Kategoria BISAC: Religion >> Hinduism - General

"There was a king named Dasharatha, the protector of dharma, as unshakeable as a mountain, true to his promises, well known throughout the world, and whose son is Raghava. Raghava, who is known by the name of Rama, is a righteous soul, famous throughout the three worlds. He has long arms and wide eyes. He is my husband and worshipable deity." (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 56.2-3)

Forever Rama's is a collection of nineteen essays discussing the verses from the Ramayana where Sita Devi rebukes Ravana's advances and warns him of how her husband Rama will...

"Those great saints, who are knowers of dharma and greatly fortunate, spoke these words to me: 'Rama will visit your very pious ashrama. Along with Saumitra Lakshmana], you should offer Rama the greatest hospitality as your guest. Thus after seeing Him, as a benediction, you will ascend to the eternal realm.'" (Shabari speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 74.15-16)

"Welcoming Rama" is a collection of nine essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe the time when Rama and Lakshmana visited the female ascetic Shabari in the forest.

"O hero, your determination and sterling prowess, coupled with Sugriva's words, tell Me certainly of success." (Lord Rama speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 44.14)

Trusting Hanuman is a collection of seventeen essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana where Sugriva and Lord Rama go over Hanuman's capabilities with respect to finding the missing princess Sita Devi.

"If you sway from the mission, Lakshmana's exceedingly violent, vehement, ghastly and sharp arrows, travelling very fast and being difficult to even look at, will make you their target for destruction." (Hanuman speaking to Angada, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 54.19)

Hanuman Sowing Dissension is a collection of eleven essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana where Hanuman uses the divide and conquer method of diplomacy to try to get Angada to continue on in the search for Sita instead of give up.

"(Hanuman did not see Sita) who was firmly situated on the eternal path of devotion to her husband, had her gaze always fixed on Rama, was always possessed by love for Rama, had entered the glorious mind of her husband, and was always the most exceptional of women." (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 5.24)

"Hanuman Searches for Sita" is a collection of twenty-six essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's initial search for Sita Devi after he entered the city of Lanka.

"The situation has come to this and I am at an impasse. What course of action is appropriate and timely for achieving my objective?' Thus Hanuman thought the matter over and over again in his mind." (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 13.19)

"Who Else But Hanuman" is a collection of thirty-five essays discussing the verses in the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's mental deliberation in Lanka during a time of doubt in his search for Sita Devi, Lord Rama's wife.

In dream one moment you're dwelling upon, And then the next moment it is gone. The universal manifestation in son's mouth to see, Then in an instant Yashoda from vision set free. To loving her beautiful son she returned, In process a deep respect for God was earned. But devotion in maternal affection not to stop, Concern for darling of Vrindavana she couldn't drop. Thus know there is higher state than reverence, Love in bhakti-rasa God's preference.

"Yashoda's son" is a collection of twenty-one essays discussing the pastime where Lord Krishna shows the universal form to mother Yashoda.

"Then, like a naracha arrow released from a bowstring, he flew quickly towards the garden of trees, which was surrounded by mango trees and had hundreds of creepers intertwined." (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 14.4)

"Hanuman Enters the Ashoka Grove" is a collection of seventeen essays discussing the verses from the Ramayana which describe Hanuman's entry into the grove of Ashoka trees in Lanka during his search for Sita Devi.

"Driven by a virtuous or evil purpose, each living entity performs some work, which has consequences associated with it. After death, the same person steadily reaps all those auspicious and inauspicious results." (Hanuman speaking to Tara, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 21.2)

"While karma leads to the future development of the body, associating with God enables one to transcend karma. This was the example set by Hanuman, who dedicated all his activities towards pleasing the Supreme Lord. He easily can get liberation whenever he wants, but he chooses to remain on this earth for as...

"Did Krishna really descend to earth? How do we know that He's not just an elevated yogi as opposed to the Supreme Lord Himself? Did He really hold up a massive hill with His finger? Did He really kill so many nefarious characters while in the form of a small child? If so, what was the purpose to His advent? When and where does He make His appearances? If God can incarnate in human form, does that mean that we are all incarnations of God? Can we perform the same miracles? Why did Krishna play like an ordinary child in Vrindavana? What is so special about Vrindavana?"

"The Delight of...

"All glories to Kunja-vihari, who playfully announces Madanotsava (Cupid's festival) with the melodies from His colorfully decorated flute, and whose pastimes are praised by a multitude of male and female parrots." (Shrila Rupa Gosvami, Shri Kunja-vihary-ashtakam, 4)

"Praised by Parrots" is a collection of twenty-two essays discussing the Kunja-vihary-ashtakam of Shrila Rupa Gosvami.

"Is God Nice? Is He a person? What are His features? What does He look like? How does He act? Is He violent or nonviolent? Is there only one God? Does He only have one form? Why does it appear that sometimes He does bad things to people? What causes Him to directly intervene in a situation?"

"God Is Glorious" is a collection of fifteen essays that discuss these issues and more, relying on the authority of the Vedas, the ancient scriptural tradition of India.

"Who is God? Is He just an abstract concept conceived in the bewildered mind looking for some real meaning to life? Fruitive activity seems to be the obvious solution to redress mental ailments. 'Just go wherever the sense impulses take you and you will be alright. If you feel like eating something now, go for it. Want to indulge in intoxication, why not give it a try?' When the pattern of repeated acceptance and rejection, happiness and dissatisfaction, is recognized, the search continues for a higher truth. Perhaps there is something beyond this temporary realm. Maybe there is a supreme...