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Barbarik in the Mahabharata
Barbarik in the Mahabharata, aka Khatu Shyam, is believed to be the most powerful warrior in the epic, but unfortunately, there is no person named Barbarik in the Mahabharata written by Sage Vyasa. His story is in the Skanda Purana, which is the source of all legends. The Story of Barbarik in the Mahabharata per the Skanda Purana (Ch. 60-66): The Birth of Barbarik: Barbarik was the son of Ghatatkocha and Ahilawati. Ghatatkocha was the son of Bhima, and Ahilawati was the daughter of Muru. He was born on the 11th day of the bright half of the Kartika month.…
Types of Marriage in Hinduism
There are eight types of marriage in Hinduism per Hindu Dharmashastras. They are mentioned in the Manusmriti 3.21-35. The Sanskrit word for marriage is Vivaha. It is one of the 16 important Samskaras (rituals) in a Hindu’s life. Humans encounter different situations throughout life. In some situations, couples have to marry secretly, while some marriages took place with the consent of parents and the transaction of money takes place. In such situations, different types of marriage are useful. Eight Types of Marriage in Hinduism: 1. Brahma Vivaha: 2. Daiva Vivaha. 3. Arsha Vivaha. 4. Prajapatya Vivaha. 5. Asura Vivaha. 6.…
Origin and Meaning of the words Hindu and Hinduism
The origin and meaning of the words Hindu and Hinduism are related to the Sindhu river. To understand the meaning of Hinduism, we first need to know the origin and meaning of the word Hindu. The terms Hindu and Hinduism are relatively new compared to the history of Hinduism. As you know, Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion and dates back to at least 5000 years. In ancient times, its name was Sanatan Dharma or just Dharma. It was not a religion but a way of life. There is no word “Hindu” in the Sanskrit language. Origin and Meaning of…
When Lord Khandoba Made Aurangzeb Flee For His Life
Khandoba is a very popular deity in the Maharashtra and Karnataka region of India. He is the family deity of many people in these regions. There is a very beautiful temple of Lord Khandoba on the Jejuri fort, popularly known as the Jejuri temple. Khandoba is an incarnation of Lord Shiva and is a very powerful god. Even the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had to flee for his life when he tried to destroy this magnificent Hindu temple. Lord Khandoba made Aurangzeb Flee for his Life: Invasion of Aurangzeb on Maharashtra: After the death of the great king Shivaji, Aurangzeb sensed…
Saraswati Vandana with Meaning in Hindi and English
Saraswati Vandana is a popular Hindu prayer of the goddess Saraswati, the goddess of education, knowledge, music, arts, and speech. She is the wife of Lord Brahma, who is the creator of the universe. She is also popularly known by the name Sharada. In this article, you can read Saraswati Vandana with meaning in Hindi and English. What is Saraswati Vandana? It is a short and beautiful Sanskrit prayer in which the goddess Saraswati is highly praised. There is a depiction of what she is wearing, like a white saree, ornaments, the musical instrument she is carrying, etc. In the…
The Names of 108 Upanishads
The Upanishads are the sacred Sanskrit texts of Hindus that are part of the Vedas. The names of 108 Upanishads are given in the Muktika Upanishad. The Rig Veda contains 10, Samaveda 16, Shukla Yajurveda 19, Krishna Yajurveda 32, and Atharvaveda 31 Upanishads. Per some scholars, there are about 350 Upanishads, but only 108 of them are considered authoritative. The word Upanishad means “sitting down near”. It refers to students sitting down near their teacher and gaining knowledge. Upanishads are also known as “Vedanta,” which means “end of knowledge”. List of the Names of 108 Upanishads: The Names of 10…
Important Hymns From The Rig Veda
In this article, I have listed some important hymns from the Rig Veda. Rig Veda Samhita is the most sacred book of Hindus. It is also the oldest book in the world. There are about 1028 hymns, 10 Mandalas, and 10000 shlokas in it. Important Hymns from the Rig Veda: A. Nasadiya Sukta. B. Purusha Sukta. C. Vishwakarman Sukta. D. Hiranyagarbha Sukta. E. Aksha Sukta. F. Yama-Yami-Samvada Sukta. A. Nasadiya Sukta – The Hymn of Creation: It explains the origin of the universe. 1. Then was not non-existent nor existent: there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it.…
Why Do Hindus Worship Tulsi?
Many people wonder why do Hindus worship Tulsi as it is just a small plant. There are multiple reasons behind this belief. Tulsi (Holy basil) or Tulasi is the most sacred plant in Hinduism. The word Tulsi in Sanskrit means “incomparable” or “matchless”. It has numerous medicinal uses and health benefits. You would find a Tulsi plant in front of almost every Hindu house. Hindus celebrate Tulsi Vivah (the marriage of Tulsi) every year in the Kartik month (the eighth month of the Hindu calendar), where a wedding between a Tulsi plant and a Shaligram stone (a form of Lord…
Hinduism Facts for Kids
In this article, I have mentioned many interesting Hinduism facts for kids. Also, I have mentioned the stories about the kids who were great devotees of Hindu gods. This article is useful not only for kids but also for those who do not have much knowledge about Hinduism. Information about Hinduism Facts for Kids and Beginners: 1. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. There are about 1.2 billion Hindus in the world out of which 97 crores (approximately 90%) reside in India. 2. Rigveda is the most sacred book of Hindus, which is also the oldest book…
What Exactly Is A Shiva Lingam – Free Ebook
“What Exactly Is A Shiva Lingam?” is a free e-book that answers most of the questions about a Shiva lingam. This page takes a long time to load as it is a full book. If you don’t have time to read the full book, you can go directly to the conclusion section. This book is available for free on Google Play. Click here to read it for free on Google Play. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright and Disclaimer No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,…