texts: Where do the Vedas say that a single Vajapeya Yagna will make you the next Indra?

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

Just as the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I am a member) is based on the Pancharatra Agamas and the poems of the 12 Alwars, Shaiva Siddha at is based on the Shaiva Agamas and the poems of the 63 Nayanars. In any case, the Paramokshanirasa Karika Vritti is a work by the Shaiva Siddhanta Acharya Bhatta Ramakantha which attempts to refute 20 rival sects of Hinduism. In this excerpt, Ramakantha refutes a sub-school of Kapila's Samkhya school which believed that all the Karma a person generates in this birth always bears fruit in that person's immediate next birth, not in subsequent births.  Ramakantha argues that the Vedas describe so many different consequences that different actions produce, and it would be impossible for all of them to bear fruit in a single lifetime:

  Sadyojyotih says... "[Actions] which have as their fruit being born as Indra and such like are taught in the Veda too; they [produce births] separately from each other." "Being born as Indra" is the meaning of "sovereignty over heaven" in [the Vedic injunction] "He who desires sovereignty over heaven should sacrifice with the Vajapeya."  The sacrificial answer which has that as its fruit - [and, as indicated] by the use of "and such like" [in the verse], the Jyotishtoma and other [meritorious actions], having heaven and other [meritorious rewards] s fruit, and the killing of a Brahmin and other forbidden [actions], having hell as fruit - are [all] taught in [Vedic] scripture.... [They produce future lives separately from each other] because [actions] whose fruits are mutually contradictory cannot produce a single birth at one time.

But my question is, where do the Vedas say that doing the Vajapeya Yagna will give you sovereignty over Devaloka, i.e. make you the next Indra?

As I discuss in this answer, how the current Indra attained his position is by doing 100 Ashwamedha Yagnas, which is why he tries to stop others from doing the same.  And this seems to be the standard way all the previous Indras have attained their position; concerning past Indras the Brahmanda Purana says "All of them have severally performed a hundred sacrifices."  So where do the Vedas say that a single Vajapeya Yagna will give the same result?

Unfortunately the translator of Ramakanatha's work just says this:

  We have not been able to locate the Vedic source of this quotation, but we note that it is quoted by other authors, for example by Jayanta Bhatta (Nyayamanjari, volume 1, p. 687,5) as shruti.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any English translations of Jayanta Bhatta's Nyayamanjari online, or else I could just see if the translator of that work knew the origin of the verse.

So does anyone know where in the Vedas this verse can be found?


texts:
Historically, did the sanskrit varnamala contain two 'la' vyanjan varnas?
It seems there was one in the 'ya' varga and another one in the 'sha' varga.
Current texts on sanskrit or hindi grammar and wikipedia show a varnamala  with but one 'la'. However I have found differing configurations of the Rashi, Nakshatra and Kulakul chakras in different translations 1 2 of the Brhat Tantrasaara and also in blogs(https://shubhamalock.com/remedies/mantra-suitability/).


texts: Did Shiva's incarnation Lakulisha meet Krishna or other Mahabharata characters?

texts:
In this excerpt from the Shatarudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana, Shiva tells Brahma about his incarnations (avataras) in the Dwapara Yugas of the various Mahayugas in the Vaivasvata Manvantara (the current Manvantara).  And this is what he says about the Dwapara Yuga of the twenty-eighth Mahayuga (the current Mahayuga):

  In the twenty-eighth aeon of Dvapara, there will be Dvaipayana Vyasa, the son of Parashara ,and the most excellent of Purushas [Vishnu] shall be born as Krishna with his one-sixth part, as the foremost of the sons of Vasudeva.  Then I too shall be born with the body of a Brahmachari and the soul of a Yogi by means of Yogic Maya to the great surprise of the worlds.  On seeing a dead body forsaken in the cremation ground I shall enter into it and make it free from ailments by means of Yogic Maya for the welfare or Brahmins.  Then I will enter the holy divine cavern of Meru along with you and Vishnu.  O Brahma, I shall then be known as Lakulin.

Lakulin, also known as Lakulisha, was a famous Shaivite thinker who introduced the Pashupata vow, an ancient method of propitiating Shiva which among other things involves smearing ash all over your body; Shiva is described as the originator of the Pashupati vow in this chapter and this chapter of the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata.

Now the text of the Shiva Purana has suffered a lot of corruption, so it's possible that this description of Lakulisha is a later interpolation.  But my question is, assuming the passage is authentic, are there any stories of Lakulisha meeting any prominent Dwapara Yuga figures?  The Dwapara Yuga was the time of Krishna, the Pandavas, the Kauravas, Vyasa, etc.  So did Lakulisha have dealings with any of them?

On a side note, does anyone know what the story is of Lakulisha entering the cavern of Mount Meru along with Brahma and Vishnu?

EDIT: I just noticed that the excerpt from the Shiva Purana I provided says this:

  Oh great lord, the Vyasas in every recurring Dvapara age are twenty-eight in number.  The Yogeshwara incarnations at the beginning of every recurring Kali Age are also so many.

Since Lakulisha is a Yogeshwara incarnation of Shiva, does that mean that Lakulisha lived in the Kali Yuga and not the Dwapara Yuga?  Then he presumably wouldn't have a chance to meet Krishna or the Pandavas.


texts: I recently heard in "Veda parichaya" in a local channel that the sounds of the alphabet(Sanskrit) originated from Lord Shiva’s ‘damru’. Can anyone elaborate on these sounds and their relation to Sanskrit.


texts: Where can I find the Sanskrit work "Jnyana Bhagwat" attributed to Mareechi

texts: In the Vinayaka Rahasyam Volume IV Part B there is a mention of Jnyana Bhagwat having been told by Mareechi the mind son of Brahma to Mudgal Mahamuni.


texts: Where can I find an English or Hindi Translation of Agastya Ramayana?

texts: Is there a translation of Agastya Ramayana for free online?


texts: Why fight against adharma if everything is already planned?

texts: If one knows that what has to happen will happen, by the will of Supreme, then why do we protect our dharma? We do not control the results (fruits). By the will of Supreme, if dharma has to stay, it will, and if it does not have to, it will not. Then why should we try to protect our dharma when the results are not in our hands?


texts: Where is the account of Ramanuja recovering the Melkote idol from the Delhi Sultan originally recorded?

texts:
I have heard that Ramanuja went to Delhi to ask for the idol after it had been plundered.  The idol was in a room with other plundered items but when he called out its name the idol came and sat on his lap.  He then proceeded to take it back to Melkote.

Who was the Delhi Sultan when this happened?

Who was the general who plundered the idol?

Is this account part of the records of the Melkote temple?


texts: Where did Lord Shiva's trident come from?

texts: Where did it actually come from? I have many stories from many friends about how Lord Shiva's trident came. But I want to know the real way that it had formed.


texts: Has there been any mention of withdrawal of maya sarees by Krishna in any version of Mahabharata?

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It is stated in the video by the Swamiji (as narrated to him by his Guru) Lord Krishna supplied unending sheet lengths of saree at first as a rescue measure in the hour of Draupadi's need when Kauravas tried to shame her in the court. There was a piled up mountain of miles of the finest saree material removed by Duhssasana.

After the rescue (in some guilt removal maneuver?) Dhritharashtra granted a wish to Draupadi who requested him to immediately free the five Pandavas  who were temporarily helpless by virtue of acceptance of conditions of gambling loss.They all walked away free.

Draupadi left the place wearing the earlier normal saree. But the Kaurava ladies as owners of the gain  later on got cut the material into suitable lengths to share among themselves.. ( as may happen even now under similar circumstances).

Krishna realized that the perpetrators of the misdeed were in fact unwittingly rewarded by His own action. So He  decided to withdraw the Maya sarees given in the hour of her need by His maya power once again thus rendering the grown up Kaurava women ( who sat centrally placed to show off their newly gotten dresses) to reappear in their birthday forms.. thus inflicting on Kauravas a  hundred fold retribution.

Has there been any mention of this counteraction by Krishna in any version of Mahabharata?

Dussasana's action retorted by Krishna (Video in Telugu; approx 8 min 10 sec to 9 min 28 sec)


texts: Pranavam's combination is A U M. What is the significance of this and who are the main actors of Aa Uu and Mm?

texts:
Pranavam  [OM] is having the the combinations of Aa, Uu and Ma. The Pranavam is entirely submerged in these 3 letters.

Aa, Uu and Ma is AUM [OM]. Everybody knows it. But how paramatma jeevatma and merging of jeevatma with paramatma is depicted in AUM?

How does this Aa, Uu and Ma are correlated with respect to Paramatma and Jeevatma?


texts: Why Shiva created the universe for Kshetrajñahah?

texts:
We find

  It has been ascertained that the earth and other objects are the created ones (they are basically products) and ascertained that the creator of all these products is Isvara. Since that Isvara is  a Supreme Being associated with perpetual contentment (nitya trupta), the created objects could be of no use to Him. Nor the created worlds could utilize themselves, since they are non-intelligent. Since Lord Siva is with such a greatness and  lordship, he cannot perform purposeless actions; He cannot create purposeless objects. Therefore, through the process of elimination, it is ascertained that the creative function and the created worlds are neither for their own sake nor for the ever-content Lord who has created all these, but only for an intelligent being existing apart from the created and the Creator. That intelligent being is known as the kshetrajñahah. Mregendra āgama 6.2.

Abhinavgupta provides following explanation about kshetrajñahah.

  The field (kshetra) is the body of worldly beings where the seed of action is nurtured. In the case of worldly beings the embodied self (jivātma) is called the knower of the field (kshetrajñahah) , who remains polluted by temporary impurities. However, in the case of enlightened ones, the embodied self is called kshetra.

Therefore it is clearly explained, Lord Shiva has not created the universe for his own, he created for Kshetrajñahah. But why would Shiva create the universe for them?


texts: Is there any name customarily associated with Siva/Rudra that Vaishnavites would not claim also applies to Vishnu?

texts:
They seem to claim that Satarudriyam is dedicated to Vishnu or Narasimha (but i doubt if they would recite it).  Rudra and Siva are of course names of Vishnu in the Vishnusahasranama.

Svetasvatara upanishad is full of names of Siva, but they claim it applies to a Vaishnavite figure (I forget which one) (although there are non-sectarian claims that it doesn't apply to any personal deity).

Perhaps Pinaki or Pinakapani is something they would concede exclusively to Siva?


texts: What is the difference between Suktam, Strotam, Gayatri and Ashtakam?

texts:
What is the purpose behind each of these variations while worshiping a particular deity?

Which one should be used to worship or pray to a deity?

For example, for Goddess Laxmi, there are Sri Suktam, Shri Laxmi Strotam, Laxmi Gayatri Mantra and Mahalaxmi Ashtakam


texts: I really need help in overcoming my situations from which I am suffering. I am in very much debt. One day I must be killed by someone or commit suicide right now I am jobless. I am the only person for taking care of my family. Before 2 years I was living a good life. My name is Ved Parkash dob-05/05/1986 time 04:00 am place: Bhilai, Chattisgarh. Begging for help.


texts:
While reading Mukhya Upanishads, I found there are many verses that say who does Upasana upon Brahman or Om, is led up or reach/attain to Brahmaloka.

Example: (Verses from Sanskritdocuments and English translations from sacred-texts):

Prashnopanishad 5.5:

  यः पुनरेतं त्रिमात्रेणोमित्येतेनैवाक्षरेण परं पुरुषमभि-
  ध्यायीत स तेजसि सूर्ये सम्पन्नः । यथा पादोदरस्त्वचा
  विनिर्भुच्यत एवं ह वै स पाप्मना विनिर्भुक्तः स
  सामभिरुन्नीयते ब्रह्मलोकं स एतस्माज्जीवघनात् परात्परं
  पुरुशयं पुरुषमीक्षते । तदेतौ श्लोकौ भवतः ॥

  Again, he who meditates with this syllable AUM of three Mâtrâs, on the Highest Person, he comes to light and to the sun. And as a snake is freed from its skin, so is he freed from evil. He is led up by the Sâman-verses to the Brahma-world; and from him, full of life (Hiranyagarbha, the lord of the Satya-Loka ), he learns to see the all-pervading, the Highest Person. And there are these two Slokas.

Mundakopanishad 3.2.6:

  वेदान्तविज्ञानसुनिश्चितार्थाः
  संन्यासयोगाद् यतयः शुद्धसत्त्वाः ।
  ते ब्रह्मलोकेषु परान्तकाले
  परामृताः परिमुच्यन्ति सर्वे ॥

  Having well ascertained the object of the knowledge of the Vedânta, and having purified their nature by the Yoga of renunciation, all anchorites, enjoying the highest immortality, become free at the time of the great end (death) in the worlds of Brahmâ.

You can also refer Kathopanishad 1.2.17, 1.3.16 etc.

Now going to the point

Read the following verses.

Kathopanishad 2.3.4:

  इह चेदशकद्बोद्धुं प्राक्षरीरस्य विस्रसः ।
  ततः सर्गेषु लोकेषु शरीरत्वाय कल्पते ॥

  'If a man could not understand it before the falling asunder of his body, then he has to take body again in the worlds of creation.'

Verse 2.3.5:

  यथादर्शे तथात्मनि यथा स्वप्ने तथा पितृलोके ।
  यथाप्सु परीव ददृशे तथा गन्धर्वलोके
    छायातपयोरिव ब्रह्मलोके ॥

  'As in a mirror, so (Brahman may be seen clearly) here in this 'body; as in a dream, in the world of the Fathers; as in the water, he is seen about in the world of the Gandharvas; as in light and shade, in the world of Brahmâ.'

Adi Shankaracharya's commentaries on above verses say that:

It is essential to know and realize Brahman in this Loka because Brahman can't only be realized correctly/clearly in other Lokas except for Brahmaloka. And it is very hard to attain Brahmaloka.
In other Lokas, the knowledge and realization of Brahman are unclear and only in Brahmaloka it is clearly realized like light and shadow.

After knowing this now, I am curious to know the Brahmaloka because all the other Lokas are tied to the cycle of birth and death, in other words, they are temporary (returning) and not permanent (non-returning). In case of current/this Loka, it is also under the influence of Maya but one can know and realize Brahman clearly in this Loka with the help of clear intellect. BUT Brahmaloka is the only one which is non-returning i.e once one attain it, he realizes Brahman clearly and ultimately attain Brahman.

So, I want to know:

What is Brahmaloka?
How does one realize Brahman in Brahmaloka like light and shadow (as discussed above)?
Is there any scripture that describes the life at Brahmaloka?

Btw, I also want to discuss on kirtan/hymn by Narsinh Mehta which is ભૂતલ ભક્તિ પદારથ મોટું બ્રહ્મલોકમાં નાહીં રે in which the title line says that Devotion is the big/important thing in this Loka which is not present in Brahma Loka i.e Brahmaloka has no devotion. Another interesting line is હરિના જન તો મુક્તિ ન માગે, માગે જનમોજનમ અવતાર રે which means people of Hari don't want Mukti, instead, they ask/want birth-rebirth descent/incarnation for devotion.


texts:
Muchukunda was an ancient solar dynasty king who was the son of Vishnu's incarnation Mandhata, whom I discuss here and the brother of Vishnu's devotee Ambarisha I discuss here.  Before the birth of Kartikeya, Muchukunda briefly served as the general of the gods in their battle against the demon Tarakasura.  But similar to the story of Kakudmi, during that brief time a great deal of time had passed on Earth, during which all his family, friends, and citizens had perished.  Since everyone he knew was gone, Muchukunda went inside a mountain cave and slept for eons.  Finally he was awoken during the time of Krishna by the  Greek king Kalayavana, who along with Jarasandha had just attacked Mathura (leading to the Yadavas going to Dwaraka.  Angered by being awoken, Muchukunda burnt Kalayavana to ashes.

That's all that most people know about Muchukunda, but I'm interested in what happened after that.  This chapter of the Srimad Bhagavatam describes how after Kalayavana was killed, Vishnu appeared before Muchukunda and granted him the following boon:

  O emperor, great ruler, your mind is pure and potent. Though I enticed You with benedictions, your mind was not overcome by material desires. Understand that I enticed you with benedictions just to prove that you would not be deceived. The intelligence of My unalloyed devotees is never diverted by material blessings. The minds of nondevotees who engage in such practices as prāṇāyama are not fully cleansed of material desires. Thus, O King, material desires are again seen to arise in their minds. Wander this earth at will, with your mind fixed on Me. May you always possess such unfailing devotion for Me. Because you followed the principles of a kṣatriya, you killed living beings while hunting and performing other duties. You must vanquish the sins thus incurred by carefully executing penances while remaining surrendered to Me. O King, in your very next life you will become an excellent brāhmaṇa, the greatest well-wisher of all creatures, and certainly come to Me alone.

I'm interested in the part in bold.  My question is, what was the next birth of Muchukunda as an "excellent Brahmana"?  Did this birth already happen, or is it going to happen in future?

The next chapter of the Srimad Bhagavatam says that Muchukunda subsequently went to Badarikashrama to engage in Tapasya, but it doesn't say when or how he died. In any case, there are claims that Prahlada was reborn as the Dvaita philosopher Raghavendra, that Arjuna was reborn as the Shaivite poet Kannappa, etc.  Are there any claims that some Kali Yuga figure was a rebirth of Muchukunda?


texts: Is the universe eternal or temporary? It is most importantly observed to differentiate illusion and truth.


texts: What is the story of the Thiruvalavendhai Varaha temple in Mahabalipuram?

texts:
I'm currently visiting India, and I may try to see the Adi Varaha Perumal temple in Mahabalipuram, more commonly known as the Thiruvalavendhai temple.  It's a difficult temple to visit; it's closed most of the time, and only opened rarely by the priests of the nearby Sthalasayana Perumal Vishnu temple.  It's a Lakshmi Varaha temple, featuring Lakshmi sitting on the lap of Vishnu's incarnation Varaha.  That in itself is not unusual; for instance the Thiruvidandai Varaha temple which I discuss in my question here also fits that description.  But what makes the Thiruvalaventhai temple unique is that unlike Thiruvidandai and other temples where Lakshmi sits on the left side of Varaha, in Thiruvalavendhai Lakshmi sits on his right.

My question is, what is the story of the Thiruvalaventhai temple?  Did some incident involving Varaha take place in this location?  And is there a reason Lakshmi sits on his right?

Also,  why is it called "Adi Varaha", meaning the first Varaha?  There's an Adi Vaharaswami temple in Tirupati which I discuss in my question here.  Does this bear some relation to that?


texts: Asthi visarjan of one's father when one's mother is alive

texts: Can one do Asthi Visarjan of one's father when one's mother is still alive? Is it the case that one can't do asti visarjan until one's mother is alive?


texts: Did Bhagavaan Krshn engage in sexual intercourse with gopinis?

texts:
Attested images shows that,
A) Krshn had sexual intercourse with the gopinis during the Raas Leela
B) Krshn had sexual intercourse with Rukmini Who had just attained puberty and the rapture led to Rukmini fainting post intercourse
Sources are taken from from Brahma Vaivarta puran  Krishna Janma Khanda pg 233 and Chapter CXII
https://t.co/1DpCoH6Kfu?amp=1
Here are the images


texts: Colors of different varṇas: Is it their physical complexion or their qualities?

texts:
From here, is this Mahābhārata śloka and its translation really talking about (physical) complexion of people belonging to the four varṇas or just their outward behavior? If it's the latter, what does 'red' or 'yellow' mean?

  12,181.005a       brāhmaṇānāṃ sito varṇaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tu lohitaḥ
  12,181.005c      vaiśyānāṃ pītako varṇaḥ śūdrāṇām asitas tathā

  The complexion the Brahmanas obtained was white; that which the Kshatriyas obtained was red; that which the Vaisyas got was yellow; and that which was given to the Sudras was black.'


texts:
Recently I am going through Adhvaita Vedhanta.

It is said that brahman present in every one's body as Athman. Athman is nothing but consciousness.

May be at the time of Adi Shankara, science is not this much advance, so he thought of Brahman, consciousness etc. But if you see the current science, the consciousness that we are experiencing is because of our brain, nerves, spinal cord etc. All these body parts are responsible for our consciousness according to science. These body parts will die once the person dies means the consciousness will not exist after that person dies. It is clear from science. Sorry if my understanding on Advaitha is completely wrong :) . I am just a beginner to it.

Do you really think that there is still Brahman and Athman? Advaitha also claims that all our puranas, vedas, ramayana, maha bharatha etc are not real and just myths. Is there any thing that is still left to believe in god?

If I wont ask this question, someone in future may ask, we as hindus need to provide strong reasons.

I strongly oppose other religions influence on Hinduism, so asking this question to have clear thoughts.

Also please name few who attained moksha by realizing Athman as Brahman. Did Adi Shankara attained it?


texts: How is Aryama linked to the Pitrs and how is his role different from Yama

texts:
It is said that the Vedic god Aryama, the son of Aditi, is the foremost among the Pitrs or manes. This has also been stated by Lord Vasudeva in the 10th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:

अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम्।पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम्॥२९॥
Among snakes I am Ananta, and Varuna among gods of the waters. Among the manes I am Aryama, and among the maintainers of law and order I am Yama (King of death)

What is Aryama’s role as the foremost of the Pitrs and how is he linked to them? What are his divine duties?

If Aryama is linked to the Pitrs, then what is the difference between the role of Yama (who gives jeevatmas a place depending on their karma) and Aryama? (We can see Krishna has distinguished Aryama as being the head of the Pitrs and Yama as a Dharmaraja.)

Like Yama, is Aryama worshipped during Shraddha rituals/ death rituals of a person? And if the answer is affirmative, then what is the purpose of worshipping him (again linked to what is his role, that we worship him)

The Puranas talk of many divine Pitrs (with their wife Svadha) being Barhishada, Agnishvatta, etc. Aryama being an Aditya does not feature among these groups and is considered entirely separate. Is he the ruler of these Pitrs (if he is the ruler then how is Yama king) Or does he help them in their respective roles?

Kindly note the question is not a duplicate of Who is god Aryama in the Vedas?; Reason: the linked question asks who he is, whereas my question seeks clarifications, not as to his identity, but to his role as a Pitr, comparison with Yama and his worship, which do not find mention in the aforesaid question.


texts: A priest died inside the temple beside the valmiki sage idol

texts: My question is  nearly about 24 years ago a priest died inside the temple beside an idol of sage shri valmiki rishi and after the death of the sage the temple was open and alternatively pooja rituals were going on now people are saying that the idol got ruined with negative energy. Please let us know that is it mandatory to remove the old idol and replace a new one Or we can just purify it with another method?


texts: What is the original Hare Krishna mahamantra

texts:
The Hare Krishna mahamantra which I have heard from my family and saints is the following:

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

Wikipedia mentions the same mantra and so does this source

While the one which I have heard from ISKCON is little bit different:

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

Although it doesn't make much a difference but still I want to know which is the correct one?

Some people say the latter one is interpolated. Since Krishna was more revered in the heart of some devotees, they interpolated it. Is that true?

Please note that the question is not whether interpolating this mantra slightly makes a difference or not but only that whether it has been done or not.


texts:
I came to know that in many parts of India Garba is performed.

Is there any secret behind that?

When did the practice of Garba start?


texts: Was Drishtadyumna invincible and not slayable until he had killed Drona?

texts: Since he had the boon that he was going to kill Drona - he was basically invincible until he had accomplished that.  Does the Mahabharata talk about this?


texts: Indus Valley civilization dates back to 8000 BC or earlier - effects of the new research

texts:
The latest research by IIT Kharagpur and ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has upgraded the date of the Indus Valley civilization to 8000 BC as compared to 5500 BC as previously believed.

  In addition, researchers have found proof of a pre-Harappan
  civilization that existed for at least 1,000 years before this (8000 BC).

What does this mean for the Hindu history? Could any of the events recorded have happened in these places?


texts: Worship of Shree Ramanuja while he was in his body?

texts:
Shree Ramanuja authorised worships of his forms in three murthies.
When he leaves Melakotai in Karnataka,a vighra is made and Ramanujar embraces it and gives it back. This is called "Thamar Ukantha Thirumeni" in Tamil.
In SriPerumPuthuthur (his birth place), his disciples make a vighra and he authorises it by giving his Sakti. This is called as "ThAnukantha Thirumeni".
The third is His own body worshipped in Srirangam. This is called as "ThAneyAna Thirumeni".

Was he worshipped before he left for Parampadam?


texts: The Oracle said that the eighth son of Devaki would kill Kansa, then why did he kill seven sons?

texts: If only the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudev was to kill Kansa, why did Kansa kill the first seven sons?


texts: Where is written that name of Lord Vishnu or Venkateswara is Balaji?

texts: Where in the Hindu scriptures of Vaishnava sects or Vishnu Sahasranama written that name of Lord Vishnu is Balaji? It appears that this is not the name of Shri Vishnu or Venkateswara


texts: Can a person studying Vedas or reciting Vedas keep a beard?

texts: Is it compulsory for a person studying the Vedas to remove all facial hair and just have a Shikha/shendi?


texts:
Kalidasa details about Durvasa's curse on Shakuntala, which makes Dushyanata forget about her. But Mahabharata, in this translation, does not talk about it.
Are there any other scriptures which talk about Durvasa's curse?


texts: What is the importance of Tilak and Chandlo in Swaminarayan Religion?

texts: I just want to know what is the importance of Tilak and Chandlo in Swaminarayan Religion?


texts: What would a Hindu be willing to die for?

texts: What things would a Hindu be willing to die for? Are there any examples of martyrdom occurring in Scriptures, or any reasons a Hindu would be willing to die?


texts: I was looking out for sometime but couldn't find it.e-book, online text,book for sale or any format will be helpful.


texts: Festivals observed on basis of solar cycle

texts: Apart from Sankrantis, are there any other festivals that are observed on the basis on solar cycle and hence fall on the same date every year?


texts: Did Ramakrishna Paramahamsa say that he was an incarnation of Vishnu?

texts:
I remember a story that I heard/read long ago that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa told Swami Vivekananda that what you are seeing before is the same Rama and Krishna who incarnated earlier.

Is it recorded in any biographies? If yes, is it true in advaitic sense that everything is one? Or did Ramakrishna Paramahamsa meant he was incarnation of Vishnu? Any other instances where he said similar thing?


texts:
In the basic details of birth chart, there is a classification of type NADI.
There are three types of Nadi: Adya, Madhya, Antya.
What do this Nadi and the three types signify? Which scripture says about it?


texts: Availability of English translations for commentaries of Gautama Dharmasūtra

texts:
Gautama Dharmasūtra is a Sanskrit text and likely one of the oldest Hindu Dharmasutras (600-200 BCE), whose manuscripts have survived into the modern age.

From this source

  There are two extant commentaries on Gautama Dharmasūtra by Maskarin
  and Haradatta:

  Maskarin can be assigned to – 900–1000 CE and is therefore older than  Haradatta, who also commented on Āpastamba.

  It appears that Haradatta has made extensive use of Maskarin’s commentary, a usage that would amount to plagiarism if it was done today.

Are any English translations for those two commentaries available?


texts: Is there any scripture in which Krishna and Ganesha are performing super-heroic activities together as duo ?


texts: There are 10 Pramanas. Among those, majority of orthodox schools of Hinduism accept at least 3 Pramanas VIZ; Pratyaksha, Anumana and Sabda. Now, do these Pramanas mentioned in the Vedas(Both Karma and Jnana Kanda)? DO the Vedas explicitly say Sabda Pramana should be accepted even if it contradicts Anumana and Pratyaksha?


texts: Can God be angry with their devotees? Help me

texts:
well, my spiritual life is very complicated. Since I became a Hindu, it took me a long time to reveal this to my family. Almost two months ago, I made a promise to Narayan that I would reveal my faith to my relatives (who are devout Christians), but in my misfortune, I did not have the courage to do so and I was unable to keep the promise. It's been almost 2 weeks since I finally had the courage and said to my family, they reacted very badly, but unfortunately I knew that this would happen. Almost 2 months after I made the promise, I finally managed to keep it, but here's the problem. Before that promise, I had many spiritual experiences, especially one where I met Lord Shiva in a puja and meditation session directed at Kali Ma, I even consider Kali Ma to be my Ishta Devata, in that particular event, things happened that made me confirm the truth of that faith that I follow. But ever since I broke that promise, I can't concentrate on any spiritual session, and my doubts, which were no longer there, now come back to me to doubt everything.
I know that many people say that Kali Ma, because of her ferocity, does not like to be left behind, so what frightens me the most is that now I can't keep up with anything because She is mad at me. I really need help, what should I do?


texts: Was worship of 3 times mentioned in Rig Veda III.4.2, a precursor to performing of Sandhyavandana 3 times a day?

texts:
Rig Veda III.4.2, dedicated to Āprīs, says as follows:

  यं देवासस्त्रिरहन्नायजन्ते दिवे-दिवे वरुणो मित्रो अग्निः | सेमं यज्ञं
  मधुमन्तं कर्धी नस्तनूनपाद घर्तयोनिं विधन्तम ||

  yaṃ devāsastrirahannāyajante dive-dive varuṇo mitro aghniḥ | semaṃ
  yajñaṃ madhumantaṃ kṛdhī nastanūnapād ghṛtayoniṃ vidhantam ||

  Tanūnapāt whom the deities - MITRA, VARUNA and AGNI, worship daily thrice a day, render this our sacred rain-engendering sacrifice
  productive of water.

The translation is of H.H. Wilson.

tanun indicates the wind or vAyu

napāt indicates grand son or descendant

So it might indicate grandson or descendant of vAyu.

My questions are:

Who is the Tanūnapāt whom the deities - MITRA, VARUNA and AGNI, worship daily thrice a day?
Was worship of 3 times mentioned in this mantra, a precursor to performing of Sandhyavandana 3 times a day?


texts: How can a soul enjoy or suffer when it is not harmed by anything?

texts:
When a soul can not affect by sadness or happiness then how after death it will feels pleasure or sorrow in heaven or hell.

In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna said:

  Chapter-2 Verse 23

  नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः |
   न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ||२.२३||

  nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ |
   na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ ||2.23||

  Meaning:- The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."

But still in the same scripture He is saying that after death people will go either to hell or heaven according to their "Karma" and there they will enjoy a lot of happiness and share the joy whatever god/Deva used to enjoy. If soul can't be affected by these thing, how can it enjoy or suffer from these things?


texts: Where is the verse "harer nama harer nama....gatir anyatha" found?

texts:
The verse quoted here

  harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
  nāsty eva gatir anyathā

  In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other
  means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the
  holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.

It belongs to Brhan-Naradiya Purana 38.126 as per this. Is Brhan-Naradiya same as Narada purana? But I could not find the verse there in the 38th chapter.

What is the exact source of the verse?


texts: How can killing a Human being and killing an Animal be on the same level?

texts:
Why does Manu Smriti say that by killing certain Animals one should perform the same penance that must be done for killing a Sudra?

Manu 11.131 - Having killed a cat, an ichneumon, a blue jay, a frog, a
dog, an iguana, an owl and a crow,—he shall perform the penance of the
‘Śūdra-killer.

Are Sudras so worse as Animals according to Smritis?


texts: Which Puranas or scriptures contain the sloka purāṇaṃ sarva śāstrāṇāṃ

texts:
Which Puranas or scriptures contain the śloka

पुराणं सर्व शास्त्राणां प्रथमं ब्रह्मणा स्मृतम् ।

अनन्तरं च वक्त्रेभ्यो वेदास्तस्य विनिर्गताः ॥

purāṇaṃ sarva śāstrāṇāṃ prathamaṃ brahmaṇā smṛtam ।

anantaraṃ ca vaktrebhyo vedāstasya vinirgatāḥ ॥

The meaning is "Among all shastras Puranas are the first to be remembered by Brahmā. Later Vedas came out of his mouth."


texts: Was there any warrior who never used celestial wepons?

texts:
We know that most of the warriors used some kind of celestial weapons i.e. astra/shastra.

Was there any warrior who fought on his own power? I mean the power created by himself and not acquired from any god or saint. I am looking examples from Mahabharata, Ramayana or puranas.

Note: Not the wars which are fought magically through power of penance.


texts: If a woman has sex with a man it is considered a gandharva marriage or a type of marriage and marriage is considered for life in Hinduism. So if a mleccha were to marry a mleccha woman who is not a virgin like is common among mleccha culture, wouldn’t it be adultery?


texts: What is the significance of “Aham Bramhasmi”?

texts: We Hindus believe that the supreme lord (Shiva/Vishnu) exists. Then why Aham Bramhamsi came into the picture?


texts: Did Shiva ever give back the power all the other Gods gave him to destroy the Tripuras?

texts:
Chapter 34 Karna Parva of Mahabharata contains the legend of destruction of Tripuras. It is said that all Gods gave power to Shiva.

"'"Sthanu said, 'All your foes should be slain. But, I shall not however, slay them single-handed. The enemies of the gods are possessed of might. Therefore, all of you, united together, consume those enemies of yours in battle, with half my might. Union is great strength.'
"'"The gods said, 'Theirs (Danavas') is twice the energy and might of ourselves, we think, for we have already seen their energy and might.'
"'"The holy one said, 'Those sinful wights that have offended against ye should be slain. With half of my energy and might, slay all those enemies of yours.'
"'"The gods said, 'We will not be able, O Maheswara, to bear half of thy energy. With, on the other hand, half of our united might, do thou slay those foes.'
"'"The holy one said, 'If, indeed, ye have not the ability to bear half of my might, then, endued with half of your united energy, I will slay them.'
"'Duryodhana continued, "The celestials then, addressing the god of gods, said 'So be it' O best of kings. Taking half of their energies from all of them, he became superior in might. Indeed, in might that god became superior to all in the universe. From that time Sankara came to be called Mahadeva. And Mahadeva then said, 'Armed with bow and shaft, I will, from my car, slay in battle those foes of yours, ye denizens of heaven. Therefore, ye gods, see now to my car and bow and shaft so that I may, this very day, throw the Asuras down on the Earth.'

Does any scripture record what happened to all this power the other Gods gave him?


texts: Why gods were unable to save them from curses of human beings?

texts: No offense but I am unable to understand why Hindu gods seems unable to save themselve from curse. For example:- Ganesha was beheaded by Shiva because he was cursed by Sage Kashayapa, Vishnu was cursed by Sage Bhrigu to take avatar on earth and so on. God is supereme authority. Sages attain power to curse by meditating to god. Then how can they curse god? If god is not able to save himself how can he save us? And does it mean that gods can also do mistakes that's why they suffer due to curse?


texts: Which Hindu scriptures discuss Kapāla Mokṣa?

texts:
If you ever attended a Hindu funeral or cremation, you will notice that it is customary to wait until the kapāla (skull) of the deceased cracks. I think this is taken as a sign of the deceased person's soul leaving the body through the skull and thereby attaining mokṣa.

Questions:

Which Hindu scriptures talk about a person's soul attaining mokṣa when the soul leaves the body through an opening in the skull (kapāla)?
Is it also possible for a living sādhu, ṛṣi, yogi etc., in samādhi, to attain kapāla mokṣa?


texts: How much loan was given to Lord Venkateshwara by Kuber?

texts: In the story of Lord Venkateshwara, He had taken loan from Kuber in order to marry Padmavati. Kubera gave the loan on the condition that Vishnu cannot return to Vaikuntha (heavenly abode) without paying off the debt. Lord Vishnu resides at Tirumala as Tirupati Venkateswara without returning to Vaikuntha until the payment is made. To help him repay his debt, devotees offer him wealth and in return Lord Vishnu fulfills their prayers. Through a facebook post, I came to know that daily contributions in Tirupati Temple is approx INR 8 crore. I want to know how much was the loan given by Kuber to Lord Venkateshwara and looking at the contributions whether the loan is still pending and if yes then how much is still pending?


texts:
Manusmriti Chapter 11:

  But a student who has broken his vow shall offer at night on a
  crossway to Nirriti a one-eyed ass, according to the rule of the
  Pakayagnas.

It says if a twice born men, who is a Brahmachari, intentionally emitted his semen, he should offer a one eyed ass to Nirriti. Now, my questions are:

Who is that goddess Nirriti?
Which scripture describes about her?


texts: How to know why did I come to earth and how to retire from it?

texts:
How to know:

Why did I come to earth and how to retire from it?
Can some person remember the reason of his existence by doing Japa or meditation?

The "Who am I?" quest is taking too much depth but actually how to end it?


texts: What is Sapta Vidha Anupapatti? who has written that work?

texts:
Sapta Vidha Anupapatti, also called Seven Untenables is said to be an objection raised against the concept of Avidya of Advaita Vedanta.
I've some questions regarding it:

What is Sapta Vidha Anupapatti or what are the seven untenables?
Though a quick search gives the list and some description of those 7 Anupapattis at advaita-vedanta.org archives.
Who has written the work "Sapta Vidha Anupapatti"?
Is the work written by Sri Ramanujacharya or Sri Vaishnava Acharya? I found one google book authored John A. Grimes. So, is the work carried out by him i.e Did he coin the term "Sapta Vidha Anupapatti" or has Sri Ramanujacharya used that term?
Is the work based on Sri Bhashya or Satadushani? Where Ramanujacharya mentioned those Anupapatti in his bhashya?


texts: What is the life story and miracles associated with Sri ShyAmAcharan lAhiri (mahAshaya)?

texts:
Sri lahiri mahashaya was a well known yogi who lived in Varanasi. He was a householder yogi.

His contribution was immense in propagating yoga.

What is his life story?

What are the books written by him ?

What are the miracles associated with him?


texts: What is the true meaning of mat-karma in the Bhagavad Gita?

texts:
In the Bhagavad Gita we have it at least in two places:

mat-karma paramo bhava - (12.10) and
mat-karma-kṛit mat-paramo - (11-55)

We know the literal meaning of mat-karma. For instance in the Shankara Bhashya we have the explanation as "madarthe karma matkarma; tat karoti iti matkarmakrit". That is "Working for God" or doing "God's Work." But how do we know what God's work is and what isn't ? I know for a fact that many spiritual/religious organisations claim that their work is God's work. It may very well be true. But is it just a matter of faith or is there a rigorous explanation ? After all even people who commit unbearable atrocities on other people claim that they are following "God's Will" and doing "God's Work."

I did find some details here but it doesn't address the core question that I have.


texts:
Can we visit Shani temple after visiting the main Deity?

We went to Batu caves and had darshan of Lord Subramanya. While coming down we saw another temple which we thought was of a goddess but it was a Shani Temple.

Somehow I'm disturbed that I should not have visited that. Is there any thing in the scriptures forbidding this?


texts: Is working according to desire is right dharma

texts:
Yesterday, I was watching Mahabharata on StarPlus. There Durodhan puts a question that if god has given us mind to think, through which we can desire. Then why working according to our desire is wrong thing.

I could not get why he is wrong.

Can anyone please guide me the correct way.


texts: Some questions on 'Dharma vs Sanatana Dharma'

texts:
As to burn is the dharma of the fire, the dharma of a being is to be of it's own nature.
If dharma is 'the execution of' laws of nature, why is sanatana dharma not applied out of India?
According to vedas, sanatana dharma have sets of instructions to be followed by particular person.
While
dharma is to
accept,
obey,
support and
follow the laws of nature,

sanatana dharma seems to support animal sacrifices(though not at mass scale or by limit in quantity), self defence (at many costs), and is not universal with dharma.
Also vaidic dharma is not supposed to be studied by non-vaidic people.
Is dharma only meant for humans?
What is the definition of 'dharma', and is it different from 'sanatana dharma'?
Is sanatana dharma partial towards non-vaidic people?
Does nature support it?


texts: Are Hindus descendants of Surya and Chandra Vamshis?

texts:
Are all Hindus, or at least all Indian Hindus descendants of Suryavamshis and Chandravamshis?

Kindly through some light.


texts:
Harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva  Chapter 34 describes as to how viShNu takes varAha avatAra to lift the Earth from Netherworld

There is a legend of creation in the Taittiriya Brahmana.

In the beginning there was nothing except water and a lotus leaf
standing out of it. Prajapati dived in the shape of a boar and brought
up some earth and spread it out and fastened it down by pebbles. This
was the earth.

Similar story appears in Satapatha brahmana.

He desired, 'May it become more than one, may it reproduce itself!' He
toiled and practised austerity; and worn out with toil and austerity,
he created foam. He was aware that 'this indeed looks different, it is
becoming more (than one): I must toil, indeed!' Worn out with toil and
austerity, he created clay, mud, saline soil and sand, gravel
(pebble), rock, ore, gold, plants and trees: therewith he clothed this
earth.

Peculiarly, a mantra is available in Rig Veda II.20.7

sa vṛtrahendraḥ kṛṣṇayonīḥ purandaro dāsīrairayad vi | ajanayan manave
kṣāmapaśca satrā śaṃsaṃ yajamānasya tūtot ||
Smasher of Vr̥tra, splitter of fortresses, Indra razed the Dāsa
(fortresses) with their dark wombs. He gave birth to the earth and the
waters for Manu. In every way he makes the sacrificer’s laud powerful.

My question is - Was the creation of Earth story has roots in the Rig Veda or somewhere else?


texts: Source of Lord Subrahmanya killing demons Surapadma and Simhavaktra

texts:
There are stories, particularly in Tamil Nadu (and possibly other places too), involving the battle between Lord Subrahmanya and the Asuras. This incident is described in many Puranas. And all the Puranas I have read say a rakshasa named Tarakasura was killed by The Lord Subrahmanya.

But some variations of the story claim The Lord killed three rakshasas. Their names are Sura(padma), Tarakasura, and Simhavaktra.

Interestingly enough, the famous stotra on Lord Sri Subrahmanya Subrahmanya Bhujangam, which is attributed to Sri Adi Sankara (which I doubt), has a slokha that refers to the three asuras

  सहस्राण्डभोक्ता त्वया शूरनामा
  हतस्तारकः सिंहवक्त्रश्च दैत्यः ।
  ममान्तर्हृदिस्थं मनःक्लेशमेकं
  न हंसि प्रभो किं करोमि क्व यामि ॥  २३ ॥

So it appears there was some basis for this story, and I am interested in any facts / references in this regard.

additional notes:

Many works and compositions are attributed to His Holiness Sri Adi Sankaracharya, and this may also be one. Nonetheless I like that stotra very much, and it is beautifully composed with bhakti-rasa (and also for the Sanskrit language). I like hymns on all the deities for the devotional content, but understanding the origin, and the Puranic basis for some of these events is a separate concern of mine. That is the context here.
Some Puranas, such as Sri Skanda Purana, also claim The Lord killed a demon by name Mahishasura (in addition to Tarakasura), who according to the Devi Mahatmyam was killed by Goddess Parvati / Durga - but this is not the subject of this question, though interesting & wanted to mention it.

All that said, my questions are -

Does any one know the possible source of this story of Lord Subrahmanya killing the three aforementioned rakshasas?
The second question is, does this occur in the Tamil version of The Skanda Purana? There is a work in Tamil called "Kandha Puranam" (like Kamba Ramayana and VilliputhurAr Bharata) composed by one saint called Kacchiyappa Shivacharyar. Does any one know if this version has this story?


texts: Origin of the concepts of chatur-yugas and pralaya?

texts: It was suggested during a discussion in facebook that the apocalyptic prophecies in Bhagavata Purana and Bhavishya Purana was a result of Christian influence brought into India during the time of apostle St.Thomas(quite possibly a myth) or by early Christians like the Syrian Christians. What is the earliest known source among Hindu texts which talks about the concept of Pralaya and Chaturyuga?


texts: Where else is the movement of living entity within the womb is narrated apart from Bhagavata?

texts: Canto 3 of Bhagavata Purana, chapter 31 describes the movement of the soul in the womb of a human mother. Is it described in any other purana in greater detail?


texts: Which Ocean did samudra manthan take place in?

texts: Do we know where exactly did samudra manthan occur and  if it ever did go on ?


texts: Book recommendation for Srimad Valmiki Ramayana ( with commentary )

texts:
It will be extremely useful if some one here can recommend a good translated version of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, either in English or Kannada.

I have considered C. Rajagopalachari's edition, but I am not sure if it's Valmiki Ramayana or Kamba Ramayana.

Regards


texts: Why God doesn't show any minor sakshatkaram as a ray or lightning in present 21st century?

texts:
Unless God shows some sort of his/her power when devotee prays atleast by a ray or lightning mode of sakshatkaram in present 21st century belief will gets diminished?

Are there any Maha Guru's similar to Saptharishi's now in present 2019/2020 in 21st century?

Just placing Guru's hand on top of a person's head who suffered from a brain stroke should get healed instantly. Are there any Guru's now who can heals and liberate the person from sufferings with his/her tapo shakthi instantly like Saptharishis in present 21st century?


texts: Why should a girl leave her home after marriage?

texts: After the marriage, the wife has to live at her husband's home. What do our scriptures say about this custom?


texts: Can one learn the Upanishads (Jnana Kanda) without learning Karma Kanda of Vedas?

texts: Can a person learn Jnana Kanda of Vedas without learning the Karma Kanda? Is there any rule like one should learn the Samhithas and Brahmanas first, then only he can proceed to Jnana kanda?


texts: Why are the Himalayas often associated with gurus and rishis?

texts:
Are there any reasons for it, or is it just the peaceful environment.

Are there anymore places, which act as a popular dwelling places for the gurus and rishis?


texts:
We all are aware of different types of food i.e satvik, rajas and tamas also why  some type of food should not be eaten by the yogis or how many times a yogi must eat during the day but my question is do we have any rules for drinking water? For instance how many times or how much water should a yogi drink?

Reason for asking is because now we usually get treated water everywhere that has chlorine and chloramine which does have impact on our pineal gland and for yogis pineal gland activation is really important.

Ideally I would like to see scriptural references in the answers, if possible.


texts: Were Lakshmi and Saraswati sisters of Ganesha and Kartikeya?

texts: Some people say that both Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati are sisters of Lord Shiva's sons Ganesha and Kartikeya. Is this true or false?


texts: Do Vedas describe about Rudra riding on a black chariot driven by red horses, about wearing golden jewellery and holding pinaka bow and deadly arrows?

texts: I have read or found that he is also mentioned as the lord of thieves and robbers (taskaranaam pati), wears golden jewellery, rides on chariot & carries deadly weapon. He was also considered as a good physician or surgeon. Please describe about it briefly.


texts: Why do Bengalis celebrate Kali Puja during Diwali?

texts: I don't know why, during Diwali, the Bengalis celebrate Kali Puja? Why don't they worship Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha?


texts: Do stars come back to the exact same positions after completion of the axial precession cycle?

texts:
Do stars come to exact same positions in next same age after completion of axial precession (after all other stars/ astrological sign ruling days are over, the current one comes again after full cycle) as endless cycles of Kalachakra or they have unique, random positions after completion of axial precession.

If the former is true would it imply the exact same star positions mentioned in Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata repeat again in each axial precession during the same ruling stars?


texts: Do any Vedic verses depict Lord Vishnu to be supreme?

texts: Are there any verses from Vedas and the Upanishads that show Lord Vishnu as supreme?


texts: Are the rituals, puja methods, dieties artis mentioned anywhere in Hindu scriptures?

texts:
Do these things exist anywhere in Hindu scriptures (Vedas, upnishads, Geeta etc.)?

Or are they later created by Brahmins?


texts: Is there any clean procedure by mantra (Sudhhi Mantra) for Mala of Rudraksha?

texts:
if the mala not maintain clean then it will lead to curse ?
 some of the shop selling the mala  told me it must maintain in clean and more powerful, and if we not maintain properly then it will result the curse, is there any clean procedure with mantra to avoid curse?.


texts: Which king Janamejaya killed a Brahmin woman?

texts:
In the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, just like in the Shanti Parva, Bhishma gives advice to Yudishthira and concerning how to be a good king and how to be good person, while he is lying on a bed of arrows after the end of the Kurukshetra war.  In this chapter, Bhishma tells Yudhisthira about an ancient dialogue between Brahma and the sage Vasishta on the subject of what determines one's future, one's actions in the present birth or the destiny created by one's actions in past births.  Brahma gives some examples to illustrate that it's a combination of both current actions and destiny:

  In olden times, Yayati, falling from his high estate in heaven descended on the Earth but was again restored to the celestial regions by the good deeds of his virtuous grandsons. The royal sage Pururavas, celebrated as the descendant of Ila, attained to heaven through the intercession of the Brahmanas. Saudasa, the king of Kosala, though dignified by the performance of Aswamedha and other sacrifices, obtained the status of a man-eating Rakshasa, through the curse of a great Rishi. Aswatthaman and Rama, though both warriors and sons of Munis, failed to attain to heaven by reason of their own actions in this world. Vasu, though he performed a hundred sacrifices like a second Vasava, was sent to the nethermost regions, for making a single false statement. Vali, the son of Virochana, righteously bound by his promise, was consigned to the regions under the Earth, by the prowess of Vishnu. Was not Janamejaya, who followed the foot-prints of Sakra, checked and put down by the gods for killing a Brahmana woman? Was not the regenerate Rishi Vaisampayana too, who slew a Brahmana in ignorance, and was polluted by the slaughter of a child, put down by the gods? In olden times the royal sage Nriga became transmuted into a lizard. He had made gifts of kine unto the Brahmanas at his great sacrifice, but this availed him not. The royal sage Dhundhumara was overwhelmed with decrepitude even while engaged in performing his sacrifices, and foregoing all the merits thereof, he fell asleep at Girivraja. The Pandavas too regained their lost kingdom, of which they had been deprived by the powerful sons of Dhritarashtra, not through the intercession of the fates, but by recourse to their own valour. Do the Munis of rigid vows, and devoted to the practice of austere penances, denounce their curses with the aid of any supernatural power or by the exercise of their own puissance attained by individual acts?

Now many of these stories are recognizable: the story of Yayati falling from and going back to Devaloka described in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, the story of Pururavas and Urvashi, the story of Saudasa turning into the demon Kalmashapada, the story of Parashurama, the story of Vamana defeating Mahabali, the story of Vaishampayana incurring the sin of Brahmahatya discussed in my answer here, and the story of Nriga turning into a lizard discussed in my answer here.  And there's the story of the Pandavas defeating the Kauravas, which is interesting because it suggests that the Mahabharata war happened before in an earlier age and Bhishma knew the outcome.

But my question is, what is Brahma referring to when he says "Was not Janamejaya, who followed the foot-prints of Sakra, checked and put down by the gods for killing a Brahmana woman?"  Who is this king Janamejaya?

I suppose it could be Arjuna's great-grandson Janamejaya; if Brahma is describing a previous iteration of the Mahabharata then he could be referring to the Janamejaya of that iteration.  Or it could be one of the other kings with the name Janamejaya who are mentioned in the Puranas and the like.  Does anyone know if any scriptures mention a king named Janamejaya killing a Brahmana woman?


texts: Who were Paravatas and Bṛsaya mentioned in the Rig Vedic mantras?

texts:
Rig Veda VI.61 describes  elimination of Paravatas and Bṛsaya by Saraswati.

2 She with her might, like one who digs for lotus-stems, hath burst
with her strong waves the ridges of the hills. Let us invite with
songs and holy hymns for help Sarasvatī who slayeth the Paravatas.
3 Thou castest down, Sarasvatī, those who scorned the Gods, the brood
of every Bṛsaya skilled in magic arts. Thou hast discovered rivers
for the tribes of men, and, rich in wealth! made poison flow away from
them.

Who were Paravatas (पारावत) and Bṛsaya (बर्सय) mentioned in the mantras mentioned above?
Was this Rig Vedic episode, a source for composing Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptasathi?


texts: What do canonical scriptures say about the Narasimha-Sharabha-Pratyangira Devi-Ganda-Bherunda saga?

texts:
This multi-layered saga seems to have been an epic tussle between Vishnu and Siva partisan story tellers.
This question is not a duplicate of the question
What is the story of Sharaba?
in answers to which questionable sources have been cited by posters.
This question asks for verifiable answers drawn only from canonical scriptures like major Puranas and seeks to leave an unbiased record of the sectarian escalation ladder on this topic.
For example

hantum abyaagatam roudram sarabham narakEsaree /Nakhair vidaarayaamaasa hiraNyakasipum yathaa // (~varAha purAna)
Meaning: The half-man, half-lion (Narasimha) killed the violent Sharabha who had approached him (for battle) by lacerating Sharabha with his nails in a similar manner as in the case of Hiranyakasipu

(the Sanskrit is really mediocre in this citation - I don't see Vyasa writing such verse).
Vishnu purana doesn't being Siva into this at all - although it has Vishnu killing a Hiranyakashipu who had repented:

And the great Asura repented of his former cruelty, and treated him with kindness; and Prahlada, fulfilling his duties like any other youth, continued diligent in the service of his preceptor and his father. After his father had been put to death by Visnu in the form of the man-lion. Prahlada became the sovereign of the Daityas

Once Siva gets into the picture all kinds of outcomes arise:
(1) Sharabha kills/defeats Narasimha and the latter recovers his Satvika self and returns to the heavens.  this is well documented in Puranas and in sculpture (like the UN World Heritage site Airavateswara temple )
(2) Either Narasimha or a fiercer form (Ganda Bherunda) kills Sharabha  - this doesn't seem to be documented in canonical Puranas, although there are blogs that claim this version of events is in Vaishnavite Puranas.
(3) they are both pacified by Pratyangira Devi
(4) Other outcomes I am not aware of
Can someone post (only) what is in canonical Sanskrit scriptures about this matter (I am not interested in regional follow-up legends)?


texts: Arrangement of Horses in Arjuna's chariot

texts:
Arjuna's chariot had 4 horses, or we can say all the important warriors had chariots with four horses.

I want to know how these four horses were arranged, were they placed parallel to each other or were they placed in two rows of two.

As Arjuna's chariot was special, it might have a different arrangement than others.

It would be better to give reference to verses, instead of referring to pictures.


texts: Can meditation be a substitute to sleeping?

texts:
I would like to know whether meditation can be a substitute to sleeping? I mean, can we meditate at night without sleeping?

The Great Adi Sankaracharya said:

  The witness of the three states of consciousness [waking, dream and
  deep sleep] and of the nature of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss is the
  Self

Do we really need sleep? Because in meditation too we are thoughtless and not doing any physical work.

I would like to know if there are any scriptural references to this.


texts: What is the the mantra being chanted in this video?

texts:
Could someone please tell me what mantra the person in this video is chanting?

If you do know could I have the words for this chant please.


texts: what is the religious significance of the nine yards saree?

texts: Brahmin ladies in the South wear it on religious occasions.  It goes as far north as Maharashtra as far as I know.


texts: Is it mentioned in the Vedas about the need or process of initiation?

texts:
The process by which a Guru initiates a disciple into a mantra is called Mantra Diksha.

Is it mentioned in the Vedas about this process or about other forms of Dikshas?


texts: Do the Vedas mention that the Vedas are divine in origin?

texts: Do the Vedas say that they are divine in origin. Or a revelation from God himself.


texts:
17 Indra himself hath said, The mind of woman brooks not discipline,
Her intellect hath little weight.

This is the translation by Ralph t Griffith.
And it is also in the wiki.
What is the correct translation of rig veda book 8 hymn 33 verse 17(Please give multiple translations) .


texts:
When there's Ganesha Chaturthi going on, people say that we shouldn't look at the moon on the day of immersion (visarjan) as its counted as a bad omen.

So why did he cursed the moon and why is that, we shouldn't look at the moon?


texts: How does one come to realize that atman is brahman?

texts:
Perhaps everybody has asked this question, but risking repetition, I'd like to ask, that once we realise the nature of our first person subjective awareness that experiences everything, how does one come to conclude that that atman, which is his personal "self", expands to encapsulate all living/non-living things?

I know that matter doesn't do a good job of explaining self-identity if you recall the Ship of theseus thought experiment, so this "self", if it exists, and it clearly does because I can directly experience my existence.

How does then, the concept of infinite consciousness arise?
Is it due to the nature of space: because as we move through space, we move our awareness to a different location in space (kind of like moving a diya around a dark room, illuminating different parts of the room).
If not, is it akin to the thought of panpsychism, which explains subjective experience by postulating the presence of consciousness as a fundamental feature of matter, aka consciousness being derived from matter at the most fundamental level?


texts:
Bhagavad gita 2.16 says

  नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः।

  उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः।।2.16।।

Following is Bhagavadpad Adi Shankracharya's commentary:

  न हि शीतोष्णादि सकारणं प्रमाणैर्निरूप्यमाणं वस्तु सम्भवति। विकारो हि
  सः विकारश्च व्यभिचरति। यथा घटादिसंस्थानं चक्षुषा निरूप्यमाणं
  मृद्वयतिरेकेणानुपलब्धेरसत् तथा सर्वो विकारः
  कारणव्यतिरेकेणानुपलब्धेरसन्।

  ...

  यद्विषया बुद्धिर्न  व्यभिचरति तत् सत् यद्विषया व्यभिचरति तदसत् इति
  सदसद्विभागे बुद्धितन्त्रे स्थिते सर्वत्र द्वे बुद्धी सर्वैरुपलभ्येते
  समानाधिकरणे न नीलोत्पलवत् सन् घटः सन् पटः सन् हस्ती इति। एवं सर्वत्र।
  तयोर्बुद्धयोः घटादिबुद्धिः व्यभिचरति। तथा च दर्शितम्। न तु सद्बुद्धिः।
  तस्मात् घटादिबुद्धिविषयः असन् व्यभिचारात् न तु सद्बुद्धिविषयः
  अव्यभिचारात्।।

Following is English Translation Of Sri Shankaracharya's Sanskrit Commentary By Swami Gambirananda:

  Asatah, of the unreal, of cold, heat, etc. together with their causes;
  na vidyate, there is no; bhavah, being, existence, reality; because
  heat, cold, etc. together with their causes are not substantially real
  when tested by means of proof. For they are changeful, and whatever is
  changeful is inconstant. As configurations like pot etc. are unreal
  since they are not perceived to be different from earth when tested by
  the eyes,

  ...

  That in relation to which the awareness does not change is real; that
  in relation to which it changes is unreal. Thus, since the distinction
  between the real and the unreal is dependent on awareness, therefore
  in all cases (of empirical experiences) everyone has two kinds of
  awarenesses with regard to the same substratum: (As for instance, the
  experiences) 'The pot is real', 'The cloth is real', 'The elephant is
  real' (which experiences) are not like (that of) 'A blue lotus'. [In
  the empirical experience, 'A blue lotus', there are two awarenesses
  concerned with two entities, viz the substance (lotus) and the ality
  (blueness). In the case of the experience, 'The pot is real', etc. the
  awarenesses are not concerned with substratum and alities, but the
  awareness of pot,of cloth, etc. are superimposed on the awareness of
  'reality', like that of 'water' in a mirage.] This is how it happens
  everywhere. [The coexistence of 'reality' and 'pot' etc. are valid
  only empirically according to the non-dualists; whereas the
  coexistence of 'blueness' and 'lotus' is real according to the
  dualists.] Of these two awareness, the awareness of pot etc. is
  inconstant; and thus has it been shown above. But the awareness of
  reality is not (inconstant). Therefore the object of the awareness of
  pot etc. is unreal because of inconstancy; but not so the object of
  the awareness of reality, because of its constancy.

Here is the complete commentary: https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad?language=dv&field_chapter_value=2&field_nsutra_value=16&show_tej=1&httyn=1&htshg=1&scsh=1&setgb=1

In light to this, what I understood is this:

That which changes is asat and which doesn't is sat.
Pot consist of two things; clay and pot form. When pot form is superimposed on clay we get a pot.
The commentary is claiming that pot form is asat because it changes.

Please let me know if my understanding is incorrect.

Now, is the pot form asat?

If yes, then please explain this argument:

  Even though the pot might break, the pot form wouldn't change. The
  pot form is actually imprinted in our mind which remains constant. So,
  pot form should be sat.

If your answer is no or that we can't say, then please explain what is asat here according to the commentary.


texts: Is organ donation allowed? Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice?

texts:
According to some religions, donating the human organs (especially after one's death) is considered a good practice.

So is it a good thing to do according to Hindu scripture?

Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice one way or other?


texts: Why is human life limited according to Hinduism?

texts:
Why is the human life limited? Why is it not infinite like gods .

This would help the humans to correct our mistakes and to lead a peaceful life without any greed or fear of losing any one.

Why god gave us limited life?


texts: What is the supernatural race called the "Uraga"?

texts:
This is not a duplicate because I'm specifically asking about the Uragas.

"Uragas" are mentioned as a supernatural race in the Manusmriti alongside other celestial/supernatural races like the Daityas, Rakshasas, Kinnaras, etc:

  3.196 - The Barhisads, the sons of Atri, are declared to be the Pitṛs of Daityas, Dānavas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Uragas, Rākṣasas, Suparṇas and Kinnaras.

Medhatithi does not even comment on what Uragas are.

All the other species are well known.


texts: What is the story of the Lakshmi Narayana statue in Srivilliputhur?

texts:
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to Srivilliputhur, which is the birthplace of two of the 12 Alwars, namely Periyalwar and his daughter Andal.  Srivilliputhur has two Vishnu temples: the Andal temple, where Andal was born, and the Vadapatrasayee temple, which is the actual Divya Desam of the place and inside which Periyalwar was born.  Now the main statue of the latter temple is Vadapatrasayee Perumal, a green-color statue of Vishnu lying down on the serpent Adiseshan. The story of the temple is that once Vishnu took an incarnation as Varaha to defeat the demon Kalanemi, then he turned back into Vishnu and took rest, lying down under a banyan tree.

But there is one more Vishnu statue in the ground floor of the Vadapatrasayee temple.  It's called Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, and it depicts Vishnu sitting with Lakshmi on his lap.  It's a very ancient statue, in fact it was Periyalwar's Kuladevata.

My question is, what is the story of the Lakshmi Narayana Perumal statue in Srivilliputhur?  Is it also connected to the story of Vishnu killing Kalanemi?  Or was it installed by Villi, who built the Srivilliputhur temple? It has to be quite old if it was worshiped by Periyalwar's family for generations.


texts: Who is Villiputhur Bagavar, the Vaishnava Brahmin who refused to associate with ordinary Brahmins?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, the famous Sri Vaishnava Acharya Ramanujacharya once visited the town of Thirukkolur in order to see the Vaithamanidhi Perumal Vishnu temple, when he saw a little girl walking out of the town.  He asked her, given that everyone wants to go into to Thirukkolur to see Sriman Narayana, why would she ever want to go out of the town? She responded with a set of 81 statements, now known as the Thirukkolur Penpillai Rahasyam, or "the secret told by the little girl from Thirukkolur".  She listed 81 great devotees of Vishnu, the implication being "Since I am not like these illustrious devotees, why does it matter whether I'm in Thirukkolur or not?"
Now in my question here, I asked about the statement, concerning the demon Khandakarna who got Moksha by worshiping Krishna.  But now I'm interested in the last statement, "thuRai vERu seydhEnO pagavaraip pOlE", meaning "Am I like Bagavar?"  The story as I understand it goes roughly as follows.  There was once a Vaishnava Brahmana named Villiputtur Bagavar who lived in Thiruvahindrapuram, the site of the Devanatha Perumal Vishnu temple which I discuss here.  Like other Brahmanas, every day he would perform Sandhyavandanam in the local river, except he would do so in a different part of the river than the rest of them.  The other Brahmanas were confused by his behavior, so one day they asked him why he didn't want to perform Sandhyavandanam with them.  He explained, "You are only doing your Varnashrama Dharma for the sake of material rewards, either in this world or the next.  But I am doing my Varnashrama Dharma as a service to Sriman Narayana, and my only goal is Moksha.  So I don't want have any association with you."  Here's how this webpage describes it:

In Thiruvayindrapuram lived a Srivaishnava called Villipuththur Bagavar. When he went to the river to perform his daily anushatanams, he would always go to a different part of the river and not to the place where most others would go. One time the Brahmins who were in their area of the river asked Bagavar "O! Swami. Why do you not perform your anushatanams in our place?" Bagavar replied "We are Srivaishnavas that follow Swami Ramanuja. We perform these nityanushatanams only as a service to Sriman Narayana. You are brahmins that follow varNashrama dharma. You perform the nityanushtanams as part of your varNa. Therefore, the two of us cannot mix". Bagavar was either a brahmin who had understood the true nature of the soul or was a sanyasi.
Thirukkolur Ammal is asking "Did I understand the greatness of service and separate from those who follow only the dharma anushatana?"

My question is, who is this Villiputhur Bagavar, and when did he live?  The webpage quoted above calls him a "Srivaishnava", so did he live after the establishment of the Sri Vaishnava sect by Nathamuni (whom I discuss here)?  Or is he a more ancient devotee of Vishnu mentioned in the Puranas or other scriptures?
And is his name really Bagavar, or is that just a Tamil spelling of Bhagavata, which is a term for followers of Pancharatra (as I discuss here)?  Also, Villiputtur is a town which is now known as Srivilliputtur, and it's the birthplace of two Alwars, Periyalwar and his daughter Andal.  If "Villiputtur Bagavar" really means "the Bhagavata from Srivilliputtur", then it could refer to Periyalwar.  Did he ever live in Thiruvahindrapuram?
By the way, if it helps, this webpage says that the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Manavala Mamunigal mentions the story in his Jnana Saram Vyakhyanam.  Also, the ashram of the Sri Ramanuja Mission Trust, a Sri Vaishnava charitable organization, has a statue of Villiputhur Bagavar among their statues of Sri Vaishnava Acharyas:

But that may just be because he's a figure revered by Sri Vaishnavas.


texts: Verses and Mantras in Veda/ any Hindu Scripture, which speak about Time, Space and Space-time relationship (Spacetime curvature)

texts:
Are there Verses/Mantras in Veda, any Hindu Scripture which speak about Time, speak about Space, speak about Space-time relationship (Space-time curvature)

(I dont know what Spacetime Curvature is; I simply used it)


texts: What is the significance behind saffron and turmeric mixed rice shower in hindu marriage?

texts: In south indian hindu marriages bride and groom shower each other with turmeric rice. what is the reason/story behind this ritual practice? Some says it is the significance of glory, desire for happiness, enjoyment and contentment. How come it represents desire for happiness, enjoyment and contentment?


texts:
Vedi or Havan kunda is the place or figure inside which holy fire or yagyagni is lit. My  question is how many type of vedi's are possible? and what are its technical specs which should be followed while building it? Can a copper utensil (also known as tamra vedi or tamrakunda) be used for small yagnas?
This is what tamrakunda looks like


texts: Five bhavas as explained by Sri Ramakrishna

texts:
The concepts of 'bhava' is different in the Tantras and the Puranas. Sri Chaitanya mentions five bhavas to worship Sri Krishna, each corresponding to a particular relation with God -Santa, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhura, of which, Madhura is the highest form. (As per Sri Chaitanyacharitamrita,it was Ray Ramananda who mentioned these five bhavas to Mahaprabhu).

In tantra, bhava means the state of wisdom. There are three bhavas-Pashu, Veera and Divya.

Sri Ramakrishna got siddhi in all the five bhavas mentioned by Mahaprabhu as recorded in Sri Sri Ramakrishnaleelaprasanga.
Besides these,in His Kathamrita, He mentions five bhavas to worship Bhagavati : Veera, Dasi, Sakhi, Bhagni and Santana, each corresponding to a particular relation with the Goddess, santana bhava being the best. He says that He used all of these except the veera bhava.

Is there any scriptural evidence of these last five or are these Sri Ramakrishna's own innovations or contributions?


texts: What happens after death according to Adavita Vedanta?

texts:
According to Advaita Vedanta, the true Self is the immortal soul, which is never born and never dies.
Then how does the law of Karma apply to this philosphy? What will happen to a person who has lived his/her life by ill means and oppressed the downtrodden? Abrahamic religions believe in an all powerful entity called Allah or God, who takes care of the sins committed by man and they are sent to heaven/ hell accordingly. We do have a similar (not same) concept in some philosophical schools of Hinduism as well such as that of reincarnation. But what does Advaita Vedanta say?
If the Self is the ever-blissful consciousness, then does that mean it has never ever committed any sin  and not even experienced the sadistic pleasure he thought he was experiencing ? And does that mean he will not get the results of his bad deeds ? If we consider the Upanishadic concept of the Brahman being the ocean and the Atman being a wave/drop, then where does the concept of Swarg/Narak fit in?
I am really confused. Any help shall be highly appreciated.


texts: Do deities other than Brahma, Vishnu, Devi etc. have the power to create other universes?

texts:
I am aware that in many Hindu texts, famously the Puranas, explained that the gods Brahma creates universes constantly, Vishnu constantly creates universes by inhaling and exhaling also infinite universes are constantly coming out of his body pores, and that the goddess Devi hold the title of Anekakotibrahmandajanani (One who gives birth to millions of universes.)
Are there any other gods that have the power to do so, or is this power only limited to those three?


texts: How does one attain the specific heavenly realms situated above Earth?

texts:
Above Earth, there are 7 heavenly realms: Bhuvaloka, Suvaloka, Mahaloka, Janaloka, Tapaloka, Satyaloka, Vaikunta. Swarga of Indra is situated in Suvarloka for example. Gandharvaloka, among other lokas, is situated in Bhuvaloka. Mahaloka, etc are realms of Rishis.

The yajnas in the vedas yield the fruit of swarga as a reward, but the word swarga is generic and just means heaven, and not necessarily Indra's swarga.

Who inhabits each of these heavens and how does one get to each heaven specifically?


texts: If I survive after the destruction of my body then is it not true that me and my body are seperate ? If yes, then where do I live without the body ? ( Please answer according to the school you believe to be true.)


texts: What scriptures describe Lokas and who goes to them after death?

texts: There are 7 higher Lokas and 7 lower Lokas. I want to know about what scriptures describe each Loka and how it is decided which person goes to which Loka after death.


texts: How does Mother Parvati change Her form to Mother Sati?

texts:
As per the answer to the question :  Wouldn't most of the incarnations of Devi be of Sati, not Parvati?

  Thus after six months of Brahma, present Parvati also leaves her body and then after certain time she is again born and Lord Shiva marries her again and again and again. So the cycle continues.

So it seems that the Mother Goddess takes two alternative forms Sati and Parvati for being consort of Lord Shiva. Sati leaves Her body at the Daksha-yajna. How and when does Parvati leave Her body to be born again as Sati?

Please cite proper sources.


texts: Garuda Sannidhi in Kanchipuram Varadaraja Temple

texts: In most Vishnu temples, there will be a sannidhi for Garuda facing the Moolavar. In Varadaraja temple in Kanchipuram, there is a Garuda sanndhi for Narasimha shrine, but not for Varadaraja shrine which is atop the Narasimha shrine. If Varadaraja shrine is on a small hillock as opposed to first floor of the temple and if Narasimha shrine is at the foot of hillock as discussed here then both shrines are different. Then why is there no Garuda sannidhi for Varadaraja shrine?


texts:
Pitrus are our ancestors who have deceased.And "Tarpanam" means "to satiate". Pitru Tarpanam is done to please our deceased ancestors with offerings of black sesame seeds mixed with water.

It can be done yearly in the Pitru Paksha,monthly on each Amavasya Tithi(also known as the Pitru Tithi) or even daily.

Question-Usually done by sons of the family  can it also be done by women of the family?Can women perform Shraddha or Pitru Tarpanam?

As per moonstar2001 No, they can't .

  No @Rickross, they are not(allowed to do tarpanam). The only place they are allowed to do so
  is matru gaya, according to scholars.

As per Agasthiar.org ,Yes they can.

  Can women do tharpanam? The answer is YES. Sathguru Venkataraman gave
  us the revolutionary idea (in the 1980s) that women can do pitru
  tharpanam just as well as men. Think of this key point: If there are
  no sons in a family, does that mean the ancestors should be starved of
  tharpanam? The answer is NO. The daughters can certainly do tharpanam.
  For a man who had daughters but no sons, will anyone do tharpanam with
  more mental involvement and dedication than his own daughters? NO. So
  these daughters can certainly do tharpanam for this (departed) man.
  Note further that if others do tharpanam for this (departed) man, it
  will be karunya tharpanam and not pitru tharpanam. Whereas, if his
  daughters do it, it will be direct, full fledged pitru tharpanam.However there is a condition viz :Women should use white sesame seeds in their tharpanam.

As per Sanatan.org Yes they can.:

  Son (including the one whose threading ceremony has not been done),
  daughter, grandson, great grandson, wife, daughter’s son (if he is one
  of the heirs), real brother, nephew, cousin’s son, father, mother,
  daughter-in-law, son of elder and younger sisters, maternal uncle,
  anyone in the seven generations and from the same lineage (sapinda),
  anyone after the seven generations and belonging to the same family
  domain (samanodak), disciple, priests (upadhyay), friend, son-in-law
  of the deceased person can perform Shraddha in that order.However,The woman performing shraddha should place a clean cotton cloth on her shoulder while performing ‘Savya-Apasavya’

As per this PDF too,women are allowed to do Tarpanam.:

  Facing south,  Yagnopavit  in  Upsvena  position (women should keep
  hair lock on left shoulder), left knee  touching ground, right knee
  up,  pavitri  removed from  anamika  finger, one should hold tight two
  pieces of  darbha,  bent in the middle, by thumb and side of palm.


texts: How is Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, described in Hindu scriptures?

texts:
Sacred Mount Kailash (कैलाश) is the abode of Lord Shiva. Shiva, who embodies the destroyer aspect of the trinity of God {Trimurti} is said to reside at Mt. Kailash.

How is this Kailash mountain described in Hindu scriptures? (its description, its surroundings, plant and animal life etc.)


texts: Does Puri Sankaracharya or other teachers say what aspects of the British Raj were divine and based on Manusmriti?

texts:
Hindi video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eI-hC7Aqs around 8:05

Their (British) rule had its glaring negativities thanks to their mental devilry, but whatever trace of divinity it had was due to Manusmriti.

So, what aspects of the Raj were divine and how were they in accord with Manusmriti?  Has the Sankaracharya or other teachers explained this in more detail?


texts:
While looking up vikarma, I'm not finding any specifics. Most translations I read say "sinful" or "forbidden" activities, but that's not very specific. It doesn't really say what these "sinful" or "forbidden" activities are. One even says "work without sense"; what does that mean?

Can someone clear this up for me, and explain in detail what is vikarma and what kind of actions build it?


texts: Is the rivalry between Sugriva and Vali overdramatic?

texts:
It is explained that Vali (also called Bali in North India) was a proper and powerful king. In the beginning also, there is no incident of rivalry between Sugriva and Vali. While chasing Dundubhi demon, Vali told Sugriva to wait outside. Sugriva did only what he was told.

But why did Vali get angry with him later?

Vali's anger is not justified since he was a proper king. I also find something missing because he is not supposed to get angry because Sugriva accepted Vali's position as a king when Bali came back.


texts: Where can one find online the 15 tithi khadagmalas which are chanted as per tithi?

texts:
Looking for Tithi Khadagmalas (15 Khadagmalas for the 15 Nitya Devis corresponding to the lunar dates) possibly with explanation.

Where online we can find these 15 versions of Khadgamala?


texts: Are children born to Hindus abroad caste Hindus?

texts: This is not something ancient scriptures would likely have encountered. Would they have the same ritual status as Hindus who traveled abroad?


texts: What is the difference between Tapas and Dhyana?

texts:
When it comes to meditation, Hinduism gets divided in many different concepts and practices. While there is a Patanjali's Yoga Aphorism of Yama, Niyama, Asana, etc. leading up to Dhyana and Samadhi, there are also various teachings in advaita vendanta that leads to a totally different kind of meditation.

And what constitutes the meaning of the word tapas as given in the scriptures, do all forms of meditations (dhyana) come under tapas and eligible for punya?

What about the Buddhist vipassana and samatha meditations, do we get punya by performing that also? (after all Buddha was an avatara (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu).

Finally, what advice would you give to a meditation beginner who wants to do it as per Hindu tradition?


texts:
Who is Tvashtar deva? Is he Lord Ganesha?

This is from reference to Rigveda where they wrote :Sukta 13, verse 132

  Eha tvashtarmagriyam Vishwaroopamupaya Hraye |
  Asmakmastu kevalah ||

Meaning: (Self made)

  The one who is having various forms and First in worship, Oh Tvashatadeva,you are welcomed in Yagya, Please be only ours.


texts: Postures of body while worship the god or during prayer?

texts:
What is right way to hold the hand while doing the prayer? I found some images from http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritual-practice/prayer/how-to-pray/

But this blog is too long. Can someone provide short answer?


texts:
In the unmanifested state, there is no maya which means the soul was already in pure state. So why did God decide to manifest himself, why he created different universes? Under Maya, the same indivisible self appears as different jivas.

If God didn't create everything, then there was no need for souls to realize the truth because by default they would be in pure state.


texts: What is the necessity for a karmic loop?

texts:
My understanding is that prarabdha karma affects the current janma, and the current janma's positive and negative karma cumulatively gets added to that prarabdha and the cycle continues ad infinitum, unless one breaks the cycle by attaining Moksha.

So what is even the necessity for starting such a karmic loop? Why couldn't all beings have the default state of Moksha when they began?


texts:
I have found this Dhanwantari Gayatri Mantra:
Om Vasudevaya Vidmahe
Vaidhyarajaya Dhimahi
Tanno Dhanvantri Prachodayat

This Mantra can be found on Internet, but also I have this book Исцеляющие мантры в Аюрведе (Russian Edition), where this Mantra is a bit different:
Om Vasudevaya Vidmahe
Djagad-rakshaya Dhimahi
Tanno Dhanvantri Prachodayat

Sorry for maybe wrong spelling as in this book Mantra is written using Cyrillic.
What is the difference between Vaidhyarajaya Dhimahi and Djagad-rakshaya Dhimahi? Thank you!


texts: Queries on Sri Lalita Sahasranaam Phalsruti

texts:
As per Sri Lalita Sahasranaam Phalsruti:

  [13] &   [14]   The supreme punya which results from a repetition of a
  single name of the secret Sahasranama. The accumulated sins, of him
  who repeats at least a single name of this secret Sahasranama, are all
  destroyed. There is no doubt in this.

  [15]   All sins of omission of prescribed daily duties and commission
  of prohibited actions, are surely destroyed. Why describe in so many
  words? Listen, O Pot-Born one:

  [16]   No person, in all the fourteen worlds, is capable of committing
  a sin which cannot be removed by a single name in this Sahasranama
  which is the antidote of all sins

Quoted from: Phalshruti mentioned here.

As per [16], if with a single name so many sins can be removed then there should not be any obstacles and suffering left in my life.

It is a beautiful stotra of Goddess and I really love it. I chant it daily however in almost all the Stotras, the Phal that is described seems to be not working in present times.

I want to know whether these statements are valid in Kaliyuga also. Apart from devotion and faith, is there any specific method for chanting Sahasranaam which I am not doing and therefore not getting results.


texts: Why are there so many achamanams while ideally there should only be one?

texts:
So that anyone willing to do a Vedic ritual like a Puja or a Homam will have a standard and the same procedure to follow.

Right now, every region, every sampradaya have their own way of doing things which should not be the case in my opinion.

Is any such procedure mentioned in any of the 4 Vedas?

PS-Achamanam is the purification ritual which usually consists of sipping water three times associated with mantras in an effort to aptly purify oneself before doing a ritual like Puja etc.


texts: Do different castes have different Karmic outcomes for the same action?

texts:
The differential treatments of different castes that Manu et al prescribe are for earthly punishments/rewards for earthly actions.

Does any scripture says that for the exactly same Papa or Punya, a Sudra would have a different Karmic outcome than a Brahmin?


texts: Lord Shiva’s Curse and the Origin of Chandalas

texts:
An answer to what are the duties of children born from an intermixing of castes?, beautifully describes that a chandala is one born of the pratiloma union of a Sudra man and a Brahmin woman and their traditional duties are mainly related to death.
In a documentary about Varanasi’s Dom Raja, the Untouchable Gatekeepers of Heaven, the main person of the documentary states that that by caste the chandalas were Brahmins but due to a curse by Lord Shiva (at 1:18), they became chandala and started tending to dead bodies.
Based (or not) on the above two, I would like to have an in-depth insight about the origin of Chandalas:-

Does it mean that any offspring of any union ever, of a Brahmin woman and Sudra man is a chandala and must take on such duties OR was the case such that some time in yore, such a union produced the entire chandala caste (As per the documentary it seems like a hereditary profession) OR it was hereditary and in future any such offspring would join the hereditary lot as well?
What is the curse by Lord Shiva, being referred to, due to which Chandalas became so?(This point is related to the first point - is it that Shiva cursed any child born of such a pratiloma marriage to be a chandala or in the days of yore, when such an offspring was produced, all his descendants were cursed to become chandalas)


texts:
Chokha was a saint from Maharashtra bhakti movement.

He is known to have faced many difficulties due to caste but continued the good work.

One of his well known abhanga which reflects social norms back then,

जोहार माय बाप जोहार

तुमच्या महाराचा मी  महार

बहु भुकेला जाहलों

तुमच्या उष्ट्यासाठी आलो

बहु केली  आस

तुमच्या दासाचा मी दास

चोखा म्हणे पाटी

आणिली तुमच्या उष्ट्यासाठी

What is the brief story and important events related to his life ?

What was the cause of his death?


texts: What does hinduism say about oneness of god?

texts:
What does Hinduism say about oneness of god and imagelessness of god? Doesn't it say in the vedas?
From Brahmasutra:

Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan
Meaning: there is no god but one

From Svetasvatara upanishad:

Na Tasya Pratima Asti
Meaning: and of that god there is no image.


texts: If God exists why doesn't he want to be seen?

texts: It is a question which has bothered me for a while. If we know that God exists why doesn't he want to be seen? Why is it that no human being has a true description of the God?


texts: Are there any differences between yellow and red coloured akshatas? Is any colour preferred over another in the context of a specific type of puja or vratha? Any benefits of using one colour over other?


texts: Why advaitins worship only lord Shiva and dvaitins worship only lord Vishnu?

texts:
We see more about lord Shiva while knowing about Adi Shankaracharya and more about lord Vishnu while knowing about Ramanujacharya.

Is it because lord Shiva is advaitin god and lord Vishnu is dvaitin god?

if yes, then how come Shankaracharya wrote kanakadhaara stotram on Laxmi devi who is wife of lord Vishnu?

I wanted to know who is lord Vishnu as per Shankaracharya and who is lord Shiva as per Ramanujacharya and why they worshipped only one god anf not other god?


texts: What happened to the Akshaya Patra after the exile?

texts:
In Mahabharata when five Pandavas & their wife went into forest for 12 years they lost the game of Chopat with Duryodhana, that time Draupadi used to cook food in a patra ( dish/bowl ) named Akshaya Patra ( Akshaya meaning never finishing ). She can get as much food as she want for their daily need. Once after Draupadi eats her meal, the Akshaya patra  stops producing food for same day.

So When Pandavas returned to their home back, what happened to that Akshaya Patra ?


texts: What are the shodashAdhAras the first six of which are the shatchakras?

texts:
Here is a mention of the shodahAdhAras or the sixteen adharas ( adhara means base).

  ShadadvAnam ShadAdhAram ShodasAdhAranirnayam | Yo JAnAthi
  VidhAnena Sa Guruh Kathitha Priye ||

  [Lord Shiva says to Devi] One who knows how to determine the ShadadvA,
  ShadAdhAra and ShodashAdhAras accurately is called a Guru.

  KulArnava Tantram 13-69.

The translator gives the following information on what is what:

  ShadadvA:

  Varna, Pada, Mantra, KalA, Tattva and Bhuvan- These six ways or
  methods (AdhvA means ways or means).

  ShadadhAra:

  MulAdhAra, SwAdhishthAna, Manipura, AnAhata, Visuddha and AjnA- These
  six chakras.

  ShodhashAdhAra:

  The six ShadadhAras plus the following ten- Bindu, KalA, NivodhikA,
  Ardhendu, NAda, NAdAnta, Unmani, Vishnuchakra and Shiva.

I want to know about the 10 adharas mentioned above, from Bindu to Shiva.

We know that the six chakras are located in our body ( muladhara near the anus to ajna at between the eyebrows.). The 7th chakra (Sahasrara) of course lies at the top of the head.

Do these 10 adharas also have a location each with respect to our body? If so which are those locations?


texts: What is the story of Ghushmeshwara Jyotirlinga?

texts:
Lord Shiva has been worshipped in Linga form from time beginning as described in answer here. Among the Lingas there are 12 Jyotirlingas which are of special importance.
Mahatmya of 12 Jyotirlingas is described in Koti Rudra Samhita of Shiva Purana in the chapter "Dwadash Jyotirlinga Mahatmya". It states:

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्री शैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोंकारे परमेश्वरम् ।।
केदारं हिमवत्पृष्ठे डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम् ।
वाराणास्यां च विश्वेशं त्रयम्बकं गौतमीतटे ।।
वैद्यनाथं चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने ।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ।।
द्वादशैतानि नामानि प्रात्यस्त्थाय यः पठेत् ।
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तं सर्वसिद्धिफलं लभेत् ।।
Somanath in Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna in Shri Saile, Mahakala in Ujjaiyana and Parameshawara also manifested as Omkara. Kedara in Himavat and Bhima Shankara in Dakinya. Vishewaswara in Varanasi and Trayambaka in side of Gautami. Vaidyanath in ChitaBhumi and  Nageshwara in forest of Daruka. Rameshwara in Setubandha and Ghusmeshwara in Shivalaya. These name of 12 Jyotirlingas who recites in morning, he gets freed from all sins and is eligible to get all Siddhis.

There are twelve Jyotirlingas mentioned in the similar popular verse.

Saurāṣṭre Somanāthaṃ ca Śrīśaile Mallikārjunam
Ujjayinyāṃ Mahākālam Omkāram Mamleśhwaram
Paraly Vaidyanāthaṃ cha Ḍākinyāṃ Bhīmaśhaṅkaram
Setubandhe tu Rāmeśaṃ Nāgeśhaṃ Dārukāvane
Vārāṇasyāṃ tu Viśveśaṃ Tryambakaṃ Gautamītaṭe
Himālaye tu Kedāraṃ Ghuśmeśaṃ ca Śivālaye
etāni jyotirliṅgāni sāyaṃ prātaḥ paṭhennaraḥ
saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati

I have already asked a question about Somanath What is the story of Somanath Jyotirlinga? and Mallikarjun What is the story of Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga? and Mahakaleshwar What is the story of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga? and Omkareshwar What is the story of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga? and Vaidyanath What is the story of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga? and Bheemshankar What is the story of Bheemshankar Jyotirlinga? and Rameshwaram What is the story of Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga? and Nageshwar What is the story of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga? and Vishwanatha What is the story of Kasi Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga? and Trayambakeshwara What is the story of Trayambakeshwara Jyotirlinga? and Kedarnath What is the story of Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?. Now I want to know the story of Ghushmeshwara Jyotirling.
Please mention the scriptural reference.
Ghushmeshwara temple is situated in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

By Ghushmeshwar jyotirlinga - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24530632


texts: Does the concept of multiverse exist in vedas?

texts:
Does the concept of multiverse exist in vedas just like puranas in samhitas,aranyakas,brahmanas and major upnishads.

I think it's a puranic concept if i am right then give evidences that establish one world theory.


texts: What is the "convincible" birth story of the Lord Ganesha?

texts:
I have heared from somewhere that Lord Ganesha was created from the feculence/ turmeric  of Goddess Parvati' body while bathing for protection of herself. Is it true? if yes, how is it really possible ? Also, then how Lord Shiva is considered as the father of  Lord Ganesha?

So can anybody tell me "convincible" birth story of the Lord Ganesha for clarifying above doubt ?


texts: Has Lord Shiva worshipped Lord Vishnu to incarnate in any form?

texts:
Which all Gods prayed to Lord Vishnu to incarnate as Lord Rama? Was Lord Shiva also one of them?
If not, then has Lord Shiva worshipped Lord Vishnu to incarnate in any form?


texts: Are there any Mantras / Shlokas to bring about marriage with a suitable partner?

texts:
Do Hindu Scriptures have any mantras / shlokas / prayers by which a girl may get married without delay to a good man?
This question may appear to be asking for personalized advise or as primarily opinion based, but it is not. Please don't close it as it is a legitimate and general question based on Hinduism / Hindu prayers that will help many.