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Showing posts from March 17, 2020


Story Sutikshana And Lord Ram – Greatness Of Unwavering Devotion

Greatness of unwavering devotion in Sanatana Dharma is explained through numerous stories. One such story is that of Sutikshna and Lord Ram. Sutikshna was a disciple of Sage Agastya. When he finished his education under Sage Agastya, he asked his Guru as to what kind of Guru Dakshina he wanted. Sage Agastya told his disciple that he did not want anything from him as teaching such a student in itself was an honor. Sage Agastya then freed Sutikshna from all debts (Rna) so that he could walk free without any remorse. But Sutikshna was adamant and he wanted Sage Agastya to accept some kind of Guru Dakshina. Finally, Sage Agastya told Sutikshna that he should arrange for a meeting between him and Lord Ram. He told Sutikshna not to go back on his words and not to return to him without Bhagavan Sri Ram. When this incident happened Lord Rama had not appeared on earth. Sage Agastya who could see future knew about the advent of Lord Rama. Sutikshna built an ashram in f

Use Of Animal Skin In Hinduism

The term use to refer to the use of animal skin in Hinduism is known as Ajina. The word literally means ‘skin of goat’ (aga is goat or skin in general). Ajina has come to be associated primarily with deer skin, especially that of the antelope. Since skin of various animals was also used to make the bellows for the ironsmiths, ajina is also the term for the bellows in Sanskrit. In fact, ajina in general means small leather pouches. Those who deal with the skin trade were called ajina gandha. Mrigaya (a deer hunt) was one of the vayasa (stock vices or hobbies) of the royalty in India. While venison was part of the royal food, deer skin was used as apparel by the aged vanaprasthins (forest dwellers) of the royal caste. Later on, all castes used it to sit on while meditating or worshipping. Use of skin in this way by Hindus can be traced back to the Vedic times. Manu Smriti (II.41) states that the Dwija Brahmacharin (Vedic students of the twice born castes) were required

Aham Brahmasmi Meaning And Explanation

Aham Brahmasmi is one of the four mahavakyas of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Everything is supposed to be obtainable by the knowledge of Brahman. But, if the self is to be realized by the knowledge of Brahman, in what way did Brahman understand Himself? Even before the creation of this universe, Brahman knew as ever Himself as aham brahma asmi. What do these three words mean? The meaning of Aham Brahmasmi is explained in Narayan Stuti and Madhvacharya explains it as adumbrated in the said Shruti: aham – aheyam – undiscardable; brahma – absolutely perfect; asmi – ever aware of self existence. By these three adjectives, Brahman comprehended Himself, and it does not just mean I am Brahman. If aham (I) is taken as a pronoun in the first person singular and asmi (am) is taken as singular verb then the object atmanam (himself) would be redundant. Therefore, Madhvacharya affirms that the explanation offered above is the most appropriate, i.e. He understood Himself (tadatmanamatmava