Hindu Religion: Beliefs, Practices, Scriptures and Diversity
A practical introduction to Hindu religion: dharma, karma, samsara, moksha, sacred texts, worship and the many traditions Hindus follow in India and worldwide.
॥ असतो मा सद्गमय ॥
Study Jyotish and Hindu tradition
Thoughtful guides to charts, planets, sacred texts and Hindu traditions. Begin with one subject and go one step at a time.
Scriptures and philosophy
55–72 / 137Lotus Flower in Hinduism: Symbolism, Deities and Meaning
Discover what the lotus flower can represent in Hinduism, how it appears in deity iconography and worship, and why its meanings vary by context.
Mahabharata: Story, Characters, War and Bhagavad Gita
A detailed guide to the Mahabharata: the Pandavas and Kauravas, the Kurukshetra war, major characters, dharma and the Gita’s place in the epic.
Mandukya Upanishad Madhva Bhashya: A Dvaita Guide
Explore Madhvacharya’s Dvaita commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad, its reading of Om and the four states, and how it differs from other Vedanta interpretations.
Mundaka Upanishad Chapter 2: Themes, Verses and Meaning
A clear guide to the second Mundaka of the Mundaka Upanishad, including its two sections, cosmic imagery, knowledge of Brahman and the bow-and-arrow teaching.
Mandukya Upanishad Mantra 9: A, Vaishvanara and Meaning
Understand the ninth mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad: why A is linked with waking Vaishvanara, what the key Sanskrit terms suggest and how the verse fits the Om teaching.
Niralamba Upanishad: Teachings, Questions and Meaning
A guide to the Niralamba Upanishad’s question-and-answer teachings on Brahman, the self, knowledge, bondage and liberation, with notes on its textual tradition.
Parashara Gita: Sins Committed Intentionally, Karma and Dharma
Explore the Parashara Gita in the Mahabharata, its dialogue with King Janaka, and a careful reading of action, wrongdoing, consequences and ethical change.
Reincarnation and Rebirth in Hinduism: Samsara, Karma and Moksha
Understand rebirth in Hindu traditions through samsara, karma and moksha, including differences among schools and careful answers to common questions.
The Saffron Flag in Hinduism: Bhagwa Dhwaj Meaning and Symbolism
Explore the saffron or bhagwa dhwaj in Hindu practice, its associations with renunciation and sacrifice, and how religious banners differ from India's national flag.
Moksha in Hinduism: Salvation, Liberation and Nirvana
Understand moksha and mukti in Hindu traditions, how liberation relates to samsara, and why Hindu uses of nirvana should be read in context.
Shiva Purana: Stories, Teachings, Structure and Significance
Explore the Shiva Purana's Shaiva stories, teachings on Shiva worship, commonly printed structure, textual variations and tips for reading this Hindu Purana.
Shri (Sri, Shree, Sree): Meaning, Symbol and Honorific in Hindu Culture
Learn the Sanskrit meanings of Shri, why Sri, Shree and Sree are spelling variants, how the word honours people and deities, and its connection with Lakshmi.
Siddha Gita: Story, Teachings and Meaning in the Yoga Vasistha
Learn where the Siddha Gita appears in the Yoga Vasistha, how King Janaka hears the song of the Siddhas, and what its teachings say about the Self and a quiet mind.
Mandukya Mantra 6: Meaning and Translation
Read the sixth mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad in Sanskrit and learn what sarveśvara, antaryāmin and the source of beings mean in context.
Smriti in Hinduism: Meaning and Key Texts
Understand what Smriti means in Hindu tradition, how it relates to Shruti, and where the epics, Puranas and Dharma texts fit.
Swastika: Hindu Meaning and Nazi History
Learn the meaning and use of the Hindu swastika, its wider history, and how Nazi Germany appropriated the symbol for a racist ideology.
Kama Gita: Meaning and Mahabharata Teachings
Explore the Kama Gita in the Mahabharata’s Ashvamedhika Parva, including its teaching on desire, attachment, discipline and dharma.