Advaita Vedanta in the Upanishads: Atman, Brahman and Non-Duality
A clear introduction to Advaita Vedanta’s reading of the Upanishads, the relationship between Atman and Brahman, Shankara’s role, and how other Vedanta schools differ.
॥ असतो मा सद्गमय ॥
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Thoughtful guides to charts, planets, sacred texts and Hindu traditions. Begin with one subject and go one step at a time.
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199–216 / 682Suvarchala Devi: The Sun’s Daughter in a Regional Hanuman Tradition
Learn who Suvarchala Devi is, why some traditions describe her as Hanuman’s consort, how this account relates to his brahmacharya, and where the story is observed.
Tvarita Devi: The Ashtami Nitya in Sri Vidya Tradition
Explore Tvarita Devi’s place as the eighth Tithi Nitya in a Sri Vidya sequence, the meaning of her name, and how Ashtami observances vary across Hindu traditions.
Venkateswara: The Lord of Tirumala and the Story of Srinivasa
Learn who Venkateswara is, why devotees call him Srinivasa or Balaji, what Tirumala’s sacred legends say, and how pilgrims can approach the temple respectfully.
Vijaya Nitya: The Dwadashi Goddess in a Sri Vidya Sequence
Learn what Vijaya Nitya means, why she is linked with Dwadashi in one Sri Vidya list, and how this differs from Ekadashi observances and Vijayadashami.
Aitareya Upanishad Story on Food: Why the Senses Cannot Eat
Explore the Aitareya Upanishad’s creation story about food, the senses and life-breath, and what its symbolic account can mean without turning it into a diet rule.
Akshi Upanishad: Surya, the Eye, and Knowledge of Brahman
A careful guide to the Akshi Upanishad: its dialogue with Surya, Chakshusmati Vidya, teaching on Brahmavidya, and cautions about treating traditional claims as medical advice.
Amritabindu Upanishad: The Mind, Desire, and Inner Freedom
Understand the Amritabindu Upanishad’s teaching on mind and desire, its account of bondage and liberation, and how to read its call for discipline without self-rejection.
Avadhuta Anubhava Gita: A Guide to Dattatreya’s Nondual Song
Learn what people mean by Avadhuta Anubhava Gita, how it relates to the Avadhuta Gita attributed to Dattatreya, and how to read its nondual teaching responsibly.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism: A Clear Guide to Its Diverse Traditions
Learn the ideas many Hindu traditions discuss—dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, devotion, and the divine—while understanding why no single creed defines every Hindu.
Bhagavad Gita 12.15 Meaning: The Devotee Who Brings Peace
Read Bhagavad Gita 12.15 in context: what it means not to disturb the world or be ruled by it, and how steadiness differs from silence or emotional suppression.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Faith, Food, Discipline, and Giving
Explore Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga: how the three gunas shape faith, worship, food, sacrifice, austerity, charity, and Om Tat Sat.
Bhagavad Gita 7.15 Meaning: Maya, Delusion, and Surrender
Understand Bhagavad Gita 7.15 in context, including its difficult Sanskrit terms, the role of maya, and why the verse should not be used to condemn whole communities.
Bhagavad Gita 7.16 Meaning: Four Kinds of Devotees
Learn the four seekers in Bhagavad Gita 7.16—distressed, curious, seeking prosperity, and wise—and how the verse presents their different reasons for turning to Krishna.
Bhagavad Gita 7.17 Meaning: Why the Wise Devotee Is Dear
Explore Bhagavad Gita 7.17, the wise devotee’s steady and one-pointed bhakti, its place after the four seekers, and why it does not dismiss the other devotees.
Bhagavad Gita 7.18 Meaning: All Seekers Are Noble
Understand Bhagavad Gita 7.18 in context: why Krishna calls all four seekers noble, what “the wise devotee is My very Self” means, and how commentaries differ.
Bhagavad Gita 7.1 Meaning: Fix the Mind on Krishna
Explore Bhagavad Gita 7.1 in context: what it means to keep the mind on Krishna, practise yoga with him as refuge, and learn to know him fully.
Bhagavad Gita 7.2 Meaning: Knowledge and Realization
Learn what Bhagavad Gita 7.2 means by knowledge with vijñāna, why Krishna says little remains to be known, and how the verse frames Chapter 7.