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The Bhagavata-purana, (Sanskrit: “Ancient Stories of God [Vishnu]”) is the most-celebrated text of a variety of Hindu sacred literature known as the Puranas and the specific text held sacred by the Bhagavata sect. The Purana is made up of some 18,000 stanzas divided into 12 books, but it is Book X, which deals with Krishna’s childhood and his years spent among the cowherds of Vrindavana, that accounts for its immense popularity with Vaishnavas throughout India. The attempts on Krishna’s life made by his wicked uncle Kamsa, the childhood pranks he played on his foster mother Yashoda, his love for the gopis (the wives and daughters of the cowherds), and their passionate abandonment to him are treated with endearing charm and grace, even while transfused with deep religious significance. It is the essence of all yogic literature.

The Upanishads are an assortment of texts central to Hinduism (or the Sanatan Dharma) recorded from oral traditions. They contain the philosophical principles and concepts of Hinduism, including karma (right action), brahman (ultimate reality), the atman (true Self or soul), moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) and other complex Vedic doctrines which explain Self-realization through the ancient yoga system and other meditational and service practices. “Upanishad” is a Sanskrit word which translates to “sitting at the feet of” or “sitting down near.” This alludes to receiving wisdom and guidance humbly from a realized guru. There are more than 200 Upanishads. Thirteen of these include the core philosophical teachings of what we now call Hinduism. The philosophical concepts contained in the Upanishads are principal to the Sanatan Dharma, but many are also shared with Buddhism and Jainism. The deeply poetic texts govern ideals of ultimate Self-realization as well as concepts of non-violence, compassion, charity and self-restraint as ethical concerns.

The Upanishads are an assortment of texts central to Hinduism (or the Sanatan Dharma) recorded from oral traditions. They contain the philosophical principles and concepts of Hinduism, including karma (right action), brahman (ultimate reality), the atman (true Self or soul), moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) and other complex Vedic doctrines which explain Self-realization through the ancient yoga system and other meditational and service practices. “Upanishad” is a Sanskrit word which translates to “sitting at the feet of” or “sitting down near.” This alludes to receiving wisdom and guidance humbly from a realized guru. There are more than 200 Upanishads. Thirteen of these include the core philosophical teachings of what we now call Hinduism. The philosophical concepts contained in the Upanishads are principal to the Sanatan Dharma, but many are also shared with Buddhism and Jainism. The deeply poetic texts govern ideals of ultimate Self-realization as well as concepts of non-violence, compassion, charity and self-restraint as ethical concerns.

The Upanishads are an assortment of texts central to Hinduism (or the Sanatan Dharma) recorded from oral traditions. They contain the philosophical principles and concepts of Hinduism, including karma (right action), brahman (ultimate reality), the atman (true Self or soul), moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation) and other complex Vedic doctrines which explain Self-realization through the ancient yoga system and other meditational and service practices. “Upanishad” is a Sanskrit word which translates to “sitting at the feet of” or “sitting down near.” This alludes to receiving wisdom and guidance humbly from a realized guru. There are more than 200 Upanishads. Thirteen of these include the core philosophical teachings of what we now call Hinduism. The philosophical concepts contained in the Upanishads are principal to the Sanatan Dharma, but many are also shared with Buddhism and Jainism. The deeply poetic texts govern ideals of ultimate Self-realization as well as concepts of non-violence, compassion, charity and self-restraint as ethical concerns.