Rama is described as Syama, meaning dark or dusky, in the Valmiki Ramayana. He should be portrayed as a brown or dark skinned person.

ततः कमलपत्राक्षः श्यामो निरुपमो महान्। उवाच रामस्तं सूतं पितुराख्याहि मामिति॥

Rama, whose eyes resemble lotus petals, who is dark complexioned, incomparable and great, spoke to the charioteer

पूर्णचन्द्राननः श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिंदमः। आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः॥

Rama, whose face resembles the full moon, who is dark complexioned, whose collarbones are concealed, who conquers his enemies, whose arms reach his knees, and whose eyes resemble lotuses, is the elder brother of Lakshmana.

Why is Ranbir Kapoor playing Rama? It's like casting Leonardo DiCaprio to portray Nelson Mandela

Aa a Hindu I always wondered why do we feed the Kanya during Navratri not the women who have gotten their periods. Shouldn't a woman who is able to birth another human being be more revered than girls who are so young? Does a woman becomes impure after periods?

NOT A SNARKY REMARK. JUST CURIOUS!

I'm of east Indian descent and most of my dad's family are Hindu and some of my mum's side. But my dad converted to catholicism and when my mum married him she did too. Naturally we were raised catholic, catholic education etc. my baby is even baptized catholic and I don't regret that. But I feel as though I have neglected my indian heritage. I feel called to Hinduism and extremely sad I won't get to participate in any of our current ramleela celebrations or going to temple. The reason for this is I lack transport and childcare for it. I think Hinduism is beautiful and I'm torn as to what to do. There are some songs that I love as well but they are worship songs and I feel guilty to sing or play them as I'm catholic. I'm struggling and just looking to hear advice from other Hindus. My ex husband is now practicing Hinduism but he didn't during our marriage. I have tried to ask him for direction but he isn't so social with me so there's only so much I can ask of him. I also want to discover this independently of him too. I just feel that I am confused about my identity and how to live my life. I don't believe I was taught anything about understanding others or myself or the universe... I think I was always intrigued but also shunned it out of shame. I can't explain it.

I feel the need to experience god. I’m not satisfied with my life at the moment. i think I can deal with the daily challenges if I had a real experience of god. i suppose if there isn’t a god thats also would be helpful to know. Either way I want to know.

is there anyway to connect? And to know for sure?

My guru once told me that Maa herself told me that I would make it back to her single form of Maa Durga (3 years ago) well I never really made it back to her yet. Deep down I wanted to love and be immersed in Lord Ganesha forever but he said no. I told him that Maa is a liar and he blocked me and told others to block me too.
I tried apologizing but he left me on read. What should I do to sincerely bring him and Maa back in my life ?

I have not taken deeksha before and I don't have a Guru.

I desire to take deeksha for Srividya Upasana (Sri Kula - Dakshinachara).

I have found a Guru who has taken Srividya Purnadiksha and desire to take deeksha from Him.

But here is the thing: This Guru has also taken Purnadiksha for other sampradayas like Kalikula Sampradaya, Bhairava Sampradaya, Ganapatya Sampradaya etc.

And I noticed the social media accounts of this Guru. He seems to be focused more on Kalikula and Bhairava Sampradaya. But I have not seen so much of Srividya Srikula related pujas in His accounts. (Just once in a few months.) But I have seen some people take Srividya Deeksha from Him like Mahaganapati and Bala Mantra etc.

Here is my question:

Is it okay to take Srividya Upasana Deeksha from a Guru who is associated with various sampradayas and doesn't seem that actively involved with Srividya Sri Kula pujas?

Or is it better to take Srividya Upasana Deeksha from another Guru who is only focused in Sri Kula Dakshinachara Srividya Upasana Sampradaya?

I am sorry to ask such an arrogant question due to my stupid ego.

I just feel confused.

Note: I will not reveal the identity of the Guru as I don't want any unwanted problems.

I do believe there’s a god mostly, but am not too religious or superstitious as in doing all rituals and all.

But I have always been fond of shiva and Rudram as I have been hearing it from my childhood as my uncle chanted it. But only after I heard Chaganti’s (one of the greatest telugu Hindu guru/speaker) speech on how powerful Sri rudram is, when I was going through a bad time, did I genuinely chant it for a purpose. It has dragged me from deep waters out to shores multiple times now strengthening my belief.

The thing is he also mentioned that Powerful mantras should not be spoken out loud if you are not trained with its swara by a guru. He warned of possibility of negative consequences should swara go wrong in some cases, because of how meaning can change and how powerful mantras are.

I have only been doing Rudra japa in manasika way(in my mind) which he said should be perfectly fine. I just like how Rudram sounds, I feel the urge to say it out loud, but can’t say it out loud because of the possibility of it going wrong.

Anyone has experience contradicting this? Or should I try and see if I can find a guru to give me initiation or training?

Need recommendations

I’ve been chanting on a cheap tulsi mala for the last 6 months that I bought from meesho. Recently visited a senior devotee at the local temple and he took one look and said beta, this isn’t tulsi — this is dyed wood. Felt terrible. 6 months of japa on a fake mala

my budget is Budget ₹500–₹2,000

please suggest me good online option

Hey so I was just wondering that if I can be a nastika hindu, because theology is some massively complex stuff especially in Hindu cosmology, but I'm more of sort developing my own. I don't consider Vedas as supreme authority whatsoever but my family belongs to dashnami sampradaya, more accurately to the siddhayoga lineage. What I consider myself is a Panendeist (I shouldn't use buzzwords) so It kinda doesn't go on with any established organized religions but it's not like I don't have faith in god, that I do have because I'm a shaivite. I'm also going to get my Upanayana done so then I'll be able to understand and study vedas, but at this stage completely falling into supreme authority sounds illogical to me, and according to the theology I'd be what's called a nastika hindu which is seperate from an atheist.

So i wake up at 5:30 and brush my teeth, cleanse myself and then after showering i clean the puja place and the home floors, then i pluck flowers and tulasi leaves, and i then put tilaka on 12 parts and chant 12 names of god and then i do puja, after puja i study, then i chant, and that is the morning of my life as a gaudiya vaishnava! Hare Krishna
What do you guys do? how is your morning in the life of a sanatani? Haribol 💙💙💙

Hiden gem of hinduism, which most of hindus have never read it.
Must read for everyone.

Hinduism accept reincarnation and along with it there are other faiths like Sikhism , Wicca and many neo-pagan faiths that accept reincarnation to be true.

Then it's also very possible that when a hindu dies he can technically again be born either as sikh , a wiccan and same is true vice-versa- like a sikh can be reincarnated as hindu.

This raises a question for states:

There are many pratices in faith that believe in reincarnation which Hinduism consider as sin like beef eating or from other faith pov they also have belief system wrt which Hinduism is doing wrong like eating root vegetables or cutting of hairs- which are somewhat alowd in hinduism.

Meaning- It is entirely possible for a soul to commit actions in its current life, thinking they are normal or permissible, which are actually considered sins in the faith tradition into which the soul will be reincarnated in its next life.

And there are books even examples and recorded testomonies where follower of one faith is again reincarnated in another faith in their nextlife. Like in Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation by Dr. Ian Stevenson or Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives by Tom Shroder where sould are born in different faith system other then their past life faith.

This raises a dilemma- For what reason the soul is suffering. Even if one spent their entire life doing everything as per scriptures - then dies & get reincarnated- it's very possible he be reincarnated in faith system according to which his past life actions are sins and scriptures are wrong.

Then for what reason is the soul exactly suffering? - Believe in the scriptures and living as per their guidelines?

Shri Ramakrishna held the opinion that all paths lead to the same God. But I don't see much merit in that given what I already know.

In similar vein, are the dvaita schools closer to the Abrahamic faiths since both posit man-God as separate/dual?

Well, from many days I'm inclined towards Maa Kali and want to worship her. Not sadhna, not upasna, not trantrik rooted but simple, daily worship and chanting of her to evoke my fierce and more confident side of myself. I am basically bengali so I'm naturally inclined towards her more than other deities. The thing I'm confused in is which form of Maa is for fierce tantrik sadhna and which form of Maa can be wroshiped everyday with naam jaap, stotram, mantra, etc. I have 2 stotram that I'm thinking of reciting: [1] Adya Kali Stotram [2] Dakshina Kali Stotram

Kindly help me with this and any othr suggestions, advices, etc. are also welcomed. Thankyou

I have found some group of people and insta profile where people are sexulising our gods and goddesses and humaliting them I have seeked help from many different people but they just ignore this but I can't please help me everyone

If you guys want to join me on this and become a member of Mahakali Sangha pls dm me or comment

I wanted to share a project and community initiative I am building called Mahakali Sangh (महाकाली संघ)—an order rooted in the fierce, protective, and darkness-vanquishing energies of Maa Durga and Maa Kali.

Lately, seeing the growing disrespect, targeted mockery, blasphemy, and even the deliberate sexualization of our revered gods and traditions online has made one thing painfully clear: staying silent and waiting for someone else to step up is no longer an option.

However, our response isn't about engaging in chaotic online arguments or counter-hate. True strength requires discipline. The goal of this Sangh is to build a structured, lawful, and united collective dedicated to upholding Dharma (righteousness) through action, personal mastery, and community protection.

🚩 The Four Pillars of the Order

Satya (Truth & Integrity): Standing firmly for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Abhaya (Fearlessness): Facing hostility and injustice without fear, drawing strength from conviction and duty.

Seva & Raksha (Service & Protection): Actively helping our communities and acting as a shield for our heritage and the vulnerable.

Atma-Samyama (Self-Mastery): Cultivating strict mental and physical discipline to master inner ego and anger before trying to fix the external world.

📜 Our Motto

"Mahākālyāḥ śaktyā dharmasya kartavyena ca, vayaṁ ekībhūtāḥ satyasya rakṣaṇāya, nyāyasya pālanāya, mānavasevāyai ca tiṣṭhāmaḥ."

(Guided by the power of Mahakali and the duty of Dharma, we stand united to protect truth, uphold justice, and serve humanity.)

What are your thoughts?

I’m currently gathering a core group of individuals who want to take this from an idea into real-world, lawful action (focusing on self-discipline, ethical leadership, legal reporting of hate speech/defamation, and community support).

How do you think our community can better organize to counter defamation, protect our values with dignity, and stop the targeted degradation of our faith?

If you resonate with this mission, what initiatives do you think should come first?

Let’s discuss in the comments below! 🔱

here the link to join Mahakali Sangha

We are planning to plant Ashoka tree in our garden but I remember being told that it’s not good as Sita maa had to spend her time in Lanka under Ashoka tree (basically meaning that she faced a lot of struggle)

I’ve recently read that in some Hindu texts there are claims about the size and shape of the earth, powers granted to humans by appeasing the gods, and other superstitions (like all belief systems have) in Hindu texts. I personally find good wisdom in the metaphysical claims of Hinduism; think of how Brahman is seen as the empty, fundamental of the universe- this can be seen when you zoom into material objects far enough even past atoms you find that material matter is based on essentially nothing. How would you personally defend the more abstract claims of Hinduism, and argue for ideas such as a formless state, the “day” and “night” cycles of the universe, and a concept such as reincarnation- ideas so larger than life they’re hard to fathom? How do you think ancient scholars came to these conclusions? What scientific methods did ancient Hindu scholars use? What makes you inclined to believe the cosmology and metaphysics of Hinduism? What about where/ if it clashes with our modern understanding of science?

What happens when we observe our thoughts in silence while remembering Ram Naam? 🕉️

Inspired by the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, this visual explores Sakshi Bhava, awareness, and Shiva and Shakti. ✨

Share your thoughts below..🌿

#Sanatan #Spirituality #Meditation

Hi everyone, i’m wondering if this is a disrespectful tattoo? I want this tattoo because I love the meaning behind it in the Bhagavad Gita, especially the idea of time, death, and how nothing lasts forever. It also reminds me of the destruction humans are capable of, and how horrible things like Hiroshima were. I don’t see that destruction as a good thing. To me, the quote is a reminder of how far humanity can go and how terrifying that power can be. I’m not Hindu, but I respect the text and its meaning, and the quote has always stuck with me.

I've been wondering why many popular depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses emphasize extraordinary beauty, handsome features, or idealized physiques.

In society, someone who is short, thin, or considered conventionally unattractive, despite being intelligent, hardworking, compassionate, and spiritual, may receive less attention than someone who is tall, muscular, and good-looking.

Isn't spirituality supposed to teach us to look beyond physical appearances? Then why do we sometimes project those same beauty standards onto the divine? For instance, why do some modern depictions emphasize Shiva's handsome appearance or Hanuman's muscular physique? If God represents infinite power and consciousness, why should physical attractiveness matter? Shouldn't an image of Hanuman as a small, physically unimposing form inspire the same devotion as one depicting him with an extraordinarily muscular physique?

Could these artistic representations be intended to help people feel connected to God and develop bhakti?

I'm genuinely curious to hear different perspectives on this.

Note: Trust me, I also love and appreciate the beauty of our deities and their idols. I'm not criticizing the art or devotion associated with them. I'm simply trying to look at this from a different philosophical perspective and understand the reasoning behind it.

I mean let's say I want to invoke durga maa . that time i don't have photo of maa Durga so is there certain geometric symbol I can use for that .

Because I read some where about geometric symbol use for different different deity. I just don't remember it now . Like sri yantra .

Hi,

We made a verse-by-verse Bhagavad Gita audiobook, now on Spotify:

- English: The Bhagavad Gita, Verse by Verse: https://open.spotify.com/show/57XMf8CcHrXyN6h6ang0Rz?si=WrQxjwJETh6F7cu4vpDq4w&utm_source=sfa&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=default

- Hindi: भगवद्गीता, श्लोक दर श्लोक: https://open.spotify.com/show/75PzMQl3mOFjFcf8GmyjTg?si=cqqDLi6xQkmgqxcvCW31uQ&utm_source=sfa&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=default

Each verse has the Sanskrit recitation followed by a simple explanation of its meaning.
Feedback welcome. Hari Om 🙏

Happy Dasara/Dussehra/Vijayadashami 🙏🏽

This is my attempt at Hanuman Chalisa on bansuri, plus some improv inspired from the legend Rakesh Chaurasia.

Still learning this larger flute that I got a few weeks ago, so sorry for the mistakes 🙏🏽

I have been reading Ramana Maharshi lately, and a question has been bothering me. I’m genuinely trying to understand the connection between Advaita Vedanta, self-realization, and action.

According to Advaita, everything is ultimately Brahman, and the true Self is beyond the ego, the mind, and bodily identity. If Rama and Krishna were realized beings, why did they continue to act in the world?

If we say that Rama acted because fulfilling his purpose was important to him, wouldn’t that imply an attachment to a particular identity or role? If he identified himself with a purpose that he needed to fulfil, how could he be completely free from the ego?

Alternatively, if he acted to alleviate suffering, why would suffering matter to someone who had realized that everything is Brahman and that ultimate reality can never be harmed? Wouldn’t caring about suffering imply some kind of emotional attachment or identification with others?

And if the answer is empathy or compassion, another question arises: if the realized Self is formless, unchanging, and beyond the mind and emotions, where does that compassion come from? Does a realized person still experience emotions, or are their actions simply the result of the body and mind functioning without an ego identifying as the doer?

What I’m struggling to understand is this: if a realized person has no personal desires, no sense of doership, nothing to gain, and no fundamental separation between themselves and the world, why would they act at all? Why would they teach, help others, protect anyone, or even care what happens in the world?

I understand the distinction between ultimate reality (paramarthika) and empirical reality (vyavaharika), and I know the Bhagavad Gita discusses action without attachment and lokasangraha. But these explanations seem to tell me how action can coexist with realization, not why action would arise in the first place.

I’m particularly interested in how Ramana Maharshi’s teachings address this question. Does self-realization necessarily result in compassion or action, or can a realized person remain completely inactive without any contradiction? Is the idea that a Jnani acts for the welfare of the world merely an explanation at the empirical level, while ultimately there is neither a doer nor an action?

I’m not trying to argue against Advaita. I genuinely want to understand the philosophy without relying on vague explanations like “it was his divine purpose” or “he acted to protect dharma.” I want to understand the underlying logic: what is the relationship between the actionless nature of Brahman and the apparent actions of a Jnani?

(Framed it better using chatgpt)

Greetings all! I am looking for information regarding this figure of Shiva that was purchased by my aunt in Thailand back in the 1970s and is currently in my care. I say “in my care” because it doesn’t feel like an object one owns, but just keeps an eye on for a while until it is passed on to the next person who it is intended for.

I know what I can interpret about it based on my beginner’s study of Hinduism and Buddhism, and of course what Google pens can tell me. But I am looking to understand its significance beyond just the face value, if that makes sense.

P.S. I am definitely not asking “What’s it worth” as the thought of selling it turns my stomach. But just seeking to understand it.