Vaishnavism refers to worship of Vishnu. A devotee of Vishnu is a Vaishnava. In general, Vaishnavas regard Vishnu to be […]
Shaivism
Shaivism means worship of Shiva. It refers to practices of various Shiva worshiping groups including Shaiva-siddhanta, Lingayats, Kashmiri Shaivas etc. […]
Brahmanas
Brahmanas are texts that describe the origin and importance of Vedic rituals. They are attached to the Samhita (hymns) portion of the Vedas, and together they are often referred to as karma-kanda. While the Brahmanas are not instruction manuals, they use mythology and legends to describe the significance of sacrifice rituals.
Aranyakas
Aranyakas (‘Forest Books’) are texts similar to Brahmanas, in their focus on rituals. However, the philosophical inclination of Aranyakas was considered unsuitable for house-holders and more geared towards renunciates dwelling in the forests.The Aranyakas and the Upanishads are referred to as jnana-kanda.
The Evolution of Shiva
Shiva occupies an exalted status among contemporary Hindu gods. To non-Hindus, the image of Shiva is one of the easily recognizable artifacts of Hinduism. The story of Shiva’s evolution is interesting. Shiva goes from representing the fearful and unpredictable aspects of nature to a transcendental and immanent deity.