Does God have form or is he formless?
No one can say with finality that God is only 'this' and nothing else. He is formless, and again He has forms. For the bhakta He assumes forms. But He is formless for the jnani, that is, for him who looks on the world as a mere dream. The bhakta feels
What is the basic scripture of Hinduism? Would you epitomize its contents?
The Bhagavad Gita is the essence of all the scriptures.
Is it not the height of foolishness to worship man-made images of stone, clay or metal? Does it not betray utter ignorance and superstition?
This objection, which is very common, has been raised without a proper understanding of the great and sublime principle behind image worship. No Hindu ever worships these images considering them as God Himself. Though they are insentient images it is
What is the basic scripture of Hinduism? Would you epitomize its contents?
The Vedas are the basic scriptures of Hinduism. Literally 'Veda' means knowledge or wisdom. Shruti (that which is revealed), Agama (that which has been handed down as a tradition) and Nigama (that which gives us definite and decisive answers to the ultimate
From whom did Hinduism originate and when?
Unlike the other religions of the world, Hinduism did not originate with any single prophet or at a particular period of human history. Its uniqueness lies in its being based on the superconscious experiences and spiritual realizations of a galaxy of
What should be the ideal daily routine for a Hindu?
An ideal daily routine for a Hindu could perhaps be suggested as follows: Rising from bed before sunrise, obeisance to the family deity and to the Ishtadevata, ablutions and bath, personal prayers, meditation and recitation from scriptures, breakfast
What should be the attitude of a Hindu towards other religions?
An ideal Hindu believes that different religions are like the different radii of a circle, each leading to the selfsame centre, the centre being God-experience. Sri Ramakrishna stretches it still further in his unique saying, Jato mat, tato path ‘(As
What is the significance of a hindu temple and image worship?
God exists. He is the creator and controller. His grace gives us happiness and peace. His wrath brings about sorrow and suffering. Mankind all over the world has cherished this belief in some form or other. Once it is conceded that such a God exists,
Why should not the ordinary spoken language be used in worship instead of Sanskrit? Will this not enable us to understand and follow these rites better?
Puja (worship), Homa (sacrifice) and other similar religious rites are considered as sacred and holy acts. It is the Rishis (sages), the originators of our religious traditions, who have given us these rites including the procedure and the mantras to
It is the bitter experience of Hindu pilgrims that they are exploited and harassed by unscrupulous Pandas and priests in the pilgrim centres. How can this be eradicated?
This is a fundamental problem. Or rather, it is the symptom of a fundamental problem. Hence, one should go to its root to be able to solve it. The Pandas and priests exploit and harass the pilgrims for the sake of money. Its cause is poverty. Lack of
What were these principal reform movements (of Hinduism)?
The sages of the Upanishadic age were the forerunners of all the reform movements. The religion of the Rigveda which was simple and elegant had by the period of the Brahmanas deteriorated into a bewildering maze of sacrifices, which the common people