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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Other uses|Ananda (disambiguation)}}<br />
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{{short description|Eternal bliss which accompanies the ending of the rebirth cycle}}<br />
{{Hinduism}}<br />
'''''Ānanda''''' ([[Sanskrit]]: आनन्द) literally means [[wikt:bliss|bliss]] or happiness. In the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Vedas]], [[Upanishads]] and [[Bhagavad Gita|Bhagavad gita]], ānanda signifies eternal bliss which accompanies the ending of the [[Saṃsāra|rebirth cycle]]. Those who renounce the fruits of their actions and submit themselves completely to the divine will, arrive at the final termination of the cyclical life process (''[[saṃsāra]]'') to enjoy eternal bliss (''ānanda'') in perfect union with the godhead. The tradition of seeking union with God through loving commitment is referred to as ''[[bhakti]]'', or devotion.<ref>{{citation |author=J. Bruce Long | author2=Laurie Louise Patton | entry=LIFE | title=Encyclopedia of Religion | edition=2nd | volume=8 | publisher=Thomson Gale | year=2005 | pages=5447-5448}}</ref> <br />
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== Different meanings of happiness in Hindu philosophy ==<br />
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=== Swami Vivekananda ===<br />
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[[Swami Vivekananda]] has claimed that the reason different meanings of ''ānanda'' and different ways of achieving it are present in Hindu philosophy is that humans differ from each other, and each chooses the most appropriate path to ''ānanda'' for him or herself.<ref>Pathways to Joy: The Master Vivekananda on the Four Yoga Paths to God 2006 , Swami Vivekananda</ref><br />
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=== Sri Aurobindo ===<br />
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According to [[Sri Aurobindo]], happiness is the natural state of humanity, as he mentions in his book [[The Life Divine]] he informs about it as delight of existence. However, mankind develops dualities of pain and pleasure. Aurobindo goes on to say that the concepts of pain and suffering are due to habits developed over time by the mind, which treats success, honour and victory as pleasant things and defeat, failure, misfortune as unpleasant things.<ref>The Life divine 2005,and he calls his way of yoga as [[Integral yoga]] p. 98-108</ref><br />
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=== Advaita vedanta ===<br />
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According to the [[Vedanta]] school of [[Hindu philosophy]], ''ananda'' is that state of sublime delight when the [[jiva]] becomes free from all sins, all doubts, all desires, all actions, all pains, all sufferings and also from all physical and mental ordinary pleasures. Having become established in [[Brahman]] it becomes [[jivanmukta]] (a being free from the cycle of rebirth).<ref>Vedanta-sara of Sadananda. Translated and commented by Swami Nikhalananda. Published by [[Advaita Ashrama]], Kolkata. Verse VI.217 p.117 http://www.estudantedavedanta.net/Vedantasara-Nikhilananda.pdf</ref> The Upanishads repeatedly use the word ''Ānanda'' to denote [[Brahman]], the innermost Self, the Blissful One, which, unlike the individual self, has no real attachments.<br />
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=== Dvaita vedanta ===<br />
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Based on a reading of the Bhagavad Gita, Dvaita vedanta interprets ''ananda'' as happiness derived via good thoughts and good deeds that depend on the state and on the control of the mind. Through evenness of temper and mind, the state of supreme bliss is reached in all aspects of one’s life.<ref>Dvaita Vedānta 1975, T. P. Ramachandran</ref><br />
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=== Vishishtadvaita vedanta ===<br />
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According to the Vishishtadvaita vedanta school which was proposed by [[Ramanujacharya]], true happiness can be only through divine grace, which can be only achieved by surrender of one's ego to the [[Divinity|Divine]].{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}<br />
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=== Sri Ramana Maharshi ===<br />
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According to [[Ramana Maharshi]], happiness is within and can be known only through discovering one's true self. He proposes that ''ananda'' can be attained by inner enquiry, using the thought "Who am I?"<ref>Talks With Ramana Maharshi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness 2000, Ramana Maharshi</ref><br />
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== Ways of achieving ānanda ==<br />
Within the various schools of Hindu thought, there are different paths and ways of achieving Happiness. The main four paths are [[Bhakti yoga]], [[Jnana yoga]], [[Karma Yoga]] and [[Raja Yoga]].<ref>Pathways to Joy: The Master Vivekananda on the Four Yoga Paths to God 2006 , Swami Vivekananda</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Satcitananda]]<br />
*[[Sukha]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ananda (Hindu philosophy)}}<br />
[[Category:Vedanta]]<br />
[[Category:Happiness]]<br />
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]</div>>Aavindraa