Topic started by Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt3-port-171.dial.telus.net) on Fri Sep 19 10:01:37 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Dear FHers,
When I became a Hindu in 1997, I did not know very much about Hinduism. Unfortunately, alot of what I read back then about Hinduism was written by sadly misinformed non Hindus. I know more about Hinduism now than what I knew 6 years ago. But, there is alot that I still do not know/understand. I would like to have an enlightening discussion with fellow Hindus on FH about Hinduism and understand more about this ancient and vast ocean called Hinduism.

To start this I have two questions:

Why do Hindus have these lingams in the temples? ie: Sivalingam(especially), Kuberalingam, Ramalingam etc..

What is the story/meaning behind Sivalingam?

Second qustion about bobbing up and down, tapping each cheek, twirling around in circles, laying on stomach etc.. in front of the God. What are the meanings of these?

I hope someone can explain about this to me.

Sanskrit: Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu.
Tamil: ¯Ä§¸í¸Ùõ «¨Á¾¢Ôõ þýÀÓõ ¿¢¨ÈÂðÎõ.
English: May the Earth be peaceful and happy.

Skanthavelu Nadarajah

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: £ (@ proxy3.leeds.ac.uk) on: Sat Sep 20 23:49:44 EDT 2003
  
  Alison, for just one minute, shed your ego, see all religions as equal, make a genuine effort to learn about every religion without demeaning it. (Tough one, isn't it). Try it, you have too.
  
  Human beings can only survive collectively. To do this, they must understand the faiths of other humans as well and have a deep respect for them.
  
  
• From: K.janarthanan (@ palo5.pacific.net.sg) on: Sun Sep 21 02:10:56 EDT 2003
  
  Alison, let me ask you a question.
  
  Where, do you believe, is God, in?
  
  If you say, He exist only in Heaven, that, how does he know when and what happens to everyone? Don't give ,me that crap the "God has his ways". If God is that mysterious, why is he the most horrible sadist I have ever heard of?Why Is he bound to emotion, if he's so crammed with all the problems?
  
  A Hindu answer to it would be that a half of God manifests in everything as electric charges , which moves everything!
  
  Kandhar Anuputhi says that
  
  "That which has neither form nor without form, being and non-being, neither darkness nor light. Manifesting thus is God "
  
  So, If God is everything, what is the difference between worshipping the Cross and the Lingam, both with has God in it? If God is not in everything, why do you worship a thing that is not God?
  
  Either way, what you are saying , is inconsisntent.
  
  Thank You
  
  ANBAE SIVAM !!! LOVE IS GOD!!!
  
  
• From: r (@ dclient80-218-20-30.hispeed.ch) on: Sun Sep 21 02:33:32 EDT 2003
  
  Poor Skanda, the discussion has gone away from what he wanted to know. If mad people like Alison comes into any thread, the thread is a gonner!
  
  
• From: Skanthavelu Nadarajah (@ edtntnt4-port-217.dial.telus.net) on: Sun Sep 21 07:36:29 EDT 2003
  
  R,
  I saw that stupid post of Alison.
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Sun Sep 21 12:51:36 EDT 2003
  
  "hinduism is not a good religion, the people worship a thing that is not even alive, Jesus is the only one and true GOD."<<<
  
  I highly condemn open statement about any religion. Religion is each one's personal beliefs. No one can specify what is good and what is bad.
  
  thsi thread is to talk on hinduism, LETS NOT CHANGE THE THREAD TO A RELIGOUS WARFARE AGAIN. PLZ
  
  thank\u
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Sun Sep 21 12:51:40 EDT 2003
  
  "hinduism is not a good religion, the people worship a thing that is not even alive, Jesus is the only one and true GOD."<<<
  
  I highly condemn open statement about any religion. Religion is each one's personal belief. No one can specify what is good and what is bad.
  
  thsi thread is to talk on hinduism, LETS NOT CHANGE THE THREAD TO A RELIGOUS WARFARE AGAIN. PLZ
  
  thank\u
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Sun Sep 21 12:58:20 EDT 2003
  
  skan,
  
  whether its bobbing up and down, or tapping on cheecks ALL HAS SCIENTIFIC REASONS. There are 2 nerves which goes to the jaw region, which is suppose to activate the mind and alertness.
  
  (if someone faints remember we tap on the cheeks)
  
  to revolve oneself...............just to show we are part n parcel of earth, which revolves around the orbit and by itself...... (to show the real nature of the god or nature or energy or whatever)
  
  as far as bobbing up and down...like R said its a good exercise, spinal chord nerves are activated.
  
  I just said what i know.............i may be wrong too
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt7-port-143.dial.telus.net) on: Sun Sep 21 15:23:15 EDT 2003
  
  Shakthi,
  Thank you for the explaination about bobbing up and down etc.. Also, thank you for asking Alison not to turn this thread into a religious war. The last thing I need is a jihad or a kurukshetra or a holy war!
  
  I understand that in Hiduism, it is believed that we need to maintain a balance between our spiritual and otherwise life. For a common man like myself, I find it is extremely difficult to do. How does one do this? How does one motivate ones self to pray/meditate when it is time to and do other things as well? Unfortunately, I do not have set times to do my prayers and meditate. I could wake in the morning, be thinking about it and I do not actually do it usually! And when I do do it, it will be already too late in the morning. :O Can someone suggest me what would be good times of day to do my religious activities?
  
  
• From: R (@ dclient80-218-20-30.hispeed.ch) on: Sun Sep 21 15:52:02 EDT 2003
  
  skan,
  Please do not confuse jihad and kurukshetra, the two are completely different. nobody claims kurukshetra as holy war, simply a war between cousins for a piece of land!
  
  continue with the main idea of the thread.
  
  
• From: R (@ dclient80-218-20-30.hispeed.ch) on: Sun Sep 21 15:56:35 EDT 2003
  
  skan,
  You are still confusing hinduism to religious activities and spiritual/worship. "No worship" is also a part of Hinduism. The first known atheist was a Hindu, Charvaka Maharshi! Worship is not compulsory in Hinduism neither is so-called religious and spiritual activities like prayer and meditation. There is nobody "up there" waiting to listen to your pray!!!Nobody is going to expel you from the club if do not attend temple!
  
  
• From: Gogiya (@ palo5.pacific.net.sg) on: Sun Sep 21 20:46:53 EDT 2003
  
  >>>Please do not confuse jihad and kurukshetra, the two are completely different. nobody claims kurukshetra as holy war, simply a war between cousins for a piece of land!<<<
  
  The above statement is completely a misconception.
  
  You said "Just a piece of land"
  How could u think so simply!!!
  Don't u see that God sent the GREAT light or guidence to mankind through the kurukshetra.That light lead the india for so many hundred of years.
  
  I can't ingnore ur writting,after reading it.
  
  
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt7-port-23.dial.telus.net) on: Sun Sep 21 22:21:14 EDT 2003
  
  Okeh R!
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt7-port-23.dial.telus.net) on: Sun Sep 21 22:29:20 EDT 2003
  
  My dear sister Shakthi,
  Please can you explain to me what are the benifits of meditating early in the morning after waking up and before going to sleep? Are the teachings of our gurus and other great holy people based on what Hinduism itself teaches? I look forward to your response.
  
  Á£ñÎõ ºó¾¢ô¦À¡õ,
  ¯í¸û «ýÒ ¾õÀ¢,
  Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡
  
  
• From: jog (@ 203.200.149.134) on: Mon Sep 22 07:12:17 EDT 2003
  
  Skandhavelu,
  
  The best way to start practising Hinduism is to meditate/chant the Gayatri mantra, the holiest of all Hindu mantras. There's a discussion going on in this same forum on this mantra.
  
  http://www.forumhub.com/tnhistory/10522.18.18.00.html
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt11-port-221.dial.telus.net) on: Mon Sep 22 08:37:08 EDT 2003
  
  Thank you, Jog.
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Mon Sep 22 12:58:49 EDT 2003
  
  dear skan,
  
  meditation is best, when the surroundigns are quiet, so at night before bed or at rise, is best. The mind is unpolluted durign both the times.
  
  These are the initial stages of meditation. Ones u are more into meditation, the surroundigns and outside environment wont matter to u. U can even keep ur eyes open, and meditate in the crowded public transport.
  
  Initially preferably allot one specific place to sit for meditation. The air their would be charged, more and more u meditate on the long run.
  
  u can meditate on anything
  Aum
  Gayathri mantra
  Shri KrishNaya namah
  Om namah Shivay
  
  or anyother mantra which u are fond of
  
  or even meditate upon nature, ........(thats something i try to do at timeS)
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Mon Sep 22 13:00:25 EDT 2003
  
  "Ones u are more into meditation"<<
  
  once u are into meditation
  
  "The air their would be charged, "<<
  
  the air there....
  
  huh!!
  
  
• From: TN AvargaL (@ cvg-65-27-251-73.cinci.rr.com) on: Mon Sep 22 13:04:18 EDT 2003
  
  "The air their would be charged"
  
  Shakti,
  
  Skandhanukku edhaavathu shock adichura pOvudhu !
  
  
• From: r (@ dclient80-218-20-93.hispeed.ch) on: Mon Sep 22 13:56:32 EDT 2003
  
  Gogiya,
  For believers kurukshetra is a great war..Vyasa wrote a superb epic on that incident, that is all.. otherwise it is just cousins fighting for ownership of a kingdom.. what else?
  
  Shakti,
  Tell Skanda to meditate for meditation sake, not for reaching any goal, because there is no goal to reach.
  
  Read the experience of a Great Hindu.
  
  http://www.well.com/user/jct/index.html
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt11-port-200.dial.telus.net) on: Mon Sep 22 14:46:45 EDT 2003
  
  Shakthi,
  Thank you for the info. May you can enlighten me on the statement of R, "there is no goal to reach". Did TN AvargaL say that I would go into a shock? LOL
  
  
  
• From: Shakthi (@ 203-195-199-244.now-india.net.in) on: Tue Sep 23 02:12:41 EDT 2003
  
  "Skandhanukku edhaavathu shock adichura pOvudhu !"<<<<
  
  :)) :))
  
  Let him have some shock absorber seats..hehehe
  
  
• From: Š¸ó¾§Åø ¿¼Ã¡ƒ¡(Skanthavelu Nadarajah) (@ edtntnt7-port-19.dial.telus.net) on: Tue Sep 23 06:27:11 EDT 2003
  
  Ha, ha! That is funny!
  
  
• From: James P. Neal (@ e01.proxy.fedex.com) on: Fri Nov 7 09:56:29
  
  The idea of meditating or practicing your religion at different times of day actually come from the instructions of Moses to the Israelites when they received thier law before entering the promised land, long before Hinduism ever came about..."And these words I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Dueteronomy 6:6-9
  
  
• From: Gogiya (@ palo5.pacific.net.sg) on: Sat Nov 8 03:46:18 EST 2003
  
  >>>>long before Hinduism ever came about<<<<
  
  This totally a wrong conception of writing!!!
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sat Nov 8 12:51:48 EST 2003
  
  What's wrong?
  
  

Want to post a response?