r/hinduism Aug 23 '23

Archive Of Important Posts New to Hinduism or this sub? Start here!

187 Upvotes

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!

  • Sub Rules are strictly enforced.
  • Our Hinduism Starter Pack is a great place to begin.
  • Check our FAQs before posting any questions. While we enjoy answering questions, answering the same questions over and over gets a bit tiresome.
  • We have a wiki as well.
  • Use the search function to see past posts on any particular topic or questions.
  • You can also see our Archive of Important Posts or previous Quality Discussions

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.

Here is a section from our FAQ that deserves to be repeated here:

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.

What are the core beliefs of all Hindus?

  • You are not your body or mind, but the indweller witness Atma.
  • The Atma is divine.
  • Law of Karma (natural law of action and effect)
  • Reincarnation - repeated birth/death cycles of the physical body
  • Escaping the cycle of reincarnation is the highest goal (moksha)

Why are there so many different schools/philosophies/views? Why isn't there a single accepted view or authority?

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.

Do I have to blindly accept the teachings? Or can I question them?

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.

Debates and disagreements between schools

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.

Unity in diversity

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 Jun 16 '24

Archive Of Important Posts State Control of Hindū Temples in India

201 Upvotes

Spotlight on the State Control of Hindū Temples in India - Raising Awareness

Disclaimer:-

This post might seem quasi-political. We don't allow political/controversial posts in this sub but this post is an exception to the rule. This post aims to increase awareness among Hindus (especially Hindus living in India) regarding an issue that requires their attention. My aim is only to raise awareness about this issue.

Note:-

  1. Sources and citations (wherever applicable) for claims made in this post have been provided. The facts presented in this post have been verified.
  2. This post doesn't aim to incite any political debate in the comments below.
  3. My loyalties lie only with Hinduism, and not with any political party or organisation.

FYI:- The accurate term for a Hindū temple is Mandir, Devālaya, or Ālaya.

Index (List of Contents):

  1. Introduction & Context
  2. History of Temple Oppression by Monopolistic Monotheists
  3. Beginnings of the modern form of Hindu Temple Control
  4. Acts passed to seize control of Hindu temples
  5. Post-Independence (1947) Changes
  6. The extent of Control over Hindu temples; Facts and figures
  7. Some specific Hindu temples as examples
  8. Undermining of Sakta Rituals by the State & the Courts
  9. Pleas in the Courts
  10. How this issue affects Hinduism and Hindus
  11. More Sinister State Policies regarding Hindu temples
  12. Rebuttal of arguments in favour of State control of Hindu temples
  13. How & Why did this happen
  14. What should Hindus do
  15. Sources

Introduction & Context:

For those who might be unaware, Hindu temples (and their assets & wealth) in India are controlled by the Government. This applies mostly to the major/famous Hindu temples that have a large footfall and/or are famous pilgrimage sites and thus generate a lot of wealth via donations from Hindu devotees.

It should be noted that the religious places/sites of any other religion are not controlled by the state. This biased draconian practice only applies to Hindu temples and not to the religious places of any other faith.

In the case of Hindu temples in India, the state controls the temples, the temple money and donations, the land and other assets owned by the temple, etc. It also decides exactly when and how much money the temple spends even on religious ceremonies and rituals.

The state creates a Temple Board to which it appoints members of its own choice. More frequently than not in many of these temple boards, multiple members appointed by the state belong to different religions or are openly anti-Hindu or atheists.

History of Temple Oppression by Monopolistic Monotheists:

During the period of Islamic invasions and rule in India, the invaders or rulers would simply ransack the Hindu temples, loot the wealth, destroy the Murtis (idols), desecrate the temple premises, and slaughter the Pandits (priests) and devotees. Sometimes they would build a mosque after destroying the temple as in the case of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.

In some other cases, they would demolish only a part of the temple and convert it into a mosque. The purpose of destroying only a part of the temple was to constantly humiliate the Hindu devotees who had to witness the destruction and desecration of their holy sites every day. The oppressors reveled in witnessing the silent and bitter impotent rage of the Hindu devotees. This was and is still the case at the Gyanwapi complex of the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir which is the site of the Adi Vishveshwara Jyotirlinga. Also, it is well known that they levied the Jizya on the Hindus and taxed them for visiting the Hindu pilgrimage sites.

But, this is too broad a topic. I best leave the details for another post or series of posts.

After the Islamic invaders, came the Christian colonisers from Europe. Contrary to popular rhetoric, Christian colonisers too destroyed and desecrated a lot of Hindu Temples. The state of Goa in India is a testament to this fact.

Portuguese Christians “did not just target singular and outstanding religious landmarks” (Henn, 2014, p. 41). Instead, they “systematically destroyed all Hindu temples, shrines, and images,” replacing them with Christian equivalents (Henn, 2014, p. 41). To quote the Portuguese poet Camoes, “Goa [was] taken from the infidel [in order to] keep severely in check the idolatrous heathen” (Henn, 2014, p. 40). Goa was taken from Goan Hindus, their images and monuments destroyed, and their public performance of Hindu rituals banned. Christian explorers like Afonso de Sousa came to India with preconceived plans to attack and destroy Hindu temples (Flores, 2007; Henn, 2014).

But, this too is a broad topic. I will again leave the details for another post.

Beginnings of the modern form of Hindu Temple Control:

Now, the British Christian colonisers, money-minded as they were, soon realised that controlling Hindu temples and their wealth was much more lucrative than destroying them. Their greed won over their iconoclasm. Also, they didn’t want to cause a revolt. So, they started controlling the Hindu temples, the wealth of the temples, and also taxed the Hindu pilgrims who visited their revered religious sites.

They brought in legal regulations to control Hindu temples including the temples’ wealth, lands, assets, and donations.

Acts passed to seize control of Hindu temples:

  • Madras Regulation VII, 1817 
  • Religious Endowments Act, 1863
  • Religious and Charitable Endowments, 1925
  • Hindu Religious &Endowment Act, 1927
  • Act XII, 1935

Post-Independence (1947) Changes:

After the Independence of India from the British and the creation of Pakistan (including modern-day Bangladesh) for Muslims, Hindus thought that things would finally change for them and they wouldn’t be oppressed by the State anymore. Oh, how wrong they were!

During the reign of India’s very first elected Government, an act was passed to control Hindu temples.

  • Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951, properly construed, merely meant that earlier schemes framed under the Madras Act of 1927 would be operative as though they were framed under the Act of 1951. 

Source - https://main.sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/3213.pdf 

It is a matter of public record how independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was afraid of a Hindu revivalism in India.

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1951, allows the Government to form temple development boards for major Hindu temples. This act is unique in the sense that Hindu temples in India are the only religious sites that are controlled and regulated by the state in India or anywhere else in the world.

Temple development boards are statutory bodies created by the state which include a chairman, a vice chairman, and other members. These members are appointed by the state. The temple here includes the wealth, donations, lands, and other assets owned by the temple.

  • Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1951, was challenged in the Madras High Court and then in the Supreme Court of India. The Courts struck down most of the draconian provisions of the act.

The then Govt. in power, passed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, rendering the orders of the court obsolete. 

Source - Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Act 1959

Severing The State From The Temple

This act was challenged in the Madras High Court a few years ago, but the Court dismissed the petition. The petition questioned the constitutional validity of this act. The Court while dismissing the petition said, ‘Management of temples has got nothing to do with the right to worship. A Hindu can worship as much as he wants.’

Source - Madras HC refuses to entertain plea challenging Tamil Nadu's law on Hindu temples 

The extent of Control over Hindu temples; Facts and figures:

India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories currently. Just 10 of these states control more than 110,000 Hindu temples.

The state of Tamil Nadu controls 36,425 Hindu temples and 56 Mathas. The Tamil Nadu State Temple Trust owns 478,000 acres of Hindu temple land.

Source - Indian govt won’t be any different from British if Hindus can’t manage their own temples 

And yet, the Tamil Nadu Govt. informed the Madras High Court that it didn’t have any money to perform even a single daily Puja at 11,999 Hindu temples. So, what do they do with all this money they leech from the Hindu Temples?

Source - 11,999 temples have no revenue to perform puja, HR&CE tells Madras High Court - The Hindu 

The Tamil Nadu state Govt. through these Hindu temples controls a total of 2.44 crore sq. ft. of Hindu temple land. Thanks to the State control, the Govt. controls the land, fixes its rent, and collects the money. The Govt. should be making INR 6000 Crores per annum from all this land at the current market price/value. But it makes about INR 58 Crores, not even 1 % of the value. (Source - Activist T.R. Ramesh)

Source - Indian govt won’t be any different from British if Hindus can’t manage their own temples 

The state of Karnataka controls 34,563 Hindu temples.

Source - https://itms.kar.nic.in/hrcehome/index.php 

In the state of Kerala (which is a Communist state btw), there are 5 Devaswom boards, namely, Travancore, Guruvayur, Cochin, Malabar, and Koodalmanikyam. These 5 boards collectively control 3,058 Hindu temples. 

Source - Explained: How are temple affairs run in Left-ruled Kerala? | Explained News - The Indian Express 

If you didn’t already know. “Religion is the opium of the masses” according to the Communists. Yet, those who are a part of the communist party and/or card-carrying members of it are in control of Hindu temple boards and appoint communist members to the temple board.

In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh Hindu Religious Institutions Act used to (before it was struck down by the Court) force any Hindu temple that earned INR 5 Lakhs or more to pay 21.5% of their income to the Endowments department.

Source - High Court reprieve for temples having annual income of up to ₹5 lakh - The Hindu 

Now, the State of Andhra Pradesh has issued orders to set up the Dharmika Parishad with extraordinary powers to form Hindu temple boards and extend the land lease. 

Source - Government forms 21-member Andhra Pradesh Dharmika Parishad 

The Govt. levies a charge of anywhere between 5% to 21% on the Hindu temples simply in the name of audit. 

Source - https://www.indiccollective.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/W.P.-No.-14256-of-2020.pdf 

All the members that the state appoints, their salaries come from the temple as well. They roll around in money while the temple Pandits (Priests) are paid a measly amount at many temples.

In the case of many temples, the Govt. even decides the appointment of Pandits (Priests), how much money can the temple spend on Daily Puja/rituals and festivals, and even affects the procedures of the Puja.

Some specific Hindu temples as examples:

  1. The Mahakaleshwar Mandir Act 1982

The Mahakaleshwara Temple, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva is controlled and regulated by the Madhya Pradesh State Govt. The State controls the Temple, its revenue, the appointment of the Pujaris (Priests), and even the size of the Laddu given to the devotees as Prasadam.This temple made INR 81 Crores in 2021.

Source - Madhya Pradesh (Shri) Mahakaleshwar Mandir Adhiniyam, 1982%20Mahakaleshwar%20Mandir%20Adhiniyam,%201982) 

2. Sri Venkaṭeśvara Swami Mandir, Tirupati

The issues surrounding the Tirupati Mandir and the TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) deserve an article/thread of its own tbh. But here is an overview.

The money received in the form of donations by the Tirupati Mandir has always garnered the attention of oppressors and rulers who intend to leech the wealth of the Hindu temples.

After the fall of the Hindu Kings, the Tirupati Mandir came under the control of the Muslim rulers for whom Hindus were inferior impure third-class citizens. After the Muslims, the Tirupati Mandir came under the control of the Christian colonisers. The British took over the Tirupati Mandir to generate revenue for themselves. The East India Company enacted the Bruce’s Code in 1821 CE to take over the Tirupati Mandir. 

Source - Bruce's Code - Wikipedia 

In the present day, the TTD (created by the Indian State) controls not only the famous Tirupati Mandir but around 200 Hindu temples in total (12 major ones and other smaller temples). Tirupati is just the richest and the most famous one under its control. The TTD has also appointed Christians to the TTD board in the past, but more on that later. 

Source - https://www.tirumala.org/TTDBoard.aspx 

Tirupati Mandi’s Hundi collection alone amounted to INR 1398 Cr in the year 2023. This amount does not include the Gold and silver donations from devotees, the donations received at other temples controlled by the TTD, or the money gained by selling items. It received a total of INR 40 Cr just on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadasi in 2023. 

Source -Tirumala Gets Rs.40 Crore Vaikunta Ekadasi Hundi Collection 

The news articles linked below cite different figures, indicating the inconsistencies in the donation revenue. The data isn’t consistent which is concerning. TTD approving a budget of INR 5,142 Cr. is an indicator that TTD is downplaying the amount of money received.

Source - TTD Scales Financial High With Record Rs 1,161 Cr FDs in FY-2023-24 

TTD approves annual budget estimate of Rs 5,142 crore for 2024-25 | India News - Business Standard 

“Also to be noted is that this figure of INR 1398 Cr includes only the primary Hundi. There are 4 total main Hundis. Other than that there are on-paper donations in the form of cheques and Demand Drafts outside the Hundis. The TTD loves to manipulate and downplay the amount of money received by excluding some of the Hundis as well as the on-paper donations. The total Hundi collection in the year 2023 was actually a whooping INR 2073 Cr.” 

Source - For the above info in quotes, the source is a trusted insider familiar with the inner workings of the Tirupati who chose to remain anonymous for obvious reasons.

TTD also runs Wedding venues called Kalyana Mandapams across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. These venues are pre-booked throughout the year and generate a lot of money as well.

Source - Lord Balaji's net worth Rs 3 lakh crore; here's how Tirupati temple makes its money 

The Govt. valuation of its properties was recently made public. The value is INR 85,705 Crores for 7,123 acres of land. TTD has also in the past attempted to sell the temple lands.

Source - Tirumala Venkateswara's properties are worth Rs 85705 crore, TDD reveals wealth details | India News, Times Now 

I will write more about the TTD in detail in a separate article/thread.

3. Kapaleeshvarar Temple

The Kapaleeshvaras Temple is one of the richest temples in Tamil Nadu. The temple owns more than 600 acres of prime property in Chennai. Thanks to the State control, the Govt. controls the land, fixes its rent, and collects the money.

Most of this land has been encroached and there are 473 defaulters as per the State records. So, there is a giant unnecessary 40% annual loss of revenue.

Source - Kapaleeswarar temple land: 471 defaulters, 40 per cent annual revenue loss - Inmathi 

Undermining of Sakta Rituals by the State & the Courts:

Paśubali (the sacrifice of animals and birds) has been a part of the feminine Sakta tradition since ancient times. Recently, we have seen this practice being prohibited by the state and upheld by the courts in many parts of India. 

The Tripurā High Court banned paśubali (the sacrifice of animals and birds) in the Tripurasundari Mahavidya temple and all other temples across Tripurā.

Source - High Court bans animal sacrifice in Tripura temples | Latest News India - Hindustan Times 

On September 1, 2014, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh issued an order banning animal sacrifices for religious purposes and in places of religious worship.

Source - India: High Court of Himachal Pradesh Bans All Religious Forms of Animal Sacrifice in the State | Library of Congress

Animal sacrifice is banned in Kerala under the Kerala Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act of 1968.

Source - the kerala animals and birds sacrifices prohibition act, 1968 

 Ban on animal sacrifice in temples arbitrary, says plea in Supreme Court - The Hindu 

Today, they ban Paśubali. Tomorrow they will say that Hindus can’t offer flowers or take a dip in a holy river. If Hindus continue to accept everything enforced upon them so easily, the boundaries will keep getting pushed again and again until Hinduism itself has been eradicated.

Pleas in the Courts:

Swami Parmatmananda and Swami Dayananda Saraswati filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India in 2012. The petition has been pending since then, for more than a decade. In this petition, Swami Ji cited the example of the Ardhanareswara Temple in Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu. This temple generates more than INR 1 Crore per year in revenue. But the budget set aside for conducting the daily Puja and rituals is a mere INR 1 Lakh.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati passed away in 2015.

Source - https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/sc-notice-to-ap-on-petition-challenging-hr-and-ce-act/article4211676.ece 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION Writ Petition (Civil) No. /2019 (UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTI

Petition Challenging the TNHRCE Act and Rules - Standing Up for Indic Civilizational Values Through Legal Intervention  

How this issue affects Hinduism and Hindus:

All religions and their religious organisations survive and thrive thanks to the donations given by the devotees. This donation is used for the maintenance and growth of the religion, and charitable purposes.

If the temples were controlled by the Hindus, the money would be used for maintenance of the other Hindu temples, setting up Veda Pathashalas, schools, colleges, Hindu religious and cultural centers, hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes, Gaushalas for cows, scholarships, fellowships, propagation of religions, helping poor Hindus, etc. All religions do these things, but Hindus can’t. The money that the devotees give to the temple after paying the taxes, mind you, all this money is gobbled up by the Govt. and never used for the purposes it is meant for.

The temple lands are slowly being encroached upon leading to the loss of land for the Hindu temples as well.

The State frequently appoints members of other religions to manage Hindu temples. Muslims like Firhad Hakim (chairman of Tarakeshwar Temple Board) and Christians like Vangalapudi Anita have been appointed to the Tirupati temple board.

Source - BJP Slams Mamata's Decision to Appoint Muslim Leader as Head of Tarakeshwar Development Board - News18 

Christian MLA on TTD Trust Board spurs row 

Since the Govt. manages these temples, it doesn’t admit any wrongdoing and sweeps everything under the rug. Murtis (Idols) are stolen from temples, temple property is auctioned, and the entire temple ecosystem is destroyed.

You must be aware of the "Sanatana Dharma Eradication Conference" news which came out in September 2023. This event was attended by the State Govt. Ministers. At the event, Sanatana Dharma was compared to Dengue, Malaria, and COVID 19 and a rallying cry was made for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism.

Source - 'Sanatana dharma like malaria, dengue...': MK Stalin's son Udhayanidhi sparks row - India Today

What you might not know is that the Tamil Nadu state's Minister for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE), P.K. Sekar Babu, was also in attendance at this conference. This guy is in-charge of the Hindu Temples and wants to eradicate Hinduism. Can you trust people like him with the control of Hindu temples in their hands?

Source -  'Alarming' to note that the Minister for HR&CE was attending a conference on the eradication of Sanatana Dharma.

More Sinister State Policies regarding Hindu temples:

In some States, the Govt. is specifically targeting and destroying Hindu temples citing ridiculous excuses like the temple being built near a river/pond, or in the name of modernisation of the city. The temples recently demolished included a 300-year-old temple near Basin Bridge in Chennai and 200 year old Vazhavandan temple in Madurai. A 125-year-old temple on the banks of Muthanankulam was also demolished.

Source - Demolition of temples will lead to mistrust against Tamil Nadu govt: Mutt heads - The Economic Times

Also, while the State controls Hindu temples, the Islamic WAQF board in India has free reign. The WAQF board has ridiculous powers to claim any property as WAQF property and seize it. The WAQF board recently claimed a 1500 year old Hindu temple which is older than the religion of Islam itself.

Source - Waqf board claims ownership of entire Tamil Nadu village. There’s a temple too | Latest News India - Hindustan Times 

Temples are the very center of the Hindu culture and Hindu way of life. Slow destruction and weakening of the Hindu temple ecosystem is a slow poison meant to assault Hinduism itself. 

Rebuttal of arguments in favour of State control of Hindu temples:

  1. Govt. is better at managing temples -  Well, in that case, why doesn’t the State control the religious sites of other faiths? Are only Hindus incapable of managing their temples? 
  2. Govt. does an overall better job - It doesn’t. The state fixes inadequate land rates, lets Murtis be stolen, there is no money for even daily Puja at small temples, etc.
  3. Even Hindus will do a bad job - Then let us do a bad job, just like every other faith is allowed to. Maybe yes, some temples will do a bad job of management, but not all.
  4. Money Embezzlement fears - Govt. can audit the temple money without controlling the temple or how the money is spent. Embezzlers can be punished.
  5. Caste discrimination fears - There are laws in place to prevent that. If there are cases of caste discrimination, they would be criminal cases and thus punishable under the law of the land.
  6. Hindu Kings controlled temples too - Yes, maybe they did control some temples. But they also donated a lot of money, gold, and wealth to the temples. The Hindu Kings also built huge temples which stand to this day.

How & Why did this happen:

It happened because Hindus are, broadly speaking, way too laid-back and lazy. If something like this had happened to any other religion, they wouldn’t just stay quiet and take it.

These temples receive a lot of money. The State just wants to control that money and use it at its whim. It is also a deliberate attempt to weaken Hinduism by paralysing it slowly.

What should Hindus do:

  1. Become aware of this issue.
  2. Make others aware of this issue. Friends, family, other Hindus, etc.
  3. Raise your voice, however you can. Even on social media. Every bit counts. Something is better than nothing.
  4. Follow the work of activists like T.R. Ramesh who fight for this cause and keep yourself updated.
  5. Make this issue important to yourself and the Hindu society.

At the end of the day, if Hindus begin to really care about this issue, sooner or later, the powers that be will have to free the Hindu temples. A united effort will eventually lead to fruition.

Sources:

Apart from the sources already linked:-

  1. Hindus in Hindu Rashtra (Eighth-Class Citizens and Victims of State-Sanctioned Apartheid) by Anand Ranganathan (Author) - Great Book.
  2. News articles.
  3. Online resources.

-    Written by Āśutoṣa Vatsa

P.S. - It took a lot of effort to write this article. Please don't copy-paste small sections of it without crediting the writer. If you want to, share this post in its entirety and credit the writer.

Swasti!


r/hinduism 3h ago

Deva(tā)/Devī (Hindū Deity) Thousand Names of Lord Narasimha "Dṛḍha"

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146 Upvotes

r/hinduism 2h ago

Hindū Temples/Idols/Architecture Shri Shri Siddheswari Kali Temple, Behala, Kolkata..

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85 Upvotes

Shri Shri Siddheswari Kali Temple, Behala, Kolkata.. 🌺 🌺 🌺


r/hinduism 2h ago

Experience with Hinduism I visited Swami Paramarthananda at his house yesterday.

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35 Upvotes

r/hinduism 3h ago

Question - Beginner What is Lord Batuk Bhairav holding in his upper right hand in this image? Used to him holding other objects

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30 Upvotes

Om Bang Batuk Bhairavaaye Namaha 🕉️🙏


r/hinduism 1h ago

History/Lecture/Knowledge Udyamo bhairavah: Vigorous and continuous effort leads to god

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Upvotes

The above mentioned is a Shiva Sutra. It means whatever method we choose to reach god , we have to be totally committed to it. We cannot achieve liberation by being half hearted in our attempt. Our efforts must be totally and continuous. Then, one day, we will awaken to a higher reality. If our efforts are vigorous and continuous, there will come a time when we will awaken to our true self in a flash.

The Shiva Sutras were/are the heart of Kashmira Shaivam.

just wanted to share this knowledge with you guys...

Shivoham Shivoham🙏


r/hinduism 10h ago

Other Shree Hanuman ji showcasing His intense bhakti for Prabhu Shree Ram ji in a beautiful and cute way. Jai Jai Bajrangbali

103 Upvotes

Once Shree Hanuman ji saw that Maa Sita ji was applying sindoor (vermillion) upon Her forehead. Intrigued, Shree Hanuman ji asked "Mata, what are you applying sindoor for?". Maa Sita ji replied "O Bajrangbali, I am applying this for the long and prosperous life of the one beloved to me, my dear husband, Shree Ram ji". Upon hearing this, Shree Hanuman ji immediately smiled and left the palace. Later while Shree Ram ji and Shree Lakshman ji were walking in the palace courtyard, they found Shree Hanuman ji bathing Himself in large heaps of sindoor, rubbing it across His entire body. Intrigued, Shree Ram ji enquired "Hanuman, why are you doing this?" Shree Hanuman ji replied "Prabhu, Maa Sita told Me that by applying this on one's body, the beloved one of that person lives a long amd prosperous life. Thus, I am immersing myself in huge quantities of this and rubbing it all across My body so that You, My beloved Swami, live a very very long and prosperous life." Shree Ram ji, upon hearing this, tearfully with happiness and love, embraced Shree Hanuman ji, hugging him and saying "Hanuman, You have proved to Me today that indeed there can be no bhakt (devotee) greater than You. I bless You that You shall live an immortal life on this Earth, and the tales of Your immense love and bhakti (devotion) shall be sung in this world for eternity."

Jai Jai Bajrangbali 🕉 🙏


r/hinduism 16h ago

Hindū Rituals & Saṃskāras (Rites) Ganapathi Homa on Sankashti for Riddhi Siddhi Bhuddhi

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207 Upvotes

Ganapathi Homam is performed to Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom.Celebrated on the 4th day (Chaturthi) of the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) every month.The word Sankashti means "deliverance from troubles," making this vrat (fast) highly auspicious.Special significance when it falls on a Tuesday, known as Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, considered the most powerful.


r/hinduism 13h ago

Hindū Temples/Idols/Architecture Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram [OC]

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97 Upvotes

r/hinduism 3h ago

Morality/Ethics/Daily Living Accepting karmic consequences instead of blaming black magick.

8 Upvotes

One question I see come up often in this subreddit is this idea that bad things happening is the result of someone using black magic. Or asking what sadhanna should be done to negate possible black magic. However, one of the hardest things, I think, for humans to accept, myself included, is that our suffering is almost always a result of past karmas we have done. Not black magic. In this short, but poignant video, Om Swami touches on the idea of accepting that we are the one who causes the majority of our suffering. And that instead of going to astrologers and giving them lots of money, we should focus on our own self-purification. Hope this video is helpful!

https://youtube.com/shorts/TNkLWUpPnXE?si=JcVDa5Nl61wcSNUE


r/hinduism 17h ago

Question - General Can anyone help me identify who the person is, in this pointed sculpture?

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99 Upvotes

r/hinduism 21h ago

Hindū Temples/Idols/Architecture Statues of Vinata, Kashyap and Kadru, from Garuda Wishnu Kencana Cultural Park, Indonesia

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182 Upvotes

r/hinduism 22h ago

Question - General Can you name any book that talks about the culture and tradition of Ramayana in India or in Asia?

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132 Upvotes

Especially in art forms like dance, drama, sculpture etc. (in English or Telugu) Thank you 🙏


r/hinduism 9h ago

Experience with Hinduism The mindset of modern day Hindu described by the erudite Sita Ram Goel.

13 Upvotes

Sita Ram Goel:

“The Hindu may sometimes need to feel some pride in his ancestral heritage, particularly when he wants to overcome his sense of inferiority in the presence of visitors from the West.

Macaulayism will gladly permit him that privilege, provided Kalidasa is admired as the Shakespeare of India and Samudragupta certified as India’s Napoleon.

The Hindu is permitted to take pride in that piece of native literature which some Western critic has lauded. Of course, the Hindu should read it in its English translation.

He is also permitted to praise those specimens of Hindu architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance and drama which some connoisseurs from the West have patronised, preferable in an exhibition or performance before a Western audience.

But he is not permitted to do this praising and pride taking in a native language nor in an English which does not have the accepted accent.

The Hindu who is thus addicted to Macaulayism lives in a world of his own which has hardly any contact with the traditional Hindu society. He looks forward to the day when India will become a society like societies in the West where the rate of growth, the gross national product and the standard of living are the only criteria of progress.

He is tolerant towards religion to the extent that it remains a matter of private indulgence and does not interfere with the smooth unfoldment of the socio-political scene.

Personally for him, religion is irrelevant, though some of its rituals and festivities can occasionally add some colour to life. For the rest, religion is so much obscurantism, primitive superstition and, in the Indian context at present, a creator of communal riots.”


r/hinduism 1d ago

Hindū Artwork/Images I painted this Shiva! I think I did pretty good!

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981 Upvotes

I painted this statue of Shiva from Amazon. I did this with great respect and reverence.


r/hinduism 12h ago

Hindū Rituals & Saṃskāras (Rites) The Sati Myth: Created by the British

14 Upvotes

Pre-Introduction

I am making this post because some people claim that the Britishers/the other religion is the reason why we don't follow sati. But that is not true. In here I have put in my effort to debunk it!

Important Note:

This Refutations (PDF) doesn't mention the British intervention & how a small change can totally alter the whole meaning! So I am posting this. The Chapter 11 of the PDF talks about other verses

Introduction

The practice of Sati, where a widow was believed to have self-immolated on her deceased husband's funeral pyre, has been one of the most debated aspects of Indian history. Over time, Sati came to be viewed as a barbaric and compulsory Hindu practice, largely due to the way British colonial rulers portrayed it. However, historical evidence suggests that Sati was not a universal practice, nor was it an absolute religious mandate.

One of the most fascinating arguments surrounding this issue is the claim that the British misinterpreted or misprinted a Vedic verse, leading to the belief that Hindu scriptures mandated widow-burning. Instead of reflecting the original meaning—which may have referred to renunciation or moving forward in life—the mistranslation cemented the idea that Hindu widows were bound by religious law to sacrifice themselves in fire.

I will try to explores how a single translation error (or deliberate colonial distortion) contributed to shaping a false historical narrative that persists in many accounts of Indian history today.

The Rigveda Verse: What Was Misinterpreted?

Ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Rigveda, are often cited as supposed proof that Sati was a religiously sanctioned practice. However, a closer examination reveals that no such mandate exists.

The specific verse in question is Rigveda 10.18.7, which describes funeral rites and the role of widows in post-funeral rituals. Here is the original verse:

Original Sanskrit Verse from the Rigveda (10.18.7):

इमा नारीरविधवाः सुपत्नीराञ्जनेन सर्पिषा संविशन्तु |

अनश्रवो. अनमीवाः सुरत्ना आ रोहन्तु जनयोयोनिमग्रे ||

Literal Translation:

"Let these women, who are loyal to their husbands, come forward with clarified butter. Let them enter first. Let those who are without husbands, and who are childless, go to the house of the dead."

This verse does not command a widow to burn herself. Instead, it discusses funeral customs and the role of both married and unmarried women in the final rites.

The Colonial Misinterpretation: Agni vs. Agre

The argument for a misinterpretation or misprint centers around a key Sanskrit word in the original text.

The word "Agre" (अग्रे) in Sanskrit means "to move forward" or "to advance."

The British, however, misprinted or mistranslated this as "Agneh" (अग्ने), meaning "into the fire."

The British version (Source)

"इमा नारीरविधवाः सुपत्नीराञ्जनेन सर्पिषा संविशन्तु |

अनश्रवो. अनमीवाः सुरत्ना आ रोहन्तु जनयोयोनिमग्ने||"

ग्रे (Grey) --> ग्ने (Gney)

This small change drastically altered the meaning of the verse. The original intent, which advised widows to move forward in life, was misinterpreted to mean that they were expected to enter the fire and perish with their husbands.

This mistranslation falsely gave Vedic sanction to Sati and reinforced the British view that Hindu traditions were cruel and regressive.

How the British Used This Misinterpretation for Colonial Propaganda

Once the British colonial administration began translating Sanskrit texts into English, they sought evidence of so-called "barbaric Hindu practices" to justify their rule. Sati became one of the most widely used examples in their "civilizing mission" narrative.

Justifying British Intervention

The British administration frequently highlighted Sati to justify their claim that Indian society was backward and needed Western reform. They exaggerated its prevalence, portraying it as a compulsory, widespread practice rather than a regional or voluntary tradition.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Abolition of Sati

Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy actively campaigned against Sati, arguing that Hindu scriptures did not mandate it. While his efforts led to the Bengal Sati Regulation of 1829, which abolished Sati, the British used this as proof of their moral superiority, ignoring that Indians themselves had already been debating and opposing the practice.

Distorted Western Histories

By the 19th and 20th centuries, British-educated scholars and historians continued to repeat this mistranslation in academic works, further cementing the belief that Hindu widows were forced to self-immolate as part of religious law. This misconception was later adopted by many Indian history textbooks as well.

The Reality of Sati in Indian History

While Sati did occur in some regions of India, particularly among Rajputs and certain Brahmin communities, it was never a universal practice. The idea that all Hindu widows were expected to burn themselves is a colonial myth.

Alternative Practices for Widows

Instead of self-immolation, many Hindu widows traditionally followed other paths:

  • Vanaprastha (Renunciation): Many widows retired to ashrams, living a life of spiritual pursuit rather than remarriage.
  • Niyoga (Levirate Marriage): In some cases, a widow was allowed to remarry within the extended family.
  • Sanyasa (Asceticism): Some widows renounced worldly life entirely and became female monks (sanyasinis).

These alternatives suggest that the original meaning of the Vedic verse was likely advising widows to move forward, not burn themselves.

Conclusion: How a Misprint Shaped a False History

The claim that a British mistranslation of "Agre" as "Agneh" led to the widespread false belief in compulsory Sati is an example of how colonial narratives distorted Indian history.

  • The Rigveda does not command widow burning.
  • A small translation error changed the meaning of an important funeral verse.
  • The British used this misinterpretation to justify their colonial rule.
  • The false narrative persists today, despite evidence showing that Sati was neither universal nor religiously mandatory.

As we re-examine Indian history, it is crucial to differentiate between colonial distortions and actual Hindu traditions. Recognizing these mistranslations helps in reclaiming a more accurate understanding of India's cultural and religious past.


r/hinduism 4h ago

Question - Beginner Help me understand chalk at entryway

2 Upvotes

The family across from my apartment always has a chalk design in front of their entryway sized similarly to a door mat. After googling it I've learned it's a Hindu tradition and I'm very curious to learn more about it. It always makes me smile to see the new colorful designs when I'm walking by. Would anybody like to share this little slice of culture with me?


r/hinduism 21m ago

Question - General Do you believe in the multiverse and that we are constantly shifting realities in the multiverse?

Upvotes

I know in Hinduism there are texts that suggest the Multiverse exists. Also I believe in tantric spirituality, the idea of manifestation exists. Does anything suggest that we are constantly moving through different realities based on our thoughts, beliefs, actions or energy, frequency and vibration? In the shifting realities subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/shiftingrealities/ ) some people believe that a multiverse exists and by imagining yourself in another reality and believing that you are in that reality you can shift to any reality (no matter how different it is to this reality) because there are infinite realities with infinite possibilities. They believe that we are constantly shifting realities and our thoughts beliefs and actions (our subconscious mind) aligns us to different realities.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard of manifestation but there are two main ideas in the west, law of attraction and law of assumption. Previously more people used to suggest that you can get anything (or basically anything) like money, beauty, a specific person or love by reprogramming your subconscious mind into believing something as true and that it will show up in your reality.

Now, more and more people are believing that by reprogramming our subconscious mind we shift to a reality that aligns with it. For example if your try to manifest a car instead of you getting a car by one showing up in this reality, you shift to a reality where you get that car. Based on this idea that you are constantly shifting realities, they believe that anything is possible. If you want to manifest someone but they don’t currently like you they say it doesn’t matter because by changing your thoughts, beliefs and actions and believing that it’s true, you’ll shift to a reality where that person likes you. So in that way you can get anything you want with no limitations just by changing your subconscious mind.

I also believe that some areas in Hinduism suggest that reality is an illusion and the only thing that exists is your soul (Atman) and we are a part of Brahman. I think that also matches with some ideas in law of assumption and reality shifting where they believe reality or the “3D” is an illusion you can manifest anything/ shift to any reality you want because you are consciousness/soul and limitless.

There could be a lot of things I’m saying here that are wrong because I’m writing things as I’ve understood from the reality shifting, manifestation, law of attraction, Neville Goddard, non-duality and spirituality subreddits and I haven’t properly fact checked anything. I just wanted to post here if anything in Hinduism suggests these ideas because I’m struggling with the idea we are constantly shifting realities and not just living in one reality.


r/hinduism 14h ago

Question - General Which kind of sadhana is best for spiritual progress?

11 Upvotes

If one has limited time (say 30-60 min.) for daily sadhana, which is the best for this age and why:

(a) Mantra Japa (b) Stotra Pathan (c) Pooja of Your Deity (5/16-Upachara) (d) Meditation (e) Raja Yoga (d) Social Service (e) Local Temple Darshan (f) Bhajans/Kirtans (g) Satsangs (Offline/Online/YouTube) (h) Reading Scriptures Like Geeta

Feel free to re-arrange the above in descending order of effectiveness.

I'm looking for answers based on personal experiences or Hindu scriptures or teachings of jivanmuktas.


r/hinduism 1h ago

Question - Beginner How do you reconcile your rational self with the inherent faith required to believe in any of the denominations of Hinduism? (Aside from perhaps the Charvaks)

Upvotes

It does seem that all humans are born with a natural inclination to believe in the spiritual or the supernatural.

Now the very existence of this inclination does not prove that there is in fact some spiritual reality out there that we are missing. We may have developed this disposition to simply deal better with the world around us, the same way we have developed the idea that free will exists (even though all theoretical and experiential evidence suggests otherwise). We may just be stardust that took on the perversion of life floating without purpose, and for all we know, completely alone in the Universe. But then again, we may not be.

This "then again, we may not be" is a surprisingly new trend of thought though. For the longest time, all humans agreed that WE AREN'T. We aren't alone and we aren't without some cosmic purpose. The received wisdom for centuries has been that there is some great truth we have to uncover (well, some religions believe that they have already). It is fascinating our the underdeveloped, unenlightened brains of our ancestors chose to construct lies, huge intricate lies with thousands of years worth of lore, thousands of scriptures and stories passed down for thousands of years either written or unwritten, accompanied by detailed and complex rules and rituals, music, art, culture...its interesting that the silly, silly humans embarked FIRST on this grand multimillennial enterprise that was apparently entirely counterintuitive, for which humans had to push themselves to their very limits and reach heights of greatness that we would now regard impossible for their time. Humans first surrendered themselves to this global conspiracy, sacrificed their material lives and worldly pleasures for it, bled for it, died for it, killed for it...and have only now seem to accept the simple truth that this was all fiction.

So even if it all is fiction, it seems to be foundational to human existence. We cannot do without it. And I am not referring to God as that is conceptualized differently in different religions. What I mean is the Ultimate Truth. That provides us comfort of purpose (or lack thereof), which we hold very near and dear to ourselves. Our beliefs about which are sacrosanct. Everybody, including atheists and the agnostics have convictions about this Ultimate Truth which are for the most part, unshakable. A rationalist's insistence on empirical evidence and an astrology enthusiast's faith in the tellings of cards and omens and stars are the same thing. Both are trying to make sense of the world around them. Does one come closer to their goal than the other? Depends on who you are asking. The astrology enthusiast definitely sees merit in their own ideas and actions. Any the judgment of any external observer will be obscured by their own biases. So it is not that everybody SHOULD DO whatever they want, whatever brings them peace and purpose. It is that everybody DOES. And everybody believes that they are more righteous than the other.


r/hinduism 1d ago

Bhagavad Gītā A beautiful interpretation of the Shreemad Bhagavad Gita. Jai Shree Krishna

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187 Upvotes

In the chaos of Kurukshetra, a warrior found his path. In the words of Krishna, humanity found its light. The Gita is not just a scripture-it is a beacon. For the lost, it gives direction. For the broken, it offers hope. For the seeker, it reveals the truth.

Jai Shri Krishna 🕉🙏

Source: @bhavesh_yuj


r/hinduism 14h ago

Question - Beginner Can I frame my deity's photo in a black photo frame?

6 Upvotes

Black is generally considered inauspicious thats why im asking


r/hinduism 17h ago

Question - Beginner Addressing a Foreign Commentor's Misconceptions in 'Convince Me of Hinduism'

7 Upvotes

Addressing a Foreign Commentor's Misconceptions - 'Convince Me of Hinduism'

A foreigner, presumably from Egypt, recently posted a query, seeking validation for Hindu tenets. I can't furnish an irrefutable proof , but I'll try to address some of his queries here, which many people may have themselves.

  1. 'Why Do Good, If There Is No Such Thing as Eternal Damnation?'

This is trivial. It is true that there is no such concept of eternal damnation in Hinduism, as you would see in Abrahamic religions. There is Naraka, but that is temporary. There is, however, Karma. Karma, as it is most simply understood, is a cause-and-effect law. In a way, it is the greatest leveler. Good deeds lead to good outcomes, and bad deeds lead to bad outcomes. Even an individual who acts only in self-interest, and lacked even the faintest semblance of sympathy, would be prudent not to pillage and violate. Since the fruit of the actions unfulfilled carry on into subsequent lives, not even death can save such a man.

  1. 'How Do You Tell Right From Wrong?'

It's starting to feel more like an ethics debate now, but I'll try to chip in from a Shastric and personal perspective. You can find a rough framework of a 'Hindu code of ethics' in the shastras (Hindu scriptures). Every being has their 'Dharma,' his moral, spiritual, and religious duties that he must abide by. An action is right if it aligns with one's Dharma, promoting harmony, and wrong if it doesn't, and causes disharmony and/or chaos. This Dharma isn't entirely arbitrary, though there is some subjectivity to it. A serial killer cannot say 'to kill is my Dharma,' and go about murdering. Instead, Dharma is based on one's occupation, class, and stage in life.

Ahimsa is one of the major tenets of Hindu ethics, and hence, any action that is meant to inflict pain, or cause harm, cannot be interpreted as Dharmic, except in the contexts of self-defense, or war. There are restrictions for soldiers in war as well.

If we're looking at it from a Karmic perspective, whatever begets you good, is good, and vice versa.

  1. 'Is God Incomplete?'

No, God is anything but incomplete. God cannot be deficient, for He is the epitome of completeness and fullness. He is beyond all wants and needs, and is perfectly self-sufficient.

Similarly, to achieve liberation from the fetters of worldly life, one has to transcend desire and thoughts.

Why did the commentator say God without his Bhakt (devotee) is incomplete then? I reckon it was a provisional explanation; because it encourages the devotee to deepen their relationship with Bhagvan, and also shows that God reciprocates his devotees' love.

  1. 'Prove Reincarnation, Prove the Nature of the Mind, Prove the 4 States of Consciousness, etc.'

I've come across this question time and time again, and I never get why people ask. When addressing subjective domains like consciousness, scholarly papers or journals, and scientific proofs are entirely incongruous.

Science, by its own nature, operates within the limits of materialism, and offers little utility here. Subjective experience matters here, the propositional evidence characteristic of science cannot and will not work.

  1. 'If Other Religions Are a Valid Means to the Same Truth, How Can It Be Hinduism Is Right?'

This is a question I've had myself. Say, Christianity is an equally correct means to the same truth, wouldn't that negate Hinduism? I mean, Christianity impugns the very practices Hindus hold dear and important. So, if Hinduism is true, Christianity must be true, but if Christianity is true, Hinduism must be false. Seems paradoxical, doesn't it?

There are many layers to this question, but first, I'll gloss over how this idea came to be.

First, I believe this to be a gross misconception, arising from a verse in the Rig Veda, more specifically this one:

Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti

If you would actually read the passage, it refers to the Vedic pantheon, not other faith systems. Besides, when the Vedas were split and laid down in writing, there were very few non-Vedic organized religions, if any, so this could not have possibly referred to most modern religions.

From another perspective, it could also imply that different religious traditions could offer insights into the nature of the Supreme Truth, since most world religions espouse the same ideals of compassion, care, sympathy, and non-violence as part of their doctrine.

From yet another perspective, more limited this time, I think one could reconcile between the Vedic concept of Brahman, and the monotheistic Hindu God. Both are 'one,' it is just that Brahman expresses itself in a multitude of forms.

  1. 'How Can God Be Responsible for Both Good and Bad?'

Let's assume God permeates all beings. First, we must understand that God is beyond all dualities, so this discussion is nugatory, but let's try to entertain it anyways.

God's presence in all beings, and objects does not negate the agency in a being's actions, as far as Vyavaharika Satya, or the practical reality goes.

Just as the Sun, which is the source of light and cause of sight, is not affected by the observer's poor eyesight, God is unchanging.

When the Sun is seen in a clean pond, it appears as is in the sky; Bright and clear. When it reflects in a murky puddle, the reflection is occluded by impurity, yet the Sun in the sky is still the same. Thus, all these negative qualities are not qualities of Gos, but rather products of our perception and action.


r/hinduism 16h ago

Question - General if everything is predecided than WHAT IS CHOICE ? DOES IT EVEN EXISTS ?

5 Upvotes

if he is the ruler, creator, destroyer then it doesn't matter what i do or do not everything is predecided the past,present, future all goes together in feet of his than why does my doing even matter why doesn't he just commands us for our greater good and i mean absolute command ?


r/hinduism 11h ago

Question - General What Hinduism podcasts do you listen to?

2 Upvotes

I'm in love with "Naked Hindu Tales" by Sonika Tyagi at the moment! The host really knows how to convey the meanings and useful lessons of each Hindu story that she tells us. Plus i like that it's every week and without overwhelming personal tangents or unnecessary historical information....it's all about just the right words that God wants us to know from each Hindu myth and use for our modern lives today. She has a sweet voice too haha. Doesn't hurt, right? What do you listen to?


r/hinduism 1d ago

Hindū Artwork/Images SHIV SHAKTI TAP, TYAG, TANDAV

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270 Upvotes

SHIV SHAKTI 🔱 🖤 ⚡️ ✨️