why one has to chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra?
84546
wow....some respected answerer sounds too intolerant. I respect all religions but just to remind few people...didnt jesus want us to be tolerant and compassionate? Then why do we get upset because someone is not following what we follow. God doesnt belong to one man....entire cosmos including the life in the universe is the divine manifestation. We are all one under the eyes of the supreme being. But we humans are too intolerant. We think we are religious and tolerant but talk ill of other cultures, practices and traditions. We have to have a open mind with little compassion towards humanity.\n\nNow coming to the question on mantras. Every religion has a way of feeling and experiencing divine presence. Some experience divine in church listening to gospel, some experience divine in temples singing mantras, some experience divine in mosques, some experience divine presence in synagogues. But it all boils down to our self-satisfaction. Some might meditate in quietness and feel peace, some read scriptures and holy books and find peace, some sing for peace. Its just different ways of experiencing the ultimate being which we call with different names.
315842
Eastern music especially carnatic music, has a lot of repetitions of the same lines called sanghati. Most of it is devotional. it is also very nice to hear
284777
I would say faith in Lord Krishna would be the first point. \nThen, you can join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (http://www.iskcon.com/). \nThey have branches all over the world. TO check for on nearest to you, visit their site: \nhttp://www.iskcon.com/worldwide/centres/index.html \n\nHappy chanting.
124948
About 500 yrs ago-1886-God cmae to Earth,in Navadvipa,in the role of a devotee of Krishna.His Name:Lord Gauranga,the Golden Avatara.\nHe explained that just by chanting the mantra hare krishna,you an go back to Godhead
727777
The Quran's repetitive recital is done to hammer  illogical conviction into the conscience of their faith's followers.\n\nPaganism is much more nature based like in India where all the elements of nature and elements of human nature  are personified and elevated to God status and then chanted to.
202757
Vedas describe lot of things which are above the understanding of a man with the little knowledge about spiritualism. \n\nYou are misinterpreting this statement. Idol worship is not prohibited. But as the soul goes higher in the search of God it is required to achieve self-realisation. Vedas require people to lift their consiousness above the idol worship and lift their conciousness above these forms of God. Idol worship may bind a devotee to be bound by the form of an idol. \nBut a form or image is necessary for worship in the beginning. It is an external symbol of God for worship. It is a reminder of God. The material image calls up the mental idea. Steadiness of mind is obtained by image worship. The worshipper will have to associate the ideas of infinity, omnipotence, omniscience, purity, perfection, freedom, holiness, truth and omnipresence with the form of worship he chooses.\n\nIt is not possible for all to fix the mind on the Absolute. A concrete form is necessary for the vast majority for practicing concentration. To behold God everywhere and to practice the presence of God is not possible for the ordinary man. Idol worship is the easiest form of worship for the modern man.
578376
go to google search , but dont search by saptarishi mandal..\n\nsaptarishi mandal is known as ursa major " for people who dont kno hindi"\n\nfrom next time keep it english
916771
The swaying motion while in deep thought [or in this case, in prayer and/or meditation] correlates to the rocking motion that mothers make to lull their babes to sleep and instill quietness, according to certain psychological studies made. Other faiths perform this same natural, 'rocking' motion including the likes of the Buddhist monks, Shintoists, shamans, etc. performing their mantras or other supplications while in deep meditative moods.\n\nFor the second part, I believe there are some passages in the Old Testament [either Leviticus or Deuteronomy, I'm not sure which] that mentions the importance of covering one's head in reverence to being in the presence of God, more often than not within the walls of the sacred temple or in front of the altar. It is quite possible that such a cultural tradition [emanating from the Jewish religion] has been handed down over the ages and into the modern Christian era which also has its roots from Judaism.\n\nPeace be with you!
273566
Do you have a guru? Often it is your guru that will give you your personal mantra. If not, one that my guru (Her Holiness Chalanda Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi) suggests for those that do not have a personal mantra  is "Om namah shivaya". It means "I honor the God within." It's beautiful and powerful and will assist you in your transformation and enlightenment.\n \nYou may or may not know this, but you may say this to yourself silently or aloud. If you have a mala (like a rosary, a necklace with 108 prayer beads), you can repeat your mantra 16 times, or better yet, 108 times, the full mala. Do this at least 1x daily. Hopefully you have a regular practice of daily meditation already. If not, I highly recommend it. It's truly life-changing.\n\nIf you are meditating, perhaps you may try different mantras and something else will feel better for you as a personal mantra. Of course, you can always just chant "OM' 16 or 108 times too.  \n\nIf you wish to find out more about Sai Maaji and her teachings, go to www.humanityinunity.org. She's an amazing Master and incredible being unlike any other I have met. My path has been enriched and quickened immensely since meeting with her. I am so blessed! God is so good! \n\nI hope I helped you. Namaste.
758861
You don't say what level the students are at. The Ganges is a sacred river, are you teaching a RI class? If they're little kids why not have an enactment - get some water, maybe a paddling pool or something and have them all submerse in it and pray to the Gods etc. This ensures going to heaven I believe, but I'm not a Hindu so you probably know more about it than I.\n\nI have always found enactments really engage the little kids when teaching religious matters. Until kids are 9 or 10 it is hard for them to grasp anything abstract.
980178
I know nothing of the California Astrology Association,so I cannot comment on that.\n What I do know is that anyone who truley has The Knowledge would never charge another. If they felt  trueness of heart and will of the one asking for Knowledge, it would be imparted in faith certainly not for monetary gain. This is against the one of the basic tenants of The Knowledge.\n               Many do not completely understand how much time and effort is involved in just getting to a level of learning arts, such as spell casting.Some have committed many decades to learning but still are unable to successfully cast.Many,many things are involved and required.There are some who can never train their voices to carry the right vibration and intonation, although they may have learnt much of The Knowledge.\n.Know also that sometimes it only requires a very slight mispronunciation (for example) and the cast becomes ineffectual or worse can turn  malignant having dire consequences for the caster them self.Blessed Be.
7069
This is called the Maha-mantra or the most sacred mantra and it is composed of 16 names of God and they have very specific meanings. Rama means 'He who performs wonderful pastimes' etc.
745035
Because he himself had written in the Con stituion of India that Hindus and its branch buddhism, jains and sikhs will enjoy Reservation in jobs.\n\n  so if dalits converted to islam or christianity, they would have to forgo the Reservations benefits (like getting admission in Engineering college with just 10% marks etc)\n\n   so it was a pure political game, to show down hindus but keeping the benefits of Reservations for Secheduled Castes
415963
Well, first I think this is an oversimplification of both of these religions. I just wanted to say that first.\n\nI would agree with both, as a Hindu. There is the law of karma (action). If your actions are good, then good will come from them and you will be rewarded for your good deeds (a thank you or any sign of appreciation is a reward). At the same time, I do agree that there is suffering in life. The Buddha said "All life is suffering. Suffering is caused by attachment." Hinduism has a similar teaching that Paramhamasa Sri Nithyananda Swamiji said it best "We suffer because there is a gap between our imaginations and reality". We become attached to our imaginations and therefore suffer because we are embracing reality. Take for example: you are driving and suddenly find yourself in traffic. in your imagination you do not want to be stuck in traffic, you just want to get to where you are going with no difficulties. because you do not want to be in traffic you start thinking about how much you do not like traffic and you begin to get frustrated as you are stuck there. you think "the government should fix these roads so there is no traffic" or other things like this. You find yourself upset, frustrated, and well...you are suffering. Yet the reality of the situation doesn't change. You are still stuck in traffic. The reality is that traffic is there, but because you cling to...you attach yourself to the idea that there should not be any traffic in your way...you suffer. Once you accept that this is what is happening and simply be patient and use the time for something other than upseting yourself (like chanting a name of God, saying a prayer, singing a worship song, etc) you find yourself not being so frustrated...not suffering.
927127
The rotund body of Ganesh represents the Cosmos. The elephant head denotes the serenity of wisdom and the power of gentle strength. The broken tusk is the mark of the intellectual who inscribed the epic Mahabharata and then shed his ego on completion of the successful task. On his forehead is the symbol " 3Õ " - 'OM', which is the Life Force that God breathed into his Creation; hence it is said that the chant of "OM" in daily prayer, is the consent of man to let God enter him.\n\nThus the chant of "OM Ganesh' became synonymous with the start of every Hindu endeavor; murmured by the housewife as she begins the day with rituals in her little altar at home, the revered sound is echoed by the husband opening the shutters of his workplace; it can be heard reverberating in the hallowed walls of ancient temples or resounding at the consecration of a new temple; at the commencement of wedding nuptials or naming of a new-born child; when laying the foundation of a new building or founding a new political party, on starting on a journey or starting a new business. Even rituals for the glory or invocation to other gods begin with the first invocation to Lord Ganesh. It is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, His blessing is absolutely necessary.\n\nIn each of his four hands Ganesh holds an emblem of benediction. The Lotus flower symbolizes the gift of wealth, beauty and purity; the Rosary denotes the spiritual and inspirational in prayer and meditation. The Swastika, the true meaning of which is auspiciousness, attracts positive energies from all directions and brings divine blessing demonstrates the joy of sharing the "sweets of life" with those around us.
1004184
churches are manmade as are their rules.  Following your own heart in spirituality is your best barometer of a successful life.  Why worry about their rules?  Create your own life and be the best you can be.
585626
The text and translation are available at\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri_Mantra\n\nincluding links for further interpretation and meanings.