Radha Madhav Dham is one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States. Located near Austin, Texas, it spans 35,000 feet and is five stories tall. The temple is noted for its architectural beauty and the significance of said architecture in relation to the art and the doctrine of Hinduism. Hindu temples are designed to represent central beliefs, this is shown by their symmetrical style. Before entering the temple, you’re greeted by four main pillars in front of the central doorway. These four pillars could represent the four important fundamental concepts which are: the belief in the divinity of scripture (Vedas), belief in the Eternal Soul (Brahman), Belief in Rebirth or Reincarnation, and the belief in spiritual law of cause and effect
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Parvati is the Goddess of power. Because of her power, Vishnu, Brahma, and Siva are able to carry out their roles in the universe. Parvati herself is Nature and she makes the earth home for humanity. Omkara Mahaganapathy is considered the central deity of the temple. Interestingly enough, all Hindu rituals begin with this god. He is the creator and remover of all obstacles. Even the universal sound of “OM” is derived from Omkara. He is the true representation of this sound, which signifies Brahman. Lastly is Lord Venkateswara. He is considered the embodiment of Vishnu and the ultimate protector of the universe. He is shown as having four arms with a different symbolic item in each. In the first, he holds a conch which portrays OM, the basis of all sound. In the second, he holds the disc of moral principles which stands for Dharma Chakra. Next he holds a club. This exemplifies the power he holds over the universe. Finally in the fourth arm, he holds a lotus flower that represents …show more content…
Particularly the complexity of concepts like Dharma and the fact that there is no beginning or end to Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita was sometimes confusing on the idea of yoga and its benefit on the human soul. However, after reading through the powerpoint and doing some research I feel like I was better able to understand the specific branches of yoga. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna gives many different characterizations of yoga. He describes it as a selfless and cleansing act that connects a person with the life around them. Krishna also portrays it as a journey that does not end with death. This is comparable to Hinduism itself, which is said to not have an end or an official
Parvati is the Goddess of power. Because of her power, Vishnu, Brahma, and Siva are able to carry out their roles in the universe. Parvati herself is Nature and she makes the earth home for humanity. Omkara Mahaganapathy is considered the central deity of the temple. Interestingly enough, all Hindu rituals begin with this god. He is the creator and remover of all obstacles. Even the universal sound of “OM” is derived from Omkara. He is the true representation of this sound, which signifies Brahman. Lastly is Lord Venkateswara. He is considered the embodiment of Vishnu and the ultimate protector of the universe. He is shown as having four arms with a different symbolic item in each. In the first, he holds a conch which portrays OM, the basis of all sound. In the second, he holds the disc of moral principles which stands for Dharma Chakra. Next he holds a club. This exemplifies the power he holds over the universe. Finally in the fourth arm, he holds a lotus flower that represents …show more content…
Particularly the complexity of concepts like Dharma and the fact that there is no beginning or end to Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita was sometimes confusing on the idea of yoga and its benefit on the human soul. However, after reading through the powerpoint and doing some research I feel like I was better able to understand the specific branches of yoga. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna gives many different characterizations of yoga. He describes it as a selfless and cleansing act that connects a person with the life around them. Krishna also portrays it as a journey that does not end with death. This is comparable to Hinduism itself, which is said to not have an end or an official