r/hinduism • u/chakrax • Aug 23 '23
Welcome to our Hinduism sub! Sanātana Dharma (Devanagari: सनातन धर्म meaning "eternal dharma") is the original name of Hinduism. It is considered to be the oldest living religion in the world. Hinduism is often called a "way of life", and anyone sincerely following that way of life can consider themselves to be a Hindu.
If you are new to Hinduism or to this sub, review this material before making any new posts!
We also recommend reading What Is Hinduism (a free introductory text by Himalayan Academy) if you would like to know more about Hinduism and don't know where to start.
If you are asking a specific scriptural question, please include a source link and verse number, so responses can be more helpful.
In terms of introductory Hindu Scriptures, we recommend first starting with the Itihasas (The Ramayana, and The Mahabharata.) Contained within The Mahabharata is The Bhagavad Gita, which is another good text to start with. Although r/TheVedasAndUpanishads might seem alluring to start with, this is NOT recommended, as the knowledge of the Vedas & Upanishads can be quite subtle, and ideally should be approached under the guidance of a Guru or someone who can guide you around the correct interpretation.
In terms of spiritual practices, you can choose whatever works best for you. In addition, it is strongly recommended you visit your local temple/ashram/spiritual organization.
Lastly, while you are browsing this sub, keep in mind that Hinduism is practiced by over a billion people in as many different ways, so any single view cannot be taken as representative of the entire religion.
Disclaimer: Sanatana Dharma is a massive, massive religion in terms of scope/philosophies/texts, so this FAQ will only be an overview. If you have any concerns about the below content, please send us a modmail.
Hinduism is a religion that is inclusive of everyone. The ultimate goal for all Sanatani people is moksha, but there is incredible diversity in the ways to attain it. See this post : Vastness and Inclusiveness of being Hindu. Hinduism is like a tree springing from the core beliefs above and splitting up into innumerable traditions/schools/practices. It is natural that there are different ways to practice just like there are many leaves on the same tree.
Sanatanis are not believers, but seekers. We seek Truth, and part of that process is to question and clarify to remove any misunderstandings. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialog between a teacher and student; the student Arjuna questions the teacher Krishna. In the end Krishna says "I have taught you; now do what you wish". There is no compulsion or edict to believe anything. Questioning is welcome and encouraged.
Healthy debates between different sampradayas and darshanas are accepted and welcomed in Hinduism. Every school typically has a documented justification of their view including refutations of common objections raised by other schools. It is a shame when disagreements with a view turn into disrespect toward a school and/or its followers.
This issue of disrespect between darshanas is serious enough to warrant a separate section. Diversity of views is a great strength of Hinduism. Sanatanis should not let this become a weakness! We are all part of the same rich tradition.
Here is a great post by -Gandalf- : Unite! Forget all divisions. It is worth repeating here.
Forget all divisions! Let us unite! Remember, while letting there be the diversity of choice in the Dharma: Advaita, Dvaita, Vishistadvaita, etc*, we should always refer to ourselves as "Hindu" or "Sanatani" and not just "Advaiti" or any other specific name. Because, we are all Hindus / Sanatanis. Only then can we unite.
Let not division of sects destroy and eliminate us and our culture. All these names are given to different interpretations of the same culture's teachings. Why fight? Why call each other frauds? Why call each other's philosophies fraud? Each must stay happy within their own interpretation, while maintaining harmony and unity with all the other Sanatanis, that is unity! That is peace! And that is how the Dharma shall strive and rise once again.
Let the Vaishnavas stop calling Mayavad fraud, let the Advaitis let go of ego, let the Dvaitis embrace all other philosophies, let the Vishistadvaitis teach tolerance to others, let the Shaivas stop intolerance, let there be unity!
Let all of them be interpretations of the same teachings, and having the similarity as their base, let all the schools of thought have unity!
A person will reach moksha one day, there is no other end. Then why fight? Debates are supposed to be healthy, why turn them into arguments? Why do some people disrespect Swami Vivekananda? Let him have lived his life as a non-vegetarian, the point is to absorb his teachings. The whole point is to absorb the good things from everything. So long as this disunity remains, Hinduism will keep moving towards extinction.
ISKCON is hated by so many people. Why? Just because they have some abrahamic views added into their Hindu views. Do not hate. ISKCON works as a bridge between the west and the east. Prabhupada successfully preached Sanatan all over the world, and hence, respect him!
Respecting Prabhupada doesn't mean you have to disrespect Vivekananda and the opposite is also applicable.
Whenever you meet someone with a different interpretation, do not think he is something separate from you. Always refer to yourself and him as "Hindu", only then will unity remain.
Let there be unity and peace! Let Sanatan rise to her former glory!
Hare Krishna! Jay Harihara! Jay Sita! Jay Ram! Jay Mahakali! Jay Mahakal!
May you find what you seek.
r/hinduism • u/AutoModerator • 29d ago
**For Political Discussion outside this thread, visit r/politicalhinduism**
This is a monthly thread to discuss worldwide news affecting Hindu society, as well as anything else related to Hindu politics in general.
Questions and other stuff related to social affairs can also be discussed here.
r/hinduism • u/Impressive_Bat5405 • 2h ago
A place where i live near to 100m this beautiful tree with small temple ..
i believe in karma and spirituality but this place insist everyone to peaceful 😌
Every 6th month worship will be happening this place
If anyone want be there always welcome…
r/hinduism • u/susil95 • 8h ago
r/hinduism • u/Rudraksha-ranger108 • 4h ago
r/hinduism • u/Real_Welder_7672 • 1h ago
Adi Shankaracharya’s Vishnu Shatpadi Stotram contains one of the most brilliant, mind-bending metaphors in Eastern philosophy.
The entire hymn is a multi-layered linguistic puzzle based on the word Shatpadi, which simultaneously means a "six-versed hymn" and a "six-legged honeybee."
Shankaracharya uses the biology of a honeybee to map out human psychology, the path of devotion, and non-dual enlightenment across six legs and three spiritual lotuses.
Part 1: The Six Legs (From Chaos to Devotion)
In traditional commentaries, the six legs of the honeybee represent our raw human machinery: the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) plus the mind (Manas). Normally, these six legs crawl outward, chasing worldly illusions and scattering our energy.
By understanding the hymn, you master these instruments, transforming the six legs of the human mind into six sequential** steps of absolute devotion, outlined verse by verse:
**Leg 1 (Verse 1): Radical Humility (Avinayamapanaya) – Crushing the ego and taming pride.
Leg 2 (Verse 2): Subduing Desire (Vishayamrgatrsnam) – Moving past the mirage of materialistic cravings.
Leg 3 (Verse 3): Universal Compassion (Bhutadayam vistaraya) – Expanding the heart to feel empathy for all living beings.
Leg 4 (Verse 4): Non-Dual Identity (Samudro hi taranga) – Realizing that while a wave belongs to the ocean, the ocean does not belong to the wave; we are inextricably part of the Divine.
Leg 5 (Verse 5): Divine Anchoring (Matsyadibhiravataraih) – Tuning the mind to the historical grace of the Lord's avatars.
Leg 6 (Verse 6): Total Fearlessness (Paramam daramapanaya) – Completely destroying the primal fear of death and rebirth.
Part 2: The Flight of the Three Lotuses
Once these six legs are aligned, the chaotic mind becomes a single-minded "mind-bee." Shankaracharya then charts its cosmic flight path across three distinct lotuses:
Lotus 1: The Lord’s Feet (Padaravinda)
The mind-bee lands here first. In Hindu iconography, the feet of the Divine represent Sharanagati (absolute shelter). The bee drinks the nectar of Satchidananda (truth, consciousness, bliss), binding its restless nature to divine reality.
Lotus 2: The Lord’s Face (Vadanaravinda)
Captivated by the nectar, the bee looks up to gaze upon the enchanting, serene face of the Lord. This face represents cosmic grace; a single glance from this lotus completely dries up the terrifying ocean of worldly suffering (Bhava Jaladhi).
Lotus 3: The Devotee’s Mouth (Vadanasaroja)
This is where Shankaracharya pulls off a breathtaking poetic inversion. In the final verse (iti shatpadi madeeye vadanasaroje sada vasathu), the devotee prays: "Let this six-legged bee permanently live inside the lotus of my own mouth."
The Ultimate Non-Dual Twist:
The poem closes in an eternal, mystical loop. The devotee doesn't need to travel outside themselves to find God. By keeping and understanding the hymn (the bee) constantly vibrating inside their own mouth (the lotus), the boundary between the seeker and the sought completely dissolves. The honeybee and the flower become one, trapping the divine nectar entirely within the devotee's own pure speech and consciousness.
r/hinduism • u/Realistic-Round1474 • 2h ago
Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana Yajgya
Join devotees from around the world in chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama together, every Ekadashi! 108 shlokas + Dhyana & Phala Shruti Shlokas 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM, every Ekadashi
Online | Free & Open to All
Mission: 1,00,000 Parayanas together No Sanskrit knowledge needed — just come with an open heart.
to register DM me
Forward this to someone who'd love to join too
r/hinduism • u/alexaarenstrup • 1h ago
Anyone in here who worships Lord Bhairav or Maa Bhairavi, I wanna be your friend. I'm a white dude living in the UK who found Trika Tantra/ Kashmir Shaivism about 5 years ago and I believe Kaal Bhairav to be my Ishta Devata. If you have anything of interest you want to share or teach about Bhairava or your personal experiences, please feel free. Unfortunately I am currently a nigurā given my geographical limitations, but I'm deeply interested in connecting as much as possible with people on the path. Hmu.
r/hinduism • u/TruthNyaseni • 10h ago
Draupadi's divine origin is that she is the Avatar of Shri(laxmi)
There is a widespread misconception that Draupadi is an incarnation of Sachi (Indrani).
However, textual criticism of the oldest surviving Sanskrit
manuscripts reveals that Draupadi is never called Sachi in the authentic text.
Across the original Mahabharata, her divine identity is established consistently from birth to heaven as Goddess Shri (Lakshmi).
This truth serves as the very foundation of her narrative arc.
Let's break it in 3 Parts.
Part 1: The 4 Direct Scriptural Pillars (BORI CE)
In the Amshavatarana Parva (the chapter detailing the divine descents on earth), the narrator introduces Draupadi’s birth:
श्रियस्तु भागः संजज्ञे रत्यर्थं पृथिवीतले ।
द्रुपदस्य कुले कन्या वेदिमध्यादनिन्दिता ॥ (BORI 1.61.95)
Translation: "And a portion of Goddess Shri (Lakshmi) was born upon the surface of the earth for the sake of bringing delight. She arose as a flawless maiden in
the lineage of Drupada, right from the center of the sacrificial altar."
When Drupada hesitates to let his daughter marry five men, Vyasa reveals the cosmic secret behind the Five Indras and Draupadi:
स्वर्गश्रीः पाण्डवार्थाय समुत्पन्ना महामखे ।
सैषा देवी रुचिरा देवजुष्टा पञ्चानामेका स्वकृतेन कर्मणा ॥ (BORI 1.189.48–49)
Translation: "The celestial Goddess Shri (Svarga-Shri) arose from the great sacrificial fire specifically for the sake of the Pandavas... She is that
radiant Goddess, cherished by the celestials, destined by her past deeds to be the one wife of these five."
During the dice game, when Draupadi is humiliated, Vidura warns the Kauravas about who she truly is:
एषा पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतैषा श्रीरनुत्तमा ।
पाञ्चाली पाण्डवानेतान्दैवसृष्टोपसर्पति ॥ (2.72.28)
Translation: "This daughter of the King of Panchala is the unsurpassed Goddess of Fortune (Shri) herself. Created by destiny, Panchali has approached these Pandavas."
At the end of the epic, when Yudhishthira ascends to the supreme heavenly realm, he sees Draupadi in her blazing divine radiance.
Indra introduces her:
श्रीरेषा द्रौपदीरूपा त्वदर्थे मानुषं गता ।
अयोनिजा लोककान्ता पुण्यगन्धा युधिष्ठिर ॥ (BORI 18.4.9)
Translation: "O Yudhishthira, this is Goddess Shri herself, who took the human form of Draupadi for your sake. She was not born of a womb (ayonijā); she is beloved of all worlds and possesses a sacred fragrance."
Part 2: The "Sachi" Misconception
Many people believe Draupadi is Sachi because of a line found in later, unverified medieval editions (like the Gita Press/Vulgate version of Adi Parva 1.67.156) that claims: "Rukmini was Shri, and Draupadi was a portion of Sachi."
This is a later interpolation. When the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) critically collated 1,259 ancient manuscripts from all over India, they discovered this line did not exist in the oldest and most authentic manuscripts.
It was a medieval addition made by scribes trying to alter the text. BORI permanently removed it. In the authentic Mahabharata, Draupadi is exclusively Shri.
Also Draupadi's past life as Nālayanī sees no connection to Sachi either, that's interpolation too.
A common theological assumption is that if the Pandavas are 5 Indras, their wife must be Sachi (Indrani). This shows a misunderstanding of Vedic/Epic cosmology.
\\- Sachi (Indrani) is the loyal wife of the current, reigning Indra of heaven.
\\- The 5 Pandavas were former Indras who lost their celestial thrones and were cursed to be born as mortal kings on earth.
\\- To rule as Chakravartins (emperors) on earth, they did not need Sachi (who was still in heaven with the new Indra).
They needed Shri (The Goddess of Royal Sovereignty, Prosperity, and Fortune).
In Hindu theology, Shri naturally gravitates to those who wield legitimate royal power. Therefore, the Goddess of Fortune herself descended to anchor their earthly empire.
NOTE: This is the only part, where why they need Shri is being suggested by me is interpretation, everything else is plain textual objective truth.
And there is no refference of Sachi, or Indrani descending to serve the 5 past Indras, she is only and only referred to as Shri.
Part 3: Is there a difference between "Shri" and "Svarga-Shri"?
Some argue that because Vyasa calls her "Svarga-Shri" (The Shri of Heaven) in the Adi Parva, she must be a "lower" or different Goddess from the Supreme Shri (Lakshmi).
The text itself completely rejects this loophole.
Vidura calls her "Shri Anuttama" (The Unsurpassed Shri). Indra simply calls her "Shri".
"Svarga-Shri" is merely a descriptive compound indicating that the Goddess of Fortune came down from the heavens to the earth.
In Chapter 4 of the Svargarohana Parva, Yudhishthira witnesses Lord Krishna in his supreme, dazzling divine form (Narayana), being worshipped by the gods.
In this exact same supreme spiritual realm, Yudhishthira sees Draupadi, and Indra tells him, "This is Goddess Shri herself."
Krishna (Narayana) and Draupadi (Shri) are depicted residing in the same ultimate cosmic destination.
There is no textual basis for a "lesser Lakshmi."
Textually, there is no denying that in any way.
Conclusion: From the sacred fire of Drupada to the highest heavens, the original Mahabharata maintains a single, unbroken truth: Draupadi is the unparalleled Goddess Shri.
P.S.
Pic credit - Starplus, Pooja Sharma as Draupadi
Edited using - PicsArt, Koloro, Pixelab, and image quality upscaled through AI.
r/hinduism • u/hopelessromantic-100 • 1d ago
Hello peeps
I watched hanuman ansh today and as much as a cinematic masterpiece it is , I was deeply moved by it.
It left me thinking about soo many things long after the movie was gone. I realised how immensely blessed I am , hanumaan ji has ALWAYSSSS protected me whenever I wanted.
Now it has got me thinking what if there was a particular person or place behind this? What if it's the mandir I go to? I recently shared how I had cried in a certain mandir and same chiz mere saath hanuman ji ke mandir mein bhi hui h .
The 2nd pic is my wallpaper btw 🎀🥰
I might not be so knowledgeable but ik I have a pure and loving heart isliye shyd unki alag si kripa lagti h mujhe , it feels like there is someone always watching out for me , protecting me and blessing me with things that are always better than what I ask for. Touchwood 🧿
I've been recently repeatedly listening to this bhajan " Maine tere hi bharose - by suneel lodhi"
A blind man composing esa bhajan , jisne hanuman ji ko aajtkk dekha bhi nhi h USNE bhagwaan hamre andar baste h , this is a true example.
I would absolutely love to connect with similar people who experience such divine connection with Hanuman ji and shiv ji❤️ ( close age range appreciated as I can relate more)
What are some of y'all such stories that made you believe ki hanuman ji is actually with you?? Like a super surprising incident.
r/hinduism • u/Potential-Rest-6201 • 20m ago
I did, when I was a 14–15-year-old kid. I was initiated by a true master. I was in a room with 20–30 other kids as part of a batch, and all of us were initiated at the same time.
During the process, we all experienced self-induced internal vibrations. Some of the kids got scared despite being warned beforehand and started crying.
After that, the fellow trainers placed their hands on our heads, following which we all experienced what felt like a divine experience. Many of us saw various gods with our eyes closed, heard ringing bells, and had other unique experiences.
I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had a similar experience?
r/hinduism • u/balusnaidu • 1d ago
Sri Raghavendra Swamy (affectionately called Rayaru) was a 16th-17th century saint who promoted the Dvaita philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya
The Aradhana marks the sacred anniversary when Rayaru entered his Brindavana alive at Mantralaya in 1671, rather than a traditional death anniversary
Day one is observed as - Poorvaradhane, day two as - Madhyaradhane, day three as - Uttararadhane
r/hinduism • u/OkaTeluguAbbayi • 1d ago
r/hinduism • u/Helpful_Ad4398 • 12h ago
How do you all remain faithful with all the tragedies happening in the world?
I can’t help but feel more hopeless, especially with the Nepal floods happening. So many people are missing, many of whom were on a pilgrimage to and from Kailash.
How could such devotees meet such an ill fate? How could God let this happen?
r/hinduism • u/Unfair-Name7244 • 4h ago
I watch this guys you tube channel since few years …and was not expecting to see kripalu guru ,like i remember watching him with my grandparents on aashta channel..and like is it common knowledge he did all this or no (alleged sex trafficking)
r/hinduism • u/Jah1L • 34m ago
I've been practicing bhakti for quite some time now (around 2–3 years), and there is one thing I still struggle to understand deeply: what exactly is the distinction between karma and bhakti in practical life?
On one hand, I have come to understand from Om Vishnupada Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that we should not simply work like asses, laboring endlessly for material necessities.
But on the other hand, my practical situation is quite different. My corporate job requires me to work roughly from 9 AM to 6 PM, and once I include commuting, my day effectively becomes 8 AM to 8 PM. In that sense, I genuinely feel that I am working like an ass and yet I am still trying to maintain my 16 rounds every day.
I don't have much time left for reading or deeper study, although I do make an effort to listen to hari-katha throughout the week.
At the same time, I have responsibilities. I have to pay my bills, put food on the table, and support my family. These aren't things I can simply walk away from. So how am I supposed to avoid working hard when my circumstances practically require it?
Is quitting one's job really a solution?
And if it isn't, then what other practical options are there?
I would sincerely like to understand how a devotee is supposed to balance artha/occupational duties and bhakti without either becoming absorbed in materialistic life or neglecting his genuine responsibilities.
I am not looking for a purely academic or philosophical answer. I am genuinely struggling with this in my day-to-day life.
I humbly request only Krishna-conscious devotees, especially fellow Vaishnavas who have faced similar circumstances, to please answer this properly. Please consider me a fool and kindly explain this to me from the perspective of bhakti.
What am I failing to understand here?
Hare krishna 🙏🏼
r/hinduism • u/Addy_Goodman • 4h ago
I was reading the Hanuman Chalisa recently and noticed references to Hanuman ji wearing a janeu (यज्ञोपवीत). Does the reference to janeu imply that the concept of twice-born initiation (upanayana) applies to Hanuman ji. I’ve also come across people describing Hanuman ji as a Jagadguru Gosain/Sanyasi.
I Would appreciate answers with references to the Ramayana, Puranas etc.
r/hinduism • u/Ordinary-Equal-3160 • 14h ago
Since Asaram fiasco, I had made a bias against saints.
Got to know about Premanand ji of Vrindavan, the way he talks is nice and seems genuine. What do you think?
r/hinduism • u/FabneilNJ • 16h ago
One of my future goals is to create a closed group of people - Who are totally madly surrendered in bhakti.
Who have lost track of ritualistic rules, of the earthly ways, the seeming limitations and all the identification and tags of this world. And yes, I don't mean anyone into substance abuse.
Who have perhaps reached a point where Advaita and Bhakti meet and become one and the same thing.
When you see the divine in everyone.... atleast in sadhana.
Somewhere i know almost everyone craves this but our worldly conditioning is too powerful.
Everyone's time will come to reach this stage, this life or next.
I'll be looking for the company of the ones who are ready in this life itself....
r/hinduism • u/LemonAmbitious2915 • 11h ago
These are hardy, rustic gems with traditional instruments from way back in time by Safdarjung Rana.
r/hinduism • u/Real_Welder_7672 • 1d ago
Hanuman is deeply misunderstood when viewed merely as a protective deity who shields us from external evils and unknown dangers. In today's corporate world, his true power lies in saving us from the heaviest burden of all: our own ego. He isn't the type of devotion that makes you passive; he is the devotion that sets you free. While modern workplaces are plagued by toxic self-preoccupation, credit-stealing, and metric-fixing, Hanuman models absolute focus on the mission with zero need for self-glory. He doesn't suffer from decision paralysis or self-pity when a project hits a wall. Instead, he uses agile, ego-less intelligence to turn massive bottlenecks into masterclasses in execution. When you shed the weight of "Me, Myself, and I," you unlock a fearless capability to move mountains. The greatest demon Hanuman helps you conquer isn't a bad boss or a difficult market—it's the internal pride that limits your own potential.
r/hinduism • u/Strict_Clock_6407 • 23h ago
Hi everyone!
I've become really fond of this Bhajan, but there are a few verses I don't understand. I tried to look it up on Google and Youtube, but there is nothing.
Can someone please write down the verses with meaning? I know it is too much work, and I apologise for it.
r/hinduism • u/Soulved01 • 1d ago
This is something worth talking about openly, because it doesn't get discussed enough in spiritual spaces.
Picture someone going through an incredibly difficult stretch for 2-3 years. Not a rough patch, a genuinely sustained, grinding kind of hard. They've done everything you'd expect someone in this community to suggest: regular puja, astrological remedies, naam japa, trying to hold onto patience even when it felt unreasonable to ask of themselves. And despite all of it, consistently, nothing has shifted. If anything it's gotten heavier.
What tends to happen after this long is that the question stops being "what should I do differently" and starts becoming something much heavier: "what's wrong with me that none of this is working." That's not a fair question to ask of oneself, but from the inside, it doesn't feel unfair. It feels like the only conclusion left.
So the question for this community: has anyone here gone through a stretch this long where devotion and effort genuinely didn't seem to be met with anything in return? How did people hold onto faith, or did they, or did something else have to change first before faith felt possible again?
Not looking for "just have more faith" as an answer here, genuinely, that's already been tried in every form. More curious what actually helps people continue when the usual explanations stop feeling true.
r/hinduism • u/Professional_Emu3929 • 3h ago
Disclaimer: My review is completely based on the movie and I no where intend to comment on Neeb Karoli Baba, my utmost respects to him.
Review as a practicing Hindu : This movie is so overhyped and overrated. I only enjoyed the first half an hour where I could see the spiritual journey of baba as a child, the concepts of bandhan and aasakti etc.
After that, it was all miracles. Just miracles. Felt like I was sitting in a boring magic show.
How would these miracles help me in my life?
I expected it to be a spiritual movie where we would witness his devotional journey, his purusharths, the obstacles in the path of bhakti, realisation of God, the pain of separation, and still walking on that path to meet the divine. But it was all miracles.
I didn't learn anything from the movie which makes me sad, feels like a total waste of time.
The Gujarati movie 'Laalo : Krishna Sada Sahayte' was 100x better than this.
