Newsflash, Hindus Have A Divine Feminine, And No She's Not Just Pretty Pretty As Lakshmi, Or Pure And

Ik how it might have come across.

But look at it this way —

Muslims must have come along with the Mughal and turks and persians and settled in India. How? By years of massacred hindus and stole their lands. And yet their crimes are to be somehow made invisible and they are given a minority status. And they continue to commit those crimes. They continue to benefit from the crimes their ancestors committed.

Upper caste in India have committed the crime of casteism. We hold them accountable for it. There are caste based reservations to help the lower castes.

Muslims in Kashmir kicked out Kashmiri Pandits. Is that justified because they are upper caste? Do the Muslims deserve the minority status and the special rights? After all the crimes they've committed.

We don't say "not all muslims" even though they all benefit from the crimes some of them commit. They still deny us from our religious lands. They still occupy stolen lands.

Don't blame all Kashmiris and Indian Muslims for terrorism. Okay ji.

But blaming all UCs for 5000 years of history is alright? Building a system which denies equal opportunities for ordinary general category Indians citizens is also acceptable?

How does that work?

As a man, who's spent enough time in men's spaces to know how they think and why they act the way they act, I can say it's all because it is reinforced and backed by the men in that group. I think it's called peer influence.

One man alone will never act on his perverse thoughts, but once he comes across other men who think the same way, it becomes a daily conversation. They egg each other on. They encourage each other. Give each other that confidence.

( This applies to everything. Men interested in stock markets, men interested in global politics, men interested in sports. They bond over this shared/common interest. That's how a community works I mean )

We have so many examples of this, France's Gisele Pelicot case or the Bois locker room incident from Delhi or that group chat of some thousands of men.

No amount of shaming, no amount of education, no amount of legal action will change them, will fix them. Because there's always a bunch of men supporting them and blaming the victims. Because if you're not like them, you're not a man enough. You're weak, soft, omega, or simp, and what not.

everyone who supports a rapist or is a rapist himself is a threat to women. these ppl are sick in the head. you won't believe me when i say this but they don't even respect our goddesses and create their own communities on reddit where they masterbate to their images or abuse many girls....this is their way of showing how much they disrespect us...the way guys talk about women is traumatizing

this just makes me more sick. abhi bhi ghamand hai apne gender pe??? im asking all the men here who are still quiet

This is so pretty♥️

Who's the artist may I ask?

🌸Shubh Mahashivratri🌸

श्री माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर के दर्शन

Visit to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple

We took a train from New Delhi to Jammu Tawi, and from there a smart city e-bus till Katra.

This was our view of the sky and the sun from the bus.

The setting sun from the place we rented at Katra before our climb. We decided to begin at night after a good dinner.

This must be at around 11 PM.

Didn't click any pictures around the Bhawan because we were too tired from the climb. Plus we had submitted our phones. We got to attend the morning aarti at 6 AM and we were in there for a good 2 hours of duration. After that we collected our belongings and headed for the ticket counters for the ropeway.

Took the ropeway for Bhairo temple.

And that is the Bhawan from the viewpoint from the Bhairo temple.

We took a train from here back to New Delhi.

This is exactly why I started sharing posts/screenshots from tumblr. Yes I branded it as "in my activist era✨" because yes I wanna voice out my opinions and views. Not just about Hinduism, hinduphobia, but also feminism, and LGBTQ issues, and environmental issues.

I have many followers who are good friends and support Gaza and are leftists. But if I have still stayed friends despite not agreeing to their views, they do have a choice to be friends with me if I have different opinions than them. So yes so far I haven't lost any followers/friends over it. And I hope I don't.

Some conversations I’ve had with Hindus: “I can’t post about hinduphobia because I don’t want to upset the friends who follow me-”

Me: first of all why are you friends with people who would be upset with you for posting about Hinduphobia? And why do their opinions matter to you more than fellow dead Hindus?

Understanding Hindu Scriptures-

Hinduism consists of an extensive collection of ancient religious writings and oral accounts that expound upon eternal truths, some of which Hindus believe to have been divinely revealed and realized by their ancient sages and enlightened individuals. Hindu scriptures (such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas, and Puranas), epics (the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana), lawbooks, and other philosophical and denominational texts, have been passed on for generations through an oral and written tradition.

Since spiritual seekers have different levels of understanding, scriptural teachings are presented in a variety of ways to provide guidance to all seekers. Scripture in Hinduism, however, does not have the same place as it does in many other religious traditions. While the Vedas and other sacred writings are considered valid sources for knowledge about God, other means of knowledge, such as personal experience of the Divine, are regarded highly as well. Some Hindu philosophers have taught that these other means of knowledge should be seen as secondary to scripture. But other Hindu philosophers have taught that religious experience can be considered equal or even superior to scriptural teachings.

Hindu scriptures are classified broadly into two categories: Shruti and Smriti. The word Shruti literally means "heard", and consists of what Hindus believe to be eternal truths akin to natural law. Hindus believe these truths are contained in the vibrations of the universe. It was the ancient sages, Hindus say, who realized these eternal truths through their meditation, and then transmitted them orally. The term Shruti is generally applied to the Vedas and includes the Upanishads, which constitute the fourth and final part of the Vedas. These texts are revered as "revealed" or divine in origin and are believed to contain the foundational truths of Hinduism. Eternal truths are said to be realized by those with open and spiritual minds.

The second category of scripture is Smriti, which literally means "memory," and is distinguished from Shruti in terms of its origin. These texts are designed to help Hindus "remember" the teachings of Shruti. For many Hindus, all other scriptural texts are loosely classified as Smriti. Teachings in Smriti texts are meant to be read and interpreted in light of changing circumstances over kala (time), desha (land), and guna (personality). These texts are intended to create structure for society, and must be flexible in response to changing history, geography, and communities.

Although there is variation across Hindu denominations in regard to what is classified Shruti or Smriti, a discussion of the major Hindu scriptures follows.

Shruti Texts -

Vedas:

The word Veda means "knowledge". There are four Vedas: Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva, of which the Rig Veda is the oldest. It has over 10,000 mantras that deal with a wide range of topics. Some Hindus see the Vedas as texts expounding on rituals and Gods, whereas others see them as teaching metaphysical and spiritual truths about God and the soul. While there is general agreement that the Vedas are at least over three thousand years old, there is little agreement on just how old they are. Evidence is scarce and estimates of their age vary widely, from 1200 BCE to thousands of years earlier than that.

Upanishads: These texts contain an extensive exploration of the methods of understanding the self, God, and the nature of the world. There are more than a hundred Upanishads. The Upanishads, along with the Bhagavad Gita and Brahma Sutras, constitute the primary basis for the practice of Jnana Yoga, the path of knowledge.

Smriti Texts -

Upavedas: The Upavedas consist of four main texts. The first text deals with ayurveda, the science of health and life, and outlines how to cure disease and prevent it. Dhanurveda is about the science of warfare. Gandharvaveda is the study of aesthetics, and delineates art forms such as singing, dancing, writing poetry, creating sculptures, etc. The Arthashastra deals with public administration, governance, economy, and politics.

Vedangas: There are a number of auxiliary texts known collectively as Vedanga- some of them are considered Shruti, but they fall under Smriti for the most part. They cover a range of topics: oral chanting of scripture (shiksha), grammar (vyakarana), prosody (chhandas), etymology (nirukta), astronomy (yotisha), and obligatory rituals (kalpa).

Puranas: Stories in the Puranas translate the meanings of the ancient Shruti scriptures and teach them to the masses by explaining the teachings of the Vedas and Upanishads through stories and parables. There are eighteen major Puranas (Mahapuranas) and many minor ones (upapuranas) that have compiled stories and narratives over many centuries, Each Purana tells stories around a principal character- either about a specific form of the Divine (or God) or a sage. They cover a wide range of sacred and secular topics such as the manifestations of God; teachings on dharma, karma, death, and rebirth; the use of mantras and other religious observances; the significance of sacred sites for pilgrimages; the importance of service; genealogies of kings and sages; cosmology; ayurveda; and astrology. Ancient, modern, and contemporary Hindu beliefs and religious practices are derived in large part from the Puranas.

Ramayana: This popular epic tells the life story the noble prince named Rama, whom Hindus believe to be an incarnation of the Divine. Prince Rama suffers year of exile and many hardships while destroying powerful demons before returning to rule his kingdom. This epic portrays several characters who embody ideal qualities and conduct. Among them are Rama himself as the ideal man; Sita as the ideal woman and emblem of strength; Hanuman as the ideal devotee of Rama; and Lakshmana and Bharata as devoted brothers. There are numerous versions of the Ramayana, of which the most well-known are those by the original author Sage Valmiki and the poet-saint Tulsidas. These texts are recited by devoted Hindus at the home and in devotional gatherings, and are also the basis for popular children's stories, dances, and dramatic performances. Additionally, many consult the scripture for guidance on everyday life. Homages to the Ramayana can be seen all around Southeast Asia through architecture and dramatic renderings of the epic.

Mahabharata: With over 100,000 verses, the Mahabharat is a historical epic, and is the longest poem the world has known. It is seven times the combined length of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Based on an extended conflict between two branches of the Kaurava family, the Mahabharata is a trove of stories and discourses on the practice of Dharma. As a scripture, its primary messages are the importance of truth, justice, self sacrifice, and the upholding of Dharma, the need for complete devotion to God, and the ultimate futility of war. Embedded in the Mahabharata is a text of special scriptural significance -- the Bhagavad Gita.

Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gita is a primary scripture for Hindus. Although it is a tiny part of the Mahabharata and technically classed as a Smriti text, it is traditionally accorded the rank of an Upanishad. The Bhagavad Gita is believed to divulge a number of truths and life lessons by Krishna, who Hindus believe to be an incarnation of the Divine. Krishna is speaking to Arjun, a warrior prince, who is in the middle of a battlefield trying to decide whether it is dharmic or not to fight in a war with his family members, friends, and teachers. Krishna describes to Arjun why it is dharmic for him to pick up arms in this situation, and fight the force that is disrupting peace for citizens all over India. Though fighting goes against the idea of ahimsa, or non-violence, Arjun's dharma as a prince is to use his skills to fight injustice to make his kingdom a safe and peaceful place for all his citizens. The Bhagavad Gita is meant to help one understand that upholding dharma can be challenging, especially in situations where there is not a clear right or wrong. In modern times, many people, including non-Hindus, have read the Gita.

Dharma Shastras: This class of texts that explains how Dharma is maintained in daily life. The texts deal with a wide range of topics: the responsibilities of each ashrama (stage of life), civil and criminal law, dietary rules, festivals, pilgrimages, charity, etc. Since these texts are part of Smriti, not Shruti, their teachings are subject to re-interpretation to suit differences in time and place. There are numerous texts composed by various authors over many centuries.

Darshana Shastras: These are six philosophical texts that are the basis for the six major schools of Hindu philosophy. Two of the most widely studied are the Brahma Sutras by Sage Vyasa and the Yoga Sutras by Sage Patanjali.

Agama Shastras: Ancient and numerous, including many that have been lost over the centuries, these texts deal with practical aspects of devotion and worship, including personal and temple rituals and practices.

Bhakti Texts: From ancient to contemporary times the teachings, poems, and songs composed by saints in regional languages have been a major source of inspiration. They convey simple messages of devotion, dharma, and spiritual practice through the language of the local people throughout all parts of India and beyond

The plethora of scriptures is not as bewildering as they might appear at first sight. Most Hindus receive their religious education from family traditions and discourses by spiritual leaders. Individual Hindus follow the prayers and teachings of the sect to which they belong and possibly the more specific teachings of a guru (spiritual teacher). Few directly access the Vedas and Upanishads that provide the foundation for all other scriptures in Hinduism, many read commentaries about these scriptures instead. The stories from the Puranas and epics and songs composed by saints are the most common vehicles of religious education.

Key Takeaways-

• The Vedas are the foundational texts of Hinduism

• Hindu scriptures are numerous and diverse and are meant to provide a guide to each individual on their unique path

The maati(soil) of Awadh

Awadh exists in the same region as the ancient Kaushal kingdom with Ayodhya as its capital. Which was for some time moved to Shrawasti and later moved to Lucknow. People in Awadh region speak Awadhi.

The word "Awadh" comes from Ayodhya (must have heard the song "holi khele raghubeera awadh me, holi khele raghubeera")

The Awadhi language belongs to the prakrit family of Indic languages. It differs widely from the other languages spoken in Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Bihar.

For more context, Bhojpuri belongs to the language family in which you'd also find Bengali, Odia, Assamese and Magahi, Maithili and others.

Also, want to make it clear that Awadhi is not a dialect of Hindi. It is a language of its own.

It has a wide variety of artforms that still exist to this day like bhakti geet, bhajans, plays and storytelling, various forms of dance forms, various forms of lok geet and lok sangeet.

too much talking on desi twt— not enough action I'll start making a post of any helpline numbers i can find

Google Lens-ed it and it says something like "it's wrong to look at them kiss"

A divine kiss by mmmmmr

Sant Tulsidas (1/2)

I personally have great respect for him. And since I'm talking about the land of Awadh, I wanted to celebrate the great poet and saint, Sant Tulsidas.

Although not born in the Awadh region, Tulsidas spent much of his life in the cities of Ayodhya and Kashi, where he composed much of his work in both Brajbhasha and Awadhi.

The Ramcharit Manas and Hanuman Chalisa, both written in Awadhi language, are two of his most famous works. Ramcharit Manas, retells the Ramayana in a way that resonated with common people of Uttar Pradesh at that time, making the epic’s teachings accessible to all.

This choice not only made the story of Shri Rama and Mata Sita widely known, but it also helped elevate Awadhi, spreading its use across countless Hindu households in India.