texts: What scriptures describe the story of the frog princess?

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As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, and Nyaya. My question is about the Samkhya school, founded by the sage Kapila. Now in Adhyaya 4 of Kapila's Samkhya Sutras, one of the defining texts of the Samkhya school, Kapila discusses various scriptural stories which illustrate different Samkhya teachings. In particular, here's what he says in Adhyaya 4 Sutra 16:

tadvismaraṇe'pi bhekīvat
In the forgetting also of the rules (there is the same harm), as (in the story of)  the she-frog.

Here's how Aniruddha interprets this Sutra in his commentary on the Samkhya Sutras:

The author tells us that by reason of the forgetting of the knowledge of the Principles, pain necessarily takes place. A certain king, going out on a hunting excursion, saw a beautiful maid in the woods.  He asked her, "Who are you?"  "I am a king's daughter," replied she.  The king said, "Marry me." "Very well," said she, "but make this rule that water must not be shown to me by you." "Let it be so," - so saying, he took her hand.  In this manner, as time went on, one day, she, being fatigued with sport, asked the king "Where can I get water from?" The king, too, forgetting his promise, through haste, showed her water. And she, who was the daughter of the king of frogs, was, through touch of water, transformed as a she-frog. The king, on the other hand, searching for her by means of nets, etc. and, not regaining her, experienced much pain.  Therefore, interruption of the cultivation of the Principles should not be made.

My question is, what scriptures describe this story of a king who fell in love with a frog princess?
This story is interesting for two reasons.  First of all, it's reminiscent of the story of Shantanu and Ganga, in that a wife places a condition that the husband breaks.  Second of all, it reminds me of the European story of the Frog Prince.  In fact, it's kind of the mirror image of that story.  In the Frog Prince, a princess keeps a promise to a male frog, and thereby it turns into a human.  In this story, a king breaks a promise to a female human, and thereby she turns into a frog.


texts:
How many Ekadashi are there in a year?

How many days after one another Ekadashi comes? and why?

Does each one different from each other? why is it different?

Does the sequence of Ekadashi remain same for each year? Why do they come in the same sequence?

Is there any Ekadashi, which is most important hence most people follow it?


texts: The speed of light - Taittirya Brahmana of the Yajurveda

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This research paper, The Speed of Light and Puranic Cosmology, by Subash Kak discusses the various notions of distance between places and also the speed of Sun, light etc.

It mentions that the speed of light is mentioned in the Taittiriya Brahmana of the Yajurveda (in a commentary by Bhatta Bhaskara). This speed is also mentioned to be part of an old puranic tradition.

The speed of light is mentioned as 2,202 yojanas per half nimesa  which converts to the correct speed of light (186,000 miles per second).

Question: What is the Shloka where the mention to speed of light is found?


texts: Mantras, Stotra, Shlokas for Protection of Family?

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Are there any Mantra, Stotra that can be chanted by Kid, for Protection of Father and Mother, Elderly Members of Famliy..
Protection From Diseases, Physical Dangers as Accident..etc..
Any, Stotra/etc..in which some Verse, pray God to Protect Mother, Father..etc
Kid requesting God to protect his mother, father, family members
Chanted by one family member for protection of others in family.

Some recommended me to, Do Contemplation..
To think, about God protecting Family, while chanting/hearing Ram Raksha Stotra./.
Please Tell Me Some, more detailed Contemplation.


texts: What is the name of third-gender avatar of Hari?

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Garuda Purana tells that Vishnu will born to kill an asura. Vishnu takes the form of an eunuch

The gods would be divided into different clans such as the
Svadharmans, Sutapasas, Haritas, Rohitas, etc., and Rtadhama or Bhadra
would be their Indra or overlord. The demon Taraka would invade the
territories of the then lord of the celestials. O Sankara, the god
Hari, incarnate as a eunuch, would destroy that fell perace-breaker of
the universe.
[53, Chapter 87: Fourteen Manus, Garuda Puranam ]

Do any scripture tells the name of the avatar mentioned?


texts: Where is the first historical reference of the cycle of existence,  according to the scriptures ?


texts: Why did Kamsa not kill Devaki or her husband and still make them stay in the same cell?

texts: As per Puranas, when Kamsa knew his sister, Devaki’s son will kill him, why did he not kill Devaki or her husband; and why did he still make them live together in the same cell?


texts: It has been observed that great deities have greater teachers (gurus). For Example, Lord Sun is teacher of Lord Hanuman. Similarly, I am curious to know that who is teacher/ are teachers of Lord Ganesha?


texts: The late Mohanlal Agrawal had written two volumes entitled, "Aghor Nagara Vage". In these two volumes, he recounts his extraordinary and surreal encounters with the authentic yogis and sages of northern India as well as Nepal.  Various phenomena defying the conventional laws of physics and nature are detailed.  Throughout the book, he makes references to the Aghora-Panth sadhus and yogis.  They believe in a form of strict non-dualism and are sometimes regarded as "sinister" and "heretical" by the conventional Hindu population.  Academic scholars have described the Aghora-Panth as unorthodox and antinomian.  Where in the Grand Tree of Hinduism does this Aghora-Panth exist? Is it an obscure branch of Shaivism?


texts: Typically today for all Jyotish calculation a correction is added to Sayana positions of planets to arrive at the Nirayana position of planets to account for precession etc. This correction is called Ayanamsa. Now as on date there are many types of Ayanamsa being used in India. Is there any mention of the word Ayanamsa in any of the ancient texts or is it an invention of modern times having lost the ancient method of calculations?


texts: Who should perform shraddha/funeral ceremony of a married women whose husband is still alive

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According to shastra (specifically to Brahmin, no offence to others though) who should perform funeral and post death rituals of a married women whose husband in still alive (they call muttaide in Kannada language, if anyone is familiar with Kannada)? Is it her husband or the eldest son?

Few people says it should be done by husband as he is the first person to have right on his wife, few people say even eldest son can perform this rights. Is there any mention in our shastras regarding this (excuse my ignorance, if I haven't studied shastras clearly). Can anyone shed light on this?


texts: What happens to the devoted wife if her husband gets enlightenment?

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According to Shāstras, if parents give their daughters to the guy whose ultimate aim is to attain Brahman, they attain Brahmāloka which is the second most difficult attainment after Moksha because it is easy to get Moksha in Brahmalok due to its environment.
Also, husband & wife if devoted to each other are destined to marry in every birth due to concept of Runanbandha until they are devoted to each other.

Now, suppose husband attains Brahman or gets enlightenment, does enlightenment will automatically (if not suddenly, from Brahmāloka) follow to the wife because of inference from the concept of Runanbandha? It seems reasonable because a devoted wife or husband are destined to mingle again & again until devotion last. Wife being devoted to husband won't get any attainment other than Brahman if his husband attains Brahman only as she is supposed to mingle with him only.

So are there any scriptures which says so directly or indirectly?

This question has been dealt in AnugitA (2nd discourse to Arjun by Lord Krishna) like this.

  On this, too, O chief of the descendants of Bharata! they relate this ancient story, (in the form of) a dialogue, which occurred, O son of Prithâ! between a husband and wife. A Brâhmana's wife, seeing the Brâhmana her husband, who had gone through all knowledge and experience, seated in seclusion, spoke to him (thus): 'What world, indeed, shall I go to, depending on you as (my) husband, you who live renouncing (all) action, and who are harsh and undiscerning. We have heard that wives attain to the worlds acquired by (their) husbands. What goal, verily, shall I reach, having got you for my husband?' UpagitA - Chapter 5.


texts: What is dharma for Mlecchas according to Hinduism?

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Dharma is eternal and fixed. Each varna in Hinduism has its own dharma, which is defined by the Vedas.

What is the dharma for Mlecchas?


texts: According to Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, can multiple religions be followed at the same time?

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Sri Ramakrishna, the 19th century mystic monk, devotee of Goddess Kali and regarded as an incarnation of Shriman Narayana by His followers; was a well-known harmoniser of all paths and religions. He is said to have practiced Shaktism, Vaishnavism, Christianity and Sufism. One of His favourite quotes include:

  I had to practise each religion for a time — Hinduism, Islām, Christianity. Furthermore, I followed the paths of the Śāktas, Vaishnavas, and Vedāntists. I realized that there is only one God toward whom all are travelling; but the paths are different.

However, my question is did Sri Ramakrishna ever indicate that one can practice multiple religions/paths at the same time? I'm aware that during Sri Ramakrishna's Sufi practice, He stopped visiting the Dakshineswar Kali temple room. Also, in the above quote, Sri Ramakrishna categorically states that He practiced multiple paths "for a time". Does this indicate multiple religions/paths cannot be followed at the same time. Does Swami Vivekananda say anything about this?


texts: Was tele-porting mentioned in ancient indian scriptures?

texts: As shown in various TV shows and movies, was teleporting done as per ancient scriptures.


texts: Which character in Mahabharata merged in with Surya in the Swargarohana Parva?

texts: Yudhisthira enters heaven alive and Indra describes god who took birth as men on earth. Which character from Mahabharata does Yudhisthira see besides Surya who eventually merged with Surya?


texts: Did Gautama, the Buddha borrow Śūnyavāda from Rig Veda?

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Madhyamaka also known as Śūnyavāda (the emptiness doctrine) refers to a tradition of Buddhist philosophy.
Rig Veda I.170.1 says

na nūnamasti no śvaḥ kastad veda yadadbhutam | anyasyacittamabhi
saṃcareṇyamutādhītaṃ vi naśyati ||
NAUGHT is to-day, to-morrow naught. Who comprehends the mystery? We
must address ourselves unto another's thought, and lost is then the
hope we formed.

Translation of H.H. Wilson, of Sayana's commentary, is available here (P.90 - 1st mantra in I.23.6)
Can we conclude that Gautama, the Buddha borrowed Śūnyavāda from Rig Veda?


texts: Is there a scriptural basis for Out-of-India hypothesis?

texts:
I heard that Hindus believe that all Vedic-era people originated in Bhārat. Is this a cultural belief or is it from scripture?

The below non-Answers are "arguments against the mainstream theory" rather than Answers to the above question. Upvoting them is dishonest propagandizing.


texts: Do sadhaka aware of siddhi for all mantras?

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Assume that a sadhaka got mantra siddhi for a mantra.

Do sadhaka aware of his siddhi for all mantras in hinduism? or are there  mantras such that sadhaka does't able to decide whether he/she attained siddhi over the mantra?


texts: Arjuna's previous birth was Sage Nara the incarnation of Vishnu. So,this means Arjuna was also an incarnation of Vishnu?

texts: I know that Nara and Narayana were two avatars of Vishnu and their another birth are Arjuna and Krishna. Everyone knows that Krishna was an avatar of Lord Vishnu but Arjuna also? I am asking this question because if Nara was Vishnu,so Arjuna was also Vishnu?


texts: What are the clans of Shakuni, Raja Drupad, & Rani Madri in the Mahabharata?

texts: I know that the Pāṇḍavas were from the Kuru clan (vaṃśá) and Śrī Kṛṣṇa was from the Yadu clan, but from which clans did Shakuni, Raja Drupad, & Rani Madri come?


texts:
I am new to this site and hence wanted to ask a doubt of mine here.I saw a similar thread on this forum but I couldn't get my answer. I wanted to know is somebody out there has the experience which I have described below-

Is there anyone here who prayed God's deity in a temple for some wish and in return took a vow/promise that he/she will do this or that IF God fulfils his/her wish? But after some time he/she fulfilled his vow/promise in advance, before God fulfilled his wish. I mean he fulfilled his part of the deal made to God, in advance before fulfilment of his wish. Will God accept his vow/promise as fulfilled which he fulfilled in advance before his wish got fulfilled?

Let me know if somebody out here did this or has this experience? Or any of their relatives did the same?


texts: Can anyone please provide me the procedure for Narasimha Puja, in English? (Not Lakshmi Narasimha)

texts: Can anyone tell me Narasimha Puja Vidhi for Narasimha Jayanti?


texts: A question regarding the positions of Agni and Sowmya Tirthas on our palms

texts:
A video (unable to find it now) that i watched on Youtube says- On the middle of our right palm resides the Sowmya Tirtha ( related to the Deity Soma). And, on the same place, in our left hand, resides the Agni Tirtha (related to Deity Agni).

The video said that the description given in it is as per the Bhavishya Purana.

Now, there is a difference of opinion it seems. Because, the book Nitya Karma Puja Prakash (Gita Press), says that it's exactly the other way round. That is, it's the Agni Tirtha which is on our right palm and Sowmya Tirtha on the left.

Which of the two descriptions is correct? Can someone verify from the Bhavishya Purana?

NOte- These Tirthas are related to certain Vedic rituals. So, that is the only tag i could find as being apt here.


texts: Clarification on one of Ramana Maharshi's quote is requested

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"The Ordainer controls the fate of souls in accordance with their past deeds - their prarabdha karma. Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try hard how you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to stop it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is for one to be silent."
What does he mean by "be silent"? I'm new to his teachings but they bring me peace. Please explain.


texts:
The Sanskrit word ''mleccha'' is used to describe foreigners. In various Puranas we find verses anti-mleccha verses. One such example is from the Kalki Purana where Lord Kalki is predicted to kill ''mlecchas'':

  adhuna kahkula ndsavatdro bauddha pdsanda mlecchadindnca vedadharma setu panpdlandya krtavatarah kalh mpendsman stntva nirayddudhrta vanasi tavdnukampam kimiha kathaydmah (Kalki Purana Chapter 10 Text 30)
  Meaning: Recently, You appeared as Lord Kalki in order to eliminate the dynasty of Kali by destroying the Buddhists, atheists, and mlecchas,thereby protecting the true path of religion What more can we say about Your causeless mercy.

Now the is the word ''mleccha'' used to describe foreigners. Is Lord Kalki going to eliminate mlecchas? Or is the word in this context used to describe a different set of people as Sanskrit words can have multiple meanings.


texts:
Did Swami Vivekananda ever claim he was self-realized?

Please cite from his works or conversations.


texts: Who gave boon to Vikramaditya to live for 2000 years and why?

texts: It is said that King Vikramaditya lived for exact 2000 years. How did he managed to live so long? was that a boon from some God? or was it a trick?


texts: If we take into consideration the behavior of certain  animals whose intelligence and perception are radically different from our human perspective (e.g. a flatworm , a jellyfish or even an Amoeba) how can this living being accumulate positive or negative Karma, given that we cannot classify their behavior according to our ethical standards. In other words, we cannot say that a jellyfish has behaved in an evil way, even if it has stung us! So, how can these creatures, who seem to act merely  according to their instinct, accumulate positive or negative karma?


texts: Why should a sister get married first before brother in a family? what does hinduism and shastras say about this?

texts: My boyfriend is waiting for his younger sister to get married since they will not allow male kids to marry before sisters get married. what is the reason behind this culture in Hinduism?


texts: Do Sri Vaishnavas believe Vishnu is the direct or indirect sustainer of the body?

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The Rahasyatraya Sara is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan, concerning the meaning of the Rahasya Traya or three secrets of the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I am a member). (One of these secrets is the Dvaya mantra used to surrender to Vishnu, which I discuss here.) In this excerpt from the Rahasyatraya Sara, Vedanta Desikan discusses the philosophy of Visishtadvaita, according to which Jivatmas (individual souls) and matter are part of Vishnu:

  Just as Iswara [Vishnu] is the abode, ashraya or adhara (support) of the attributes which define His essential nature (svarupa viz. Satyam, Jnanam, Anandam, and the like) and of the other qualities possessed by Him with his essential nature so defined (qualities like compassion and accessibility), He is also the inseparable and direct support (ashraya or adhara) of all substances (sentient or non-sentient) other than Himself.  He is also the support, through these substances ((i.e.) indirectly), of the qualities that pertain to them.  There are some who hold that Iswara is the support, through the jivas, of the bodies supported by the jivas.  Some Acharyas say (on the other hand) that both directly by His essential nature and indirectly through the jivas, He is the support of these bodies.

So everyone agrees that the Jivatma or individual soul sustains the body, because the body can't live without the soul.  But the question is how Vishnu sustains the body.  It seems that some believe that Vishnu only sustains the body indirectly, through the Jivatma.  Others believe that in addition to sustaining the body through the Jivatma, Vishnu also sustains the body directly.

My question is, which of these two views does the Sri Vaishnava sect subscribe to?  Is this something that different Sri Vaishnava Acharyas disagree about?  Is this a difference between Thenkalais and Vadakalais, the two main sub-sects of the Sri Vaishnava sect?


texts: How can Garuda eating Nishadas be justified?

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I am currently reading Bibek Debroy's translation of the Mahabharata. In Volume 1, Section 5; Garuda asks his mother what he should eat, and his mother replies,

The nishadas have their excellent home in a remote part of the ocean. Eat thousands of nishadas and bring back the amrita. But never set your mind on killing a Brahmana.

I cannot help but find this disgusting. I am aware the Mahabharata was created over a period of a thousand years, so attitudes towards the nishadas may have changed. I also read how Garuda let a brahmana and his nishada wife escape, so I imagine the attitude towards the nishadas at the time was not genocidal as long as they assimilate. However, I am still disgusted by the fact that Garuda is eating the nishadas in order to satiate his hunger.
If an activist were to point this episode out, how would one defend Hinduism?


texts:
In Mahabharata, Yudhisthira was true of character in all his life, except when he obeyed krishna's word.

Why Yudhisthira went to hell?
    Will a true/good person be tested until he follows untruth?
    Will a good person be punished until his death?
    If yes, why one has to follow truth- to fall in hell? even duriyodhana was in heaven at the time Yudhisthira was in hell.


texts: Ramayana and Mahabharata in immediate yuga or after 3 cycles

texts:
Please pardon me for creating this duplicate topic,

as I am confused with the answer already given on this topic

Did the Mahabharata and the Ramayana happen in the current Yuga cycle in the current Manvantara?

Please help me out in understanding this, If you believe I am breaking the forum rules please close this topic.

So in the above topic it is mentioned that ramayana was in 24th treta yugam and then comes 24th Dwapara yugam ,but Mahabarata actually took place in 28th Dwapara yugam.

So this means that mahabharata actually took place after 3 cycles of  4 yugams ?

Also if this is true, was there ramayana repeated in the 28th cycle too ?

Please help in understanding this ?

Also what is the current yugam cycle going on (it is 28th in above answer means if ramayana was repeated in 28th we are immediate in ramayana-28,mahabharata-28 and kaliyuga-28)?


texts: Is there any method to clear Bramhahatya(Killing a Bramhana) Sin other than Ashwamedha Yagna?. Since Ashwamedha Involves being king and sacrificing horse which is violent method, and must be avoided if we can.


texts: What led to the downfall of Kingdom of Ayodhya?

texts:
Ram ruled Ayodhya for 11000 years and then left his mortal abode.
What happened to Ayodhya post Ram's demise and what led to its ultimate abandon as King Vikramaditya found Ayodhya in an abandoned state.
Is there any English book that discusses this topic?


texts: Why did Shivaji not ban the Sati custom altogether in his kingdom, whereas he stopped his mother from doing so?

texts: It is said that When Shahaji died, Jijabai tried to commit sati - committing suicide by burning oneself in the husband's pyre, but Shivaji stopped her from doing so by his request. Why did he not ban the Sati custom altogether in his kingdom?


texts: What is the story of Lord Rama's departure?

texts: I have heard Lord Rama left his physical body and went to vaikunta. So, what is the story of Lord Rama's departure?


texts: Did a devotee curse Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone?

texts:
Lord Vishnu received a curse from one of His most loyal devotees. The curse turned Him into a stone.

Who is he/she? What is the reason for Cursing God?
Do any Scriptures mention this Curse?


texts: What is Kaarthika masam? who should follow it?

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Most Hindu people follow Kaarthika masam in which the women keep fasts whole masam (month) and eat at nights. This happens in my home as well. Whole month nobody should eat non-veg in home (can eat outside). To me this seems a bit weird as to this is followed only by women (my mother follows it) and nobody else in the family living in that same home.

Can someone please tell me background/story of Kaarthika masam and who should follow it and what exactly need to do in that whole month?

My family is Kshatriyas and we live like Brahmins (only veg) whole month. I want my mother not to follow this ritual/tradition because she fast whole month.


texts: Does god appear in visible form to eyes while granting boon?

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There are numerous incidents in scriptures where God or goddesses appear to a devotee after performing penance (tapasya) on the name of that particular God or particular goddesses inorder to ask for the wish.

Does God  appear to them in visible form to their eyes or appears in yogic state (experience) or any other way?


texts: Is it sin to sleep with a prostitute before marriage being a shudra?

texts: Being a shudra, I'm eager to know whether sleeping with a prostitute is considered as a sinful act in hinduism.


texts:
Ambaṣṭha, Niṣāda, Pārośora, Ugra, Sūta, Māgadha, Vaideha, Āyogava, Kṣattṛ, Caṇḍāla, Āvṛta, Ābhīra, Dhigvaṇa, Pukkasa, Kukkaṭaka, Śvapāka, Veṇa

Manusmriti (10.5) onwards gives names of mixed varna children and says they are out of varna system. As I know, out of Varna system is opressed people, unpure, etc.

Can the above castes/categories/groups enter the Varna system or they are destined to be untochables and deplorables their whole lives?

I have looked a lot, cant find it.


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There are revelation (such as hymns, stotras, etc.) even in the scriptures other than Vedas yet they ain't part of Vedas. It makes me wonder

What is its etymology or definition of Veda?
What is a criteria by which a particular revelation can be considered a part of Veda?
What is the eligibility criteria(s) by which one could become a Vedic seer?

It's quite well-known fact that the word Veda connotes Knowledge, but of what? All subject fields are knowledge only. What field isn't related to knowledge? Veda being just "to know" or "knowledge" is too vogue. I'm looking for specific & unambiguous explanation of its etymology with its scope knowing which it could be well ascertained whether a particular revelation can be considered a part of Veda? Once it's known, I would also like to know who all can have an authority to put forth Vedic hymns. i.e, who all have eligibility to bring about Vedic hymns?


texts:
Dasharatha killed a brahmin (unintentionally) and didn't leave his kingdom for forest.

Pandu killed brahmin and left kingdom.

Rama killed Ravana, a brahmin, and didn't do anything as parihara.

What are the parihara for sins of brahmin killing?
Why the are different ways it's done by Dasharatha, Pandu, Rama...?


texts: What is the story of Vishwakarma creating the Saunanda mace used by Balrama?

texts:
The Markandeya Puran Section 1.11.5 mentions the following story:

  There lives a highly powerful and fierce Danava in Rasatala. He makes the earth yawn and therefore he is called Kujrimbha. Whatever wonder is there on earth or in heaven that is his work. How is it that you do not know him? That vicious-minded one stole away the mace Sunanda which was formerly made by the celestial Architect. He kills his enemies in battle with it. Living in Patala he rives the earth with it and accordingly creates a door for all the Asuras. Now he has riven the earth with that mace Sunanda. How will you enjoy this earth without having killed him? This dreadful and powerful (demon) spoils sacrifices, distresses the gods and welcomes the demons. He has this mace for his weapon. If you can slay that enemy living at the furtherest end of Patala then will you be the lord of the entire earth and the great god. The mace of that powerful one is spoken of by people as Sounanda; O king, intelligent men call it Balavala. O king, when touched by a female that mace grows powerless. On the second day it again grows powerful.

Furthermore the text states:

  After the death of Kujrimbha, the king of the serpents, Ananta, designated Sesha, took up that mace.

So presumably, this was the mace used by Sheshnaga in his incarnation of Balrama? I want to know if there is some back story to the construction of the mace given in any other scripture - Was it actually created by Vishwakarma & if so how and when did the demon steal it?


texts: Do scriptures say anything about dead spirits or ghosts changing into beasts?

texts: I am wondering if scriptures say anything about dead human spirits or ghosts changing into something else after death, or after being dead awhile?


texts: Why is Rama called 'Ramachandra' when he is from the solar dynasty and 'Chandra' is a name for the moon?


texts: Does Goloka have any scriptural interpretation in yoga parlance?

texts:
Goloka is a place where Radha and Krishna reside. It is mentioned across many scriptures.

Is there any interpretation of Goloka in yoga?


texts: I was just watching a movie about sai baba and the showed that Meera bai(Shree Krishna Devotee) met sai baba when he was at shirdi . Is this true and how old is this history?  Is this during the time where technology had already evolved well that history could be well documented?


texts:
We have seen ancient sages of India bore  multiple titles like Brahmarshi,  Maharishi, Rajarshi and Devarishi.
Quick internet search resulted in as:

Brahmarshi - a sage who has understood the meaning of Brahman(Brahmajnana)
Maharishi - A great sage
Rajarshi  - Royal saint
Devarishi - Celestial sage(like Narada)

I have seen the example of vishvamitra transcending from  king->rajarshi->rishi->maharshi->brahmarshi.

The text merely quotes penance of thousand years before stepping up to new title.

I wanted to know, what exactly make anyone qualify their titles?

What is line of demarcation, where one would transform from type of rishi to another?

There is a similar question over here, but doesn't have much description .

What are different types of Rishis?


texts: What does it mean when it's said that an entire Vedic Sukta was revealed to the Saptarishis?

texts:
From Wiki:

  The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana
  2.218-221: Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vasistha and Vishvamitra followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly
  different list: Gautama and Bharadvaja, Visvamitra and Jamadagni,
  Vasistha and Kashyapa and Atri, Bhrigu. The late Gopatha Brahmana
  1.2.8 has Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya, Bhrigu and Kashyapa.

The word Sapta Rishi therefore refers to a group of seven sages.

While checking I found out that there are entire Rig Vedic Suktas that were revealed to them.

For example, Rig Veda Mandala 9 Sukta 107 and Rig Veda Mandala 10 Sukta 137, both have Sapta Rshayah as the Seer (Rishi).

Now, what does this mean? I mean Mantras and Suktas having one Rishi as the Seer is understandable but simultaneously seven sages were the Mantra Drashta?

Does it mean that all the Mantras of these two Suktas were revealed simultaneously to all the seven sages? Or each Mantra of the Suktas has one among the seven sages or the other as their Seers? Or something else?


texts: Are Yazidis of Iraq related to Hinduism?

texts:
I saw a video on youtube and read about Yazidis:

  The Yazidis are monotheists,believing in God as creator of the world,
  which he has placed under the care of seven holy beings or angels, the
  chief of whom is Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel. The Peacock Angel, as
  world-ruler, causes both good and bad to befall individuals, and this
  ambivalent character is reflected in myths of his own temporary fall
  from God's favor, before his remorseful tears extinguished the fires
  of his hellish prison and he was reconciled with God.

The purity of Earth, Air, Fire and Water is protected by a number of taboos, e.g. against spitting on earth, water or fire.
Their children are baptised at birth and circumcision is not required, but is practised by some due to regional customs.
Their temples have domes like we have in Hinduism.

My question: Is this peacock angel Kartikeya? Are they related to Hinduism in some way, probably migrated there? How come a peacock reached a deserted region?


texts: Have there been any non-Vedantic commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita?

texts:
The Bhagavad Gita is considered one of the key principal text in the Vedanta school along with the Mukhya Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras. There have been many commentators on the text by members of the Vedanta school such as Ramanujacharya and Adi-Shankaracharya.

But what I'm interested to know is whether any members of other philosophical schools i.e. schools other than the Vedanta school, such as the Yoga school, have written any commentary on the text? One non-Vedantic commentator I know of is the Acharya Abhinavagupta, belonging to the Trika sect. Are there any other non-Vedantic commentaries other than Acharya Abhinavagupta's?


texts: What is the purpose of life? Is it all about being happy or being useful to others?

texts: I mean come on, we are born and we die. So what is the purpose of life?


texts: could you please translate the following hymn? and also where is it in veda?

texts:
शतधा रमुत्समक्षी जमानम विपस्थितम वितारम वक्वानाम |
हेलिम्दनतम वित्रो रुपस्थेतम्रो जतिपिप्रतम सत्यवाचम ||

sorry for the spelling mistakes.


texts:
Just want to ask simple clear things.

In Hinduism, we have lots of life stories for all gods, whether it's Rama, or Krishna, or Vishnu or even Mahadev.

like we know

Birth of Gajanand
Race between Kartikeya with Ganapati
Who is bigger among all tridev.

or many more, countless.

I know that they are written in vaidic yug by our enchanters like Ved vayas or tulsidas or from four vedas.

My question :

Where are our gods now?
What are they doing now, at present time?

  because I know that our gods are immortal, and as they are immortal, they are somewhere and doing something....

I don't want exact answer, just asking if this is written somewhere...


texts: What is the reason behind closing the village/street/agrahara temple in case of a death in the nearby area?

texts:
I have seen this several times, that temples are closed if there is a death in the houses in the vicinity. To clarify, vicinity has a variable scope here; sometimes it's a street, sometimes an agrahara or maybe a small village.

What is the reason for the closure? Which dharmasastras and/or agamas give more details on it?


texts:
Sun is a star nearer to us.
I heard that Vedas do mention that there are multiple stars in the universe. But don't know the name of Veda and other details.
Which Veda mentions that there are multiple number of stars (suns) in this universe?


texts: Is it allowed to use milk of a non-Indian breed cows in my vrata?

texts:
There are several vratas in Hinduism that involves cow milk.
If I want to do a vrat that needs cow milk then is it mandatory that I need to use the milk of a cow that is of Indian breed?
Now-a-days there is a lot of availability of milk from cows of non-indian breeds such as jersey. Am I allowed to use them for performing my vrat?


texts: Puranic reference for "Krishna is a tiny part of Lord Vishnu"

texts:
Some consider Krishna to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu but others worship him as the supreme godhead.

I read once in Vishnu Purana that Krishna is 'a very tiny part of Lord Vishnu.'

Does anyone know where this is said in the Vishnu Purana or other Hindu scripture?


texts:
I know very little about Hinduism but was advised, based on doing a bit of research, to read the Mahabharata as a starting point.

I picked up the Penguin Classics version (approximately 900 pages) and I'm only about 20 pages in and feeling very confused.

There are so many names, historical places, customs and traditions already mentioned that I am having to research something every single line to understand as the Mahabharata isn't really self-contained.

Can anyone offer me advice on how to approach the book and perhaps what I should already know before going into reading it and perhaps any prior materials that I should study?


texts:
In any scripture, are there any records of climate change? Example with Solutions?

Energy always transforms from one to another. I am looking for such examples where energy has been transformed or stored. Looking for current situations where can we store energy except Rudraksha and idols? I am looking for new form of energy such as birth of Mars and saturn, whose birth not only restored positivity but also gave a new types of planets.


texts:
I want to know what is Swecchachara.
What are the restrictions in the freedom?
Please give examples on what is Swecchachara


texts: when hiranyaksha dipped earth in water (ocean) how to know that ocean existed out of ocean. actually out of earth there is no ocean

texts: Hiranyaksha how can he hide earth in ocean, when there is no water out of earth. in galaxy there is no water. how can he hide earth in ocean?


texts: Where does the Advaitin commentator Anandagiri discuss the authenticity of Hindu stories?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa that summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads. (You can read the Brahma Sutras here.) But the Vedanta school didn't always have the dominant position in Hindu philosophy; before the time of Adi Shankaracharya the dominant school of Hindu philosophy was the Purva Mimamsa school, which I discuss here. In contrast to the Vedanta school which is devoted to analyzing the Jnana Kanda of the Vedas, i.e. the Upanishads, Purva Mimamsa focused on analyzing the Karma Kanda of the Vedas, i.e. the Samhitas and Brahmanas.

Now the Manameyodaya is a Purva Mimamsa work by Narayana Bhattar, a mathematician, philosopher, and poet who is most famous for the Narayaneeyam, a poem summarizing the Srimad Bhagavatam.  In any case, in this excerpt from the Manameyodaya, Narayana Bhattar discusses the question of whether Hindu stories, like the stories of Rama and Krishna, really happened or not.  Now most Mimamsakas believed that the stories given in Hindu scripture are mere Arthavada, statements designed to glorify actions, particularly the performance of Yagnas.  But given that Narayana Bhattar was a great devotee of Krishna, he argues that Hindu stories are true:

  What is called Tradition is said to be a statement depending on common talk; for example "Vaishravana [Kubera] sits on every banyan tree".  This is recognized to be not a means of valid knowledge, since, as a general rule, it has no foundation.  Now if it be so, then, indeed, how do you take the story of Krishna, Rama etc.?  Not so, because like the Codes, they can have a foundation, being well-known to be the words of reliable persons; and because there is no opposition to other valid means of knowledge, such things are certainly Authority.  Further, the authenticity of the story of Krishna etc. has been firmly established by the author of the Nyayanirnaya in establishing the superiority of the Purusha.

I'm interested in the part in bold.  The only work I know of called "the Nyayanirnaya" is Anandagiri's Nyaya Nirnaya, which is Anandagiri's subcommentary on Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya.  So my question is, where in that work does Anandagiri establish the authenticity of Hindu stories?

As far as I know Anandagiri's Nyaya Nirnaya has never been translated into English, but you can read it here in Sanskrit. I can't read Devanagari script, but even if I could I'm not sure it would make much of a difference; Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya is already quite long, so Anandagiri's commentary is presumably be even long.  So it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, since Narayana Bhattar doesn't specify a chapter number, he just says that Anandagiri discusses it "in establishing the superiority of the Purusha".

But I'm not sure what part of Adi Shankaracharya's Brahma Sutra Bhashya would be most relevant to "the superiority of the Purusha."  In any case, has anyone read Anandagiri's commentary, and if so what is the argument he presents regarding the authenticity of Hindu stories?


texts: Orthodoxy in Christianity is the holding to the oldest beliefs.  It is of course impossible for the religion not to evolve at all as new questions and there answer have to addressed. The "Orthodox" version is often considered to be the least evolved sect of a religion.  Does the concept of Orthodox apply in Hinduism?


texts: Who is the greatest personality for an individual?

texts:
I know God is not the greatest for an individual. There are some other persons who are even greater than God Himself like: Guru, Father and Mother. All three are considered greater than God.

As per my knowledge which I learned from TV serial Devo ke Dev Mahadev. In one of its episode when Shiva first meets Ganesha then He asks Ganesh that What you know about importance of Father and Mother. Then Shree Ganesh replied, my Mother told me that 3 persons matter the most in life. They are Guru, Father and Mother. Guru is greater than God Himself because God gives us life but Guru is the one who makes this life meaningful by educating us.

[ As per my understanding by these wordings, it's same as the mother who raises us is greater than the mother who gives birth to us. Here God gives birth but Guru helps us to raise our knowledge so that we can make this life successful. So Guru is greater than God. ]

But, As per the serial: Father is even greater than Guru. One father is consider as equal to 100 Gurus. But Mother's place is even higher than Father, Even greatness of 100 fathers can't match the greatness of single Mother. Hence Mother is greater than all.

So this was Shree Ganesh's reply to Mahadev's question. As per this message, no one is greater than mother. And no service (seva) is greater than Mother's service (seva). That's why it is used to say that heaven is situated in mother's feet. This means one can easily get heaven if he gives his services to Mother's feet.

But one said to me that as per shastras, Guru is greater than all. This message of him is directly conflicting with my understanding.

So who is the greatest? A Mother Or A Guru?

  UPDATE

I am getting some different kind of answer. So let me ask with an example.

As per Great Saint Kabir....

  गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
  बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय।।

Means If Guru and Lord both is standing in front of you then whose feet you will touch first? In that case as per Saint Kabir, we must do pranam to Guru first, after Guru we should bow in front of lord. And What I am asking is, If Mother and Guru is standing in front of you then one should do pranam to whom first? What you suggest on this?


texts: What is the concept of God according to Nyaya school of thought in Hinduism?

texts:
Nyaya school of thought is a theistic School of Thought within Hinduism.
They believe that God revealed the Vedas.
So what is the concept of God according to Nyaya ? And how it is different from the Vedanta schools?


texts:
If God is a force of good then why is there so much suffering in this world?

I thought I had understood the answer to this question after watching this video. Basically it says that if we conceptualize God as a principle, i.e. Brahman as a cosmic principle, then we can accept that the nature of universe is like this. In the same way we do not blame gravity for bringing objects to the earth, we cannot blame Brahman for the suffering in this world.

However, my problem with this answer is this. I learnt yesterday that in the Aitareya Upanishad it says Prajnanam Brahma, commonly translated as "Brahman is conciousness".

So how can an entity with conciousness equate to a principle? Does it not imply that there is some intelligence behind the suffering we see today?


texts: About the mind's eye and the third eye in Hinduism

texts:
How are the Third eye and the Mind's eye "defined" in Hinduism?
In particular, according to Hinduism, are these separate concepts or one?
According to Hinduism, do only particular individuals have the third eye open or does everyone?
If it is possible for it to be closed then, according to Hinduism, can it be opened by practice?
Are there different answers to these question within Hinduism?

Please avoid new-age related answers!


texts:
I heard, more progress towards spiritual life or penance will result in more light coming out from body (like God's body, not as much light as God has but still some) means, more we do penance, more our body will start shining with light.

I heard of an incident when Raama did visit Sage Agastya's hermitage during Vanwaasa, then light came from his body and that light was spread in a very large area that the light can be visible even from outside of hermitage.

So is this true that penance makes body source of light? If yes then what kind of light is it? Defiantly, not like Sun's shine because light of Sun contains heat. But body light don't contains heat.


texts:
I recently got interested in vastu. I know something related to sun being there in the East but what about the other directions.
Also I learnt that adding a new built room is not good without puja. what is the reason behind this ?
pls answer the second one


texts:
Why does in Mahabharata Samba Parva (chapter 42 verse 15) Krishna says Shispula didn't obtain Rukmini like a Shudra not obtain Vedas? Does this imply that Shudras are forbidden from the knowledge of  Vedas?
The verse is

रुक्मिण्याम अस्य मूढस्य परार्थनासीन मुमूर्षतः
 न च तां पराप्तवान मूढः शूद्रॊ वेदश्रुतिं यथा

The translation given is as follows

Desirous of speedy death, this fool had desired Rukmini. But the fool obtained her not, like a Sudra failing to obtain the audition of the Vedas.

source: Sacred texts


texts: Sanskrit verses & English translations of references of Rama and Krishna from the Primary Vedas

texts: This blog gives lot of references of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna from the primary Vedas, at many places only verse number is mentioned. Can someone provide the full verse and their English translations.


texts: Why did Lord Balarama not took a participation at any side of in the Kurukshetra Battle in Mahabharata?

texts: Lord Krishna fought on the behalf of Pandavas and his army fought on behalf of Kauravas. But why Lord Balarama did not fight on behalf of any side?


texts: What were the different endings of Ramayana and Mahabharata witnessed by KakaBhusudi?

texts:
Back Story :- I posted this on a subreddit Hinduism about a month ago. And my question is from a response that I got

The Story (you should give it a read):

Title :- I found something fascinating in Ramayan that I didn't knew yet. Death of Ram mentions time loop.*

After death of Sita, Ram was devastated and he knew now it was his time to leave this world , but he also knew that up and until Hanuman is alive Yamraj (god of death and righteousness) cannot come to him as Hanuman will stop him.

So he played a trick once he took out his ring and threw it in a crack on ground and asked Hanuman to get it. When Hanuman got into the crack he got to know that it was a way to nag lok (abode of serpents) where he met Vasuki (king of serpents) and told about his mission. then Vasuki led him towards the mountain of rings.

Hanuman did not even waste a second and rushed to the mountain. He picked up the first ring. He was amused to find the original ring in the very first go. He again picked another ring. To his surprise, even that ring was original. He was now confused. He looked at Vasuki in confusion.

“Don’t worry, child. I will explain it to you. but first let me tell you a story” Vasuki calmly spoke.

“There are four yugas and the world keeps on cycling. In the second quarter or treta yuga Rama takes birth, then one day his ring falls into the land of serpents and a monkey comes to take that ring back, and I will tell him the same story. And until then, Rama dies.

The mountain of rings indicates the number of times this repeated. Each time this cycle repeat, a ring is added to the mountain”

Hanuman realizes that he had stuck in the time loop.

Ram’s death gives us a sense of cyclic pattern of time depicted in hinduism.

The comment I got was this :-

  Well time loop is the wrong way to put it. Not incorrect because there is an element of truth to it but wrong way to put it. This demonstrates the cyclic nature of universe. Time and space are an illusion here and part of achieving moksha is to understand, not know but understand this.

  Let me give you another mind bending anecdote to explain this. There is a being called kak bishundhi in Vishnu Purana who is the teacher of Garuda the mount of Lord Vishnu. An ardent devotee of Lord Rama, he got a boon from Lord Vishnu to exists beyond Time and Space. Why? Because he wanted to observe Ramayana again and again, so he could have Darshan of Lord Rama and his deeds. He has till now observed 7 different endings to Ramayana and 11 different endings to Mahabharata war.

  Theologically Ramayana and Mahabharata are events that not only serve a purpose but also are a must in a progression of idea. We cannot avoid both of them just delay it. It must and will happen. But our conduct among these events is something we can control and we can control how this ends.

This means that the rings there in naaga lok are a small substratum of how Ramayana ended. There are other endings where it didn't happen.

So, What were the different endings witnessed by KakaBhusudi ? I know similar question has been asked previously here, but it hasn't been answered yet and the comment link mentioned in the question leads to description of KakaBhusundi not the endings.

Edit :- I have specifically mentioned that neither the question( which was said to be duplicate of my question)  nor the question mentioned in the comment of that question, answer my question. The answer which this question refers to has explained who was Kak Bhusundi not the endings


texts:
I'd like to know how Vedas explain eclipses and what they say about eclipses.

How doe eclipses occur according to Vedas?

What do Vedas say about Eclipses in general?

Are eclipses considered inaspicious in Vedas?

Please cite the sources.


texts:
What is the more appropriate English word to be used when we talk about Ramayana, Mahabharata, or puranas and other scriptures?  The use of the word "mythology" is quite common but I hear that "itihasa" is the more appropriate term.  In that case, in what contexts would "mythology" be an appropriate term?

Can someone throw some light on this?


texts: In Hindu mythology why all eight immortals are male?

texts:
According to Hindu mythology, Why we consider all immortals count only 8 with no female and few other characters not included? Did any Hindu scriptures mentioned the reasons, why?
I found an Article, it mention few other characters who are immortal in Hindu mythology but who do not make it to the list. For example, Muchukunda, the son of Mandhata, who slept so long in a cave after a war, that when he opened his eyes, his first glance was so fiery that it set aflame the man who had rudely interrupted his sleep. There is Kalyavana, destroyer of Mathura, enemy of Krishna. Or Jambavan, the bear who served in Ram’s army and helped in the rescue of Sita. Or Banasura, the father of Usha, who was defeated by Krishna, but blessed by Shiva.
If they are immortals, why we are not consider them as an immortals?


texts: Any online link for sri vidya related strotra (bala, lalita etc) with english meaning?

texts: Is there any site which has sri vidya related strotras with english meanings also. Some places have sanskrit text but no meanings.


texts: Who compiled Pandava Gita and what is the earliest reference to it?

texts:
Pandava Gita is a stotra or a hymn dedicated to Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu. There are 76 verses sung by many including Lord Brahma, sages, Indra, Vaishampayana, Pandavas, Draupadi and also Duryodhana, Karna, Gandhari etc., praising or worshipping Lord Krishna.

All these verses are taken from different situations sung by different people, rishis, Devatas.

On Hindupedia.com, there is a note added by translator P.R Ramchander while translating this stotra.

  Here is an anthology of mellifluous quotations drenched in devotion, in which many characters of the epic Mahabharatha figure as authors. Most of these prayers are not there in the Mahabharatha epic. The existence of such an anthology is mentioned in the Bruhath Stotra Sagara. . Two versions of the Pandava Gita were available to me. One of them is from
  Shri Chitrapur Math, Shirali (Karnataka ) (http://mahabharata-resources.org/)
  and the other is a publication by Swarnapuri publication from Tamil Nadu, in which it is told that the text has been collected from Andhra Pradesh. While the Chithrapur collection has 82 slokas including Phala Sruthi, the swarnapuri collection has 91 slokas.
  While Six slokas of Chithrapur collection does not find their place in the Swarnapuri collection, 15 slokas of the Swarnapuri collection do not find their place in the Karnataka collection. The translations and transliterations in simple roman script are mine own and I acknowledge my gratefulness to the Chithrapur collection and the Swarnapuri collection.)

This English translation of Pandava Gita is the version of Chitrapuri math the translator is talking about in the note.

As said by him in the note, many shlokas are not found in the Mahabharata. They could be in other Puranas too. This suggests that it is a collection of verses and compiled later by some person. As there are mentions of Pandavas and Kauravas in it, it is a post Mahabharata text.

My question is who composed Pandava Gita into current form? What is the earliest reference to it by anyone?


texts:
I seen an article at following url it says all god have live span including Vishnu, Shiva and Par Brahm (Akshar Purush)

Is there any evidence in Hindu books that Shiva and Vishnu also go through birth and death?

And is there any supreme in Hinduism who exist forever and create Shiva and Vishnu?

http://www.jagatgururampalji.org/gyan-ganga-river-of-knowledge/what-is-the-age-of-brahma-vishnu-shiva-brahm-kaal-par-brahm/


texts: Is there a meditation on nimitta or animitta?

texts: In hindu tradition, is there a meditation technique devoted to nimitta or animitta? Nimitta meaning indication. Animitta means no-indication.


texts: Is Rajiv Malhotra right in saying concepts of papa, atma, etc have no equivalent in other religions

texts:
I was watching some video of Rajiv Malhotra, in it he said that Hindu concepts of Papa, Punya, Atma, etc are not same as soul, sin found in non-Hindu religions.

In English translations of Hindu scriptures, a Sanskrit word like papa or atma is translated as sin and soul, but the experiential network behind the meaning of those words might be completely different than the English words.

How appropriate is it to accuse or hold someone of having committed sin in Hinduism? When what we might call papa had completely different reasons than what the word sin means.


texts: Do Sankhya and Yoga differ on number of Purushas?

texts: Does the Yoga system, unlike the Sankhya, admit to only one purusa?


texts: Where does Krishna criticize Arjuna's indifference to Draupadi's disrobing?

texts:
The Sri Vaishnava sect has two sub-sects, Thenkalai and Vadakalai. Vadakalais follow the teachings of Vedanta Desikan, whereas Thenkalais follow the teachings of Pillai Lokacharya. My question is about Pillai Lokacharya.  In his verses 19-20 of his Sri Vachana Bhushanam, Pillai Lokacharya discusses how Sharanagati or complete surrender to Vishnu is not affected by the defects of the person surrendering.  He cites the example of Arjuna, whom Krishna helped despite all of Arjuna's defects:

  The defects of Arjuna, the sustainer of Krishna, the "intimate friend of Keshava", foremost of believers, Lord of conquerors of the senses, were, for example, compassion for and attachment to relatives and fear of killing them.  In the opinion of Krishna, the main defect of Arjuna was the fact that he was indifferent to the insult of Draupadi.

I'm interested in the part in bold.  My question is, where does Krishna criticize Arjuna's indifference to the disrobing of Draupadi?  Is it mentioned in the Mahabharata?

Or is this an unexpressed thought that Krishna had in his head?


texts:
Once upon a time, a saint asked this question to Lord Shiva:

"Who is your father, Lord?". Lord Shiva replied that Brahma is his father. So who is the mother?

“Who is your grandfather?” .Then the saint went on to ask who is your grandfather. Lord Shiva replied that Vishnu is my grandfather.

“Who is your great-grandfather?” . The saint further queries as to who is the great-grandfather. Lord Shiva stuns him by saying that I am my great-grandfather.
So here is my question who is the mother of Lord Shiva?  and I heard another story "Lord Shiva emerged from the pillar" is it real?


texts: How did Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya leave His physical body?

texts: We do not get any information about Sri Chaitanya's leaving of the physical body at the end of His Divine Play. There are different descriptions of merging with Jagannathdeva and with Tota Gopinath. What is the most authentic description of His leaving the physical form? Please reply citing proper source.


texts:
In shiva gita, there is a sloka explictly stating that the vedas are to be read only after the vratabandha/upanayana , sorry I couldn't find the exact sloka to quote but, I remember very clearly that Lord Shiva explicitly and very clearly mentions this.
So, by vedas, did lord shiva mean only the Rig, yajur, sama, atharva , or everything including the derivatives like the scriptures, geetas, upanishads, purans etc? Because their origins are the vedas in turn.  Any insight or slokas clarifying this?


texts: difference in relationship between a human mother and the divine mother

texts:
I'd really like shlokas from scriptural sources to verify your ideas. And as the question states, what is the difference in relationship that a son has with his mothers, his human mother and his divine mother. Just to not get me wrong I know the relationship itself is divine, but I'm just pointing out the divine mother to be maa adishakti, one who is mother of all mothers.

I do have some points already noted, the divine mother is not tied to worldly bonds and hence might be free from any aspiration, expectations with her son, and she is equal and justice to everyone and not just her any one son These types of differences are qualitative differences. Another type of difference is a boundary difference which is in how we interact with our mothers and are blessed with their care, love and nurture. There might be other types of differences.

I am not asking what is the difference between the two mothers as one is just a smaller part of the divine, what I am asking is the differences and types of differences that exist in the relationship we have with our two mothers.


texts: What are the spiritual benefits of worshipping goddess Gouri?

texts:
As goddess Gouri is connected to feminine aspects of brain (emotions, love, devotion etc). Will worshipping goddess Gouri helps us to ( helps mean being lubricant or catalyst )  make us femininely strong, i.e emotionally strong?
Also, As Lord Shiva is connected to intellect/masculinity, goddess Gouri is connected to mind (manas)/feminine so will it help to control mind as well?


texts: As we all know about Babruvahana, the son of Arjuna from Chitrangada. I want to know why he did not took part in Mahabharata War(Kurukshetra). On researching, I just got one answer that Chitrangada did not allow him. But I want to know more about this. Does any one here have any specific good reasons?


texts: Why did krishna chaitanya criticise his own sanyasa sampradaya?

texts:
From another post we came to know that krishna chaitanya had taken sanyasa from dashanami sampradaya of sankaracharya.

However, why would someone join a sampradaya to which he is opposed to ?

Caitanya has severely criticised.sankara advaita as maayaavaada.

Now why would he take up initiation in something which he feels is false doctrine?

I think he also joined madhwa line and took sanyasa from.sankara line and then came.up.with something new called acintya bheda abheda.

Further it is considered as a big sin if one talks against the masters of own tradition which is called as guru droha.

So does this not come close to guru droha ?


texts: Jyotisha - Relation between Pancha Mahabhuta and Rashi

texts: What is the relationship between Pancha Mahabhuta and Rashi in Jyotisha?


texts: Is mleccha entirely different from Hindu classification?

texts:
According to the varna system, there are four varnas of human

1) Brahman

2) Kshetriya

3) Vaisya

4) Sudra

A person if does not fall under any one of the four is Candala

Then is mleccha classification different from all the above or does a mleccha person falls into one of the five categories of human mentioned above?


texts: In medieval era debates, was calling your opponent's source "Tamasic" a debating tactic?

texts: One reads about late medieval debates in which one side would cite Puranic material.  Are there instances when the opponents called it "Tamasic" to refute it?


texts: Significance of lizard falls on our Human Body

texts:
One of the major things that Lizard falls on our part of human body and its predict our destiny?

There is any hopeful source said as truth like in Puranas or in Panjangams?


texts: Is there a shrAddha ceremony as per agama? (if any)

texts:
We very well know about the shrAddha ceremony in our tradition which is done for the pitr/manes. It is towards their departed souls. Every year it is done during the pitru paksha.

However, apart from the traditional way of doing shrAddha is there a agamic/tantric way too?

if yes

how is it different from the usually prevalent procedure?


texts: Has Adi Shankaracharya quoted Baudhayana Vritti in his commentary on Brahma Sutras?

texts:
While reading biography of Ramanujacharya, I came to find that Baudhayana, who is known as Vrittikara, wrote a commentary on Vedavyasa's Brahma Sutra. In the time of Ramanujacharya, this work of Bodhayana is not easily available. He tried to get the copy of Bodhayana Vritti in whole country and finally he found that it's only available and preserved in the library at Kashmir. Ramanujacharya wrote Bhashya on Vedanta Sutra on the basis of (or taking the reference from) Bodhayana Vritti as described in the biography of Ramanujacharya.

Now I think that if it's very difficult to get Bodhayana Vritti in time of Ramanujacharya then it would be quite possible that it would be easily available in the time of Adi Shankaracharya. So, he might be aware about this work of Bodhayana and possibly he had quoted in his Bhashya on Brahma Sutra.

So, I want to know whether Adi Shankaracharya has quoted Bodhayana Vritti in his Bhashya on Brahma Sutra? If yes, then I would more like to know whether he quoted as Purvapaksha (in disagreement) or as Siddhanti (in agreement)?


texts: Are Tibet and Bhutan mentioned in Hindu texts?

texts:
The Wikipedia article Hinduism in Bhutan says,

  Approximately one-quarter of the population of Bhutan is ethnic Lhotshampa who live mainly in the south and practice Hinduism. The Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakta, Ganapathi, Puranic, and Vedic schools are represented among Hindus.

Are the lands of Tibet & Bhutan mentioned in our texts? What were the ancient names of these two countries?


texts: To which caste do people from the Vishwakarma community belong?

texts:
I belong to the Vishwakarma community and am not able to decide on the caste (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra) I belong.

As per my knowledge and learning, even the Vedas, Manusmriti and other granthas are not unanimous on this.

Is there any authentic verdict on this issue?


texts: Why Cow is considered as GOD in Hinduism?

texts: I want to know the reason why Cow is considered as GOD in Hinduism?


texts: Why is Lord Shiva identified as Mahadeva?

texts: "Mahadeva", by definition means "The Supreme/Great God". In traditional Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva have an equal standing as Preserver and Destroyer respectively which maintain the cosmic balance. Judging by their roles and standing, I would have assumed that both of them would hold the title and yet when the title is used, it is invariably for Lord Shiva. Is there a reason for why only Lord Shiva is called the Mahadeva and not Lord Vishnu ?


texts: According to Vishnu Puran, Vishnu created Shiva and according to Shiva Purana it's vice versa. What's the truth?

texts: According to Vishnu Puran, Lord Vishnu created Lord Shiva and according to Shiva Purana it's vice versa. In Devi Bhagavata Purana, Adi Shakti created both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. So, what is the actual truth?


texts: Why did Lord Shiva never take birth in human form as Lord Vishnu has?

texts:
Over the 3 yugas that have passed, we have seen Lord Vishnu take birth in human form (as Ram, Krishna etc.).
We all know how Kalyug is going to end - with the bad being wiped out from this world by Kalki (10th avatar of Lord Vishnu). As Lord Shiva is considered as the destroyer, why won't he manifest in human form and carry out this task?


texts: Ganapati (atharvasirsha) upanisad - exactly where does it occur in the Atharva Veda?

texts:
As most of the users may be aware, there is a Upanisad called GanapatyatarvasIrsha Upanisad, which is also known as Ganapati Upanisad. The upanisad can be found here in the Sanskrit documents collection.
My question is where in the Atharva Veda does it occur? Which recension, chapter, and sukta?
There are many Upanisads that are associated with (or attributed to) one of the four Vedas but not traced into the recensions that are extant today. I am not sure if Ganapati Upanisad is one such Upanisad, so wanted to check if others have the reference.
Any pointers would be appreciated.


texts: What is meaning of Sarvabhuteshu (सर्वभूतेषु )

texts:
In Devi Suktam, word (sarvabhūteṣu) is repeated for different manifestations of Devi.
I am quite sure with Sarva(सर्व) means all, but word Bhoota (भूत) just confused me a lot.

Bhoota is quite commonly used for Past in context of past, present, future.

Also somewhere I read it is used living beings.

Also Hindi meaning modernly used for spirits of person after death.

Also in Pancha Bhoota (पञ्चभूत pañcabhūta) or Pancha Maha-Bhoota (पञ्चमहाभूत pañcamahābhūta) context, it is used for  five prime elements of nature (Air, Water, Fire, Space, Earth). So here Bhoota means elements.

What is actual meaning of this word (Bhoota) in context of Devi Suktam?


texts: Can the list of Divyadesams be added to or subtracted from?

texts: Can new Divaydesams be created and/or existing ones derecognised as such?


texts: What scriptures say that Prana Pratishtha is removed by a Chandala's touch?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, and Nyaya. My question is about the Nyaya and Vaisheshika schools.  Udayana's Nyaya Kusumanjali is a 10th century Nyaya-Vaisheshika work which seeks to logically prove the existence of God. In this excerpt from the Nyaya Kusumanjali, Udayana tries to refutes the Purva Mimamsa belief that objects have Shaktis or inherent capacities to do things:

  "[H]ow in images, etc., do such ceremonies become effectual as those for inviting to deity to take up residence therein, etc.? We hold therefore that we must admit such a thing as a capacity produced by the rite Pratishtha which can be destroyed by the touch of impure persons as the Chandala, etc., which renders an image a fit object of worship." ... The 'special causes' are the various kinds of merit in the person. The deities become conciliated in the ceremonies of consecration, and show it by coming to take up their residence, i.e. by the appropriation of the image and self-consciousness thereto; but by the touch of an impure person such appropriation and self-consciousness are rendered void.

For those who don't know, Prana Pratishtha is a ritual where you invoke the presence of a god into a statue.  My question is, what scriptures say that the presence of a god in a statue is removed if it's touched by a Chandala?

Note that I don't want answers that comment on the nature of the caste system, untouchability, etc.  I just want a specific answer on the Praha Pratishtha point.


texts: How did ancient Hindus identify the date and time of Eclipses?

texts: For example, we have partial lunar eclipse on 7.8.2017. With modern technology, it is possible to discover the date and time of eclipses. But without any modern equipment, how did ancient Hindus identify the time of eclipses to follow the Do's and Don'ts during Grahana?


texts: We say Siya Ram and Radheshyam why we say Shiv Parvati why don't we say Parvati Shiv?

texts:
There is always name of female before male like Siya Ram, Radheshyam then
we say Shiv Parvati not Parvati Shiv.


texts: How is the law of karma valid when so many people from wealthy houses are unethical but to be born in those houses requires good karma?

texts:
Growing up in school I would see bullies. Many of these bullies would be spoiled kids of rich parents. In fact, I've seen this trend where the more rich and affluent a family the more spoiled and insensitive their kids grow up to be.

You can even see examples of this among politicians, movie directors, the famous drunk driving kids of MLAs who get away with doing such evil things.

We typically say that the law of karma has caused such people to be born rich.

However, after being born so rich, these people have been committing crimes for decades in their lifetime while the poor people who grow up in a harsh environment turn out sensitive and caring?

We can see this pattern among world leaders as well who suppress their citizens and take away many of their freedom rights.

If you must do good deeds to get wealth and power in your next. We also say that the progress that you make towards dharma carries onto the next life. If that is true then how come so many people in wealthy families commit the worst of crimes?

TL;DR: People do lots of good deeds, get born in wealthy and powerful families. Then they do a lot of bad, insensitive things and end up harming lots of people in masses.

How have they made any progress in life if the law of karma is really valid here?


texts: Does any scripture give reasons for non-inclusion of Neem leaves in the list of 21 leaves for Ganapati puja?

texts:
Today is Sri Ganapati chaturdhi.  After performing the puja, I got the following doubt.
The List of 21 types of leaves used for Ganesha puja, is as follows.  These leaves are stated to have medicinal values.

1.Shami Patra -- शमी , Telugu- Jammi

2.Bhringraj Patra - भृंगराज, Telugu- Guntakalagara
3.Bilva Patra- बेल , Telugu- Bilvam

4.Durva Patra- दूर्वा, Telugu - Garika

5.Ber Patra- बेर, Telugu - Regu

6.Datura Patra - धतूरा, Telugu- Ummetta
7.Tulasi Patra - तुलसी, Telugu- Tulasi

Sem Patra - सेम, Telugu - Chikkudu

Apamarga Patra- अपामार्ग , Telugu- Uttareni

10.Bhatakataiya Patra -भटकटैया,Telugu -Gurrapu gattaku.
11.Sindoor Patra - सिन्दूर,Telugu- Sindooram

Tej Patra - तेजपत्ता, Telugu -Talisapatri

Agastya Patra - अगस्त्य, Telugu -Avisa

14.Kaner Patra - कनेर,Telugu - Ganneru

Kadali Patra - केला पत्र, Telugu - Arati

Arka Patra - आक,Telugu - Jilledu

Arjuna Patra - अर्जुन वृक्ष, Telugu Tella maddi,Yerra maddi

Devdar Patra - देवदार,Telugu- Devadaru

Marua Patra - मरुआ,Telugu- Maruvam

Gandari Patra - गण्डारि पत्र, Telugu- Devakanchanamu

Ketaki Patra - केतकी, Telugu -Gedaga

If we closely observe the leaves pertaining to Neem are missing in the above list.
Neem is stated to have a wide range of medicinal values, widely available in India, and is being in use in India since long.

Neem products are believed by Siddha and Ayurvedic practitioners to be
anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, contraceptive,
and sedative.

Does any scripture give reasons for non-inclusion of Neem leaves for Ganapati puja?


texts:
What exactly is Purusha as per samkhya philosophy? Since samkhya doesn't speak of God or a supreme creator being, then could this purusha be our soul, aka the self, aka jeeva-atma which is full of consciousness?

... If Purusha is actually the soul within us, then how exactly this Purusha (trillions and trillions of jeeva atmas) create the physical universe (galaxies, planets etc.) simply by uniting with MulaPrakriti?

... How can us jeeva atmas be responsible for the materialization or manifestation of the cosmos?


texts: What is the meaning of the verse Bhārate Bhātu Bhāratī?

texts:
What is the meaning of the following verse?

भारते भातु भारती (Bhārate Bhātu Bhāratī)

What is the source of this verse?


texts: How to become materialistic from spiritual?

texts: I know you may find it odd. But Hinduism is not spiritual or material based. So what should be done if a spiritual person wants to become materialistic. (Shankaracharya also went to a King's body to experience Gaarhasthya. I know we cannot relate this incidence here, nor can we compare ourselves to ShreeAdiShankaracharya, but still)


texts: Do scriptures say anything about amalgamating practices of other religions into Hinduism?

texts:
Many Hindus, especially those abroad, love Christmas - for example Christmas at a Ram mandir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2DzaAsADc  .  Rajiv Malhotra can be seen hand-wringing at the end of the video - but people are voting with their feet.

Wiki says about the immensely popular Sai baba:

  Sai Baba also condemned distinction based on religion or caste. It remains unclear if he was a Muslim or a Hindu. This, however, was of no consequence to Sai Baba. His teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam: he gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque in which he lived, practised both Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions, and took samadhi in Shirdi. One of his well-known epigrams, Allah Malik (God is King) and Sabka Malik Ek (Everyone's Master is One), is associated with both Hinduism and Islam."

In Tamil Nadu, Hindus go to Muslim imams to cure disease and remove spells.

Is this only a modern phenomenon or have scriptures talked about it?


texts: Is there any special reason why elders recommend not to get hair cut on particular day like Tuesday?


texts: Which scripture does Pillai Lokacharya reference in which Shiva enjoins a devotee to offer (temporary) human sacrifice (later restored to life)?

texts:
In Pillai Lokacharya's Prapanna Paritrana, Shiva is said to enjoin his devotees to offer human sacrifice.

  Nor again is Rudra any better. For he is to begin with the Destroyer par excellence. Water is wished for by the thirsty, but Rudra of the fire-colour offers himself to such thirsty (worshippers of his) as fire! He exacts horrid offerings from his devotees, by saying: "Kill for me, roast for me."

Pillai Lokacharya doesn't reference a scripture, so does anyone know if a scripture says this?


texts: Is it sin to eat non veg in hindu religion.?

texts:
I have hindu friend who eats non vegetarian but also a good follower of Lord Krishna. By the term good follower, I mean to say he prays to krishna and sometime goes to temple to attend prayers and kirtan of lord krishna.

Is it ok for him to eat non veg and still pray to god.


texts: Beyond the multitude of Universes and Celestial Realms is Goloka the supreme abode of Krishna.  is it located before Nirguna Brahman or after Nirguna Brahman ?


texts: Can Kuldevi give liberation that is moksha?

texts: So many deities can as part of the panchdev, Trinity, shakti, suriya dev, Ganesha, Murugan and so. Shakti is one is the case as same for kuldevi/dev? and assist being a guru.


texts: Why Nasadiya Sukta says even god himself might not know about creation?

texts:
Then even non-existence was not there, nor existence,
There was no air then, nor the space beyond it.
What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping?
Was there then cosmic fluid, in depths unfathomed?

Why is there so much uncertainty in it? also, Nasadiya Sukta known as Hymn of Creation. what does that mean?


texts: Who is the supreme god according to Nath sampraday?

texts:
I want to know who is the supreme god according to Nath Sampraday ?
And what are the main scriptures of Nath Sampraday ?


texts: Why is God represented as male or female deities in Hinduism?

texts: Why is God represented as male or female deities in Hinduism when the impersonal Brahman of the Upanishads is neither male nor female


texts:
Why Bramha who is self-born i.e. manifested on its own as per Yoga Vasistha, also called Lotus born as per Yoga Vasistha? What is the meaning of lotus here? Is it simple flower or something else very deep?

  असत्य एव कचति स्वप्ने खोड्डयनं यथा । इत्यनुत्पन्न एवासौ स्वयंभूः
  स्वयमुत्थितः ॥ ३८ ॥

  3.13.38 The unproduced and self-born Brahma, that has risen of himself (and represents the mind), is as unreal as the soaring of a man in the
  sky in his dream.

  कृत्वा पद्मजसंकल्पं रूपं पश्यति पद्मजम् । ततो जगत्कल्पयति
  सप्रजापतिपूर्वकम् ॥ ८ ॥

  4.40.8 Taking the conception of the lotus-born, it finds itself in its conceived form of the lotus (Brahma), and then it thinks of creation
  in the form of Prajapati or lord of creatures.


texts: If child is not born even after several years of trying in marriage....is there anyway to escape from punnama hell? says stay in naraka for childless is eternal or at least till pralaya. Which scriptures mention duration of stay? Is stay in any other naraka eternal/till pralaya?


texts: Are Govinda Bhagavatpada and Maharishi Patanjali considered incarnations of Sheshnaga?

texts:
According to this site, Adi-Shankaracharya's Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, was an incarnation of Sheshnaga:

  According to the legend, Adi Shankara's Guru was an avatar of Lord Vishnu's Shesha nAga. How can he teach asat shastra or mAyAvAda. GovindapAda, in his earlier avatar was Maharshi Patanjali.

Do Smarthas indeed consider Shankara's Guru to be an incarnation of Sheshnaga? Is Maharishi Patanjali also considered to be an incarnation?


texts: what is Samayachara? (I have read it in relation to 'Shri Vidya')

texts: I have come across the term 'Samayachara' but not sure what is it. (Read it in relation to 'Shri Vidya').


texts: Reason behind Kashi Yatra in Indian Wedding

texts: In Indian marriages, especially the South Indian Weddings, I have noticed the ritual of Kashi Yatra. This ritual involves  persuading the groom to accept the girl for marriage and enter Grihastasramam. What is the true significance of this ritual ? In Present day, There is no groom going to Kashi,then why this procedure.


texts:
According to the purna avatara of Vishnu, in Mahabharatha, depicted in Bhagavad Gita, In his complete form Vishnu advises yoga states and core of the upanishads and vedas to Arjuna.At the start He shows himself as the "one and only",with all the gods and entire cosmos in him.
Being "Advaita".
The question is: how come Hinduism still is the most supported Polytheism?
Why did Krishna Give the knowledge of vedas to a Kshatriya,as Arjuna was instead of anyone Brahmana kula ?
Why should the single god as in Krishna worship someone in himself as in Shiva?


texts: Which is the correct counting while breathing for Prāṇāyāma in Rajayoga?

texts:
Prāṇāyāma is one of the eight steps of Yoga. Though it has very deeper concept of realizing cosmic energy and probably controlling it, for beginners, the method of harmonizing the breathing is introduced as an initiative. This technique constitute Pūraka, Kuṃbhaka and Recaka: Pūraka means inhaling, Recaka means exhaling and Kuṃbhaka means holding or stopping between Pūraka and Recaka.
Now, these Pūraka, Kuṃbhaka and Recaka are successively practiced for certain period of time with counting in seconds or preferably with sound oṃ. Recently while reading the lecture on Pranayama from notes and lessons by Swami Vivekananda, I found an inconsistency in counting with that of written in Rajayoga:

Complete-Works / Volume 8 / Notes of Class Talks and Lectures / PRANAYAMA:

Breathe in four seconds, then hold the breath for eight seconds, then again throw it out slowly in four seconds. (This process is more difficult when the ratio is two, eight, and four: for further remarks see later.) Then begin again, and do this four times in the morning and four times in the evening.

Pūraka - 4; Kuṃbhaka - 8; Recaka - 4

Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / CHAPTER V
THE CONTROL OF PSYCHIC PRANA

Here it is well to begin with four seconds, and slowly increase. Draw in four seconds, hold in sixteen seconds, then throw out in eight seconds. This makes one Pranayama.

Pūraka - 4; Kuṃbhaka - 16; Recaka - 8

Complete-Works / Volume 8 / Lectures and Discourses / Six Lessons on Raja-Yoga / RAJA YOGA SECOND LESSON

The process of Pranayama is as follows: Close the right nostril with the thumb and then slowly inhale through the left nostril, repeating the word "Om" four times.
Then firmly close both nostrils by placing the forefinger on the left one and hold the breath in, mentally repeating "Om" eight times.
Then, removing the thumb from the right nostril, exhale slowly through that, repeating "Om" four times.

Pūraka - 4; Kuṃbhaka - 8; Recaka - 4
As you can see, here, the counting suggested in Rajayoga differs from that of given in notes and lessons. So, what is the correct counting? I noticed that it is said that you can increase this duration after practicing more and more but it should be in proportional order but here (in the different one) proportion is not maintained. So, I want to know the correct counting.


texts: How many Rudraksha Lord Pashupati is wearing over the Wrists (lower and higher near the shoulders) and is there any reference over the Scriptures about it?


texts: Is there any Vaishnava commentary on Manu-Smriti?

texts:
I have seen few commentaries (and even fewer translations in English) of the Manu Samhita.
But I can't find any done by a Vaishnava (no regards to the sampradaya).
Thus I'm wondering is it because simply none was done or was famous enough to have survived time?


texts: What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple?

texts: What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple of 20 km from each other?


texts: Verse in ramanyan when Sita warns Ravan to dare not touch her

texts: What is the verse when Sita warns Ravan of touching her in Lanka


texts: Why do we put water around plate before eating in the process Chitrahuti (चित्राहुति) Or "Chitravati"?

texts:
I have checked the following Q&A which addressed about this ritul in the past.

Which Scriptures mention "Chitrahuti" (चित्राहुति) or "Chitravati" procedure which we carry out before starting of our meals? although they look like dupe, my question is different.

I also googled about Chitrahuti and found the meaning as below, the link

  chitrahuti a portion of food set aside as an offering to God, before the commencement of a meal

  Pronunciation ‘chitrâhutî’

My specific question is why do we put water droplets around the plate and then place the food.


texts: How do non-vedanta darshanas deal with shruti statements about Brahman?

texts: Vedanta schools extensively deal with the concept of brahman. What do non-vedanta schools like nyaya-vaishesika, samkhya-yoga etc say about shruti statements about Brahman?  How do they reconcile their atomism or dualism with shruti statements?


texts: I found the below pic in a Facebook post. I know the middle one is Kartikeya and right end one Lord Ganesha. But who is the God in the picture who is seated on the lap of Lord Shiva at the left end  ?


texts: What does the Vedas and Upanishads say about Ayam and Atma?

texts: What does the Vedas and Upanishads say about the nature of Ayam and Atma and how are they different from Purusha and Prakriti?


texts: What is the difference between yoga and yogasana?

texts:
We keep people using the terms "Yoga" and "Yogasana" interchangeably.
Are they synonym?
If not, what is the difference between the two?


texts: Can a single jiva which is whole and indivisible be cut and become many?

texts:
Is there a single jiva (life) associated with a single body or is it that many jivas are associated with a single body?

Hinduism tells us that there is only one jiva to each body. If that really is the case, then observation tells us when a branch of a Rose, or a Banyan, or a Pipal tree is cut and planted elsewhere, another plant/tree of the same kind grows up there.

We see a similar observation with Earthworms. When it is cut across, the head part re-grows to form a full body. So is that another jiva or is it the same jiva appearing in a regenerative body?

In the case of Earthworms, the tail part does not re-generate its head part and so it dies.

There is another kind of worm called the Planarian Flatworm which when cut across re-generates into two different worms, each part has the capacity to re-generate the missing parts of the body.

Are these two different worms having the same jiva or different jiva?

What is really happening here? Did a single jiva get dissected into two, or did another jiva enter the new tree or plant or worm? Or is the body really associated with multiple souls.

If Hindus tell us that there is only a single jiva associated with each birth and therefore body, then how did the jiva, which is whole and indivisible, be cut and become many?


texts: Why do advaita vedanta believe in authorless vedas even though it follows monism?

texts:
Advaita vedanta is a monistic school of thought. Which means it believe every thing is God.
Which by default should include vedas. As vedas are a part of universe(just like car, pen, sun, humans).
But advaita believe in authorless vedas(no one has authored vedas).
Who can this be possible, if every thing is God then vedas should be God or authored by God(directly or indirectly).

If vedas are authorless then, their should exits a difference between the God(Brahman) and the Vedas


texts: Is Yoga Vasistha accepted by non-advaitins?

texts: If yes, which sects/schools accept it? How do they interpret the verses of advaitic import in the YV?


texts: Why did Lord Rama need Lakshmana around all the time?

texts: If Rama was an avatar of Lord Vishnu, why did he need Lakshmana around him all the time?


texts: What is the symbolic meaning of Lord Ganesha's trunk?

texts: Some of the pictures of Lord Ganesha has trunk on left side, while in some other images, its on right side. I know that there is a symbolic meaning to it as my grandfather used to say, but i forgot. Can anyone please explain me the difference between trunk on left side versus trunk on right side?


texts:
In Hinduism, is regularly depositing some money in a PPF account with the intention of getting handsome interest when we retire, a sin?

I came across this blog post that says:

  A Brâhmana and a Kshatriya shall not lend anything at interest...

  'He who acquiring property cheap, gives it for a high price, is called a usurer and blamed among those who recite the Veda.'

  'God weighed in the scales the crime of killing a learned Brâhmana against the crime of charging interest; the slayer of the Brâhmana remained at the top, the charger of interest sank downwards.'

  (Vasishtha, The Sacred Laws of the Aryas, Part II, Chptr 2, vs 40-42)

  A person of yoga obtains everlasting peace
  by abandoning the rewards of action.
  The person ignorant of yoga,
  selfishly attached to reward,
  remains bound.

  (Bhagavad Gita 5:12.  This verse, in fact, is representative of the very theme of the Bhagavad Gita)

Please clear my doubt.


texts:
I did read another question about marriage between different varnas but my question is marriage between two different Brahmin shakhas allowed in the scriptures?

For instance two Brahmin communities one following Yajur Veda and the other Rig Veda? Or between a vaishnavite and a Gaud saraswath Brahman.. or a vaishnavite and a shaivite?


texts: Mentions of intercaste marriage in ManuSmriti or Manu Dharma

texts:
Trying to study ManuSmriti.

1) What does Manusmriti say about inter-caste marriages?

2) Are there any punishments given for inter-caste marriages?

3) Are there any mentions of inter-caste marriages done by anybody in it?

4) I want all quotes mentioning inter-caste marriage in ManuSmriti.

This question is not a duplicate since it is not asking about caste in general and only about inter-caste marriage and it's implications and only in Manusmriti and not in other scriptures.


texts: Where can I get the Bhavishya Purana in PDF format?

texts: Please tell me from where I can purchase the Bhavishya Purana in PDF format so that I can read it on my iPad or laptop. I have a copy of this text but it isn't readable due to scanned pages of the printed book.


texts: Is it true that Vyasa only narrated the War of Kurukshetra and the Ashvamedha conquest of Arjuna?

texts: I have read several times that Vyasa only wrote from Bhishma Parva to Ashvamedhika Parva, while Vaishampayana extended the work by adding Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virata Parva, etc. Is this true?


texts:
Firstly, is it true that somebody bad intentions can cause trouble and hindrance into others life?

How can lemon/chilli/salt/red brown or black beads worn in wrist keep us away from the evil eyesight?


texts: Why did Ramakrishna Paramahamsa eat fish if he was Vishnu avatara?

texts: Ramakrishna Paramahamsa known as a very well Shakta mystic and yogi. Most of his followers consider him as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, Lord Vishnu is known to be a vegetarian. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is said to have taken fish. So why would he take fish if he was Vishnu avatara?


texts: If the consecrated murti in a temple gets damaged or destroyed, what is the scripture-prescribed way to reconsecrate and reinstate the deity?  Until such reconsecration is done, how should the temple be maintained since regular worship wouldn't be possible?


texts:
I was reading the  Bhagavad Gita, I confused about this  quote:

  "And that wise person who endures such dual aspect of perception, to whom joy, sorrow are one and same, is eligible for eternal life; o best among men."

What is the deep meaning of this quote?


texts: What scriptures describe the story of Vishnu's general, Vishvaksena?

texts:
It is well-known that Shiva's son Ganesha is the general of Shiva's army of Ganas.  What's not as well-known, however, is that Vishnu also has an army, led by the god Vishvaksena.  Vishvaksena plays an important role in the Sri Vaishnava sect; as I discuss here, Vishvaksena learnt the all-important Dvaya mantra from Lakshmi and taught it to the Vaishnava poet-saint Nammalwar.  And as I discuss in this question, Nammalwar is himself considered an incarnation of Vishvaksena.

But my question is, what scriptures discuss the story of Vishvaksena?  No doubt he's discussed in the Pancharatra texts (which I discuss here), but what other scriptures describe him?  There's a reference in a few Puranas to Shiva's incarnation, Kalabhairava, (temporarily) killing Vishvaksena, but those are likely interpolations.  The Srimad Bhagavatam mentions him as one of Vishnu's attendants, but are there any scriptures that describe the story of his birth and the like?

The story I could find is the one told in this PDF, which is a compilation of extracts from different Puranas which describe the story of Venkateshwara (the Vishnu deity in Tirupati, aka Balaji or Srinivasa). In particular, it gives a story from the Vamana Purana.  In this account, the Apsara Kuntala is cursed by the sage Durvasa to be born as a human being.  She takes birth as Suvarchala, daughter of a cruel man named Virabahu.  Suvarchala then has a child with Varuna: the ocean god named Vishvaksena.  When Vishvaksena grows up, he goes to the Tirumala hills in Tirupati and engages in Tapasya, whereupon Vishnu appears before him and appoints him as the general of his army:

  Kuntala was reborn as a daughter to Virabahu, a cruel personality. She was named as Suvarchala. She made her parents very happy while growing up. She became very famous for her beauty and good character. Virabahu performed her marriage ceremony with Bhadra who was the son of Dharma.

  One day in the Phalguna month, sukla paksha, she finished her bath in the river Narmada and stood near the mountain. Varuna deva saw her beauty and was very much impressed and asked her to wish for a boon. Suvarchala asked him to bless her with a good son which he readily granted. Suvarachala felt very happy.

  After some time, Suvarchala gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. When he was born, the auspicious signs like the sound of celestial drums was heard, flowers rained from the sky, and the breeze blew with fragrance. The baby’s face was shining like a full moon, with lotus eyes, his skin was like pure gold and his feet had the impressions of conch, chakra and the mace. He was born in the star of Pushya. He was growing like a moon in the sukla paksha with valor. When the boy reached his tenth year, Suvarchala passed away. His father also left him.

  The boy became an orphan and started wandering in the surroundings of the kashyapa ashramam. Sage Kashyapa grasped that this boy was from the royal family and the son of Varuna. He accepted the boy as his student (Sishya).
  Kashyapa gave the upadesam of Gayathri mantra and taught him all the Vedas along with Siksha and Vyakaranam. After the completion of his education, the boy sought permission from sage Kashyapa to do penance. Kashyapa allowed him with blessings.

  The boy went to Vrushadri and started rigorous penance with austeries. Lord Srimannarayana appeared in front of him and blessed him with the boon of becoming the army chief of Lord Srimannarayana. He was also blessed with a divine form similar to Lord Narayana (sarupyam) having sankha, chakra and gada in his hands.

The PDF says this story is from "Kshetra Khanda, Chapter 23" of the Vamana Purana.  But at least in the table of contents here, the Vamana Purana doesn't seem to be divided into Khandas.  So can anyone point me to the relevant chapter of the Vamana Purana?

Are there any other scriptures that describe this story of Vishvaksena being the son of Varuna and Suvarchala?  Also, who is Suvarchala's father Virabahu?  If possible I would like to trace back the ancestry of Vishvaksena as far as I can.


texts: If Ashwathama is immortal from birth, why did Dronacharya believe what Yudhisthira said that Ashwathama is dead?

texts:
On the 15th day of the war, Bhima kills an elephant named Ashwathama which is the same name as son of Dronacharya, the commander of Kaurava forces and Yudhisthira tells that Ashwathama is dead which Dronacharya believes the words of Yudhisthira and drops his weapons and even goes into samadhi in search of Ashwathama's soul. Later Dhrishtadyumna beheads either the lifeless body or alive Dronacharya.
If Ashwathama is immortal, why did Drona believe the words of Yudhisthira that Ashwathama is dead?


texts: What is the best shloka for worship of Surya Deva?

texts:
I look for a shloka that I can chant throughout the day, for worship of Surya Deva (Aditya Hridayam is too long).
Can someone recommend any?


texts:
I have heard this name many times related to Adi Shankaracharya. He has given many lectures about Prasthantrayi. Is this any Upanishad, Purana or else?

I just want to know some brief detail about Prasthantrayi.


texts: Which scripture talks about killing baby cows in sacrifices?

texts:
Manusmriti verses 5.41-42 say this:

  madhuparke ca yajñe ca pitṛdaivatakarmaṇi |  atraiva paśavo hiṃsyā
  nānyatraityabravīn manuḥ || 41 ||  eṣvartheṣu paśūn hiṃsan
  vedatattvārthavid dvijaḥ |  ātmānaṃ ca paśuṃ caiva gamayatyuttamaṃ
  gatim || 42 ||

  At the Madhuparka offering, at sacrifices, and at the rites in
  honour of the Pitṛs,—at these alone should animals be killed, and
  nowhere else: thus has Manu declared—(41)

  The twice-born person, knowing the real import of the Veda, killing
  animals on these occasions, carries himself and the animal to the most
  excellent state.—(42).

Medhatithi says this in his commentary on those verses:

  The present text sums up in brief those occasions on which the killing
  of animals is sanctioned by the scriptures.

  ‘Madhuparka’— has been already described. At this the killing of the
  calf has been enjoined.

  ‘Sacrifice’—such as the Jyotiṣṭoma and the like; the eleventh stage of
  which consists of the animal-sacrifice; as also the Paśubandha, at
  which the sacrificing of the animal forms a sacrifice by itself.

My question is, which scripture talks about the Madhuparka?


texts:
In which verse number of Gita, Krishna tells about sankhya yoga?

Especially verse number of any verse in which He tells that He is sankhya yoga among all yogas, or if in any verse he praises sankhya yoga as best path or some other praise of sankhya yoga.


texts: Should one always abide by his parents' will or can he go against it only if he is right?

texts: I want to ask this question with the help of a real life scenario. Basically, what if one wants to pursue an educational field associating with this world just for a living so that he can progress in the spiritual path to attain union with the help of a Satguru, but his father doesn't merely want him to stay in the same country and do nothing special materialistically. Instead, he wants him to live abroad and progress immensely in this world and make a name for himself. The father might allow it but will be disappointed and unhappy with him along with some other people. Lets suppose the son listens to himself and disappoints his father, will this be violating Dharma? Because it is our respective duty to keep our parents' will in consideration. Plus, it may also be bad Karma making his parents unhappy. And it is also said by many saints and rishis that if we do anything even good against our parents' will, it will be of no benefit to us. But that may not be the case when one's parents are completely wrong and there is no good in what they are thinking. But regardless of that, my consciousness tells me that fulfilling your parents' desires is the better path to choose. But I would like to hear what the scriptures have to say about this.


texts: Why should we not face our backs towards god?

texts:
At a temple, I usually see the pujari often reminding people that they should face towards god. He also said that facing our backs towards god is classified as a sin.

I would think that facing our backs towards god is disrespectful, but would it be a sin? What if it is just an accident?


texts: How could one do karma without expectation of fruits?

texts: As Bhagavad Gita says, one should do karma without thinking of its outcome. What would be encouragement for someone for doing that work if he does not think of the outcome? How can someone have passion for something if we are to detach from all material things?


texts: What are the eleven senses of Lord Brahma

texts:
As per common knowledge, humans have five senses: Vision, Hearing, Touch, Smell, Taste.

From the following excerpt Srimad Bhagavatham, we come to know that Lord Brahma has eleven senses. Are the above five senses include in these eleven?

  SB 10.13.56: Then, by the power of the effulgence of those
  vishnu-murtis, Lord Brahma, his eleven senses jolted by astonishment
  and stunned by transcendental bliss, became silent, just like a
  child's clay doll in the presence of the village deity.

List out the eleven senses.