Category: Philosophy
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The Puranas
Overview There are 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Upapuranas in the traditional Hindu corpus, each of which covers various aspects of theology, cosmology, mythology, philosophy, and instructions for life and devotion. Vedas and Upanishads: Written in a highly structured and often symbolic language, the Vedas and Upanishads can be complex and require a deep understanding of…
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Upanishads Overview
The Upanishads are ancient Hindu texts that form the philosophical and mystical basis of Hinduism. They are considered the concluding part of the Vedas and are sometimes referred to as Vedanta (the “end of the Vedas”). The Upanishads explore deep questions about the nature of reality, the self, and the universe. They consist of dialogues…
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Philosophies of the World
1). Indian Subcontinent Philosophies and Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Ajivika (an ancient philosophy that declined over time). Core Themes: Dharma (duty, righteousness), karma, moksha (liberation), non-violence, the nature of the self (atman), and the cyclical nature of existence (samsara). Key Schools: Vedanta, Nyaya, Samkhya, Yoga, and Buddhist schools like Theravada and Mahayana. 2).…
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Vedas Overview
Vedas are the oldest sacred scriptures of Hinduism, composed in ancient Sanskrit. They consist of four main texts: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. 1). Rigveda Content: The Rigveda is primarily a collection of hymns dedicated to various deities, including Agni (fire), Indra (king of the gods), Varuna (guardian of cosmic order), and others. Structure: It…