Ask me ANYTHING about Hinduism

OP

Original post by Kallisto

No one so far? so I am the first who ask you. That is a question which interests me most of all:

Iti s about Vishnu. It is said that Wischnu hold the world together and saved this one many times by changing the life forms. It is also said Rama is the embodiment of Vishnu. Question: Why Vishnu has so many life forms when he has a real form?

Hello!
Yes you are the first with a question on this thread.
Okay, so from what I understand, it seems like you're trying to ask that regardless of the forms of Vishnu that have been displayed (Krishna, Rama), which is the "real" form.
There are many arguments that can be made around this point, but first it is necessary to understand the concept of God in Hinduism.
Hinduism, as far as scriptures go is a monotheistic faith with only ONE god, known as "Bhrahman" or "Para-Bhraman" (NB - This is different from Bharama).

So, Bhrahman is the ultimate God, formless and without any attributes, of whom there are no images etc.
Bhrahman is often attributed as being the "creator", "preserver" and "destroyer" (Bhrahman, Vishnu and Mahesh (shiva)).

Vishnu is therefore the preserver of the Universe. But Vishnu is indeed Bharman.

In the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism, Vishnu is the ONLY God and followers, known as Vaishnav's follow Vishnu and his incarnations which are the following:
Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, (Balarama) or (Buddha) and Kalki.

The two in bold are most worshipped as the incarnations of God.

Now to your question about the "real form".

In early Hindu texts, God is said to have no form. But religious segregation and division from the primary texts has meant that people have developed there own ways of seeing God.

I hope this answers your question, and God knows best.

Reply 3

Do you think that the Advaitin outlook is the logical conclusion of the Upanisads?

Reply 4

OP

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

Original post by gjd800

Do you think that the Advaitin outlook is the logical conclusion of the Upanisads?

Hello! Thank you for your question.

Yes I definitely think so, for others who are reading the question and this answer here's some background.

There are 108 upanishads which bring about all the philosophy in the Vedas, of which are 10-13 principle Upanishads (these are known as "principle" since they are those which Adi Shankracharya commented upon).

Of the principle Upanishads, the Mandukya Upanishad is most famous and it is had been taught in various Purana's proceeding the Upanishad's that the Mandukya is the only Upanishad needed for liberation/moksha.

Within the Mandukya, there is a description of one's identity and the Upanishad makes sense that there are four parts to one's identity. They are:

1) The state of consciousness
2) The state of dreaming
3) The state of deep sleep
4) The "turiya"

Number 4 is of great interest, and it is that soul which is God himself.
There is proof in other religions also, that God is the soul and hence Advaita Vedanta is proved to be correct.

I hope this answers the question.

Reply 5

JMR2021_

22

Are there different sects in Hinduism? :smile:

Reply 6

Original post by Hopefullyamedic

Hello! Thank you for your question.

Yes I definitely think so, for others who are reading the question and this answer here's some background.

There are 108 upanishads which bring about all the philosophy in the Vedas, of which are 10-13 principle Upanishads (these are known as "principle" since they are those which Adi Shankracharya commented upon).

Of the principle Upanishads, the Mandukya Upanishad is most famous and it is had been taught in various Purana's proceeding the Upanishad's that the Mandukya is the only Upanishad needed for liberation/moksha.

Within the Mandukya, there is a description of one's identity and the Upanishad makes sense that there are four parts to one's identity. They are:

1) The state of consciousness
2) The state of dreaming
3) The state of deep sleep
4) The "turiya"

Number 4 is of great interest, and it is that soul which is God himself.
There is proof in other religions also, that God is the soul and hence Advaita Vedanta is proved to be correct.

I hope this answers the question.

Interesting. With that in mind, would you class yourself as an Advaitin?

Reply 7

ashjaytsr

8

why are indians racist against dark skin people

Reply 8

OP

Original post by gjd800

Interesting. With that in mind, would you class yourself as an Advaitin?

Definitely, I believe in God and my turiya (4th aspect in your question I answered) is God himself.

It is necessary to note that without the turiya the other three states are impossible to achieve (let me know if you'd like an example to explain this).

Reply 9

username3049746

19

Jai Shree Ram bro. What do you study?

Reply 10

Original post by JMR2018

Are there different sects in Hinduism? :smile:

Yes, there are six orthodox saddarsanas (systems) and they split into other systems again.

Reply 11

Original post by Hopefullyamedic

Definitely, I believe in God and my turiya (4th aspect in your question I answered) is God himself.

It is necessary to note that without the turiya the other three states are impossible to achieve (let me know if you'd like an example to explain this).

No need, I'm a scholar of Indian religion/philosophy and am very closely acquainted with Advaita in particular. Just gauging opinion :-)

Reply 12

OP

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

Original post by JMR2018

Are there different sects in Hinduism? :smile:

Hello! Thank you for your question,

From the primary texts and to the level that I have read, there have been no mention of sect.

However, in Shrimad Bhagvatam, canto 1.3.21 the following is stated
"Thereafter, in the seventeeth incarnation of Godhead, Sri Vrasadeva appeared in teh womb of Satyavati through Parasara Muni and he divided the Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that people in general were less intelligent"

So, from this verse it can be said that the "several branches and subbranches" are divisions and further divisions within Hinduism respectively where no sect really follows a "originial path"

Surprisingly, however, the Gita states the following (Chapter 4, Verse 11)

"However men try to reach me, I return their love with my love; whatever path they may travel, it leads to me in the end.".

It is therefore evident from the Gita that all these paths are acceptable, so long as you have one goal, that is God.

I hope this answers your question.

Reply 13

JMR2021_

22

Original post by Hopefullyamedic

Hello! Thank you for your question,

From the primary texts and to the level that I have read, there have been no mention of sect.

However, in Shrimad Bhagvatam, canto 1.3.21 the following is stated
"Thereafter, in the seventeeth incarnation of Godhead, Sri Vrasadeva appeared in teh womb of Satyavati through Parasara Muni and he divided the Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that people in general were less intelligent"

So, from this verse it can be said that the "several branches and subbranches" are divisions and further divisions within Hinduism respectively where no sect really follows a "originial path"

Surprisingly, however, the Gita states the following (Chapter 4, Verse 11)

"However men try to reach me, I return their love with my love; whatever path they may travel, it leads to me in the end.".

It is therefore evident from the Gita that all these paths are acceptable, so long as you have one goal, that is God.

I hope this answers your question.

Ok, one more question;
Are all gods in Hinduism a manifestation of a single God?

Reply 14

OP

Original post by JMR2018

Ok, one more question;
Are all gods in Hinduism a manifestation of a single God?

Every living being is a manifestation of God, since the soul is equal to the lord himself.

Take a look at the answers above mentioning turiya such as this one:

Original post by Hopefullyamedic

Definitely, I believe in God and my turiya (4th aspect in your question I answered) is God himself.

It is necessary to note that without the turiya the other three states are impossible to achieve (let me know if you'd like an example to explain this).

Reply 15

OP

Original post by ashjaytsr

why are Indians racist against dark skin people

I'm afraid this hasn't got anything to do with Indian religion and philosophy, but rather with culture that has developed from this philosophy.

I do believe, however, that it is inappropriate to call "Indians" as a whole racist against any group.

Hope this answers your question.

Reply 16

OP

Original post by CuriousGuy777

Jai Shree Ram bro. What do you study?

Namaste, I'm 20 and study Biomedical Science. How about yourself?

Reply 17

A Rolling Stone

Original post by Hopefullyamedic

Hey guys, Hinduism is quite a diverse way of life which can be confusing for many including Hindu's themselves.

Feel free to start asking questions.

what % of the Hindu youth growing up in the UK are actually religious?

Reply 18

OP