texts: How can Jamuna river be in India when shastras say otherwise?

texts:
This is what shastras/Purana's say about the Jamuna river-

Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran, Pancham Skandha , Chapter 16, shlok 16-21:

"In Mandarachal, A mango fell from a mango tree into a river changing the river's colour to yellow. Because of this, the river was called "Arun". On the downside of the river there was a Syzygium cumini tree where one syzygium cumini fell and changed the colour of the river to black, again changing the name of the river to Jambu river (Also known as Jamuna)"

This is also written in Garga Samhita, Visvajita khanda, Chapter 43, Shlok 4-5:

"Because a Syzygium cumini fell on Jambunada, it was known as Aruna."

This proves that Jambunada and Aruna river are the same.

In "Padmapurana", Swargakhanda, Chapter 38, Shlok 65:

The above picture translates to
"Kausiki (Koshi) river intersects with Aruna"

This intersection is in Nepal close to "Varahachetra" (eastern Nepal) where Jamuna river intersects with Kausiki. If this is the case, then how is it possible that Jamuna is in india? Which one is the real Jamuna? the one that the shastras/Puranas say or the one that is in Northern India?

Note: I do not wish to offend anyone regarding my question. Our current thirthas are as holy regardless of their authenticity and I respect their location. Being a Hindu, I would never disrespect any thirth just because they do not match with shastras. Many thirthas have changed locations and this is why I try to find their original location. Sorry if I have offended anybody.


texts: Why namaskara with open hands in panchakaccha?

texts: Why open hands in panchakaccha and crossed hands in datti while doing gothrabhivadana? Datti is just rounding of dhoti without panchakaccha.


texts: What is the significance of long maalaa (garland) worn by Krishna Chaitanya?

texts:
In many paintings we see that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wears an exceptionally long garland in his neck during kirtan which extends up to the waist or knees. Also Nityananda (nitaai) is seen with such maala. Now it is a famous custom in Gaudiya vaishnava tradition.

What is this maala called?

What is story behind it?

What is its significance?


texts: How is the position of Surya and Chandra related to Amavasya and Poornima?

texts:
As far as I understand, in Jyotisha, Amavasya and Poornima are being related to the positions of Surya (Sun) and Chandra (Moon). What is this relationship?

How do these positions change in between an Amavasya and Poornima?

Also, how are these positions correlated with Surya Grahana and Chandra Grahana?


texts: It is said that once a  person is dead the atma exits from the body. Will this atma be given to same person born in different form as per karma like animal or bird or it will be given to some other. May be that person will be a bad soul but this atma may be a punya one. Anything mentioned in scriptures in Hindu mythology?


texts: What are the components of the word om (ॐ)

texts:
Every word in Sanskrit can be further divided in to letters that cannot be divided further.
In this context, what are the letters, that are further indivisible, used to form om ॐ in sanskrit?


texts: What is the reason behind the existence of those many God representations?

texts:
God is represented in many ways with many names and symbols. Like Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Sun, Moon etc. However, the Supreme Being is still only one because the energy is inseparable.

Is the reason behind these many gods like Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Ganesha, Karthikeya, Lord Bramha, Goddess Saraswati is giving a feeling of family to us? Like Lord Shiva is the father, Lord Vishnu is maternal uncle, Goddess Parvathi is mother, Ganesha is our elder brother, Karthikeya is our younger brother etc. Feeling of such fills a lot of courage, because we've got a POWERFUL family.

But what did Vedas and Lord Krishna tell about these many forms of the god?


texts:
What is churnabhishekam performed during Brahmotsavam in Perumal temples? What are the ingredients used?

I read that fragrant powders are used. I am unable to get more details.


texts: What are the rules for wearing Rudraksha bead

texts: I want to wear the Rudraksha Bead, but have some queries related to the rules. So please let me know the exact rules for it.


texts: Are other religions just an illusion to end kaliyuga?

texts:
I respect all human beings, but I did not get their religion, it is more like illusion to me. illusion is something like human can't escape from it, Here is my opinion about how world can end, or how kaliyuga can be end.

Man vs Man : In this war people don't fight in the name of religion they just want land and wealth. If they get it what they desire, then any world war will be over, but kaliyuga will not end.
God vs Man: We all know god can not even punish evil or demon if they don't do anything wrong, we all know the story of tripusura. So the kaliyuga will be never end, if only good people live here(Without violence), but due to cyclic period of every yuga it should be end, so GOD can do some kind of illusion to make it happen. I know people can get escape from all of this, because kaliyuga is not hard as other three yuga.
Religion vs Religion: As I said to make the end of kaliyuga, god can make illusion of adharma, which will fight with dharma and adharma will conquer the world and then lord kalki(the avatar of lord vishnu) will kill all adharma people and make the end of kaliyuga and start satyuga again.

I know in kali puran it is referenced that people in the end of kaliyuga don't pray to god, they will do more sins and hence kalki will destroy all of them, but for me it is partial true, because if people do more sins then they may take birth in other jivas(like animals), and kaliyuga will never end. So What make sense better is, their(Mleccha) illusion dharma(Adharma) will conquer the whole world and then god kalki will kill all of them, so the cycle of kaliyug will end and satyuga can start again. Read this Wikipedia article line(The Padma Purana describes that Kalki will end the age of kali and kill all mlecchas).

So do you think this is how the kaliyuga will be end? Do you think other mlecchas religion(Which establish after kaliyuga) are just illusion? like in trupusura case? I know my question is bit off topic, but my intention is not hurt any human belief (since even if it is illusion then it is created by parbramhan to end kaliyuga, so I respect them). I welcome your atman thoughts in comments box as well, if my question is vote to close.

Update:

My meaning of melleche is only about adharma which is establish outside of arya country, since adharma can't establish with santan dharma.
The demon kali family tree is interesting to note, it indicated that people can born with this characteristics as well.


texts: What scriptures talk of difference in leaving the body consciously and unconsciously which is death?

texts: We have reference on what happens after death and before next birth of the soul. What will be the experience of us,as per ancient texts and how we will be if we leave this body at will, and leave this body as death without consciousness.


texts: Why did Lord Shiva take 44 avatars if his primary role is to be the destroyer?

texts:
Lord Maha Vishnu is the protector of whole universe and he said that he will take avatars whenever there is degradation of righteousness on this planet.
Famous dashavatars are the avatars of Lord Maha Vishnu.

But this article lists about 19 avatars of Lord Shiva:

  Piplaad Avatar
  Nandi Avatar
  Veerbhadra Avatar
  Bhairava Avatar
  Ashwatthama
  Sharabha avatar
  Grihapati Avatar
  Durvasa
  Hanuman
  Rishabh Avatar
  Yatinath Avatar
  Krishna Darshan Avatar
  Bhikshuvarya Avatar
  Sureshwar Avatar
  Keerat Avatar
  Sunatnartak
  Brahmachari
  Yaksheshwar
  Avdhut avatar

Now my point is, in the supreme Trinity, Lord Brahma is the Creator, Lord Vishnu is the Protector or Guardian and Lord Shiva is the Destroyer of the whole universe.

If this is true, then, why is there any need for the incarnation of Lord Shiva and that too, 44 avatars (out of which 19 are considered the main incarnations)?

If he has to just destroy the universe why does he have to take any avatars like Ishan, Hanuman etc.?

Although Hanuman is justified as he had to help his iṣṭa-devatā Lord Rama.

If anyone has any knowledge about the purpose of the 19 major Shiva avatars, then, please mention it in your answer.

The number of avatars is subject to change according to different belief systems but according to Shiva Mahapurana, Shiva avatars are 44 and 19 of them are considered major avatars. (Source)


texts: What arguments does Shabara's Mimamsa Sutra Bhashya take from the Brahma Sutras?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa that summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads. You can read the Brahma Sutras here. In any case, in Adhyaya 3 Pada 3 of the Brahma Sutras, Vyasa says this:

eka ātmanaḥ śarīre bhāvāt

Some deny the existence of the soul, its existence being dependent on the existence of the body.

vyatirekastadbhāvabhāvitvānna tūpalabdhivat

But this is not so; there is a distinction (between the soul and the body) because consciousness may not exist even when the body exists, as it is in the case of perception.

This translation is written from the viewpoint of the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, who believes that in these Sutras Vyasa is demonstrating that there exists a soul which is different from the body.  Now in this section of Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya, a hypothetical opponent raises the objection that it's improper for Vyasa to discuss this subject, because it was already discussed in the Purva Mimamsa Sutras. As I discuss in this question, Jaimini's Purva Mimamsa Sutras and Vyasa's Brahma Sutras originally formed a unified Mimamsa Shastra, so it would be like discussing the same subject twice in the same work.  But Adi Shankaracharya responds by saying that the existence of the soul is only discussed in a commentary on the Purva Mimamsa Sutras, not in the text itself, and so it's fine for Vyasa to discuss it in the Brahma Sutras:

But, an objection is raised, already in the first pâda which stands at the head of this Sâstra (i.e. the first pâda of the Pûrva Mîmâmsâ-sûtras) there has been declared the existence of a Self which is different from the body and hence capable of enjoying the fruits taught by the Sâstra.--True, this has been declared there by the author of the bhâshya, but there is in that place no Sûtra about the existence of the Self. Here, on the other hand, the Sûtrakâra himself establishes the existence of the Self after having disposed of a preliminary objection. And from hence the teacher Sabara Svâmin has taken the matter for his discussion of the point in the chapter treating of the means of right knowledge. For the same reason the reverend Upavarsha remarks in the first tantra--where an opportunity offers itself for the discussion of the existence of the Self--'We will discuss this in the Sârîraka,' and allows the matter to rest there. Here, where we are engaged in an inquiry into the pious meditations which are matter of injunction, a discussion of the existence of the Self is introduced in order to show that the whole Sâstra depends thereon.

I discuss the statement about Upavarsha in my question here.  But now I'm interested in the statement in bold.  Let me explain what Adi Shankaracharya is saying.  Shabara Swami's Mimamsa Sutra Bhashya is the canonical commentary on Jaimini's Purva Mimamsa Sutras.  In this excerpt from his commentary on Adhyaya 1 Pada 1 Sutra 5 of the Purva Mimamsa Sutras, Shabara Swami presents an argument for the existence of the soul, which he needs to establish because he's trying to show that Yagnas which bear fruit in the afterlife really work.  What Adi Shankaracharya is saying is that Shabara Swami actually took the argument he's presenting from Vyasa's Brahma Sutras, specifically from the Sutras I gave above.
So my question is, are there any other arguments that Shabara Swami took from the Brahma Sutras?
Do any Purva Mimamsa works or Vedanta works shed light on this?  And for that matter, does anyone else agree with Adi Shankaracharya that Shabara Swami took his existence of soul argument from the Brahma Sutras?  I discuss in this question how Ramanujacharya and other commentators don't even think the Sutras are talking about the existence of the soul.


texts:
We are Yadhavas in Chennai and like to do Samashrayanam but we don't know to whom can we go , Thenkalai OR  Vadakalai, To Sri Vaishnava Acharya or Swayamacharya people. We need guru to teach sahasranamam and other slokas and also like to visit often to get advices and informations.Please advice us.As we are new to do these procedure we need answers.
Thanks
N.DEVI


texts: Which Yuga are we currently in? Numbers don't add up

texts:
I am interested in learning about Yugas.

According to this Wikipedia article, Kali Yuga started around 3201 BCE, or BC.

Same Wikipedia article also mentions:

  Acording to the Laws of Manu, one of the earliest known texts
  describing the yugas, the length is 4800 years + 3600 years + 2400
  years + 1200 years, for a total of 12,000 years for one arc, or 24,000
  years to complete the cycle, which is one precession of the equinox).
  These 4 yugas follow a timeline ratio of (4:3:2:1).

Ok, so we have 3102 BCE minus 1200 years, bringing us to 1902 BCE.

But that is only half the circle's arc. We must subtract another 1200 years to get to end of Kali Yuga.

1902 BCE - 1200 years = 702 BC

So does that mean Kali Yuga ended in 702 BC?

I am really confused, please guide.

If it helps, I would like to add:

  While the long yuga count is the most popular, it does not correlate
  to any known celestial motion found in the Astronomical Almanac. The
  value of 24,000 years fits relatively close with the modern
  astronomical calculation of one full precession of the equinox, which
  takes 25,772 years

And here is a YouTube video explaining the procession of the equinox.

Is this accurate

Is the following graph accurate? Does it conform to the Yugas in Hinduism?


texts: Did Kamsa have any children. What I know is that Jarasandha’s daughters were married to him. But I have not come across any reference to his children. Can anyone throw some light on this?


texts: What is the story of Goddess Kali fighting with Ravana?

texts: There is a story of Goddess Kali fighting with Ravana. What are the details of this encounter between the two?


texts: Doubt regarding which part of Yajurveda i belong

texts: how to to know which part of yajurveda i belong to ? is there a way to find using gothra or sutra ?


texts: Did Vinata have any doubts about the outcome of her bet with Kadru in the Mahabharata? Did she innocently consider herself the loser?


texts: Is there a concept of soul mate in Hinduism?

texts:
I have come across many philosophies in Hinduism with regards to the soul or "atman".
I was just curious if there is any concept of soul mate explained in Hinduism?  Can anyone enlighten?


texts: How did Lord Shiva create Veerbhadra and Mahakali

texts: How and why did Shiva create Veerbhadra and MahaKali. Who were the nine Durgas accompanying MahaKali?


texts: What are the 10 Vishnu incarnations of Devi Lalitha?

texts: I heard that from the finger nails of devi, 10 incarnations of Vishnu originated. Is it true? If yes, what are the 10 incarnations and from which finger nail which incarnations have come?


texts: Is the story of Shunahshepa an allegory?

texts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunahshepa
mentions some scriptures it occurs in and some interpretations.
(1) does his name mean "dog penis"?  why was he given that name?
(2) is there consensus as to the interpretation of the story?


texts: Can one receive initiation from a (physically) dead GURU?

texts:
Can one receive , in some way, initiation by a Guru who is physically dead even in absence of His/ Her Disciples ( if they exist)?????

Within ISKCON and Gaudyia Math one can find  the example of Srila Prabhuapada Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati who considered himself initiated as a sannyasi by Gaura Kishor Das Babaji as he took sannyasa after a dream near 1918 .

Now not all the Gaudya Vaishnava do accept this procedure and many in Vrindavana reject GM and ISKCON Teachings. Indeed in  Sri Isana Nagara’s Advaita Prakasa (8.118-122) it is described how Sita-devi, the consort of Advaita Prabhu, received initiation in a dream from Srila Madhavendra Puri, but that Advaita Prabhu still found it necessary to give her a concrete, audible initiation.

But let us forget ISKCOn peculiar beliefs and  imagine the case of a Guru who has not left any official Lineage of Disciples , like Shirdi Sai Baba or Anandamayi Ma.

If I consider such a Person as My Guru how can I receive initiation from Him or Her? Actually I am sure that many holy Gurus did not leave an 'official' Parampara after their Final Samadhi.


texts: What is the Gita verse for "Worshipping demigods fulfils material desires, but for Moksha, one should worship Me."

texts:
Where does in Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna say that:

"Who worship demigods will get material desires, but to get moksha one must worship me only."


texts: Where are the cities of the of the gods?

texts:
Chapter 124 from Matsya Purana describes the cities of Indra, Varuna, Yama and Chandra surrounding Mount Meru and the Lokaloka mountains where the four guardians of the directions stay.

In other words, the Earth has the same measurement as the Heaven. To
the east of Meru, on the Manasottara mountain, is Vastveka-Sara, the
city of Mahendra. It is full of gold.
To the south of Meru is the city of Dharmaraja, called the Samyamana,
on the back of the Manasa mountain. Vaivasvata Dharmaraja resides
there.
To the west of Sumeru, on the top of the Manasa mountain, is the fair
city of Varuna named Susa.
North of the Meru, on the top of the Manasa mountain, is the Vibhavari
city of Moon (Sirnea). It is like the city of Mahendra.
To the north of the Manasa mountain, are the Lokapalas in the four
directions, for the propagation of virtue and the protection of the
universe.

The description of this book 'Religion and Philosophy of the Padma Purana' also describes Brahma's abode as Vairaja and ascribes it to the Padma Purana.
Are there such cities of other gods as well?
And what is the difference between the cities of the gods and the Lokas associated with them? (Like Indraloka, Somaloka, Vishnuloka etc.)


texts: As per Shiva Purana what are the 28 avatars of Shiva as said to Brahma?

texts: As per Shiva Purana which 28 avatars of Shiva did he tell to Brahma? Also Shiva said the names of Sage Vyasa of each Mahayuga. What are those?


texts: Why some Hindu Scriptures are against women?

texts:
Lord Indra himself has said, 'The mind of woman cannot be disciplined; she has very little intelligence.' " Rig Veda 8.33.17

Women are powerless, have no inheritance, and speak more humbly than even a bad man. Krishna Yajur Veda Taittiriya Samhita 6.5.8.2

Women by nature are crooked, fickle, devoid of religious knowledge, and bring about difference between father and sons -Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda, Sarga 45.29-30


texts: How does Vedanta Desikan interpret Ramanujacharya’s statement about Brihaspati’s brother Samvarta?

texts:
The Satadhusani is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan consisting of 100 refutations of Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy of Advaita. One chapter of the work is devoted to refuting the Advaita view that those who have attained Brahmajnana do not have to follow the rules of Varnashrama Dharma.  One of the Advaita arguments Vedanta Desikan refutes is the argument that there are scriptural examples of people who didn’t follow Varnashrama Dharma because they had Brahmajnana, like Brihaspati’s brother Samvarta who used to wander around naked.  Here is how Vedanta Desikan responds to that.

  [Opponent:] "Since the authoritative texts disclose that Ribhu, Shuka, Samvarta and the like practised nudity and other similar vows, we believe that they were outside all the ashramas." [Response:] That is not true, because even nudity is a special kind of vow that aims at enduring rain, wind, heat, and the like; a vow that is associated with the special practice of eating each mouthful completely (as soon as it is received). It is a vow that only certain unique men of ancient times were qualified to perform. If he were outside the ashramas, how could the king have chosen Samvarta, who was subsisting on air alone, as the priest for his sacrifice? Nudity, therefore, is just a special vow common to all varnas and ashramas, for only householders can perform priestly functions and the like. In the olden days even a widower, after fulfilling certain conditions such as taking a (new) wife, was considered fit to function as a priest.

I discuss the case of Shuka in my answer here.  But I’m interested in the parts in bold.  Vedanta Desikan is saying that Samvarta is not an Anashrami, one who belongs to no Ashrama, rather he was a Grihasti who just happened to perform a scripturally sanctioned vow of nudity.  But this section of Ramanujacharya’s Sri Bhashya seems to say something different:

  Those also who do not stand within any Ashrama are qualified for knowledge, 'because that is seen,' i.e. because the texts declare that men such as Raikva, Bhîshma, Samvarta and others who did not belong to Ashrama were well grounded in the knowledge of Brahman.

Note that the actual issues that Ramanujacharya and Vedanta Desikan are discussing are different; Ramanujacharya is talking about the fact that Anashramis are eligible to pursue Brahmajnana, because meditation on the Brahmavidyas has only Varna restrictions and not Ashrama restrictions, whereas Vedanta Desikan is talking about the fact that Brahmajnanis cannot abandon their Ashrama.  But my question is, how does Vedanta Desikan interpret Ramanujacharya’s statement that Samvarta “did not belong to Ashrama”?

Vedanta Desikan wrote a commentary on the Sri Bhashya, the Tattva Tika, but only a small part of it survives.  But he also wrote a work called the Adhikarana Saravalli summarizing each Adhikarana of the Sri Bhashya, so does that shed any light on this?


texts:
Azhagiya sarasa sanja slokas

In this youtube video telling the name of this slokam at 10:55 min to 11:06 min. This slokas will be help for our speech. I need this slokas for improving speech


texts: Why are currency notes kept in the hand of Varanasi Annapurna?

texts:
The Golden Annapurna of Varanasi is seen to hold currency notes in the pot in Her left hand.

Mother Annapurna according to the dhyana-sloka is known to hold a pot of rice. Why are then currency notes kept here?


texts: Do Deities in their Moola form have to make a living, like us?

texts:
Do they have to earn food, clothing and shelter?  Or is it that their bodies are spiritual in nature and do not need these things?
Avataras of course eat food, wear clothes and so forth.


texts: What is Astrology and what are its benefits?

texts:
What kind of questions can an astrologer answer (or predict the results) correctly?
What are the different types of astrology?

Do all of them give accurate results?
Which among them is mostly used today and why?


texts: Is Dwarapalaga in Shiva temples is Nataraja?

texts: In certain Shiva temples I have seen Nataraja posture idol as Dwarapalaga at entrace of Shiva linga sannadhi. Is it Nataraja being Dwarapalaga or is it just a posture? What Shaiva agama says about this?


texts: Do the scriptures mandate that the devotee regularly visit a temple?

texts: Is there any mention in the scriptures to regularly visit temples?


texts:
Where did Rakshasas live during the time of the Ramayana?
According to the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Rakshasas, Pisachas, ghosts, etc live in Antariksha loka, which is basically Bhuva Loka, which is right above Earth and below Swarga:

Text 5: Beneath Vidyādhara-loka, Cāraṇaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antarikṣa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, ghosts and so on. Antarikṣa extends as far as the wind blows and the clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air.
Text 6: Below the abodes of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas by a distance of 100 yojanas [800 miles] is the planet earth. Its upper limits extend as high as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly.

Does the Ramayana say the Rakshasas lived in Antariksha loka or somewhere else?


texts: What all Hindu scriptures advocate The Golden Rule? And what is the oldest Hindu scripture to advocate it?

texts:
According to Wikipedia, The Golden Rule, treat others as you treat yourself, is common to most world religions. Here are a couple of references from Hindu scripture:

One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Other behavior is due to selfish desires.
— Brihaspati, Mahabharata (Anusasana Parva, Section CXIII, Verse 8)
श्रूयतां धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चाप्यवधार्यताम्।
आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत्।।
If the entire Dharma can be said in a few words, then it is—that which is unfavorable to us, do not do that to others.
— Padmapuraana, shrushti 19/357–358

What other/all Hindu scriptures advocate this Golden Rule?
What is the oldest Hindu scripture to advocate it? Do the Vedas (saṃhitas) mention this rule?


texts: Why are onions and garlic considered aamish (non-veg) among Hindus? Is there a scientific / religious reason for it?


texts: Are there any references to the Brahma Samhita before Chaitanya Mahprabhu?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, one of the early movements that was important to the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures to worship the sage Narayana, an ancient incarnation of Vishnu.  The Pancharatra movement eventually merged with the Bhagavata moevemebt, which worshipped four forms of god (Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha), and then the followers of this combined movement realized that it was no coincidence that the Bhagavata deities share the names of Krishna, his brother Balatama, his son Pradyumna, and his grandson Aniruddha.  And then when it was realized that Krishna was an incarnation of Vishnu, Vaishnavism as we understand it today was born.

In any case, among the oldest Pancharatra texts are the Satvata Samhita, the Paushkara Samhita, the Ahirbudhnya Samhita, and the Jayakhya Samhita.  But there's another Pancharatra text that is popular among Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the Brahma Samhita.  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 16th century Vaishnava thinker and founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, is said to have discovered this text in the Adikesava Perumal Vishnu Temple in Tamil Nadu.  Here is how the Chaitanya Charitamrita, the standard account of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's life, describes it:

  In the temple of Adi-kesava, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu discussed spiritual matters among highly advanced devotees. While there, He found a chapter of the Brahma-samhita.  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was greatly happy to find a chapter of that scripture, and symptoms of ecstatic transformation -- trembling, tears, perspiration, trance and jubilation -- were manifest in His body.  There is no scripture equal to the Brahma-samhita as far as the final spiritual conclusion is concerned. Indeed, that scripture is the supreme revelation of the glories of Lord Govinda, for it reveals the topmost knowledge about Him. Since all conclusions are briefly presented in the Brahma-samhita, it is essential among all the Vaishnava literatures.  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu copied the Brahma-samhita, and then with great pleasure He went to a place known as Ananta Padmanabha.

You can read the Brahma Samhita here; only chapter 5 of it survives, although it's claimed that it was originally 100 chapters long.  Western historians generally claim that due to the style of the language, it's likely a relatively late text.

My question is, what is the earliest reference to the Brahma Samhita?  Are there any records or scriptures dating back to before the time of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which mention this text?


texts: Is this verse from the Brihaspati Smriti telling to kill rape victims?

texts:
This verse appears to enjoin killing rape victims:

When a woman has been enjoyed against her will, she shall be kept in the house well guarded, smeared (with ashes), lying on a low couch, and receiving a bare maintenance only.

To atone for her sin, she shall be caused to perform the Krikkhra or Parâka penance, in case she had intercourse with her equal in caste; but if she has been enjoyed by a man of inferior caste, she shall be abandoned and put to death.

This is contrary to common sense and other shastras. Why does the woman sin for being the victim of rape?
Is this a problem of translation? What is the original sanskrit? Can someone provide a commentary for this verse?
Interestingly, the Brihaspati Smriti also says:

Fourthly, Brihaspati declares emphatically that any Smriti text
opposed to the teaching of Manu has no validity (XXVII, 4).


texts:
There are few things confuse me about what happen to atma after death, even after reading this thread.

There are some slokas which are used in narayan bali puja, I think those slokas are from vedas and garuda purana. In most of the pitru puja, I've seen atma enter into other living body, and that person doesn't know anything about it. My uncle have face such a thing, and me and he both are not fully believer on such a thing. But he said I don't know what happen to him during puja. So is it really possible? Here is another quote from narayan bali puja wikipedia.

  "A dummy body mostly made of wheat dough is used. Vedic Mantras are
  chanted to invoke such lost souls. It is believed that the ritual
  makes the souls of the dead to possess the dummy body which is later
  set alight with the pyre supposed to let the soul to liberate and
  transcend."

I've seen such a thing many time, sometimes it is either fake, sometimes it looks too real. I do believe in vedas, but not in purana(not much).

There are loads of Paliya are in Gujarat. There are many stories which looks true and people really believe on it, even I do believe in it. So those heroes who die there doesn't take reincarnation? Or they attain swarga loka and capable to fulfill their worshiper wish?

Update: You guys talking about yogi, and I"m talking about normal people. I don't see it is duplicate question at all. Here brahamna chant few mantra/slokas and other soul enter into other living body. There are many pitru puja like this, and in all same thing happen. OK I accept that atma can enter into other living body, but for how much time? If atma enter into other body then what about karma cycle? If he/she have done some good/wrong then why don't they take another incarnation? Here many times pitru wait(for example 100 year) for their grandson to do some puja, then it means they can wait. Similarly many bad soul enter into other jiva, I mean how do they have choice to not take another incarnation? And what about paliya? those have died in 15th century and still they did not take any other form? I mean do atma have such a choice?


texts: Difference between Siddhas meditating on demigods and on Supreme Being?

texts:
In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna said..

  yajante sattvika devan
  yaksa-raksamsi rajasah
  pretan bhuta-ganams
  canye yajante tamasa janah

Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods;
those in the mode of passion worship the yakshas and rakshasas;
and those in the mode of ignorance
worship ghosts and spirits.

What about Siddhis meditating on Supreme being? What is the difference between those Siddhis who meditate on the demigods and those who meditate on supreme being? Will there be any difference of the powers?


texts: does the word "Puja" to denote a religious observance occur in scripture?

texts:
Suniti Kumar Chatterji, the eminent linguist, has said that the concept of Puja is a distinctive contribution of the Dravidians.

It occurs in the Bhagavad Gita in a general sense

  Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 4
  भगवद् गीता अध्याय 2 श्लोक 4

  अर्जुन उवाच
  कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन।
  इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन।।2.4।।

  English Translation - Swami Gambirananda

  2.4 Arjuna said O Madhusudana, O destroyer of enemies, how can I fight with arrows in battle against Bhisma and Drona who are worthy of adoration?

But where does it occur first to denote the formal act of worship as performed contemporarily?


texts: what is Nadi Astrology(nāḍi jyotiṣa) in Hindu astrology

texts:
What is nadi jyotish(nāḍi jyotiṣa) in Hindu astrology?
How much the predictions  exactly true?
Does anyone have any idea about that temple's name ?
How nadi jyotish is different from kundli?


texts:
A lot of people I see refer to Bhagavad Gita as success manual, many successful  people like Dr. Vivek Bindra, Mahatma Gandhi, and even Einstein. Have referred to it.
Does Bhagvad Gita prepares us for success in Life?


texts: How did Ashwatthama pray to and invoke Lord Shiva on the last night of the war?

texts:
As I discuss in my answer here, Lord Mahadeva entered inside Ashwatthama and Ashwatthama did mass destruction after that:

  Having said these words unto the high-souled Ashvatthama, the divine Mahadeva entered Ashvatthama's body after giving him an excellent and polished sword. Filled by that divine being, Drona's son blazed up with energy. In consequence of that energy derived from godhead, he became all-powerful in battle. Many invisible beings and rakshasas proceeded along his right and his left as he set out, like the lord Mahadeva himself, for entering the camp of his foes.

How did Ashwatthama invoke Lord Shiva at that time? Is the prayer by which he prayed available?


texts: Are the eight directions and their deities associated with eight orifices of body? If so, can someone please list the deities associated with each of the orifices, and their associated organs?


texts: Sri Rama and squirrel.. where did this story originate?

texts:
There is a famous story about a squirrel helping Sri Rama in building the bridge (Rama setu) to go to Lanka.

A squirrel sees Vanara army accumulating boulders and rocks for the bridge. A squirrel decides to help Sri Rama and picks up sand and pebbles. Sri Rama notices it and appreciates the effort of the squirrel and warmly stroked the back of the squirrel with his fingers. Since then, it is believed that squirrels have three lines on their body.

The moral of the story is to recognise and appreciate the help even when it comes from a small person.

This story is not a part of Ramayana written by Valmiki and Ramcharit Manas written by Goswami Tulsidas. These aren't the only versions of Ramayana. There are many other versions by many poets.

Question:

What is the origin of this story involving Sri Rama and squirrel?

From which later versions of Ramayana did this story originate?

Related question: Why do only Indian squirrels have stripes on them?


texts: How was the Moon created according to Veda/Puranas/Upanishads?

texts: There are many questions and answers about creation of the Universe on the stackexchange. However, I am interested in finding out how and when the Moon was created. Please share also the relevant scriptural references.


texts:
I was recently watching a documentary about symbolism in ancient culture on YouTube.

It proclaims that Karthiyeka and Mars are same, which per my information is a new concept. Can someone corroborate the claim? Does the story of Skanda tell such a comparison between the two seemingly separate gods?


texts: What do the scriptures say about inter-caste marriage?

texts:
Please don't hijack the question with other related things like equality and caste.

Only post answers with sources to scriptures that particularly talk about inter caste marriage.

Sources are necessary. Don't make claims without links to sources.

Cite sources with excerpts and explanation.


texts: King who sacrificed for pre-war Kurukshetra

texts:
Before the Mahabharata war, a Kshatriya with a flawless body had to be sacrificed. In the Pandavas camp, only Krishna and Arjuna had flawless bodies but they couldn't be sacrificed. So Aravan came forward and offered him on the condition that he wanted to marry before he dies.

Aravan or Iravan is the son of Arjuna and Ulupi, the Naga Princess who came forward for the ritual.

Is that true that Aravan was sacrificed in the pre-war of Kurukshetra?


texts: What is the difference between these four types of Brahmanas?

texts:
I got the following four categories of Brahmanas from Which of the Brahmana says, "wife is half her husband?"

[A] Shatapatha Brahmana
[B] Aitareya Brahmana
[C] Gopatha Brahmana
[D] Taittiriya Brahmana

Any difference between these?


texts: What commentary on the Brahma Sutras does the Saiva Siddhanta Church support?

texts:
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays.  For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here) and simply adopt Shiva as their Ishta Devata.  True philosophical Shaivism is relatively rare nowadays (in contrast to Vaishnavism which is pretty common).  I discussed one genuine Shaivite sect, the Lingayat sect of Basava, in my answer here.  But my question is about a more famous sect of Shaivism, known as Shaiva Siddhanta.

Just as the Sri Vaishnava sect is based on the Pancharatra Agamas and the poems of the 12 Alwars, Shaiva Siddhanta is based on the Shaiva Agamas and the poems of the 63 Nayanars.  In any case, the standard Shaiva Siddhanta commentary on the Brahma Sutras is the Srikantha Bhashya, which you can read here.  As I discuss in this question, it was composed by Srikantha Shivacharya and it advocates a philosophy of Shivadvaita, aka Shiva Visishtadvaita, which is similar to Ramanujacharya's philosophy of Visishtadvaita except Vishnu is replaced by Shiva.

Now the most Shaiva Siddhanta organization is the Saiva Siddhanta Church, which publishes the magazine Hinduism Today. I assumed that they believed in Srikantha's philosophy of Shivadvaita, but their website says this:

  There are six main sub-sects in Saivism. The Saiva Siddhanta Church is of the original Saiva Siddhanta expounded by Saint Tirumular, associated with South India. Of the six sub-sects, it is the oldest and closest to the Advaita found in the Upanishads and Agamas. A divergent school within Saiva Siddhanta evolved out of the dualistic interpretations made by the philosopher Meykanda Devar in the Sivajnana Bodham and its commentary, Vartika, one thousand three-hundred years after the original postulations of Saint Tirumular were put forth. This school is also known as Saiva Siddhanta. A second sub-sect is known as the Pratyabhijna Saivism of Kashmir, founded by Vasugupta and known also as Kashmir Saivism. A third Saiva sub-sect is Vira Saivism, founded by Basava Deva in Central India, commonly called Lingayat Saivism. The fourth is Pasupata, founded by Nakulisa and now associated with Gujarat. The fifth is Siddha Siddhanta of North India whose founder is Goraksanath; and the sixth Saiva sub-sect is known as Siva Advaita, founded by Sri Kanta in South India.

So it looks like the Saiva Siddhanta Church believes in a philosophy of Advaita, not the Shivadvaita philosophy of Srikantha.

My question is, what commentary on the Brahma Sutras does the Saiva Siddhanta church subscribe to?  Do they believe in Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya?  Adi Shankaracharya's commentary criticizes the Shaiva Agamas, so it seems unlikely.  And they seems to clearly reject the Srikantha Bhashya.  Is there another Shaiva Siddhanta commentary on the Brahma Sutras? The Shaivite philosopher Appaya Dikshitar wrote an Advaitic reinterpretation of Srikantha's philosophy, but the Saiva Siddhanta Church seems to reject Srikantha's tradition outright.

Does anyone know if the Saiva Siddhanta Church has published or endorsed any commentary on the Brahma Sutras?


texts: What are the texts associated with the six Vedangas?

texts:
The six Vedangas are Siksha, Chhanda, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha and Kalpa. It seems the texts associated with them are not of the same name for example, Asthadhayi and Mahabhasya are associated with the Vyakarana.

Is there any mention (in scriptures or works of saints) about texts associated with the six Vedangas?


texts: Is Guru-Shishya relation carry forward across multiple births?

texts:
Rebirth, a major tenet of Hinduism, is when the soul, which is seen as eternal and part of a spiritual realm, returns to the physical realm in a new body.

There are multiple mentions of rebirth in Hinduism, including below Bhagvad Gita shloka,

  वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय

  नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।

  तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा

  न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही

  As, after casting away worn out garments, a man later takes new ones.
  So after casting away worn out bodies, the embodied Self encounters
  other new ones

So lets say in one birth one soul makes one person a Guru. Does this relation of Guru-Shishya carry forward for both of the souls when they take rebirth? Or in next birth the soul may get a different soul as Guru?

Is this relationship details mentioned in any Hinduism scriptures?


texts: Why did Arjuna allow Draupadi to marry all 5 Pandava brothers? Why did he not disobey his mother?

texts:
I understand that there are many versions of this story in the Mahabharata, but in one of them, it is said that Arjuna had brought Draupadi home after winning her Swayamvaram. Arjuna had told his mother Kunti that he had brought alms, to which she said to share the alms equally amongst his brothers. Hence Draupadi was forced to marry not just Arjuna but also his four other brothers. Why was this the case? Surely it is worse to force someone to marry not just one, but four other people she never wanted to marry, than to disobey his mother's orders?
Edit: The answers to the question "Why did all the Pandavas marry Draupadi?" is not an answer to my question, as I am more interested to know why it wasn't stopped.
Edit 2: I will summarise what I understand to be the answer to my question:

Arjun couldn't disobey his mother and his eldest brother because it would be adharmam.
Draupadi was "bought" by Arjun through his show of valour, therefore from that moment onwards she had no say in who she married.


texts:
What are the benefits of chanting the Chamunda mantra

aim hrim klim ....

whether this can be used as a protector mantra from evil effects or give response to those who do bad things?


texts: How can we look same/equally to boys and girls?

texts:
In GITA  there is shloka in chapter 5 Verse 18

vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śhuni chaiva śhva-pāke cha paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśhinaḥ

My thinking : I didn't deeply understand this quote
In teenage age, girl is attracted to a handsome boy, boys are attracted to beautiful girls. But we are not attracted to ugly face girls or ugly face boys.
My question is that how can we look equally to ugly face girls/boys and beautiful face boys/girls?
Is there any technique?


texts: Can the 4,000 years old mural etched into the Darband-i-Belula cliff, Iraq be linked to Sri Rama and Sri Hanuman?

texts:
A mural found in Iraq:

  An Indian delegation undertook an expedition in Iraq in June to look
  at a mural from circa 2000 BCE that the Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan
  believes represents an image of Lord Ram.

  The mural is etched into the Darband-i-Belula cliff, overlooking a
  narrow pass in Iraq’s Horen Shekhan area. It depicts a bare-chested
  king holding a bow, a quiver of arrows at his side and a dagger or
  short sword in his belt, and a supplicant with folded palms who the
  Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan director thinks is an image of Hanuman.

  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/ram-footprints-on-iraqs-cliff-indian-embassy-tracks-mural/articleshow/69950327.cms

Can anyone have idea about this subject?


texts: What is the right method of making a vow to god?

texts: Often I get a lot of thoughts that tell me to sacrifice something, to do some japa or do some action so it would help a situation that I am worrying about. Some times it is a thought that pops in the head that goes like 'I will do this this this...' Other times it's more like a threat, that if I don't do it something bad will happen. So I want to understand if these voices in my head, sometimes intentional and sometimes unintentional are counted as an vow to god and also what is the right method to make a vow to god.


texts:
I was wondering if there is any reference to giving of tithe (a certain percentage of ones income) in Vedas?

Is dana same as tithe?


texts: How to prepare oneself for the grace of Guru?

texts:
It is said that once the student is ready the Guru will appear before him, but my question is what are the basic steps a person (wanting to be a student seeking a true guru) should follow in order to prepare himself for the grace of the Guru and how does he/she know that he/she is doing them properly or not?
Please do cite references from authentic resources.


texts: Can mantras help transfer energy miraculously to a person or object?

texts:
By means of a secret Mantra or formula a spiritual guru or God when pleased can donate or transfer spiritual energy to others... for example at the end of an arduous dedicated work or tapas to a devotee as a boon.

EDIT 1:

It is possible to believe in it without remaining skeptic. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa took upon himself (He received, not transmitted a malady, may be cancer, from a devotee that he suffered at his Samadhi time. So also Sai Baba of Shirdi showed his devotees and even disbelievers many instances of such miracles. He declared the Spiritual energy can be effectively transferred, responding where trust and belief are present even after SaiBaba ceased to mortally exist. In the Thyagaraja movie overflowing energy of the musician could effectively cure the sick by his prayer and sympathetic wishes. So did Jesus of Nazereth..it seems to be a phenomenon of pure spirit and associated with no faith in particular.

As for power delivery through Astras a Mantra is invoked into an arrow before releasing the bow to shoot in war.. for spreading water or fire as a missile or for killing enemies in combat is well  known in mythology. Sitha matha threatened to slay Ravana if he violated while captive just using a blade of grass.

The energy can be directed to an Astra or another person. It is activated by the recipient when the Mantra is invoked. The Source/Giver repeatedly transfers or transmits spiritual energy for a good cause or destruction in war as may be intended or desired.

Have such miraculous events been in evidence in recent times? Is it a form of telepathy? For example during Maha Kumbh Mela by some Yogis? Or is such power lost out in the Kali Yuga?


texts: What is the story of Sri VadirAja tirtha?

texts:
He was a famous acharya in Madhva tradition.

He was considered as a great devotee of lord Hayagreeva.

What was his life story?

Are there any miracles associated with him?

What are his important kritis?


texts: Why is Lord Rama never mentioned in the Mahabharata?

texts: I wonder why there is no context about Lord Rama previous incarnation of Lord Vishnu before Lord Krishna. Only Hanuman is mentioned in the story.


texts:
Ram Ram brothers and sisters

I’m relatively new to Hinduism so I was just wondering if someone could tell me what is written on Hanuman’s chest in this picture, I can’t seem to find any information online about it.


texts: What are three refinings or three types of cleansing mentioned in Rigveda 3.26.8?

texts:
I am talking about following verse of Rigveda:

त्रिभिः पवित्रैरपुपोद्ध्यर्कं हृदा मतिं ज्योतिरनु प्रजानन्।
वर्षिष्ठं रत्नमकृत स्वधाभिरादिद्द्यावापृथिवी पर्यपश्यत्॥ ३.०२६.०८

Transliteration:
tri̱bhiḥ pa̱vitrai̱rapu̍po̱ddhya1̱̍rkaṃ hṛ̱dā ma̱tiṃ jyoti̱ranu̍ prajā̱nan .
varṣi̍ṣṭha̱ṃ ratna̍makṛta sva̱dhābhi̱rādiddyāvā̍pṛthi̱vī parya̍paśyat .. 3.026.08
English translation:
8 Bearing in mind a thought with light accordant, he purified the Sun with three refinings;
By his own nature gained the highest treasure, and looked abroad over the earth and heaven.

What are three refining things or three kind of purification mentioned by "tri̱bhiḥ pa̱vitra..." in this verse of Rigveda?


texts: Why did Vaidya raj Sushen heal Lakshmana but never heal Surpanakha (who had her nose and ears cut off), in Ramayana?

texts: Vibhishana informed Sri Rama about a physician, Sushena, who lived in Lanka. Hanumana was asked to bring him. He brought Vaidya Sushena, together with his house. Vaidya Sushena, well aware that he was a physician attached to the kingdom of Ravana, and that treating Lakshmana could end up annoying Ravana, took a conscious ethical decision of treating the wounded Lakshmana.


texts:
Who was the author of the Manusmriti?

Now many of you might say "Manu", but it's actually not quite clear from the text itself.

First of all, the word "Manusmriti" means "recollection of Manu", where "smriti" means "recollection."

And second, the first line of Medhatithi's Manuscript of the Manusmriti says this:

  The Great Sages, having approached Manu, paid their respect to him in
  due form, and finding him seated with mind calm and collected,
  addressed him these words—(1).

And the last verse:

  The twice-born man who reads these Ordinances of Manu, shall be ever
  equipped with virtue and shall attain whatever state he may
  desire.—(126)

It's referring to Manu in the 3rd person, which means that Manu did not write the verses of the Manusmriti.

If you continue reading, you'll notice that the Manusmriti reads like a story with a certain narrator.

So who was this narrator who wrote the Manusmriti?

From scripture, we know that Valmiki wrote the Ramayana and Vyasa narrated the Mahabharata, which was penned by Ganesha.

But who wrote or penned the Manusmriti?

According to Medhatithi on this Manusmriti verse which talks about the nature of the Dharma Shastras, he says the words of Manu were recorded in an "unbroken lineage."

Which basically means this, according to Indologists:


texts: Where can I get English or Kannada translation of Khandanatraya of Shri Madhwacharya?

texts:
If you have online links of one or more of Khandanatraya Granthams of Shri Madhwacharya with Kannada or English translation, please share it.

Khandanatraya:
1. Mayavada khandana
2. Upadhi khandana
3. Prapancha Mithyathavnumana khandana

If you have one or more of links for these granthams with translation please share it.


texts: What does it mean when Shukadeva says IKSHVAKU was born from nose of MANU?

texts:
Srimad Bhagavatam Chapter 9.6 shloka 4 .

क्षुवतस्तु मनोर्जज्ञे इक्ष्वाकुर्घ्राणतः सुतः ।
तस्य पुत्रशतज्येष्ठा विकुक्षिनिमिदण्डकाः ॥ ४॥

What did shukadeva mean when he says that ikshavaku was born from the nose of manu while sneezing ?


texts: The Prapancha (Universe) is very very huge and ever expanding and many solar systems are there and Earth is like a dust particle compared to the Prapancha.As of now we know humans exist only in Earth. Why the God(Paramathma) has created Prapancha where he has created humans in a tiny part like Earth...Even considering the three or Fourteen logas the Prapancha is very very huge ...My observation /query is the major  part of Prapancha (Universe) is empty


texts: Do we have any details about the oldest idol of any Hindu God found anywhere in the world?

texts:
What is the oldest idol of any Hindu God being found anywhere in the world?
If possible provide some details about how much old it was.
How did it look like? And what material was it made of?

Please provide any image of the same if possible.


texts: Was it the Rig Vedic king Sudas?  He is said to have fought in the battle of ten kings.


texts: Brahma Sutra from Ganapatya or Shakta Standpoint?

texts: Is their any commentary written on Brahma Sutra from a Ganapatya or Shakta Standpoint?


texts: How our great Maharishis did a concentration lots of time?

texts:
I have doubt on mind-concentration which is done by our great Rishi-munis in ancient time. I have tried to concentrate but I was disturbed in little time. What technique or method was he used to doing a concentrate?

Note: Here, I don't talk about tapasya. I Just try to understand what he did in the early morning.


texts: What scriptures describe night being caused by mount Meru?

texts:
Lalla's Shishyavriddhida Tantra is a Hindu astronomical work dating to the 8th century.  In this chapter of the Shishyavriddhida Tantra, Lalla attempts to refute various astronomical theories he regards as false.  Most of the theories he tries to refute are ones found in Hindu scripture: the theory that eclipses are caused by Rahu and Ketu, the theory that the Earth is supported by the serpent Adiseshan, the theory that the Moon is farther than the Sun, the theory that the Earth moves, etc.  But there's one theory he tries to refute that I'm not familiar with:

  Again, some say that the night is caused by the darkness due to the mountain Meru....  If the night of the men in this world is caused by the Meru covering the Sun, tell me how the night of the gods, (who live on the Meru) and feed on nectar, is caused.  (Therefore the statement) is irrational.  When the Sun goes to the southern part (of the ecliptic beginning with) Libra, it is always night for the dwellers of Meru.  When it moves along the north (of the ecliptic beginning with) Aries, (it is continuous night) for the demons.  When the Sun is hidden by part of the earth, it is night for the men also.  Just as the shadow of a tree is longer when it is directly opposite to the Sun than at other times, so is the part of the shadow of the earth (directly) opposite to the Sun.

So Lalla concludes that night is caused not by the shadow of mount Meru, but rather by the shadow of the Earth, which incidentally is the view of modern science.  But my question is, what scriptures describe night being caused by the shadow of mount Meru?

I have come across passages in the Puranas which describe the Sun (and other planets) circling mount Meru.  But does anyone know if any scriptures say that night is caused by Meru blocking the Sun?


texts: How has Lord Vishnu's understanding developed and what was his role initially?

texts:
I've recently come by an excellent research on how the understanding of Shiva has been evolving through the ages and I wonder whether such a research has been made with respect to Vishnu. The book I am referring to is Mahadev Chakravarti's book.

My question is what sphere did he initially preside over and which spheres, possibly belonging to some non-Vedic deities, were further added to his domain? Like in the example of Shiva, to the Vedic Rudra image the death-fertility compound was added, stemming from the Dravidian culture according to the above-mentioned source. What I'm interested here are those spheres of governance themselves, their evolution and the possible changes in stress between them.

I have a hard time trying to describe Vishnu in terms: as god of x. It is as if he suddenly became god of "all", advancing from a mere swift warrior in Indra's army.


texts:
I have heard the audio of Sri Bhuvaneshwati Ashtakam here https://youtu.be/IzzZOwqAL1k but didn't find text version of it.

Can someone point me the text (English transliteration if possible) of Sri Bhuvaneshwari Ashtakam?


texts: If Lord Krishna is the father and mother of this Universe then why are we so different?

texts:
In this verse 9.17 of Bhagwat Gita , God says the following:

It is I who am the Vedic ritual, I am the sacrifice, and I am the
oblation offered to the ancestors. I am the medicinal herb, and I am
the Vedic mantra. I am the clarified butter, I am the fire and the act
of offering. Of this universe, I am the Father; I am also the Mother,
the Sustainer, and the Grandsire. I am the purifier, the goal of
knowledge, the sacred syllable Om. I am the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and
the Yajur Veda.

My question is: if Lord is the father and also the mother of this Universe ,which includes us, then why we look so different , speak so different , act so different?


texts: Was Sri Krishna's vishwaroopam seen by anyone before the Gita Upadesha?

texts:
In the 11th chapter of Gita; it is said that  this vishwaroopam was never seen or heard by anyone before and arjuna needed special divya drsti to witness it. Which i believe is correct.

  BG 11.6: Behold in me, O scion of the Bharatas, the (twelve) sons of
  Aditi, the (eight) Vasus, the (eleven) Rudras, the (twin) Ashwini
  Kumars, as well as the (forty-nine) Maruts and many more marvels never
  revealed before.

But some of the answers and questions here claim that vishwaroopam was already shown in the court of Kurus.

Is this true? (what about the contradiction)

Because the claim made in geeta is that its never heard or seen before.

Secondly, no one in the court was given divya drsti to witness it .

It can be possible that the one in court was a divine form but not necessarily the vishwaroopam itself.


texts: Is there any Bhakti as we understand it today in the "Bhakti Yoga" chapter of the Gita?

texts:
like the Bhakti of Mirabai for Krishna.
or, like Swami Sivananda put it:
"Bhakti is the slender thread of Prem or love that binds the heart of a devotee with the lotus feet of the Lord. Bhakti is intense devotion and supreme attachment to God. Bhakti is supreme love for God. It is the spontaneous outpouring of Prem towards the Beloved. It is pure, unselfish, divine love or Suddha Prem. It is love for love's sake. There is not a bit of bargaining or expectation of anything here. This higher feeling is indescribable in words. It has to be sincerely experienced by the devotee."
also see
What is the Navavidha Bhakti?
If Bhakti is different from Bhakti Yoga - an answer would say yea or nay - whether there is Bhakti in the Bhakti Yoga chapter.


texts: Does Hinduism have a heaven and hell of the Abrahamic kind?

texts: In Abrahamic faiths, heaven and hell are physical destinations after one dies. In Hindu philosophy- there do seem to be heaven and hell- but also reincarnation. How are these two made compatible?


texts:
Kalidasa supposedly wrote this verse in the poem Megadootam.

  मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं दुरात्मनाम् |
  मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम् ||

  manasyEkam vachasyEkam karmaNyEkam dhurAthmanAm |
  manasyEkam vachasyEkam karmaNyEkam mahAthmanAm ||

  There is just one difference between people who are good and those who are not.  The thoughts, words and deeds of the bad do not match one another. The thoughts, words and deeds of the good people are all identical.

First of all, is Kalidasa the real author of this verse?

Secondly, what's the context in which this verse was written? Because one can easily apply the verse to Ravana and Duryodhana and argue that their thoughts, words and actions are all evil, match one another, that they are predictable, therefore they are "good" people.


texts: What is pancha angni yajna in agnihotra?

texts:
What is pancha kunda in agnihotra?
anvahrya, grahapathy, dakshinaagni and uttravedhi in agnihotra
what is their respective  meaning with short description of the offerings made?
Is Vaishwadeva homa a part of agnihotra?


texts: On what basis does the author of Ancient India say that the original Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa contained only 6,000 or 12,000 verses?

texts:
In Ancient India, which served as a textbook for Class XI students in India during the 1980s, the author, Ram Sharan Sharma, makes the following claim about Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa:

The two epics and the major Puranas seem to have been finally compiled by circa A. D. 400. Of the epics, the Mahabharata is older in age and possibly reflects the state of affairs from the 10th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. Originally, it consisted of 8800 verses and was called Jaya Samhita or the collection dealing with victory. These were raised to 24000 and came to be known as Bharata, named after one of the earliest Vedic tribes. The final compilation brought the verses to 100,000 which came to be known as the Mahabharata or the Shatasahasri Samhita. It contains narrative, descriptive and didactic material. The main narrative which relates to the Kaurava-Pandava conflict may belong to later Vedic times, the descriptive portion might be used for post-Vedic times, and the didactic portions generally for post-Maurya and Gupta times.
Similarly, the Ramayana originally consisted of 12000 verses, which were later raised to 24000. This epic has also its didactic portions which were added later. As a whole the text seems to have been composed later than the Mahabharata.

In a more recent version of the book published by the Oxford University Press, the author writes:

Similarly, the Ramayana of Valmiki originally consisted of 6000 verses which were raised to 12,000, and eventually to 24,000.

On what basis does the author say that Rāmāyaṇa originally contained only 6,000 or 12,000 ślokas?


texts: Why did Lord Rama and Lakshmana separate?

texts: I know at the end of Ramayana, Lord Rama and Lakshmana separated. But what is the reason for that?


texts: What is the story of Kapila son of Prahlada?

texts:
It is well-known that there are four Ashramas or stages of life in Hinduism: Brahmacharis or celibates, Grihastis or householder, Vanaprasthis or forest-dwellers, and Sanyasis or ascetics.  What is not as well-known, however, is that in ancient times, some people didn't believe in this system; here is what this chapter of the Baudhayana Dharma Sutras says:

  (Ascetics shall) say, 'Renouncing the works taught in the Veda, cut off from both (worlds), we attach okurselves to the central sphere (Brahman).' But the venerable teacher (declares) that there is one order only, because the others do not beget offspring. With reference to this matter they quote also (the following passage): 'There was, forsooth, an Âsura, Kapila by name, the son of Prahlâda. Striving with the gods, he made these divisions. A wise man should not take heed of them.' Because no (other meaning is) perceptible, (the text) 'Four paths,' &c., refers to sacrificial rites, (viz.) to Ishtis, animal sacrifices, Soma sacrifices, Darvîhomas.

I'm interested in the part in bold.  The argument is that the Ashrama system was invented by an Asura, Kapila son of Prahlada, so it's not valid.  But my question is, what is the story of Kapila son of Prahlada?  Because the only son of Prahlada is Virochana, whom I discuss in my question and answer here.

Now the name Kapila is famous; there are at least three figures named Kapila, some of whom may be the same person:

Vishnu's incarnation Kapila, who is the son of Brahma's son Kardama and Swayambhuva Manu's daughter Devahuti, who burned the sons of Sagara to ashes.
Kapila the founder of the atheistic Samkhya school.
Kapila descendant of Angiras, who is described in this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata

Some people believe that the first and second Kapilas are the same.  Others, like Adi Shankaracharya, believe that the first and second Kapilas are different, and some like Baladeva Vidyabhushana believe that the first and second Kapilas are different but the second and third Kapilas are the same.  (See my question here for more details.) In any case, does Kapila son of Prahlada have any relation to any of these three figures, or is the name just a coincidence?

Are there any scriptures that shed light on the story of Kapila son of Prahlada and what role if any did he have in creating the Ashrama system.


texts: What is the difference between Cit in the word Sat- Cit- Ananda and Purusha?

texts: Cit = Consciousness and Purusha = Consciousness. Purusha is also known as Spirit . FIRSTLY can this Spirit be seen ? Secondly are Samskaras the veil that separate consciousness from super consciousness, and THIRDLY if this Spirit is seen is Ananda realized?


texts: Is any other religion or civilization mentioned in Mahabharata, Ramayana or other Hindu holy books?

texts:
Recently, I had a discussion with my friend regarding which civilization of the world is the most ancient. We've been through some Wiki links according to which more or less Sindhu Civilization is one of the most or (one and only) ancient civilization.

I would like to know are there any chapters, shlokas or poetry which mention any religion or civilization other than Hinduism?

I can see Ravana is not from India, he is from Sri Lanka and he was a devotee of Lord Shiva which in turn they call it as Hindu.

Can someone explain with links or trusted facts that if any Hindu related books like Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, etc mention any other religion or civilization?

Why we had this doubt is because Lord Rama was rich and powerful king of that time. Why did he ever try to invade or explore other places in the world ? Also in Mahabharata, Kauravas always want Pandavas part?

Or is it that in those times no other kingdom existed?


texts: Are lokas the same as multiple dimensions?

texts: Are lokas the same as physical multiple dimensions where we can born next life there?


texts: Why do people offer mustard oil to Lord Shani?

texts:
It is often seen that people offer mustard oil to Lord Shani, mostly on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

So, what is the significance behind pouring mustard oil over Lord Shani's Idol?

Image credits : blog.onlineprasad.com


texts:
Here's a verse from Chandogya Upanishad , chapter six.

  "It (Being or Brahman) thought: ‘May I be many; may I grow forth."

My question is, when Brahman, the supreme cosmic spirit , wished to multiply and develop into many names and forms , did the supreme cosmic spirit split into multiple souls ... and created separate individual identities in the process, when it split or broke away from the whole?

As per the dualists there are multiple souls or jeevatmas.

The advaitists on the other hand say, there is no duality and that our original selves (jeevatmas) are the same as the spirit whole aka Brahman.

Yes it may be true, that the basic substance or essence of the jeevatmas, is actually Brahman. Just like the basic substance of a clay pot is actually clay. So when we speak of Jivatma A , Jivatma B and Jivatma C , i guess the basic substance/essence is the same in all these three individuals (they are fragments of the cosmic spirit Brahman). But IMO, when the spirit whole, divided or became many, it's fragments became separate souls (jivatmas) each having their own individuality. Like if Jivatma A gets injured, only A will feel pain thru the indriyas and not B or C ... If C commits a heinous crime , then C will go to hell along with it's subtle body to suffer and not A or B. So it seems that we (trillions of souls) are not one big soul, that has entered or penetrated various flesh bodies, just like air enters an empty house ... In other words, we are not connected to each other. If our flesh bodies were connected by one big soul Brahman , then we would all suffer, enjoy, laugh, cry, feel etc. at the same time. Isn't it so? Correct me if i'm wrong.


texts: Which sukta of Yajurveda talks about vAjapeya

texts:
Could you please tell me which mandala and sukta of yajurveda the following reference talking about:
To me 1 of the most inspiring chants from the yajurveda is the chariot-race incantation used in the vAjapeya
https://mobile.twitter.com/blog_supplement/status/1359396544416534529
Update:
Answers to tweet thread point to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1032&v=60XZ3k85IWE


texts: How was indra worshiped during vedic age?

texts: How was indra worshiped during vedic age, was he worshiped through yagnas mostly?


texts:
The purport of sloka 207 of chapter 18 of Madhya-khanda of Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita reads:

  After being initiated, the devotees in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement change their names. Whenever a person in the Western world becomes interested in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, he is initiated by this process. In India we are falsely accused of converting mlecchas and yavanas into the Hindu religion. In India there are many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs known as jagad-guru, although they have hardly visited the whole world. Some are not even sufficiently educated, yet they make accusations against our movement and accuse us of destroying the principles of the Hindu religion by accepting Mohammedans and yavanas as Vaiṣṇavas. Such people are simply envious. We are not spoiling the Hindu system of religion but are simply following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by traveling all over the world and accepting those who are interested in understanding Kṛṣṇa as Kṛṣṇadāsa or Rāmadāsa. By the process of a bona fide initiation, their names are changed.

Except Shiva and Sri Krishna, the accepted Jagad-Gurus have been all sannyasins. Does one need to visit the entire world to acquire the Jagad-Guru title ? It is mentioned anywhere in our scriptures or the Mathanamnayas? If not, what makes one 'Jagad-Guru'?

Reference : https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/madhya/18?page=3&d=1


texts: Are Gods different for different religions? Whom to believe?

texts:
Hinduism says after death again birth has to be taken to enjoy the good deeds or to get punishment for bad deeds.

In Islam , it is believed that god sends us to Heaven if number of bad deeds are less than number of good deeds or man is sent to Hell. But man borns only once and life given to him is a Test.

Hinduism says it is necessary to do Pitru Shradhha ( for ancestors) otherwise man faces difficulties.

But non-hindus dont do any kind of shradhha ,  still every thing is OK for them.

Question arises what is true ?

Or there are different gods of different religions exists and when man dies , he is treated by god accoording to his religion ?

Whome to believe?


texts: How many additional verses are there in Vijayadwaja's edition of Bhagavata Purana?

texts:
From Dvaita tradition, Vijayadhwaja has commentary on the whole Bhagavata Purana. There are many additional verses/chapters in the edition that he used compared to Sridhara Svami's recension(which ISKCON/BBT is close to).

How many additional verses are there in Vijayadhwaja's text?


texts: Does any Scripture say women who are suffering period are untouchable by men or they cant go temple

texts:
Could anyone tell me about why womens are kept untouchable when they are in period.In which scripture it is mentioned.And any scientific explanation of it?
Because nowadays girls are becoming extra secular and liberal we have to explain them about that..


texts: Why did each Pandava fall during Svargarohani?

texts:
In final Mahabharata Mahaprasthanika Parva, during Svargarohani (ascent to heaven), 5 Pandavas and Draupadi take the long trek beyond Badrinath in Uttarakhand beyond Mana village (Satopanth marg exists even today).
Each Pandava drops dead one by one in a particular order - all except Yudhishtir (and a dog which was following them), who ascends to heaven.
What was the reason given by Yudhishtir when each one fell - what sins had they committed for their downfall ?


texts:
Scriptures say "vadha" for the killing of bad entities.
There is capital punishment, homicide, slaughtering animals for sacrifice etc.
Are there different terms for all these forms of killing and different dharmic rules concerning them?


texts: Do our parents in this birth will be our parents in every birth? Does this cycle revolves?

texts: I want to know if our parents will only be our parents in every birth cycle ?


texts: Awakening of Kundalini is possible without mentor/guru?

texts: I have read much about Kundalini in yoga. There are few yoga postures for awakening the kundalini. Without these yoga postures and without a guru, is it possible to get the experience of awakening of the kundalini?


texts: Why is burial preferred over cremation for enlightened beings and children?

texts:
For enlightened beings and children, the order of preference is burial over cremation, there are exceptions though like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda were cremated.

Some people say enlightened being and children are not attached to the body so they are buried and other beings are attached to body so they are cremated.

Even if this reason is true then also why not cremate enlightened beings and children instead of burying? Is burial better than cremation? Or any other reason is mentioned in any scripture in favor of burial over cremation?


texts: What are the differences between Sri Vaishnavism and Kashmiri Shaivism?

texts: I am aware that there are many differences in these two sampradayas. Kashmiri Shaivism being more monistic and Sri Vaishnavism qualified monism etc. In some ways I feel like Kashmiri Shaivism is more similar to Vishishtadvaita Vedanta than to Advaita Vedanta, but I couldn't find someone who made a comparison of the two yet, so it's hard to keep the thoughts organized. I was wondering if anyone have done that yet. Thanks!


texts:
We've often seen in many photos that Goddess Kali is topless or half-nude.

What is the meaning of this image?
Is this image questioning Hinduism's morality level?


texts:
Karna as we know gave up his grace (his blessings, which he got from the donations and charity all his life) to lord Krishna during the final stages of his life, and only then did he become too weak to be taken out.

So all his life's work of charity is gone and only thing remains is the bad things he did in the name of Friendship.

So is he in heaven or hell?


texts: Scriptures mentioning about death of stars

texts:
Consider the following line from Mahabharata

I see again that the luminous bodies, large and small, which move
in the firmament, fall down when their time comes.
[Section 179, Mokshadharma Parva,  Santi Parva, The Mahabharata]

It is saying that stars will eventually die.
Are there any scriptures earlier than Mahabharata do mention this fact of star death?


texts: What is Atiratra or Athirathram Yagna's?

texts:
While reading about various Yagnas which were performed during vaidic times , I came across this "Athirathram or Atiratra " Yagna's.

So my questions are - :

1) What is exactly these "Athirathram or Atiratra" Yagna?

2) In  Which scripture these Yagna's and it's procedure is mentioned ?

3) What is the purpose of some these Yagna?


texts: What is the story of demoness who used to attract shadows and killed by Lord Hanuman?

texts:
In Sundara Kanda, Verse 3 of Ramcharitamanas (as given below), it is mentioned that, there was a demoness used to live in Indian Ocean who attracts the shadow of flying objects and kill them for eating purpose. When Lord Hanuman was on his way to search of Mata Sita, that demoness attracts his shadow too and later killed by Lord Hanumana.

  निसिचरि एक सिंधु महुँ रहई। करि माया नभु के खग गहई।।
  जीव जंतु जे गगन उड़ाहीं। जल बिलोकि तिन्ह कै परिछाहीं।।
  गहइ छाहँ सक सो न उड़ाई। एहि बिधि सदा गगनचर खाई।।
  सोइ छल हनूमान कहँ कीन्हा। तासु कपटु कपि तुरतहिं चीन्हा।।
  ताहि मारि मारुतसुत बीरा। बारिधि पार गयउ मतिधीरा।।

I want to know what was her name and how she was killed of Lord Hanumana? Is this story mentioned in any other scriptures?


texts: Is there any statement of Adi Shankaracharya saying that Jiva can never become Brahman?

texts:
Till now, I use to believe that Advaitha always says that Jiva can become Brahman.
But recently I heard that Adi Shankaracharya contradicted it.
Is it true? Did Adi Shankara contradicted the statement that Jiva can become Brahman?


texts: Was it really Indra who killed Trishiras or was it someone called Trita?

texts:
Indra is described as having killed Trishiras and in revenge Tvastar created Vritra who was also slayed by Indra. But few verse from the Vedas mention someone else as the slayer of Trisiras:

Rig Ved Verse 10.8.7 states:

  7 Through his wise insight Trita in the cavern, seeking as ever the Chief Sire's intention, Carefully tended in his Parents' bosom, calling the weapons kin, goes forth to combat.

  8 Well-skilled to use the weapons of his Father, Āptya, urged on by Indra, fought the battle. Then Trita slew the foe seven-rayed, three-headed, and freed the cattle of the Son of Tvaṣṭar.

  9 9 Lord of the brave, Indra cleft him in pieces who sought to gain much strength and deemed him mighty. He smote his three heads from his body, seizing the cattle of the oniniform Son of Tvaṣṭar.

Another Verse RV 8.7.24 is extolling Maruts for helping Trita Aptya who was helped by Indra:

  24 They reinforced the power and strength of Trita as he fought, and helped Indra in battle with the foe.

The following verse RV 1.187 even mentions Trita as the one who killed Vritra:

  Now will I glorify Food that upholds great strength,
  By whose invigorating power Trita rent Vṛtra limb from limb.

So who did actually kill Trishiras & Vritra? If it is Trita who is he?

EDIT:

I found who Trita Aptya was in the Shatapatha Brahmana 1.2.3 which mentions the following:

  Fourfold, namely, was Agni (fire) at first. Now that Agni whom they at first chose for the office of Hotri priest passed away. He also whom they chose the second time passed away. He also whom they chose the third time passed away. Thereupon the one who still constitutes the fire in our own time, concealed himself from fear. He entered into the waters. Him the gods discovered and brought forcibly away from the waters. He spat upon the waters, saying, 'Bespitten are ye who are an unsafe place of refuge, from whom they take me away against my will!' Thence sprung the Âptya deities, Trita, Dvita, and Ekata.
  They roamed about with Indra, even as nowadays a Brâhman follows in the train of a king. When he slew Visvarûpa, the three-headed son of Tvashtri, they also knew of his going to be killed.; and straightway Trita slew him. Indra, assuredly, was free from that (sin), for he is a god.

So according to Shatapatha Brahmana it was indeed Trita who killed Trishiras. The story also helps us make some sense of the earlier Vedic verses regarding him knowing thec 'chief-sire's intention'. But then how do we reconcile this version with the verses that claim it was Indra who performed the act?

Please note I am not looking for Puranic versions only what can be gleaned from the Vedic literature like Samhitas, Brahmanas etc.


texts: How shall a foreigner develop their practice of Sanātana Dharma?

texts:
I will try to keep this general, but I'm also curious for me specifically.

I have read Sri Bhagavad Gītā and have begun listening to an audio version of the Mahābhārata. I connect with the concepts of advaita and māyā at a fundamental level. That is, nothing needed to convince me: I already felt these truths and Hinduism has confirmed my biases. I find jñāna yoga most appealing, but not necessarily to the exclusion of other yogas. I am interested in reading other scriptures and am not sure what to read next. However, I also recognize there are limitations to what I can gain from reading alone.

I like what I know about the philosophy of the Smārta tradition, but am not sure how one follows that path.

I can also appreciate what I know from Śaivam & Śāktaḥ and am particularly fond of the concept of Ardhanārīśwara. For me they are personifications of the apparent opposites and their actual unity, much as the Chinese tàijí represents the actual unity of yang & yin. However, I don't feel any bhaktí toward these manifestations—perhaps because I only see them as representational.

Also, I say/sing some mantra because they sound & feel nice.

With consideration to the above, how should someone living distant from a Hindu community begin developing their practice of Sanātana Dharma?


texts: Did the Samkhya school believe that animal sacrifice is an easily remedied sin?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa that summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads.  (You can read the Brahma Sutras here.)  Now in Adhyaya 3 Pada 1 Sutra 25 of the Brahma Sutras:

  aśuddhamiti cet, na, śabdāt

  If it be argued that rites (invoking killing of animals) are unholy, we say, no, since they are sanctioned by scriptures.

As I discuss in this question, most commentators on the Brahma Sutras agree that in this Sutra, Vyasa is saying that animal sacrifice in Vedic Yagnas is not a sin.  But while the Vedanta school is unequivocal in its support for animal sacrifice, other schools of Hindu philosophy had different views.  In this excerpt from his Sarvartha Siddhi, the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan discusses the Samkhya school's view that animal sacrifice is a minor sin:

  In this regard the Sāṅkhyas think so: “The prescription about the killing of the animal victim in the Agnīṣomīya says that the killing is a subsidiary to the ritual. But the sentence ‘One should not perform any violence’ encompasses also the violence within the Agnīṣomīya because the word ‘violence’ works without any restriction. And in this way  this violence is the cause of something evil but this is easy to be atoned (parihṛ-), since it is Vedic”. In this regard the confutation has  been said in the Śārīrakaśāstra: “Although the killing of the animal victim within the Agnīṣomīya causes a major sufferance, it cannot be said to be ‘violence’. In fact, there is [also] not violence when a physician, etc., cut or cauterise, etc., for the sake of heal a tumour, etc. Nor is the  scolding of one’s child or pupil by the parents, [teachers], etc. a form of violence. Only a violent act not conformable to the Śāstras and performed by someone causing much sufferance is violence. In this regard, by contrast, although there is separation from the vital breaths, there is no violence, because of the compliance to the Śāstra. Instead, there is protection (rakṣā), because through the interruption of the body of the animal victim, which results in evil, [the sacrifice] causes for that very animal the attainment of a a special body which is conform to the enjoyment of upmost pleasure”. Having in mind this all he said Because of the mention of what is beneficial for the animal. With the mention of the mantra ”You do not indeed die, nor are you injured, you go in the divine with easy paths” (na vā u etan mriyase na riṣyasi devāṃ ideṣi pathibhis sugebhis, ṚV 1.162.21, found also in Rāmānuja’s Gītābhāṣya).  it is said that the animal obtains a specific place.

The Shariraka Shastra, by the way, refers to Ramanujacharya's Sri Bhashya, the Sri Vaishnava commentary on the Brahma Sutras.  But I'm interested in the part in bold.  My question is, did the Samkhya school believe that animal sacrifice in Vedic Yagnas is a sin "that's easy to be atoned"?

It's clear that they thought that animal sacrifice was a sin; here is what verse 2 of Ishwara Krishna's Samkhya Karika, the defining work of the Samkhya school, says in the course of describing the flaws of pursuing happiness through Dharma:

  dṛṣṭavadānuśravikaḥ sa hyaviśuddhi kṣayātiśayayuktaḥ ।
  tadviparītaḥ śreyān vyaktāvyaktajñavijñānāt ॥

  The [means of happiness revealed by the Vedas] is like the evident one, It is linked with impurity, destruction and inequality. Other than that is better,—proceeding from the right cognition of the Manifest, Unmanifest and the Knower.

The word "impurity" refers to the notion that pursuing happiness through Dharma involves killing animals; here is what Gaudapada's Samkhya Karika Bhashya says:

  Linked with impurity, because of the slaughter of animals. As it is said: “According to the injunction in the aśvamedha, six hundred animals, minus three, are employed (i.e., slaughtered) at midday.”

But what Samkhya works say that this sin is minor and easily remedied?


texts: Like Vish and Shiv have reverse spelling and opposite effects, does Sita and Sati have some reason behind their names?

texts:
As per our Vedic literature, Vish (Vishnu) means creator and Shiv (Shiva) means evil destroyer. I was wondering similar word-meaning similarity between Sati and Sita. Is there any historical evidence for their names as like in Vish & Shiv?

Thanks


texts:
My question has two different aspects.

In Hindu religion, it is considered bad to kill animals, but in Islam it is said that animals are just for our use e.g., use them as food, transport etc. (meaning there's nothing wrong in killing them)
Now in this particular scenario, a boy who's born into a Muslim family will definitely eat non-vegetarian food (which is definitely a sin)

Now my question is, if our birth and death are decided by God (according to the Bhagavad Gita: 'I am the creator of all the living beings'), then why does he let anyone born into a Muslim family? A person born into such a family will always commit a sin and bad karma.


texts: Do scriptures indicate that Draupadi regretted not allowing Karna to participate in her svayaṁvara?

texts:
Some versions of the Mahabharata depict an incident where Draupadi gets to know that Karna is Kunti-putra and she regrets not allowing Karna to participate in her svayaṁvara.

Is this event mentioned in any scripture?


texts: How do almanacs predict future natural calamities?

texts:
Almanacs are a mathematical tool for calculating thithis, stars, yogams and karnams. Apart from these a one year prediction is also given for example - this year there will be more rain eg. In the south west of Vindhyas there will be a severe cyclonic storm in the karthika month and 75% of the rains will be in sea, 15% in mountains and remaining in the vilages and cities adjacent to them.

On what basis is this prediction being done? There are Vakiya panchangam, Thiru Ganitha Panchangam, Pambu panchangam etc.Again I think this may vary from region to region. Any scriptural evidence as to how they calculate and predict the natural calamities?


texts: Did Agni curse Vedic mantras to become ineffective?

texts:
I have heard a story that a sankalpa (solemn vow) to destroy the snake race was taken during Janmajeya's snake sacrifice (yajna). But as that sankalpa couldn't be fulfilled as the yajna was stopped by Astika. This made Agni, who was waiting for the sacrifice of all snakes, infuriated and hence he cursed the Vedic mantras to be ineffective just as poisonless snakes.

This story sounds logical. Where is it mentioned?


texts: Who is Govindaraja and how is he related to Venkateshwara?

texts:
Tirupati is most commonly associated with the world-renowned Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple.  But there is another Vishnu temple in Tirupati, the Govindaraja Swami Temple.  (This isn't the only Govindaraja temple; there's also one in Chidambaram.)  As I understand it, the story of the temple goes roughly as follows: when Venkateshwara (the Vishnu deity in Tirupati, AKA Srinivasa or Balaji) wanted to marry Padmavathi, he got a large loan from Kubera (the god of wealth) to pay for the wedding expenses.  Afterwards, Govindaraja, an elder brother of Venkateshwara and another form of Vishnu, helped Venkateshwara by counting the money.  He spent a long time weighing the gold on a giant scale until he fell asleep on the scale itself, which is how the statue looks in the temple.

My questions are;

Who is this Govindaraja?
What does it mean to say that he is Venkateshwara's elder brother?
Was he a son of Venkateshwara's foster mother Vakuladevi?
I wasn't aware that Vakuladevi had any biological children or was even married.  I just thought Vishnu came to the house of Vakuladevi when she was an elderly woman living alone, but was she a widow or something?  (Presumably if she had a husband he would be the next birth of Nandagopa, just as she was the next birth of Yashoda.)
Or was Vakuladevi a foster mother to Govindaraja just as she was a foster mother to Venkateshwara?
Is anything else known about Govindaraja other than this gold-counting story, for instance how and why Vishnu took an incarnation as Govindaraja?


texts: Where does Vishwamitra's parallel creation of constellations of stars and galaxies exist?

texts:
From my answer to a previous question, it was pointed out that Vishwamitra himself attempted to create a parallel world in addition to Brahma's, in which to transport Trisanku in his mortal body.

  svargo astu sa shariirasya trisha.nkoH asya shaashvataH |
  nakSatraaNi ca sarvaaNi maamakaani dhruvaaNi atha || 1-60-28
  yaavat lokaa dhariSyanti tiSThanti etaani sarvashaH | yat kRitaani
  suraaH sarve tat anuj~naatum arhatha || 1-60-29

  "'Let there be eternal heaven to Trishanku with his mortal body. Next,
  as along as the worlds remain, let all of these stars and galaxies I
  have created also remain eternally in their places as my creation.
  It will be apt of you all gods to accede to this.' So said Vishwamitra
  to gods.

  evam uktaaH suraaH sarve prati uucuH muni pu.ngavam |  evam
  bhavatu bhadram te tiSThantu etaani sarvashaH || 1-60-30 gagane
  taani anekaani vaishvaanara pathaat bahiH | nakSatraaNi muni
  shreSTha teSu jyotiHSu jaajvalan || 1-60-31 avaag shiraaH
  trishankuH ca tiSThatu amara sannibhaH |

  "When all the gods are addressed thus they replied the eminent saint
  Vishwamitra saying, 'so be it! Safe you be! Let all the created
  objects prevail in their respective places. Those amazing and numerous
  stars you have created will remain in firmament, but outside the path
  of stelliform of Cosmic Person. Trishanku will also remain in the
  circle of stars you created, but upside-down, for Indra's indict
  cannot be annulled, and he will be gleaming like a star and similar to
  any celestial.

Brahma's creation can be more or less mapped to scientific accounts of the material world, through careful and minute Shastra analysis. However, my question is, which physical body/bodies represent Vishwamitra's parallel creation, which were destined to "remain eternally in their places"? Assuming they do exist, is it even known to us, where they currently are, and which ones they are? I don't require parallels with modern science. Are there any names of these bodies, mentioned in Shastras?


texts: What is the story of Saindhava trying to Kidnap Draupadi Matha?

texts: I want to know the full story behind the kidnapping attempt of Saindhava or Jayadrada on Draupadi Matha and the outcome of it. I heard he tried to bend Dharma shashtras to get his way but I could not find proper references anywhere.


texts: What are the mleccha-desha in Bhavishya Puranas?

texts:
Does 'mleccha-desha' refer to the followers of Abrahamic faiths in general or foreigners in Bhavishya Purana?
My question relies on Puranas.
Puranas belong to Sanatana Dharma.
You call it "Hinduism".
I asked this question you closed it targeting that as " opinion based".
It is not opinion-based.
It belongs to Puranas.


texts: Why Mata given more importance than Pita?

texts: We all know that in order to bring a child into this world we need need both a female and a male (not taking into consideration current scientific methodologies), agree that a woman nurtures the baby in her womb for 9 months (god made it that way), but after birth father plays very important role in the up-bringing of the child, so why only mothers get all the credit (normally) why not fathers? Why in our culture is a mother portrayed as if all sacrifices are made by her?


texts: Does Shaiva or Shakta Agama believe the Dashavatar of lord Vishnu

texts:
Does Shaiva or Shakta Agamas believe on Dashavatar of lord Vishnu? If yes is there any difference in references? If Yes what all differences are there?

My question rises because according to Agama there is only one supreme God, in that case existence of lord Vishnu could have only happened if it were lord Shiva will.


texts: What is the actual relationship between Brahma and saraswati?

texts:
I seriously want to know, how are Brahma and saraswati related, is she brahma's consort, daughter, wife?

I know that all of the child of Brahma are mind born and he doesn't have any genertic/human kind of kids his children are either spiritual gods or material humans, he doesn't have any sexual relationship with anyone.

I know consort and wife are two different things, consort is a partner, while wife is married partner so is saraswati shown along with brahma because she is consort of Brahma or his wife?


texts: Was the Brahmaputra River created by Lord Brahma?

texts: I want to know that was the river Brahmaputra created by Lord Brahma or any other God?


texts: Is the sacred Hindu syllable a diphthong or a single vowel sound? It is rendered in the Roman alphabet sometimes as "AUM" and sometimes as "OM". The standard calligraphic form in the devanagari script suggests that is  the diphthong - "a" "u" nasalised and not "o" nasalised.When the sound is voiced, however, it is more often heard as the single nasalised syllable "om".


texts: After the upanayana ritual, boys from the upper three varnas are able to receive knowledge from the Vedas. What about girls? Does this affect their karma?


texts:
There is great ask about what should we eat? But I was always strugling how should one eat his food, sitting and thinking while eating a food. I see on my self that I don't respect food as much as I need to (want to). I sustain this body just because of the food I eat...

So my question is, how one should behave, do, think, (do every thing) while eating a food to show respect to his life?


texts: What does the word "mlechha" (म्लेच्छ) mean in the context of Hinduism?

texts:
I have been reading some blogs over the Internet that describe the word mleccha (म्लेच्छ) e.g., here.

Can someone explain me what mleccha actually means in the context of Hinduism and Hindu scriptures?


texts: According to mimamsa, if one follows bhakti yoga will that person attain Moksha?

texts:
Mimamsa is a school of philosophy in Hinduism.
They perform vedic ritual to attain Moksha. So, according to mimamsa if one doesn't do vedic ritual but instead she/he goes for devotion.
Will he attain Moksha.

ANSWER SHOULD BE ONLY THROUGH MIMAMSA'S PERSPECTIVE


texts:
Subhadra is worshiped along with her brothers Krishna (the avatar of Vishnu) and Balarama (the avatar of Shesha-naga).

As such Was she also an avatar of any Goddess?

If so, Which Goddess and what is the source of that information?


texts:
In yoga, it has been mentioned that there are 72000 nadis in human body.

Are they physical or non-physcal?


texts: Is reciting Vedic Mantras without being preceded by "Om" condemned somewhere in Vedas or in other scriptures?

texts:
In many (not all mind you) "How to do sandhyavandanam" videos and PDFs, the performer starts with the achamanam:

Achyutaya Namaha
Anantaya Namaha
Govindaya Namaha

The same procedure is also found in many "How to do a Puja" tutorials.
My question is: How valid are these mantras (or any other Vedic Mantras for that matter) when they are not preceded by the Pranava OM?


texts: I've been told that God Krishna married Rukmini when she was 8 and consummated at same age as per in Skanda Purana. Can I get the right interpretation for this?


texts: Experiences of pregnant mothers in the scriptures who had notable children

texts: What are the stories and experiences during pregnancies of to-be-mothers mentioned in the scriptures, who had notable children like krishna, rama, arjuna, ravana, karna, etc.?


texts: Yogic liberation like raising kundalini vs Bhakti path

texts:
I read that by raising kundalini the serpent power to crown chakra , one can attain state of samadhi , which leads to liberation.

My question is , how exactly this liberation compares with 6 type of liberations(like sarupya , sayujya etc) mentioned in vaishnava scriptures?


texts: It seems that astrological predictions are trials and error method? Can someone please give some examples that make sense? I have seen many people who are trained to read patris make mistakes which are very basic.


texts: Story of Adi Shankaracharya as per Siva Rahasyam

texts: What is the life story of Adi Shankara Charya as per Siva Rahasyam


texts: What are the expansions of Lord Sri Krishna from the gaudiya vaishnava (ISKCON) point of view?

texts: I need an answer only from the gaudiya vaishnava (ISKCON) point of view. I want to know all about the Lord's expansions from the first (Balarama), to the chatur vyuhas, to the secondary chaturvyuhas and so on.


texts:
The History of Hindu Mathematics (Bibhutibhushan Datta and Avadesh Narayan Singh) vol.1 p.1:

  The earliest works available, the Vedas (c. 3,000 B.C. or probably
  much earlier), although consisting  mainly of hymns of praise and
  poems of worship, show a high state of civilization. (...) It is here
  that we find the beginnings of the science of mathematics
  (arithmetics, geometry, algebra, etc.).

Wikipedia, History of mathematics, Indian mathematics:

  The earliest civilization on the Indian subcontinent is the Indus
  Valley Civilization that flourished between 2600 and 1900 BC in the
  Indus river basin. Their cities were laid out with geometric
  regularity, but no known mathematical documents survive from this
  civilization.

Question: Did the science of mathematics begin with the Vedas? If yes, why?
Was the concept of numbers transmitted by rishis? When?


texts:
Do Devas have free will? If Devas have free will, can they earn punya and papa?
We humans have free will and by using free will, we are earning punya and papa. Devas are doing good or bad things, as per the request of devotees. So I need clarity regarding this.


texts: Who are panis and why Vedas are ordering to kill them?

texts:
उत्त्वा॑ मंदंतु॒ स्तोमाः॑ कृणु॒ष्व राधो॑ अद्रिवः । अव॑ ब्रह्म॒द्विषो॑ जहि ॥
प॒दा प॒णीँर॑रा॒धसो॒ नि बा॑धस्व म॒हाँ अ॑सि ।न॒हि त्वा॒ कश्च॒न प्रति॑ ॥

Rig Veda 8.64.1-2: May our hymns please you; O lord of resolute will power, please display your bounty. May you drive off the Panis. May you crush with your foot the niggard churls who offer no homage. You are powerful; there is none so powerful as you are.

Who are panis and why Vedas are asking them to kill? Is it justified.


texts: Does scripture describe the origin of Mlecchas and outcastes?

texts: I am only aware of scriptures that deal with the origin of the 4 Hindu castes.  How about outcastes and Mlecchas?


texts:
Nowadays Pithru Karya is not being performed with proper religious injunctions.

What will happen if:

one does not perform the Pithru Karya at all or
on the other hand if performed by a Purohit who's telling the mantras fast and the doer cannot follow them and utters them incorrectly.

What will be the retro effect for both (person and priest) in these circumstances?