texts: Where can I get the complete English translations of the Upapuranas?

texts:
Though it is easy to find the translations of all the 18 major Puranas in English, I haven't still found the complete English translations of the Upapuranas. So where can I find the complete English translations of the upapuranas specifically of the following:

Vishnudharma Purana
Vishnudharmottara Purana
Narasimha Purana
Kriyayogasara Purana
Mudgala Purana
Ganesha Purana
Bhavishyottara Purana (not to be confused with Bhavishya Purana)
Kapila Purana
Saura Purana
Samba Purana
Brihannaradiya Purana
Brihaddharma Purana


texts: What is the greatest sin in Hinduism. According to vedas

texts: Is eating beef greatest sin. Not worshipping God is greatest sin. Or some thing else.


texts: Ramayana of how many mahayugas are available now?

texts:
Valmiki ramayana is said to be the Ramayana of 28th mahayuga.

As per my knowledge, Padma purana contains the Ramayana of 24th mahayuga.

Are there any more Ramayanas of other mahayugas?

In total, how many Ramayanas of different mahayugas are available currently?


texts:
How many Puranas are there actually and do we have the original ones with us?

Most of them are translated by Western scholars who don't even know Sanskrit.


texts:
I always wanted to read Bhagavad Gita but didn't get time. Recently one of my friend suggested to read it.

I have the following questions:

Can anybody suggest me how to get started with Bhagavad Gita?

I know it is a sequence of dialogues between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Do I have to go through the Mahabharata to understand Bhagavad Gita?

In which language should I read?

I know it was originally written in Sanskrit, but I'm not comfortable with it. Hindi or English would be fine.

How Bhagavad Gita will change my life?

I'm not too religious but have a deep respect for our ancient teachings.


texts: I would like to know what is the significance of Hanuman in Mahabharata?


texts: Why is sage Krishna DvaipAyana known as Veda VyAsa & what is his relation with Beas river?

texts:
In Mahabharata the name "Krishna DvaipAyana" (Dark skinned, Island born) is used quite a lot. Yet the other usage of "Veda VyAsa" is more famous.

What's the origin of this second name?

Is the Punjab originated river "Beas" (Bias) which is said to be misnomer (अपभ्रंश) of VyAsa was indeed created by this Rishi?


texts: According to scriptures, is postmortem of the human body appropriate after death?

texts:
Just to find out some illness, and to find out the cause of death and to do some experiment, is postmortem appropriate?

Any scriptural reference about this?


texts: Are there famous deities/gods or spiritual supremo, who had a daughter?

texts:
In India, culturally boys are preferred over girls as a child by many orthodox families. Such attitude creates kind of deep rooted gender bias and certain wrongful activities like abortion or discrimination.

So I was wondering, how can such culture evolve? Why don't they look towards their god/deity as an example?
While iterating myself on various gods or saints or spiritual supremos, I was bit astonished to notice that many of them did not have a biological girl child (exclude Brahma).
This doesn't infer any bias, but it was naturally the situation. BTW, in old times also, the people used to seek for sons, possibly for Pitru-runa.

In a chronological order (not the full list):

Lord Shankara (a Rudra) has 2 sons
Lord HanumAna possibly has sons only
Shri RAma had 2 sons
Vasudeva had all sons from Devaki & another wife
Veda VyAsa through Niyoga had 3 sons
Shri Krishna had all sons from 8 of his wives
Other Mahabharata personalities like Drona, PAndava-s also had son(s)
Mahatma Gandhi, a saintly figure of modern era also had 4 sons

Are there any famous godly figures (who are worshipped or revered), who had a daughter?
Though not hard-presses, but non-mythological persons are preferred.


texts:
What is shudra-brahmin / shudra-kshatriya ?
Which is mentioned in Shiva purana


texts: Do the bad work in Chandogya-Upanishad, Verse 5.10.7 includes being materialistic?

texts:
Among them, those who did good work in this world [in their past life] attain a good birth accordingly. They are born as a brāhmin, a kṣatriya, or a vaiśya. But those who did bad work in this world [in their past life] attain a bad birth accordingly, being born as a dog, a pig, or as a casteless person.(Chandogya-Upanishad, Verse 5.10.7)
तद्य इह रमणीयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते रमणीयां योनिमापद्येरन्ब्राह्मणयोनिं वा क्षत्रिययोनिं वा वैश्ययोनिं वाथ य इह कपूयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते कपूयां योनिमापद्येरञ्श्वयोनिं वा सूकरयोनिं वा चण्डालयोनिं वा ॥ ५.१०.७ ॥
tadya iha ramaṇīyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte ramaṇīyāṃ yonimāpadyeranbrāhmaṇayoniṃ vā kṣatriyayoniṃ vā vaiśyayoniṃ vātha ya iha kapūyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte kapūyāṃ yonimāpadyerañśvayoniṃ vā sūkarayoniṃ vā caṇḍālayoniṃ vā

Do the the "bad work" includes being materialistic. Or it is limited to things like killing, murder, theft and etc.


texts: How does one contemplate his identity with Lord Shiva?

texts:
Shiva Gita chapter 16 contains the following statement.

  saMsArAnmuchyate jantuH shivatAdAtmyabhAvanAt |
  tathA dAnaM tapo vedAdhyayanaM chAnyakarma vA |
  sahasrAMshaM tu nArhanti sarvadA dhyAnakarmaNaH || 13||

  “The creaturely man is liberated from bondage by the contemplation of his identity with S’iva. Charity, penance, study of scripture or any other act done
  according to rules are not fit to be even one thousandth part of the act of contemplation (of the above identity with S’iva).”

I want to achieve liberation and I want to practice contemplation of my identity with Shivaji.

I have 2 main questions-

What does it mean to contemplate my identity with Lord Shiva?
How can I contemplate my identity with Lord Shiva?


texts: Does Kshatriya Dharma allow the sacking and pillaging of a country after it has been conquered, or the slaughter of its citizens during a conquest?

texts:
Does Kshatriya Dharma allow the sacking and pillaging of a capital after it has been conquered?

Historically, the armies of the Mlecchas, Asuras, and Rakshasas after defeating the army, killing the king, and conquering a city, would kill all the civilian men, rape all the women, make their children their slaves, loot all the property and wealth, and burn the remains of the city.

Is this allowed as per Kshatriya Dharma (Arya Dharma)?


texts: Why was son of Rishabha famous? Rishabhanatha the first tirthankar

texts: If Rishabanatha was the first Tirthankar then why was his son Bharata so famous that India is called Bharata after his name. What was the reason of his glory?


texts: Which is the earliest scripture to describe physical attributes of Vishnu?

texts: In the Rig Veda the God called Vishnu has only two characteristics - he is large and is a youth.  When are attributes such as shanka, chakra etc. associated with him?


texts: Why is Bhishma's time of Death (Uttarayana) considered auspicious?

texts:
In the Mahabharatha epic Bhishma waits on the bed of arrows for 40 days towards the auspicious day of Uttarayana to leave his body in order to attain Mukthi.

My questions are the following.

What is the significance of Magha Shukla Ashtami and Bhishma Ekadasi?

What are the planetary positions that makes this day a auspicious time to achieve Mukthi?


texts: How can we know that God has told us something?

texts:
Sometimes we say that God has said this to me. Sometimes we see brilliant escapes from the situations of adversity (some people call it inner-voice). How can we identify it?

For example, one day I felt like not going to college but I felt like someone said me to go which is actually against my opinion. I went according to my opinion only and later I found that, not because of going to college that day I am charged some fine for not paying the exam fee in time.

I felt like the Lord said it to me. How can we differentiate what Lord has said and what we think? Is what Lord says is spontaneous? If so, we can also get spontaneous thoughts that lead to bad. Also what Lord says cannot always be opposed to our opinions.

So in what we can we differentiate between God's opinion and ours?

Then how can we know that a particular voice is the voice of the Lord?


texts: Do non-advaitic vaishnavite sects have the concept of Samadhi?

texts: In Advaita, among the highest states of oneness with Brahman is "Nirvikalpa Samadhi".  Do non-Advaitic Vaishnavite sects talk of Samadhi or anything similar?


texts:
Upon death of a person, who among the relatives are required to observe sutak?

Except immediate family members, how many generations do observe Sutaka? How Generation is determined?


texts: Is relationship between father and son eternal?

texts: Even after the death, only shrAdha ceremony will help the soul to reach heaven. The soul will mostly reincarnate in same blood line so can we conclude the relationship between father and son is eternal. Can we say relationship with son is only going to help even after death and that is the way to attain immortality, so it is eternal ?


texts: Does Hinduism allow Guru-Shishya Marriage?

texts:
I have seen in a Vikram and Betal story that the prince is not allowed to marry the princess since prince has secretly learnt Archery from the princess in that way the princess is his Guru and Guru-Shishya Marriage is not allowed.

Is Guru-Shishya marriage prohibited in Hinduism?

Has it been written somewhere that Guru-Shishya marriage is prohibited in Hinduism?


texts: The normal practice of hinduism is that the family of dead ones mourn for 13 days when someone dies. Is there any reason behind it? How did our ancestors decided 13 days time period to mourn? Why not for 3 days or 7 days? Why mourning for 13 days is a standard practice? Is there anything mentioned like this in vedas?


texts: How did Krishna get Vishnu's Sharanga Bow?

texts:
As I discuss in this answer, the divine architect Tvashta (AKA Vishwakarma) created two powerful bows, the Pinaka bow for Shiva and the Sharanga bow for Vishnu.  Brahma once got Vishnu and Shiva to fight each other to find out who was more powerful, and Vishnu won merely by saying the word "hum", as described in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana:

Once, all the gods were asking the Grandparent, Brahma, as to who is powerful and who is less powerful among the blue-throated Shiva and Vishnu, but the Grandparent Brahma on inferring the intent of gods started to create adversity among those two, Shiva and Vishnu, for the Grandparent is the best adherer of truthfulness, as truth cannot be demonstrated on hearsay evidence. Owing to their animosity then occurred a fierce and hair-raising war among Shiva and Vishnu, as each aspired victory for himself. By the 'hum' sound of Vishnu that ruinously overpowering longbow of Shiva is [fatigued], and the triple-eyed God, Mahadeva, is frozen.
Then gods along with the assemblages of sages and celestial caranas have come together and appealed to those two for appeasement in the matter of wielding authority, and then those two superior gods, Shiva and Vishnu, went into a state of amity. On seeing the bow of Shiva rendered inert by the mettlesomeness of Vishnu, from then on the gods along with the assemblages of sages deemed Vishnu to be the paramount.

Afterwards Shiva's Pinaka bow was given to the king Devarata of Mithila, and it was passed down by the kings of Mithila until it came into the possession of Sita's father Janaka.  It was the Pinaka bow that was famously broken by Vishnu's incarnation Rama to win Sita's hand in marriage.
But my question is about the Sharanga bow of Vishnu.  Vishnu gave the Sharanga bow to the sage Richika, who gave it to his son Jamadagni, who gave it to his son Parashurama, another incarnation of Vishnu.  Now when Parashurama found out that Rama had broken the Pinaka bow, he confronted Rama and demanded that he string the Sharanga bow.  Rama was successful, and afterwards Rama gave the Sharanga bow to Varuna the ocean god, as described in a later chapter of the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana:

On the departure of Rama of Jamadagni, that most glorious Rama of Dasharatha is quietened at heart, and he gave away that longbow of Vishnu into the hand of inimitable Rain-god [Varuna].

But my question is, what happened to the Sharanga bow after Varuna got it?  Krishna seems to have gotten it at some point; he used it, e.g. in his battle against the demon Shalva, as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam:

Śālva then managed to strike Lord Kṛṣṇa’s left arm, which held His bow Śārṅga, and, amazingly, Śārṅga fell from His hand.

So how did Krishna get the Sharanga bow?  Did Varuna give him at some point? As I discuss in this answer, when Arjuna and Krishna helped Agni fight against Indra, Varuna did give Krishna two weapons of Vishnu, the Sudarshana Chakra and the Kaumodaki mace.  But the chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata doesn't mention the Sharanga bow.


texts: What is the difference between Avadhuta and Jivanmukta?

texts: What is the main difference between Avadhuta and Jivanmukta?


texts: I read about rajpurohit that they are rajgurus of the king in the kingdom but I'm not sure about this position. So who are the Rajpurohits and were Guru Dronacharya and Kripacharya the Rajpurohits of Hastinapur?


texts: Why is it considered compulsory for brahmins to perform sandhyavandanam?

texts:
Although it has been mentioned that it is considered compulsory, the reason why is not mentioned?
Also, are there any shortcuts? Like performing sandhyavandanam only once a day or once a week?
Also, what are the benefits gained by doing sandhyavandanam?


texts: Hydrogen & Oxygen mentioned in Vedas and Itihasas?

texts:
In the link given below I found some details about Ancient Batteries, Hydrogen & Oxygen discovered by Sage Agastya in India.
Ancient Batteries, Hydrogen & Oxygen discovered by Sage Agastya in India
I would like to know any evidence or mentions of Hydrogen & Oxygen in Vedas and Itihasas?
Along with Oxygen and Hydrogen any other chemical elements mentioned?


texts: What are Atipurana. What are the names of these Purana?

texts:
I received a classification of Purana from authorities like

1.MahaPurana

2.UpPurana

Atipurana

Can Anyone Tell Me briefly. What are Atipurana.

I share you a link :-https://www.quora.com/The-classification-Satvic-Rajasic-and-Tamasic-is-made-of-the-18-Maha-Puranas-There-are-lists-but-is-there-any-content-analysis-to-justify-the-Guna-of-any-purana-except-to-arbitrarily-call-Vishnu-puranas-satvik-and-Shiva-puranas-tamasic
In last words of this article I found it. Give me Answer peacefully


texts:
In the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana, during the wedding of Rama and Sita, both families share their respective family trees.  Vashishta presents a long genealogy for Rama's family, the Ikshvaku dynasty, going all the way back to the gods including Surya, Brahma, and ultimately Vishnu.  Then Sita's father Janaka presents his ancestry as follows:

  Once there was an emperor Nimi, who was renowned in the triad of worlds by his own accomplishments, and who was uniquely seraphic-souled and a best one among all stalwart emperors.  And his son was named as Mithi, and Janaka was Mithi's son, the first one to be designated as Janaka.  And even from that Janaka it is Udaavasu who took birth. From Udaavasu it is noble souled Nandivardhana took birth, and Nandivardhana's son is named as Suketu, by his name.  From Suketu the highly powerful and virtue-souled Devaraata is born, and from that kingly sage Devaraata, it is Brihadratha who took birth, thus we have heard.  From Brihadratha it is the highly braving, courageous and valiant Mahaaviira has come, and the bold and truth-valiant Sudhriti from Mahaaviira.  Form Sudhriti, the right-minded and highly generous Dhristaketu took birth, and from the kingly sage Dhristaketu it is highly renowned Haryashva is the son.  Haryashva's son is Maru, and Maru's, son is Pratiindhaka, and the son of Pratiindhaka's is noble-souled king Kiirtiratha.  The son of Kiirtiratha is remembered as Devamiidha, and the son of Devamiidha is Vibudha, and Vibudha's son is Mahiidraka. Mahiidraka's son is the great mighty king Kiirtiraata, and the son born to sagely king Kiirtiraata is Mahaaroma.  From Mahaaroma it is the virtue-souled Swarnaroma, and from kingly sage Swarnaroma it is Hrasvaroma.  Two sons are born to that knower of virtue and noble souled Hrasvaroma, I am the elder, and my younger brother is this brave Kushadhvaja.

So Janaka's lineage is presented up to "an emperor Nimi".  But my question is, what is Janaka's ancestry beyond Nimi?  Are there any scriptures that trace the ancestry of Janaka all the way back, just as Vashishta did for Rama?  Was Janaka of the solar dynasty (Suryavansha) or some other dynasty?


texts: What is the meaning of 'fifth' in the following shloka?

texts:
भयद्सग्निस्तपति भयात्तपति सूर्यः ||
भयादिन्द्रश्च वायुश्च मृतुर्धावति पञ्चम: ||३||

Kathopanishad Chapter 2 valli (shloka/verse) 3
Meaning:

From fear of bramhan fire burns, from fear(of bramhan) the sun shines, from fear Indra, Vayu, Death, and the fifth, run.

What I think 'The fifth' means :
The fifth element here might represent, Akasha (Ether/space) because agni(fire), vayu(air) are explicitly mentioned and from Indra -> varuna (water) is indirectly  mentioned and bhoomi (earth) cannot run.
So this is what I conclude on basis of  omnipotence and importance of akasha element.
I think there is more to the fifth in this verse, so I ask you(reader) to convince and prove(with literature) meaning of "The Fifth".


texts: Is Varivasya Rahasyam avaliable as online pdf?

texts: I am unable to find Varivasya Rahasyam online pdf. Appreciate if someone can point online or give link for a good printed book.


texts:
I am facing the below questions in my mind while chanting Gayatri mantra. Can anyone please help me to unblock these doubts or questions?

When we spell the Gayatri mantra with sound, it produces a frequency of waves which is helpful to cure some problems like Depression, stress, and others. Will it create the same effect if we do it in mind?

While chanting the gayatri mantra in mind, do we need to remember the meaning of each word?

How many breaks we need to give in the Gayatri mantra to ease to remember the meaning of the mantra and also chanting of mantra? I mean like can we give 5 breaks as "Om" | "bhur buvah swah" | "tat savitur varenyam" | "bhargo devasya dimahi" | "Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat"

How to control breathing during the Gayatri mantra-like when to inhale, exhale and hold the breathe?


texts: Where is the next incarnation of Caitanya Mahaprabhu supposed to be born? And where is that written?

texts: Matua devotees state that in the orthodox Vaiṣṇava scriptures it is written that Chaitanya will be reincarnated and will appear again in the land of Iśān (the cardinal direction of north-east). This land is interpreted as Bangladesh, where Harichand Thakur was born. Is this claim justified in any scripture of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas?


texts: Any evidence of Ram Temple in Ayodhya being destroyed before Babri Masjid?

texts:
I am looking for clarity on the case, argument or evidence of destruction (non-existence) of the Ram temple in Ayodhya before the Babri Masjid.

That is, is there any source that talks about the temple before the destruction happened in the early 16th century (1528 AD, I believe)?

Note: There is sufficient evidence that a temple existed in the mosque site, but is there any direct evidence that the temple was actually destroyed to build the mosque there?

Also, Wikipedia states:

  The Ramayana states that the location of Rama's birthplace is on the banks of the Sarayu river in the city of Ayodhya. A section of Hindus claim that the exact site of Rama's birthplace is where the Babri Masjid once stood in the present-day Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. According to this theory, the Mughals demolished a Hindu shrine that marked the spot, and constructed a mosque in its place. People opposed to this theory state that such claims arose only in the 18th century, and that there is no evidence for the spot being the birthplace of Rama.

  .... Since then, the archaeological excavations have indicated the presence of a temple beneath the mosque rubble, but whether the structure was a Rama shrine (or a temple at all) remains disputed.

EDIT:

This question is not a duplicate of the generic question Was there a Rama Temple in Ayodhya? (there can be many temples of Rama in Ayodhya!)

In this question, I'm specifically looking for evidence that proves there once stood a Temple of Rama in Ayodhya that was demolished to build the Babri Masjid.

Also, I don't understand why people are downvoting my question. My intention is not to offend anyone, I'm merely seeking credible information here. Thanks.


texts: What is the reason behind Gita favoring the SAtvika way over others?

texts:
Usually people who have read Gita, would say that NishKAma Karma is the way of "Karma yoga".
Numerous verses suggest that, NishkAma Karma is SAtvika way of life. SakAma karma is RAjasika way & Vikarma is TAmasika way. Even attempting to perform Akarma is also sometimes considered TAmasika way.

Now everyone is aware that, The supreme Purusha / Brahman (the ultimate "I/Me") is beyond 3 modes of nature: Sattva, Rajas, Tamas. A person with any predominant quality should have the same right on Moksha.

As discussed in this answer, there is a difference between NishkAma Karma ("Karma Yoga") and NishkarmatA ("Moksha or Jeevan Mukta").

Why can't a person with RAjasika nature do "Karma yoga" with SakAma Karma & attain NishkarmatA?

Similarly, why can't a TAmasika person do "Karma yoga" with Vikarma and attain Moksha?

IMO People like ShishupAla, Hiranyakashipu, RAvana, Kamsa, who probably attained Moksha, were not doing NishkAma Karma.


texts: Is it "Bhagavad (भगवद्)" -- "GitA/Gitā (गीता)" or "Gita (गीत)"?

texts:
As already discussed here: Why we put 'A' after each Hindu name?, the subsequent "a" in an English transliteration word, is to interpret the Sanskrit word for full pronunciation.

Example:

RAma (राम) is neither RAmA (रामा) nor RAm (राम्)
Krushna (कृष्ण) is not KrushnA (कृष्णा)
Atma (आत्म) is not AtmA (आत्मा)
...

Similarly, Is it "भगवद्गीता" or "भगवद्गीत"?
Note: Though in the popular culture including wikipedia, it seems the 1st one, hardly it's spelled with last word as "A" or "ā".


texts: Do piśācas' (ghosts) exist in temples or in our homes?

texts:
I was once said by an elderly man that we should not touch the backside of a temple while doing pradakshina because ghosts and rakshasas live there and touching that part will wake them. Supporting this claim we also  have a shloka/mantra.

  उत्तिष्ठन्तु  भूतपिशाचा येते भूमि भारका |
  येतेष्टामविरोधेन ब्रह्म कर्म समारभे ||

  uttiṣṭaṃtu bhūtapiśācā yete bhūmi bhārakā |
  yeteṣṭāmavirodhena brahma karma samārabhe ||

Which randomly means asking the ghosts, rakshasas to vacate the place as we are starting a brahma karma(auspicious deed).

The above mantra is chanted before starting any pooja.

Do ghosts and rakshasas live behind the deity in the temple?
Do they live in our homes?

What is the meaning of this picture?

Picture taken from this wikipedia page.


texts: Who's vishwedeva and what's his significance ? what do scriptures and puranas mention ?


texts: How does dvaita philosophy explain aham brahmaasmi?

texts: aham brahmaasmi (I am Brahman) is a famous upanishad sentence. Prima facie, this statement is advaita-friendly because it is saying that jeeva is same as Brahman. But the dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya says that jeeva is eternally different from Brahman. How dvaita philosophy interpret the aham brahmaasmi saying? Please answer using references.


texts: Do scriptures talk about performing samskaras for non Hindus?

texts: I have seen Americans who didn't seem to be Hare Krishnas get Hindu priests to perform sacraments for the success of their business.  Are Hindu priests allowed to do this according to scriptures?


texts: What scriptures describe the story of Vishnu's Ranganatha statue?

texts:
As I discuss in this answer, the oldest Vishnu statue in the world, and probably the oldest Hindu statue in the world, is the famous Ranganatha statue in Sri Rangam. The story of Ranganatha goes roughly as follows.

Shortly after the birth of Brahma, which I discuss in this answer, Brahma started praying to Vishnu (perhaps with either this hymn or this hymn). As a result, Vishnu appeared before him and gave Brahma a divine statue of Vishnu lying down on the serpent Adiseshan. Much later, Surya the sun god began to worship it, and then Surya's grandson Ikshvaku had the statue brought to Ayodhya so that he could continue worship it. The statue was passed down through the kings of Ayodhya, until it came to the possession of Rama. Rama gave it to Ravana's brother Vibhishana, who planned to install it in Lanka. But on his journey from Ayodhya to Lanka, Vibhishana put the statue down in the island of Sri Rangam in the middle of the Kaveri river, so that he could bathe in the holy Kaveri. When he came back, he found that he could not pick up the statue with all his might - Vishnu wanted to stay in Sri Rangam. And that is where the statue remains to this day, in the illustrious Ranganatha temple of Sri Rangam.

But my question isn't about the story itself, but rather about the source of the story.  The story is found in the Koil Olugu, the temple records of the Sri Rangam temple which you can read (in abridged form) here.  But my question is, what Hindu scriptures describe the story of Ranganatha?

I've seen claims that the story of Ranganatha occurs in two Puranas:

The Sri Ranga Mahatmya of the Brahmanda Purana, also known as the Dasadhyayi or "ten-chapter section".  This Telegu work by the 18th century king Vijayarangachokkanatha claims to be a translation of the Dasadhyayi.
The Sri Ranga Mahatmya of the Garuda Purana, also known as the Shatadhyayi or "hundred-chapter section" (although it's said to contain 108 chapters).

Yet I can't seem to find the Sri Ranga Mahatmya in either one of these Puranas; in my answer here, I provided links to all five volumes of the Brahmanda Purana.  I've also checked the Garuda Purana, and I can't find either the Dasadhyayi or the Satadhyayi in these Puranas. Does anyone know where they are?


texts: Lord Sri Vishnu is referred to as Murari - who is the demon Mura and and how was he killed?

texts:
I have heard Lord Sri Vishnu being referred as Murari as he killed the asura Mura. While hearing this YouTube video upanyasam on Ekadesi (this is in Tamil and I will try to listen again and mention the moment in mm:ss format), the presenter was saying that the Mura was a asura who was killed by Vishnu indirectly by a women created from Vishnu himself and he quotes this woman's name as Ekadesi.

Can someone put some words with credible reference on that message? If done so, then it would also answer another question What is the importance of Ekadesi?.


texts: What is the significance of Trinath Mela, where the three supreme gods are worshipped?

texts:
Villagers in Odisha many times perform Trinath Mela at their own house, where all the three supreme gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara altogether are worshipped at the same time. This Pooja is said as Trinath Mela.

What is the significance of this Pooja? Is there any story?


texts: Caste system from the perspective of vedic astrology

texts:
It can be argued that the caste system is equivalent to Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage (1817), but instead of looking at advantages in supply chain management, technology, logistics, etc., vedic astrology looks from the perspective of human personality traits, in the form of planets in signs in houses or nakshatras or both.

Considering that most people's birth chart is a mix of Deva/Manushya/Rakshasa, Artha/Dharma/Kama/Moksha, and Sattva/Rajas/Tamas, how can it be that any 1 person is purely Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisha, or Shudra?

What was the formula used to calculate this?


texts: Becoming free from all sins by listening slokas

texts:
We encounter many statements in scriptures as below
Statement one from Bhagavata Puranam

SB 10.66.43: Any mortal who recounts this heroic pastime of Lord Uttamaḥ-śloka's, or who simply hears it attentively, will become freed from all sins.

Statement two from Mahabharata

When thou art also, O monarch, mixing daily with blessed Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and their branches, thou hast little cause for sorrow. This history, besides, of the Naga Karkotaka, of Damayanti, of Nala and of that royal sage Rituparna, is destructive of evil. And, O thou of unfading glory, this history, destructive of the influence of Kali, is capable, O king, of comforting persons like thee when they listen to it. And reflecting upon the uncertainty (of success) of human exertion, it behoveth thee not to joy or grieve at prosperity or adversity. Having listened to this history, be comforted, O king, and yield not to grief. It behoveth thee not, O great king, to pine under calamity. Indeed, men of self-possession, reflecting upon the caprice of destiny and the fruitlessness of exertion, never suffer themselves to be depressed. They that will repeatedly recite this noble history of Nala, and that will hear it recited, will never be touched by adversity. He that listeneth to this old and excellent history hath all his purposes crowned with success and, without doubt, obtaineth fame, besides sons and grandsons and animals, a high position among men, and health, and joy.

These type of statements exist several times in Mahabharata and other scriptures.
My doubt is whether they are true or not (in literal sense). I mean whether the mortal man really become free from all sins just by listening such stories or any hidden intention behind this slokas such as to spread such stories etc.,.


texts:
What is the punishment in hell for destroying the statues of gods in temples?

In Sri Vaishnavism, Brahman makes himself accessible to humans in 5 forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa, and Antaryami.

Para refers to the form of Vishnu that exists in Vaikuntha.

Vyuha and Vibhava refer to different types of Vishnu avataras.

Antaryami is Brahman existing inside the Jiva.

And Archa refers to temple statues of Vishnu. Vishnu enters into them through his dharmabhutajnana (consciousness) and imbues the statue with shuddha-sattva.

So, destroying a statue of Vishnu is like killing God.

What is the punishment in hell for people who destroy statues of gods in temples? For example, the Muslim invaders of India destroyed many statues in temples.

According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, the punishment in hell for killing a Brahmana is being roasted by heated metal for millions of years:

  The killer of a brāhmaṇa is put into the hell known as Kālasūtra, which has a circumference of eighty thousand miles and which is made entirely of copper. Heated from below by fire and from above by the scorching sun, the copper surface of this planet is extremely hot. Thus the murderer of a brāhmaṇa suffers from being burned both internally and externally. Internally he is burning with hunger and thirst, and externally he is burning from the scorching heat of the sun and the fire beneath the copper surface. Therefore he sometimes lies down, sometimes sits, sometimes stands up and sometimes runs here and there. He must suffer in this way for as many thousands of years as there are hairs on the body of an animal.

So I imagine destroying a statue of the supreme Brahman is a very, very heinous sin that will lead to lots of intense suffering.

Does any scripture specify what the punishment is?


texts: Are there any legitimate reasons for initiating war?

texts:
Should the king weigh the potential damage done to his own people and kingdom before declaring a war? Should he try and make his best effort to avoid the war?
Are there any circumstances when a war is just unavoidable?

Do Hindu scriptures shed light on these?


texts: Are these Rigvedic hymns talking about equality of all men or equality among a class of gods?

texts:
The blog post Equality In Vedas lists these two hymns from the Rigveda in support of its view that all men are equal.

  The Vedas teach equality among the people in society. No one is superior or no one is inferior. We find Samaanatha in the Vedas.

  Te ajyesthaa akanisthaasa udbhido amadhyamaaso mahasaa vi vavridhuh |
  sujaataaso janushaa prishnimataro divo marya aa no achaa jigatana || – Rig: 5-59-6

    Among these men there are no superiors or no inferiors, no middle ones either. They become great from small beginnings. They make progress in different ways by dint of their merits. By birth they are all highborn because they are all children of Mother-Earth. O you men of the Lord Refulgent! be available to us in a loveable manner or grow into praise-worthy souls in fair ways.

  Ajyesthaaso akanislliaasa ete sam bhraataro vaavridhuh saubhagaaya|
  yuva pita swapaa rudra eshaam sudhughaa prishnih sudinaa marudbhayah|| – Rig: 5-60-5

    These men are without superiors and without inferiors. They are mutually brothers. They march onwards for prosperity. The eternally youthful, the soul protecting, grief alleviating God is their father. The richly feeding Mother-Earth produces happy days to these mortals.

What does 'these men' here really mean? If these hymns are actually praising a certain class of gods (Maruts?), is 'men' the right word to use?

Are these verses taken out of context by the blog writer and (incorrectly) applied to all men?


texts: Who is the first well known saint to mention Radha in his works?

texts: Jaidev goswami in Gita Govinda mentions about Radha , are there any prior references to her? I am not asking about puranic references, but works of any acharya. Who is the first well known saint to have mentioned Radha in his works?


texts: Meaning of mantra chanted before tantrik puja

texts:
For Kerala style puja done by priest, the following mantra is chanted before undertaking the puja which is a mix of Vaidik and tantrik style.

  susharmasi supratishthano brihadukshe namah:
  Esha thayoni vishebhyastha devebhya:

सुशर्मासी सुप्रतिष्ठानो बृहदुक्षे नमः
ऐषतयोनि विशेभ्यस्त देवेभ्य:

Please explain the meaning and purpose of the above mantra.
If not, word by word translation may be given.


texts: Differences between Advaita & Vishishtadvaita

texts:
As we know that (and Keshav Srinivasan has written many times):

  The most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school

And there are sub schools of Vedanta which are graphically shown here:

Among them Advaita (अद्वैत) & Vishishtadvaita (विशिष्टाद्वैत) are the most popular schools of Vedanta. I know about Advaita Vedanta but don't about Vishishtadvaita much. I want to compare both philosophies and study the difference between them.

So, What are the differences between Advaita & Vishishtadvaita ?


texts: Bhagavad-Gita: As It Is - version without interruptions?

texts:
I have read the Bhagavad-Gita: As It Is once before, and I would like to continue reading it. However, I find it very distracting to read it with the multi-page Purport sections between each verse. I love the Purport sections, but I wish I could read the Gita straight through without turning so many pages!

Is there a copy of the Gita: As It Is that has no Purport interruptions? Or is this the correct / only way - to have detailed explanations between each verse?

If not, can someone recommend a version that is just as strong a translation but without the Purport?

Thank you!


texts: What does it mean by sinful thoughts? What kind of thoughts are involved?

texts:
As per my knowledge, a sin is committed when mind or body breaks the law of sages.

What does it mean by 'sinful' thoughts? What kind of thoughts are involved?

Is there an official list of these sinful thoughts?


texts: Who taught the Vedas and scriptures to Bhishma?

texts: After war, Yudhisthira goes to Bhishma and Bhishma educates him further on duties of a king, Vedas, Shastras, scriptures and statecraft. Bhishma was taught the skills of warfare by Parshuram but who taught the Vedas and scriptures to Bhishma?


texts: I have heard a story that Lord Brahma has done Yajna in Gaya on the body of Gayasur. But I want to know the scriptural basis of this story if any or how Gaya, the place, has became famous?


texts: Can jivan mukta continue his/her own profession?

texts:
Suppose a person is doing a job (say farmer or acharya/professor etc.,).

If (s)he becomes jivan mukta by sadhana then is (s)he  bound to do his karmic activity as usual or has to leave the profession or it is up to the will of the person?


texts: How to consider Lord Dakshinmurthy as my Guru?

texts: It is said that if a person doesn't have a Guru, then they can consider and worship Lord Dakshinamurthy as their Guru. Is there any ritual or mantra to do so?


texts: Do Itihāsas other than Bhagawat Geetā talk about the three Gunas?

texts: Bhagavad Gitā does talk about the Gunas - are there any other instances in the itihāsas there is the mention of three Gunas?


texts: This question was asked by my 8 year old son-- Who are the parents of Mahavishnu? He further added to put this question in stack exchange. Although I told him that Lord Vishnu manisfests himself he is the creator  presever and destroyer  he said we are born to mother. Likewise Mahavishnu also will have partents like me. Explore and tell.


texts: Who is the god Pratyanika worshipped before Hindu marriages?

texts:
In this chapter of the Shankhayana Grihya Sutras, a text associated with the Rig Veda, part of the Hindu marriage ceremony is described.  In preparing the bride for the marriage, the bride's family priest does the following:

Then (the Âkârya of the bride's family) makes the girl sit down behind the fire, and while she takes hold of him he sacrifices with the Mahâvyâhritis, and then he makes Âgya oblations to Agni, to Soma, to Pragâpati, to Mitra, to Varuna, to Indra, to Indrânî, to the Gandharva, to Bhaga, to Pûshan, to Tvashtar, to Brihaspati, to the king Pratyânîka.

After they have regaled four or eight women, who are not widows, with lumps of vegetables, Surâ, and food, these should perform a dance four times.

The same deities (they worship also) on behalf of the man,

And Vaisravana and Îsâna.

Most of these gods are recognizable: Soma is Chandra the moon god, Indrani is Indra's wife Shachi, Tvashta is Vishwakarma the divine architect, Vaishravana is Kubera god of wealth, Ishana is Shiva, etc.
But my question is, who is "king Pratyanika" that the priest gives an offering to?  I assume he's a Vedic god, like the others, but as far as I can tell there are no Vedic hymns addressed to him; see the Rig Veda Anukramani in my answer here.  Does he have another name?  The Sanskrit word pratyanika means enemy or hostility, so perhaps he's some sort of god of enmity.
If it helps, the ritual this is part of is called the "Indranikarman", as Indrani or Shachi is worshipped in it.  Has anyone heard of worshipping Pratyanika in the Indranikarman ritual?


texts: What does Hinduism say about reading/knowing other religions?

texts:
I am a Hindu. Up to the age of 15 I was living without any set of questions. But now (27) I have started looking for facts behind religious sayings/texts. I do not believe so much in Hinduism nor in any other religion (Buddhism, Sikhism etc.) but I do follow a few things from many of them and that comprises my one god. Overall I am trying to become a good person. Every religion is like a teacher to me. Some have said and set so many things (way of living), some of them have said it in brief. I like 'briefs' (summaries, being a modern cultural person) but after getting the brief I try to find the basis behind that saying/textual information. Given that, I want to know:

Is it an ultimate way the Hinduism has adopted to tell the truth of life to us?
Am I totally free to do what I want to do (while staying under the shadow of Hinduism)?


texts: Where can I find the commentaries on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu of Rupa Gosvami?

texts: There are three commentaries on the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī. They are by Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Mukunda dāsa and Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. Are the original sanskrit commentaries available somewhere?


texts: Which is an alternative deity that destroys obstacles?

texts: There is another deity besides Ganesha who destroys obstacles. He has a big mask for a face. He is more direct then Ganesha. I forget his name, does some one know who he is?


texts: What are the Saptaratra texts and how are they related to the Pancharatra texts?

texts:
In this excerpt from the Agni Purana, Vishnu's horse-headed incarnation Hayagriva tells Brahma about how to install statues in temples.  But he starts by saying this:

  Listen to me speaking about the installation of (images) of Vishnu and others.  (the principles) of Pancharatra and Saptaratra have (already) been described by me.  They have been divided by the sages into twentyfive (books) in this world.  Hayashirsha tantra is the first one.  Trailokyamokhana, Vaibhava, Paushkara, Prahlada, Gargya, Galava, Naradiya, Sriprashna, Sandilya, Aishvara, spoken by Satya, Shaunaka, Vasishtha, Jnanasagara, Svayambhuva, Kapila, Tarkshya, Narayaniyaka, Atreya, Narasimha, Ananda, Aruna, Baudhayana, and the one spoken by Vishva as the quintessence of that (the prededing), having eight parts (or the other books).

For those who don't know, as I discuss in this answer the Pancharatra movement was one of the early movements that was important to the development of Vaishnavism. Its sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures to worship the sage Narayana, an ancient incarnation of Vishnu who was the twin brother of the sage Nara. (Nara and Narayana were the previous births of Nara and Narayana respectively.) Since the Pancharatra texts originated from Narayana himself, they're followed by pretty much all mainstream Vaishnavas.

But my question is, what are the "Saptaratra" texts that Hayagriva mentions, and what is their relation to Pancharatra?

As I discuss in this question, the name "Pancharatra" comes from the fact that the sage Narayana performed a five-day Yagna and as a result he "became everything".  So are the Saptaratra texts a similar set of Vaishnava scriptures that originated with someone who performed a seven-day Yagna?  There is a seven-day Yagna described in this chapter of the Taittirya Samhita of the Yajur Veda:

  Kusurubinda Auddalaki desired, 'May I be rich in cattle.' He grasped this (rite) of seven nights, and sacrificed with it. Then indeed did be win all the domestic animals. He, who knowing thus sacrifices with (the rite) of seven nights, wins all domestic animals. (The rite) is of seven nights; the domesticated animals are seven, the wild seven, the metres seven, for winning both.

I discuss a related passage here, by the way.  In any case, this web page suggests that Saptaratra was indeed a Vaishnava tradition akin to Pancharatra:

  In addition to pa~ncharAtra the hayagrIva tantra remembers an independent tradition of tantric vaiShNavism termed saptarAtra, which was parallel to pA~ncharAtra, and contained the trailokyamohana viShNu tantra and hayagrIva tantra amongst others.

Hayashirsha (a synonym for Hayagriva) and Trailokyamohana are the first two texts mentioned in that Agni Purana quote, so that may be significant.  Does anyone know  where the Hayagriva Tantra mentions this?  Are there any surviving Saptaratra texts?

I discuss some other non-Pancharatra Vaishnava Agamas in my question here, by the way.


texts: What are the verse in the Vedas and upanishades that support dualistic philosophy of dvaita vedanta?

texts:
Dvaita Vedanta is dualistic school of philosophy and interpretation of the Vedas and upanishades.
Dvaita Vedanta is a dualistic interpretation of the Vedas which espouses dualism by theorizing the existence of two separate realities. ... Madhvacharya posits God as being personal and saguna, that is endowed with attributes and qualities (in human terms, which are not believed to be able to fully describe God).
So what are the verse that support this dualistic philosophy?
And also that the word is real and not illusions as oppose to advaita vedanta


texts: What is the earliest Hindu work refuting Mleccha religions or philosophies?

texts:
There are two kinds of schools of Indian philosophy, Astika and Nastika. Astikas accept the authority of the Vedas, whereas Nastikas reject the authority of the Vedas.  The Astika schools are part of Hinduism, and there are six main ones: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, and Vedanta.  The Nastika schools are outside of Hinduism, and they include Buddhist, Jains, Charvakas, and Ajivikas.  But what both Astika schools and Nastika schools have in common is that they're all indigenous to India.  Religions and philosophies which are foreign to India, like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc. are classified as Mleccha (although they technically they're also Nastikas).

Now the Astika schools of Hindu philosophy have attempted vigorous refutations both of competing Astika schools along with the Nastika schools  (For instance, see my answer here for how the Vedanta school refutes various Astika and Nastika schools.) But my question is, what is the earliest Hindu work which contains a refutation of a Mleccha religion or philosophy?

So far the earliest I've found is this chapter of the Chaitanya Charitamrita, where the Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says this about Islam:

  You drink cows’ milk; therefore the cow is your mother. And the bull produces grains for your maintenance; therefore he is your father. Since the bull and cow are your father and mother, how can you kill and eat them? What kind of religious principle is this? On what strength are you so daring that you commit such sinful activities? ... Since you Muslims cannot bring killed cows back to life, you are responsible for killing them. Therefore you are going to hell; there is no way for your deliverance. Cow-killers are condemned to rot in hellish life for as many thousands of years as there are hairs on the body of the cow. There are many mistakes and illusions in your scriptures. Their compilers, not knowing the essence of knowledge, gave orders that were against reason and argument.

I think part of the reason why I'm finding so few examples is that Mlecchas may not have been very involved in the intellectual debate in ancient/medieval India. For instance, I'm of course aware of violent conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, but I'm not aware of many philosophical debates between Hindus and Muslims earlier than a century or two ago.

Note that I'm not looking for works discussing religious unity and the like; I'm specifically looking for things like a Vedantic refutation of Christianity, a Nyaya refutation of Islam, etc.


texts: In which Yuga did Shiva destroy Tripura?

texts: In two days we will be celebrating Dev Deepawali. I want to know in which Yuga and which Manvantar did Shiva destroy the three citadels of Tripura? Is the information mentioned in any Puranas?


texts: What type of torch is used during Mahabharata times?

texts:
There are several statements in Mahabharata that mentions the usage of torch, which provides light, mostly at night times.
Consider the following instances mentioning the usage of torch

Dhananjaya, that mighty car-warrior, walking before them, torch in
hand, for showing the way and guarding them (against wild
animals)........Then Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu, wielding a good
shield and the torch he held in his hand, warded off all those arrows
and addressing the Gandharva again .......
[Section 172, Chaitraratha Parva, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata]
Thus afflicted by him, O Bharata, the Pandava troops, at dead of
night, broke and fled away like clouds dispersed by a tempest.
Similarly, thy host also, mingled with the shafts of Ghatotkacha, fled
away at dead of night, O king, in thousands, throwing down their
torches.
[Section 174, Ghatotkacha-badha Parva, Drona Parva, The Mahabharata]

Do Mahabharata or any other scriptures throw light on the torch part during or before Mahabharata timings? What is the actual Sanskrit word used for torch?


texts: The time of starting the fast and the time it ends in IST. Like if I ate something on the fasting day after 12 AM then will it be spoilt ?


texts: Who are these tribes mentioned in Hindu scriptures?

texts:
Section LXV of Shanti Parva of Mahabharata mentions a conversation between Indra and Mandhatri that is narrated by Bhishma Pitamah to the Pandavas. It mentions many tribes:

  Mandhatri said, 'What duties should be performed by the Yavanas, Kiratas, Gandharvas, Chinas, Savaras, Barbaras, Sakas, Tusharas, Kankas, Pathavas, Andhras, Madrakas, Paundras, Pulindas, Ramathas, Kamvojas, the several castes that have sprung up from Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas, and the Sudras, that reside in the dominions of (Arya) kings?

We are familiar with the probable locations of a few of them such as Yavanas identified with the Greeks in later Indian texts and Chinas with the Chinese. Andhras is also a recognizable group as are the Kiratas who were mountain-dwelling hunters.

My question is - Can someone identify each of these groups conclusively based on the information in scriptures?

Please feel free to add other such tribes in the list as well!


texts: Scriptural sources for how to chant vedic mantras and other things involved

texts:
In what different sources do we find about how to chant a mantra ?

To elaborate in which scriptures do we find about the following things (answer can include references to the following):

sitting position, hand position & asana while chanting?
use of beads or fingers while chanting
which types of beads to use for chanting which type of mantra etc.
science of the mantra i.e. information like there should be a rishi, a deity, a chanda, a nyasa etc for chanting.

So the question is generally asking about where are the references of the science/concept of mantra and not specifically asking about any one vedic mantra.


texts:
I have heard that Azhvaars are Sriman Narayana Bhakthas.They sung in praise of him.They are not Vishishtadvaitins. Later Srivaishnava Acharyas(Ramanuja and his disciples) wrote commentaries to Azhvaar works to suit Srivaishnavam and the same Acharyas included Nammazhvaar as an Acharya of Srivaishnava and Vishishtadvaita.
Source of the claim is a tamil video available in youtube
Update
Part one - https://youtu.be/9khzrGxuRnY?t=722
Part two - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGTU0cadupY
Few Questions I have based on the video

Is this a valid claim that Azhwars are only Bhagavathas whose Ishta
devatha is Vishnu or can Azhwars called as Vishishtadvaitins?

As per the speaker of the video, only who undergone Panchasamskara under Ramanuja or his disciples are called Srivaishnavas. If this is true, can panchasamskara be equated to baptism in Christianity?


texts: Does fruits of rajasi or tamasi karma also has categories?

texts:
By doing good kind of rajasi karma we gets good fruits.

But my question, is that fruits also has categories or we can get any kind of fruit?

Example If someone does the charity in terms of money (as a rajasi karma [with expectation in return]) then is he going to get returns in terms of money only or any kind of good fruit as a return he can get in his life?

If someone does seva of old age persons (same as rajasi karma) then is he going to get same fruit means good old age days in return or he may get another things?

Means do we get fruits according to category of karma we does or any thing?


texts: How does artificial confluence of rivers differ from natural confluence of rivers?

texts:
The AP Government linked rivers Krishna and Godavari by artificial means. Given that;

What does this artificial confluence mean according to Hinduism? Does it signify anything in religious or spiritual perspective?
How does it differ from a natural confluence such as Triveni Sangam?


texts:
There is a story about the origin of yoga by Maharishi Patanjali and how he gave the knowledge of Yoga to mankind.

What is that story and what is the significance of it?


texts: What is the difference between the Adi Sankar's concept of Ishvara and Krishnaprem's concept of Ishvara?

texts:
Krishnaprem (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna_Prem) was a great devotee and Philosopher who wrote essays on the Gita and the Kathopanishad. He was a Gaudiya Vaishnava but respected all views.

What is the difference between His concept of Ishvara and Adi Sankar's concept of Ishvara, as revealed from the writings of the two?

Kindly cite proper references.Thanks.


texts: What is the purpose of Shathru samhara pooja?

texts:
Shathru Samhara pooja is believed to be done for destroying the enemies. This pooja is usually performed in temples.
 - What is the purpose of such pooja?
 - Do this actually have any other meanings or is it supposed to destroy the enemies?
 - Seems like there is a misconception about this pooja, can somebody elaborate the real purpose of this pooja?


texts:
Adi Shankaracharya taught:

If the universe be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep
sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and
false, like dreams. - Vivekachudamani 234

Why must the universe be unreal because it is not perceived in deep sleep?
If one person is in deep sleep (who doesn't perceive the universe), there may be other persons at the same time who are awake who still perceive the same universe, and may also be interacting with each other. Doesn't that mean the universe is real?


texts: Does the Skanda Purana accept Rama as the full incarnation of Vishnu?

texts:
Consider the following statement by Vyasa in Skanda Purana

Formerly, at the advent of Treta, the lotus-eyed Rama, a partial incarnation of Visnu was born in the Solar race, as a scion of the family of Raghu.
[Chapter 30(page no 156) - Chapter 2 - Part 9]

Does the same Purana say that Rama is a full incarnation of Vishnu anywhere?


texts:
Am interested to learn about Lord Yoga Narasimha. When this sankalpa came into picture?
Was it happened after killing of hiranyakashipu? and why this "Avastha" appear in front of us?
and any relation with LakshmiNarasimha avastha?
Is the moolamantra of Narasimha and YogaNarasimha same?


texts:
Apart from the well known Dashavatra, Mahavishnu has taken many incarnations. Two readily come to the mind as Hari for liberation of Gajendra and Hu Hu and as Kapila Muni giving knowledge to His mother Devahuti.

How many Avataaras are enumerated and described in Srimad Bhagavatam, Harivamsam and other Puranaas? What is the number of His Avataaras?


texts: What is the story of Budha grabbing the Star Rohini?

texts:
During the episode of Sita's abduction in the Valmiki Ramayana, it is mentioned that Budha grabs the Rohini in firmament.

  इति उक्त्वा मैथिलीम् वाक्यम् प्रिय अर्हाम् प्रिय वादिनीम् || ३-४९-१५
   अभिगम्य सुदुष्ट आत्मा राक्षसः काम मोहितः |
   जग्राह रावणः सीताम् बुधः खे रोहिणीम् इव ||       ३-४९-१६

  On saying that sentence to Maithili, who by herself is a nice talker and who is a proper one for addressing with nice words, that verily evil-minded demon Ravana maddened by lust drew nigh of Seetha and grabbed her, as Budha, the mercury grabs the Star Rohini in firmament. [3-49-15b, 16]

My question is which scriptures describes the complete story of Budha grabbing his mother Rohini?


texts: Good reason to plant Bodhi Tree (peepal) at home

texts:
I want to plant bodhi tree at home in my big plating pot, but my parents are not allowing me to do it. Please give me some good and strong religious reason to make them agree.
They are also saying ghost live there to scare me.


texts: Does Kali Purusha get Moksha in the end?

texts: I know that Time is cyclical in Hindu mythology. So, does Kali-Purusha (कलि-पुरुष) (the personification of the demon after whom Kali Yuga is named) get Moksha after the end of Kaliyuga? And if so, who gives it to him?


texts: Was Krishna in moksha state during his life?

texts:
Krishna is Vishnu who lived during Dwapara yuga for the establishment of dharma.

My doubt is whether he was in the state of moksha at that time or not?

Suppose someone attains moksha after death, can he become the Krishna of the next Dwapara yuga?

If it's true that one can become Vishnu by attaining moksha and he could also be reborn as Krishna, then how can moksha prevent the birth-death cycle?

Or is it that a person can never become Vishnu during his lifetime or after attaining moksha?


texts: Shlokas from Bhagwata Purana especially for Kaliyuga

texts:
Just like Bhoomi Gita, what are other chapters in the Bhagwata Purana that explain Kaliyuga?

Only provide me with the chapter numbers or the names.


texts: Can God (e.g., Shiva) destroy devils without taking brith/avatar?

texts:
I have been thinking about this, does anyone know if a God (Shiva, Durga etc.) has ever destroyed any devil without taking birth/avatar?

If God is so powerful then why does He/She need to transform into something else to destroy a devil?


texts: Before Aruna, who was the Sun God's charioteer?

texts:
Chapter 16 – Verses 22 and 23 of Adi Parva of Mahabharata in Aastika Parva states

  विशिष्टम् बलमीप्सन्त्या पञ्चवर्षशतात् परः |
     एवं शप्त्वा ततः पुत्रो विनितामन्तरिक्षगः || २२ ||**

  अरुणो दृश्यते ब्रह्मन् प्रभातसमये सदा |
    आदित्यरथमध्यास्ते सारथ्यं संकल्पयत् || २३ ||

Which can be interpreted as ‘He should come out fully formed on his own and that will happen only after another five hundred years. Till then you have to patiently serve your sister and co-wife as her slave.” Having thus cursed Vinita, her son Aruna rose upwards and flew to the sky.  There he became the charioteer of the Sun God guiding his chariot on the daily circumambulation of the universe. And one can see the form of Aruna guiding the chariot in the dawn when the sun is of reddish hue.’ [My question arises due to the verses 22 and 23, but does not pertain thereto]

Maharshi Krishna Dwaipayana states in verses 16 and 17 of Chapter 16 of Aastika Parva:

  अण्डाभ्यां  विनतायास्तु मिथुनं न व्यदृश्यत |
    ततः पुत्रार्थिनी देवी व्रीडिता च तपस्विनी || १६ ||

  अण्डं बिभेद विनता तत्र पुत्रमपश्यत |
    पूर्वार्धकायसम्पन्नमितरेणाप्रकाशता || १७ ||**

Vinita’s two eggs, however, remained unhatched. With her own hands, she broke open one of the eggs and beheld her son. He was not yet fully formed. The top portion of his body was well proportioned and complete.  He shone with the brightness and lusture of Mitra (Sun), but the bottom half of his body was unformed and just a mass of flesh.

Maharshi Krishna Dwaipayana continues :

  स पुत्रः क्रोधसंरब्धः शशापैनामिति श्रुर्तिः |
    योऽहमेवं कृतो नातस्त्वया लोभपरीतया || १८ ||

  शरीरेणासमग्रेण तस्माद दासी भविष्यसि |
   पञ्चवर्षशतान्यस्या यया विस्पर्धसे सह || १९ ||**

  एष च त्वां सुतो मातर्दासीत्वान्मोचयिष्यति |
   यद्येनमपि मातस्त्वं मामिवाण्डविभेदनात् || २० ||

  न करिष्यस्यनङ्गं वा व्यङ्गं वापि तपस्विनम् |
   प्रतिपालयितव्यस्ते जन्मकालोsस्य धीरया || २१ ||

  विशिष्टम् बलमीप्सन्त्या पञ्चवर्षशतात् परः |
    एवं शप्त्वा ततः पुत्रो विनितामन्तरिक्षगः || २२ ||

  अरुणो दृश्यते ब्रह्मन् प्रभातसमये सदा |
  आदित्यरथमध्यास्ते सारथ्यं संकल्पयत् || २३ ||

It is said that the son, angry at his mother’s haste in breaking his egg and bringing him forth not completely formed cursed her,  “Due to your excessive haste to be equal to your sister and co-wife Kadru, you have made me handicapped, my limbs not yet completely formed. Therefore, for which co-wife you made me deformed, I curse you to become her slave for five hundred years.  And Mother, your son in the other egg, he will liberate you from slavery, but that is possible only if you don’t break the egg and make him handicapped.  He should come out fully formed on his own and that will happen only after another five hundred years. Till then you have to patiently serve your sister and co-wife as her slave.” Having thus cursed Vinita, her son Aruna rose upwards and flew to the sky.  There he became the charioteer of the Sun God guiding his chariot on the daily circumambulation of the universe. And one can see the form of Aruna guiding the chariot in the dawn when the sun is of reddish hue.

My questions are these:

(a) Did the Sun God have a charioteer before Aruna was born?

(b) If so who was he? Where can I get the story and the proper scriptural references?


texts: Are there any surviving vedangas on vastu?

texts:
This contains an excellent list of resources on Vastu: What are the best resources for Vastu Shastra?
Vastu, like Ayurveda, is originally a supplement to Atharva-veda. Also like Ayurveda, there don't seem to be any surviving texts from the original vedanga. With the exception of a few Puranas which provide some details on Vastu (also on Ayurveda), all of the available references on Vastu are from later authors.
Are there mentions of the original vedanga text in any commentaries or writings? Is the original body of text from Atharvaveda truly lost or has any part of it survived?


texts: What are the instances where Krishna promised that he would return to Vrindavan?

texts: What are the instances where Krishna promised that he would return to Vrindavan either himself or through representatives like Uddhava?


texts: Do the reason or consequences behind bad dream of killing snake mentioned in scriptures?

texts:
From this answer, we can notice that dream of killing snake is a bad dream

  Bad dreams are a shaven head of one’s own, wearing shabby clothes,
  drinking oil, house collapse, angry Gods or Brahmanas, falling from
  above, killing snakes or animals, playing with monkeys, weddings,
  singing and so on. Prayers to Vishnu, or Shiva or Ganesha or Surya
  would appease bad dreams, while good dreams should enable the dreamer
  to make them true if the person discontinues sleeping.

Is there any reason or further consequences for a dream of killing a snake?


texts: Do Kshatriyas have to abide by the Dharmic rules of engagement when fighting enemies who do not abide by the same rules of engagement in battle?

texts:
Kshatriya dharma has certain rules of engagement in battle.
For example:

Manu 7.90 - While fighting his enemies in battle, he shall hot strike with concealed weapons; nor with arrows that are poisoned, or barbed, or with flaming shafts.
Manu 7.91 - He shall not strike one who is standing on the ground, nor one who is a eunuch, nor the supplicant [one who has surrendered] with joined palms, nor one with loosened hair, nor one who is seated, nor one who says ‘I am yours;’
Gautama (10.18).—‘No sin is incurred in slaying foes in
battle,—excepting those who have lost their horses, charioteers or
arms, those who join their hands in supplication, those who flee with
flying hair, those who sit. down with averted faces, those who have
climbed in flight on eminences or trees, messengers, and those who
declare themselves to be cows, or Brāhmaṇas.’
Baudhāyana (1.18.11).—‘He shall not light those in fear, intoxicated,
insane or out of their minds; nor those who have lost their armour;
nor with women, infants, aged men and Brāhmaṇas.’
Āpastamba (2.10, 11).—‘The Āryas forbid the killing of those who have
laid down their arms, of those who beg for mercy with flying hair or
joined palms, and of fugitives.’
Yajñavalkya (1.325).—‘He shall mot strike one who says I am yours, or
who is terrified, or deprived of arms, or who is engaged with another
person, or who has turned hack from the fight, or one who is only
looking on the battle.’
Devala (Vīramitrodaya-Rājanīti., p. 407).—‘Who is eating straw, who is
engaged with another, who is not actively engaged in fight, who is
seeking shelter, the imbecile, one pressed by another, the religious
student, the aged man, the outcast, the infant,—these shall not ho
struck in lawful battle, by soldiers, even in times of distress.’
Manu 7.92 - Nor one who is sleeping, nor him who is without his armour, nor one who is naked, nor one deprived of his weapons, nor one who is only looking on and not fighting, nor one who is engaged in fighting with ahother person;
Manu 7.93 - Nor one who has fallen in difficulties regarding weapons; nor one in distress, nor one severely wounded, nor one who is frightened, nor one who has turned back;—the king remembering the duties of honourable men.

Do Kshatriyas have to abide by these rules when fighting enemies who do not abide by these rules?


texts: Which scripture or literature describes Lord Shiva burnt the Tripuras(three cities) with smile only?

texts: From this blog followed by an answer, I have found Lord Shiva to destroy three cities with just a smile - all that set up was extraneous. Which literature or scripture talks about that? The answer or blog says the story belongs to a tamil literature. As a possibility, it might be one of the poem of a Nayanar also.


texts: Why does each incarnation of Vishnu need an "officiating priest"?

texts:
This chapter of the Matsya Purana enumerates various incarnations that Vishnu has taken during the course of the Vaivasvata Manvantara (i.e. the present Manvantara).  But along with each incarnation, it also lists an "officiating priest".  Here are the priests listed for the different incarnations:

       Avatara of Vishnu              Officiating Priest

Dharma                                Brahma
Narasimha                            Rudra
Vamana                                Dharma
Dattatreya                            Markandeya
Mandhata                             Uttanga
Parashurama                       Vishwamitra
Rama                                   Vasishta
Dwaipayana Vedavyasa      Jatukarnya
Buddha                                Dwaipayana Vedavyasa
Kalki                                     Parasharya Vedavyasa

My question is, why is there an "officiating priest" for each incarnation of Vishnu?  What exactly is their role?

I can understand Vasishta's association with Rama, since he was Rama's guru, but for instance why is the sage Markandeya considered the officiating priest of Dattatreya (whom I discuss in this answer), and why is Yama god of death considered the officiating priest of Vamana the dwarf?


texts: What is the position of Durga in Gaudiya Vaishnavism? Is there need to worship her? Can she be worshiped?


texts: In the heaven, one year equals three hundred and sixty years of the earth (theory of time relatively)

texts:
Once, in a battle, the deities were defeated by the asuras. Tormented by arrows, they sought help from king Muchukunda. King Muchukunda agreed to help them and fought against the asuras for a long time.[2] Since the deities did not have an able commander, king Muchukunda protected them against the onslaught by asuras, until the deities got an able commander like Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva. Then Indra said to the king Muchukunda, "O king, we, the deities are indebted to you for the help and protection which you have given us, by sacrificing your own family life. Here in the heaven, one year equals three hundred and sixty years of the earth (relatively). Since, it has been a long time, there is no sign of your kingdom and family because it has been destroyed with the passage of time. We are happy and pleased with you, so ask for any boon except Moksha (liberation) because Moksha (liberation) is beyond our capacities".

Muchkunda asks Indra for a boon to sleep. While fighting on the side of the deities, King Muchukunda did not get an opportunity to sleep even for a moment. Now, since his responsibilities were over, overcome by tiredness, he was feeling very sleepy. So, he said, "O King of the deities, I want to sleep. Anyone who dares to disturb my sleep should get burnt to ashes immediately".

Indra said, "So be it, go to the earth and enjoy your sleep, one who awakens you would be reduced to ashes".

After this, King Muchukunda descended to earth and selected a cave on a hill [some locate this to mount Girnar ], where he could sleep without being disturbed.

Later he was used by Krishna to kill kalyavana.

Here in above incident is proof of einstein's theory of relativity. Are there any other incidence?


texts: What would be the varna of son born out of Ugra father & Kshatriya Woman?

texts:
What would be the Varna of a son born out of Ugra father & Kshatriya mother?

From Manu smriti chapter 10

  From a Kshatriya and the daughter of a Sudra springs a being, called Ugra, resembling both a Kshatriya and a Sudra, ferocious in his manners, and delighting in cruelty.


texts: What were the different theories of origin of Universe as per Matsya and Kurma Puranas?

texts:
How was the Universe created according  to Matsya and Kurma Puranas?
Each Purana had it's  own theory for origin of Universe.
(Please cite references from the Puranas)


texts: Do you get to experience the "earthly joys" after Moksha, if you did not get to experience them before attaining Moksha?

texts:
By "earthy joys", I meant those that humans desire and want in their lives, such as leading the life of a householder, becoming a parent, nurturing your children, and above all, serving the Gods.
If not so, then there is a clear "winner" and a "loser", even if both of them eventually attain Moksha. The winner being the one who led an extremely joyous and happy life and still attained Moksha, and the "loser" being the one who suffered throughout his/her life, but eventually attained moksha. In the case of the latter (loser), the person will never get to experience a human life again, and therefore, would fail to experience those joys of life.


texts: Is there any relationship between the caste system and kundalis/gunas matching as it relates to marriage?

texts:
I have heard/read that in some cases a marriage is forbidden on the basis of mismatching kundalis/gunas.

In some other cases it's forbidden because of caste incompatibility.

Is there any relationship at all between the two practices?

My understanding is that in the case of the caste system marriage among different castes is discouraged because some castes are deemed socially superior than others. This seems to be similar to the way marriage among different social classes is discouraged in western societies, e.g. millionaires rarely if ever marry a homeless person.

In the case of kundalis matching, the practice is based on the belief that astrological events can affect the marriage, hence certain matches are discouraged.

In the case of gunas matching, the practice seems to be based on the observation that different people have different behavioural tendencies, therefore it makes sense to discourage certain matches with undesirable people.

To me it seems that there's not relationship between them except for the fact that it's practiced by Indian people which also happen to practice Hinduism.

For that matter, it looks like none of these practices has any basis in the Hindu doctrine. They seem more like cultural practices specific to certain parts of India in which people also happen to practice Hinduism.


texts: I have read that maharishi Bhrigu was choosing which diety to invite to their maha-yagna and he was testing the tri-murties (Shiva,Vishnu, Brahma ).  During his test he was disappointed with Shiva and Brahma. He eventually cursed Shiva and Brahma. I wonder how is this even possible. Bhrigu is said to be son of Brahma. A man who was born on earth has such power to put curses on the creator and the destroyer. Or what I read is wrong ?


texts:
Given that Karma and punarjanma (rebirth) are the prime beliefs of Hinduism, why do we need Yamalokam and punishment in it?

I mean, through Karma, the fruits of both good and bad deeds are obtained either in the same birth or the next one. Then why do we need Yamalokam?


texts:
Hindu timeline says that the universe is created and destroyed in a cyclic way (for 84 times) and each cycle consists of 4 phases, namely, Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dwapara-yuga and Kali-yuga. It is said that each phase has a different span running over millions of years whereas Science says that humans evolved from African region only about 500,000 years back. Following questions arise:

How does one explain this mismatch?
Or, is it that there were no humans before Kaliyuga?
Why 84 times?
What was there before the first cycle of the universe?
What will happen after the 84th cycle?

Even if we ignore the mismatch between Hindu timeline and the theory of evolution, I am very curious to know what the Hindu saints had to say about "what was there or what will be there apart from the 84 cycles of creation and destruction". Is there any mention of this aspect anywhere in Hindu scriptures?


texts: Is the Kena Upanishad a dialogue between Brahma and Shiva?

texts:
One of the most famous Upanishads is the Kena Upanishad, aka the Talavakara Brahmana Upanishad.  It gets its name because it begins with the word Kena meaning "by whom"; its first verse consists of a shishya asking his guru "At whose wish does the mind sent forth proceed on its errand? At whose command does the first breath go forth? At whose wish do we utter this speech? What god directs the eye, or the ear?" And then the rest of the Upanishad consists of the guru's response.
But my question is about the identities of the guru and the shishya.  The Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya claims that the guru is Brahma and thathe is teaching Shiva.  In this excerpt from his commentary on the Kena Upanishad, Madhvacharya gives a quote from a work he calls the "Brahmasara":

Brahma, the four-faced, was seated alone in his heaven called Vaijayanta, when Sadashiva approaching him, asked the following questions, in order to know the truth about Vishnu :— "The mind thinks of objects  (desirable and undesirable) not under the control of the human soul (Purusha).... By whom sent, therefore, the mind goes to its object; by whose command does similarly the chief Prana the best of all function? What divinity controls and directs to their proper objects, eyes, ears speech and the rest?"
Being thus asked Brahma first meditated on the Lord Narayana, who is the support of all, who is the incomparable, the omniscient, the omnipotent, and free of all imperfections and then replied to the Lord of Uma:— "He who is the controller and regulator of Prana, of all senses like the eye, etc., is not fully comprehensible by even all the devas, because he is all-full.  He is the leader of Breath (Prana) and the rest, He knows everything in all time.  He is the best of all, he is present everywhere, he is the best of everything.  He is Vishnu, know him as such."

In fact Madhvacharya frames almost his entire commentary on the Kena Upanishad as an extended quotation from this Brahmasara work.  Now as I discuss here, Madhvacharya's scriptural references are notoriously hard to track down, and this is no exception; we don't have an extant copy of the Brahmasara, and as far as I know there's no reference to such a work before the time of Madhvacharya.
So my question is, what other scriptures mention that the Kena Upanishad is a dialogue between Brahma and Shiva?  Is this mentioned in the Puranas?  I know Adi Sankaracharya doesn't identify the guru and ahishya in his commentary, but are there any other commentators who do?
By the way, this isn't the only case where Madhvacharya makes a peculiar claim about the origin of an Upanishad; he says something similar about the Mandukya Upanishad as I discuss here.


texts: Was Adi Shankaracharya’s Parakaya Pravesha to learn Kamashastra Dharmic?

texts:
Adi Shankaracharya traveled all around India engaging scholars in religious debate. During one such debate, Bharati, wife of scholar
  Madana Mishra, attempted to defeat Adi Shankara in the topic of
  Kamashastra – sex. To win this debate Adi Shankaracharya’s performed
  parakaya pravesha – enter the body of another person.

  In the debate between Madana Mishra and Adi Shankara, Bharati was
  appointed the judge as she was a scholar by herself. Madana Mishra was
  easily defeated in the debate by Adi Shankara.

  Bharati contented that Adi Shankara had only defeated one half of
  Madana Mishra. To completely defeat him, Adi Shankara had to defeat
  his wife too.

  Bharati soon realized that she could not defeat Adi Shankara in
  philosophy, so turned the debate towards Kamashastra. As Adi Shankara
  was a Brahmachari he had no knowledge of sex.

  Adi Shankara asked Bharati to give him a month’s time to debate this
  topic with her.

  Adi Shankaracharya then used his yogic powers to enter the body of
  Raja Amaruka who had just died. Before entering the body of the king,
  he hid his physical body in a cave and asked his disciples go guard
  it.

  For next one month, in the body of the king, Adi Shankara indulged in
  sexual activities and learned Kama Shastra.

  A month later he returned and defeated Bharati in the debate.

  Source: http://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/07/adi-shankaracharyas-parakaya-pravesha.html

Some people say reading Kamashastra is adharmic then what about the above incident?

Is reading kamasutra a sin?

I do have great respect towards Adi Shankaracharya and in no way I am challenging the divine master. However, I am trying to make myself and others clear about Dharma and Adharma.


texts: What is the source of a mantra called Mahā saṃkalpaṃ?

texts:
Many are aware about the saṃkalpaṃ which is recited during rituals like saṃdhyā vandanam, vratas etc., But there is another mantra called Mahasankalpa(pronounced Mahā saṃkalpaṃ in IAST). Sankalpa tells the place, time and purpose of doing that ritual. But Mahā saṃkalpaṃ consists of not only place but many more things like  number of lokas, aṣṭa diggaj(eight elephants which carry the earth), sapta samudras present on the earth and many more in a detailed way.

This Mahā saṃkalpaṃ is usually recited in the kaḻyāṇaṃ(marriage) of devi devatas, before doing an auspicious deed like a bath in a river during auspicious occasions like pushkaras',during great yajñas' and homas etc.,

There is a brief description of universe in this mantra. Entire  mahā saṃkalpaṃ remains same but in the ending, names of the region and the purpose of the deed you are doing. But the content remains the same.

What is the source of this mantra?

You can listen to the mantra here.

The mahā saṃkalpaṃ recited in the video is for holy bath in the river


texts: Are static and mobile mounts of Gods called by different names?

texts: Vishnu lies on Adisesha but uses Garuda to move around.  Garuda is called "vahana" I believe, how about Sesha?


texts: Is eating meat allowed if the animal died naturally?

texts: Much like the sadhu that is allowed to skin the tiger if it died naturally, is it written anywhere in scripture that eating flesh from an animal that died naturally is allowed?


texts: Why only humans become ghosts but never any other organism?

texts:
Why only humans become ghosts/returning spirit, while there are uncountable organisms dying but never turn ghost.
Is it because of the subconscious mind and it's strong memories to achieve something before attaining peace and moving ahead for another soulful journey?
There's desires in any accidently dying organism as well but there's none returns whatsoever after dying except humans, like scientists carry out innumerable experiments on innocently dying creatures but they die and that's it.
But if human is killed/dies he might come back to take revenge/fulfill some wish if he wills to while dying or might curse as well and it works in many circumstances.


texts: Does anyone have the link to Lakulisa Pasupatha Sutras

texts:
I am looking for the Lakulisa Pasupatha Sutras. Does anyone have the link to it? I am looking for Sanskrit version along with its English translation available anywhere.
Thanks in advance.


texts: Explanation of the terms Pinda, Pada, Rüpa and the Rūpātīta

texts:
In Ullasa 13 of Kaularnava Tantra, verse 76, Shree Shiva says to Shree Devi one of the characteristics of Guru:

पिण्डं पदं तथा रूपं रूपातीतं चतुष्टयम यो वा सम्यग्विजानाति स गुरुः कथितः प्रिये ।। ७६ ।।

O My Beloved! Who knows well these Four-the Pinda, Pada, Rüpa and the Rūpātīta, he is called the Guru.

I have never heard of these four term, and there is no explanation to these in consecutive verses. Do we have any explanation of these 4 term in any other Tantra text?


texts: Is the modern Indian state Tripura somehow related to the three cities Shiva destroyed in his Tripurantaka form?

texts:
Please read Edit 1(At the end)
Does the state, Tripura, derive its name from the Three legendary asura cities which Lord Shiva destroyed in his Tripurantaka form?
Most searches return that the name is based off of the 'Tripura Sundari', but a quick wikipedia search shows that Tripura Sundari is herself probably related to the three cities:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari#:~:text=Tripura%20Sundari%20is%20also%20known,Three%20Cities%2C%22%20or%20Tripurasundari.

Tripura Sundari is also known by names as Ṣoḍaśī ("She who is the sixteenth"[12]), Lalitā, Kāmeśvarī, Śrīvidyā and Raj Rajeshwari.[1] The Shodashi Tantra refers to Shodashi as the "Beauty of the Three Cities," or Tripurasundari.[13]

So does Tripura have any relation to the three cities? If so, what?
EDIT 1: I mean to ask: Like Shri Ram is said to have been born in the city of Ayodhya, which is present in modern India, and does have references to his place of birth etc. Similarly, is the modern Indian state Tripura somehow related to the three cities Shiva destroyed in his Tripurantaka form? And if so, is the place where the event happened mentioned, or are there legends in the state regarding this ancient happening?


texts: Where did Ravan go after his death by lord Ram?

texts:
As ravan was killed by lord Ram, so he should go to heaven. I also read from some post Ravan took rebirth as another Rakhasa and killed by lord Krishna in Mahabharat.

Why did Ravan not go to heaven? Where did he go after his death?

If Ravan got rebirth, what is the story?


texts: Why isn't Lord Ayyappa an avatar of Lord Mahavishnu?

texts:
We consider Lord Mahavishnu as having ten avatars because they descend to this material plane (Earth).

Doesn't that apply to Lord Ayyappa who is the son of Lord Shiva & Vishnu? Shouldn't he be an avatar of Lord Vishnu?


texts:
Here is What i understood after reading various stories from  Puranas and Mahabharatha and theories of Creationism.

Vishnu Purana states Vishnu is Supreme God or Supreme Brahman. Also

  I read Narayana as an aspect or amsa living in Vaikunta and Shankara aka Rudra as an aspect of Lord Shiva living in Mount kailash.

So,

  From Vishnu ( I think He is Nirguna) comes Lord Brahma , Lord Narayana and Lord Shankra ( not Shiva) with their Shaktis.

  Lord Vishnu or Brahman → Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati,
                Lord Narayana and  Goddess Lakshmi &
                Lord Shankara and Goddess Parvathi.

Similarly Gaudiya Vaishnavism states Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead. So According to them

  Lord Krishna or Brahman → Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati, Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Shankara and Goddess Parvathi.

This can be justified from Mahabharatha. When Arjuna was fighting in Kurukshetra war he saw a man with Matted hair and trident killing enemy forces within fraction of second.Perplexed Arjuna said this to Krishna and Lord Krishna replied as follows:

  Arjuna, the man you saw was Shankara and He was born from my Shoulder.

Similarly Shiva Purana states Shiva as Supreme Brahman

  Bright Light or Jyothir Linga ( I think Shiva is Nirguna) or Shiva or Brahman → Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati, Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Shankara and Goddess Parvathi.

And finally Devi Bhagavatham states Devi or Adiparashakthi as Supreme Brahman

  Adiparashakthi or Brahman  → Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati, Lord Narayana and Goddess Lakshmi & Lord Shankara and Goddess Parvathi.

As Guadiya Vaishnavism states

  From MahaVishnu comes infinite number of Universes and i think same can be inferred to ParamaShiva and ParaBrahma

So

Is there any flaw in my understanding?
Am i unifying all Puranas?
Is Brahman in Hinduism is One but diffferent Puranas mentioned Him with different names?


texts: Is yoga the only way to experience the divine?

texts: We see there are many different paths of worship, people worship kuldevi, kuldevta, brahma , vishnu, mahesh, durga etc. and there are different vrat and prayers, mantras associated with each of them, this being the bhakti marg. On the contrary to this, there is Yoga in which we do meditation and try to understand the body and the universe, after some readings and internet research I came to knew about Kriya yoga in which there is some breathing exercises to divert and control the prana in our body, once we gain control over that we can control our death too. Correct me if I am wrong, but this is what I understood. So is Yoga the best way to experience the divine or can we do the traditional pooja / archana to seek blessings and ultimately achieve the same goal.


texts: What are the qualities and qualifications of maharishi?

texts:
What are the qualities and qualifications of a maharishi.
And what are maharishies?


texts: What is the significance of the swastika?

texts:
The swastika symbol is used in many ceremonies, such as the yagya, among others. What is its significance?

Also, what is the correct direction for the swastika?

This or its mirror image?


texts: What is the authentic procedure for Vratyastoma?

texts: Any respectable scholar can list about the types and conditions to perform vratyastoma sacrifice?


texts: Which other texts apart from Shri Bhagvad Gita talk about the indestructible nature of human soul/atman?

texts: I was wondering that Hinduism had so many different sects for different deities, was this belief of the soul being indestructible followed by Vaishnavism? also lord Shiva has been called the destroyer in many stories and texts , could he destroy human soul or atman?


texts: What are days I can have an oil massage (abhyangana snana) on head or on body?

texts: There is already a question about Shaving / Haircut / Nailcut - what days are allowed / prohibited?. So, I want to know the days I can take an oil massage (otherwise called as Abhyangana snana) including weekdays as well as the days as per the lunar calendar followed by us.


texts: Are there any Puranas that corresponds to a Kalpa where Brahma creates Vishnu?

texts:
According to the thirteenth chapter of the Vayavivasamhita of the Shiva Purana, Brahma has created Vishnu and Rudra in certain Kalpas:

  Vayu said, I shall narrate how Rudra was born and how Brahma and Vishnu were born from each other.
  The three are Atmans as causes of born of Mahesvara; they are cause of creation, sustenance and annihilation of the Universe consisting of mobile and immobile beings. Endowed with great qualities they are sanctified by great Lord. Presided over by his Shakti, they can perform their activities. Brahma can create, Vishnu can protect and Rudra can annihilate.
  But they rivaled with one other. Desirous of excelling one other they propitiated their father the Supreme Lord by means of penance. Attaining all around favor of Lord at outset in Previous Kalpa, Rudra created Brahma and Vishnu. In another Kalpa, Brahma created Vishnu and Rudra. In another Kalpa, Vishnu created Brahma and Rudra. Thus in different Kalpas, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra desiring mutual benefit are born of one another. Based on the events in their respective Kalpas, their process in being the cause of origin of one other is extolled by Sages. (Chapter 13, Vayavivasamhita, Shiva Purana)

Now, I have only seen Puranic references of Brahma having created Rudra but I have never encountered a single occasion so far where Brahma created Vishnu. Rather, it is generally Vishnu who creates Brahma.

Since each Purana corresponds to different Kalpas, I want to know whether or not any Purana corresponds to a Kalpa where Brahma created Vishnu?


texts: Sri Vaishnava English commentary to Upanishads other than Dr N.S. Anantha Rangacharya

texts: Is anyone aware of alternative English translations to the principal Upanishads other than the one by Dr. N.S. Anantha Rangacharya for the bhashya by Ranga Ramanuja Muni? I know there is one for Isavasya, I am looking for the translations for the remaining ones.


texts: According to ISKCON, what is the difference between Brahmavada and Mayavada?

texts:
As it is well known, ISKCON (and other Vaishnavas for that matter) strongly criticize philosophy of Advaita. Srila Prabhupada himself criticized Mayavada in his various commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures-

"The Mayavadis say that the world created by maya is false, and that actually there is no living entity but only one spiritual effulgence. They further say that God is imaginary, that people think of God only because of ignorance, and that when the Supreme Absolute Truth is befooled by the external energy, maya, He becomes a jiva, or living entity. Upon hearing all these nonsensical ideas from the nondevotee, a devotee is greatly afflicted, as if his heart and soul were broken."  Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya lila 2:99

But at the same time Srila Prabupada said BrahmanVada is permitted in Vedas( But non-dual moksha is impermanent unlike Vaikuntha) as evident here. which says-

Therefore they, these Brahmavādīs, these Nirākāravādī, although by austerities and penances they may rise up to the Brahman effulgence, still, they will fall down. Because we are living entities, we want varieties of enjoyment. We are not satisfied in void, in zero. That is not possible.         Lecture on SB 1.2.18 -- Calcutta, September 26, 1974

He even said that the Four Kumaras followed BrahmanVada.
My question is What is the difference between Brahmanvada and Mayavada?


texts: How to practice meditation to increase Ojas capacity?

texts:
The Yogis and many books like those of Sivananda swami say that practicing pranayam and meditation, one can become more ojasvi day by day. Coming to meditation, what and how should it be done ? There are many ways of meditations, but which is beneficial and best in achieving this state ?

Also, is kriya yoga to be considered meditation or pranayam and how to observe kriya yoga for a total beginner ?


texts: Are solar eclipse rituals still practiced today?

texts:
Specifically the solar eclipse answer is this question speaks of immortality.

What are the beliefs related to lunar and solar eclipses?

  And the huge head of the Danava, cut off by the discus and resembling a mountain peak, then rose up to the sky and began to utter dreadful cries. And the Danava's headless trunk, falling upon the ground and rolling thereon, made the Earth tremble with her mountains, forests and islands.


texts: Where are drona and shiva used as meters, what other meters are there similarly?

texts: I learned recently about Koorathaazhvar and Kulothunga Chola's apparent argument, although I'm not interested in the context it was used, I'm curious about the question, as what and when are these meters(drona, shiva)used, and what other such meters are there?


texts: How to find a family's Kuladevata when all known sources have failed?

texts: A lot of Hindu families these days don't know who their Kuladevata is. How can one find out, if there is no information available online, in the community, and if the elders in the family are not alive or don't know?


texts: Can bad karma or sins be really washed away?

texts:
As we know, the karmic accounts of good karma and bad karma are different. If we do good karma, we get good fruits, and if we do bad karma, we get bad fruits. Good karmas do not counter-balance bad karmas. If we have done bad karma, we will get bad fruits irrespective of good karma we do later on. Just like an arrow already shot cannot be taken back, karma that has already set out in motion cannot be escaped from. It will catch you sooner or later.

Then how do we hear people saying that by doing some rituals, our bad karmas (sins) will get washed away? Ex. Bathing in Ganga, visiting some holy place, etc.

Sin and holiness and tīrtha and sins cleaning don't have any explanation as to why people think that these rituals will wash away sins


texts: Where does the Linga Purana declare Vishnu to be the supreme soul?

texts:
As I discuss in this answer, one of the early movements that was important to the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures to worship the sage Narayana, an ancient incarnation of Vishnu.  Since the Pancharatra texts originated from Narayana himself, they're followed by pretty much all Vaishnavas today. But there was a time when some people, especially those belonging to the Purva Mimamsa school, questioned the validity of the Pancharatra texts because they believed the Vedas were the only legitimate Hindu scriptures. So as I discuss in this question, the early Sri Vaishnava Acharya Yamunacharya, who was Ramanujacharya's guru's guru, composed a work called the Agama Pramanya to defend the scriptural authority of the Pancharatra texts.
Now the Purva Mimamsa school believed that Vishnu is not competent to compose a scripture (!), because he would not have the requisite knowledge to do so. So in this excerpt from the Agama Pramanya, Yamunacharya demonstrates the omniscience of Vishnu by quoting various scriptures which describe Vishnu as the supreme soul or Paramatma.  Some of these scriptures are Vaishnava texts like the Vishnu Purana and the Narasimha Tapaniya Upanishad, which you'd expect to speak favorably of Vishnu.  But interestingly, Yamunacharya also quotes the Linga Purana!

Likewise in the Linga Purana,
"Janardana is the sole spirit, the highest One, the Supreme Soul, from whom Brahma was born; from Him Rudra and from Him all the world." ...
Likewise in the Linga Purana,
"For there is no recourse ordained but Vishnu; this the Vedas constantly declare no doubt about it."

It's shocking to me that the Linga Purana, a quintessentially Shaiva Purana, would praise Vishnu as the supreme soul and the only recourse ordained by the Vedas.
So my question is, where exactly are these two quotes in the Linga Purana?  You can read the Linga Purana through the links in my answer here.


texts: Is Moksha (liberation) the highest attainable level for a jivā (soul)? Is there anything above Moksha?

texts:
Moksha (liberation) is the ultimate goal of a jivā (soul). So, If I've understood it correctly, when a jivā attains moksha, it is freed from the cycle of life and death, being absorbed into the 'Source'. So, it makes sense that this should be the highest goal of a jivā.
But, I'm curious to find out if this is highest level achievable by a soul. Is there anything above Moksha?
The reason why I'm intrigued is after reading the story of Dhruva,  King Uttānapāda (the son of Svayambhuva Manu) and his wife Suniti (or Sunrita, the daughter of Dharma) meditated on Lord Vishnu with fierce determination.

Dhruv started his meditation, and went without food and water for six months, his mind fixed on the Lord. The austerity of his tapasya shook the heavens and the Lord appeared before him, but the child would not open his eyes because he was still merged in his inner vision of Vishnu's form described to him by Narada. Lord Vishnu had to adopt a strategy of causing that inner vision to disappear.
When Vishnu was pleased with Dhruva's tapasya and asked him to ask for a varadān (grant of wishes), Dhruv said that he (being an uneducated child) did not know how to sing the praise of Lord Vishnu, and therefore asked the varadān of a knowledge of stuti (hymn in the praise of Vishnu). Other persons would have asked for worldly or heavenly pleasures, or for moksha at most, but Dhruva had no personal desire.
Having spent a long time in the Lord's remembrance he even forgot the objective of his tapasya, and only asked for a life in memory of the Lord. Pleased by his tapasya and by his stuti, Vishnu granted his wish and further decreed that the lad would attain Dhruvapada - the state where he would become a celestial body which would not even be touched by the Maha Pralaya.

The legend of Dhruva is detailed in Vishnu Purana, Chapter XI
As evident by the above, Dhruva could have been offered Moksha, as being the ultimate goal of a soul. But, because Dhruva didn't have a desire for Moksha too, he attained a place really close to God.
So, this makes me wonder if a jivā could possible attain a similar level of God consciousness which would be revered even higher than Moksha? What if a jivā eligible for Moksha would refuse Moksha (most politely) and instead ask for something else - like being in a state of constant meditation of God in a secluded state for an indefinite period of time (Eternal devotion to God)? Would this be considered as being 'inferior' to Moksha?
OR
Is 'Moksha' the ONLY highest achievable goal?


texts: What is the Sutaka period for the death of the mentioned family members?

texts:
How many days sutaka is to be followed in case of the following events.

If Father's Mother dies
Mother's Mother dies
Father's Brother dies
Father's Sister dies
Mother's Brother dies

Please Provide the answer with relevant paras either in puranas or vedas..etc


texts: Are there complaints in the scriptures about the iniquties of the caste system?

texts:
Are there statements in scriptures (not necessarily by those who might have felt oppressed and/or disdvantaged) that the caste-system was iniquitous?
I am looking for some parallel to the denunciation of anti-semitism in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice:

Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?"

The scriptures seem to have been under the control of the upper castes and its hard to find lamentations like that of Shylock in them.
There ARE statements that the aim of caste is not purely caste-based discrimination - but they seem to be minority views - please see:
http://www.leftbrainwave.com/2017/01/the-scriptural-sanction-for-caste-based.html

The problem with this kind of selective interpretation is the fact that Hindu scripture contains many more verses (by more than two orders of magnitude) supporting ideas of caste-based discrimination (as in the stories of Matanga, Karna, or Shambuka) than they do verses along the lines of Shiva’s statement above. To take a decidedly minority view and present it as the authentic view of Hinduism is intellectually dishonest.
In addition, as I have pointed out from the beginning, the very fact that stories such as Matanga’s, Karna’s and Shambuka’s are prominently highlighted in Hindu scripture means that Hindu scripture can be used to support caste-based discrimination. In other words, a Hindu seeking to indulge in caste-based discrimination will find plenty of material, such as the story of Matanga or that of Karna or Shambuka, to justify his stand.