Rudraksha: The Beads Known as Shiva’s Tears

Rudraksha
The Beads Known as Shiva’s Tears
By Stephen Knapp
 
            According to legend, when Lord Shiva looked upon the suffering world, he shed a tear of compassion. From that tear grew the Rudraksha, which literally means “Rudra’s (Shiva’s) tears”. The name also means “Under the protection of Lord Rudra.”
            Rudraksha beads are naturally occurring seeds of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus [...]

Religious Unity: Why There Could be a One World Religion

Religious Unity:
Why There Could Be a One
 World Religion
By Stephen Knapp
Is religious unity a dream that can never be fulfilled? Can it never be a reality? I feel that it can be.
If we are mature enough to see the purpose of each religion or spiritual path, we will recognize that there is very little difference between [...]

Reincarnation: A Simple Explanation

Reincarnation: A Simple Explanation
By Stephen Knapp
  
            Reincarnation is called samsara in the classic Vedic texts of India. The word samsara is Sanskrit and means being bound to the cycle of repeated birth and death through numerous lifetimes. How this works is that those who are materially conditioned transmigrate through different bodies according to one’s [...]

Reestablishing the Date of Lord Buddha

Reestablishing the Date of
 Lord Buddha
by Stephen Knapp
(Excerpt from Proof of Vedic Culture’s Global Existence)
Most of us are taught that Buddha was born around 560 to 550 B.C. However, once we start doing some research, we find evidence that this date may be too late. Buddha may have been born much earlier.
For example, in Some Blunders [...]

The Ramayana Summarized

THE RAMAYANA SUMMARIZED
 
Telling the story of Rama during Rama-Navami or Navaratri bears a special significance. The present day celebration of Durga worship (puja) and Dasshera are related to Rama’s life. The traditional Durga worship was performed in the spring season now known as Basanti puja. Rama worshiped the divine mother Durga and prayed to her [...]

Radha Kund: The Holy Place of Srimati Radharani

Radha Kund: The Holy Place of Srimati Radharani
By Stephen Knapp
 
Radha Kund is the bathing place of Radharani and Her most elevated assistants, the gopis or cowherd girls. Radha Kund is located on the northern end of Govardhan Hill in the area of Greater Vrajamandala, not far from Vrindavana or Mathura. Sri Rupa Gosvami explains in [...]

The Purpose of Defending Dharma

The Purpose of Defending Dharma
 by Stephen Knapp
(An excerpt from his book “Crimes Against India And the Need to Protect its Ancient Vedic Traditions”)
  
            What has happened in the past is a matter of history, and the real history of India can show us how far the country and its culture has come, the many challenges [...]

Purpose and Function of Government According to Mahabharata

Purpose and Function of Government
According to Mahabharata
By Stephen Knapp
            By studying this information we will understand how our present governments are inefficient in various methods of operation that they employ, or in the idealistic foundation upon which they build the country. We should also be able to perceive how to improve them. Furthermore, these Vedic principles [...]

Preparing for Your Trip to India: A Short Guide

Preparing for Your Trip to India
 
A Short Guide
By Stephen Knapp
            I often get questions about how to prepare for a trip to India and what to do, what to bring, and how to go about having a safe trip. So to help those who wish to have a pleasant journey, I am preparing this article to [...]

Preaching in India’s Northeast for Cultural Preservation

Preaching in India’s Northeast for
 Cultural Preservation
By Stephen Knapp
India’s northeast is an area that I had never visited before. So my experience of touring Arunachal Pradesh (in December of 2002) and lecturing about the glories of Vedic culture was not only inspiring, but was also a terrific adventure. Fortunately, I was able to see not only [...]