texts: Is Hinduism the oldest among currently existent religions?

texts:
Reading more and more mythological stories, I realize that the first religion on earth is Hinduism.(Source1)(Source2) List of top religions:

Hinduism Oldest of all (Also known as Sanatana Dharma)
Buddhism also derived from ancient Sanskrit follower Buddha which sanskrit is the primary sacred language of Hinduism.
Judaism came before Christianity.
Jainism also before Christianity (6th century B.C.)
Christianity came in to existence in Kaliyuga according to Hinduism which explains about Yugas and BCE.
Islam came after Christianity.

Answer to the question in title will be helpful to all those who have doubt about oldest religion.


texts: Where does Adisesha live? In Patala loka or in Vaikuntha or underneath the earth holding it?

texts:
In Ramayana, Lakshmana went to the Sarayu river, ended life by engaging in meditation and stopping his breathing. It is said his soul went to Patala Loka. Similar to this, white snake like creature came out from Balarama and Snake went to Patala loka. It is belived both of them were incarnations of Adisesha serpent. Why didn't their souls go to Vaikuntha and mingle with Adisesha serpent on which Lord Vishnu sleeps?

It is also said that Adisesha holds the Earth on its hoods. So, is the Earth located on one of its hoods? Where exactly does Adisesha live?


texts: Why can't sudras read vedas according to smritis?

texts:
It is a common belief that sudras can"t learn vedas from Hindu scriptures but according to vedas itself a shudra can learn vedas-

  Sukla Yajurveda (XXVI. 2).
  यथेमां वाचं कल्याणीमावदानि जनेभ्यःब्रह्मराजन्याभ्यां शूद्राय चार्याय च स्वाय चारणाय॥
  Meaning-

  The way I gave this knowledge of Vedas for benefit of all humans, similarly you all also propagate the same for benefit of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Shudras, Vaishyas,
  Women and even most downtrodden. The scholars and the wealthy people should ensure that they not deviate from this message of mine."

Here is how Ralph T Griffith translates this verse-

  That I to all the people may address this salutary speech,To priest and nobleman, Sûdra and Arya, to one of our own kin and to the stranger Dear may I be to Gods and guerdon-giver. Fulfilled be this
  my hope: be that my portion!

Here is what swami vivekananda says about this verse:

  Thus says the Shukla Yajur Veda (XXVI. 2). Can you show any authority from this Veda of ours that everyone has not the right to it? The Purânas, no doubt, say that a certain caste has the right to such and such a recension of the Vedas, or a certain caste has no right to study them, or that this portion of the Vedas is for the Satya Yuga and that portion is for the Kali Yuga. But, mark you, the Veda does not say so; it is only your Puranas that do so. But can the servant dictate to the master? The Smritis, Puranas, Tantras — all these are acceptable only so far as they agree with the Vedas; and wherever they are contradictory, they are to be rejected as unreliable. But nowadays we have put the Puranas on even a higher pedestal than the Vedas! The study of the Vedas has almost disappeared from Bengal. How I wish that day will soon come when in every home the Veda will be worshipped together with Shâlagrâma, the household Deity, when the young, the old, and the women will inaugurate the worship of the Veda!( Quoting from the  complete works of swami vivekananda  volume 3 http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_3/lectures_from_colombo_to_almora/the_religion_we_are_born_in.htm)

So if according to Veda a shudra can learn vedas,then why do puranas say that sudras are not allowed to learn vedas?


texts: What are the differences between "Deva", "Bhagavan", and "Ishvara"?

texts: All that I know is that "Deva"/"Devi" refers to individual Gods and Goddesses, but we also use the term "Ishvara" and "Bhagavan". Aren't these two terms just synonyms for "Deva"/Devi"?


texts:
Did Lord Sri Krishna have a Guru in his life?
At what age did he meet a Guru? Did he stay at his Guru's Ashram like Lord Sri Rama?


texts: What verses talk about other universes in the Puranas?

texts: Which verses in the Puranas talk about countless other universes?


texts: Which are the characteristics of brAhmaNas?

texts: We know that there are five to ten characteristics (Lakshana) of Purana which are discussed in this post. A similar question also asked for Itihasa. I want to know are there any characteristics of Brahmanas mentioned in scripture or in works of Acharyas?


texts: Anna Abhishekam to Lord Shiva on Full moon (Poornima thithi)

texts:
Yesterday being Poornima [full moon] Anna [rice] abhishekam was done to Lord Siva in many Siva temples in South India. In Thanjavur 1000 kgs of rice was done as annabhishekam to Lord Brahadeeswarar.

My question  -

If this anna abhishekam is done every poornima [full moon] or on selected months poornima only? If so which months? and is there any scriptural  reference for this.
Does this not apply to Vishnu or Brahma? Reasons why it is not applicable.


texts: Connection between Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas

texts: Is there any connection between Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas? If there is a connection, any citation from scriptures of yesteryear's between the three?


texts: Why Krishna is called Ranchhod or Ranchhod ray. In Gujarat we also sing Jay Ranchhod Makhanchor.


texts: What's the story of the serpent Karkotaka deceiving sage Narada?

texts:
In the Nala-Damayanti story narrated by sage Vrihadaswa to Yudhishthira, there's mention of the Naga, Karkotaka, who bites and disfigures Nala for his own good.

But what's the story of Karkotaka deceiving sage Narada? Why did he deceive Narada?

  King Nala saw a mighty conflagration that was raging in that dense forest. And in the midst of that conflagration, he heard the voice of some creature,
  repeatedly crying aloud, 'O righteous Nala, come hither.' And answering,
  'Fear not,' he entered into the midst of the fire and beheld a mighty
  Naga lying in coils. And the Naga with joined hands, and trembling, spake
  unto Nala, saying, 'O king, that I am a snake, Karkotaka by name. I had
  deceived the great Rishi Narada of high ascetic merit, and by him have I
  been cursed in wrath, O king of men, even in words such as these: 'Stay
  thou here like an immobile thing, until one Nala taketh thee hence. And,
  indeed, on the spot to which he will carry thee, there shalt thou he
  freed from my curse. It is for that curse of his that I am unable to stir
  one step. I will instruct thee in respect of thy welfare. It behoveth
  thee to deliver me. I will be thy friend. There is no snake equal to me.
  I will be light in thy hands. Taking me up, do thou speedily go hence.'
  Having said this, that prince of snakes became as small as the thumb. And
  taking him up, Nala went to a spot free from fire.


texts: Do all followers of Ramakrishna Order take Puranic stories allegorically?

texts:
This answer says:

  All these Puranic stories are taken from the book 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses' by Swami Harshananda. Swami Harshananda of the Ramakrishna Order is an Advaitist and does not take the Puranic stories seriously. The learned Swami gives several views regarding the meaning of the elephant head.

Also, has it got to do with the teachings of Ramakrishna or Vivekananda or the Advaita philosophy itself?


texts: Is manusmriti applicable on descendants of Brahma's mind born sons?

texts: As we know some of Brahma's mind born sons also had progeny. So technically not all humans are descendants of Manu. Is my understanding correct? And if so,  is manusmriti applicable on them?


texts: Where does Yajur Veda have Mantra Pushpam hymn?

texts: Even Wikipedia confirms that Mantra Pushpam is taken from Yajur Veda. Where this hymn can be found? Whether in Krishna Yajur Veda or Shukla Yajur Veda or both? And also quote the number of hymn.


texts: What are views of different sects of hinduism ( like Shaivism, Shaktism, etc) about exorcism and is there any vedic reference to it?


texts: How much Dharma Sastras can be applied in practical life?

texts: Often there is a conflict between Dharma Sastras and the laws of the lands. So, how can these verses to be treated ?


texts: Did Mother Sati become a ghost after committing sucide?

texts: This answer states that after suicide a person becomes a ghost. Then did mother Sati become ghost after committing suicide?


texts: What is the origin of the Roga Nivaran Stotra?

texts:
Can anyone let me know the origin of the below Stotra?

अच्युतानन्त गोविन्द नामोच्चारण भेषजात् |
नश्यन्ति सकल रोगः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ||

अच्युतानन्तगोविन्द विष्णो नारायणामृत |
रोगान्मे नाशयाशेषान आशु-धन्वन्तरे हरे ||

अच्युतानन्त गोविन्द विष्णो धन्वन्तरे हरे |
वासुदेवाखिलानस्य रोगान् नाशाय नाशाय ||

सोमनाथं वैद्यनाथं धन्वन्तरिमथाश्विनौ |
एतान् संस्मरतः प्रातः व्याधिः स्पर्श न विद्यते ||

Transliteration in IAST:

acyutānanta govinda nāmoccāraṇa bheṣajāt |
naśyanti sakala rogaḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham ||

acyutānantagovinda viṣṇo nārāyaṇāmṛta |
rogānme nāśayāśeṣāna āśu-dhanvantare hare ||

acyutānanta govinda viṣṇo dhanvantare hare |
vāsudevākhilānasya rogān nāśāya nāśāya ||

somanāthaṃ vaidyanāthaṃ dhanvantarimathāśvinau |
etān saṃsmarataḥ prātaḥ vyādhiḥ sparśa na vidyate ||


texts: Remedies for a Gṛhastha for involving in sex on auspicious days

texts: Answers of this question says Gṛhastha rules of the days one should not involve in sex.  If a Gṛhastha involves in sexual activities on these following days, then what are the remedies one can follow?


texts: Is Shiva's son Kartikeya the rishi of two hymns of the Rig Veda?

texts:
As I discuss in this answer, how the Vedas originated is that from time immemorial, sages known as Dhristas have heard sacred verses directly from the gods during a state of Tapasya (deep meditation).  And then in the Dwapara Yuga, a sage named Krishna Dwaipayana Vedavyasa (or Vyasa for short) compiled these verses into a set of four books we call the Vedas. (Technically Vyasa only compiled the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Veda; the Atharvana Veda was compiled by the sage Atharva and Angiras).

In my answer here, I compiled information from the Anukramanis (indices) of the Rig Veda, specifying which sage heard each verse from the gods.  As you can see, one who heard most of the hymns in Rig Veda Book 7 is the famous sage Vashishta. (His last name is Maitravaruni because he was reborn as the son of the gods Mitra and Varuna.)  But two of the hymns of Book 7, hymn 101 and hymn 102, are attributed to "Vashishta Maitravaruni or Kumara Agneya."

So my question is, who is this Kumara who may have heard Book 7 Hymns 101 and 102 from the gods?  His last name is given as Agneya, or descendant of Agni the fire god, so I think it's possible that it's the god Kartikeya (AKA Skanda or Muruga).  This may seem strange at first glance, since Kartikeya is the son of Shiva, not Agni.  But if you remember the story of Kartikeya, as described in this chapter of the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana, Kartikeya was born from Shiva's fiery seed, which was carried by Agni and then deposited into the Ganga river.  As a result, Agni is often considered as an adopted father of Kartikeya.

So are there any scriptures that describe Kartikeya as the seer of two hymns of the Rig Veda?  The hymns themselves don't provide much of a clue; they're just dedicated to Parjanya god of rain:

Rig Veda Book 7 Hymn 101

  Speak forth three words, the words which light precedeth, which milk this udder that produceth nectar.
  Quickly made manifest, the Bull hath bellowed, engendering the germ of plants, the Infant.
  Giver of growth to plants, the God who ruleth over the waters and all moving creatures,
  Vouchsafe us triple shelter for our refuge, and threefold light to succour and befriend us.
  Now he is sterile, now begetteth offspring, even as he willeth doth he change his figure.
  The Father's genial flow bedews the Mother; therewith the Sire, therewith the son is nourished.
  In him all living creatures have their being, and the three heavens with triply-flowing waters.
  Three reservoirs that sprinkle down their treasure shed their sweet streams around him with a murmur.
  May this my song to Sovran Lord Parjanya come near unto his heart and give him pleasure.
  May we obtain the showers that bring enjoyment, and God-protected plants with goodly fruitage.
  He is the Bull of all, and their impregner: he holds the life of all things fixed and moving.
  May this rite save me till my hundredth autumn. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.

Rig Veda Book 7 Hymn 102

  SING forth and laud Parjanya, son of Heaven, who sends the gift of rain
  May he provide our pasturage.
  Parjanya is the God who forms in kine, in mares, in plants of earth,
  And womankind, the germ of life.
  Offer and pour into his mouth oblation rich in savoury juice:
  May he for ever give us food.

The only connection I could find is the fact that the Vishnu Purana says Parjanya is the presiding deity of the month of Kartika, when Kartikeya was born.  But are there any scriptures describing Kartikeya worshipping Parjanya?


texts: Bondage of jiva according to Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya

texts: In the Vishishtadvaita philosophy followed by the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, the conditioned souls trapped in Samsara (the cycle of repeated birth and death) are referred to as Baddhas. How is the nature of the Baddhas' bondage explained by Ramanuja or any other Sri Vaishnava Acharya? Has the conditioned jiva always been in Samsara and is its bondage thus anādi (without beginning)? Or has the jiva once been with the Lord and "fallen" into this material world? Different Vaishnava sampradayas have different views on this issue, but what is the Siddhanta of Sri Vaishnavism?


texts: What are the differences between the Jaya version and the main Mahabharata?

texts: And also, is the Jaya version available online in English?


texts: Who is vaivasvata manu (Manu of present manavantara)?

texts:
I am reading Bibek Debroy's english translation of Harivamsha. Chapter 8 of this book says that Vivasvan (Sun) had 3 children. 1 daughter - Yamuna and 2 sons - Vaivasvata prajapati and other is Shraddha-deva prajapati.

Bibek Debroy mentions in footnote that Shraddha-deva is Yama (God of Shraddhas).

You can also look here and here for same. It says

  Out of those two prajApati-s one is vaivasvata prajApati, because he is the son of vivasvAn, namely the Sun himself while the other is shrAddha-deva, presiding deity of obsequial oblations, namely yama, or also called shamana, the eternal silencer and the girl is a twin sister of yama, named as lady yamuna...

Now, Srimad Bhagvatam 8.13.1 says that present manu is Shraddha-deva.

So considering Harivamsha, one would imagine that Yama = Shraddha-deva = present Manu = Vaivasvata Manu.

However, answer of this post, quotes following from Vishnu Purana; which says that it's the other son of Sun who is Manu but not Yama.

  Sanjná, the daughter of Viśwakarman, was the wife of the sun, and bore him three children, the Manu (Vaivaswata), Yama, and the goddess Yamí (or the Yamuná river)

Now my confusion and question is: Out of 2 sons of Vivasvan (Sun) who is Manu of present manavantara?


texts: Did Lakshmi (Sri Devi) know about the marriage of Sreenivasa and Padmavathi in prior according to Skanda purana?

texts:
Lord Vishnu took the form of Sreenivasa and resided near Tirupathi. He married the daughter of Akasa Raja, named Padmavathi.
According to the Skanda Purana, did Lakshmi know about the marriage between Sreenivasa and Padmavathi in prior to the occurrence of the marriage?


texts: What are the main gotras and the upagotras among Brahmins?

texts: I would like to know the names of the original gotras. I have seen online different lists of gotras (sometimes up to 100+). I would like to know if there is a tree diagram of gotras and upagotras anywhere.


texts: What is the mudra to be used when performing Achamanam? How should our fingers be positioned when sipping the water?


texts: If Aryabhata invented zero in Kaliyuga, how could Hindus of earlier yugas describe Ravana as having 10 heads and Kauravas were 100 in number?

texts:
Since long time I've heard that the number zero was invented by the great Indian mathematician Aryabhata.

Now I have two examples from Ramayana and Mahabharata:

In Ramayana, Ravana had 10 heads.
Similarly, in Mahabharata, we have the 100 Kauravas.

Now if zero was invented by Aryabhata in the era of Kaliyuga (according to Hindu panchānga) how does that make Ramayana and Mahabharata, the tales of previous yugas i.e., Treta yuga and Dwapara yuga respectively?

So effectively my question is:

How could ancient Hindus use the numbers 10 and 100 before the invention of zero?


texts: What are the causes of losing your caste?

texts: Scriptures such as the Manusmriti give us the causes of the loss of varna of a person. What are these causes?


texts: Few years before I read an article which belongs to some fairies story. And I came to know that fairies/god's/deities doesn't blink like as human. Is it true or an artificial story? If it is true, can someone  provide a reference if any scriptures are available?


texts:
As you will guess I am very new to hinduist culture. I am doing a bit of research on Trisiras and I am having a hard time figuring out why I sometimes read mentions of Rama killing him, while he is supposed to have been killed by Indra.
Also is there any important event related to Trisiras' life?


texts: Why is ISKCON giving upanayana samskara to shudras and mlecchas when it is contrary to Ramanujacharya's teachings?

texts:
Why is ISKCON giving upanayana samskara to shudras and mlecchas?
Isn't it against Ramanujacharya's teachings?
In his Brahma sutra (Vedanta sutra) bhashya, Ramanujacharya says (1:3:36) that Shudras are not fit for upanayana.
ISKCON says they follow Ramanujacharya and yet they seem to be going against his teachings.
So on what basis does ISKCON perform the upanayana samskara for shudras and mlecchas?


texts: People in Maharashtra and Andhra celebrate sathyanarayana puja on full moon day. Puja will be made  and a story will be told for 45 minutes. Even I did twice in Shirdi Sai Sathya Vratha. Is Lord satyanarayana avatar of Vishnu and mentioned in puranas?


texts: evidence siloka that four YOGAs for self realization

texts: Namaste (^o^),I need an evidence siloka that four YOGAs such as Bhakti,Karma,Gyana and Astanga are 4 principle margas for self realization.Thank you.


texts:
Are the 3 gunas, namely, sattva, rajas, tamas mentioned in the Vedas? I know they are mentioned throughout the Smrtis, notably the Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, and the Sankhya Smriti. In fact, the 3 gunas concept is closely linked with the Sankhya school.

But is there any mention of them in the Vedas?


texts: Which Mission is implied by the purport of Gita 10.42?

texts:
The 'Bhagavad-Gita As It Is', 'the best-selling and most authorative version of this classic of world literature', by Bhaktivedanta Swami, 'the world's foremost Vedic scholar and teacher', reads in the purport of the sloka 10.42 (2nd edition, page 480):

  'There is a Mission that regularly propounds that worship of any demigod will lead one to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the supreme goal.But worship of demigods is thoroughly discouraged herein..'

My question is :Different Missions exist having different translations and explanations of the Gita. Which particular body is being referred to here as 'A Mission', that is being mentioned as spreading a message which is thoroughly discouraged by the Gita?


texts: From which scripture does Adi Shankara quote about Maheswara shaping name and forms of all beings from the words of Veda?

texts:
In his Brahma Sutra Bhasya 1.3.28, Adi Shankaracharya gives a long commentary while proving about the eternity of Vedas.

He quotes about various scriptures there like:

  Thus Scripture declares in different places that the word precedes the creation.--Smrti also delivers itself as follows, 'In the beginning a divine voice, eternal, without beginning or end, formed of the Vedas was uttered by Svayambhû, from which all activities proceeded. 'By the 'uttering' of the voice we have here to understand the starting of the oral tradition (of the Veda), because of a voice without beginning or end 'uttering' in any other sense cannot be predicated.--Again, we read, 'In the beginning Mahesvara shaped from the words of the Veda the names and forms of all beings and the procedure of all actions.' And again, 'The several names, actions, and conditions of all things he shaped in the beginning from the words of the Veda' (Manu I, 21). Moreover, we all know from observation that any one when setting about some thing which he wishes to accomplish first remembers the word denoting the thing, and after that sets to work. We therefore conclude that before the creation the Vedic words became manifest in the mind of Pragâpati the creator, and that after that he created the things corresponding to those words.

From where is the quote in bold taken? The Sanskrit of it is as:

  नाम रुपं च भूतानां कर्मणां च प्रवर्तनम् ।
  वेदशब्देभ्य एवादौ निर्ममे स महेश्वर ।।

  nāma rupaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ karmaṇāṃ ca pravartanam ।
  vedaśabdebhya evādau nirmame sa maheśvara ।।


texts: Will god get angry if I start worshiping another god?

texts: I was really inspired by Krishna, The Supreme Lord... After reading Gita. I became his devotee (not pure one), before reading Gita I was still his devotee... Whenever I used to think of him... I used get extreme energy that motivates me so much... But when I read Gita it felt like all I did before was wrong... Now everything I do feels like I am doing wrong... I have become so judgemental... Before reading Gita , I always believed that he is with me but after reading it... It feels like I am becoming sad everyday... I don't know what to do. I am thinking of Becoming Devotee of another lord. Will god get angry? I don't know what is wrong with me. Anyone please give me suggestions... and yes, I am not after moksha, it's not the best for me... I am in need to fulfill my material desires..


texts: Why the three levels of reality of Advaita Vedanta are not mentioned in any scriptures?

texts:
According to Advaita Vedanta, there are three levels of reality:

Pāramārthika (Absolute reality)
Vyāvahārika (Relative reality)
Prāthibhāsika (unreality)

Now, as far as I know, this concept is not mentioned anywhere in the Prastana Trayi. Why scriptures don't mention this? How can an Advaitin defend when a Non-Advaitin claims that this concept is not mentioned in the scriptures?


texts:
अथेत्यभ्यमन्थत् स मुखाच्च योनेर्हस्ताभ्यां चाग्निमसृजत । तस्मादेतदुभयमलोमकमन्तरतो ऽलोमका हि योनिरन्तरतस् तद्यदिदमाहुर् अमुं यजामुं यजेत्येकैकं देवम् एतस्यैव सा विसृष्टिर् एष उ ह्येव सर्वे देवा अथ यत्किञ्चेदमार्द्रम् तद्रेतसोऽसृजत तदु सोमः । एतावद्वा इद सर्वमन्नं चैवान्नादश्च सोम एवान्नम् अग्निरन्नादः । सैषा ब्रह्मणोऽतिसृष्टिर् यच्छ्रेयसो देवानसृजताथ यन्मर्त्यः सन्नमृतानसृजत तस्मादतिसृष्टिर् अतिसृष्ट्या हास्यैतस्यां भवति य एवं वेद ॥ ६ ॥

I-iv-6: Then he rubbed back and forth thus, and produced fire from its source, the mouth and the hands. Therefore both these are without hair at the inside. When they talk of particular gods, saying, 'Sacrifice to him', 'sacrifice to the other one', (they are wrong, since) these are all his projection, for he is all the gods. Now all this that is liquid, he produced from the seed. That is Soma. This universe is indeed this much - food and the eater of food. Soma is food, and fire the eater of food. This is super-creation of Viraj that he projected the demigods (devas ), who are even superior to him. Because he although mortal himself, projected the immortals, therefore this is a super-creation. He who knows this as such becomes (a creator) in this super-creation of Viraj.

The above mantra is from Brihadarankya Upanishad. After reading it, several questions came in my mind.

Is Viraj (one of the name of parabrahma) inferior to devas or demigods?

How can Viraj, the prabrahma, creator of universe can be immortal? Isn't it can contradicting the other Vedic verses which say that God is mortal?

Rigveda CXXI:2 Giver of vital breath, of power and vigour, he whose commandments all the Gods acknowledge -.
The Lord of death, whose shade is life immortal. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

Rigveda 10:90:2 This Puruṣa is all that yet hath been and all that is to be; The Lord of Immortality which waxes greater still by food.

Atharvashiras Upanishad Mantra 3: That which is in the left is Om (God). The Om is Pranava. This is All-Pervading; it is eternal; it is called Tara; this is Sukshama (subtle); the same is Sukla (white). This is Vaidyuta (brilliant); that which is brilliant is the Supreme Brahman.


texts: What is difference between avatar and Avataari?

texts:
Load Krishna is avatar, lord Rama is also an avatar, so who is say Avataari?

What is big in both them?


texts: Some queries about initiation into Vadakalai Sri Vaishnavism

texts: How can a Macedonian national initiate into a Vadakalai mutt? And do initiates get a new name which will be in Vaishnava spirit, related to Vishnu and Lakshmi or this name stays?


texts: What are the some dynamic Sanskrit shlokas for Lord Shiva?

texts:
I have read a shloka for Lord Vishnu - ugram veeram mahavishnum jwalantam sarvato mukham, nrisingham bhishanam bhadram mrityur mrityurnamamyaham.
Can anyone will provide me same types of dynamic (or energetic) Sanskrit shlokas related to Lord Shiva?


texts: Why the events mentioned in Ramayana and Mahabaratha only occured in sub continent?

texts:
Why the events mentioned in  Ramayana and Mahabharata only occurred in sub-continent?
If there were any other civilization present during those period, Why they are not mentioned in the holy scriptures?


texts: Are ALL devotees of Lord Shiva cursed by Rishi Bhrigu to follow anti-Vedic principles?

texts:
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.2.28 & 4.2.29 states:

  bhava-vrata-dharā ye ca
  ye ca tān samanuvratāḥ
  pāṣaṇḍinas te bhavantu
  sac-chāstra-paripanthinaḥ

  English Translation: Those who observe the vows to propitiate god Siva, and those that follow them, shall be the heretics and the opponents of true scriptures. (SB 4.2.28)

  naṣṭa-śaucā mūḍha-dhiyo jaṭā-bhasmāsthi-dhāriṇaḥ viśantu śiva-dīkṣāyāṁ yatra daivaṁ surāsavam

  They shall lose their sense of purity, shall be dullwitted. They shall wear matted locks of hair and bones, and smear themselves with ashes. They shall enter the cult of Siva worship where wine shall be the divinity. (S.B. 4.2.29)

Does this mean that ALL Shaivites are cursed to follow anti-Vedic principles? Apologies to anyone including to Lord Shiva, offended by my question.


texts: I'm puzzled by Ashvatthaman's status as a chiranjivi. Not necessarily that he is one, but more the circumstances surrounding it. To wit, Ashvatthaman is made to wander the earth endlessly for 3000 years (and thus he is a chiranjivi) and he will bear all the diseases afflicting the world. I've heard others say that Ashvatthaman is a chiranjivi because he will take on the role of Vyasa in the next cycle of yugas, but have not been able to substantiate this claim with textual sources. To me, this all seems like an odd mixture of punishment and reward - Ashvatthaman is made immortal, and will perhaps have the honor of serving as Vyasa, yet he is clearly being punished as his perpetually diseased state demonstrates. Any insights on the why of all this?


texts: Why are women and men asked to sit separate in religious gatherings?

texts:
I regularly attend a religious sabha in which men sit on the right and women on the left (sometimes its men in-front and women at the back). Why are we suggested to sit seperate?

Is it because we have to act as brahmacharis and carefully avoid women as much as possible as said by a fellow user Rickross in this post Why do Sannyasis avoid looking at women?


texts: Does ISKCON consider itself an Astika Sampradaya?

texts:
An Astika sampradaya is one that places the infallible authority of the Vedas first. There are claims for instance, that ISKCON leaders believe that Srimad Bhaagavatam is higher in authority than Vedas. What this means, potentially, is that if ever there is a conflict of interpretation between the Vedas and Bhaagavatam, ISKCON's position will default in support of Bhagaavatam over Vedas - Is this true?

Given the potential for controversy with this question, answers that source their evidence authoritatively are only appreciated (books published by any ISKCON press agencies proclaiming their affiliation (or lack thereof) or direct links to statements in interviews by ISKCON's upper echelon leaders proclaiming this or otherwise)


texts: In Advaita Vedanta, after realizing one's true nature, does one develop dissociated identity/apathy to their body?

texts:
When one realizes the Brahman, the role of the body as just a physical vessel to travel through the transactional reality becomes apparent. So in that case, does one start to havea dissociated identity to their body?
Like just stop caring about what my body feels or experiences. I just take everything as it comes, since karma only sticks to this body and not my true self. One does good just for the sake of doing something. There is nothing to gain or lose.
For example, I might get sick, I do the minimum to get myself checked as am apathetic towards my body. Or, I burn my hands, I feel the pain but the scar or the blister doesn't really bother me as it is just a transactional reality. Or do some charity work, get duped by organizers for a million dollars and lose every bit of possessions. I don't feel any concern about my next meal or my place to sleep, for it's just a maya. Is this the case?


texts: What are the some parvas of Mahabharata mentions about Lord Shiva's deeds?

texts: Does Mahabharata mentions any story or part where he (Shiva) states himself as supreme Lord? And what are the some best conversations between Shiva & Parvati from Mahabharata?


texts: What does the Vivarana school of Advaita believe about the nature of Avidya?

texts:
It's well known that the Sri Vaishnava sect, which subscribes to the Visishtadvaita philosophy of Ramanujacharya, is divided into two sects, the Thenkalais and Vadakalais as I discuss here.  Less well-known, however, is that Adi Shankaracharya's Advaita Sampradayam is also divided into two schools, the Bhamati school of Vachaspati Misra and the Vivarana school of Prakasatman.  These schools differ in their views on epistemology and other minor issues, but their main difference is on the locus of Avidya or ignorance.  Advaitins of all stripes believe that it's because of Avidya that there is an illusion that the Jivatma is different from Brahman.  The difference is that the Bhamati school attributes this Avidya to the Jiva, since Brahman is perfect and thus free of all Avidya.  The Vivarana school, on the other hand, believes that Brahman is the locus of the Avidya.

My question is about the Vivarana view.  Do followers of the Vivarana school believe that Brahman genuinely posesses Avidya, or like the Bhamati school do they believe that Avidya is itself illusory?  If they believe that Brahman genuinely acquires Avidya and then rids itself of Avidya through Moksha, how do they reconcile this with the notion that time itself is part of Maya?

Note that I'm interested in the Vivarana view about reality, not their view about what seems to be the case within the illusory world.

If it helps, here are three books on the Vivarana school that I've downloaded from the Digital Library of India (using the program I discuss here), converted to PDF, and then uploaded to Google Drive:

The Panchapadika Vivarana of Prakasatman, the original work of the Vivarana school.
The Vivaranaprameya Sangraha, a work variously attributed to the Sringeri Shankaracharyas Bharatitirtha and Vidyaranya, composed near the beginning of the Vijayanagara Empire
The book "A Critique on the Vivarana School" by Bratindra Kumar Sengupta, a modern academic analysis of Vivarana.

I haven't read any of these books myself, but I expect that between the three of them they almost certainly contain the answer to my question.


texts: Is there any no need of worshipping/ believing God for material benefits? & For liberation, is recommended but optional?

texts:
This answer explains the need of worshipping God. The answerer is talking about the impossibility of getting liberation without being a devotee. But Gautam Buddha & Mahavir proved the statement wrong. One crosses the cycle of death & birth using teachings of Gautam Buddha where one neither worship any Deity nor believe in any soul. So -

Does worshipping/believing God for sake of liberation is optional though recommended only? Not mandatory?

Also, As You reap what you sow, there is no possibility that the God will help you to accomplish material things in your life. In fact, success & failures are result of our Karmas only, then

There is no need of worshipping/believing God for material benefits at all? ( Because Karma is taking care about the material possessions. )


texts:
Namaskar,

I started reading Bhagavad  Gita a few months ago. I am reading shlokas, and their translations from Gita Press version.

Now I have a small daughter(7-8 years old). I  daily tell/read her stories from books like Panchatantra, Jataka Tales, etc. before she goes to bed. She loves them. Yesterday she saw me reading Bhagavad Gita, and now she is insisting me to tell more about chapters/lessons/shlokas from Bhagavad Gita as a bedtime story.

Now I am genuinely worried as I absolutely can not say No to her, but I don't have a deeper understanding of the shlokas. I know the literal translation of shlokas and all, but it would be too much abstractness and rigor  for a child's mind.

Do you know any version of Bhagavad  Gita which aims at students and children? I mean I am looking for some text which tells the abstract and deep shlokas in some story format which may be easily understandable for kids and which I can read her as a bedtime story.


texts: Devayana, Pitrayana and Progressive Salvation

texts:
Hinduism talks about paths a a departed soul would take

Devayana-  Path for liberated souls
Pitrayana- Path of Ancestors , taken by not so sinful souls
Adhoyana - Path of sinners , directly to hell.

I was bit confused on , what exactly liberated here meant. After some study I found interesting quote in  Autobiography of yogi.

Here swami yogananda talks about hiranyaloka(Upper astral/mental plane) and who can go there . He says that

  "The physical karma or desires of man must be completely worked out
  before his permanent stay in astral worlds becomes possible"

Does it mean souls who take devayana  , are liberated from physical karma ?

This book , makes another interesting claim. It says

  souls who took devayana , don't compulsorily return during a
  kalpa.

I know that devas/gods or higher being live up to a kalpa. Perhaps they became gods , after taking devayana?

My speculation is souls who takes devayana , has opportunity to get progressive salvation(krama mukti) . Like  suppose if someone reaches maharloka , with meditation/tapas he can reacher higher and higher lokas and finally to brahma loka. Finally when brahma dies , he can merge with brahman.

But coming back on earth would definitely hasten process. Thats why out of their own choice , some souls in higher worlds come back  on earth, as saints.

Whoever takes chandrayana (Pitrayana) has to come back on earth as they don't have much choice.

I am trying find quotes from scriptures to back up my claims . But I am unable to find any .

Can someone comment on my understanding?


texts:
Nala and Nila were solid builder in building Ram Setu in the Ramayan. And I have some questions and doubts.

Who are their parents?

Are they two brothers and twins?

How they got similar kind of name as Nala and Nila?

How did they meet lord Rama?
And
How could they make stones floatable on water while building Ram Setu?


texts: What is the correct translation, context & interpretation of a verse, which demeans women?

texts:
Taittiriya Samhita of Krishna Yajurveda has the following verse. [Translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith and emphasis mine]. From archive.org

Women are powerless, have no inheritance, and speak more humbly than even a bad man.
Krishna Yajur Veda Taittiriya Samhita Kanda 6 Prapathaka 5 Mantra 8.2

What is the context and correct interpretation of this mantra / verse?

I'm asking if the above mantra is to be taken as a law because it runs parallel to the laws dharma shastras give which do provide inheritance, we know that between shruti and smriti, shruti is given more authority.


texts: How many different Chandas are there in the Vedas?

texts:
Explain briefly about Chandas and Abhimanya Devthas.

Like for Gaythri mantra its Gaythri Chands, Savitha Devaatha Rshi is Vishwa Mitra

One Chandas how many letters one should refer or add for missing letters in Chandas while doing Yagnya


texts: Does Law of Karma apply to Trimurtis and their Shaktis only when they are present in Lokas other than Vaikunta and Kailasa?

texts:
I read from Shiva Purana that Kailasa and Vaikunta are free from KARMA. But when Vishnu incarnated on Earth he suffered his karma (Vali as hunter killed Krishna in next birth).

Though I am not sure about this, I saw this in a Telugu Movie. In that movie, Brahma says that Venkateswara was hit by rock oozing out his blood because Krishna stole the garments of Gopis.

So no matter who he is, Karma applies to him. But will karma only apply to living beings on Earth? I understand that karma applies to Devas from story of "Indra, Ants and Brahmin boy".

But what about people who live in Satya loka, Vaikunta and kailasa?

But Sage Bhrigu cursed Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in their respective Lokas, according to Venkatachala Mahatya. How do boons and curses differ from good and bad karma?

Even if the Vishnu is subjected to Karma, who actually controls the Law of Karma? Is the law of Karma a body independent from all Devas (including Shiva and Vishnu)?


texts: I want to know the actual meaning of 'Na tasya pratima asti' (Yajurveda 32.3)

texts:
I want to know the actual meaning of Na tasya pratima asti (Yajurveda 32.3).

I am searching for the precise answer but unable to find it.


texts: What is the concept of "a day" in Hinduism?

texts: We are all practicing westerners time format means a day is starting at midnight 00:00 . What about Hinduism? Does any Hindu scriptures mention about it?


texts: Did Maa Saraswati help manthara convince Kaikayi?

texts:
Is it true that Maa Saraswati helped manthara convince Kaikayi by poisoning her mind and seek the throne for Bharat coz else Rama not knowing what was the purpose of his birth would have ruled as king of Ayodhya for as long as he would have wanted?

In other words can we say that when Gods are born in human form (incarnation) they forgot the purpose of their birth and things have to be manipulated to make them do what they were supposed to do in that birth?


texts:
Please briefly explain Vedic Calender and do include these in your answer.

How did Ancient Hindus keep track of their days, time?

Did they follow like 7 days is a week/ 4 week a month/ 12 month a year?

Where can I get a Vedic calender version instead of Sunday, Monday or January, February. I want to track my days the Vedic way. In form of pdf or any website.


texts: Questions about the image of goddess Chhinnamasta?

texts:
What is the mythological story behind Chhinnamasta? Is there any philosophical meaning behind this image shown below ?

What benefits can one earn by worshiping this form?


texts:
I am trying to find a proper English translation of Brahmanda Purana. I have seen one in archive.org. The translation is done by author Dr. G.V. Tagare. But it has omitted multiple verses saying defective text (e.g., 17-28).

Also its translation is pretty horrible and very difficult to understand.

I could not get any other translation other than the one above even after extensive googling. It would be really great help, if someone can point towards right translation.


texts: Apart from the Bhavishyottara Purana, are there any Puranas that talk about Sage Tulsidas?

texts:
According to the  Bhavishyottara Purana, Lord Shiva tells his wife Parvati how Valmiki got a boon from Hanuman to sing the glory of Rama in vernacular language (i.e. Ramcharitmanas) to incarnate in future in the Kali Yuga as Sage Tulsidas:

  वाल्मीकिस्तुलसीदासः कलौ देवि भविष्यति ।
  रामचन्द्रकथामेतां भाषाबद्धां करिष्यति ॥ (Bhavishyottara Purana, Pratisarga Parva, 4.20.)

  Transliteration: vālmīkistulasīdāsaḥ kalau devi bhaviṣyati ।
  rāmacandrakathāmetāṃ bhāṣābaddhāṃ kariṣyati ॥

  Translation: O Goddess [Parvati]! Valmiki will become Tulsidas in the Kali age, and will compose this narrative of Rama in the vernacular language. (Bhavishyottara Purana, Pratisarga Parva, 4.20.)

Are there any other Puranas that talk about Sage Tulsidas apart from the Bhavishyottara Purana?


texts:
It is known that Hinduism is one of the oldest religions.

But why is it so difficult to date the beginning of Hinduism. We have a lot of scriptures and texts which give us a lot of information but why are scholars still debating as to when Hinduism actually began?


texts: World is real even according to Advait Vedanta?

texts:
While reading a Jivanmuka Shri Ramana Maharshi I read the following passage (You can/should read more from here) -

  The Vedantins do not say that the world is unreal. That is a misunderstanding. If they did, what would be the meaning of the Vedantic text: ‘All this is Brahman’? They only mean that the world is unreal as world but real as Self. If you regard the world as non-self, it is not real. Everything, whether you call it illusion (Maya) or Divine Play (Lila) or Energy (Shakti) must be within the Self and not apart from it. (From the teachings of Shri Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi)

I find this understanding very fascinating, and since Shri Ramana Maharshi was an enlightened master, what he said was not book parroting but his own experience. Personally, I too find this explanation correct. He is just saying: World is unreal as objective point of view but from subjective point of view it is real & Shiva himself. i.e, world has no independent existence, the perception of the world as an independent entity is illusion but it is completely real with the perception of it being identical with Shiva. But I want to know the stance of Advait Vedanta regarding this explanation. They run contrary with this explanation or not?


texts:
Does below say Shudras can learn Vedas?

YathA imAm vAcham kalyAnim AvadAni janebhyah (1)
BrahmarAjanyAbhyAm sudrAya cha AryAya cha (2)
SwAya cha aranAya cha (3)

Meaning

May i speak the sacred word to the masses of the people (janebhya) (1) to the brahmana, kshatriya, to the sudra and the Arya (2) and to our own men and the strangers (3).

Shukla Yajur Veda 26.2

And,

Sukla Yajurveda (XXVI. 2).

यथेमां वाचं कल्याणीमावदानि जनेभ्यःब्रह्मराजन्याभ्यां शूद्राय चार्याय च स्वाय चारणाय॥ Meaning- The way I gave this knowledge of Vedas for benefit of all humans, similarly you all also propagate the same for benefit of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Shudras, Vaishyas, Women and even most downtrodden. The scholars and the wealthy people should ensure that they not deviate from this message of mine.


texts: Where I can find the English translation of Sayana's commentary on entire Vedas?

texts: I have seen a post where links to Sayana's commentary on Vedas in Sanskrit are there. But I want the English translation. Can somebody please post the links?


texts: Do scriptures give a method to recognize a truly self-realized person/jivanmukta?

texts:
Some schools accept the concept of self-realization or jivanmukta. Advaita, for example, is one such school. Not all schools accept this concept, so this question is limited in scope to only those schools that accept the concept of jivanmukta.

Now, the question is - is it possible for us to recognize whether a person is a jivanmukta or not? Do scriptures tell us any way to distinguish the true jivanmukta from the fraud? Or is it purely subjective? If it is purely subjective, then the great  personalities recognised by many saints will have to be placed at the same level as people like Nityananda, Vishwananda etc. Objectively speaking, both sets of people have their own followers who believe that their masters are self-realized. So how to resolve this issue of who is truly realized and who is fraud? Are there any scriptural statements that can help us in objectively knowing who is a true jivanmukta? Now, a particular scripture may say that a jivanmukta is equally disposed to praise and abuse, but strictly speaking, this cannot be objectively verified, because no one knows what is going on in the mind of the person.


texts: What is the story of Durvasa having Payasa in Krishna's house?

texts:
After I wrote this answer I came across this fact from the Mahabharata about Krishna.

  Endued with great energy he then sat down on the bare earth. He had
  thought before this of everything that had been fore-shadowed by the
  words uttered by Gandhari in former days. He also recollected the
  words that Durvasas had spoken at the time his body was smeared by
  that Rishi with the remnant of the Payasa he had eaten (while a guest
  at Krishna’s house). The high-souled one, thinking of the
  destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, as also of the previous
  slaughter of the Kurus, concluded that the hour (for his own departure
  from the world) had come.

Now I've read a story on various blogs how Durvasa came to dine at Dwaraka and he threw tantrums and made all sorts of scenes regarding the food, causing Krishna and Rukmini much trouble. Durvasa also breaks some things around Krishna's palace and upturns a bowl of hot Payasa on Krishna.

Krishna remains silent despite the hardship. Durvasa says that the Payasa was a sort of a kavach/armour due to which Krishna's entire body is impenetrable with the exception of the soles of his feet and that his death will be due to this vulnerability.

My question is, has this story been mentioned in any scriptures? Like in the Harivamsa or the Puranas. If Krishna explicitly remembered this act of Durvasa in Mahabharata then it must have happened.

Also I would like to know what were the words spoken by Durvasa that Krishna recalled?


texts: We know Who are Sannyasins. I heard words like 'Dasanama Sanyasa, Paramahamsa Sanyas, Paramahamsa parivraja Sanyasa and the like. I would like to the types and the disciplines if any.


texts: What is the purpose of Lord Krishna favorite things?

texts:
Krishna (Sanskrit: कृष्ण) is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love in Hinduism. He is one of the most widely revered and popular Indian divinities, worshiped as the eighth incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and also as the supreme God in his own right. (Wiki Source)

Lord Krishna always assures the world to save from demons and evil force, every time they appear to disturb the earth.

Here is my questions:

1) What is the purpose of Lord Krishna holding a flute and wear a peacock feather on crown?

2) What is significance of Favorite Leaf (Tulasi) and Favorite Color (Yellow)?


texts: Was Vasishtha's Brahmadanda a weapon or was it an embodiment of a Brahmin's Tapas?

texts: "danda" just means stick - so it is unlikely that it was a weapon.  So when vishwamitra attacked vasishtha - did Vasishtha just use his stick to focus the power of his tapas to repel Vishwamitra's weapons?


texts: What is the source of this famous verse?

texts:
आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् ।
  सर्वदेवनमस्कारं केशवं प्रतिगच्छति ॥

  ākāśāt patitaṃ toyaṃ yathā gacchati sāgaram ।
  sarvadevanamaskāraṃ keśavaṃ pratigacchati ॥

  Meaning:

  As the water that falls down in rain from anywhere in the sky finally reaches the Ocean, the worship of any divine aspect ultimately reaches the Supreme Being.

The above verse is quite famous. This shloka is used by many to prove the oneness of the God.

From which scripture is the above verse taken?
If the verse is not one from any veda or upanishad, then who is the author of it?

Translation from this blog


texts: Why two Rakshasa idols are kept near the main idol of Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati?

texts:
I was listening to Chaganti Koteswara Rao's speeches about the Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati. He said that there 2 Rakshasas are kept near main idol.

Why 2 Rakshasas are kept near the main idol of Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati?


texts: why is 'Klim' beejakshara used in krishna mantra (even though it's goddess Shakti's mantra)?

texts: I found it confusing to use a KLIM beejamantra in Krishna prayers even though it is for goddess Shakti and later after googling found out that Shakti and Krishna(Supreme GOD and source of all) are same according to Tantra...and ten incarnation of Vishnu(Krishna) are amsas of Dasa Mahavidyas of Shakti... Pls help get rid of this confusion


texts:
Is wearing masks during prayers in temple a right thing?
I went to tirumala 3 months back to fulfil my grandmother's vow of tonsuring my head.After tonsuring my head there I went to temple deity's darshan wearing face mask.Since I was wearing the face mask, my doubt is- how the temple deity would recognise me that I had fulfilled the vow, since i was wearing the face mask?
This thought is bothering me.Any thoughts on this doubt?


texts: I read the definitions of the Chinha of Shree Vishnu all over the print media by various scholars but no one has ever given a answer which is already not in print or discussion. Can someone explain from his own cosmic and spiritual connection with the Bhagwan himself.


texts: Why is salty food and food from grains not consumed in Fasting?

texts: Foods that have salt and ones that are made from grains or pulses are not supposed to be consumed during fasting. What is the reason for such a practice?


texts: Why didn't Lord Shiva use a weapon to kill Aadi?

texts:
According to Matsya Purana, Lord Shiva killed mayavi daitya Aadi after knowing that she isn't Parvati Devi:

  The son of Andhakasura and the brother of Bakasura called Aadi performed strict Tapas to Brahma Deva and asked for the boon of Amaratwa or immunity from death. As Brahma could not grant this advantage, Aadi amended the request that he should be able to convert his Body Form as per his wish; Brahma agreed provided that the Daitya could do so only twice. As Veerak was guarding the Entry Point of Shankara and as it was not possible to enter Shiva dwar, Aadi converted his Form as a snake and entered Shankaras abode through an under ground hole and slithered in; thereafter Aadi assumed the Form of Devi Parvati, approached Maha Deva and pretended that she had given up Tapasya as the severity of meditation just to change of body colour from Krishna Varna to Gaura Varna was not worth the strict regimen. Parama Shiva was happy initially that she changed her mind and returned back to him. But on second thoughts and knowing that Parvati would not take a flippant decision to return without achieving her objective, he suspected the fake Parvati and killed the Mayavi Daitya.

In the original text of Matsya Purana it's said that Lord Shiva killed Aadi in his Linga form (phallus).

Here is the source:

So my question is, why didn't Lord Shiva use any weapon to kill Aadi when Aadi had only one boon that he can only transform his body?

Was it due to some other boon or curse?


texts: Which Mleccha race do Thenkalais think Thirumangai Alwar was descended from?

texts:
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their devotional poetry in praise of Vishnu. It is the beliefs and principles embodied in the Alwars' poems that ultimately gave rise to the Sri Vaishnava sect.  Now the Alwars incarnated in a variety of different castes, in order to show the world that Sharanagati, complete surrender to Vishnu as a means of attaining Moksha, is open to all regardless of caste.  In this connection I just found something interesting about one of the Alwars, Thirumangai Alwar.

This journal paper summarizes the biography of Thirumangai Alwar as it's described in different Sri Vaishnava works.  In particular, it says this:

  In the three hundred and ninety eighth year of Kali Yuga, on a Thursday, in the month of Kartika, under the Krttika asterism, on a Purnima, was born in Thiruvali-Thirunagari, to Nilan, a man of the fourth varna (Mgpp)/ mleccha varna (Agpp)/ sudra (DSC), an amsa of Sharnga, Vishu's bow.

Now the three abbreviations are for three different works by Sri Vaishnava Acharyas on the history of Sri Vaishnavism: Mgpp stands for the second Parakala Matham Jeeyar's 3000 Padi Guru Parampara Prabhavam, Agpp stands for Pinbazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar's 6000 Padi Guru Parampara Prabhavam, and DSC stands for Garudavahana Pandita's Divyasuri Charitram.  In any case, apparently the 3000 Padi Guru Parampara Prabhavam and the Divyasuri Charitram agree that Thirumangai Alwar was from a fourth-caste family.  But the 6000 Padi Guru Parampara Prabhavam, which is the one Thenkalais follow, says that Thirumangai Alwar was from a Mleccha family.

So my question is, which Mleccha race do Thenkalais believe Thirumangai Alwar was from?  Do they think he was a Yavana or Greek, a Saka or Scythian, or what?


texts: How have traditional Vedic commentators intepreted Rig-Veda 1.164.46?

texts:
Rig-Veda 1.164.46 states:

  इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् ।
  एकं॒ सद्विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥४६॥

  English Translation: They called him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; and he is heavenly Garuda, who has beautiful wings. The truth is one, but the sages (or learned ones) call it by many names or describe him in many ways; they called him Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.

The above verse has been popularly quoted by many Neo-Vedantins as to mean that all religions are true.

My question is:

How have traditional Vedic commentators i.e. Vedic commentators before the nineteenth century, such as Sayana, interpreted this verse?


texts: Is there any information about the end of Krishna Dwaipayana - Veda Vyas?

texts: As the question says, are there any references about the end of Krishna Dwaipayana - Veda Vyas, especially about when it happened?


texts: How can Wind, Sun and Fire be living beings?

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There are many hymns dedicated to Wind, Sun, Fire in the Vedas. There was also a yajna done to please them. Sun is called Aditya, meaning son of Aditi and Kashyapa Rishi. How can a star be born from a living being?

In Ramayana, Hanuman is the son of Wind. How can Wind have a son?

In Mahabharata, Arjuna got the Gandeeva Bow from Fire. How can Fire give a bow to someone unless it is living? Karna was son of Sun. How is this possible? How can a star have a son?

So, this brings me to the question are Wind, Sun, Fire, etc. also living beings? If yes, how? Sun stays at one position all the time totally unconscious. Wind blows following laws of nature totally unconscious. Fire also burns as long as there is fuel. They all seem non-living. How can they then react like living beings and have children? Also, in many stories from scriptures, they appear in front of people and talk to them. How is this possible at all?


texts: Should urdhva pundra be removed before going to bed?

texts: Are there any rules that say that urdhva pundra should be removed before going to bed?


texts: Commentaries by Tantrika Acharyas on Mukhya Upanishads

texts: Did Any Acharya like Bhaskaracharya, Utapaladeva, Abhinavagupta etc. from Tantrika sect write their own commentary on Mukhya Upanishads? If yes, Please share the link to the book/text.


texts: Scriptural reference of Prabhupada's commentry on S.B. 4:19:11

texts:
Srila Prabhupada wrote in the purport of S.B. 4:19:11,

King Indra is known as śata-kratu, which indicates that he has performed one hundred horse sacrifices (aśvamedha-yajña). We should know, however, that the animals sacrificed in the yajña were not killed. If the Vedic mantras were properly pronounced during the sacrifice, the animal sacrificed would come out again with a new life.”

Is there any scriptural refrence regarding this point that sacrificed animal can come back to life if mantras are chanted rightly?


texts: What are the Yagnas Sri Krishna was referring to in Srimad Bhagavad Gita?

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While explaining Karma Yoga to Arjuna,  Sri Krishna says:

  देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।
  परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।। 3.11

  Meaning: You nourish the gods with this. Let those gods nourish you. Nourishing one another, you shall attain the supreme Good.

  इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।
  तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः।। 3.12

  Meaning: Being nourished by sacrifices, the gods will indeed give you the coveted enjoyments. He is certainly a theif who enjoys what have been given by them without offering (these) to them.'

  अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।
  यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः।। 3.14

  Meaning: From food are born the creatures; the origin of food is from rainfall; rainfall originates from sacrifice; sacrifice has action as its origin.

My doubt is whether Sri Krishna, by using the word "Yagna", was referring to Pancha Yagna - Deva, Pitr, Manushya, Bhuta and Brahma Yagnas (or) the Yagnas that we all see in movies?


texts: When did Chandra defeat the Asuras with Arjuna's chariot?

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As I discuss in this answer, the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes how Agni the fire god once needed to consume the Khandava forest in order to get over a malady, but Indra kept using rainstorms to extinguish the flames, because of his friendship with the Naga king Takshaka who lived there.  So Agni consulted with Brahma, who told him the famous sages Nara and Narayana had reincarnated on the earth as Arjuna and Krishna.  So he approached Arjuna and Krishna, who happened to be near the Khandava forest at the time, and asked them for help. They were happy to oblige, but they requested weapons that would be commensurate to the task of fighting Indra.

So Agni summoned Varuna to give them celestial weapons.  Varuna gave Krishna the Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu, and he gave Arjuna the famous Gandiva bow.  But he also gave Arjuna one more thing, a celestial chariot that had belonged to Chandra the moon god:

  Varuna ... gave a car furnished with celestial weapons and whose banner bore a large ape. Yoked unto that car were steeds white as silver of the fleecy clouds, and born in the region of the Gandharvas, and decked with golden harness, and resembling in fleetness the wind or the mind. And it was equipped with implement of war, and was incapable of being vanquished by the celestials or the Asuras. Its splendour was great and the sounds of its wheels was tremendous. It delighted the heart of every creature that looked at it. It had been made by Viswakarman, the architect of the universe and one of the lords of creation, after severe ascetic meditation. Its splendour, like that of the sun, was so great that no one could gaze at it. It was the very car from which the lord Soma [Chandra] had vanquished the Danavas [Asuras]. Resplendent with beauty, it looked like an evening cloud reflecting the effulgence of the setting sun.

My question is, when did Chandra use this chariot to defeat the Asuras (demons)?  The only war between the gods and the Asuras I'm aware of where Chandra played a prominent role is the famous Tarakamaya war, but Chandra was on the Asura side during that war.  As I discuss in this question, the Tarakamaya war was started when Chandra kidnapped Tara, the wife of Brihaspati guru of the gods, so the gods fought Chandra on behalf of their guru, while the Asuras took Chandra's side.

So what is the story of Chandra's victory against the Asuras where he rode the chariot later given to Arjuna?


texts: Why are bali/sacrifices of non-Asuric animals & humans so satisfying to Kaali Mata?

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The most common sacrifice is the goat and the Buffalo/Mahisha is the second most common. Both are Asuric. Kali maa loves to receive the sacrifice of Asuras of any kind.
Do lion & tiger also have asura nature, pravritti?
Regarding human sacrifice it is like enemy king (usually a non-dharmic person). But what about other kinds of human sacrifice? Should the always persons be non-Dharmic?
If not, then why does Maa want their Bali? Sorry if I am mistaken and only Asura-nature animals & humans can be sacrificed


texts:
In this excerpt from the Manava Shrauta Sutras, a text associated with the Yajur Veda, a certain ritual for worshiping Shiva is described.  As part of this ritual, the five-headed form of Shiva is supposed to be worshipped.  For those who don't know, the five heads of Shiva are known as Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishana, and according to the Shaiva Agamas they correspond to the five gods Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara, and Sadashiva.

But the Manava Shrauta Sutras describe the five heads slightly differently:

  With the following five verses the invitation of Rudra is performed.  With the verse: "Newly born etc." ... [Sadyojata] is the seer, Brahma[] his deity, the trishtubh his metre, the swan his riding animal, his face westward, the earth his element[.]... With the verse: "Wealth today, O Savitr, etc." ... Vamadeva is his seer, Vishnu his deity, the trishtubh his metre, Garuda his riding animal, his face northward, the water his element[.]... With the verse: "Homage to Rudra..." [Aghora] is his sage, Rudra his deity, the brihati his metre, the bull his riding animal, his face Southward, the heat his element[.]... With the verse "We worship the primeval spirit..." [Tatpurusha] is his seer, Surya his deity, the gayatri his metre, the horse his riding animal, his face eastward, the wind his element[.]  With the verse "Him who rules" ... [Ishana] is his seer, sound his deity, the brihati his metre, the tortoise his riding animal, his face upward, the ether his element[.]

As expected, Sadyojata, Vamadeva, and Aghora are said to correspond to Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra.  Tatpurusha, on the other hand, is associated here with Surya the sun god, not with Maheshwara.  But I'm interested in the fifth figure mentioned.  My question is, who is the deity that Ishana is said to correspond to, the one referred to as Sabda or "sound" who rides on a tortoise?

Is the word "Sabda" used in the sense of Sabda Brahman, a concept found in Kashmiri Shaivism according to which vibrations of sound are equated with the supreme Brahman?  In any case, as I mentioned above, according to the Shaiva Agamas Ishana corresponds to Sadashiva, although considering that there was a difference in the Tatpurusha case that's not a guarantee.

Are there any scriptures that describe Sadashiva as having a tortoise as his Vahana?  If so, what is the reason for that?


texts: Were there any humans in our stories which possessed supernatural powers?

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I mean humans who possessed powers and not any supernatural weapons such as Dhanush, Gada or anything.
And by powers, i mean teleporatation, flying, telekinesis etc.


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What is Vaak shudddi ?
How does one achieve it ? and
Why is it
important ?

I am looking for some literature references


texts: Did Draupadi want Karna as her sixth husband?

texts:
I heard this version in an old telugu film which praises Karna. I thought that was just a created story for the sake of film. I didn't believe that version. But these days, a dialogue is made popular who are relating draupadi to raped victims whose translation is like this

We accept Draupadi who has five husbands as a virtuous wife. Why not accept raped victims?.  and many similar dialoguesThis version is supported by a story which is a part of a book named Jaya: An illustrated retelling of Mahabharata  written by a famous writer Devdutt Pattanaik. That story is below.

My question:

Did Draupadi want karna as her sixth husband?
Was Draupadi unhappy about her husbands anytime?

Please quote sanskrit verses too if possible.


texts: which mahanirvana tantra book is he following

texts: I came across this video of samarpananda, where he is explaining about the shakti mantra, I like how the book contains both the encripted slokas in sanskrit and the decrypted hidden meaning. The mahanirvana tantra by sir john woodroffe (auther allan) contains the direct mantras but it is exampt of the slokas and how to derive the mantras from it, as in this video. Can any one tell me which book he is following?


texts: Has archaeological dating been attempted on Ramayana sites?

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In India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, there are many sites that are linked with Ramayana. Many are said to have been established by Gods themselves.

Have there been any attempts to archaeologically date these sites? The events depicted must have happened during or before the establishment of these sites.

If they have been dated, then we can know with certainty "at the very least" how old Ramayana events are.

This would also help with figuring out the ancient history of India & Sri Lanka.

Addition 1:
The Koneswaram Shivan Temple in Trincomalee / "Sri Kona Mountain", Sri Lanka is said to have been worshiped and patronized by Ravana. The first temple sunk under the sea in Tsunami in BC 306. Current temple at the site is the third one.


texts: What are the references from Puranas regarding the life span of Lord Rama?

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Lord Rama is said to be of Treta of 24th chaturyuga while current is 28th. Some references to support this are:

Treta yuge chaturvinshe ravane tapseh shakshyat | Ram dashrtathi
prapiye sagane shakyamiyeewan ||  [Vayu Puraan 70.88]
Chaturvinshe yuge chapi vishwamitra pure sare | Loke ram iti khyate tejsah
bhaskaropam ||  [Harivansh 22.104]
Chaturvinshe yuge vats tretayaam raghuvanshaje | Ramo naam bhavishyami
chaturvhayu sanatane || [Brahmand Puraan 2.2.36.30]

All of the above references are stating "Treta Yuge Chaturvinshe" i.e., Rama was in Treta of 24th Chaturyuga . Mahabharata is of 28th Dwapara and this is now 28th Kaliyuga. But the exact lifespan of Rama is not mentioned unlike Krishna who left earth for his abode at the age of 126years, even though indirect reference are made.

Srimad Bhagvatam: Chapter 11, Canto 9 11.18 After she went to
heaven the Lord observed strict celibacy and performed a ceremony, an
Agnihotra [fire] sacrifice, that was
continued for thirteen thousand years without interruption.

Sarga 128, Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War, Valmiki Ramayana

96 Having enjoyed the kingship for ten thousand years, Rama performed
a hundred horse-sacrifices, in which good horses were sacrificed and
numerous gifts bestowed.
106 All the people were endowed with excellent characteristics. All
were engaged in virtue. Rama was engaged in the kingship thus for one
thousand years.

So, the question is about any other numerical references from other Puranas regarding life span of Lord Rama or periods of events occurred in his life time?


texts:
I have heard that one day, Kubera invited Lord Ganesha to his palace. There, Lord Ganesha ate continuously which made Kubera's resources almost empty.

Is it true that Lord Ganesha used to eat a lot? And if yes, then what used to stop Ganesha from eating more?


texts: Is the concept of Sattvik, Rajasik, Tamasik food found in the Vedas?

texts:
Sattvik
BG 17.8: Persons in the mode of goodness prefer foods that promote the life span, and increase virtue, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful.

Rajasik
BG 17.9: Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and chiliful, are dear to persons in the mode of passion. Such foods produce pain, grief, and disease.

Tamasik
BG 17.10: Foods that are overcooked, stale, putrid, polluted, and impure are dear to persons in the mode of ignorance.

My QUESTION : Is the concept of Satvik rajasik tamasik foods found in the Vedas or upanishads ?


texts: What is the meaning of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ...?

texts:
What is the meaning of the mantra

  Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare


texts: Do these rituals in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad to bear children give fruition in this lifetime?

texts:
These rituals in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad are for getting certain types of children to be born:

  In case one wishes, 'That a white son be born to me! that he be able to repeat a Veda! that he attain the full length of life!'--they
  two should have rice cooked with milk and should eat it prepared with
  ghee. They two are likely to beget [him].
  Now, in case one wishes, 'That a tawny son with reddish-brown eyes be born to me! that he be able to recite two Vedas! that he attain the
  full length of life!'--they two should have rice cooked with sour milk
  and should eat it prepared with ghee. They two are likely to beget
  [him].
  Now, in case one wishes, 'That a swarthy son with red eyes be born to me! that he be able to repeat three Vedas! that he attain the full
  length of life!'--they two should have rice boiled with water and
  should eat it prepared with ghee. They two are likely to beget [him].
  Now, in case one wishes, 'That a learned (pandita) daughter be born to me! that she attain the full length of life!'--they two should
  have rice boiled with sesame and should eat it prepared with ghee.
  They two are likely to beget [her].

Are these guaranteed to bear fruit in the current lifetime?


texts: Is Agni and Vayu great because RigVeda eulogized them or are they not great because they're subject to ego in Kenopanishad?

texts:
The opening hymn of Rig Veda is for Agni , the god of fire I am assuming .
And then there are many more hymns , but then there're ones for Vayu, Mitra, Indra, and so on for the other deities.
The verses indicate Agni is grand and divine.
However , we see in the Kenopanishad, after having a victory over the demons, the gods rejoiced in ego and the Brahman assumed a Yaksha form to break their ego .

Brahman, according to the story, obtained a victory for the gods; and
by that victory of Brahman the gods became elated. They said to
themselves: "Verily, this victory is ours; verily, this glory is ours
only."
Brahman, to be sure, understood it all and appeared before them. But
they did not know who that adorable Spirit was. 3—6 They said to Agni
(Fire): "O Agni! Find out who this great Spirit is." "Yes," he said
and hastened to It. Brahman asked him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I
am known as Agni; I am also called Jataveda."
Brahman said: "What
power is in you, who are so well known?" Fire replied: "I can burn
all— whatever there is on earth." Brahman put a straw before him and
said: "Burn this." He rushed toward it with all his ardour but could
not burn it. Then he returned from the Spirit and said to the gods: "I
could not find out who this Spirit is,"
(from Chapter 3 of Kenopanishad)

Thus, we can see Agni who was very egoistic about power to burn all earth is unable to reduce a single piece of straw .
Next to be humbled is Vayu who couldn't blow away the same straw.
Indra is made of this realization. Note that indra doesn't see or question the yaksha which is a hidden metaphor of the fact that senses (indriya) can't see the lord.
So , the question is Is Agni and Vayu great because they're eulogized in mandala 1 of Rigveda or are they not so great because they are subject to ego and got their egos broken down by supreme deity.
PS : On a humorous note, one can add I may not be sitting and typing this if it were not for agni (temperature) in my body. :P


texts: Are there any comments in the mahabarata or the upanishades on whether Krishna fulfilled the prophecy that he would restore dharma?

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EDIT :I i only accept answers based purely on mahabharata or uphanishades.
This is in no way opinion based, I am looking for an unbiased answer.
Does Krishna himself comment on how he feels about this?
For example
There is a story where after the war at old age Krishna naps under a tree and is shaken by the pain of the war. He dreams about dharma. I can't find this story, maybe it gives a perspective on this
As I understand the moral of this is that not even a divine hero Krishna can act against the free will of people, as they must deal with their own karma.
But the what can you really ever do for anybody or against anybody, as all that happens is simply karma


texts: Why does Canto 4, Chapter 2 of Bhagavata Purana insult Shiva devotees?

texts:
SB 4.2.28 — One who takes a vow to satisfy Lord Śiva or who follows
  such principles will certainly become an atheist and be diverted from
  transcendental scriptural injunctions.

Also in next verse;

  SB 4.2.29 — Those who vow to worship Lord Śiva are so foolish that
  they imitate him by keeping long hair on their heads. When initiated
  into worship of Lord Śiva, they prefer to live on wine, flesh and
  other such things.


texts: Why is Shiva called "Bholenath", Bhootnath, Amarnath, Kedarnath, Omakara etc.?

texts:
Why is Shiva called Bholenath? What does it mean by Bholenath? Please explain story too if exists.

Why is Shiva also called Bhootnath, Amarnath, Kedarnath, Omakara etc.?

What does it mean by kedar?


texts: Recently I heard of a concept named Arka Vivaha. I heard this concept in context of marriage. Can anyone please elaborate this concept and significance of it?


texts: What is Krsna Paksh( Darkness) & Sukla Paksh(Brightness) in Bhagavad Gita?

texts:
This two term Krsna Paksh( Path of Darkness) and Sukla Paksh(Path of Brightness) are mentioned in Bhagvad-Gita,
Here is Sloka

śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śāśvate mate |
ekayā yāty-anāvṛtim anyāyāvartate punaḥ || 8.26 ||

meaning

These two paths, the bright and the dark, are said to be everlasting. By the former, one attains
the state of non-return, by the other, one returns again.

Is there any other scripture which is mentioned and elaborate this term.


texts: Does the tradition of writing Rama Koti have any scriptural basis?

texts:
Rama Koti is a practice in Hinduism in which a devotee of Rama writes the name of Rama in a book for one crore times.

Is this tradition of writing rama koti mentioned anywhere in the scriptures or is it of historical origin?


texts: What is the object to be attained according to Gita?

texts: There are many processes described like bhakti, karma, jnana etc.. What is the object to be attained by these processes? Or What is the goal?


texts: Historical evidence for time period of Nathamuni

texts:
Alkondaville Govindacharya's work on the life of Ramanujacharya mentions that Nathamuni lived for a total of 540 years (pg 12). The book begins by stating that in the year 916 A.D. when Yamunacharya was born, his grandfather Nathamuni was still alive (pg 2). However, in the same book, we find that considering that he would not be alive to name and train Yamunacharya, he delegates the responsibility first to his immediate disciple Pundarikaksha (Uyyakkondar), who also, not being able to accomplish that during his lifetime, delegates it further to Rama Misra who actually names and trains Yamunacharya. The book also mentions that when Nathamuni reached Azhwar Tirunagari to retrieve the lost prabandham, he meets a person by name Parankusa Dasa, who is a disciple of Madhurakavi (Azhwar?). We know Yamunacharya continued to live into Ramanujacharya's time and so, a date of 916 A.D to his birth is likely to make sense, assuming he also lived over a hundred years. However, if it were true that Parankusa dasar were indeed a disciple of Madhurakavi (Azhwar?) then either

Nathamuni should have lived for a substantially long time, like 540 years, as the claim is, or
Madhurakavi (Azhwar?) should have lived for a long time from the beginning of Kaliyuga in ~3000 BC as he was a contemporary of Nammazhwar who lived only for a short time of 32 years, or
the Madhurakavi mentioned here is really not Madhurakavi Azhwar. A few questions arise here as I put all of these together. If it were true that Nathamuni lived for 540 years, why did his son Isvara muni take a long time to beget Yamunacharya? If this were true, was Nathamuni alive during the time of Shankaracharya (788-820 AD)?


texts:
One of the largest group of Hindu ascetics is the Nath (or Natha) sampradaya.

Who are the Naths?

Who were the famous 9 Naths?

What is their core ideology?

What sect of Shaivism do they belong to?


texts: Is the occurence of a fire accident during the performance of a havan considered a bad omen?

texts:
While doing the Gajalaxmi havan a coconut burst open during the pūrṇāhuti and I burnt a few body parts.

Is this a good or bad omen according to Hindu scripture?


texts: Is it suggested to read the "Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda"?

texts:
Or should we read/refer/practice/ to the originally written literature and do not go beyond that with anything.

Background(in case): Complete beginner, I just started reading Bhagvad Geeta(2 days back).

Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Link: https://advaitaashrama.org/cw/


texts: Why did Sri Ramanuja refuse to hail Shiva? What was the need to prove that Vishnu is the one true God?

texts:
I was reading the history of Sri Ramanuja, the Vaishnava saint. Apparently, he was in hiding in fear of a Chola King. The Chola king was a worshiper of Shiva as opposed to Ramanuja who is a Vishnu devotee. The king forces Ramanuja to convert as a Shiva worshiper. Ramanuja refuses!

Here is what I don't understand:

Why did he refuse to hail Shiva? After all he is also a god.
What is the need here for Ramanuja to prove that Vishnu is the one true God?


texts: What is the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?

texts:
I would like to know the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?

Some 3-4 years back, in a commentary of an Upanishad I found someone explaining the word Shudra to mean the one who is always in grief (who is always ShokAkul). Any such definitions derived from āchārya works are also acceptable.

Related:

What are the etymologies and literal meanings of the words (kṣatriya, śūdra, etc.) used to indicate one's varṇa?
What are the etymologies of the words brahman (ब्रह्मन्) and brāhmaṇa/brahmin (ब्राह्मण)?


texts: Do Indians still believe the sacred cows?

texts:
Sorry for the blunt title. I'm trying to understand the modern Indian segment of the population, those who have computers and are connected to the Internet.

How much are religious? How much traditional? Is there a significant phenomenon of secularization? Are, for example, there high-tech and technology persons that will stop for a cow?

Sorry for the ignorance and perhaps exclusions. I do not specialize in this area and the question just popped in my mind.


texts: What is the punishment for consensual sex in Hinduism?

texts: If someone has sex with a maid or someone else's wife with their permission (mutual consent), what is the punishment for it as per Hindu scripture?


texts: If there is hell and heaven in Hinduism. Then why is there rebirth and moksh?

texts:
We see the concept of rebirth and moksha , while we also see hell and heaven in Hinduism. Garuda purana says a lot about punishments in hell
Also read https://www.quora.com/If-early-Hinduism-believed-in-reincarnation-why-does-the-Garuda-Purana-contradict-that-and-imply-that-hell-exists/answer/Rami-Sivan?ch=10&share=b80d6faf&srid=hd5LP on this. Is it correct ?


texts: How many husbands are permitted to a woman (polyandry) in ancient history?

texts:
According to our scriptures, a man can have more than one wife. May be this is one of the reasons many Gods have two or more wives. Does any scripture mention what is the reason for men having multiple wives and is it applicable for women also? (other than Draupadi)

Wiki Source:

  Polygamy became illegal in India in 1956, uniformly for all of its citizens except for Hindus in Goa where polygamy is legal, and for Muslims, who are permitted to have four wives. After that Hindu Marriage Act that a Hindu can marry only one. Otherwise before that polygamy was allowed


texts: Why there is a contradiction between verse of brihadaranyaka upanishad?

texts:
Prajapati said to Himself: "Well, let Me make a firm basis for it (semen)." So He created woman. Having created her, He placed her below and worshipped her. Therefore one should worship a woman, placing her below. He (Prajapati) extended His organ that projects and with it impregnated her. (Verse 6.4.2) brihadaranyaka upanishad Chapter IV—Conception and Birth as Religious Rites Verse

He was not at all happy. Therefore people (still) are not happy when alone. He desired a mate. He became as big as man and wife embracing each other. He parted this very body into two. From that came husband and wife. Therefore, said Yājñavalkya, this (body) is one-half of oneself, like one of the two halves of a split pea. Therefore this space is indeed filled by the wife. He was united with her. From that men were born.(verse1.4.3)Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Chapter I > Section IV - The Creation and Its Cause

In the first verse Prajapati created the woman but in the second verse (1.4.3) aham split himself into two man and a woman.
Why there is a contradiction between these two verses


texts: What is the story behind Kumbhakarna's sleep?

texts: I've heard a lot about the Sleep Lover, Kumbhakarna. Why was he sleeping for so many days continuously? Is there a story behind this?


texts: How did Advaitins Defend Attributeless brahman from Ramanuja's arguments?

texts:
As per Advaita Vedanta of Adi Shankara, The Supreme reality i.e. Brahman is without any attributes.

Advaita philosophy says that we perceive the world only owing to maya(ignorance).i.e. This world does not exists. But only Brahma exists who is non-dual. This is called AjatVada.

So Advaita makes two assertions

Nirguna/ attributeless Brahman
The world is unreal

However the vaishnava Acharya's who later came argued that Brahman does have attributes and that world is real but temporary. One of the foremost Vaishnava Acharya is Sripad Ramanujacharya.

Here is What Ramanujacharya Said.

Lets take example of rope and snake.

Ramanuja says:

  If I See a rope and mistake it for snake; then that misunderstanding
  is because Snake has something like Rope in it; namely shape. So if I
  see this Brahman and mistake it for this creation(say pot); Then there
  must be something like pot in Brahman. Hence He has Attributes.

Another argument is that #

  If I mistake a rope for snake(Which is non-existent according to
  Advaita); Than that is because I have seen a real snake before. So
  real real snake exists.  So Everything that I perceive must also have
  some real existence. So Now i'm seeing this world owing to Maya; But
  then real world must also exists which I have previous perception of

Here in first argument attributelessness of Brahma is refuted.

In second argument non-existence of the world is refuted.

So has any advait philosopher answered the Ramanuja's arguments?

# Not sure if this was Ramanujacharya's argument. Citation required.


texts:
Why did asuras like Ravana, Narakasura, Kansa, Tarakasura pray to Brahma only and why did Brahma give so many boons to them?

Shouldn't the asuras not be given any boons knowing that they are asuras?


texts: In which year did Varahamihira write his Brihat Samhita?

texts:
Varahamihira is considered one of the Navaratna's in King Vikramaditya's court.
I would like to know if anybody has authentic ancient reference to when he or King Vikramaditya lived and which year was Brihat Samhita written?


texts: Is there any story in scriptures about the origin of peacocks?

texts:
The Shalya Parva of Mahabharat while describing the gifts of different arms to Kartikeya mentions the following:

  Garuda gave him his favourite son, a peacock of beautiful feathers. Aruna gave him a cock of sharp talons. The royal Varuna gave him a snake of great energy and might. The lord Brahma gave unto that god devoted to Brahman a black deer-skin. And the Creator of all the worlds also gave him victory in all battles.

Is the story of origin of peacocks from Garud detailed in any scripture?


texts: Yudhishthira got his brothers revived from death

texts:
The Pandava princes spent nearly 12 years in the forest and were leading a life of courage and discipline.

The time had come for the Pandavas to live in Agyata Vasa (living Incognito).

In the quest of a mysterious deer, Yudhishthira, became exhausted and thirsty.

His brother Nakula ventured out to fetch water and found a beautiful lake.
However, he did not return and lost his life.

Likewise,  the other three brothers of Yudhishthira , also did not return and died,trying to fetch water from the lake.

Yudhishthira , however succeeded in getting his brothers revived back to life- and the Pandavas  continued their Exile.

What is the story with regard to this event,  as mentioned in the scriptures?


texts: What happened to radha when she grew up?

texts: My question concerns radha, the companion of Krishna. I have heard that Krishna and radha were companions since childhood. But I want to know what happened to her when she grew up. Thank you


texts: Do vaishnavites believe in pranava mantra or is it an "anya devata" of sorts?

texts: Although "pranavah" occurs in vishnu sahasranama, it seems that the impersonal "Om" clashes with the "lakshmipati pitambaradhari shanka chakra gada pani" image of the God of vaishnavites.


texts: What if you felt God wanted you to create something materialistic, which leads to a life of bondage, how does one recover from that?

texts:
Just as the title says. If a person feels there purpose in life is to create something materialistic, such as scriptures that help others find there way, but at the same time the person feels like they are in bondage because of it, especially when it is a life long quest. How does one recover from that?

In Hinduism it seems even though the person feels they are serving God, at the same time that person is condemning himself.


texts: Ateshgah of Baku, Azerbaijan - A Shakthi Peetha in Central Asia?

texts:
It has been established that Ateshgah temple in Baku, Azerbaijan is indeed a Hindu temple and not a Zoroastrian temple with discovery of Sanskrit inscriptions praising Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha as shown in this wiki article. My questions are as follows.

Is there any proof to the popular perception that it is one of the 54 Shakti Peeth? The association is made with Shakti Peeth because the Baku temple resembles the Jwalamukhi Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh where one can find the 'eternal flames' as well.
Is there any records of pilgrimage to the Baku temple either during the medieval ages or later, in any western or Indian historical archives?
What is the estimated data of construction of the temple? It must have been a time when Paganism/Hinduism had considerable influence in Central Asia which must push the date well before 1000 AD.


texts: Is there any reference that Krishna was connected to Brahman while speaking Gita?

texts: I recently came across a claim that it is not Krishna who spoke Bhagavad Gita, but he was connected to Brahman while speaking Gita. Is there any reference for this?


texts:
Is there any practice, mantra/stotra in Hinduism to Increase Memory.
I want to read about Smriti-Sakti, Jnana-Sakti, Buddhi Sakti, Kalpana Sakti, Pratibha Sakti...
Im trying to collect everything in Hinduism, which would help a Student, by far I have got Mantras only like(Saraswati, Prajnya Stotra)... I want to read if Hinduism has anything about, Memory, Working Memory, Imagination, Comprehension, Intelligence..etc..
Hinduism is pretty huge, and when I search online I cant get useful result..For that I need specific terms/ concept names, Which concept should I search for, if I want to learn things in Hinduism related to Memory, Intelligence, Brain Working, Cognition, Problem Solving..
If anyone have their research collection please share it, recently came across
Vidyastra - Indra kratum na aa bhara pitaa putrebhyo yathaa


texts: What are some notably difficult tapas yogis have performed in modern days?

texts: I just learned of Shivabalayogi's tapas of meditating for 23 hours a day for eight years. And 12 hours a day for two more years. That is the most notable tapas I have heard of. What are some other notable tapas that modern yogis have done?


texts: Who is the goddess depicted as "Bharat Mata" & why is she having Indian tricolor flag?

texts:
What is the story of Bharat Mata?
What's her connection with the Indian national flag?


texts:
The Satvata Tantra Part 2 Verse 8 mentions:

  Seeing Kardama Muni's austerities aimed at attaining mystic powers, the Lord appeared as Sukla in a pure and transcendental form. After giving him the benediction that he would appear as his son, with a tear of bliss the Lord created a holy lake.

I know that the son of Kardama Muni was Kapila who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu but I want to know who the Shukla avatar was?


texts: Do any scriptures say that Varna is determined by Rashi?

texts: Many people say that Varna is determined by birth, and others say Varna is determined by qualities.  But I've seen some websites which claim that Varna is based on Rashi(our birth constellation/star).  My question is, are there any scriptures which claim that Varna is determined by Rashi?


texts: Are Vedic Gods Tvashtar And Vishwakarma the same?

texts: Lord tvastar is an artisan God who is praised In the Vedas and Vishwakarma is also considered An artisan God in puranas and epics. So are these the different names of the same god or are they two different Gods?


texts: What's the origin of Lalayet Chitta Balakam

texts:
What is the origin of this (Sanskrit?) verse; is it part of a bigger scripture?

Lalayet Chitta Balakam (persuade with indulgence, the mind, which is a child)


texts: How can one believe one won't be born again having attained Vaikuntha?

texts:
Jai-Vijay were dwelling in Vaikuntha with Lord Vishnu who happened to be born again due to curse by KumAras. Vaikuntha is said to be the final destination by many philosophies. But if that is the final destination, why they happened to be born again considering any reason. (even curse)

So, Is Vaikuntha a temporarily place? Or in other words, is there no guarantee one won't born again even after attaining Vaikuntha?


texts: Astronomical explanation of twice setting of sun in Jayadratha episode

texts: In the  Kurukshetra war, sun appears to set so that Jayadratha comes out of his hiding place; Sun appears again and Arjuna is able to kill Jayadratha before sunset as per his vow. Is there any astronomical explanation for the same?


texts: What happens if upadesha mantra is not chanted regularly?

texts:
What may happen if mantra chanting is stopped for few days because of busy life schedule?

Will the punya or power earned by chanting it will be lost if chanted irregularly?


texts: Did Duryodhana plan Rajasuya to establish Dharma?

texts:
After the Rajasuya by Yudhistira, Duryodhana also tries to perform it with the help of Karna.

What is the intention of Duryodhana in performing Rajasuya? Is it mentioned anywhere in Mahabharata?


texts: Does hinduism/vedas allow non-veg consumption?

texts:
This question has puzzled me for long. My family does consume non-veg but we don't do it on Mondays and Thursdays and also not on full moon days. Also we only consume mostly meat and fish. So why is it like this ? Why some particular sects/castes have high resistance for non-veg consumption and others are very liberal; given that both follow hinduism and practice the same rituals in the exact same way.
What does our vedas/puranas say about this ? I vaguely remember bhagwad-geeta mentioning three types of food: satvik, raajsik and taamsik. Non-veg i believe falls in taamsik and is considered to be the worst.


texts: Why did Rama try to kill an innocent deer just for its skin?

texts:
Hinduism doesn't favour violence or killing innocent beings. We support being vegetarians.

But isn't killing a deer for its golden skin unjustified?

I'm referring to the incident in Ramayana where Rama hunted the Golden Deer (Mareecha) for its skin. From here:

  Rama eliminates Maareecha when he is escaping beyond reach in the form of Golden Deer. He sports with that deer for a long time and when it is leading him away and afar from the hermitage, he is vexed with the trickery of the deer and kills it.


texts: What's the Sanskrit word for maintaining distance with relatives of the deceased?

texts: What's the Sanskrit word for theetu (as used in apara kaaryam) as  tamil brahmins say ?.What is the duration of  theetu relatives- wise ?


texts:
I have heard couple of times older people talking and also in lots of spritual tv shows that it is easy to find God in kalyug as compared to any other yug(era).

Is it true? If yes, then why and how?


texts: Should we worship God according to our ability?

texts:
I've seen videos on the internet where people are worshiping god, almost all the time... They suggest to do so too... It really makes me uncomfortable, as I am not much spiritual. Is it necessary to do Spirituality most of the time?
My situation is also not suited...


texts: If being an Indra is just a post, what happens to Indrani(wife of Indra), after the current Indra's post is removed? Will she continue to be the wife of the next Indra too?


texts: Are there any enlightened people currently at the level of Ramana Maharishi or Paramhansa Ramakrishna?

texts: Ramana Maharishi and Sri Ramakrishna are acknowledged as fully enlightened people. Their words are given the highest importance by many Hindus. Are there any sadhus at that level currently anywhere in the world?


texts: What was the opinion of Kumarila and Prabhakara about the Puranas?

texts: What was the opinion of Kumarila and Prabhakara, who were proponents of the Jaimini mimamsa, about the Puranas? In context of both mythology and history.


texts: What was samkhya's criticism on vedanta?

texts:
From a site I read the following passage of strong criticism on Sankara's Vedanta.

  Later philosophers also declared Mayavada to be crypto-Buddhism. The Sankhya philosopher Vijnana-bhiksu (1550–1600 CE) tried to reconcile Vedanta with Sankhya philosophy and synthesize all theistic
  schools of Indian thought into a philosophy that he called Avibhagadvaita(indistinguishable non-dualism). He was an impartial writer who analyzed both the merits and problems of the various doctrines that he encountered. Concerning Sankara’s philosophy, Vijnana-bhiksu states in his Sankhya Pravacana Bhasya:

    brahma-mimamsayam kenapi sutrenavidya-matrato bandhasyanuktatat.
     avibhago vacanaditya-sutrair-brahma-mimamsaya
    abhipretas-yavibhaga-laksanadraitasy-avidyadivastavatve’pyavirodhaccha.
    yat tu vedanta-bruvanamadhunikasya mayavadas-yatra lingam drsyate tat
    tesamapi vijnanavadyeka-desitaya yuktameva.

  There is not a single Brahma-sutra in which bondage is declared to be a mere deception. As to the novel theory of maya propounded by vedanta-bruva (those who claim to be Vedantists), it is only another type of Buddhist of the Vijnanavada school (vijnana-vadyekadesin). This theory has nothing to do with Vedanta and it should be understood that this doctrine of these new Buddhists, who assert the theory of maya and reduce our bondage to mere illusion is in this way refuted. (Sankhya Pravacana Bhasya 1.22)

  Later on in his work, Vijnana-bhiksu also quotes the famous verse from Padma Purana (mayavadam asat-chastram). Vijnana-bhiksu considered Buddhism to be nastikavada, or atheism, as it was opposed to Vedic thought. Thus, in effect, he was declaring Mayavadis to be out and out atheists.

I want to know if he was the only one or there were any other samkhya scholars who criticized Vedanta?


texts: Can someone give me the translation of this Mantra?

texts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b7SXLECcCA

  Om Lakshmi Vigan Shri Kamala Dharigan Svaha

Thank you.

By the way, the "Om" of the first 5 seconds is magnificent!


texts:
As we all know that Upanishads were written to understand Vedas. Some great scholars also said that they are the branches of Vedas. My question is related to it. Yesterday in a library, I was reading some books and then I found a book written by Dr. Surendra KR Sharma. The name of the book was in Hindi Kya baloo ki bhit par khada hai Hindu dharma (Does Hinduism stand on the wall of sand). On page no. 344.

In this book he quoted Mundak Upanishad 1:1:5. I am giving the English translation by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

So my question I am confused now that Why Vedas are called inferior in Upanishads?


texts: Is it true that subtle body has all five senses?

texts:
Human body has five senses: hear, see, touch, smell and taste.

It Is well known from Hindu scriptures that every human being has a subtle body.

Does the subtle body has all the five senses?


texts: Are rituals for worshipping shivlinga necessary to please Lord Shiva?

texts: Lord Shiva is known as Ashutosh ,meaning easily pleased but there are many rituals for worshipping a shivlinga like use milk to bathe the lingam, not to consume the fruits offered to him as Prasad,  always keep the lingam under continuous water flow ,sprinkle gangajal over yourself before puja ,don't use kumkum or turmeric or ketaki flower etc.Are these necessary to please him or these are just manmade ?