Anatman Challenges the Belief in a Permanent, Unchanging Self

Anatman (अनात्मन) in Sanskrit means “which is different from atman” or “non-self”. In Hinduism, the former definition is found in some…

Sakam Karma Means to Act with Self-Interest

Sakam karma (सकाम कर्म) means to act selfishly, or with personal gain and self-interest in mind. From Sanskrit, sakam means “together,” “jointly”…

Adi Shankara is the First Creator of Auspiciousness

Adi Shankara (आदि शङ्कर), also called Adi Shankaracharya (आदि शङ्कराचार्य) was an Indian Vedic scholar and teacher (acharya) of Advaita Vedanta. He is seen as…

Sankhya is Traditionally Attributed to the Sage Kapila

Sankhya (सांख्य) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, Puruṣa (‘consciousness’ or spirit) and Prakṛiti (nature or matter, including the…

Dharmashastra Smriti Refer to the Treatises on Dharma

Dharmashastra Smriti (धर्मशास्त्र स्मृति) are Sanskrit texts on law and conduct and refer to the treatises (śāstras) on Dharma. Unlike Dharmasutra which…

Bhagavata Purana Features a Wide Array of Characters

The Bhagavata Purana (भागवत पुराण), also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana or simply Bhagavata, is one of Hinduism’s eighteen great Puranas (Mahapuranas). Composed in Sanskrit and traditionally attributed…

Shiva Purana Expand Understanding and Perspective

The Shiva Purana (शिव पुराण) is one of eighteen major texts of the Purana genre of Sanskrit texts in Hinduism, and part of the Shaivism literature…

Mundaka Upanishad Philosophy

The Mundaka Upanishad (मुण्डक-उपनिषद्) is an ancient Sanskrit Vedic text, embedded inside Atharvaveda. It is a Mukhya (primary) Upanishad and is listed…

Upanishads are About Atman and Brahman

The Upanishads (उपनिषद्) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy. They are the most recent part of the Vedas, the…

Mimansa is Vedic Text Dealing with Ritual Actions

Mimansa (मीमांसा) is a Sanskrit word that means “reflection” or “critical investigation” and thus refers to a tradition of contemplation that reflected…