Regards,

 

[Metempsychosis]

I did not know that Ramanujacarya was from the Smarta school. Did he except the idea of the panchadevata or did he think that Vishnu was the only complete truth.

He says that vishnu is supreme god,dunno about panchadevata . He did not follow smarta phiosophy(advaita).But he born as a smarta brahmin(Iyer).Later a group of Smartans broke off and started following his philosophy,they are called Sri Vaishnavas (Iyengar).They have a major temple at Thirupati.


Regards.

 

[Satsangi]

He says that vishnu is supreme god,dunno about panchadevata . He did not follow smarta phiosophy(advaita).But he born as a smarta brahmin(Iyer).Later a group of Smartans broke off and started following his philosophy,they are called Sri Vaishnavas (Iyengar).They have a major temple at Thirupati.


Regards.

As far as I know (I may be wrong), the Panchadevta are "Pujya" to the followers of Shri Ramanuja, but still the consider Lord Vishnu as the Supreme.

Regards,

 

[Metempsychosis]

As far as I know (I may be wrong), the Panchadevta are "Pujya" to the followers of Shri Ramanuja, but still the consider Lord Vishnu as the Supreme.

Regards,

I think Panchadevta is Shiva, Vishnu, Devi , Ganesha, Surya, and Skanda.I have no idea of what sri Vaishnavas or smartans actually pray.


Regards,

 

[Satsangi]

I think Panchadevta is Shiva, Vishnu, Devi , Ganesha, Surya, and Skanda.I have no idea of what sri Vaishnavas or smartans actually pray.


Regards,

The Panchadevata are five- Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, Ganapati and Surya. Some also include Skandha at times.

Regards,

 

[Madhuri]

Thanks for replying. I am glad you understood my questions.

So, Personal and impersonal both are eternal. Hmm..then it means that even after “MAHA-PRALAYA” or great dissolution, they both will still exist. I believed that all the creation gets absorbed back into GOD(?), all the lokas, all the planets, all universe, individual ATMANs etc. There is no more Vaikuntha Loka, no more Swarg Lok, no Brahma Loka, no Kailasha, and no Go Loka after the great dissolution. There is only pure consciousness left. (impersonal aspect). So, is it right to say that the personal form is eternal as well?

My perspective has been that GOD is both personal and impersonal. Both manifest and unmanifest. Unmanifest or the impersonal form cannot be worshipped since there is no Bhakti, thus it can only be meditated upon. Whereas the personal form, can be worshipped as well as meditated upon. The impersonal form is the eternal form and the personal forms are just manifestation of that impersonal form, the pure consciousness. According to the Puranas, it is the personal forms (impersonal manifestation) that did the creation, whereas in the Vedas I think there are no personal forms but just names (metaphorically).

Ok, I'm finally back! Now I have not read ahead to see if anybody has commented on this before me so forgive me if I am just repeating...

I have to say that I have a somewhat different understanding than you have. My understanding is that there is a material dissolution but everything Spiritual is eternal. Vaikuntha is part of the Spiritual World and is also thus eternal. It is never created or destroyed. It is the eternal abode of Krishna. When the individual reaches Enlightenment, she enters the Spiritual 'dimension' (world/realm etc.) and exists eternally without death, old age or disease. There is no destruction in the Spiritual, even where there is form. You are correct in a sense though, because even form is pure consciousness. In fact, essentially, even the material is derived from consciousness. So in that sense, when the material universe is destroyed there only remains pure consciousness because God, which is Everything, IS pure consciousness.

It is interesting that you mention that in the Vedas there is no mention of personal forms but only metaphors. I suppose i do not have enough knowledge to comment upon this but I find it curious enough that I will look into it. Of course nothing I say is expert knowledge but only personal understanding just as legitimate as your understanding.

 

[Satsangi]

During the final Pralaya, all the Jivas who still have not reached Moksha i.e who have not broken the bondages of Maya will be dormant in Maya itself. Then the whole Maya undergoes dissolution in the Brahma Jyoti which is the Tej of God Himself. Only God and the Mukta Jivas are not not affected by the Pralaya.

More interesting is the process of Pralaya at the individual level which occures along the spiritual path eiither by meditation, devotion or Gyan or other Sadhana. The Outer Indriya Vrittii merges first into the Anthakarana which then merges into the Atman which then merges into the Brahma Jyoti and beyond which is the beholder of that Brahma Jyoti- God Himself.

Regards,