texts: Is there any Vedic reference of Lord Shiva or Lord Rudra worshipping Maa Siddhidatri to attain Siddhis?

texts:
Here is what I found on Wikipedia:

Siddhidhatri is the ninth form of the Goddess Durga or Parvati, the
meaning of her name is as follows: Siddhi means supernatural power or
meditative ability, and Dhatri means giver or awarder. She is
worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri (nine nights of Navadurga);
she fulfills all the divine aspirations and completes the mundane.
It is believed that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess
Siddhidatri. Therefore, he is also known by the name of
Ardhanarishwar. According to Vedic scriptures, Lord Shiva attained all
the siddhis by worshiping this Goddess.

According to Vedic scriptures, Lord Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshiping this Goddess.
If yes, then please provide me some information of that text and verses.


texts: What are Manda Bhakti, Madyama Bhakti and Uttama Bhakti?

texts: As the question says, what are those three stages of Bhakti viz. Manda Bhakti, Madhyama Bhakti and Uttama Bhakti?


texts: Could someone translate these verses from Brahma Vaivarta Puranam, please?

texts:
Do these verses mention about cow slaughter?
Please translate it completely.
Thank you.


texts: What are the advantages if we wake up before Sun-rise according to Vedas?

texts:
what are the advantages if we wake up before sunrise according to our scriptures.
Thanks!!!


texts: Do people inherit characters from their past life?

texts: Are the characters of human influenced by his/her past life? or is it only because of present life? Is it mentioned in any Puranas/Vedas?


texts:
I would like to know what the significance of Space is in Hinduism as stated by the Hindu scriptures.

Does space store everything, the past, present and the future?
Also, is space associated with any god (like Sun, Fire, Water etc)?
What is the relation between space and the chanting of mantras?


texts: How Sri Ramanujacharya interpret Aham Brahmasmi?

texts: I have come across the interpretation of Sri Madhvacharya on Aham Brahmasmi. But I would like to know the Sri Ramanuja's interpretations.


texts:
It is said in Wikipedia that

  The Vedic period or Vedic age (c. 1500 – c. 600 BCE) is the period in the history of the Indian subcontinent intervening between the end of the urban Indus Valley Civilization, and a second urbanisation which began in c. 600 BCE.

Other sources/scholars mention 1200 BCE and nearby.

My question is: isn't "Vedic Age" meant to be since the beginning? Because, since Indus Valley was during the Kali Yuga (3300–1300 BCE; mature period 2600–1900 BCE), the preceding Yugas are by default, Vedic in nature. So then what is this new and revised "Vedic Age" which came after Indus Valley?

Also, if Kali Yuga started in 3102 BCE, then how come Indus Valley started from 3300 BCE? Or did the Indus Valley start during Dvapara Yuga?

Can anyone explain this discrepancy between Puranic/Shastric timeline and the timeline according to today's recorded history?


texts: Question on lineage of Karna's foster parents

texts:
We know Karna's foster father Adhiratha, a charioteer. He was a Suta which is defined to be descendant of Kshatriya father and Brahmana mother (as per Manusmriti).

But do we have any information on Adhiratha's lineage. As per Srimad Bhagvatam, Adhiratha's was a direct descendant of King Rompada, friend of King Dashratha.

  By the mercy of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Romapāda had a son named Caturaṅga. The son of Caturaṅga was Pṛthulākṣa, who had three sons — Bṛhadratha, Bṛhatkarmā and Bṛhadbhānu. From Bṛhadratha came a son named Bṛhadmanā, whose sons and grandsons in succession were Jayadratha, Vijaya, Dhṛti, Dhṛtavrata, Satkarmā and Adhiratha. Adhiratha accepted the son rejected by Kuntī, namely Karṇa, and Karṇa’s son was Vṛṣasena.

The exact verses are from 9-23-7 to 9-23-12.

So do scriptures describe any events wherein King Rompada descendants lost their kingdom, and become charioteers.


texts: How many times Aditya Hridayam Stotra should be recited in one sitting?

texts:
It is written in Walmiki Ramayana that Lord Rama recited Aditya Hridayam Stotra thrice before attacking Ravana in battlefield.
The time domain was Tretayuga and Rama was a very pious human being.So, I personally think that it is the only reason that he got success by reading the Stotra thrice only.
Ordinary people like us might not get the full benefit just by reading it thrice.
So, how many times one should chant the Stotra? Please answer with proper explanation.


texts: If I consider only Isha Upanishad as infallible canonical pramana, will I be (scripturally) considered a valid Hindu/Sanatani?

texts:
Isha upanishad is only text which is samhita and upanishad both

Isha upanishad is considered the first even among the principal upanishads

Now, If I decide to consider only Isha upanishad as the only infallible canonical pramana (shabda) , and though I consider others parts of veda, or ramayana or mahabharat or gita etc etc in high respect; but do not consider them as infallible(or, fallble) pramana. that is, I do not consider other samhitas(other than Isha) of vedas as pramana, though I do not disrespect the other samhitas ).  I also do not consider any other religion's text like bible,torah,quran etc as pramana.
That is, I only and only consider Isha upanishad as the only canonical infallible pramana text for myself and my family. Then whether I am a scripturally valid hindu / sanatani or not (considering that I do not consider other parts of veda/veda samhitas as pramana, other than Isha) ?
note: please do not mark/close this crucial question, as duplicate of any other question


texts: Does seeing the same dream several times indicate something?

texts: If we see God in our dreams telling us the same thing again and again, does that mean anything? Is God in a way trying to say say something through dreams?


texts: Which Dharma Sutras are valid according to Sri Vaishnavas?

texts:
Which Dharma Sutras are valid? Is every Dharma Sutra named after a historic Rishi with the affix "Sutra" or "Shastra" or "Smriti" valid?

On wisdomlib.org for this Manusmriti verse, Ganganath Jha talks about the lists of valid Dharma Sutras composed by different authors.

Interestingly, the Manusmriti is unanimously cited as the foremost authority on Dharma.

  We have the Veda itself testifying to the trustworthy character of at
  least one Smṛti-writer, Manu—‘Whatever Manu has said is wholesome.’

  Madanapārijāta, p. 11.— "Manu is the most important of the expounders
  of law..."

  Nṛsiṃhaprasāda-Saṃskāra MSS. - ".....and as Manu and others are
  known to have been learned in the Veda it stands to reason that
  knowing as they did that the Veda was the sole authority on Dharma...

  Smrticandrikā, pp. 1 et scq.— "The ordinances composed by Manu and
  other writers..."

  Among Smṛtis Manu is most authoritative, as says Aṅgiras—.... as
  also the Veda.

  Any Smṛti that goes against the ordinances of Manu is to be
  rejected—as declared by Bṛhaspati (see above). This is the view of the
  Kalpataru also

But anyways, here is a list compiled by Yajnavalkya of valid Dharma Sutras. Note that Manu is on top:

  Manu, Viṣṇu, Yama, Aṅgiras, Vaśiṣṭha, Dakṣa, Saṃvarta, Śātātapa,
  Parāśara, Āpastamba, Uśanas, Vyāsa, Kātyāyana, Bṛhaspati, Gautama,
  Śaṅkha-Likhita, Hārīta, Atri, and Yājñavalkya himself.

According to Vyasa:

  Manu, Vaśiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Garga, Gautama, Uśanas, Atri, Viṣṇu,
  Saṃvarta, Dakṣa, Aṅgiras, Śātātapa, Hārīta, Yājñavalkya, Āpastamba,
  Śaṅkha, Likhita, Kātyāyana, Pracetas.

So aside from the Manusmriti, which Dharma Shastras, and their particular manuscripts, are valid according to Sri Vaishnava acharyas?


texts: If Brahman is Consciousness and Omniscient, then he should be sentient also since both are indiscernible.


texts: Why is Lord Vishnu referred to as Upendra in the Vedas?

texts:
"Upendra" means friend or helper of Lord Indra.

However, in Puranic stories the same is reversed.

But we consider Vedas as higher pramanam than Puranas.

Why do the Vedas describe Lord Vishnu as subordinate or helper of Lord Indra in his battles ?

We know that Lord Indra is undoubtedly the chief God in the Vedic literature. More than thousands of mantras are attributed to him and he is also declared as Brahman (which discussed in other posts in this forum).

Also, Lord Vishnu is considered as Adityas in the Vedas.

Why then the Vedic concepts of Indra and Upendra  are not aligning with Puranas?


texts: Were/are there Hindu schools of thought that don't believe in Karma?

texts: Are there schools of thought that don't believe in Karmic inheritance from prior births and don't believe you accumulate good or bad Karma during this life.


texts: Is court marriage without saptapadi valid according to scriptures?

texts: Now a days court marriages are also popular. Many learned people like to marry in court without much expense etc. What is the status of this marriage? Prohibited? Kalyug practice? Saptapadi is also a legal requirement for a valid Hindu marriage so is legal court marriage a good substitute? Do these couples get paapam due to abondoning tradition? Is court marriage followed by temple visit enough?


texts:
What is the name of Ganesha's mouse? I have heard that it is called Mushaka which is the sanskrit word for mouse (as a species) itself.  Is there any other name mentioned about the specific mouse that was with Ganesha?

Edit: I think my question is quite different from how the mouse became Ganesha's vahana. Even though the answer there might mention nis name as Mushikasura in his Asura form I thought it was not clear whether he retained that name in his form as mouse also. I would like to keep my question open for any other answers. Thanks for the responses!


texts: Was Dhrishtadyumna the rebirth of Ekalavya to take revenge on Dronacharya?

texts:
I heard in a video Ekalavya was killed by Lord Krishna and at that time Lord Krishna gave a boon. i
e. rebirth as Dhrishtadyumna to take revenge on Dronacharya. Is that true?


texts: Was Indra born from his mother's side and did she die in child-birth?

texts:
Rig Ved Book 4 Hymn 18 is really interesting. It begins with the following declaration (quoting from the Griffith translation):

  THIS is the ancient and accepted pathway by which all Gods have come into existence.
  Hereby could one be born though waxen mighty. Let him not, otherwise, destroy his Mother.
  Not this way go I forth: hard is the passage. Forth from the side obliquely will I issue.
  Much that is yet undone must I accomplish; one must I combat and the other question.

This verse has been interpreted to imply that Indra was not born through the normal delivery but from the side of his mother. Further verses state:

  He bent his eye upon the dying Mother: My word I now withdraw. That way I follow.
  In Tvaṣṭar's dwelling India drank the Soma, a hundredworth of juice pressed from the mortar.
  What strange act shall he do, he whom his Mother bore for a thousand months and many autumns?
  No peer hath he among those born already, nor among those who shall be born hereafter.

Does this imply that his mother died in child-birth? If so which mother are we talking about - Aditi or Prithvi? (Check this question for Indra's different sets of parents)


texts: Is Vaikuntha or Brahman the supreme abode of Vishnu per Vishnu Purana?

texts:
Vishnu Purana is one of the primary texts of Vaishnavism. It's the authority over Vaishnavism.

Does it talk about Vaikutha? If not what it says regarding the highest abode of Vishnu? Does it uphold the Advaitik abode of Vishnu that is formless and not perceptible or Vaikuntha?


texts: I am following the mega serial Dev ke dev Mahadev. In an episode they are showing a battle between Shiva and Vishnu. Is this true? or It is cheap attempt by the show just to increase their TRP?


texts: Did Swami Vivekananda talk about errors or inconsitencies or prakshiptas in Hindu scriptures?

texts:
I came to know that Swami Vivekananda told that there are some inconsistencies or prakshiptas(later insertions) or errors in Hindu scriptures but he did not rectify them intentionally.

Is it true? Where did he tell the same?


texts: Is Balarama an Avatar of Vishnu or Adiseshan (or both)?

texts:
Balarama is traditionally considered to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu by those who do not consider Buddha to be one.

However, I have also frequently heard that He is an avatar of Adiseshan, the multi-headed snake upon which Lord Vishnu rests in Vaikuntham (the abode of lord Vishnu). This is evidenced by the fact that upon His death, a white cobra was observed exiting His mouth (at least according to Wikipedia and Amar-Chitra-Katha; sorry for not having a more reliable source).

In what ways do the scriptures support these two interpretations? Are they necessarily mutually exclusive? I have sometimes heard people say that He is actually an avatar of both Lord Vishnu and Adiseshan. How is this possible?


texts: What are the miracles associated with Sri Trailanga Swami?

texts:
Trailanga Swami was a famous ascetic who used to live in Benaras.

What were some of the miracles associated with Him?


texts: Is Vishnupurana saying that the highest truth is Nirguna Brahman?

texts:
Vishnu Purāṇa

By a fourfold manifestation
does Janarddana operate in creation, preservation, and destruction. In one
portion, as Brahma, the invisible assumes a visible form; in another portion he,
as Marichi and the rest, is the progenitor of all creatures; his third portion is
time; his fourth is all beings: and thus he becomes quadruple in creation,
invested with the quality of passion. In the preservation of the world he is, in one
portion, Vishnu; in another portion he is Manu and the other patriarchs; he is
time in a third; and all beings in a fourth portion: and thus, endowed with the
property of goodness, Purushottama preserves the world. When he assumes the
property of darkness, at the end of all things, the unborn deity becomes in one
portion Rudra; in another, the destroying fire; in a third, time; and in a fourth, all
beings: and thus, in a quadruple form, he is the destroyer of the world. This,
Brahman, is the fourfold condition of the deity at all seasons.

Brahma, Daksha, time, and all creatures are the four energies of Hari, which are
the causes of creation. Vishnu, Manu and the rest, time, and all creatures are the
four energies of Vishnu, which are the causes of duration. Rudra, the destroying
fire, time, and all creatures are the four energies of Janarddana that are exerted
for universal dissolution. In the beginning and the duration of the world, until the
period of its end, creation is the work of Brahma, the patriarchs, and living
animals. Brahma creates in the beginning; then the patriarchs beget progeny; and
then animals incessantly multiply their kinds: but Brahma is not the active agent
in creation, independent of time; neither are the patriarchs, nor living animals.
So, in the periods of creation and of dissolution, the four portions of the god of
gods are equally essential. Whatever, oh Brahman, is engendered by any living
being, the body of Hari is cooperative in the birth of that being; so whatever
destroys any existing thing, movable or stationary, at any time, is the destroying
form of Janarddana as Rudra. Thus Janarddana is the creator, the preserver, and
the destroyer of the whole world—being threefold—in the several seasons of
creation, preservation, and destruction, according to his assumption of the three
qualities: but his highest glory is detached from all qualities; for the fourfold
essence of the supreme spirit is composed of true wisdom, pervades all things, is
only to be appreciated by itself, and admits of no similitude.**


texts:
Shani has always been one of the most feared planets in Hindu astrology. Shani sade-sati is considered highly ill-fated and all other planets fail to give any positive results if Shani is in a bad position.

Is Lord Shani Harmful OR a ‘Friend’
Who is Lord Shani? Why is Shani Dev feared? How to please Shani Dev?


texts: Who was the Manu that Rig Veda referring to?

texts:
Rig Veda II.10.6 says

  जञेया भागं सहसानो वरेण तवादूतासो मनुवद वदेम | अनूनमग्निं जुह्वा
  वचस्या मधुप्र्चं धनसाजोहवीमि ||

  jñeyā bhāghaṃ sahasāno vareṇa tvādūtāso manuvad vadema |
  anūnamaghniṃ juhvā vacasyā madhupṛcaṃ dhanasājohavīmi ||

  By choice victorious, recognize thy portion: with thee for envoy may
  we speak like Manu. Obtaining wealth, I call on perfect Agni who with an eloquent tongue dispenses sweetness.

A reference to Manu was made in the above Rig Vedic mantra.  It talks about Manu praising AGNI.

Rig Veda II.20.7 says

  sa vṛtrahendraḥ kṛṣṇayonīḥ purandaro dāsīrairayad vi | ajanayan manave
  kṣāmapaśca satrā śaṃsaṃ yajamānasya tūtot ||

  Indra the Vṛtra-slayer, Fort-destroyer, scattered the Dāsa hosts who
  dwelt in darkness. For Manu hath he created earth and waters, and ever
  helped the prayer of him who worships.

This Mantra says Indra created Earth and waters for Manu.

However, it is not clear whether the Manu being referred to in these mantras, was the same Manu, who was eulogised to be the first man (progenitor of humanity) on the Earth or someone else.

Can someone clarify?


texts:
Vishnu is always to be depicted holding the four attributes associated with him, being:

A Conch shell or Shankha, named "Panchajanya", held by the upper left hand, which represents Vishnu's power to create and maintain the universe.
The Chakra, a sharp-spinning discus-like weapon, named "Sudarshana", held by the upper right hand, which symbolises the purified spiritualised mind.
A Mace or Gada, named "Kaumodaki", held by the lower left hand, symbolises Vishnu's divine power is the source all spiritual, mental and physical strength.
A Lotus flower or Padma, held by the lower right hand, represents spiritual liberation, Divine perfection, purity and the unfolding of Spiritual consciousness within the individual.

Notice that all the above attributes other than Padma has a name.

Does Vishnu's Padma or Lotus flower have a name? If not, why not?


texts: Why did God Shiva drink kalkut or halahal but not any other God(s) or Goddess(es)?

texts: Like God Shiva, God Vishnu and God Brahma(i.e. tridev)  and the tridevis has equal power  then why did God Shiva had to drink the poison that also alone?


texts: Are Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads one and the same?

texts:
I had mistaken Mandukyam and Mundakam as different pronounciations of the title of the same upanishads, but just recently learnt that they are infact different. My questions are as follows:

What are the meanings of the words ‘Mandukyam’ and ‘Mundakam’
What is the primary subjects that the two upanishads deal with?
Who/what are the characters and stories associated with the two upanishads(For example the Mundaka upanishads is based on a question posed by a Shishya to his Guru Angiras)
Which sections of the Vedas are the two upanishads associated with?


texts: Why killing someone, stealing and drinking, all are equated on a same level of offense?

texts:
Manu Smriti 11.65 - 11.66

11.65. Neglecting to kindle the sacred fires, theft, non-payment of (the three) debts, studying bad books, and practising (the arts of)
dancing and singing,
11.66.  Stealing grain, base metals, or cattle, intercourse with women who drink spirituous liquor, slaying women, Sudras, Vaisyas, or
Kshatriyas, and atheism, (are all) minor offences, causing loss
of caste (Upapataka).

I need elaboration on this.

Why slaying a woman must be considered "just  a minor offense" (upapataka) while killing a brahmin (ब्रह्म-हत्या) is a despicable unforgivable offense - mahapataka?

Why shouldn't it not explicitly mention that "slaying men along with women" is a Upapataka?

Why just put women as a Noun specifically, while ALSO "supposedly" goes on to club men from other varnas - other castes (sudras, Kshatriyas and vaishyas) ?

Also, why must any other "personal vice activities" (drinking, intercourse, thief/robbery), be equated on a par level with a "social evil" like Murder ? How can and why Must, killing anyone (of any varna) by anyone (of any varna ), should be taken in different contexts for different people (belonging to different varna - caste)?

Kindly Note: this is not opinion based as it is asking for the logic of something mention in dharmashastras and the position of women in them. The answer itself can be derived from a thorough reading of the Dharmashastras

P. S.
I'm not looking for cyclic or non empirical reasoning answers and arguments like:

it also says "Yatra Naryastu Pujyante... " (.. यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते ), so why just circling these quotes only out of context?
Or, some people of certain caste are "thought" to be truthful always, while others of another caste, might mostly be untruthful.
it is supposed to be of "divine" origin from sky and thus utterly binding.
other verses also say to discard "wheat from the chaff"
et al.

Answers to the question must try to adhere to the underlying presumed inequality, as to why killing anyone must be a minor offense, that too in a "dharmic" law book.?
[For Varna wise punishment a separate discussion maybe made.]


texts: Is the verse about Indra forcing himself upon Ahalyā present in the Critical Edition of Rāmāyaṇa?

texts:
The translation of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa on this site says Indra forced himself upon Ahalyā:

  BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA

  SECTION 35

  ...

  Thereupon she propitiated the ascetic Gautama saying, "O twice born one, I was unwittingly ravished by Indra, assuming thy form. I have not committed this willingly, O ascetic so do thou be propitiated with me."

  Ahalya having said this, Gautama replied "In the race of Ikshwakus, there shall be born a highly effulgent and mighty car warrior, known in the world as Rama; for performing the rites of a Brahman, the mighty armed Vishnu, assuming a human form, shall repair to the forest.

  ...

This obviously contradicts the earlier version from Bāla-kāṇḍa that says Ahalyā knew it was Indra who came disguised as Gautama:

  BOOK 1: BALA KANDA

  SECTION 48

  ...

  On knowing the meantime of Gautama's availability at hermitage, Indra, the husband of Shaci Devi and the Thousand eyed god wearing the guise of sage Gautama and becoming such a sage, approached Ahalya and said this to her. (1 48 17) Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender waisted one, I desire copulation with you. (1 48 18) Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, though knowing him as the Thousand eyed Indra in the guise of her husband Gautama, she is inclined to have intercourse ill advisedly, only to satisfy the impassion of the King of Gods. (1 48 19)

  She felt fulfilled in her heart of hearts and then she said this to that best god Indra, I am gratified in complying with your wish, oh, best of Gods, get going oh, lord, from here quickly, oh, ruler of Gods, always safeguard yourself and me from Sage Gautama. Thus, Ahalya said to Indra. (1 48 20, 21a)

  ...

How does the Critical Edition of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa resolve this contradiction?

Is the verse from Uttara-kāṇḍa present in the critical edition?


texts: Does any one know any publication of Talavakara recension of Sama Veda? Id yes, kindly provide the details. Thanks in advance.


texts: Why Deities had more faces and humans have only one?

texts: Brahma has 4 faces, shiva has 3 eyes , vishnu has 4 arms and many deities has many various shapes. Why? were they mutating their body or they had power of soul? Does any scripture state something about such mechanisms?


texts: What are the prayers of Kunti to demi-gods for begetting children?

texts:
What are the prayers (verbatim in Sanskrit) offered by Kunti before begetting Pandava children ? Are boon manthras given to her by sage Doorvasa mentioned in Mahabharata or elsewhere?

Are they Vaseekarana or Sammohana mantras? in the name of a prayer? A sort of  ancient mantric seduction sashtra administered only by sages?

Is there any mention that these or other such mantras had been invoked once again at any point of time later under similar needful circumstances?

I ask this because in a long history such an event cannot be a one time occurence. Lord Krishna took an Avatar to help protect the Pandavas begotten this way in His fight against Adharma.

EDIT1:

Prayer is an article of faith in any religion, and when the answer comes in such quick evidence it reinforces this faith all the more.

Thanks for relevant references.


texts: Is paraatma microBrahman living beside atma or it is Brahman himself present metaphysically beside atma?

texts: All of us know that para-atma present beside atma as a witness, the question is: are para-atmas microtheoi present beside atmas or all para-atmas are one entity, i.e: Brahman, present metaphysically beside the atmas?.


texts: Evidence slokas that devatas are the agents who control the universe

texts: I'm looking for the evidence slokas that devatas are the agents who control the universe.


texts: What is the objective of Shraddha for the departed?

texts:
In some of the Vedanta Acharya's talks, I have heard that the objective of Shraddha is  chitha sudhi of the performer.

It is prescribed for our benefits, like our chitta will get purified...and even  if you don't do Shraddha the departed soul will take next body...is it true?


texts: What is the term "Stithpragya" (Steady wisdom) according to Bhagavad Gita?

texts: As, we know the term "Stithpragya" is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita.But what is actually meaning of the Stithpragya.?


texts: kashmir shaivism and bliss leading to samsara

texts: in KS,bliss leads to a creative will to express itself without purpose wich results in the lila of samsara.when you become a jivanmukta or all beings have been liberated and they feel bliss they would thus generate a similar creative play would they not?so who is to say moksha is permanent?


texts: Which scriptures describe Vināyaka as son of Nandi?

texts:
Shaiva Siddhanta is based on the Shaiva Agamas and the poems of the 63 Nāyanārs . One of those 63 Nāyanārs is Saint Tirumūlar and also one of the 18 Siddhars and also a Yogi himself. His work Tirumantiram is the tenth of the twelve volumes of the Tirumurai, the key texts of Shaiva Siddhanta. He is the first one to use to the term Shaiva Siddhanta in his works.  My question is not about the text but the invocatory verse to Vināyaka.

In the English translation to  Tirumūlar's work Tirumantiram, there is an invocatory verse to Ganesha, it is:

Original verse in Tamil (Thanks to TheDestroyer for finding it)

  விநாயகர் காப்பு
  ஐந்து கரத்தனை யானை முகத்தனை
  இந்தின் இளம்பிறை போலும் எயிற்றனை
  நந்தி மகன்தனை ஞானக் கொழுந்தினைப்
  புந்தியில் வைத்தடி போற்றுகின் றேனே.

  Vināyakar kāppu
  aintu karattaṉai yāṉai mukattaṉai
  intiṉ iḷampiṟai pōlum eyiṟṟaṉai
  nanti makaṉtaṉai ñāṉak koḻuntiṉaip
  puntiyil vaittaṭi pōṟṟukiṉ ṟēṉē.

In the English translation to  Tirumūlar's work Tirumantiram, there is an invocatory verse to Ganesha, it is:

  He who has the five hands and the elephant's face,
  Whose tusk is even as the crescent moon,
  The son of Nandi, the Flower of Wisdom,
  Him I cherish in thought, His feet adore.

There is already a question about Ganesha having five hands - What scriptures describe Ganesha having five hands?

Question:

Why is Vināyaka called as Son of Nandi here?


texts: Where can I find a good comparitive study of the prasthana trayi commentaries?

texts: Are there any good editions of texts available online or offline that provide a side by side, comparative study of the commentaries on the Prasthana trayi (Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita)? I am of course looking for 3 different texts, separately for each text. Links to book titles or actual file would be very much appreciated.


texts:
Does anyone know the difference between these 3 Kali Gayatri mantras?

The First one:

om pishachadwajayai vidmahay

shoolahasthaya dhimahi

tanno kali prachodayat

Second:

oṃ mahākālyai ca vidmahe

śmāśāna vāsinyai ca dhīmahi

tanno kālī pracodayāt

Third:

oṃ kālikayai ca vidmahe

śmāśāna vāsinyai ca dhīmahi

tanno Aghora pracodayāt

Do they have different effects? Can they be found in any of the scriptures?


texts: How come Ramanujacharya's Sri Bhashya does not mention Islam?

texts:
Chapter 2 of Ramanujacharya's Sri Bhashya, which is his commentary on the Brahma Sutars, attempts to refute all other opposing philosophical schools that don't adhere to Vishishtadvaita Vedanta, such as Buddhism, Jainism, Advaita Vedanta, Shaivism, Shaktism, Sankhya, and Vaisheshika.

But how come he doesn't mention Islam, since Islam had entered India by the 1100s?


texts:
Is bribery a sin according to Hindu scripture?

If yes, what is the punishment? For example, the Indian Government's Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 has prescribed the following.

  CHAPTER III: OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

  7. Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an
  official act

  Whoever, being, or expecting to be a public servant, accepts or obtains or agrees to accept or
  attempts to obtain from any person, for himself or for any other person, any gratification
  whatever, other than legal remuneration, as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do
  any official act or for showing or forbearing to show, in the exercise of his official functions,
  favour or disfavour to any person or for rendering or attempting to render any service or
  disservice to any person, with the Central Government or any State Government or
  Parliament or the Legislature of any State or with any local authority, corporation or
  Government company referred to in clause (c) of section 2, or with any public servant,
  whether named or otherwise, shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall be not less
  than six months but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.

Are there any examples from Ramayana and Mahabharata that touch upon this issue and how the kings in those epics dealt with this malady?

P.S: If you just want to state your opinion just leave a comment under the question. Please don't answer citing blogs or Wikipedia. I'm mainly looking for answers backed by scripture. Answers can also be opinions of an āchārya or a guru.


texts:
Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year?

How festivals are determined?


texts: Will Ashwathama get his gem back on his forehead after the term of his curse is over?

texts: In Sauptika Parva, Krishna cursed Ashwathama to be in pain for 3,000 years with all types of diseases but after the term is over, will he get his gem back on his forehead that he gave?


texts: Kechari Mudra and Khechari vidhya going beyond placing the tongue in the nasopharynx (10th gate)

texts:
The Krishna-Yajur veda, yoga-kundalini upanishad talks about the tongue after entering the nasopharynx and resting comfortably in front of the nasal septum going much further before Khechari mudra being considered complete.

A rough translation of the passed is krishna yajur veda - yoga kundalini upanishad focused only on Khechari mudra. The tongue first enters the bhram-dvar a cavity in the skull after penetrating the 10th door (dasa dvar) then it occupies the cavity fully then penetrates the adamantine door which is impentrable call the bhramgal and eventually breaks into the bhramrand which is a pin sized hole that only the very tip of the tongue can access. The moment its complete the yogi tastes the nectar of the gods and attains samadhi for the first time. This is when Khechari is said to be complete.

Is there any guru living today that has completed this mudra? I have scoured the internet and found 2 or 3 people who claim this but I want to know if you know of someone through word of mouth?

I have practiced and experienced alot of this to be true and am desperately seeking someone who has walked and completed this path before me for advice. This is a request of a humble sadhak to the yoga community. Do any of you know of a guru who has mastered Khechari in its entirety ?


texts: What are some books written on Indian philosophy of spirituality by western philosophers?

texts:
It is true that spiritualism is best depicted in Hindu scriptures, and we do have some records of western saints going to Indian land for the development of their spiritual lives.
We have some western philosophers who wrote the English translation of many spiritual Hindu scriptures, for example Max Müller translated The Upanishads and the Indian saint Vivekananda preached in Chicago about Indian philosophy (although he was from India but what I mean is he preached in English and in a manner which was easily understandable by western culture).
But is there any epic or literary work whose main aim is Hindu spiritualism, for example Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditation as a complete separate book on the philosophy of meditation (that is a complete book on one topic, although the subject is not Hindu spiritualism) So, I need a book which teaches the Indian way of becoming spiritual, a book which can serve as a teacher.


texts:
Did bhagavad gita mentioned about qualities of godhead lord Krishna
{ do shankaracharya mentioned qualities of godhead in gita bhashya}


texts: Which are the seven rivers of the Saptasindhu?

texts: The land where the bulk of the Rig Veda was composed is called Saptasindhu or Saptasaindhava. Avestan sources refer to the hapta-hindu.  Is the term used after Rig Veda and is there a unique list of the seven rivers of the saptasindhu?


texts: I would like to know Is it mandatory to chant laghunyasam before chanting Sri Rudram?


texts: Is it allowed(good karma) to marry many wives as practiced by Hindu gods?

texts:
I have heard that Krishna had more than 16000 wives and many children. So my question is, is it right to practice polygamy? How moral is it?

We know that Kunti had five sons. It is written in scriptures that she got five boons whereby she can call upon any god and be blessed with a baby. Thinking scientifically, this must have involved sex (more likely) or a form of modern technology like artificial insemination.

I am not entirely convinced the Hinduism we follow now is very different from its earlier form. Polygamy is considered to be a sin/crime in today's world, or at least most Hindus oppose it.

The concept of god itself is so mystical and complex. I believe, no humans can be considered god, but maybe messengers or demigod.


texts: Is Surdarshan Chakra mentioned In Vedic literature?

texts: The Surdarshan Chakra is Lord vishnu's weapon mentioned in many puranas and in Itihasas. But is there any reference of  Surdarshana Chakra in Vedic literature (that is Vedas,Upanishads,Brahmans).the wikipedia says in the Rigveda the Chakra was Vishnu's symbol as the wheel of time, so where exactly is Chakra of Lord Vishnu mentioned?


texts: Who is God of Time, and any Mantra or Prayer related to Time aspect.. or for God of Time


texts: Why praying is not a compulsion in Hinduism?

texts:
In some religions like Christanity and Islam there are some forced praying time. Christians have to attend mass in weekends (sundays) whereas muslims congregates on fridays in mosques. As far I know there is no forced praying time in hinduism.

Why doesn't Hinduism follow these kind of strict rules or does it have any such praying rule?


texts:
According to Brahmanda purana, brahma commensed creation in this following chronological order [Bh Purana - Quote 25 - 50].

Prākrta Creations (pertaining to Prakruti)

Mahat -- Great Principle
Tanmatras -- Subtle Elements
Vaikārika -- Creation pertaining to Sense organs

Vaikrta -Mediated creations

Mukhya Sarga  --  Insentients or immobiles
Tiryak srota [Beings whose digestive fluids flows obliquely]  -- Animals and lower creatures.
Ūrddhva Srotas [Beings whose digestive fluids flows upwards]  -- Devas, Gandharvas etc
Arvāksrotas [Beings whose digestive fluids flows Downwards]  -- Human beings

Mind born sons of brahmas are classified separately.

Devas are repeatedly mentioned in various scriptures that they are free from death (till manvantara), hunger and diseases. Also in vedas they quote that, Indra and other devatas drink copious amount of somarasa. All picturization of devas looks to be having humane form in divine bodies.

My Question is, why does devas are classified as Ūrddhva Srotas?

Intensive googling didn't help me out on this aspect.


texts: Why is Manavala Mamunigal covered with a hood of Adi Shesha?

texts:
Sri Vaishnava acharya Manava Mamunigal (also known as Varavara muni or Manavala Mahamunigal.) is always depicted to have covered with hoods of snake. The snake is Adi Shesha.

There are many idols and utsava murtis in Divya deshams which show him covered completely with Adi Shesha.

Above is the Utsavar (processional deity) of Manavala Mamunigal at Tiruvelukkai, one of Divyadeshams.

Why is Manavala Mahamunigal covered by a hood of Adi Shesha? What does this represent? Is there any story explaining his relation with Adi Shesha?


texts: What kingdom did pandavas have at the first place?

texts: If kurukshetra war was to reclaim the lost kingdom of the pandavas then what was this kingdom which pandavas ruled before battle of kurukshetra?


texts: Can firm calendar dates be assigned to scriptures and events described in them?

texts:
A book I read recently says that the only firm date is the history of ancient India is the invasion of Alexander  (327-326 B.C.).

Can anything more be said about this?


texts: Is their an association between Chhinnamasta & Indra and/or Vairochan Buddha?

texts:
One of the Dash Mahavidyas - Chhinnamasta - is known as Vajra-Vairochini. How did she get to be associated with the Vajra that is exclusively shown in the hands of Indra? Indra is also associated with the episode of killing the demon named Virochan and 'Vairochinia' suggests an association with that.

Secondly, there is also a form of Buddha known as the Vairochana & given the relationship between Tantra and Vajrayana Buddhism, could it be that the goddess is actually related to this form of Buddha and not Indra?


texts: Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva in Brahma Vaivarta Purana?

texts:
Hare Krishna
I have read somewhere verses from Brahma Vaivarta Purana in which Lord Krishna says to Lord Shiva like you are dearest one.
What is exact verse and from which chapter of Brahma Vaivarta Purana which says that? Can you explain event of pastimes related to it?
Om Namah Shivaya
Jay Shri Krishna


texts: Chaitanya Dev was the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism. His original name was Bishwambhar. But people around him used to call him Nimai, his pet name. How did he get his new name, "Chaitanya Dev"?


texts: Which Veda verse Narendra Modi referred in relation to Paris climate treaty?

texts:
In reference to then US president Donald Trump's allegation of India'a lesser commitment towards saving environment, then Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi told:

    "I have in simple way stated the dream of 'new India'. I quoted from 5000-year-old Vedas to say humans have a right to milk the nature but have no right to exploit it." he told the gathering in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [source]

Which verses was he referring to?

Note: In my observation, Shri Modi is a learned PM and he usually knows what is he speaking. The verses similar to above can be found in Bhagavad Gita. So it should be find-able in Veda-s too. See an interpretation of BG 3.11-3.13 in this post: What are the Yagnas Sri Krishna was referring to in Srimad Bhagavad Gita?. It suggests to consider the elements of nature as Deva-s which reward us with various nourishments and in turn we should pray them by nurturing/preserving them.


texts: Beyond Satya loka ie. the end to separate existence?

texts:
If I am correctly informed, even in Satya loka one continues to exist as an independent being. Is somewhere described if and how is one able to leave individual existence behind and completely merge with the absolute?

I have also heard that Kṛṣṇa and Kālikā śaktī may help shed more light on this, but I couldn't find any related information.


texts: During leaving body, does chanting and remembering eternal one help?

texts:
During leaving body, does chanting and remembering eternal one/parmatma affect next life?

If yes, how? What's logic behind it? Are there references?


texts: What do Hindu scriptures say about Doppelgängers?

texts:
A "doppelgänger" is an entity that takes the form of a living person. In western traditions, it has been often seen as a malicious entity with harmful intentions and said to signify doom.

My question is, are there any similar beings equivalent to Doppelgängers in Hinduism? If yes, what do they signify? And how should one deal with such entities?


texts: On what basis Avataras are classified as Rudra Avatar & Vishnu Avatar?

texts: When àtmà is the one & indwelling in both Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu and When same àtmà manifests or descents on the earth, then why some Avatars are called Shiva Avatars or some Vishnu? On what basis?


texts:
What happens during Moksha, the end of all deaths?

I know already that the higher death is when the soul is reborn in a heavenly place but

What about Moksha?
What happens and what really Moksha is?


texts: What is ashtagandha, where is it mentioned in the scriptures?

texts:
What is ashtagandha and what is it made of?

Where is it mentioned in the scriptures?

Ashtagandha is a mixture of eight ingredients available in granules or powder and is used in deity worshipping and bathing. Some use it for tilak. It is said when Bhagavan Krishna was on earth the smell of Ashtagandha was emanating from Him. Well Ashtagandha came after that of course.

I have not found a scripture specifically mentioning Ashtagandha and its use, also not its exact composition. Some use other ingredients. That is why I would like to know if someone knows where Ashtagandha is described in the scriptures with its composition?


texts: What is the Aghora Mantra mentioned in Shiva Mahimna Stotram Verse 35?

texts:
Shiva Mahimna Stotram Verse 35

महेशान्नापरो देवो महिम्नो नापरा स्तुतिः।
अघोरान्नापरो मन्त्रो नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम्॥
Maheśānnāparo devo mahimno nāparā stutiḥ|
Aghorānnāparo mantro nāsti tattvaṁ guroḥ param||

There is no God greater than Lord Mahesha,
No Stuti greater than Mahimna,
No Mantra greater than the Aghora,
And no Tatwa greater than the Guru.
Which Mantra exactly is mentioned here?


texts: What scriptures did Kalidasa use in his Raghuvamsa?

texts:
Kalidasa is most famous for being a Sanskrit playwright who wrote plays based on stories from  Hindu scripture.   But Kalidasa also composed epic poetry on the same subject, most notably Raghuvamsa, an epic poem about members of the Raghu dynasty, including Rama.

My question is, what are the specific Hindu scriptures that Raghuvamsa is based on?  Did Kalidasa ever mention what sources he relied upon to compose it?  Or have later scholars surmised where the content of Raghuvamsa originates from?

I assume that the Valmiki Ramayana was one of the sources used, particularly the Uttara Kanda, but what other sources were used?


texts: Why sin done by Indra is suffered by all Women?

texts:
As discussed here, the sin of Indra is suffered by women. But, why the sin done by someone is suffered by someone else? What I know is, we suffer the result of sinful action so that we can realize the sin we have done and change our mentality. So, there is no point in making someone else(women) suffer for the mentality someone(Indra) had.
Can anyone please answer my query? Why all women are suffering this pain?

Edit: After reading the link Can sin be transferred? I have understood that sin can be taken if someone is willing to take sins done by others. And usually, great rishis and incarnations can do that. But, in this case, it seems like every soul using a woman body, irrespective of their will, has to take the suffering.


texts: Why is Shukra related to the Parashurama avatar of Vishnu in Jyotisha?

texts:
Each planet in Jyotisha is associated with an avatar of Shri hari Vishnu in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. Why is Shukra Graha or Venus associated with the avatar of Shri hari Vishnu Parashurama?

  रामोऽवतारः सूर्यस्य चन्द्रस्य यदुनायकः। नृसिंहो भूमिपुत्रस्य बुद्धः
  सोमसुतस्य च॥ ५॥

  वामनो विबुधेज्यस्य भार्गवो भार्गवस्य च। कूर्मो भास्करपुत्रस्य
  सैंहिकेयस्य सूकरः॥ ६॥

  केतोर्मीनावतारश्च ये चान्ये तेऽपि खेटजाः ...

Translation:

  5-7. From Surya the incarnation of Rama, from Chandra that of Krishna,
  from Mangala that of Narasimha, from Budha that of Buddha, from Guru
  that of Vamana, from Shukra that of Parashurama, from Shani that of
  Kurma (Tortoise), from Rahu that of Varaha (Pig) and from Ketu that of
  Meena (Fish) occurred. All other incarnations than these also are
  through the Grahas. The beings with more Paramatmamsa are called
  divine beings.


texts: What does monkey and eagle/pigeon signify here?

texts:
I recently went for a Kerala trip and saw this lamp:

So does these sculptures on the lamp mean something? Do they signify something?

Also this is my first question, so apologies if question is not clear.


texts: Who is the sage Pundarika who saw Vishnu coming out of a Shiva Linga?

texts:
I'm currently visiting India, and I just passed by a Vishnu temple in the town of Thiruparkadal in Tamil Nadu.  Thiruparkadal is Tamil for "ocean of milk" (Kshirsagara in Sanskrit), referring to the divine abode of Vishnu; the reason it's called that is that it has a Ranganatha temple, depicting Vishnu lying down on the serpent Adiseshan just as he does in the real ocean of milk.  But the more famous Vishnu temple in Thiruparkadal is the one next to it, the Prasanna Venkatesha Temple, which curiously depicts Vishnu coming out of a Shiva Lingam:

The story of the temple as I understand it goes roughly as follows (the Wikipedia article has a similar story.)  The sage Pundarika once went to Thiruparkadal to see the Ranganatha Vishnu temple.  When he arrived, he was hungry, but he had a policy that he would only eat once he got Prasadam from a Vishnu temple.  But all he could find were Shiva temples.  So he resigned himself to starvation and sat under a tree waiting to die.  Just then, a little boy offered to take him to a Vishnu temple nearby.  The boy led Pundarika to a temple which had Nandis on the outside, and Pundarika asked "Are you sure this is a Vishnu temple?  It has Shiva's bull Nandi."  But the boy insisted so Pundarika went into the temple, where he saw a huge Shiva Lingam.  He told the boy that he wanted Vishnu, not Shiva, but the boy insisted that it was Vishnu.  And suddenly Pundarika saw the Linga burst into pieces, and out of it appeared Venkateshwara (the Vishnu deity worshipped in Tirupati, AKA Balaji or Srinivasa).  The deity came to be known as Prasanna (appearing) Venkatesa, because he appeared out of the Linga.

My questions are:

Who was this sage Pundarika whom Vishnu appeared before?
Is he mentioned in any Hindu scriptures?
Did he attain Moksha after seeing Vishnu?


texts:
A verse from the gita :
Having come to Me and having reached the highest perfection, these great
souls are no more subject to rebirth, which is transitory and an abode of pain.
So a great should that reaches the highest state is never born again?
Bg 7.3 — Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.
BG 8.21 — That which is describe as unmanifest(Brahman) and infallible, that which is known as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one never returns – that is My supreme abode.
But if a soul comes from this Supreme abode, only to just come back to it a few births later, where is the progress in that?
Is the essence(the individual, the soul) undone when it reaches liberation, or is it just purified and still with its individual essence?
Edit: so it has been pointed out that a should doesn't necessarily come (fall) from Brahman, so does this mean that a soul has been living an infinity of lives in samsara? This is a sub question I think it ties to the main one


texts: What herbs take away the burning power of fire?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, and Nyaya. My question is about the Vaisheshika school, according to which atoms are the cause of the Universe. As I discuss here, the second oldest work of the Vaisheshika school is Prashastapada's Padartha Dharma Sangraha.  Now in this excerpt from Sridhara's Nyaya Kandali, a commentary on Prashastapada's work, Sridhara discusses the nature of Shakti or potency.  For instance, fire has the potency to burn things.  Sridhara argues that potency is a perceptible quality of an object, not some imperceptible entity.

We now proceed to consider - what is 'Potency,' Shakti? Some good people have declared that it is something supersensuous, imperceptible by the senses.  But that is not right; as there can be no evidence for the existence of any such supersensuous Potency.
Objection: "We find fire under certain conditions producing the effect of burning; and at another time we find that the same fire under the same conditions does not produce any such effect, when brought into close touch with certain incantations or medicinal herbs; and if the visible form of fire were the cause of the burning, then as the visible form of fire remains the same in the latter case also, there could not be an absence of burning.  As a matter of fact however we do find this absent; and this clearly shows that there is some sort of incapacity in the invisible form of the fire; and thereby proves the fact of potency itself being something quite imperceptible; a potency the suppression of destruction whereof is brought about by the incantation etc. In cases where counter-remedies are found to revive the potency there has been a mere suppression, whereas when there is an absolute absence of the necessary effect, there is destruction of the potency." ...
To the above we make the following reply:- The absence of the proper effects (of fire), in the presence of incantations etc., does not indicate any invisible form.  Because just, just as of burning we regard fire to be the cause, - inasmuch as it has its power of burning fully known by positive as well as by negative concomitance, - so in the same manner is also the prior non-existence of obstacles in the shape of incantation etc. accepted as the cause (of burning); and when this 'non-existence' would be set aside by the reciting of the incantation, it is only natural that there should be no burning for the simple reason that the necessary accessory circumstances in the shape of the non-existence of obstacles would not be presence, - and the absence of burning  thus would also not be due to the absence of due 'potency' in the fire.

My question is about the part in bold.  It's understandable that there might be mantras (in the Atharvana Veda for instance) which stop a fire from burning things, and other mantras which restore the burning power of fire.  But my question is, what herbs, "when brought into close touch" with a fire, can stop the fire from burning things?
Are there any scriptures that describe such an herb?


texts:
So basically I was wondering if there are any flaws to the concept of karma.
 For example when we see someone being ill-treated or victimized, do we tell them it is because of wrong-doing on their part in a past life?


texts: Why did the direct disciples of Mahaprabhu not accept any relation with the Madhva Sect?

texts:
Sri Vasudev Sarvabhouma, Kavi Karnapur, Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Sri Srijiva Goswami, Sri Baladev Vidyabhushana --none of them accepted any link between Madhva sect and the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect.(Reference: Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya, Radhagovinda Nath, Sadhana Prakashani, Page 753.

Why were they of this opinion?

It is interesting because some prefer to call them as the Madhva-Gaudiya sect in these days.


texts: What is the right/actual way to begin veda parayana?

texts:
Having been exposed primarily to the South Indian, Smartha way of things, I have seen usual Veda parayana begin with "Om Sri Gurubyoh Namah| Hari-h Om. Gananam tva ganapatim havamahe...".

I heard in one lecture that this has no origination in the vedic scriptures themselves. Is that statement true? If yes, what is the right way for one who begins veda parayanam? If the statement  is incorrect, what is the source for this way of begining veda parayanam?


texts: The sankalpa we do during devatarchana .. "Shubhashobane muhurte .." seems to be only relevent to India .. Can some one help me to reword the Sankalpa to suit in Singapore.


texts: Is there any scriptural basis for this astrologer's claims that the character of a woman depends on the timing of her first menstruation?

texts:
I was watching a YouTube video recently where the speaker said that one astrologer in his pañcāṅga (almanac) claimed that a woman's character and what the woman goes on to become in her later life depends on the time of the day she menstruates for the first time. I didn't believe him first but after a bit of googling I did find a couple of references. Here's one (The Hindu). And this is the other from which I quote below.

  Gargeya's almanac (panchangam in Telugu) called 'Graha Bhoomi Panchangam' for the Telugu New Year 2012-13 (it begins on March 23) has some strange observations about the menstruation period of girls.

  The almanac predicts that if a girl gets her first menstruation after sunset, she will become a prostitute.

  And that's not all. 'If the menstrual cycle starts in the evening, the girl will turn into a thief and if she attains puberty at around midnight, she will become a widow at an early age and will have sagging breasts.

  'And if it happens after midnight, she will become a destitute,' Gargeya's almanac claims.

  . . .

  Gargeya, though, defended his almanac. 'The observations had been there in the almanac for years and there is nothing offensive
  about them,' he said.

Since the astrologer is defending his claims, I thought there must be a precedent for this. So do any jyotiṣa śāstras discuss this matter?


texts: Who is the descendant of Bhrigu who heard the famous Vakratunda mantra to Ganesha from the gods?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, the sage who heard many Ganesha mantras from gods was Ganaka, who I speculated may have been an incarnation of Ganesha himself.  Now I have found a mantra to Ganesha that seems to have been heard from the gods by another sage: the famous Vakratunda mantra.  Here is what this excerpt from the Narada Purana says about it:

  Bhargava is its sage, the metre is anushtup, the lord is Ganadhipa.  (he who) is called Vakratunda is the Bija (the seed), Vam is Shakti and Kavacha (coat of mail).

My question is, who is the "Bhargava" sage who heard the Vakratunda mantra from the gods?

For those who don't know, Bhargava just means descendant of the sage Bhrigu, which encompasses one seventh of all the Brahmins in the world.  It applies to Sukracharya guru of the Asuras (whom I discuss here and here), the sage Dadhichi (whom I discuss here and here), Vishnu's incarnation Parashurama, and me!  (I'm a Vathula Gotra Brahmana.)

So which descendant of Bhrigu are we talking about here?  Are there any other scriptures which describe the Vakratunda mantra and the sage who heard it from the gods?


texts: Is it true that kauravs got a place in heaven?

texts: I recently read this journal article (doubt its reliability) that claimed that the kauravs got to live in heaven. I find it hard to accept this after all that they have done. I am still not sure whether this is true or not. If it is, then how is it fair?


texts: What scriptures talk against tapta mudrAnkana practice?

texts:
Tapta mudrankana is a process of heating metallic religious symbols and touching on the skin so that a mark is produced on the skin.

It is usually followed by vaishnava tradition using shankha and chakra symbols.

One of well known acharyas Sri bhAskara RAya has refuted it in his works.

As per kamakoti website

  Shankhachakrayana Prayashchitta – the purificatory rites for people
  who have undergone Bharana Nyasa and got Shankha and Chakra Mudras
  inscribed on their body. This is a Vaishnava custom banned by the
  Smriti. Sri Bhaskararaya refutes the claims supporting this banned
  practice.

My question is

Are there any references cited by him during his refutation?

Are there texts which have quotes which do.not approve this process ?


texts: Why do we celebrate Maha shivratri festival?

texts:
Every year we celebrate Maha Shiva Ratri Festival and every time one question roaming in my mind and that is "Why"?

Why do we celebrate this festival?

Every Festival have its meaning but I don't know very much about this festival.

What is story behind this festival?


texts: Why Narada preferably called as Narad Muni?

texts:
We all know that Narada, Vedic sage who plays a prominent role in a number of Hinduism's earliest texts, notably the Ramayana and the Bhagavata Purana.

Why he is called as Narad Muni?

And why he always carries a Veena with him?

Credits for Image : babalokenathny


texts:
I was just reading about Hinduism online and I'm fascinated my it.
I do have a question though.
From what I understand, one of the principles of Hinduism is to not inflict suffering on another being.

My question is, if someone were to enjoy inflicting pain on life and wishes to achieve the destruction of the world, what would this be known as?

What does it mean? What should they do? What would other hindus do if they were to meet an individual such as this?


texts: Why is our universe the smallest kind in existence?

texts:
I read that our universe is the smallest kind, because the Brahma in this universe only has four heads, while in larger universes Brahma has for example, a million heads.
Why does a universe kind depend on how many heads its Brahma has?


texts: Are only the hymns of the Vedas considered apaurusheya, or are the Upanishads considered apaurusheya as well?

texts: I've read multiple times that the Vedas are considered to be without error, and I was wondering whether the same thing is thought of the Upanishads that are often claimed to be part of the Vedas.


texts: When I was a child,  I had read in books that one of the benefits of performing a yajna/yagya/hawan was that it purifies air. Is there any scientific basis to this statement or is it all just a made up fact because if it's true why don't we just do yajna/yagya/hawan to purify the air and as a result reduce the pollution?


texts: What scriptures describe the wearing of the Mangala Sutra?

texts:
One of the most famous parts of a Hindu marriage ceremony is the tying of the Mangal Sutra.  Yet the procedure for Vedic Marriage has nothing like Mangala Sutra involved (i.e. there is no Veda mantra described for tying this thread).

So my question is, what scriptures describe the wearing of the Mangala Sutra?


texts: Why Gaudiya Sampradaya follow Kali-Upanishad?

texts: Why Gaudiya Sampradaye followed the Kali Upanishad of Krsna Yajurveda.?


texts: Is Hinduism a foreign belief system in India?

texts:
As far as I know, Aryans migrated from Asia Minor (Anatolia or Turkey) to Indus valley.

And, in order to rule over the local and indigenous people, they created the caste system. They also created Vedas.

As Aryans are foreign people in India, Is Hinduism a foreign belief system in India in that respect?


texts: What is the definition of Sati Nari in kaliyug?

texts:
In the Ramayana, we call Sita a Sati Nari, I listen it from my childhood days.

As I don't know what Sita was doing or having so that she call as Sati.

But  In Kaliyuga we are here up to what we understand as a Sati, how can I assume my self as a Sati Nari as I don't know it's real definitions and it's properties, also don't know what are the lakhyans of a Sati Nari.

My question is "what are the real definitions or lakhyans of a Sati Nari in this society of Kaliyuga", comparing to which I can my self assume whether I am Sati or not. If not then I will try to follow it to be a Sati Nari.

Edited

I am a man, I am asking this question assuming that I am a woman because I was being asked this question by a woman.


texts: What does "Avatar of Kali Yuga" and "Avatar of Dwapara Yuga" mean?

texts:
I can understand lord Rama and lord Krishna are Avatars of lord Vishnu. But when I listen that, Duryodhana was Avatar of "Kali Yuga" and Shakuni was the Avatar of "Dwaapara Yuga" which I could not understand.

What does it mean by "Avatar of Kali Yuga" and "Avatar of Dwapara Yuga"?

How did they become Avatars of "Kali Yuga" and "Dwapara Yuga"?


texts:
Hanuman had a great role in Ramayana and also took part in Mahabharata of the previous yugas.

Since Hanuman is Chiranjeevi and Brahmachari, he will be there in Kaliyuga and have some role.

So, what is the role of Hanuman in Kaliyuga?


texts: What are some Hindu organizations open to converts

texts: I'm a would be converted and would like to ask for suggestions for Hindu organizations with an online presence (and preferably an online community) that are open to converts and enquirers. The question is not just for me but all other English-speaking enquirers / potential converts who do not have any Hindu organizations in their area (or even city, town, county etc.).


texts: Why is Shiva primarily worshipped in a linga form?

texts:
In Hindu temples, the statues of the deities are present in the sanctum. But in (most) Shiva temples, only a linga is present instead of a Shiva statue. The linga worship seems to be limited only to Shiva, since no other deity is worshipped widely in linga form.

Why is Shiva primarily (and uniquely) worshipped in the linga form?


texts: Few questions about Lord Venkateshwara temple

texts:
Priests in venkateshwara temples chant in Tamil like 'palland palland...' In other temples, slokas chanted might chant in sanskrit. Priests allotted in venkateswara temples are mostly tamilians. And, also they close the garbhagriha of the lord and open only in certain intervals whereas they keep open the doors of his wives.
And, also help me with the names of his wives. I get confused with (who is who) their numerous names like padmavati, goda devi, bhudevi, and manga, lakshmi etc.
So here are my questions:

Why do priests in lord venkateshwara temple chant mantras, slokas only in Tamil?
Why they close the garbhagriha of the lord and open only in certain intervals whereas they keep open the doors of his wives?
What are the other names of venkateshwara wives?


texts: Was Sudarshan Chakra given by Lord Shiva to Lord Vishnu?

texts: Many puranas says that Lord Shiva had given Sudarshan Chakra to Lord Vishnu. But what epics like Valmiki Ramayana & Mahabharata says about it? Does anybody had created it? Who was the creator of this Sudarshan Chakra - Shiva or Vishwakarma?


texts:
In which scripture Bajrang Baan is mentioned and is there are multiple versions or one version of Bajrang Baan?

One version can be found on Hindupedia.com


texts: What are some hymns composed by Kotpuli Nayanar?

texts: What are the songs composed by Kotpuli Nayanar on Lord Siva and in which number he comes out of total 63 Nayanars?


texts: What are all the Vishnu avatar from current Mahayuga according to scriptures?

texts: It is said that not every Vishnu Avatar comes in every Mahayuga, as somebody told me in chat that Rama avatar didn't come in current Mahayuga. So I wanted to know which are the Vishnu avatar from the current Mahayuga?


texts: If purusha, prakriti and parmeshwar are eternal, did god not create them?

texts:
Once a Christian asked me this question that the Vedic deities did not create anything, because Hindu scriptures say that purusha(soul) and prakriti (matter) are eternal like god.

Mahrishi Dayand quoted in satyarth prakash chapter 8

  Three – God, the soul, and the prakriti (matter).

Q.What are your authorities for this statement?

  Yajurveda 40:8 “The Great God – the King – revealed all kinds of knowledge to the human soul – His eternal subjects – through the Veda.” YAJUR VEDA

  Rig Veda 1:164:20 :-Both God and the soul are eternal, they are alike in consciousness and such other attributes. They are associated together – God pervading the soul – and are mutual companions. The prakriti (matter), which is likened to the trunk of a tree whose branches are the multiform universe which is resolved into tis elementary condition at the time of dissolution is also eternal. The natures, attributes and characters of these three are also eternal. Of the two – God and the soul – the latter alone reaps the fruits of this tree of the universe – good or evil – whilst the former does not. He is the All-glorious Being who shines within, without and all around."

  Shwetshwatar Upanishad 4:5:-The prakriti, the soul and God, all of them, are uncreated. They are the cause of the whole universe. They have no cause of the whole universe. They have no cause and have been existing eternally. The eternal soul enjoys the eternal matter and is wrapped up in it whilst God neither enjoys it, nor, is He wrapped up in it."

The attributes of God and the soul have been described in the last chapter. Here we shall treat of the properties of prakriti (matter).

  Sankhta shastra 1:61- “That condition of matter in which the intellect-promoting (satva – high), passion-exciting (rajas – medium) and stupidity producing tamas – low qualities) are found combined in equal proportions is called prakriti. From prakriti emanated the principle of wisdom (Mahaatava), and from the latter proceeded the principle of Individuality (Ahakaara) from which emanated the five subtle entities and the ten principles of sensation and action, and the manas, i.e., the principle of attention. From the five subtle entities issued forth the five gross entities, such as
  solids, liquids, etc. These twenty-four entities and the purush, i.e., the spirit – human and Divine – form a group of twenty-five noumena.”

Source:-http://satyarthprakash.in/english/chapter-eight/

Shwetshwatar Upanishad said clearly that they are uncreated. I am not Arya samaji so I can easily reject satyarth prakash. But I can't reject these verses. Can anyone answer my question that did god not create anything?


texts: Shunya (nothingness) vs Purna (fullness) -- How to reconcile the seemingly contradictive statements in Uttara Gita?

texts:
In the Uttara Gita Chapter 1, Sloka 35 describes the Atma as

  ऊर्ध्वशून्यमधःशून्यं मध्यशून्यं यदात्मकम् ।
  सर्वशून्यं स आत्मेति समाधिस्थस्य लक्षणम् ॥

  When (one perceives) the Atma is perceived as Nothing Upwards, Nothing down, Nothing in between and nothing everywhere, he is established in Samadhi with the Atma.

Now, the Uttara Gita sloka 37 (and 38) describes the Atma as

  ऊर्ध्वपूर्णमधःपूर्णं मध्यपूर्णं यदात्मकम् ॥ सर्वपूर्णं स आत्मेति समाधिस्थस्य लक्षणम् ।

  When (one perceives) the Atma is perceived as complete (full) Upwards, complete (full) down, complete (full) in between and complete (full), everywhere, he is established in Samadhi with the Atma.

Do these slokas (in the context established in the text) contradict each other?

Also, is this the Shunya Vada of Buddhism. If yes, then is Uttara Gita an interpolated text or is Shunya Vada recognized by Vedanta?


texts:
Some major religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism have the Creation Story, which describes how God created the universe, the earth and then the first man and woman, who are regarded as the father and mother of all mankind.

Does Hinduism also have the Creation Story?


texts: Did people in other Yugas live on any other planet(s)?

texts: Scientists discovered 8 planets till now. Other than earth, did people in other Yugas like satya yuga, trethayuga & dwaparayuga live on any other planet?


texts:
Navarathri is a very important festival of the Hindus. This is a festival during  which Devi ie Goddess Durga, is worshipped for nine nights.

Goddess  Durga  is worshipped in various forms on each day, of the Navarathri festival. On day 1 is worshipped  Devi Shailaputri{variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati{also spelled as Hymavati- for daughter of Himavan}.

And like that for the next eight days ,Goddess Durga is worshipped in other forms viz Devi Brahmacharini,Chandraghanta,Kushmanda{or Ashtabhuja Devi},Skandamata{also known as Devi Padmasana},Kathyayini,Kaalratri{also called Devi Shubhamkari},Mahagauri and Siddhidhatri.

Durga Saptashati Devi Apradha Kshamapana Strotram,is also recited
 during Navarathri.

What is the significance of Durga Saptashati Devi Apradha Kshamapana Stotram?

What are the benefits of reciting Durga Saptashati Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram?


texts: Is this verse really there in the Bhagavat Gita? Please answer with reference

texts:
It would be great if someone could post the reference to this verse from the Bhagavat Gita as I couldn't find it when searched on Google.

This is how the verse comes:

  Birth is not the cause, my friend; it is virtues which are the cause of auspiciousness. Even a candala observing the vow is considered a brahmana by the gods.

Note: I heard that the above verse is from Bhagavat Gita from the following links:
Link to the video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui0z6ceY2H8

Other articles: http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Caste_System6.htm!
https://archive.org/stream/TributeToHinduismTheCasteSystem/Tribute%20to%20Hinduism-The%20Caste%20System_djvu.txt


texts: Are Hindu children meant to serve their parents forever whether they like them or not?

texts:
Do children need parents' permission to live away from them?

What if parents are just bad apples, should children continue to serve their needs?

What do the shastras say?

After marriage, did Ganesha live with his parents or away from them? What about Kartikeya and Hanuman, did they "abandon" their parents?

Also, I have seen some parents who take help of tantrik or yantrik vidya so that during their old days they have support from their children.

What do scriptures say about parents doing such negative acts?


texts: Where does Shankaracharya cite the Narayana Upanishad in his Vishnu Sahasranama Bhashya?

texts:
The Narayana Upanishad (different from the Mahanarayana Upanishad), declares Narayana (Vishnu) to be the creator of Shiva and Brahma:

NarayanAt brahmA jAyate

NarayanAt rudro jAyate

This Upanishad was cited by Shankaracharya in his commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama according to this site:

NArAyaNa Upanishad - Cited by Adi Shankara in Vishnu Sahasranama BhASya

Hence, it is an authentic Upanishad accepted by all ancient Vaidikas. The idea that it was an Upanishad composed later was started by Western Indologists:

It 'line of thinking' was started and propagated by biased and paid members of British East East Company like Max Muller, who in his translation and commentary on principle upanishads titled 'Th Upanishads - Vol 1 and 2' in intro page 83-84 attests views and opinions of another indologist where it is mentioned that Adi Sankara quoted for a late text / recent upanishad 'nArAyaNa upanishad'. Their challenging Adi Sankara is unacceptable. All consider him as an authority on spiritual matters.

My question is, where does Shankaracharya cite this Upanishad in his Vishnu Sahasranama Bhashya?


texts: What is the significance of Lord Hanuman on flags?

texts:
It is often seen that triangular saffron flags have the silhouette of Lord Hanuman on them, what is the significance of this? What does this represent, or what is the myth(story) behind this?
Edit: If according to the answer by Suresh Ramaswamy it is due to the story of Arjuna and Lord Hanuman then which source/scripture describes this story?


texts: Is it possible to separate Soul from the body through Yoga

texts:
I have heard that through Yoga a person can achieve inner peace and happiness. I know that It requires lots of practice to take actual benefits from yoga. I have also heard from plenty of sources (Osho also says) that, through Yoga, a person can detach his soul from his body.

Is it possible to detach your soul from your body ?

If yes then how does it feel and what person will achieve by doing this

How to differentiate Yoga from Dream ?

After doing yoga and coming to your senses, How would you differentiate that what you just did was yoga, not the dream. The same question I asked to one of my friends and he said (and I quote) "You Would Know" with a smile on his face. He didn't say anything more. What was he trying to say, I didn't understand.


texts:
I was reading excerpts from a book called sva-dharmAmR^ita-sindhu, which gives many instructions about worship and daily practice for devotees of the nimbArka sect. In one place, it talks about the importance of wearing tulasi beads, and gives a variety of quotes in 3.36 to support its position that this is obligatory or very meritorious. One of these is attributed to the garuDa purANa.

It says:

गारुडे
तुलसीकाष्ठमालाभिभूषितः पुण्यमाचरेत् ।
पितॄणां देवतानां च कृतं कोटिगुणं कलौ ॥
gAruDe -
tulasIkAShThamAlAbhirbhUShitaH puNyamAcharet,
pitR^INAM devatAnAM cha kR^itaM koTiguNaM kalau.

I assume this means that it comes from the garuDa purANa, since there are no other relevant texts with such a name. However, when I searched in the text, I could not find this verse. I also struggled to find any verses that were very similar with only a few differences. My question is Where is this verse attributed to the garuDa purANa found? I am aware that there are several different recensions of this purANa, so it may be a variant reading.


texts: I have heard that Rama is mantra of two Mantras. Ra from Om namo naRayana and Ma from Om NaMah Shivay. Is this true?


texts: Why do ISKCON saints only preach about God Krishna and say that we should only worship him and no one else?


texts: Where does Atithi Devo Bhava (Guests are equal to Gods) come from?

texts:
According to Indian culture, Guests (Atithis) are treated as equal to the God.

Did this originate from Hinduism? If so in which text/scripts is this quote mentioned?


texts:
Human body is said to have 12 impurities, as discussed in this QnA.
What about gods? As discussed in one of the answer in this QnA, God created the humans in his image. So, do gods also possess these 12 impurities similar to humans?


texts: Why the Gayatri mantra is different in some words given to a Brahmin and Kshatriya?

texts:
Why is Gayatri Mantra given to Brahmin and Kshatriya slightly different?

I was given this mantra from a Brahmin and the words are different such as

  ‘tat purusaya tanno surya, bidmahe’

These words are not mentioned in the mantras for Brahmin. Should not a mantra be the same since chanting is for same god?


texts: I have heard the word "Moksha" in Hinduism. I know it is related to death and birth. What exactly it is?


texts: What are the earliest commentaries available on Sri Devi Bhagavatam and from which sampradaya?

texts:
While reading through on a different topic, I came across this link, which talks about Sri Bhaskararaya, which states:

  Bhaskaracharya was born in the period between the last part of the
  seventeenth century and the beginning of the eighteenth century. In
  his own works, we find a mention of his birth date. He is known to
  have completed his commentary on Sri Lalita Sahasranama in 1728
  (Ashwina Shukla Navami) and Setubandha in 1748 (Shivaratri). Though
  Sri Bhaskaracharya was proficient in all branches of learning, he was
  essentially a Shakta.

And this:

  It was he who popularized the Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana and
  the Adbhutakaanda - the eighth Kaanda of Ramayana.

It is not clear if he actully wrote a commentary on the Devi Bhagavatam itself.

There is also not much information available online or with my vaadhyaars (vedic scholars who officiate as priests in rituals) who are from the Kanchi mutt regarding actual commentaries

So, are there any commentaries on the Sri Devi Bhagavatam available from any sampradaya? I am not looking for where the text might be referenced (those might be numerous, it doesn't matter) but a sampradayic work which gives an actual commentary on the book itself.


texts: What exactly is explanation of Hindus when they perform idol worship?

texts:
Is it they worship, the power inside idols.
They use it as a point of concentration.
Only a representation.
God is present in idol.

4th option included after reading question here. What is the significance of Murthi pooja (idol worship)?


texts: Is there any significace of twitching of eyes?

texts:
Is it true that twitching of eyes indicates something?

Does it give us signal of something good or bad that is going to happen in the future?

What is the significance of left eye twitching and right eye twitching?

Is anything related to eye twitching and its significance mentioned in our scriptures?

Or can anyone give me examples from history?


texts: Which Guru is to be worshipped on the Guru Purnima day by a disciple who's having multiple Gurus?

texts:
When a person has more than 1 gurus, then at the time of "Guru Pournima", whom should he/she worship.
(some Gurus are still living, but far away located. Other ones are "brahma leen, i.e. left their mortal bodies).

Request guidance over this.


texts:
My question is different to :Why do Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva always meditate on each other?
I will divvy up my question into 2 as they are overlapping and somewhat relevant to each other.

I dont want to know why Gods meditate upon each other - but why does God have to meditate at all? Doesn't meditation pre-suppose the existence of a mind - which then suggests there is existence of an ego or the possibility of one.

I am trying to find out why Lord Shiva is shown to be meditating most of the times?
Wouldn't meditation only at times mean that He identifies Himself with His body and ego?
What does a God achieve by meditation? If Shiva is adi and anant what is His agenda with meditation?


texts: Can someone explain Mahabharat Anushasan parva chapter 44 verse 14? It seems very out of place and inappropriate

texts: Mahabharat anushasan parva chapter 44 verse 14


texts: Is there any significance of doing gambling on this Ugadhi day? I am seeing from my childhood days, people keep playing cards all over the city without any fear of cops during these day. Any myth behind this?


texts: What is the highest state Swami Vivekananda is referring to?

texts:
Complete Works > Volume 7 > Conversations and Dialogues > From the Diary of a Disciple > scc_ii:

  Whatever man knows to be the truth is of a like nature: some are lesser truths, others, higher ones in comparison with them, while the Absolute Truth is God alone. This Atman is altogether dormant in matter; in man, designated as a living being, It is partially conscious; while in personages like Shri Krishna, Buddha, and Shankara the same Atman has reached the superconscious stage. There is a state even beyond that, which cannot be expressed in terms of thought or language.

Swami Vivekananda said that there is a stage even beyond that of Krishna! I know of the highest state as knowledge of Nirguna Brahman, what is the state even beyond that?


texts: When did Arjuna know that Karna was his brother

texts:
There are different stories of when Arjuna is aware that Karna is his brother.
Some say it happened after the death of Karna when Krishna reveals it to the Pandavas.
But some say it happens during the Mahabharatha when Arjuna is about to kill Karna, Krishna tells him who he is about to kill is his own brother.

"You need not be afraid of killing, because all those you are going to
kill have already been killed by me. They are already dead, you have
only to give them the news of it through your arrows. And what I am
saying is not my words, they are coming straight from the cosmos, from
the beyond. From the depths of the beyond comes this information that
what you see as life before you is only an appearance, it has already
become extinct, it is no more alive. It is just a matter of moments
when those standing across the battle lines will be dead. You are only
an instrument in the hands of existence, nothing more.
So don’t think that you are going to kill them. If you think you are
the doer then
you are bound to be afraid. With the doer comes fear, anxiety and
anguish. Every suffering, every sorrow, arises from the ego, the doer,
which is a false entity. You are utterly mistaken if you think you are
the doer; you are merely an instrument in the hands of the divine. Let
it do what it wants to be done through you, and let go of yourself.”

So could someone tell me the correct story!


texts: Why did Gandhari name her children with the prefix "dus"?

texts:
Monier Williams
दुस् ind. a prefix to nouns and rarely to verbs or adverbs (Pāṇ. 2-1, 6; 2, 18 , Vārtt. 2, Pat.; iii, 3, 126 &c. ) implying evil, bad, difficult, hard
[Printed book page 488,2]
badly, hardly; slight, inferior &c. (opp. to सु), often = Engl. in- or un- [ID=94676.1]
दुस् [cf. √2. दुष्; Zd. dush-; Gk. δυσ-; Goth. tuz-; O.H.G. zur.] [ID=94676.15]
It becomes दुर् (q.v.) before vowels and soft consonants; दू (q.v.) before र् and sometimes before द्, ध्, न्, which become ड्, ढ्, ण् [ID=94676.2]
remains unchanged before त्, थ् (in older language however ष्ट्, ष्ठ्) [ID=94676.3]
becomes दुष् (q.v.), rarely दुः before क्, ख्; प्, फ् [ID=94676.4]

Surely a mother would name her children after something good?


texts: Ayurveda is the Sub-Veda among four Veda(s). My question is which Veda is the primary Veda of Ayurveda? Please explain!


texts: Knowledge of divisibility of numbers in the Vedas - Shatapatha Brahmana

texts:
This article mentions an excerpt from A.L. Basham's book A Cultural History of India. The excerpt goes on to give a lot of examples about mathematics in the Vedas. I am mentioning the relevant part

  ...Of particular interest is the Satapatha Brahmana, which lists all
  the factors of 720 as far as 24...

If this is true, this indicates a knowledge of divisbility of numbers.

Questions:

Where is such a list mentioned in the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda?

Was this purely a mathematical endeavour? Or, was there some other reason behind this? e.g. in the Sulba Sutras, geometry was studied to do construction for the Yagyas.


texts: Which one of Vedas has referred to Dhyanalinga consecrated by Sadhguru?

texts: In Sadhguru More Than A Life, one of his disciples mentioned a priest in Trichy mentioning Dhyanalinga is consecrated by a Grihasta Yogi, and he remembers reading about this in one of the Vedas. Does anybody know which one it is?


texts: Why are Hindu beliefs and facts called mythological?

texts:
Why does every time anybody referring to a Hindu cultural thing says it's Hindu mythology?

Because "mythology" means:

  Mythology is a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular sacred, religious or cultural tradition of a group of people. Myths are a collection of stories told to explain nature, history, and customs–or the study of such myths.

Hindu culture is based on strong scientific evidence. Although people call Lord Rama as mythological character, recent scientific studies proved the existence of Lord Rama and his vanaras.

As all of this is a scientific fact that we don't tell others, so please don't refer to Hinduism as 'mythological' in any manner.


texts: What is meant by varjyam? What are the consequences of born in it?

texts:
How is varjyam calculated and is there any scientific reason behind it.
When a child is born in varjyam it is told as a bad sign.
If it is right what are the problems faced by the child in life


texts: What is measurement unit of life's duration used by Brahma?

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As per the previous birth karma's, Brahma decides what will be duration of our life or how long we will live. My question is,Brahma uses which unit to decide our life time. For example: At current time our unit is year, hours, minutes etc. If we decide to do any work with in
time limit then we decides something like this.. I will do this word in 1day/1hour/5 min.

But Brahma sure(as per me) don't use to follow humans year and hours unit to decide our life's duration. So which unit he uses to decides our life duration? Some says breath is the unit. How many breath we will take in our life is use to determine by Brahma. But my doubt here is that If we hold our breath, for ex. some yogas and tapas are there in which we need to hold our breath. So by doing
this our life time will get increase since we are taking long to complete our no. of predetermined breaths. And if someone breath fast (some people usually does) or takes short breaths then he/she actually shorting his/her life?


texts: Isnt it slightly confusing bcz everyone in this world struggle hard for his work to get completed for some specific reason like success,money,etc.How it is really possible not think abt outcome. Also it says we must not have attachment if we really attach to something then and only then we can complete plzz some tell me how to follow according to this quoted these are really confusing me.I want to do something that i love but i dont have that much capital and now i m doing engineering i dnt like it but still i have go do it for family pressure plzz someone suggest me the way to follow my passion or to do engineering according to what bhagwatgita says.


texts: Is it possible for one to have animal birth after human birth?

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If a person i.e., a human form dies, then is it possible for him to have his next birth as an animal per his pāpa or puṇya?

The reason I'm asking this question is, I came across the theory below.

If a boy fails in the 5th standard at school, then he remains in 5th std. He is neither allowed to go to 4th std. nor the 6th.

In the same way, if a person dies in human form, then how is it possible that he degrades into animal form as per his karma?


texts: I was searching for Sanskrit names of various naivedyams offered in our rituals (in all regions and traditions) like pulihora, chakra pongali, and various fruits and juices etc. Is there any book that describes all of them? If so what is it? I would also like to request to post the names with pictures so that it will be clear.


texts: How was Vidura born, was it due to any curse?

texts: What is the story behind the birth of Vidura? Was there any curse for him to be born in the mortal world?


texts: What caused Lord Shiva to test Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu?

texts: I have heard that  Lord Brahma was cursed that, he will not be worshipped as a God  in a test conducted by Lord shiva . So my question is what caused Lord Shiva to test Brahma and Vishnu?


texts: What does Madhvacharya mean by the Jiva "half-entering" Brahman during fainting?

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As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa that summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads. You can read the Brahma Sutras here.  In any case, in the beginning of Adhyaya 3 Pada 2 of the Brahma Sutras, Vyasa discusses the nature of different states of consciousness.  For instance, as I discuss here, he shows that during deep sleep, the Jiva resides in Brahman. But my question is about another state of consciousness discussed by Vyasa, the state of fainting.  Here's what Vyasa says in Adhyaya 3 Pada 2 Sutra 10:

mugdhe'rthasampattirpariśeṣāt
In the case of one in swoon, there is only partial attainment (of the state of sleep), that being the last alternative.

Now most commentators interpret this as saying that fainting is a state half-way between deep sleep and death; for instance see this section of Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya and this section of Ramanujacharya's Sri Bhashya.
But the Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya interprets it differently, in this excerpt from his commentary on the Brahma Sutras:

When falling into a swoon, the soul has a half-entering to Brahman.  The following is said in the Varaha Purana, "When the soul is at a distance from the Lord he will be in the state of wakefulness; when he is nearer to him he is in dreams.  When he has entered into the Lord he sleeps.  These three states being of such a description, the state of being in a swoon has this only explanation left, that is, it is half-entering into The Lord; for in this state there is the sensation of pain only continued (as observed on recovery)."

Baladeva Vidyabhushana, the Gaudiya Vaishnava commentator on the Brahma Sutras, says the same thing as Madhvacharya in this section of his Govinda Bhashya:

When a man is in a swooning or stunned condition, he is in half combination with Brahman, because of the rule of the remainder. In this condition the jīva soul does not reach Brahman fully as in deep sleep, because he is conscious of pain. Nor is there total lack of attaining Brahman, as in the waking state, because the soul is unconscious of external objects. Thus by the rule of the remainder, we conclude that there is half combination. We find this described in the Varāha Purāṇa: “When the soul is at a distance from the Supreme Lord in the heart—that is, when he is in the eyes—then he is in waking consciousness. When he is nearer to the Lord—that is, in the throat—then he is in the dream consciousness. But when he has entered into the Lord, then he is in deep sleep. Therefore these are the three states; but swoon is an intermediate state, in which there is half combination with Brahman, because on recovery, there is memory of the consciousness of pain.”

My question is, what do Madhvacharya and Baladeva Vidyabhushana mean when they say that the Jiva "half-enters" into Brahman during fainting.  How can a Jiva half-enter into Brahman?  Does part of the Jiva's subtle body enter Brahman, or does part of the Jiva itself enter Brahman, or what?  I'm not sure how the latter would work as the Jiva is atomic.
Are there any subcommentaries on either of their works that address this?  Also, does anyone know where in the Varaha Purana the verse quoted by Madhvacharya and Baladeva Vidyabhushana is from?  As I discuss in this question Madhvacharya's scriptural quotes tend to be untraceable in available copies of scriptures, so it may be hard to find.


texts: Are there any shaiva sampradaya/ parampara acharyas?

texts: I am a shudra and my ishtadev is bhagwan shiva. Unlike other sects of Hinduism like ramanujacharya sect, ramabhadracharya sect, advaita etc. Why is shaivite sect so less known? I am eagrly looking for a shaiva agama guru to get initiation from. Please answer if you know any shaivite acharyas or gurus from an authentic parampara.


texts: Why do Hindus bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?

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I've seen at many of the devotees bathe in river Ganges at sacred places.

This is often seen when people are celebrating Kumbh Mela as well, so why do they bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?

Image Credits : dandapani.org


texts: Does the soul remain at home for 10 days after death?

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When a person dies, what happens after that? Does he go to Yama Loka like this answer suggest: What happens after death? or he remains at "familiar" places for 10 days?

Swami Sivananda says:

  The soul which passes out of the body after death is termed ‘Preta’, one that is bound on its onward march to the Beyond. The soul in its disembodied form hovers about its original and familiar places for ten days. It is in the form of a ghost during these ten days. The astral body takes shape from day to day with the formation of the head, eyes, and other limbs of the Linga Sarira, fed and nourished by the sesamum and water poured out in libation over the stones which represent the ancestors.

He says only on 11th day does the soul departs to Yama Loka.

  The soul is fully embodied on the eleventh day. It starts on its journey to the judgement seat of Lord Yama, the God of death. It takes one full year from the time of death to reach Lord Yama’s place. The path is beset with obstacles, distress and difficulties. The man who has done the most wicked deeds suffers more. But the difficulties can be removed and the journey be rendered easy and comfortable by the oblations and offerings given by the son of the deceased during the first year of the soul’s journey and by feeding pure and learned Brahmins. The son should offer rice-balls to the father, without weeping.

I have read the same thing at other places also that the soul remains at home for around 10 days and that might be the reason why 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th day after death is important.


texts: Position of a Hindu temple in respect to flowing water (specific bank of a river)

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I am studying Hindu temples architecture, and I was wondering if the building place in respect to a river is something specific to the flowing direction of its waters.
The only answer I could find is Features in Temple architecture, which does not offer such detail.
For example, Belur Math Mandir entrance is facing East, with the river waters in front of it flowing right-to-left for one facing the temple.
So, it seems, the Temple should sit on that specific river bank.
Is that positioning something of importance, or just dictated by practical reasons?
Are such geo-location features of Hindu Temples specified in some sacred sciptures (rules in Sruti, Smriti?)


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Can anyone please help me find the English translation for:

  Om Lakshmi Vigan Shri Kamala Dharigan Svaha

I know the overall purpose of the mantra, but cannot find the meanings of several words


texts: Who were the female partners of the Vrindavana Goswamis according to the Sahajiyas?

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As I discuss in this answer, Sahajiyas refer to a secretive sect of Vaishnavas based in Bengal, which indulge in Advaitic Vamachara practices. Just like Gaudiya Vaishnavas, they trace their lineage back to the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and subscribe to a Radha-Krishna centric theology.
This is how Satyanarayan Das Babaji of the Jiva Institute describes them:

There was a Buddhist sect called Sahajayāna, besides the Mahāyāna and
Hīnayāna sects, which was popular in the Eastern part of India before
the appearance of Mahāprabhu. They followed the Tantric practice of
trying to elevate their consciousness or raise the Kundalini with the
help of a female partner. The purpose was not to enjoy sex as is
misunderstood by many. Some sects of Tantra still practice this and it
has unfortunately become the popular understanding of the Tantra
practiced in the West.
When Mahāprabhu became popular in Bengal and Orissa, many of these
Sahajayānis took to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism being influenced by Mahāprabhu.
They subsequently mixed their Sahajayāna practice into the philosophy
of Mahāprabhu. They believed that Goloka Vṛndāvana exists in the
physical body and love of Kṛṣṇa is dormant within the ātmā. This love
can be manifested in the most natural way (sahaja) in the association
of a female, especially a woman who is not one’s wife (parakīya) as
the male mind is naturally attracted to women other than one’s wife.
Sahajiyās consider Caitanya-caritāmṛta as one of the most important
books of their school and claim that even Caitanya Mahāprabhu had a
female partner. According to them, the daughter of Sārvabhauma
Bhattācārya, Ṣāṭhī, was Mahāprabhu’s partner. This was the reason
behind Ṣāṭhī’s husband, Amogha, being upset with Mahāprabhu when He
came to Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya’s house to take lunch prasād. (CC Mad
15.245-248)
Similarly, in their books the sahajiyās give the names of the female partners of all the Gosvāmīs of Vrindavan. They consider this
knowledge to be very esoteric. Therefore most of their literature
has never been printed. I have a collection of such manuscripts in my
personal library.

What I'm interested is the part in bold. Sahajiyas believe Chaitanya Mahaprabhu indulged in Vamachara practices with the daughter of Sarvabhouma Bhattacharya, Sathi. They also seem to believe that the Goswamis of Vrindavana (Rupa, Sanatana, Jiva, Raghunatha Bhatta, Gopala Bhatta and Raghunatha Dasa) indulged in similar practices with their respective female partners.
My question is, what are the names of these female partners and who were they exactly?


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For karma, action is needed, and if one doesn't initiate it, there would be no change, if there isn't any change, there must be no significance of time.

Source

I have no idea that what context this implies to?


texts: Why is a snake tied around the belly of lord Shri Ganesha

texts: I have seen many idols and pictures of Lord Shri Ganesha and have noticed in many idols that a snake is tied around his belly. What is the significance of that snake. Is it an ornament or does it have any story behind it


texts: What is the mystery of Hari Sankara Stotra composed by Adi Shankara?

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Shankara Digvijaya states that when Adi Shankara reached temple of Hari Shankara then he composed such verses with ambiguous meaning which could praise for both Shiva and Vishnu at the same time.

It says:

  From there the Acharya, who was on a pilgrimage to all holy places, next
  proceeded to the temple of Hari-Sankara. The image there being the combined form of Shiva and Vishnu, this place of pilgrimage is
  equal in holiness to Kailasa and Vaikuntha put together. There, with a hymn having a double meaning, so as to refer to both Shiva
  and Vishnu simultaneously, he praised the Deity Hari-Sankara. who, as it were to dispel the doubts of people who looked upon Shiva and Vishnu as two, has manifested in a single form, with hand held in the pose indicative of Non-duality.

I want the verses of Hari Sankara stotra with it's double meaning.


texts: What is described about love in Hinduism? Love between a man and a woman?


texts: Hiranyagarbha Suktam and translation in English

texts: What is Hiranyagarbha Suktam? What is the translation in English?


texts:
What are some good books available on Jyotisha online?

I am preferably looking for books for beginners, although any references are welcome.


texts: How has heaven been described in the Rigveda?

texts:
There are many references to heaven in the Atharvaveda.
Can you give some verses from Rigveda about heaven?


texts: Story where rishi Durvasa cursed Mother Saraswati

texts: In particular, I'm looking for the story, where rishi Durvasa cursed mother Saraswati, because he couldn't pronounce something that lord brahma had taught him and mother Saraswati laughed at him when he was in brahma loka. I was also looking for the source for the story of which I only remember little since I had seen it somewhere years ago.


texts: How did the Bāhudā river near Kanipakam, Andhra Pradesh, India get its name? Is there a story behind it? Is the river mentioned in any of the scriptures?