texts: How is Rukmi's killing by Balarama justified?

texts:
The slaying of Rukmi by Lord Balarama is described in Srimad Bhagavatam, Harivamsa and  Vishnu Purana.

This page gives a comparative study of all three texts as to how they differ in the details of the incident.

The basic story is summarised thus:
On the occasion of Krsna's grandson Aniruddha's marriage to Rochana, the granddaughter of Rukmi, Rukmi organised a game of dice, and was joined by the King of Kalinga, Ashmaka, Pandya and other kingdoms. Balarama agreed to play with Rukmi, and so placing their wealth as stakes began playing.

Since Balarama was winning most of the time, Rukmi decided to cheat, and so he played deceitfully and boasted to Balarama that he won. Enraged by his deceit, Balarama lifted his mace and killed Rukmi.

The question is this: How does RUkmi's actions (cheating in the dice game) justify Balarama killing him?

There are two more famous dice games in our scriptures:

The one between Nala and Pushkara
The one between Kauravas and Pandavas

In both the above games too, there is a lot of deceit involved. In the first case, Pushkara cheats in the game and exiles Nala, who after learning the art of dice, returns and wins back his kingdom from Pushkara.

In the second case, Shakuni cheats to a large extent, which causes the enslaving and mistreatment of Draupadi, following which due to Draupadi's virtuosity, the Pandavas are freed, and they return to Indraprastha (after which they come back for the second game).

In both cases, the cheater is not punished with death, but is ousted in some way or the other. So how does Rukmi's deceit not grant him a punishment similar to the above two cases, but instead amounts to his death?


texts: Is there a way to know the start date in Gregorian calendar of current Kali yuga? If yes,  What is the date?


texts: Can we wear lord Shiva locket around our neck?

texts: I am planning to buy a lord Shiva locket to my husband. Please let me know can we wear lord Shiva locket around our neck?


texts: Which gods are Vaishnavas allowed to pray to or worship?

texts:
Vaishnavas believe that Lord Vishnu is supreme hence they are discouraged from worshipping other gods like Lord Shiva, Ganesha, etc.

But what about the associates of Vishnu like Sudarshana chakra, Garuda, Vishwaksena, etc.? Can they pray to/worship them?

What about acharyas like Ramanujacharya, Vedanta Desika, etc.?

What about living acharyas, elders, etc.?

What about Hanuman?


texts: How come Tvasta did a Yajna to kill Indra by praising Indra Himself?

texts:
In Rigveda, Tvashta performed a Yajna to kill Indra after he got to know that his son Visvaroopa was killed by Indra. This yajna ensued birth of demon Vritra.

In Yajna a sacrificer recites some verse from Rigveda to please a deity. Since most of the verses are dedicated to Indra, I assume he pleased Indra to kill Indra Himself.

Also, since the episode has not happened at that time, most of the RigVedic verses that praise Indra's deeds of killing Vritra has not been revealed yet! So Tvashta has less verses to praise Indra.

How is it possible? Does this imply that before Rigveda there were different set of texts used to perform Yajna?


texts: Is there any mention of "Scissors" in the Hindu literature?

texts:
The Goddess Tara is shown holding scissors

Scissors symbolises that the Goddess cuts asunder the attachments to this material worlds, much feared by the spiritual souls.

Now, scissors looks a bit too modern when thought of to be used by Hindus, especially, the Hindu Gods. Leaving this apart, is it really true that Hindus had scissors? Or is it later addition to Goddess's iconography?

Is there any other mention of scissors, and other more familiar modern tools, which do not suit the Hindu Gods. (Just imagine Narayana using mobile phones. Shiva rejoicing on music on music player. Durga delighting using tablets and laptops. It is so obscene.)


texts: Devatas were born as men on earth in previous yugas and some devas even lived on earth in previous yugas. Do devas still visit earth in Kali Yuga?


texts: What work on Sharanagati did Thirukannamangai Andan compose?

texts:
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. The 4000 verses of the Alwars were compiled by the Vaishnava Acharya Nathamuni into a book called the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam, which is considered by many to be the "Dravida Veda", or South Indian Veda. It's the principles and beliefs embodied in the Alwars' poems that Nathamuni used to found what we now call the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I am a member).  Now Nathamuni had many famous shishyas, including Uyyakondar and Kurugai Kavalappan.  But my question is about another shishya of Nathamuni, Thirukannamangai Andan, known in Sanskrit as Srikrishna Lakshminatha.

Once Thirukannamanagai Andan observed two people fighting over their dogs.  The first person’s dog bit the second person’s dog, in response to which the second person killed the first person’s dog, in response to which the first person killed the second person and then killed himself.  Thirukannamangai Andan realized that if that is how far a person would go to protect his dog, there are no limits to how far Sriman Narayana would go to protect us.  So Thirukannamangai Andan performed Sharanagati, aka Prapatti, complete surrender to Vishnu as a means to attain Moksha.  He gave everything up and spent the rest of his life in the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Vishnu temple in Thirukannamangai, and then at the end of his life he turned into a dog and merged with the Bhaktavatsala Perumal statue.

But this book says that Thirukannamangai Andan did not merely perform Sharanagati, he also composed a work on the subject:

  Srikrishna Lakshminatha, disciple of Nathamuni, wrote an extensive work on the doctrine of Prapatti. He was born at a place called Krishnamangala.  He was well-versed in the Vedas, and was a specialist in Vedanta and also a great devotee, who constantly employed himself in chanting the name of Vishnu.  He often used to go about naked and live on food that was thrown to him.  The hagiologists say that he entered into the image of the temple and became one with God.

My question is, what is this “extensive work” of Thirukannamangai Andan on the subject of Sharanagati?  I’m pretty sure the work is lost, since the earliest surviving Sri Vaishnava philosophical works are those of Nathamuni’s grandson Yamunacharya (which you can read here).  But do we at least know the name of the work, and are there any surviving quotes from it in later Sri Vaishnava works?


texts: What is the substitute for sikhA for a sannyAsi who wants to perform Vedic rituals?

texts:
According to the answers given here, a SannyAsi can perform Vedic rituals even after taking SannyAsa.

Now, the first purificatory rite that precedes all Vedic rituals is the act of sipping water called Achamana.

And, according to the following verses from scriptures, Achamana successfully purifies the performer only when it is performed with the Upavita on and with the SikhA tied.

  A twice-born, who stands without washing his feet, or who performs
  the Achamanam without binding the tuft of his hair on the crown or
  without putting on his sacred thread, is impure. (15)

  Samvarta Smriti's Chapter 1.

  One must always put on the sacred thread and bind the tuft of hair on
  the crown : what one does without having the sacred thread on or
  without binding the tuft of hair on the crown, is equal to an act not done.

  Katyayana Smriti's Chapter 1.

But, a SannyAsi does neither have a Upavita nor a SikhA. Then without them how is he able to perform the first purificatory act?

Now, there is some Upanishad which says that the Self is the Sacred thread for the SannyAsi. Ok, but what about the SikhA?

Question- If Self is the substitute for the Sacred thread, what substitutes for the SikhA for a SannyAsi given that he does not sport one and also given the fact that he is allowed to do Vedic rituals?


texts: Who developed the terminology of the Prasthanatrayi of the Vedanta school?

texts:
The most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school.  Vedanta derives its teachings from three sources or authorities, known as the Prasthanatrayi or three starting points:

The Upanishads, texts traditionally included with the Vedas consisting of conversations between sages and their students which clarify the philosophical teachings of the Vedas.  In the Vedanta tradition they're referred to as the Shruti Prasthana, because the Vedas are Shruti or heard from the gods.
The Bhagavad Gita, which needs little introuction.  This is referred to as the Smriti Prasthana, because the Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharata which is a Smriti text, as it was composed by the sage Vyasa.
The Brahma Sutras, AKA the Vedanta Sutras, a work by Vyasa which summarizes and systematizes the philosophical doctrines laid out in the Upanishads.  It is referred to Nyaya Prasthana, because Vyasa relies on Nyaya or logic to argue for his interpretation of the words of the Upanishads.  (You can read the Brahma Sutras here.)

My question is, who developed this terminology of calling these texts the Prasthanatrayi or three starting points of philosophical knowledge?  Does Vyasa mention this in the Brahma Sutras?  Or was it invented by subsequent Vedantic thinkers like Adi Shankaracharya?

This should go without saying, but just in case, I'm not looking for who are the author of these three. I'm asking who singled out these particular works as the three starting points of the Vedanta school.


texts:
During Pedha Karma, Why Everyone should leave hometown before the lamp off?

For example: There is a family, Mother died, After few days family conducted
Pedha Karma. The Sons & Daughters, who are living abroad came & participate in Pedha Karma. They put main lamp in the house.  Now They should leave hometown before lamp turns off.

Why like that ?


texts: Use of Sanjeevini(संजीवनी) booti(herb) in Mahabharata

texts:
Most people may know that Sanjeevini(संजीवनी)is a lithophytic plant. In Hinduism, this plant is well known, and it is mentioned in the Hanuman Chalisa as well as below:

  लाय सँजीवनि लखन जियाए। श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥ ११ ॥

  Meaning: You brought the Sanjivini, the life saving herb and
  revitalized Lakshman. Out of elation, Rama embraced you

Sanjeevini(संजीवनी) is mentioned in the Ramayana when, during the battle between Rama and Ravana, Ravana's brother Vibhishana killed Ravana's horses, so Ravana got down from his chariot and threw a powerful spear at Vibhishana, but Lakshmana shot the spear down with three arrows. Angered by this, Ravana threw an even more formidable spear at Lakshmana, fatally wounding him. Sugriva's father-in-law Sushena sent Hanuman to retrieve the herbs called Vishalya Karani, Savarni Karani, Sanjiva Karani, and Sandhana Karani from the peak of Mount Oushadi. Hanuman couldn't identify the herbs on that mountain, so he brought the mountain peak itself to Lanka, and then Sushena used the herbs to heal Lakshmana.

Hence Hanuman is famously depicted carrying this mountain itself like in below image:

So, the medical benefit of Sanjeevini was very much known,and it was generally considered as "life saving" Herb (Sanjeevini word itself loosely translates to One that infuses life).

But my question is: Is there a mention of use of this Sanjeevini plant during Mahabharata war? For sure, many important warriors from both side of war would have been benefited by this herb had it being used to cure those warriors.

Or this "knowledge" about Sanjeevini and other herbs as life saving herb was lost with time?


texts: Is Shalagram worship forbidden to non-Brahmins?

texts: According to my parents, Shalagrama worship is forbidden to non-Brahmins. Is this true? There is also a possibility that people who are not initiated with the Yajnopavita are forbidden to worship Shalagrama since only Brahmins in Bengal initiate.


texts: Is Shakha-Bhed marriage prohibited? If yes then explain

texts: Is Shakha-Bhed (inter-Shakha) marriage prohibited? If yes, then explain why and where is it mentioned? Can a Rigvedi Brahmin marry a Yajurvedi Brahmin?


texts: Who maintains temples according to scriptures?

texts:
This answer says that temples are not owned by any one. But, do scriptures mention anything about a maintainer?
Is it king? Is it a person from a particular lineage? or other?
Maintainer can be viewed as a person who either performs all the activities for the temple or who controls the former or both.


texts: What is the physiological criterion for death?

texts: Modern medicine determines death by neurological criteria, but various religious groups may have reservations. For example, orthodox Jews require all vital functions to fail and do not consider a patient breathing on a respirator as dead. What is the Hindu physiological criterion of death?


texts:
In the Hindu scriptures, there are many stories of people travelling to other lokas like the Patalas, Svarga, Naraka, Gandharva loka etc. and meeting various supernatural creatures. But the stories do not describe how they travelled there, only that they travelled.
My question is, are there any mentions in any Hindu text or commentary on how travel is done to these other lokas?


texts:
One of the early propagator of vaishnavism in India who predated Sri rAmAnuja and Sri Madhwa was the propagator of dvaita-advaita, Sri NimbArka. This sect is also known as bheda-abheda.

Whose avatar was he ?

As per popular beliefs or biographies or other texts.


texts: What is the meaning of below verses from Vishnu yamala and are similar verses found in any other tantras?

texts:
Sanatana Goswami, a Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya quoted in his book Hari Bhakti Vilas, a smrti text for Gaudya Vaishnavas the following verses from Vishnu Yamala in the beginning of 5th Vilasa.

  Agamoktena mArgeNa bhagavAn brAhmaNair api | sadaiva pUjyo.ato lekhyaH
  prAya Agamiko vidhiH ||3||

  tathA ca viShNu-yAmale— kR^ite shruty-ukta-mArgaH syAt tretAyAM
  smR^iti-bhAvitaH | dvApare tu purANoktaH kalAv Agama-sambhavaH ||4||
  ashuddhAH shUdrAkalpA hi brAhmaNAH kali-sambhavAH | teShAm
  Agama-mArgeNa shuddhir na shrauta-vartmanA ||5||

  Commentaryof
  sanAtanaH: teShAm Agama-mArgeNa shrauta-vartmanety anena tair api
  Agamika-vidhinaiva pUjA kAryeti bhAvaH | tathA caikAdasha-skandhe [BhP
  11.5.31] nAnA-tantra-vidhAnena kalAv api tathA shR^iNu iti | tatra shrIdhara-svAmi-pAdAH—nAnA-tantra-vidhAneneti kalau tantra-mArgasya
  prAdhAnyaM darshayati iti ||3-5||

Hindi translation is here:

In Satya yuga, Vedic rules, in Treta smarta method, in Dvapara through puranas, and in Kali rules prescribed by Agamas are to be followed.

The worship of Bhagavan is done following tantras primarily in Kali yuga and purification happens through this only.

And in Kali yuga, Brahmanas are impure like sudras and purification happens through methods prescribed in tantras not Vedic rules.

Does it mean that the process prescribed in other yugas are completely ineffective? Are the similar type of verses found in any other tantras?


texts: Is there any story where Ravana came to perform a Yagna for Lord Rama?

texts:
I read a story on a forum which is as follows:

  Rama needed a bridge to be built across the ocean to reach Lanka, in order to defeat Ravana. The night before they started their preparations, he decided to conduct a Yagna to worship Shiva at Rameshwaram. As he was going to fight one of his most powerful adversaries, he needed the most scholarly priest to conduct the Yagna for him. He was informed that Ravana himself is the most learned scholar of all times. An invitation was sent to Ravana, who accepted it, arrived at Rameshwaram and conducted a Yagna with all holy rites.

  Interestingly, the Yagna could be considered successfully completed only when Rama would sit with his wife Sita in the ceremony, who was held captive by Ravana in Lanka. Ravana not only brought Sita to the Yagna, he presided over the proper arrangements and completion of the Yagna.

  After the Yagna got over, Rama sought Ravana's blessings in defeating him, to which Ravana replied, Tathastu.

I have never came across this story and believe that this should not be in Valmiki's Ramayana. I wanted to check whether this story is authentic or not and which scripture contains this story.


texts: Why does Lord Ganesha have an elephant head?

texts: A lot of Hindu gods have human heads. However, this is not the case with Lord Ganesha, who has an elephant head. Why does he have an elephant head?


texts: First meeting between Hanuman and Shree Rama

texts:
This wiki article describes that when Sugreeva sent Hanuman as an emissary to meet Rama and Lakshmana. It also claims that on seeing Hanuman, Shri Rama praised Hanuman greatly.

How is this meeting described in the scriptures?

I am specifically interested in the original Sanskrit Shlokas.


texts: What is the year when Lord Rama was born?

texts: This is my wish that I want to know that year when Shri Rama was born.


texts:
In many religions, a practice/custom or tradition starts with a noble intention, mainly due to prevalent social needs. But with time it is corrupted, or digresses or even becomes obsolete.

With that premise, my questions are:

What is the origin of the dowry system in the Sanatana Dharma?
Is there any official literature on this?


texts: Is the Vamana deity in Thirukoilur considered an incarnation of Krishna?

texts:
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the Ulagalantha Perumal Vamana temple in Thirukoilur.  It's most famous for being the "Naalayira Divya Prabandha Avatara Sthalam", meaning the birthplace of the poems of the Alwars.  That's because Thirukoilur is the place where, as I discuss in this answer, the first three Alwars saw Vishnu in the cave.  It is also one of three temples that claim to be the place where Vishnu's incarnation Vamana defeated Mahabali, which is why the main statue of the temple depicts Vamana taking his three steps of land:

Now Thirukoilur is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred places of Vishnu praised by the Alwars.  But I learned from the priest that it's more than that: he said it's one of the Pancha Krishnaranya Kshetras, the five Divya Desams where the deity of the temple is an incarnation of Krishna, rather than just being an incarnation of Vishnu.  So my question is, is it true that the Vamana deity in Thirukoilur is an incarnation of Krishna?

And if it is true, what exactly does it mean?  Does it mean that Vamana himself was an incarnation of Krishna? Or does it mean that the Vamana statue in this temple was a manifestation of Krishna?  Or does it mean that it was Krishna who appeared before the first three Alwars?  The latter is a possibility because the Alwars are said to have been born in the Dwapara Yuga, as I discuss in my question here.

By the way, this Wikipedia article says that the Pancha Krishnanaranya Kshetras have nothing to do with Krishna other than having an Utsavar or processional idol of Krishna.

  Krishna is not the presiding deity in any of the temples. The processional deity, Krishna, led to the derivation of the names of these places. There are five similar temples located in North India, called Pancha-dvarakas.

But I'm not sure whether that's accurate.


texts: Why are crackers burnt after a person dies in Hindu religion?


texts: Are people really punished for their bad deeds?

texts: In this world people commit many bad deeds in their day to day life. Some on extreme level, but still those people live their life happily. There are many historical examples of such people for instance Aurangzeb etc. So do such people get punished for their bad deeds? Now the common answer would be that there is hell and heaven after life or they are punished in their next birth, but I didn't get this concept. If a person is not punished in his present life, how can he be punished in his next life? Puranas have a lot of references to hell and heaven but what does Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita or epics or Agamas have to say about it?


texts: Is the story of Kaka Bhusundi mentioned in any puranas?

texts:
One of the famous stories from the Ramcharitmanas is the story of Kaka Bhusundi. This brahmin Bhusundi was a devotee of Rama was cursed by sage Lomasa to become a crow. After knowing that he was an ardent devotee of Sri Rama, the sage diluted the curse and gave him the knowledge. By this knowledge, this crow has lived through the kalpas and seen different outcomes of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

However this story doesn't appear in the Vālmiki Rāmāyaṇa. I know that this story is also present in Yoga-Vāsiṣṭha which is also known as Vaśiṣṭa Rāmāyaṇa. I'm looking for sources other than this text.

So, my question is from which purana or scripture did Goswami Tulsidas know the story of Kaka Bhusundi?


texts: From which scripture is the concept of Shuddha Sattva from?

texts:
According to Sri Vaishnavism, liberated souls who reach Vaikunta, the eternal inhabitants of Vaikunta, and Para Vasudeva, all have bodies made of Shuddha Sattva matter, which is achit that doesn't have rajas and tamas. This is unlike Prakriti, which is achit that has all 3 gunas.

So which scripture is this concept of Shuddha Sattva from?


texts:
Padma purana  89-90a

“O you descendant of Raghu, O you good one, you have done this mission
of the gods. O Rāma of a great vow, take (i.e. choose) whichever boon
you like. By your deed this śūdra has physically gone to heaven”

While valmiki ramayana says

"Thou hast protected the interests of the Gods, O Highly Intelligent Prince, now ask a boon, O Beloved Offspring of Raghu, Destroyer of Thy Foes. By thy grace, this Shudra will not be able to attain heaven!”

Hence the question: Did shambuka attain heaven?


texts: How are the River, Vimana and Sthala Vruksha appropriately associated with respective temples?

texts:
The divyadesams of Vishnu has a connection comprising River, Vimana and Sthala vruksha. Example God Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam temple has cauvery as river, Vimana is Ranga Vimana and Sthala Vruksha [Tree in the temple] is Vilvam.  Likewise for other divyasesams.  Ancient Siva temples also has  River, Vimana and Sthala Vruksha.
Any scriptural references how the  river, vimana and sthala vrukshas are rightly associated to the respective temples.


texts: Is devotion of Lord Hanuman is equal to devotion of Lord Shiva?

texts:
Hanuman is the partial incarnation of Lord Shiva. So if someone is devoting Lord Hanuman then it's mean he is devoting to Lord Shiva? For example: If one being told (from aspect of kundali or any other source) that to get desired fruits you need devotion towards Lord Shiva. And he/she decides to Devote to Lord Hanuman instead (coz he feels more close to Hanuman) coz he is incarnation of Shiva.

So, will he/she get same fruit which was about to get from Lord Shiva? In other words, devoting to hanuman means devotion of Shiva or not (hope I am clear on my words)?


texts: Why flowers of "Ankada" are offered to Lord Hanuman?


texts:
Or do u need initiation?
Mantras from Smritis don’t need initiation.
Not sure where this mantra falls?


texts: In a conflict between Guru and Shastra, what should be precedent?

texts: It is often observed subjectively in various instances, teachings of many Gurus may contradict Shastra. In such a case, what should be considered superior? What does Shastra itself say about this?


texts: Can anyone provide download links of Shabar mantra books?

texts: Download links of real shabar mantra books.


texts: What are the daily rituals/practices to be performed by an already Kundalini activated person.


texts: What was the previous life of lord Krishna?

texts:
I've heard little accounts of Shri Krishna's past life, such as - he was Shri Rama in his past life. I recently heard he could have been Lakshmana (Rama's brother), in the previous incarnation too.
What was his past life?


texts: Why the word "baba" was used for Lord Shiva?

texts: I have listened from many peoples, they are calling Lord Shiva as baba, baba vishwanath etc. Does this word have an Urdu origin? Is there was a specific reason behind calling him baba & when it was started?


texts: Scriptural reference in Hinduism about shortness of human lives

texts: Many religions says that human life is short. Humans are temporary and running behind wealth is waste of time. Are there scriptural evidences in Hinduism saying  that human lives are short?


texts: How to identify Valampuri Sangu (conch shell)?

texts:
The Sangu, or sacred conch shell is very auspicious in Hinduism and is used in many rituals. However, I have heard of a rare Valampuri Sangu which is supposedly even more sacred to use.

What is the Valampuri Sangu and how can I identify it?


texts: What is the historical origin of Bhakti?

texts: In the Vedas, Karma Marga (path of action) and Gayn Marga (path of knowledge) are described. Upanishads (Vedanta or the end part of the Veda) talks about the path of knowledge, while the earlier Vedic literature gives stress on performing different religious rites (Karma-Kanda). Bhakti was not part of the Vedic tradition. Though, in the Bhagavad Gita (especially at the end part) we see the inclusion of Bhakti tradition. In later Hinduism, especially in Vaishnavism, Bhakti becomes mainstream. How Bhakti marga suddenly found its place in Hinduism?


texts: Can someone please provide the method of worship for Manasa Devi?

texts: I have read that Manasa Devi is worshipped using a cactus, tree branch or snake idol. Is this correct? Can someone please provide more information regarding the correct procedure to worship Manasa Devi?


texts: whats the importance of Shodasi mantra in Sakteya sect? what benefits if a person starts chanting shodasi ona  daily basis, and what -ve effects , if he misses it ?


texts: Since Mahābhārata happened after Rāmāyaṇa, why did Pāṇḍu kill a deer that was mating?

texts:
In the very beginning of Rāmāyaṇa, Vālmīki curses a hunter for shooting down a krauncha bird because it upset him very much. But isn't it the sva-dharma of a hunter to kill deer or bird for food?

Yes, it is. However, as Vālmīki says, a hunter can kill a bird, no doubt; but only when it's alone. And not when it's with its mate both enjoying their time together.

  ततः करुण वेदित्वात् अधर्मो अयम् इति द्विजः | निशांय रुदतीम् क्रौन्चीम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रैइत् || १-२-१४

  Then on seeing the wailing female krounchi bird, compassion haunting him and apperceiving the killing of male bird as unjust, the sage uttered this sentence... [1-2-14]

  मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठाम्त्व | मगमः शाश्वतीः समाः | यत् क्रौङ्च मिथुनात् एक | मवधीः काम मोहितम् || १-२-१५

  Oh! Ill-fated Hunter, by which reason you have killed one male bird of the couple, when it is in its lustful passion, thereby you will get an ever-lasting reputation for ages to come... [1-2-15]

That makes sense.

Now fast forward to Mahābhārata.

 |

King Pāṇḍu is in the exact same situation as the hunter from Rāmāyaṇa. Only difference is, there, it was a pair of birds and here, it's a couple of deer.

  Vaisampayana said, 'O king, one day Pandu, while roaming about in the woods (on the southern slopes of the Himavat) that teemed with deer and wild animals of fierce disposition, saw a large deer, that seemed to be the leader of a herd, serving his mate. Beholding the animals, the monarch pierced them both with five of his sharp and swift arrows winged with golden feathers. O monarch, that was no deer that Pandu struck at, but a Rishi's son of great ascetic merit who was enjoying his mate in the form of a deer. Pierced by Pandu, while engaged in the act of intercourse, he fell down to the ground, uttering cries that were of a man and began to weep bitterly.

Questions:

I can understand that the hunter from Rāmāyaṇa was ignorant and illiterate, therefore, Vālmīki educated him by delivering a curse. But it's rather strange that a well-educated and skilled king like Pāṇḍu wasn't aware of the rules of hunting. Had he not read Rāmāyaṇa ever? How can one explain Pāṇḍu's actions?

Pāṇḍu even defends his action saying:

  It is well-known that men slay deer by various effective means without regarding whether the animals are careful or careless...

So does it mean you can't kill a bird when it's romancing with its mate, but with deer it's not a problem?
What was Pāṇḍu really doing in the forest in the first place? A couple of chapters earlier, it's said that he retired into the woods. Now why would a healthy king suddenly retire into the woods to only chase deer? Was he always fond of hunting or chasing deer?

  A little while after, O bull of Bharata's race, Pandu who had achieved a victory over sloth and lethargy, accompanied by his two wives, Kunti and Madri, retired into the woods. Leaving his excellent palace with its luxurious beds, he became a permanent inhabitant of the woods, devoting the whole of his time to the chase of the deer. And fixing his abode in a delightful and hilly region overgrown with huge sala trees, on the southern slope of the Himavat mountains, he roamed about in perfect freedom. The handsome Pandu with his two wives wandered in those woods like Airavata accompanied by two she-elephants. And the dwellers in those woods, beholding the heroic Bharata prince in the company of his wives, armed with sword, arrows, and bow, clad with his beautiful armour, and skilled in all excellent weapons, regarded him as the very god wandering amongst them.

  And at the command of Dhritarashtra, people were busy in supplying Pandu in his retirement with every object of pleasure and enjoyment.


texts: How to reconcile the lakshanas of a siddha from the Vedanta and the tantras?

texts:
In the shabasadhana of the tantra, the sadhaka normally worships Mahavidyas ie devatas like Kali, Tara etc, who are Brahma according to the Tantras. After the sadhaka gets siddhi, he has to remain confined for fifteen days as the 'devata' resides within the body of the siddha. If he hears songs, he becomes deaf. If he sees dance, he becomes blind. If he speaks in day time, he becomes dumb. If he enjoys sex, he becomes diseased. After performing many rites on the sixteenth day, he becomes eligible to lead a normal life.

The 'devata' before giving siddhi asks for some bali (sacrifice) like elephent, man etc. The sadhaka has to say:बारान्तरे दास्यामि ie I shall offer you later. On the next day, he has to prepare a doll of elephant or man etc, (whatever was wanted) by powdered rice and offer the bali to that deity.(Ref: Tantrikguru, Nigamananda Saraswati ; Sashtramulak Bharatiya Shaktisadhana by Upendrakumar Das,vol 2)

On the otherhand, the Upanishads says that one who at the end of brahmavichara sees God  दृष्टे परावरे (as in the famous verse of the Kathopanishad) or Brahma becomes free from all karmas and he becomes full of bliss and free from fear for ever like  न विभेति कदाचनः &  कुतश्चनः.

How can these two different descriptions of illumined souls be reconciled? God is one and so both should yield identical results!More precisely, is a tantrasiddha permanently relieved from tritapajwala as is a jnanamarga or bhaktimarga siddha?


texts: If Rāma could sacrifice his kingdom to Bharata, why couldn't Yudhiṣṭhira do it for Duryodhana?

texts:
Here's Rāma's attitude towards his own brothers (or should I call them cousins because technically they were not born to the same mother):

  धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्षण | इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत् प्रतिशृणोमि ते || २-९७-५
  भ्रातृइणां संग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण | राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनायुधमालभे || २-९७-६

  O, Lakṣmaṇa! It is for your sake I desire virtue, legitimately acquired wealth and pleasure or even the earth itself. I promise this to you. I desire the throne only for the protection and happiness of my brothers. I touch my weapon and swear this fact.

Rāma's above statement stands in direct contradiction of events of Mahābhārata. If Rāma could live without a kingdom, why not the Pāṇḍavas?

Before entering Ayodhyā after his exile, Rāma sends Hanumān to relay the news of his arrival and also find out if Bharata is willing to let him (Rāma) rule Ayodhyā. Rāma suspects Bharata might have developed a taste for power and kingdom in which case Rāma thinks of staying back in the forest. That means Rāma really meant his earlier statement.

  All the occurrences there are to be known. All the gestures of Bharata are to be ascertained through the colour of his face, glances and the speech.

  Whose mind does not turn round, with a kingdom abundantly rich in all coveted enjoyments, teeming with elephants horses and chariots and which is inherited from one's father?

  Having been associated with the kingdom for long, if the illustrious Bharata is longing for it himself, let Bharata rule the entire kingdom in one piece.

Some really great thoughts by Rāma there.

Why didn't Yudhiṣṭhira and the other Pāṇḍavas follow in the footsteps of Rāma?

Why didn't Yudhiṣṭhira, the embodiment of dharma, give up his right to rule the kingdom, to Duryodhana? Yudhiṣṭhira did consider Dhṛtarāṣṭra as his own father. That makes Duryodhana his brother, not cousin. It's not like Duryodhana was looting women or others' kingdoms like Rāvaṇa.

How to make sense of Yudhiṣṭhira from Mahābhārata for someone who has also read Rāmayana? Should you or should you not fight with your brother over property?


texts: Is Mahabharat War plans available in online?

texts: I am very interested in mahabharat War detail explanation every single plan can any one know which site it is available?


texts: Is Srikantha regarded as an incarnation?

texts: Srikantha was a famous Shaivite acharya from South India of the eleventh century who propounded the Shiva Advaita philosophy which is very similar to Ramanujacharya's Vishistadvaita philosophy. Is Srikantha regarded as an incarnation by his followers?


texts: What scripture does the original Achamanam mantra come from?

texts:
If you're a Brahmin, you're probably familiar with the practice of Achamanam, the practice of sipping water while reciting mantras in order to purify oneself at the start of Sandhyavandanam and other Hindu rituals.
There are three main versions of Achamanam.  There's the Smriti Achamanam, where you recite one line of the Gayatri mantra for each of three sips of water.  Then there is the Purana Achamanam, where you touch various parts of your body while reciting 24 names of Vishnu.
But the mostly common version of Achamanam is the Shruti Achamanam, where you sip water three times while reciting three names of Vishnu:

Om Achyutaya Namaha
Om Anantaya Namaha
Om Govindaya Namaha

My question is, what scripture does this mantra originate from?  It is called the "Shruti Achamanam", so it presumably comes from Shruti, which is a term for the parts of Hindu scripture that were heard directly from the gods by sages, which were compiled by the sage Vyasa into the books we call the Vedas.  So where in the Vedas can this mantra be found?
By the way, it's interesting to note that the Smriti Achamanam uses the Gayatri mantra, but the Shruti Achamanam, which is presumably far older, uses names of Vishnu instead.  Gods like Vishnu aren't discussed as much in Vedic scripture, because Vedic yagnas involve gods like the Adityas more.  So it's remarkable that the mantra for such an important Vedic ritual is a mantra to Vishnu.


texts: Was Rishabha, the first tirthankar of Jainism, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva?

texts:
Rishabha, the first tirthankar of Jainism, is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana and the Vedas. Jain Acharya Jinasena also confirmed that Rishabha was an avatar of Vishnu.

But Rishabha shares a lot of similarities to Lord Shiva. He attained Moksha at Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. His symbol is also bull which is also the symbol of Lord Shiva in the form of Nandi. He is shown in a seating posture - Padmasan which is also the case of Lord Shiva. He is also known as Adinath. Interestingly enough, both his names, Rishabha and Adinath are one of the names of Lord Shiva.

So who is Rishabh - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva?


texts: What are six darsanas or philosophies, known to be limbs of Shiva?

texts: What are the six darsanas or philosophies mentioned in kularnava tantra which are known to be the six limbs of Shiva?


texts: How did the author of Mahabarata know the exact conversation between Krishna and arjuna?

texts: The conversation entices an entire song, the bhagavad ghita, it is so elaborate and intricate, how can someone who was not part of that conversation know every word of it exactly as it happened?


texts: What is the English translation of Rig Veda Book 10 hymn 61 verses 5-8?

texts:
I was reading the Rig Veda and saw that a lot of versions leave out lines 5-9 in book 10 hymn 61. Is there a reason why? (Did Ralph T.H. Griffith forget to translate them?)

I believe these are the correct lines,

Membrum suum virile, quod vrotentum fuerat, mas ille retraxit. Rursus illud quod in juvenem filiam sublatum fuerat, non aggressurus, ad se rerahit.

  परथिष्ट यस्य वीरकर्ममिष्णदनुष्ठितं नु नर्योपौहत
  पुनस्तदा वर्हति यत कनाया दुहितुरानुभ्र्तमनर्वा ||

Quum jam in medio connessu, semiperfecto opere, amorem in puellam pater impleverat, ambo discedentes seminis paulum in terrae superficiem sacrorum sede effusum emiserunt.

  मध्या यत कर्त्वमभवदभीके कामं कर्ण्वाणेपितरि युवत्याम |
  मनानग रेतो जहतुर्वियन्ता सानौनिषिक्तं सुक्र्तस्य योनौ ||

Quum pater suam nilam adiverat, cum eā congressus suum semen supra viram effudit. Tum Dii benigni precem (brahma) progenuerunt, et Vastoshpatim, legum sacrarum custodem, formaverunt.

  पिता यत सवां दुहितरमधिष्कन कष्मया रेतःसंजग्मानो नि षिञ्चत |
  सवाध्यो.अजनयन बरह्म देवावास्तोष पतिं वरतपां निरतक्षन ||

Ille tauro similis spumam in certamine jactavit, tunc discedens pusillaximis huc profectus est. Quasi dextro pede claudus processit, "inutiles fuerunt illi mei complexus," ita locutus.

  स ईं वर्षा न फेनमस्यदाजौ समदा परैदपदभ्रचेताः |
  सरत पदा न दक्षिणा पराव्रं न ता नुमे पर्शन्यो जग्र्भ्रे ||


texts: Are any of Vishnu and his avataras' great deeds not connected with war?

texts:
Some Vishnu avatars I can think of connected with war/destruction:

Govardhana Giri - as part of fighting with Indra
Bhagavad Gita - inciting Arjuna to internecine war
Rescuing the earth - fighting with Hiranyaksha

Are there any avatars that are peaceful in nature i.e., not involving any wars?


texts:
This question arised in my mind after I read - Will Athma get moksha if a person die unnaturally?,

Many people went from serious accident & surgery that time elder says that Ram Rakhe ene kon chakhe (meaning When Lord Rama is taking care of a human then even death can't harm him/her easily) or sometimes elder says that may be his death time is still not arrived that's why he/she got saved or sometimes it is called chamatkar (miracle).

Does this means that a person's death time is predefined when he takes birth?

If this is true then can a person die before his death time?


texts: What is the Shaka tree after which Saka Dvip has been named?

texts:
Saka Dvip is said to be named after the tree of Shaka. It is referred to as the homeland of Sakas in Mahabharat.

Just like in Jambu Dvip, Jambu tree has been identified, which tree in modern day is the Shaka tree?


texts: Is there a concept of demonic possession in Hinduism?

texts:
In Hinduism, is there a concept of demonic spirits being able to take over the thoughts and actions of a person? If so, what are these demons and what scriptures mention them?

I know that the Bhagavad Gita mentions a person having demoniac qualities but I don't think this is the same as being possessed by a demon, unless someone can correct me on this.


texts: Is there a tradition of using mantras in Ayurveda?

texts: Jyotish has a tradition of prescribing mantras as remedies to target a particular situation. Does Ayurveda have a similar tradition of prescribing mantras to remedy a particular condition of the physique?


texts: What is the Loka higher than Brahmaloka, where the Rathantara hymn is sung?

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 describes the various worlds people can attain in the afterlife, by telling the following story.  There was once a pious Brahmana named Gautama, who raised an orphan elephant after its mother died.  One day Indra decided to test Gautama by taking the form of a king, who seized the elephant and tried to take it away.  Gautama protested, saying that whichever world the king would go to when he died, Gautama would follow him there and take back the elephant!

In the course of the dialogue, Gautama mentions the various worlds you can attain in the afterlife.  Basically Gautama says something like "If you go to this world, I'll go there and get the elephant back."  Then the king says "I will surely attain a higher region than that", so Gautama mentions an even higher world, and so on.  The regions Gauatama mentions from lowest to highest are: the world of Yama god of death; Mandakini the region of Kubera god of wealth; the peak of Mount Meru; the forest of Narada; the land of the Uttarakurus; the world of Chandra the moon god; the world of Surya the sun god; the world of Varuna the ocean god; the world of Indra; the world of the Prajapatis; Goloka the world of cows; and Brahmaloka the world of Brahma.  And then Gautama mentions a world even higher than those:

  There where the foremost of Rathantaras is sung, where altars are strewn with the sacred Kusa blades, for the performance of Pundarika sacrifices, there where Soma-drinking Brahmanas go on vehicles drawn by excellent steeds, proceeding even thither I shall force thee to yield up this elephant.

Rathantara is the name of a hymn in the Sama Veda.  But my question is, what is the world being described here?  Is it a description Vishnu's abode of Vaikuntha?  The reason I ask is that in the Vishnu Sahasranama, Vishnu is described as Trisama, or the one who is praised by three Sama hymns, and I think one of the three is Rathanthara.  Are there any descriptions of Pundarika Yagnas (lotus sacrifices) being done in Vaikuntha?

P.S. Not to keep you in suspense, Gautama eventually realized the king was Indra, and then Indra took Gautama and the elephant to Devaloka.


texts:
I know that there are 8 immortals as per Hindu scriptures.

  (e.g Ashwaththama, Mahabali, Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Kripacharya,
  Parshurama, Markandeya)

But, is Lord Ganesha immortal? If not, is there any story of his death? Otherwise, how did he become immortal?

How about his brother Lord Kartikeya? Is there any story about them?


texts:
It is a known fact that dharba grass absorbs radiation. Dharba ring is wore in different counts in different occasions? Why is it so?
On auspicious occasion dharba ring made of 2 grass is wore. On inauspicious occasions dharba ring made of 3 grass is wore. On kubabishekam to temples dharba ring made of 4 grass is wore. Any scriptural reference for this?


texts: Source of Sanskrit shloka - Yadetaddhṛdayaṃ Tava Tadastu Hṛdayaṃ Mama

texts:
यदेतद्धृदयं तव तदस्तु हृदयं मम ।
  यदिदं हृदयं मम तदस्तु हृदयं तव ॥

Transliteration:

  yadetaddhṛdayaṃ tava tadastu hṛdayaṃ mama
   yadidaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama tadastu hṛdayaṃ tava

Translation by Max Muller:

  That heart of thine shall be mine,
  And this heart of mine shall be thine.

Understand, the above shloka is a mutual marriage pledge.

What is the source of the above Sanskrit shloka?


texts: Actual origin of Ganga was from Lord Vishnu's Lotus feet?

texts:
I heard this fact that actual origin was Ganga is Lord Vishnu's lotus feet, and it held on shiva's head by the brahma? please share me the actual source from scriptures.
Thanks


texts:
Is Rishabha, the founder of Jainism and the avatar of Lord Vishnu, the same characters or two different characters that only share the name?
I'm Hindu but don't believe that there is a connection between hinduism and jainism, so I believe there are two differents peoples who only share the name


texts: How did the Gods of hindu pantheon come into being?

texts: Did the ancient rishis create these various gods, goddesses, devas etc. out of thin air, which later ended up in the puranas and other scriptures? In other words, are they simply a figment of our imagination?


texts:
I was wondering if some one could point the Mandala and the Hymn number for the following Suktam:
Prayer to Indra


texts: Why in one religion there are so many gods? I am a hindu and I always get confused when my grandmother says that don't do certain things or these certain gods will punish you. Why people believe that every certain things have there own individual god? Are all those god are same and have different names or they are different from each other? Why people say lord sankar and lord shiv are different?


texts: Is the Rama Setu pilgrimage "equally effective" for all pilgrims irrespective of their dwelling places?

texts:
The Skanda Purana,Brahma Khanda,describes the greatness of Rama Setu as follows:

  In the Brahma Khanda of Skanda Purana, Suta Maha Muni addressed a
  Conclave of Rishis and narrated the significance of Setu Bandhan/
  Tirtha as also of Rameswara Kshetra which were visualised and built by
  Sri Rama;  even visioning these Places would bestow Mukti from
  Samsara.  Emphasising the Unity of Vishnu and Siva, the Three Sacred
  Places viz. Setu (bridge), Rameswara Linga and Gandhamadan Mountain
  constitute the composite identity. .....

  If one lies down on Setu’s banks and sticks the sand on the body, the
  number of as many sand particles would absolve as many Brahmahatya
  sins! The touch of the wind on one’s body from the mid-banks of Setu
  would pardon ten thousand ‘Surapanaas’ (drinking intoxicants). If one
  does ‘Snaan’ at the Tirtha and seeks relief on somebody else’s favour,
  then too the sins of the proxy beneficiaries are washed off. The Five
  Brahmahatya sinners, who spoil the roads, prepare food for them only,
  abuse Brahmanas and Sanyasis, accept the food of a Chandala and sell
  Vedas are also excused by the holy bath at Setu Tirtha...There are
  several Tirthas on either side of the Setu, but most significant are
  twenty four. The most important ones are Chakra Tirtha, Betala varada
  Tirtha, and Paapavinashana Tirtha which were famous. Then there are
  Sitasarovar Tirtha, Mangala Tirtha and Amritavaapika. Again, there are
  Brahmakund, Hanumakund, Agasthya Tirtha, Rama Tirtha, Lakshmana
  Tirtha, Jaya Tirtha, Lakshmi Tirtha, Agni Tirtha, Chakra Tirtha, Siva
  Tirtha, Shankha Tirtha, Yamuna Tirtha, Ganga Tirtha, Gaya Tirtha, Koti
  Tirtha, Saadhyamrita Tirtha, Maanasa Tirtha and Dhanushkodi Tirtha.
  These are only illustrative Tirthas which are all Sin demolishers.

So,without doubt, Rama Setu (the Rameswaram Kshetra) is indeed a a very holy pilgrimage kshetra that is capable of demolishing all kinds of sins and giving the pilgrims even mukti from Samsara.

But will its effectiveness be the same for all people irrespective of their dwelling places?

For example, suppose a visitor is from Gujarat and another one from Tamil Nadu.Will the visits of both of them to the Rama Setu bear the same fruit assuming all other relevant factors remain the same ?


texts: If parshuram killed kshatriyas 21 times how do many kshatriyas like rajputs exists today?

texts: If parshuram killed  kshatriyas 21 times how do many kshatriyas like rajputs exists today,did the wifes of kshatriyas did niyogas with brahman rishis to give birth to new breed of Kshatiryas?


texts: Where is it mentioned that Shabari offered to Lord Rama the fruits that she has already tasted?

texts:
There is a famous story that when Lord Rama met with Sabari she offered Him some fruits but in order to know if they are sweet she bit them before giving to Him. This website says that the story is in Padma Purana:
http://www.valmikiramayan.net/aranya/sarga74/aranya_74_frame.htm
However, I could not find anything to this effect in either in Padma Purana or in Valmiki Ramayana. Anyone knows the source?


texts: Best book/website(etc) with all Shlokas, Stotras and other songs..etc.. with their meaning in Sanskrit, Hindi, Kannada Or English..compilation of prayers of various Gods.


texts: Did Vivekananda consider varṇasaṃkara (intermixture of castes) problematic or instead welcome it?

texts:
Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā thought varṇasaṃkara would wreak havoc on the society:

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ

saṃkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy eṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

doṣair etaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṃkarakārakaiḥ
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ

From the predominance of sin, O Krishna, the women of that race become corrupt. And the women becoming corrupt, an intermingling of castes happeneth, O descendant of Vrishni. This intermingling of castes leadeth to hell both the destroyer of the race and the race itself. The ancestors of those fall (from heaven), their rites of pinda and water ceasing. By these sins of destroyers of races, causing intermixture of castes, the rules of caste and the eternal rites of families become extinct.

But how did Swami Vivekananda interpret these verses? Did he disagree with Arjuna and the Gītā because he thought these verses were written at a time the birth-based caste-system was the norm?
Assuming he was opposed to birth-based caste-system and still supported these Gītā verses, what does varṇasaṃkara even mean in the context of a non-birth-based caste-system?


texts: Did Bhishma (or any other characters in Itihasas) know he was born on earth due to a curse?

texts:
The Ashta-Vasus were cursed by Vashishta to be born as humans because they stole  cow Kamadhenu. 7 of them were spared by a quick death after birth, but Prabhasa alone would have to live a long, painful, illustrious life as Bhishma.

Many of us face suffering in life. Most of these times, we know the cause of suffering (our own karma) - whether it is clearly self-inflicted, or it comes through the disguise of others. But sometimes, we suffer additionally because don't know the cause, and wonder if it is 'Prarabdha' - an unknown consequence of something we did in one of our innumerable past lives. If we know the cause of suffering, it definitely eases our pain a bit. If we are punished for a wrong-doing, at least we'll know that we deserved it and can also avoid that mistake again.

Did Bhishma know that he was born on earth due to his stealing in previous
life?

We know that Bhagavan takes avatara as Rama, Krishna and that he is fully aware of who he is, even though he may choose to hide or display it as he sees fit.

But what about other 'avataras', of devas / asuras ?
Some people do know the cause e.g. Nahusha knew he had to be snake due to Agastya curse. Did Shantanu know he was born due to curse in Brahma Loka ?
Was Bhima aware he was Vayu-amsha-avatara ? etc. Same goes for other characters in Ramayana/Mahabharata..


texts: I want to know that how did Lord Shiv, Lord Brahma & Lord Vishnu came to the world, before them, what was present ?


texts:
In his book, Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik talks about an interesting event during the exile period of Śrī Rāma, Devī Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa, where Devī Sītā curses four entities (a river, a Brahmin, the Tulasī Plant and the Cow) and blesses the Banyan Tree with a boon.
Here's a screenshot of the described incident in the writer’s book.

To corroborate this described incident, I read about the Phalgu River on Wikipedia and the same above incident is described as follows, thus adding some slightest possible credibility perhaps (although the original reference for this story in the Wikipedia too is not a strong one itself), anyway, here goes:-

There is reference to the city of Gaya and the Phalgu in the Ramayana
in which it says that Sita had cursed the Phalgu River. There is an
interesting story and the purana states that on account of this curse,
the Phalgu lost its water, and the river is simply a vast stretch of
sand dunes. According to history, in the absence of Rama, his wife
Sita offered pinda on its banks to Dasharatha father of Rama.1
The story goes that Rama, along with his brothers and Sita, came to
Gaya to perform the sacred rites for his father, Dasaratha. When the
brothers were bathing in the river, Sita was sitting on the banks,
playing with the sand. Suddenly, Dasaratha appeared out of the sand,
and asked for the Pindam, saying he was hungry. Sita asked him to wait
till his sons returned, so that she could give him the traditional
Pindam of rice and til. He refused to wait, asking her to give him
pindams made of the sand in her hand.
Having no other option, she gave him the Pindam he desired with five
witnesses – the Akshaya Vatam, the Falguni River, a cow, a Tulsi plant
and a Brahmin. Soon, Rama returned and started the rituals. In those
days apparently, the ancestors would arrive in person to collect their
share, and when Dasaratha did not appear, they wondered why. Sita then
told them what had happened, but Rama could not believe that his
father would accept pindams made of sand. Sita now mentioned her
witnesses, and asked them to tell Rama the truth.
Among the five, only the Akshaya Vatam took her side and told the
truth, while the others lied, trying to take Rama’s side. In her
anger, Sita cursed all of them thus: the Falguni river henceforth
would have no water at Gaya; the Cow would no longer be worshipped
from the front as all others are- only its backside would be
worshipped; there would be no more Tulsi plants at Gaya and the Gaya
Brahmins would never be satisfied, they would always be hungry and
crave more and more. She then blessed the Akshaya Vatam saying that
all who came to Gaya would perform the Pinda pradaanam at the Akshaya
Vatam too.

In another slightly different version, which I recently heard on a Religious Indian TV Channel and have read i
on several internet forums, instead of cursing the tulasī plant, the Ketakī flower is cursed by Devī Sītā (i.e., Ketakī - to not being used to Worship any deity or in some stories only not to be used for Lord Shiva ' worship).
So, tl;dr : What might be the scriptural or maybe even any local/indigenous folklore based traditions' references for the above Story(s) ?
EDIT:
PS.
I'd also like to know (if possible) the validity of these curses and boons vis-a-vis how exactly they are presently manifest in Gaya, the present day visible manifestations of the Curses?  The river is dried up definitely in the cursed portion. But,
For example:-

How are the Brahmins hungry always in Gaya?
We really don't worship cows from front (do authoritative scriptures say so) ?
The Tulasí plant really doesn't grow in that particular area or Gaya?


texts: English translation/interpretation of text given in photo.

texts: Yesterday I visited Maa Mahakali's  temple in my city where I found this text written in Sanskrit and Urdu. Can anyone please help me translate this given text in English?


texts:
Lopamudra was a female Rishi who revealed Vedic mantras and did lots of Tapas, as per Mahabharata:

  And obtaining her as wife, Agastya addressed Lopamudra, saying, 'Cast
  thou away these costly robes and ornaments.' And at these words of her
  lord, that large-eyed damsel of thighs tapering as the stem of the
  plantain tree cast away her handsome and costly robes of fine texture.
  And casting them away she dressed herself in rags and barks and
  deerskins, and became her husband's equal in vows and acts. And
  proceeding then to Gangadwara that illustrious and best of Rishis
  began to practise the severest penances along with his helpful wife.
  And Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began to serve her lord from the
  deep respect that she bore him. And the exalted Agastya also began to
  manifest great love for his wife.

  After a considerable time, O king, the illustrious Rishi one day
  beheld Lopamudra, blazing in ascetic splendour come up after the bath
  in her season. And pleased with the girl, for her services, her
  purity, and self control, as also with her grace and beauty, he
  summoned her for marital intercourse.

Did Lopamudra ever receive Upanayana to do the tapas?


texts: When and what time does the Navratri fast end?

texts:
Could anyone can tell me when and at what time does the Navratri fast end?

And how to calculate it?


texts: What is the spiritual significance of eclipse?

texts: We have heard from childhood about negativity associated with the eclipses, abstaining from food, outing ,etc during the eclipses. I request a more detailed explanation regarding this. What are the do's, don'ts and spiritual significance of eclipse? And it's impact on the positive and negative energies of our body and surrounding. Thanks


texts: Where is the story of Yashoda's complaining not witnessing Krishna's marriages found?

texts:
There is a story in relation to Lord Balaji that mother Yashoda could not witness Krishna's marriages and when she was at death bed, she desired that she may witness Krishna's marriage at least in next incarnation.

The story says that Yashoda took birth as Vakula Devi and witnessed Lord Srinivasa's marriage.

Pleas relate the story in answer if the above one is not accurate.

What is the source of the story?


texts:
Does any one know of a copy of Sri Nandikeshvara Purana (also known as Brhan-Nandikeshvara Purana) available any where?

Online or printed copy is fine, though I prefer printed ones. I need the text in Sanskrit as opposed to abridged / translated narrations. Translation is fine, and will be helpful, but not without the original Sanskrit slokhas (please take the qualifier "original" in context).

Grateful for any pointers. Thanks in advance.


texts: Is there any evidence that Ravana was an ancestor of present day Sinhalese of Sri Lanka?

texts:
Ravana's Sri Lanka:

  "By examining the public discourse on Ravana that has been widespread among Sinhalese in the recent past, this paper suggests that the Sinhala nation is perhaps on the verge of being redefined. In comparison to the origin story of the Sinhalese that remained seriously unchallenged till the end of the twentieth century, in which the Sinhalese were considered the descendants of the Aryan prince Vijaya who arrived on the island around 2,500 years ago, this new narrative identifies the yakkha king Ravana as the originator of the Sinhala nation by going further back into the past. The paper also attempts to explain why this surge of interest in Ravana is taking place at this particular moment and not earlier."


texts: What does Urdhva Pundra (Thirunamam) represent?

texts: Most Hindus who worship Shree Vishnu wear Urdhva Pundra (Thirunamam) on their forehead. What does this symbol represent?


texts:
There was an occasion when Karna( king of the Angas) was about to sever king Jarasandha’s body into two parts, using his bare arms. But  then, king Jarasandha offered his hand of friendship to Karna and the fight ended.

What are the details of Karna’s fight with king Jarasandha?


texts: Is there any verse declaring Maa Parvati or Maa Durga as supreme goddess?

texts: Can anyone provide me the verse which indicates Maa Parvati as supreme Goddess?


texts: The ancient scriptures speak a lot on divine weapons used in the earlier yugas. There are mention of Brahmastra, Rudrastra, Narayanastra etc. But, why these weapons do not exist in the kali Yuga?


texts: Did Sri Lokenath Brahmachari meet Sri Trailanga Swami at all?

texts:
Some of Sri Lokenath Brahmachari's biographies claim that He met Sri Trailanga Swami.But Sri Lokenath Brahmachari refers to SrinTrailanga Swami as 'Hitalal Mishra' which is NOT the name of Sri Trailanga Swami as per ANY biography of Him that I read.

Can somebody throw light on this topic?


texts: Why did Dronacharya not become a guru of Ekalavya?

texts:
I am eager to know the reason why did Dronacharya not become a guru of Ekalavya whereas he become a guru of Kauravas and Paandavas".

What is the reason he rejected Ekalavya?


texts: We all know that Karna was given a Kavach and kundal by his father Lord Sun. Kavach was for his protection. But what was the role of Kundal?


texts: Do we still have Gurukula in INDIA/Bharat. which is having new generation subjects with our traditional Vedas/Purana in Sanskrit language.


texts: What are the contributions of all seven disciples of Adiyogi?

texts: Please explain the contributions of all seven disciples of Adiyogi and what were their identity in western world . Kindly answer with available proofs.


texts: Do hindu Vedas refer Or and respect to religions?

texts: Can someone please quote verses Or Vedas where Hindu religion acknowledges existence of other religion and guides to respect in their form?


texts: How to keep Pancha Kosha in Good state possible?

texts:
Are there any exercise, or anything to do, So I can keep Pancha Kosha in Good state possible..

Like Im guessing that for a Good

Annamaya Kosha - Asana, Good food Diet..

Pranamaya Kosha - Pranayama,

Manomaya Kosha - ??

Please write If there are anything else..


texts: Difference between Yagna, Homam and Yagam?

texts: What is the difference between yagna, yaaga and Homam?


texts:
Many of the followers of the Sanathan Dharma do the Nama Japa of Lord Rama extensively.

Is Rama Nama Japa capable to give moksha?


texts: Why Matsya and Kurma Avatars are not worshiped like other avatars?

texts: Why Matsya and Kurma avatars are not worshiped like other avatars? Vamana as trivikrama, varaha has temples in south. Rama, Krishna, Balarama and  Narasimha avatars are worshiped and many temples are there across India. A separate question was asked about Balarama avatar. Kalki is yet to come.


texts:
How do Vaishnavites understand the Rudrahṛdayopaniṣad?

An English translation of this upaniṣad says: “Rudra is the embodiment of all devas. All devas are merely different manifestations of Sri Rudra Himself. Rudra is the generator of the seed. Vishnu is the embryo of the seed. The root is Lord Shiva. The effect is Vishnu. The action is Brahma. The cause is Shiva. For the benefit of the worlds, Rudra has taken these three forms.”

How do Vaishnavites reconcile these words with their own faith, and what other parts of Hindu scripture do they use to do so? Specifically, I am asking about a Dvaita conception of this upaniṣad that does not generally allow for something like the concept of the trimūrti or the idea that all the devas are aspects of Brahman (so please don’t give these answers).

UPDATE: I would very much appreciate it also if you could link me to a word-by-word or line-by-line translation of the original Sanskrit version of the Rudrahṛdayopaniṣad. If you know (enough) Sanskrit and can do translate it word-by-word or line-by-line, that would be perfect! I have also found the original Sanskrit version of the Rudrahṛdayopaniṣad so you can use that. Specifically, I want the lines that I quoted above translated from original Sanskrit version word-by-word.


texts: Did Arjuna have the ability to see the future?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, in the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata Arjuna delivers a message to Duryodhana, urging him to reach a peaceful resolution to avert the impending war. Among other things, Arjuna says that astrologers and others have foreseen that the Pandavas are going to win:

  There are, with us, many aged Brahmanas, versed in various sciences, of amiable behaviour, well-born, acquainted with the cycle of the years, engaged in the study of astrology, capable of understanding with certainty the motions of planets and the conjunctions of stars as also of explaining the mysteries of fate, and answering questions relating to the future, acquainted with the signs of the Zodiac, and versed with the occurrences of every hour, who are prophesying the great destruction of the Kurus and the Srinjayas, and the ultimate victory of the Pandavas, so that Yudhishthira, who never made an enemy, already regardeth his objects fulfilled in consequence of the slaughter of his foes. And Janardana [Krishna] also, that lion among the Vrishnis, endued with the knowledge of the invisible future, without doubt, beholdeth all this. And I also, with unerring foresight, myself behold that future, for that foresight of mine, acquired of old, is not obstructed. The sons of Dhritarashtra, if they fight, will not live.

Now it's no big surprise that Krishna had the ability to see the future; he is an incarnation of Vishnu after all.

But my question is, why does Arjuna say "And I also, with unerring foresight, myself behold that future, for that foresight of mine, acquired of old, is not obstructed."?  When did Arjuna acquire the ability to see the future?

He says he acquired it "of old", but I'm not familiar with any story where was given a boon of clairvoyance.  Perhaps he acquired it in his five-year stay in Devaloka.  In any case, are there any other instances in the Mahabharata of Arjuna using this ability? That might narrow down when he acquired it.


texts: Are Shiva, Parvati, and their children, the only Gods who dwell on Earth?

texts: I was referring to Mount Kailasha. Among the Trimurti, Vishnu, along with Lakshmi, and Brahma, along with Sarasvati, appear to dwell in other realms. So do the other Gods.


texts: Who is the god Latavya worshiped by Madhwas?

texts:
Madhvacharya’s philosophy or Dvaita divides Jivatmas or individual souls into three categories: Mukti Yogyas or those destined to attain Moksha, Nitya Samsaris or those destined to remain in Samsara forever, and Tamo Yogyas or those destined to go to Andhatamas, a place of eternal punishment.  Mukti Yogyas are further divided into many subcategories, the topmost of which is the Devas.  And then Devas are ranked in a Taratamya or gradation, which dictates which Devas will be reborn as which.  For instance the current Shiva is reborn as the next Adiseshan, and the current Adiseshan gets reborn as the next Garuda.

But at the top of this Taratamya is a list of 200 gods, known as the Ruju Ganas.  You can see a list of the top 100 out of the 200 here.  Of these the top three names are Brahma, Vayu, and Latavya.  The current Latavya becomes the next Vayu, the current Vayu becomes the next Brahma, and the current Brahma attains Moksha.  But my question is, who is Latavya?

All I know about him is that Madhwas believe that the 15th century Madhwa philosopher Vadiraja Tirtha was an incarnation of Latavya.  But do either Madhwa works or Hindu scriptures provide any further information about him?  Like what is his story, and what is his function in the Universe?


texts: Is the Uttara Kanda of the Srimad Valmiki Ramayana interpolated?

texts: The Valmiki Ramayana consists of 7 Kandas. The last chapter called the Uttara Kanda is considered an interpolation, added in later time? Does the the Uttara Kanda mentions about sakas or Greeks? Is it really an interpolation or not?


texts: Do any Hindu deities take onion and garlic?

texts: I have seen many Hindu deities being offered meat (mainly the Goddesses) and alcohol. However, are there any Hindu deities who are offered onion and garlic?


texts: Why is Bhagavad Gita the only the Granth whose jayanti (birthday) being celebrated?

texts: Other granthas are also there like the Vedas, The Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Manusmruti and many others. Why those are not celebrated for their jayanti, but only Gita?


texts: Do any Vedanta shastra explicitly tell that any phenomenon is possible?

texts:
In the universe we are living in, there are many scientific facts.
Since science is always evolving and is particular to the time and place. There is no guarantee that the scientific facts will be valid forever. One can say that scientific facts are valid at particular time and/or at particular place.
Do any scriptures of Vedanta Sastra explicitly tell that any phenomenon is possible?
I mean do Vedanta Sastras tell that it is possible that a fact we are believing can be false and a contradiction that we believe can be true at some space at some time.


texts: Do we get the nature of those gods whom we worship?

texts:
I would like to know whether we get the nature of those gods we worship. Lord Bramha is said to have Sattva guna, Lord Vishnu Raja guna and Lord Shiva Tama guna.

What is the nature of the devotees of these gods? Are they one and the same?

Also, Raja guna and Tama guna seem to be negative but why are they associated with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva? In what we way could we understand this?


texts: Do I commit a sin of greater degree when I kill a holy creature (say cow) instead of any other creature?

texts:
I genuinely believe this question is a bit in bad taste but do read below my thoughts of inquisitiveness for putting up a bland question like this:

I was curious to know if karma would adjudge me as more guilty if i kill say a cow instead of a dog? The Vedas mention cow to be holy while a dog has no such mention and assuming that I kill them both under pretty much same conditions, would I be more guilty for killing the cow because it's mentioned as holy in vedas?

Sorry for such macabre query, depictions and ideas.


texts:
What is the earliest account of apsaras/nymphs?

How were they born?
How did they get the duty to dance in Indrasabha?
What all famous stories we have related to them?


texts: Reference for the Yajur Vedic verse to summon an army

texts:
I came across the following verse which was claimed to be from Yajur Veda which I'm unable to transliterate or find reference for. The Verse is for summoning an Army. The following pronunciation might be incorrect.

  Abbārtha Sura Rakshasī Vedi Sada

https://youtu.be/-aSbqiC6Sio?t=938

Any help with identifying the meaning and reference for this verse is appreciated!


texts:
The inhabited regions of the earth will be afflicted with dearth and famine, and the highways will be filled with lustful men
  and women of evil repute.

Hi, according to the Mahabharata during this era the world will be filled with lustful men, and evil women. Is this suggesting that all women are evil and that all men are lustful? Clearly this isn't the case, the world is also filled with a lot of good men and women?

Also is this passage describing the present, or the later part of kali yuga?


texts: Why our rishish followed grihastya ashrama but acharyas sanays asharama

texts: In mahabharata, adhi parva states agastya munu was advised to get married and beget children.but all of our acharayas like sankara, ramanuja and madhvacharya taken sanyasa ashrama, so which is appropriate according to scrpture.is grihastya ashrama compulsory according to advise given to agastya muni or we can move to sanayas ashram at any stage like our acharyas?


texts:
Ramana maharashi is a Jivan muktha of recent times. In this video, he is touching kids, animals etc.,
Did Ramana maharshi ever say that there will be no rebirth to all living beings touched by him?
If yes, does it valid for all jivan mukthas?


texts:
Is watching movies immoral according to Hinduism? Please provide reference to scriptures.
If not then what kind of movies are permitted?
EDIT: I meant to ask references to scriptures which talk about drama or dance since the scriptures do not talk about movies per se.


texts: What happened to Pandavas and Shri Krishna after Mahabharata?

texts: After Mahabharata, there is no major presence mark made by Pandava and Krishna. What happened to them after that?


texts: It looks like a pet name.  What was his real name and was he a teacher in that sect?


texts: What are the commentaries available on LalitA SahasranAma?

texts:
One of the most popular hymns of the goddess is Sri Lalita Sahasranama.

What are the major commentaries available on it? (apart from the Saubhagya Bhaskara by Sri Bhaskara raya)


texts:
Yayati got a boon from Sukra that he can swap his old age with anyone

  "Vaisampayana continued, 'Yayati, the son of Nahusha, thus cursed by
  the angry Usanas, was then divested of his youth and immediately
  overcome by decrepitude. And Yayati said, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have not
  yet been satiated with youth or with Devayani. Therefore, O Brahmana,
  be graceful unto me so that decrepitude might not touch me.' Sukra
  then answered, 'I never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou
  attacked by decrepitude. But if thou likest, thou art competent to
  transfer this thy decrepitude to another.' Yayati said, 'O Brahmana,
  let it be commanded by thee that that son of mine who giveth me his
  youth shall enjoy my kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.'
  Sukra replied, 'O son of Nahusha, thinking of me thou mayst transfer
  this thy decrepitude to whomsoever thou likest. That son who shall
  give thee his youth shall become thy successor to the throne. He shall
  also have long life, wide fame, and numerous progeny!'"

  [SECTION LXXXIII, Sambhava Parva, Adi parva, The Mahabharata]

Yayati uses the boon and transfers his old age to his son Puru and becomes young by recieving his sons age

  "Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing him
  said, 'Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son! But thou shall be the first
  of all! Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me
  in consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not
  yet however, been satiated with my youth. O Puru, take thou this my
  weakness and decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy for some years
  the pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I
  shall give back to thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.'

  "Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with
  humility, 'I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me. I shall take, O
  king, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as
  thou listest the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and
  becoming old, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving
  thee my youth.' Yayati then said, 'O Puru, I have been gratified with
  thee. And being gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom
  shall have all their desires fulfilled.'

  "And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of
  Kavya, transferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled
  Puru.'"

  [SECTION LXXXIV, Sambhava Parva, Adi parva, The Mahabharata]

Are there any other historical stories in Hindu scriptures that involves the concept of age swapping between humans?


texts: Ravana - Who were his parents and siblings?

texts:
Who were the parents of Ravana?

What were the names of Ravana's brothers and sisters?

And who is the real king of Lanka? Ravana or Vibhishana?


texts: Hanuman and Krishna ever met with each other

texts:
We know that Hanuman is a great devotee and follower of Lord Rama in Treta Yuga.

But my doubt is, did he meet Krishna?

Is it explicitly mentioned anywhere in Vyasa's Mahabharat or some other Hindu text that Hanuman and Krishna met each other? If true, then what exactly happened during their meeting?


texts:
What are Lord Shiva's Weaponry?
What are Lord Shiva's Weaponry?


texts: What can we eat and what we can't eat during Mother Lakshmi's fast?

texts:
I have searched and heard too from many people but some say that we cannot eat salty food but some say we can. Confusion became even more because Friday is for both Mother Lakshmi and Mother Santoshi.

And both might have different instructions related to meal consumption. Even in Vaibhava Lakshmi's vrata katha, nowhere is mentioned about what we should eat.

So, is there any scripture or any hindu text that tells us about what we should or should not eat in Vaibhava Lakshmi's fast?


texts: Where are the Sanskrit texts of Upanishads referred by Dara Shikoh?

texts:
Wikipedia states :

  Dara Shikoh subsequently developed a friendship with the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai. Dara Shikoh devoted much effort towards finding a common mystical language between Islam and Hinduism. Towards this goal he completed the translation of fifty Upanishads from their original Sanskrit into Persian in 1657 so that they could be studied by Muslim scholars.

Where are the 50 Sanskrit Upanishads which were referred by Dara Shikoh?


texts: Does Holi celebration have a link to the Narasimha avatar?

texts:
In this question the reason for celebrating Holi was asked but the answer given is based on wikipedia which also says:

  The Holika bonfire and Holi signifies the celebration of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, and of the fire that burned Holika.

Considering that the Holika dehan or burning of Holika is celebrated on the eve of Holi, the logical conclusion would be that the next day is concerned with the celebration of her brother Hiranyakshipu's death at the hands of Lord Narasimha. But the Narasimha Jayanti is celebrated on Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi while Holi falls on Phalgun Purnima.

So my question is - Is the festival of Holi related to the death of not just Holika but also Hiranyakshipu & do the scriptures mention an association between Narasimha and Holi?


texts:
Bilva tree is situated in a Devi temple complex.
How to worship the Bilva tree.


texts: Pronunciation of diphthongs ऐ and औ in sanskrit

texts:
I've just started studying Sanskrit with Charles Wikners 'A Practical Sanskrit Introductory' and have questions on the pronunciation of ऐ and औ.
For the ऐ he writes:

The ai sound arises when e is further combined with a as it were. The only difference between e and a is the raised back of the tongue, so to move from e towards the a sound, we need to drop the back of the tongue to a position half way between that used for i and e and the relaxed position used for a.

That sounds like an excellent explanation and there is no need to glide the sound from an a to an i. He says that explicitly:

...there should be no glide or slide in the sound from a to i.

A similar advice is given for the औ.
On the other hand many sites on the internet are telling, that the ऐ should sound like 'my' or the like, e.g. The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit on page 11. Some even say explicitly this vovel as a diphthong has a gliding sound from a to i.
Surly the 'my' for ऐ and the 'loud' for औ are good helpers to memorize the set of svara sounds for westerners. But what is the correct pronunciation when it comes to actually spelling words like ऐकपद्य or औपधर्म्य. Should they start with such a gliding sound or should it sound like one vovel as produced with Wikners tutorial?
EDIT: The Cambridge Intorduction to Sanskrit by A. M. Ruppel explains why the vovels ए and ओ are called diphthongs in the first place:

[...] They are followed by the complex vovels, e ai o au. At an earlier stage of the language, e and o actually were *ai and *au, and current ai and au once were *āi and *āu. Knowing that e ai o au were once *ai *āi *au *āu allows us to understand not only why all four of these are known as 'complex' vowels (all of them were once vowel combinations or 'diphthongs'), but also to see that the pattern of 'short vowel, then long vowel' that we saw in a ā i ī etc. is maintained here too. All four complex vowels count as long.

Listening to some good reciters and chanters I've come to the conclusion that the sounds in 'my' and 'eye' and 'loud' and 'hound' are the best choice to start with. I've also learned, that in india many shools of vedic knowledge exist all with their own treatise on voice and pronunciation called Shiksha.
However, I suppose Charles Wikner is not totally wrong with the way he explains pronunciation of ऐ and औ. Maybe his way is derived from a rather minor shiksha. I'd really like to know more about this topic so I leave the questions unanswered as it is by now.


texts: If Kundalini awakening is the most potent form of Yoga and requires intense sadhana, what is this ‘westernised version’ being followed by just anyone?

texts: This is rather a confusing stance for me. It’s usually said Kundalini awakening needs proper receptivity and grace, guru initiation is one out of the many necessary methods to reach there and Kundalini is literally a goddess, but formless as we discuss here. What is this Chakra activation performed usually I see so many around doing then and activating, some Hindu spiritualists sharing too? People are making lot use of it for heightened intuition and consciousness, but I don’t see the intensity of its effects as usually mentioned popularly, for example burning illusions, powers, Samadhi as we take realized divine ones and scriptures in account etc. if it makes sense as well. people don’t experience side effects and balance them greatly usually said around, whatever is this then and can we equate it to putting in use then, we don’t need any Guru but just us? Kindly explain about this.


texts: What is the Karma and what karma a human should do to be a perfect?

texts:
i want to know about the real Karma of human being in this kaliyug.
when is someone called a perfect and pure person?

my doubt is what should be a main goal of human being? how can i satisfy with my life that whether i am doing real karma?

Edited

The duplicated question marked does not give me answer of this question

Real Karma of human being in this kaliyug?

when is someone called a perfect and pure person?


texts: Timeline of the battle of the ten kings in the Vedas

texts: What is the timeline of the battle of the 10 kings mentioned in the Vedas? What are the circumstances that lead to the battle and also, what is the best account(translated) of the events surrounding the battle?


texts: what is the thithi, nakshatra, lunar month details of Adi Shankara's birth as documented by any mutt?

texts: I am clarifying my previous question again since without reading the details someone send it to duplicate.


texts: Please describe the meaning of and the mantras associated with the Parashurama Yantra

texts:
The above is an image of the Parashurama Yantra.

Please tell me what does this mean?
What numbers are associated with this Yantra?
What musical tones or mantras are associated with this Yantra , if any?


texts: Can I pour water on the shivling for abhishek as many times as I want?

texts:
I go to a temple where there is a shivling set on some soil at the base of a tree. So all the water poured goes in the root, and I feel good about giving the tree so much Shiva Nirmalaya to drink. Whenever I go to the temple, I try to pour water from a jug (lota) as many times as I can. Note that the water doesn't fall on the floor or anything, it goes into the soil and feeds the tree the Shiva Nirmalaya. However, today the priest stopped me and started to scold me saying (Hindi)

  "Ye puja kar rahe ho ya mazak kar rahe ho. Ye tumhara paanchwa lota hai"

(English Translation)

  "Is this puja (worship) or a joke? This is your fifth jug (lota)."

So I was wondering if there is such a thing as overoffering water to the shivling? Can I offer water as many times as I want to the shivling or is there a limit of one or three or the number of letters in the panchakshari mantra or something like that?

EDIT : I want to know the scriptural injunctions regarding amount to be offered to the shivling. Just for the sake of more information, the temple I go to has a pipeline supply so there is no question of running out of water. I do admit that noone else pours as much water as me (11 lotas or mini-jugs). Also, there are many shivlings in the temple and at each one, multiple people can pour water at the same time, so I am not holding up the crowd or anything.

EDIT 2 : Some prescribed quantities are mentioned in this answer - https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/17187/16709 - but it is also mentioned that Shukracharya did Abhishek "a thousand times".


texts: Which deities should not be worshiped in the house and why?

texts: Are there any gods or goddess who should not be worshiped in the house? And for what reason they should not be worshiped?


texts: Were there sacraments to convert non-arya and arya but non-kshatriya kings to kshatriyas?

texts:
Wiki article of Mahapadma Nanda says

  The Puranas describe Mahapadma as a son of Mahanandin by a woman from the Shudra caste.[ Jain works like Parishishtaparvan and Avashyaka sutra represent him as the son of a courtesan by a barber. Curtius, a Roman historian, informs us that

    his father was in fact a barber, scarcely staving off hunger by his daily earnings, but who, from his being not uncomely in person, had gained the affections of the queen, and was by her influence advanced to too near a place in the confidence of reigning monarch. Afterwards, however, he treacherously murdered his sovereign, and then, under the pretence of acting as guardian to the royal children, usurped the supreme authority, and having put the young princes to death begot the present king.
        — Curtius"

Did the Brahmins perform sacraments to make such kings Kshatriyas?


texts:
I want reference for this slokaa
"Mudrayasah Gacchantu Rajno ye
Gantumipsavah Na chamudra praveshtavyo Dwarapalasya Pasyatah"
This sloka belong Harivamsa Prava of Mahabharata
I want chapter and sloka number of this sloka .


texts: Aren't Rakshasas known for uncontrollable passions, lust, greed and deceit?

texts: Aren't Rakshasas known for uncontrollable passions, lust, greed and deceit ?


texts: How does one go from unrealised paramatma or Brahman to atma and body?

texts:
This might be a classical question and it might be interpreted as an argument against vedanta but I'll put my thoughts here and invite you to discuss:

My awareness is limited to my personal body. I sleep and I wake up and I find a permanence of experience. However if I am really consciousness, why am I not experiencing consciousness of everything in the universe simultaneously? Why is this consciousness locked on to my body? Logically it makes sense for my consciousness to permeate the entire universe much akin to that of Brahman.

Vedanta says that the knower and the known are different. This is how we arrive at the conclusion that 'sakshi' or the witness consciousness is a different entity from that what is observed implying that this mind and its witness are different but is this claim backed by any logic? Why is it impossible for the mind which forms all kinds of sensations to not have a sensation of 'itself'. The way I see it, the mind has all power to conjure up an image of itself. And that is where the matter would end. When one is under a deep meditation or anesthesia, one can forgo this sense of self and see experience for what it is, detached from his own body. Then if you up the dose or the depth of meditation, even those experiences vanish. Thus ultimately, I arrive at the conclusion that the consciousness we associate with ourselves is vastly different from the universal consciousness.


texts: Origins of God names - Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu

texts:
Who gave the names to the God like Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu, etc.? Are they the writers of the Vedas?

Did they ask the god to name them like this so that people can worship them by that name or the god himself said to worship him by that name?


texts: Tulsi mala rules before wearing around neck

texts:
Hello everyone please help me.
I bought a tulsi mala to wear around my neck.
I chant ramanama(No mantras).
I read that we have to offer tulsi mala to bhagwan vishnu before wearing it around our neck.
I read that we have to offer it first in vishnu temple and wash it in pachagavya after that.
Can anyone tell the procedure in detail?
Can i remove old mala after wearing new one?


texts: Which biographies of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is it stated that His Sankirtana movement will spread throughout the world one day?

texts: It is often said that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had predicted during his lifetime that His Sankirtana movement would spread throughout the entire world. In reality, the movement has indeed spread throughout the world thanks to the contributions of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and ISKCON. However, my question is that do any of the biographies of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu indeed predict the Sankirtana movement to spreading throughout the entire world?


texts: If X goes to Y's house, Y has a low opinion about X and insults him. X is hurt and he thinks that it is his papam. Is there any papam arising to X by inciting or  provoking Y to behave in a bad manner.


texts:
Ashaucha(अशौच) is a period of time (3 to 15 days) where you are not supposed to perform any poojan to any god because you are not purified/not eligible. There are two types of ashaucha

Janana ashaucha जननाअशौच
Mrityu ashaucha मृत्युअशौच

Janana Ashaucha - It happens after birth of child in a family. It's applied for 3 days to entire family.

Mrityu Ashaucha - It is applicable when someone dies in family (who is related within 3rd generation to you) it applies to all the family members who share same last names.

Now my question is since, this applies to all classes of society even the dwijas are not exempted from this rule.So how do we perform nityakarma (regular duties) like Sandhyavandanam within this period of ashaucha , and what other karmas could be performed besides sandhyavandanam.
What is vidhi of performing sandhyavandanam in ashaucha, please give reference with your answer.


texts: Which book do Vaishnavas give more importance of the two Vishnu Purana and Srimad Bhagavatam and why?

texts: Vishnu Purana and Srimad Bhagavatam are two important Vaishnava puranas. Of the two, which is given more importance in Sri, Madhva, Pushti & Gaudiya Vaishnavism? why if any reason?


texts: Where in scriptures is it mentioned that it is a brahmin's (or dwija's) duty/dharma today to do sandhyavandan?

texts:
2nd prashna of 2nd anuvaka of Taittiriya Aranyaka only mentions what Brahmavaadins did in ancient times when rakshasas gained boon with which they fought with Aditya, and to aid Aditya in such fight Brahmavaadins threw Indra-vajraayudha-mantra powered water in the air at morning sandhya, noon sandhya and evening sandhya times and drove away such rakshasas and freed Aditya. It does not say that such fight is still going on, and Aditya still needs our help today and that we still need to do what Brahmavaadins did back then.

Chandogya Upanishad and Brihadaranyaka upanishad elaborate on gayatri mantra but I did not see in them (and I may have missed since I read only translated versions) any prescription or mandatory statements that dwijas must go sandhyavandan.

Sri Krishna does not mention this as a duty of a dwija person in the Gita. So on what authority can we say that dwijas today MUST do sandhyavandan today?


texts:
I was thinking that do gods really exist in the same form as they are shown in pictures.
Or this is creation of some intelligent mind to give common man a subject to worship.
There are several things which depicts this :

99% gods are in human form.
People like to worship those who are powerful than them.
Gods are for everyone and hence should be some abstractness.


texts:
I have gone several posts here, Lord Krishna says if you want to stay out of this all materialistic life surrender to me alone. But all these social culture forces us to get trapped again to this what our ancestors did. Seems like an never ending process to me.

If someone gets married and after some years he leaves everything and surrenders to god, is it a right thing? Will not be a sin that he left his family (wife) alone to struggle?

Mythologically, is it really mandatory for someone to get married? If yes then
What is the right way to surrender to God?


texts:
Can any experts here, please enlighten me, who are the Goddesses,having skull-cup in one hand.
Though I heard that Goddess Kaali & Chanmunda are two of them. But why are they carrying skull cup- *kapaalahastam *?

And would like to know what's the significance of kapaalahastam? just like varada mudra or Abhaya mudra, am curious to know what this "kapaalahastam" provides?

I meant, having a kapala in HER hands, what kind of boons or (( any kind of negativity it emits ??)) or whats the kind of bhaava SHE has?


texts:
There is a contrasting description of the creator of the universe. In Devi Purana, it is mentioned that Devi is the creator of the universe, and everything emanates from her.

In Gita, Krishna said that he is the creator of the universe, and everything emanates from him. He also showed his Viswaroopa form to Arjuna.

So, who is the true master/creator of the universe?

If this theory is viewed from the scientific angle, Devi (or Shakti/energy) has to be the master of the universe. And all matter has evolved from her. As we know, mass evolves from energy through the E = mc2 formula (Albert Einstein).


texts: Are there mantras specifically for Yoga Narasimha?

texts:
I am looking for dhyana mantras (or any mantra for that matter) of Lord Yoga Narasimha which may describe his posture or his calm nature etc..
Yoga Narasimha is the form of Narasimha in which he can seen in a meditative state. This form showcases that Narasimha is not always angry.
I am not looking for mantras of Ugra Narasimha, I am trying to read about Shanta/Soumya Narasimha.
Any shlokas with translation/source are much appreciated.
Look how beautiful and Graceful the lord is !!!
Can't believe there isn't a special shlokam for him.

I have tried to find such mantras/shlokas/stotras for past several years, since I last went to Sholingur several years back.


texts: Is Agathyar (Agastya) from Ramayana same as the one who lived in Tamil Nadu 5000 years back?

texts:
We all know Agathyar (Agastya) had a part to play in Ramayana. But was it the same Agathyar who lived in Tamil Nadu 5000 years back as 1st Siddhar? His famous writing is Agathyar 12000 songs & his line about God was
"சக்தியே பராபரமே ஒன்றே தெய்வம்"


texts: Scriptural source for the Subhāṣita that says 'treat others' wives as your mother'

texts:
The other day I was listening to a discourse on Rāmāyaṇa  ‡ where the speaker points out that although it is very simple for anyone to say सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर ॥ § (Speak truth, follow dharma.), but when you are walking on the street one day and suddenly face a difficult situation, you will not be carrying with you the various smṛtis and dharma śāstras to immediately refer to and take the most dhārmic decision and, even if you did carry them, you will not have the time to quickly go through them to determine the correct way of doing something. So our great Ṛṣis have condensed the entire dharma for everyone to follow into three simple formulas:

Train your mind to look at or treat every woman that you encounter in your life who's not your wife as your own mother.

E.g., if you happen to notice a pretty lady (or person of opposite sex) in your circle of friends or relatives, at work etc. you will treat the person as your mother, father or your iṣṭa-devatā – this should cut down any temptation you may yield to.

Any wealth or property that is not yours, treat it like dirt.

E.g., if you were to find a gold chain on the street you'd simply ignore it's  even there. If you did pick it up, you'll try to locate the owner of the jewelry but not keep it for yourself. If you follow this rule, you'll also not accumulate black money, default on a loan etc.

Show sympathy and compassion to every living being.

E.g., if you feel like hitting a street dog with a stone, imagine someone throwing the same stone at you.

I thought the speaker was actually referring to the Vedas, Upaniṣads or Itihāsas but was disappointed to learn he was simply quoting the following Subhāṣita.

From here:

  मातृवत् परदारांश्च परद्रव्याणि लोष्टवत् ।
  आत्मवत् सर्वभूतानि यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥

  - समयोचितपद्यमालिका

  mAtRuvat paradArAmshcha paradravyANi loShTavat ।
  Atmavat sarvabhUtAni yaH pashyati sa pashyati ॥

  - samayochitapadyamAlikA

  The right way to look at other people's wives is as if she is your mother, other people's wealth as if it is lump of mud, all other beings as if they were you.

  - Samayochitapadyamalika

A slightly different one from here:

  मातृवत्परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्ठवत् ।
  आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः ॥

  – हितोपदेश, सन्धि

  A wise man will treat other people's wives as his own mother. He treats other people’s wealth as a lump of mud (stone). He will treat every being in this world with compassion as he would treat himself.

  – Hitopadesha, Sandhi

Question:

Do any of our scriptures convey the same message as the Subhāṣita above? If so, can you cite the relevant verses and their translation?

‡ Link to YouTube video (Telugu) by Sri Chaganti Koteswara Rao
§ Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.11


texts: Does she/he should leave noble/Good works or stop praying God because there is no output in doing noble/good works and praying the God?

texts:
Sometimes when you prayed something to God, like please make my life successful, but its doesn't happen even after praying for long time.

My question is that does she/he should leave noble/Good works or stop praying to God because there is no output/result seen in doing noble/good works and praying to God ?

Any  Guidance ?


texts: Do those who worship at Agastya's lake become devotees of Kartikeya?

texts:
In this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, the sage Pulastya, mind-born son of Brahma and the grandfather of Ravana, tells Bhishma about a variety of Tirthas or sacred places.  In particular he says this:

  He that goeth to the lake of Agastya and occupieth himself with the worship of the Pitris and celestials, fasting for three nights, acquireth, O king, the fruit of the Agnishtoma. Going thither, he that liveth on vegetables or fruits acquireth the status called Kaumara.

My question is, what is this "status called Kaumara" that is acquired by those who eat only fruits and vegetables at Agastya's lake?  The only context I know the word "Kaumara" in is the name of a sect of Hinduism which believes that Shiva's son Kartikeya, aka Kumara, is the supreme god.  So is Pulastya saying that those people become devotees of Kartikeya, or does he mean something else?

By the way, does Agastya's lake refer to the lake in modern-day Badami where Agastya's ashram was located?  As I discuss in this answer, Rama visited Agastya (along with Agastya's mysterious "brother") there.


texts:
From the article "VajravArAhI" at the Kamakotimandali website:

BhagavatI bimbAmbikA recognizes the fact that the deity is Buddhist in origin, as does baDabAnala tantra, and both prescribe the use of trishakti-chAmuNDA during the observance of tAntrikI sandhyA during mahAnishA instead of vajravArAhI, however prescribing her mantra for purposes of Japa

So the question is - Where does the baDabanala tantra recognize vajravarahi as a Buddhist diety originally?