texts: Is there a dilution in YOGA by new age gurus?

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Is the the current form in which Yoga is being propounded (stripped of metaphysical aspects) distortion of Patanjali rishi's teachings? If Yes, then is yoga as a physical practice amoral and neutral but can any meaning and function be imported into its form?

Main argument of new age gurus is that Yoga is a technology/phenomenon/natural law etc. Just like gravity cannot restricted to one religion, same is applicable for Yoga. They want to spread yoga as a non-religious scientific tool to enhance human wellbeing.

This is great. But just like Gita is meant for entire mankind, it is still a scripture of Hinduism and distorting its content does not yield benefits.

When it comes to Yoga, I gather chanting mantras is an integral component. So is it really called Yoga when mantras are not chanted ?
Also from what I gather is that there Asana (which is projected as Yoga) is just one of the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. Is it ok to assume one may not derive the intended benefits by ignoring the other limbs or for not carrying it out correctly (i.e. by not chanting the mantras) ?


texts: Statements regarding manual labour in Satya yuga

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According to Hanuman, there was no manual labour in Krita yuga.

The following in a excerpt from the discussion between Bhimasena and Hanuman that contains the statement of absence of manual labour during Krita yuga.

  Thereupon Hanuman said, 'O child, that yuga is called Krita when the
  one eternal religion was extant. And in that best of yugas, every one
  had religious perfection, and, therefore, there was no need of
  religious acts. And then virtue knew no deterioration; nor did people
  decrease. ...... And there was no buying and selling. And the Sama,
  the Rich, and the Yajus did not exist. And there was no manual
  labour. And then the necessaries of life were obtained only by being
  thought of. And the only merit was in renouncing the world. And during
  that yuga, there was neither disease, nor decay of the senses....'

  [Section 148, Tirtha-yatra Parva,  Vana Parva, The Mahabharata]

Are there any other scriptural statements that support this statement?


texts: Do any other scriptures mention Brahma Tirtha, bathing where non-Brahmins become Brahmins?

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Mahabharat, Vana parva, tirtha-yatra parva https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-third-book/d/doc7362.html. Says:

  One should next proceed to the excellent tirtha of Brahma. Bathing there, a person, of the (three) inferior orders, obtaineth the status of a Brahmana, and if one be a Brahmana, his soul being purified from every sin, he attaineth to the highest state.

Do any other scriptures mention this particular property of brahma tirtha?


texts: SB 10.88: Why does Supreme lord's devotees lives in poverty?

texts: I don't understand this. Please someone explain me. Why does the devotees of Supreme Lord live in poverty. What if one devotees doesn't want to attain moksha. Will lord forcefully attract him towards it? That means the free will will be ruined that way. Why does a devotee of Supreme Lord cannot live the life of his desire?


texts:
Read my previous question where I said that I think/believe that other ways should merge into Jnana ultimately but this can be considered as my opinion only. The scriptural reference supporting this is essential.

Also remember that Jnana here is not limited to scriptural knowledge only but consider it as Vijanana (Realization of absolute/ultimate truth) also (as mentioned in this answer :  Jnana is simply referring to Vijnana).

So, I am looking for any scriptural reference which say Karma & Bhakti ultimately merges into Jnana.

If you know any scriptural reference/support about this topic, then you are requested to answer with quotation of authentic scripture.


texts: Why do some temples require men not to wear shirts?

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Some Hindu temples require men to remove their shirts before they enter. I don't remember the names of any temples off the top of my head, but I do believe that a few temples in and around Thanjavur had this policy, and I remember hearing that this is relatively common across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

What is the basis (scriptural or otherwise) for this requirement?


texts: Birth after enjoying all good deeds in Heaven

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If a person does many good deeds in his life. There are very few say 25% bad deeds in his life.

If he enjoys all the fruits of his 75% good deeds in heaven.

Then which kind of family he gets born?

In rich family ? Or Poor / Bad family ? (for getting fruits of 25% bad deeds)

Please clarify.


texts:
Please let me know the source of shloka

  राघवो विजयं दद्यात् मम सीतापतिः प्रभुः ।
  राघवस्य यथत्द्वन्द्वं दद्यात् वैभवम् ॥

  raaghavo vijayam dadyAt mama sItApatiH prabhuH|
  raaghavasya yathatdvandvam dadyAt amita vaibhavam||

  Meaning:
  May   Raaghavan,   the   Lord   of   SeethA   PirAtti   grant   me   victory   in   my  kaimkaryams!  May  His  sacred  pair  of  feet  bless  me  with  limitless  glory  of  Kaimkaryam to Him !

I want to know from where this mantra has been picked


texts: How did the Puranas justify the deification of epithets, which is contrary to Rig Vedic principles, therefore, anti-Hindu or anti-Sanatana Dharma?

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Rig Veda II.1 states that there is only one Brahman, though attributed different epithets like Indra, Vishnu, Rudra, etc., to denote different actions of the same Almighty. The same was reiterated in RV I.164.46:

एकं सद विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं
ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyaghniṃ
Though it is One, inspired poets speak of it in many ways

The Puranas on the other hand eulogise Vishnu, Shiva, etc, by deification, and demean Indra, Agni, Aswins, etc,  even though according to Vedas, Indra, Agni, Aswins, etc, were  epithets much like Vishnu and Rudra.
Deification of epithets is anti-Hindu or anti-Sanatana Dharma.
So how did the Puranas like Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, etc, justify the deification of epithets, as mentioned above, and advocating sectarian movements like Vaishnavism, Shaivism, etc., which are contrary to Rig Vedic principles?


texts: How and from whom did Duryodhana learn the art of Jalastamba (art of staying under water)?

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In the 18th day of Kurukshetra, Duryodhana hid himself inside the water using a knowledge he had about staying under water. There is no way Drona might have taught him this technique since Drona considered Arjun as his favorite student. There is no reason for Drona to teach this technique only to Duryodhana. In Ghosh Yatra Parva, when Duryodhana was sitting sad after Pandavas came to his resuce from Gandarvas, some Asuras kidnapped him and assured to help him during the war. Still there is no reference of Asuras teaching him this technique. So exactly where and from whom Duryodhana learnt the technique of staying under water? This is a quote from Shalya Parva where Duryodhana hid under water:

king Yudhishthira the just, O monarch, arrived at the lake known by the name of Dvaipayana within which Duryodhana then was. Wide as the ocean itself, its aspect was agreeable and its waters were cool and transparent. Solidifying the waters by means of his power of illusion, by, indeed, a wonderful method, thy son Duryodhana, O Bharata, happened to be within that lake. Indeed, within those waters lay, O lord, that king, armed with his mace, who, O ruler of men, could not be vanquished by any man! Staying within the waters of that lake, king Duryodhana heard that tumultuous noise (of the Pandava army) which resembled the very roar of the clouds


texts: What is the importance of bull in the Vedas?

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We all know about cow's importance in Vedas. If cow is called the mother then bull is the father.

So what are some Vedic verses which glorify the bull?

Even the Mahabharata gives importance to bull by saying "bull among men" etc
And, the Vedas too call Gods like Agni as bull.


texts:
When we see all the practices from vedas, puranas, Yoga, and all scriptures, ithihasa, the theme has been to purify the mind and detach it from world. They never talked about on how to grow your Atman for liberation etc..

All instructions, the methods of practice, seems everything related to mind. Thus, my question is - Is liberation for mind? If so, then is Atman already free? If that's the case, then I think mind is sole reason for our existence in this world.


texts: Did Parashurama cede all his powers to end the confrontation with Rama in the Ramayana?

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The two Ramas have a confrontation and at the end Parashruma says

But I triumphed over matchless realms of heavens with my ascesis, oh, Rama, you may hash them up with that irreversible arrow... let there be no time-lag

he seems to be relinquishing all his powers to end the confrontation   And if so - how is he a formidable warrior in Mahabharata also?


texts: What happens to non-Hindus in the afterlife?

texts: How is the soul of a non-Hindu processed in the afterlife?  Is it as decribed in Hindu scripture, or is it as described in the scriptures of the religion that they belonged to?


texts: How did the concept of 'Sect' arise in Sanatana Dharma?

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Vedas are eternal. And as per Vedas' teachings, in every yajna we offer and worship every God. And No God is inferior or superior than the other. However, later Sanatana Dharma segregated into multiple sects which shouldn't have happened as per Vedas.
So my question is, How did this sect thing start? What was the real source of this segregation?


texts: How much time did Sri Krishna take to preach Gita to Arjuna?

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Just imagine you are on the battlefield, the two armies facing each other eager to strike. Everyone is agitated and in the midst of this chaos the knowledge of Geeta is being sermonized.

It will take long time to preach a spiritual treatise consisting of nearly 700 slokas.

What were the armies doing, while the discourse is going on?

Were they just waiting patiently for the discourse to be completed (or) went back to their respective tents and took rest?


texts: What is the difference between dharma and religion?

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Hinduism is called "Dharma" unlike Christianity or Islam, which are called "religions".

My question is: What is the difference between Dharma and Religion?


texts: I want detail explanation about Goddess Maa Chinnamastika?

texts: I want detail explanation about Goddess Maa Chinnamastika, can anyone help me out?


texts: Yajurvedic Shradha Vidhi and deep -dana?

texts: As we know dwija perform various vedic rituals based on Grihya sutra according to vedas followed by them. I'm interested to know which chapter (Adhyaaya) of yajurveda explains about it.


texts:
I read different stories in articles about Arjuna death (Killed by Yama, Killed by Babruvahana during Ashwamedha Yagya and Arjuna finally died during his journey to Swargaloka)

According to Wiki sources:
"It is also to be noted that the listener of the Mahabharata is Janamejaya, Parikshit's son. Except for Yudhishthira, all of the Pandavas grew weak and died before reaching heaven (only Yudhishthira is allowed to keep his mortal body). Arjuna was the fourth one to fall after Draupadi, Sahadeva and Nakula".

All stories apart, So My question was there are any Scripture describe exact reason or Curse behind Arjuna death? If Arjuna killed or weak why didn't Krishna help him for journey to Swargaloka (Heaven)?


texts: Why do Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva always meditate on each other?

texts:
I watched a TV serial named "Devo ke Dev Mahadev" on channel "Life Ok". In that, they mentioned several stories of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu always meditating upon each other and connected to each other at all times.

Is that true? If yes, what is the reason behind this? Can anybody enlighten me on this?


texts: What is shastras recommended way of raising a child?

texts:
Hindu shastras have provided knowledge on code of duties (Manusmriti), medicinal practices (Ayurveda), archery science (dhanurveda), kamasutra, secrets of cosmic creation and likewise many more subjects.
I am curious to know what our shastras have written and recommended on subject of raising a child? Like when it is appropriate to be strict and when to behave as a friend? What kind of teachings are parents responsible to provide to their children?


texts: Scripture to learn about manas, chitta, ahamkar and buddhi in detail?

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Is there an authentic ancient scripture to study about manas, ahamkar, buddhi, chitta, chit, chit vritti etc. in detail, so one can exactly know what they are and how they differ?
For example, to study Sanskrit there's well structured Ashtadhyayi, to study how to pronounce sounds of Sanskrit alphabets there's Shiksha granth. Similarly, where can I learn about the terms I mentioned above?


texts: Who are the dark-coloured inhabitants in this Rig Veda verse?

texts:
The Rig Veda has a verse that says:

  "Through fear of thee [Agni] the dark-coloured inhabitants fled, not waiting for battle, when, O Agni (fire) burning brightly for Puru, and destroying the cities, thou didst shine." (VII, 5, 3)

Who are the dark-coloured inhabitants?


texts: What is the story of Kalanemi who was reborn as Kamsa?

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The Sambhava Parva of Mahabharat mentions that Kamsa was a rebirth of the demon Kalanemi:

  "There was also born on earth a mighty Asura known amongst the Danavas by the name of Kalanemi, endued with great strength, of grand achievements, and blessed with a large share of prosperity. He became the mighty son of Ugrasena and was known on earth by the name of Kansa.

From this question it is clear that Kalanemi in his previous birth had been killed by Lord Vishnu during the Tarakamaya War that was fought for the custody of Tara, Brihaspati's wife who had been abducted by Chandra.

Now Kamsa must have been born around the 28th Mahayuga for Krishna to have descended at that time and the aforementioned war probably happened much before. I want to know more details about him such as where did Kalanemi come from originally and did he take another birth in the interim. He also seems to feature in the Ramayan where he is killed by Hanuman but this incident is not there in the Valmiki Ramayan.

So I guess my question is - Are there any details mentioned about the origins and life of Kalanemi in any other scriptures that can help complete his story?


texts: Qualification needed for understanding Bhagavad Gita as it is

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What are the qualifications one need to understand Bhagavad Gita as it is?
Because I have seen many people in first impression misunderstood Gita as it is, and people have much confusion regarding it.
What does the Acharyas says about qualifications to understand Bhagavad Gita? What are qualifications according to Bhagavad Gita one need to read or understanding? Is association of pure devotees required or pious Karma needed to best read it? Or is mercy of Shri Krishna required to truly appreciate it?


texts:
Some people say only those who are having Yagnopaveetam are eligible to recite Gayatri Mantra and
some people say there was no such limitation, any one can recite Gayatri Mantra.
Which one is correct ?


texts: What curse did Yudhisthira give to Kunti after knowing his relationship with Karna?

texts: I heard Yudhisthira did curse Kunti for keeping the secret of Karna's birth as a secret. What exactly was the curse? What curse did Yudhisthira give to Kunti after Yudhisthira and other Pandavas know that Karna was their eldest brother?


texts: What does this verse of SB say about Multiverse?

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Lord Śiva said:

  My dear son, I, Lord Brahmā and the other devas, who move within this universe under the misconception of our greatness, cannot exhibit any power to compete with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for innumerable universes and their inhabitants come into existence and are annihilated by the simple direction of the Lord (Bhagavata Purana 9.4.56)

Please explain the meaning of this verse.
Are other universe's inhabitants and their life cycle different from our universe according to scriptures?


texts: Does the incident of Shankara meeting a Chandala prove that Shankara never had realization?

texts:
According to Advaita Vedanta, things like caste, gotra, etc, will cease to exist after realization. But when Adi Shankara met a Chandala in Varanasi, he asked the Chandala to move away from his path. Chandala inquired that whether Adi Shankara is asking my body to move away or the real me to move away. Then Shankara responded by writing Manisha Panchakam. Later it is believed that he accepted the Chandala as his disciple.

Now if caste or varna cease to exist after realization and Adi Shankara realised himself, why did he practice untouchability?


texts: Are women allowed to read Vedas? Are any religious text not meant to be read by women? Kindly answer to my mentioned question.


texts: Was the Ivory image of Lion-human found in Germany indicating Narasimha?

texts:
From Wikipedia article of Lion-man or The Löwenmensch figurine:

The Löwenmensch figurine or Lion-man of the Hohlenstein-Stadel is a prehistoric ivory sculpture discovered in the Hohlenstein-Stadel, a German cave in 1939. The German name, Löwenmensch, meaning "lion-human", is used most frequently because it was discovered and is exhibited in Germany.

The lion-headed figurine is the oldest-known zoomorphic (animal-shaped) sculpture in the world, and the oldest-known uncontested example of figurative art. It has been determined by carbon dating of the layer in which it was found to be between 35,000 and 40,000 years old, and therefore is associated with the archaeological Aurignacian culture of the Upper Paleolithic. It was carved out of mammoth ivory using a flint stone knife. Seven parallel, transverse, carved gouges are on the left arm.
After several reconstructions that have incorporated newly found fragments, the figurine stands 31.1 cm (12.2 in) tall, 5.6 cm (2.2 in) wide, and 5.9 cm (2.3 in) thick. It currently is displayed in the Ulm Museum, Germany.

My question is whether this ivory figure was crafted based on the story of Nrisimha or Narasimha ?


texts: What is the story behind Padmanabha Swamy?

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Recently I was reading about Padmanabha Swamy temple where the treasure was unlocked.

I have seen a statue of lord Vishnu where he is resting over Anant Naag and from his Nabhi, lotus is coming out in which lord Brahma resides. So what is the exact story behind this?

What is the relation of Brahma with Padmanabha Swamy and how did they got the treasure?


texts: How does a Jogi lead his life? Are "Yogi" and "Jogi" the same?

texts: How does or How should a Jogi lead his or her live? Bhogi is voracious, rogi lives in travail and yogi is ascetic. Are both 'yogi' and 'jogi' the same?


texts: What are differences between Dnyaneshwari and other Bhagavad Gita commentaries?

texts:
Dnyaneshwari (IAST:'Jñānēśvarī) is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, written by the great Saint Sant Dnyaneshwar in Marathi. It's considered to be the best scripture in Marathi literature.

What ideas are in the Dnyaneshwari which are not in other commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita?


texts: What is the position of different Vaishnavite sects regarding the Advaitic definition of Nirguna Brahman?

texts:
As I understand it, to them the absolute is a person - Vishnu/Narayana, Rama and Krishna being the most prominent.

What is their stand on the Nirguna Brahman of Advaitists?

I am not interested in their redefinition (if any) of "Nirguna" - just their direct opinion of what Advaitists mean by it.


texts: What if by mistake prasad is discarded by someone?

texts: Wanted to know what if by mistake prasad is discarded by someone who is not aware of it ? What to do in that case?


texts: Sita's reply to Maha Sati Anasuya-Advice on Stri-Dharma

texts:
Sri Rama and his consort Sita, met Maharishi Atri at the Maharishi's hermitage, during the early part of their exile. After introducing his wife Anasuya as a great ascetic, the Maharishi requested Sri Rama to send Sita to his wife Anasuya.

After  making Sita feel comfortable,
Maha Sati Anasuya gave Sita a lot of advice on the role and responsibilities of a devoted wife( details are given in Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya Chapter[Sarga] 117). Sita  reverentially accepted the advice given by Maha Sati Anasuya and thereafter, gave a reply. What is the reply given by Sita to Maha Sati Anasuya, after receiving the advice on Stri-Dharma?


texts: Does Bhagavad Gita Sloka 17.23 refer to Brahmanas or Brahmins?

texts:
Recently while revising the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, the following verse inspired me to think and search:

तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।।

Here ब्राह्मणा can be interpreted as either Brahmanas (considered to be part of Veda) or Brahmins (one of the 4 Varna). Actually I was going through Sanskrit-Gujarati book I have and I used to interpret it as Brahmins:

You can read Sansrit-Hindi (of Gita press)version from here where you'll find ब्राह्मण can mean both. I've gone through English translation because I thought that it would be clearly interpreted as either Brahmanas or Brahmins (in English).

OM, TAT and SATóthis has been declared as
the triple appellation of Brahma, who is Truth,
Consciousness and Bliss. By that were the
Brāhmanas and the Vedas as well as sacrifices
created at the cosmic dawn. (23).

So, I surprised a little bit to find that it is interpreted as Brahmanas (part of Veda). So, I want to make sure Whether the verse 17.23 refer to Brahmanas or Brahmins?
Because if it is about Brahmanas (the part of Vedas), then it may help with some related post like Looking for scriptural source that introduce Brahmanas and this.
As I've earlier discussed, there can be three different opinions regarding parts of Vedas:

Brahmanas (including Aranyaka & Upanishads) Apaurusheya, Shruti/Veda!
Considering Brahmanas (including Aaranyaka & Upanishads) Vedas/Shruti but only Samhita part is actually Apaurusheya.
Only Samhita of Vedas are Veda and Shruti. Brahmanas and other parts are expansion and interpretation but not Vedas. -- This is introduced by Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Arya Samaj following.

So, if BG is talking about Brahmanas (part of Veda), I think it may prove Brahmanas Apaurusheya like Samhita of Veda.


texts: Some daily-life hacks to always keep remembrance of God / Isht Devta or Devi

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Life has lots of challenges, ups and downs. It is very easy to forget your Isht Devi/Devta (God), while enganged in worldly activities.

What are some life hacks to stay connected to God, while performing our daily duties in this mrityu loka (world) ?

EDIT: While there is a question asked about methods of remembering God for an office-going person, my question is neither for an employee in office, nor is it about simply methods.
Life-hacks means ways in which we tactically engage our mind to transform a real world feeling into bhagvad-feeling.

One example that comes to my mind is when we say Ram Ram (as a salutation) to a friend. I have heard that the reason for saying it twice is to remember that the God that resides in me, is the same God that resides in the person I am meeting.
This consciousness is a kind of hack that helps a devotee keep connected to God.


texts: In north part of India, I have observed, Hindus only eat meat of goat/chicken beheaded at once. They say it "jhatakA"; literal meaning "at once". Is this concept backed up by scriptures ? If not then what way is prescribed to behead animal before consuming it ?


texts: Is the Varna told by Krishna is same as astrological Varna?

texts:
Following statement of Krishna related to Varna

According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four Varnas of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.

In Vedic astrology, there is Varna. It is solely based on the birth Zodiac sign of the person i.e., on birth details as follows

BRAHMIN VARNA : Person whose Birth Rashi is Cancer or Scorpio or
Pisces is considered Brahmin by Varna in Hindu Vedic Astrology .

KSHATRIYA VARNA : Person whose Birth Rashi is Aries or Leo or
Sagittarius is considered Kshatriya by Varna in Hindu Vedic Astrology.

VAISHYA VARNA: Person whose Birth Rashi is Taurus or Virgo or
Capricorn is considered Vaishya by Varna in Hindu Vedic Astrology.

SHUDRA VARNA : Person whose Birth Rashi is Gemini or Libra or
Aquarius is considered Shudra by Varna in Hindu Vedic Astrology.

The names of Varnas in both cases are same, my doubt is whether the Varna system told by Krishna is same as the Varna in astrology or not?
Note: This question is not a duplicate of another question. Please read both and comment or reopen accordingly.


texts: If Lord Parashurama really cursed Karna, how could he launch Brahmastra on Arjuna twice?

texts:
Background:

I saw some Karna movies and Mahabharata TV episodes and in there it's told that the main reason for Karna's defeat is that he was cursed (śāpa) by Lord Parashurama.
All of them refer to Lord Parashurama cursing Karna that he would forget Brahmastra. But contrary to that, Karna used the Brahmastra against Arjuna as mentioned in this chapter of Karna Parva, Mahabharata.
This means that Karna could use the Brahmastra and there was no curse.

Question:

If Karna was not cursed to use Brahmastra then what was the curse given to Karna by Lord Parashurama?
How can both stories – Parashurama cursing Karna that he would forget the Brahmastra and Karna actually using Brahmastra on Arjuna – be true?
How to solve this paradox?


texts:
In Bhagavat Geeta (Chapter 9 Verse 7), it is said that the Jeevas are created at the start of Kalpa, and this cycle keeps on repeating for-ever. This implies that the Mukti or Moksha is not a permanent state but a temporary state which lasts for a Kalpa. I think Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati of Arya samaj holds this view point.

Is there any explanation, regarding this, found in Vedas or other scriptures?


texts: What are the Hindu beliefs on life after death?

texts:
I'm a highschool student studying the 5 Major world religions and I myself am Catholic. However as apart of an assignment I have, I must interview and collate references from people of the practicing faiths on the topic of life after death.
I'm a bit confused and was wondering whether anyone could provide me with any of the following information;
- A basic explanation,
- what the two pathways are that a soul may follow in the afterlife,
- What is Moksha
- What is a jiva
- How karma works
- Where does the soul go in between death and rebirth

I apologize if I got anything wrong or is misleading, I am trying my best to be respectful.Also I read somewhere that The Vedas and Upanishads have different perspectives of how to escape rebirth, could someone clarify this or explain what that may be.
Thanks Very Much


texts: How did Bhishma get the name of "Bhishma"?

texts: Bhishma's birth name was Devavrata and he was called Gangeya and Gangaputra because he was son of Ganga but why Bhishma is named as "Bhishma"?  What does Bhishma mean?


texts:
I listen that Arjun has proposed to a woman to get marry but she refused.

Who was that woman refused to marry with Arjun and why?

How many wives did Arjun have? and who are they?


texts: Did Lahiri Mahasaya defeat Swami Dayanand Saraswati in a debate in Kashi?

texts: I heard recently from a friend that the famous yogi named Lahiri Mahasaya had once debated with Swami Dayanand Saraswati in Kashi and successfully defeated the founder of Arya Samaj (An organisation which strictly rejects the concepts of murti puja, avatars and bhakti as well as some scriptures such as Puranas and Agamas). However, my friend was unable to quote from any authentic sources. Can anyone tell me the details of this incident and the source of this story?


texts: Who is King Yavana mentioned in Anushasana Parva of Mahabharat?

texts:
In Anushasana Parva (165), Bhishma tells Yudhishthira about the names of the deities, Rishis and Kings to be duly recited for efficacious cleansing of all sins. The following is the (abbreviated) quote for the names of kings :

  After this I shall recite the names of the principal kings. They are Nriga, Yayati, Nahusha, Yadu, Puru of great energy, Sagara, Dhundhumara, Dilipa of great prowess, Krisaswa, Yauvanaswa, Chitraswa, Satyavat, Dushmanta, Bharata who became an illustrious Emperor over many kings, Yavana, Janaka, Dhrishtaratha, Raghu, that foremost of kings, Dasaratha, the heroic Rama, that slayer of Rakshasas, Sasavindu. ...

Yavana in ancient India was used for a particular tribe/kingdom/janpada lying to the west of Aryavarta, usually identified with Ionians. The only instance that I'm aware of it being used as a name of a king is Kalayavana, which doesn't appear to be the case here, since Kalayavana has been associated with Danavas and portrayed in a negative light in the Shanti Parva as attacking Dwarka.

So, who is the king Yavana mentioned here?


texts: Why the year of the gods are taken as divine years for yuga calculations?

texts: By taking the year of gods i.e 360 earth years we get a huge time frame of 360*1200 = 432000 years for Kaliyuga. Are we not making God a material being by assigning such numbers which could also mean that Gods are also subject to birth and death cycle. God is supposed to be omnipresent. kindly share your thoughts.


texts:
Hatha yoga pradipika contains posture details of Siddhasana as follows

Press firmly the heel of the left foot against the perineum, and the
right heel above the male organ. With the chin pressing on the chest,
one should sit calmly, having restrained the senses, and gaze steadily
the space between the eyebrows. This is called the Siddha Âsana, the
opener of the door of salvation.
[37, Chapter 1, THE HAṬHA YOGA PRADIPIKA]

It explicitly makes one point: one has to use the left heel.
Are there any other statements that accept the right heel against the perineum?


texts:
Is the Rig Veda Purusha Suktam hymn an interpolation?

Western scholars and Indologists think so, especially the part about caste. Here's what wikipedia says on Varna:

  This Purusha Sukta varna verse is now generally considered to have
  been inserted at a later date into the Vedic text, possibly as a
  charter myth.[16] Stephanie Jamison and Joel Brereton, a professor of
  Sanskrit and Religious studies, state, "there is no evidence in the
  Rigveda for an elaborate, much-subdivided and overarching caste
  system", and "the varna system seems to be embryonic in the Rigveda
  and, both then and later, a social ideal rather than a social
  reality".[16]

  Ram Sharan Sharma states that "the Rig Vedic society was neither
  organized on the basis of social division of labour nor on that of
  differences in wealth ... [it] was primarily organised on the basis of
  kin, tribe and lineage."[17]

  In the post-Vedic period, the varna division is described in the
  Dharmashastra literature, the Mahabharata and in the Puranas.[18]

And here are some quotes from various Western scholars and Indologists who claim the Purusha Suktam hymn in the Rig Veda is an interpolation:

  As compared with by far the largest part of the hymns of the Rigveda,
  the Purusha Sukta has every character of modernness both in its
  diction and ideas. I have already observed that the hymns which we
  find in this collection (Purusha Sukta) are of very different periods.

  — John Muir, [13] That the Purusha Sukta, considered as a hymn of the
  Rigveda, is among the latest portions of that collection, is clearly
  perceptible from its contents.

  — Albrecht Weber, [14] That remarkable hymn (the Purusha Sukta) is in
  language, metre, and style, very different from the rest of the
  prayers with which it is associated. It has a decidedly more modern
  tone, and must have been composed after the Sanskrit language had been
  refined.

  — Henry Thomas Colebrooke, [15] There can be little doubt, for
  instance, that the 90th hymn of the 10th book (Purusha Sukta) is
  modern both in its character and in its diction. (...) It mentions the
  three seasons in the order of the Vasanta, spring; Grishma, summer;
  and Sarad, autumn; it contains the only passage in the Rigveda where
  the four castes are enumerated. The evidence of language for the
  modern date of this composition is equally strong. Grishma, for
  instance, the name for the hot season, does not occur in any other
  hymn of the Rigveda; and Vasanta also does not belong to the earliest
  vocabulary of the Vedic poets.

  — Max Müller, [16]

Also,

  Susan Bayly summarises that Manusmriti and other scriptures helped
  elevate Brahmins in the social hierarchy and these were a factor in
  the making of the varna system, but the ancient texts did not in some
  way "create the phenomenon of caste" in India.[76]

  This four varna-related verse is controversial and is believed by many
  scholars, such as Max Müller, to be a corruption and a medieval or
  modern era insertion into the text.


texts: What kind of scripture is Vyasa's BrahmaSutras technically?

texts:
From Kamakoti.org

  In the Brahmasutra, on which there are commentaries according to the
  various philosophical schools, Vyasa presents in an extremely terse
  form the substance of the ten (principal) Upanisads. Since he dwelt
  under the badari tree (jujube) he came to be called "Badarayana" and
  his work became well-known as "Badarayana-sutra

Now, by Hindu scriptures we mean the Vedas, Vedangas (Kalpa, Jyotisha etc), UpaVedas (Ayurveda, Stapathyaveda etc), Smritis, Upasmritis, Puranas, Upapuranas, Itihasas, Agamas, Tantras, Yamalas, Damaras and the Darsanas.

But, the Brahma Sutras don't fit in precisely in any of the above groups. It closely resembles  the Darsanas though, but it is not a Darsana either since we know that they are only 6 in number.

Q1- Then technically what kind of Hindu scripture it is?

Q2- Can we ascertain the time period of these sutras? (I don't think they are  very ancient).

Q3- Do any other Hindu scripture ever mention about these sutras by Vyasa Muni?


texts: Do Shaktas and Shaivas have independent sects or they think themselves to be under Advaita?

texts:
I have seen that Vaishnavas are opposed to Advaita siddhanta.
Are there Advaita Vaishnava sampradayas also?

Also I want to know whether Shaivas and Shaktas think themselves as part of Advaita's pancayatana or they also oppose Advaita and have separate sampradayas?


texts: Is devi lakshmi called wife of Lord vishnu in Rig Veda khillani sukta?

texts: Goddess lakshmi is considered wife of Lord vishnu and I have also checked verse in Sri suktam calling devi lakshmi wife of Lord vishnu but that could be later addition.so I want to know is goddess Lakshmi called wife of Lord vishnu in the original Rig Veda khillani Sri suktam?


texts: What are the benefits of chanting the names of Lord Vishnu?


texts: Hindu New Year ( Chaitra Shukla Paksh Pratipada )

texts:
Many Scholars have told Hindu New Year is on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada .

But my question is Chaitra Month's 1st day will be Krishna Pratipada .

So why Shukla Pratipada is celebrated as New Year and not Krishna Pratipada ??

Please tell


texts: When was "Adhik Maas" added to the Hindu calendar?

texts:
Since the Hindu calendar is based on the lunar calendar, there is a difference of 11 days between the earth year and the lunar year.
It is a fact that the solar year is made up of 365 days and about 06 minutes and the lunar year is made up of 354 days.
Link

To adjust this difference Adhik Maas is added regularly. This is how Makar Sankranti (kite flying festival) is always on 14th January.

Since when has this practice been followed?


texts: What is Spirituality? What is a Spiritual path?

texts: What is the spiritual path that people go through... Is it for moksha? And why does it have so many restrictions like.. no sense enjoyment, no desires etc...


texts: Do we need to take Guru Updesha to chant Panchakshari, Dwadashakshari to get complete phalam of chanting?


texts: What are good Hindi /English or Telugu translation of Adi Shankaracharya's biography, Shankara Vijayam.


texts: Is Swami Vivekananda a Jivan Mukta according to the following?

texts:
Is it true that Swami Vivekananda was a Jivan Mukta?

I am asking the answer from anyone of the three sources: words of Vivekananda, words of his guru RamaKrishna paramahamsa and (prophecy by) scriptures.


texts: Is "Om Jaya Jagadisha Hare" written for any particular deity?

texts:
SOURCE

Om Jai Jagdish Hare (Hindi: ॐ जय जगदीश हरे) is a Hindu religious song. Though it is not written for any particular deity, it is mostly sung in Vishnu temples. Although the religious hymn is a Hindi-language composition, it is widely sung by Hindus. The prayer is sung by the entire congregation at the time of Aarti, a form of Hindu worship.


texts:
Many villagers do Naama Sankirtana in their villages, decorating a Naama Mandapa and performs the Naama Sankirtana very pleasantly for 24 hours = Ashtha Prahari (1 Prahari = 3 hrs). So a full day is divided into to 8 parts.

My questions

What is the meaning of Prahari?

What are the names of 8 Prahars of a day?

What are the significance of each Prahari?


texts: While Datta Guru name abusive words in rhythm of word Dutta appears in mind. How should I overcome that?

texts: I recently started chanting Jai Guru Datta however during chanting words in rhythm of Dutta and which are abusive starts appearing in brain, hence I stopped chanting. What will be effect of such unwanted mistake and how to overcome that?


texts: Will the atma get moksha if a person dies unnaturally?

texts: Will the atma get moksha if a person dies in unnatural ways such as suicide, murder, etc?


texts: Guru will come when the student is ready. Does any scripture specifically say this?

texts:
Or is this a modern lingo?
Have heard so many people say this.


texts: Is following atheistic like Samkhya wrong, according to manu Smriti?

texts:
Manu Smriti 11.66

11.66. Stealing grain, base metals, or cattle, intercourse with women who drink spirituous liquor, slaying women, Sudras, Vaisyas, or Kshatriyas, and atheism, (are all) minor offences, causing loss of caste (Upapataka).

So if someone becomes an atheist he will loss his cast.
But Samkhya school of thought is a atheist school. They believe in God.
If a person is following Samkhya school will he lose his cast. Or will he be committing minor.

The source of this verse is a question I found on this website.


texts:
According to the Shrimad Bhagvatam Rishi Agastya was the son of Pulastya and a brother of Vishrava:

  The sage Añgirã and Sraddhã had four daughters and two sons,
  Utathya and Brihaspati. The sage Pulastya and HavirbhU had the
  sage Agastya and the great ascetic Visravä (who begot Kubera the
  god of wealth, and, by another wife, Rãvana, Kumbhakarna and
  Vibhishana). Pulaha and Gati had Karmasreshtha. Variyãn and Sahiu.
  Kratu and Kriyã had sixty thousand sages known as Vãlakhilyã.
  Vasishtha and Urjã had seven Sons (Citraketu, Suroci, Viraja. Mitra,
  Ulbana, Vasubhrdyãna and I)yuman). Atharva and Sãnti had
  Dadici. Bhrigu and Khyãti had two sons Dhäti and Vidhãtã, and a
  daughter Sri, and also Kavi. He who listens to this recitation of
  Kardama’s progeny is freed from sins.

This would make him the uncle of Kubera as well as Ravana. The Ramayana also mentions that he gave Rama the Brahmastra with which Ravan was finally killed which would imply that he helped Rama in killing his evil nephew!

I want to know whether this relationship between Rishi Agastya and Ravana is mentioned or at least hinted at in any other scripture?


texts: Why is Bhagvan Shiva known as Virupaksha?

texts:
There is Virupaksha temple in Hampi - Karnataka, dedicated to Shiva. It is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Similarly, there is a Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal, Karnataka.

Virupaksha is a name used for Bhagvan Shiva. What is the significance behind this name?


texts: Which is first among Ramayana and Mahabharatha?

texts:
Recently, we as a group stumbled upon a question,
"Historically, which event happened first - the Ramayana or the Mahabharata"?


texts:
Often in many shlokas I read examples such as "they were as united as sun is to light" or some similar very trivial sounding examples to apparently clarify a point. I find it a bit silly because often the points are pretty clear and the examples does not seem to do any justice. A full example to clarify what I mean:

BG 2.67:
Such of the roving senses as the mind follows, that carries
away the understanding, just as the winds carry away a ship on the
sea.

Could someone explain what was the purpose to use such simple and trivial examples in the shlokas and their wide prevalence.


texts: What are some of the most logical and rational Hindu text?

texts:
I am interested in old texts which uses rationale and logical arguments only to reach to conclusion or prove some axiom. Are there such text which can be rightfully called logical treatises, scientific papers.
Does ancient Hindu literature contain such body of texts?


texts: Which are those 400 words of Veda not known or understood to even Yaska?

texts:
Nirukta is one of six Vedangas which are very essential to completely understand Vedas. Nirukta is the the study of origin of Sanskrit words i.e etymology which is very useful for understanding and interpreting Sanskrit words.

Now, when I was reading preface of Rigveda by Gayatri Pariwar, I found the following line (you can read it online at Awgp Literature:

The English translation (meaning) of the line underlined is:

  Even Niruktakara Yaska mentioned/counted around 400 words of Vedas of which meaning is not known to him

I want to know which are those 400 words of which meaning is not known/understood to even Niruktakara Yaskacharya? (Is there a list of those 400 words available?)


texts: How was Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple wall constructed?

texts:
The task was assigned to Thurumangai alwar who was then a king turned to thief. He constructed the temple wall by acquiring a gold Buddha idol from srilanka.

Anyone knows the story how he brought the golden idol from heavy security and in which scripture mentioned?


texts: How many white horses were there in the chariot of Arjuna in mahabharatha war?

texts: How many white horses were there in the chariot of Arjuna in Mahabharata ? 4 or 5 ? Some pictures showing 5 and some others showing 4 ? What is the exact number? It will be great if you add some pictures/quotes ?


texts: What is the expiation for indulging in sexual activities after upanayana?

texts: I have a question, if a person who masturbates, more than once after entering Brahmacharya stage, what shall he do ? Will he have to live with the regret or can he do something so that he is back to normal as a Brahmachari?


texts:
Recently I heard that black chandan is being offered to Lord Hanuman or Bhairav or both. Is it true?

Is there any ritual to offer black chandan to Lord Hanuman or Bhairav?


texts: Which is considered as the highest form of generosity according to Hinduism?

texts: A person can donate his time, money etc etc. Which of these Daana is considered the highest according to Hindu beliefs?


texts: What is the overall take of Hinduism on menstruation?

texts:
One of the debated topic related to Hinduism is menstruation and related matters. There are some texts including smritis which seem to depict menstruation with antipathy.

In some of the regions and communities it is something like a taboo even today. Whereas some communities and regions are liberal about it.
I want to know what exactly is the overall view of Hinduism on this subject?
With respect to scriptures as well as traditional, social, and cultural aspects.

There are various threads on this forum regarding women and entry in temples during menses and performance of pooja during menses etc. ?

What are the various views on this subject from religions, scriptural and cultural point of view ?


texts: Questions regarding Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar

texts: What are the main contributions of Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar to Shaivism and under which number he falls out of 63? What are the main hymns he composed?


texts: How do the followers of Vivekananda reconcile the contradictions in all religions when they believe all religions are equal or true?

texts:
According to this answer, the followers of Swami Vivekananda believe that all religions are true, or that they are all equal.

  All religions are true (VI.117).

If this is so, then how do they explain the contradictory claims in all religions?

For example, Christians think only humans have souls. Buddhists say there are no souls. But Hindus do say there are souls and that too not just in humans, but even animals.

Vivekananda followers also say:

  Religion is one, but its application must be various (VI.82).

Aztecs think human sacrifice is good, Islamic extremists believe that terrorism is enjoined by God. And so on.

Do followers of Swami Vivekananda believe that all these are true?


texts: Is it written in our Shastras about abstinence from some acts on certain days

texts:
I understand that most of the practices that are followed in the society have some or the other reasons.
Like it is very popular belief in Hindu tradition not to purchase Oil and Salt on Saturdays, not get a haircut on Thursdays and Saturdays etc.

Is there any reference in our texts that support this? Like this question provides a decent explanation of not plucking Tulsi (Basil) on specific days.

No intention to offend anyone, but just want to segregate knowledge from ignorance.


texts: Did our ancestors calculate the distance between Prithvi (Earth) and Surya (Sun) correctly?

texts:
In Hanuman Chalisa, it is said:

  जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू। लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥ १८ ॥

meaning:

  The Sun is at thousand yojanas(a unit of measurement of distance), and thought of it as a sweet fruit.

As per calculations,

1 Yug      = 12000 years
1 Sahastra = 1000
1 Yojan    = 8 Miles

Yug x Sahastra x Yojan = par Bhanu
12000 x 1000 x 8 miles = 96000000 miles

1 mile = 1.6kms

96000000 miles = 96000000 x 1.6kms = 1536000000 kms to Sun

NASA has said that, the above is the exact distance between Earth and Sun(during the Aphelion).

Does this prove that our ancestors calculated the  distance between Earth and Sun centuries before scientists did it?


texts: Do Mahabharata or any other scripture says that Bhishma is a Jivan Muktha?

texts:
Bhishma is a well-known person from Mahabharata. He is a grand father of both Kauravas and Pandavas. Almost everyone respect him.
Consider the following slokha from Mahabharata and its translation

अयं बरह्मविदां शरेष्ठॊ अयं बरह्मविदां गतिः
इत्य अभाषन्त भूतानि शयानं भरतर्षभम
[12, 115, 6, The Mahabharata]

Translation

This one is the foremost of those conversant with the Vedas! This one
is the best of those that are conversant with the Vedas!--Even thus
did creatures speak of that bull among men as he lay (on his bed of
arrows).
[Section 121, Bhagavat-Gita Parva, Bhishma Parva, The Mahabharata
]

Here the word बरह्मविदां has been translated as  conversant with the Vedas!, which may be true and are there any other possible interpretations for the same word as liberated or Brahman (Jivan Muktha)?
Along with it, are there any other slokha from Mahabharata or other scriptures say that Bhishma is a Jivan Muktha to support it?


texts: Is it possible to read and understand Vedas without guru?

texts:
As per my knowledge there are four Vedas and Upanishads are the gist of Vedas and the different Vedanta schools of thought are commentary on Vedas.

Is it possible to understand Vedas without the help of another person like a guru? Is there any such example in scriptures?

Is learning Sanskrit necessary to understand Vedas?

Are there any online resources, where can I get actual Vedas and learn without anyone's help?


texts: Do shastras support the idea of 'good omens' and 'bad omens'?

texts: Is it just superstition or mentioned in shastras? Is there any event when omens are considered?


texts: Who decided that mantras should be used for yajñas that came later?

texts:
Were the ṛṣis who heard the mantras (found in the saṃhitā portion of the Vedas) aware that what they heard (or was revealed to them) will be used to conduct yajñas (sacrifices)?

If not, who decided what mantras should be included in the elaborate rituals found in the brāhmaṇas?


texts: Donation of food is higher than donation of other things?

texts:
I have heard that Karna after death was asked by Dharmaraj for donation of food. Karna denied that he did not give donation of food and was asked to take birth again because donation of food is higher than donation of any other things.

What do scriptures say about this incidence?


texts: What is the Jiva Atma? What is the Paramatma? Are they Different? Is the Jiva-Atma the Mind, Or Are They Different?

texts: Basically, the title are my questions. I have heard the jiva atma and the paramatma used interchangeably, but then they are separated in, for instance, Vaishnavism. Is it the case that when we are in the state of Daitwa Vedanta these two concepts are different entities, but when we are in the state of Adwaita Vedanta these two concepts become one?


texts: Does Geeta advocate the execution of one's dharma according to the varna system?


texts: Have Hindu philosophies dealt with subjective vs. objective pramana (evidence)?

texts:
For example, most people who have eaten a mango will say it tastes sweet.

Suppose a foreign person visiting India has never tasted a mango. He has also been advised by his countrymen that bright-looking fruits are usually poisonous. And that people native to India might have a better suited immune system to native fruits, so just because they can eat it doesn't mean he can eat it.

An Indian now offers the foreigner a mango, and claims it tastes sweet.

The foreigner asks for 'PROOF' that it tastes sweet.

The Indian simply says 'Eat it and you'll know'

The foreigner replies 'I will not eat it until you can prove that it tastes sweet ? Only then I will eat it'.

IMO, even if the Indian is well-versed in chemistry/biology and does experiments to show the presence of saccharine molecules in both the mango, and in sugar (an item which the foreigner HAS eaten), the foreigner might still say 'There is no proof that the mere existence of saccharine makes something sweet, especially in combination with other molecules/fibers of the fruit'.

The Indian gives up. Now, the foreigner claims to the world that the Indian's claim of 'Mango is sweet' is unfalsifiable, while conveniently hiding the fact that he has imposed the 'will-not-taste' condition on it.

Have any treatises dealt with the issue of a truth that is subjectively (for me) verifiable, but not objectively (for others) provable ?


texts: Inconsistency in the number of people died in Kurukshetra war

texts:
From this answer, we can get the following information:

Total number of persons participated in war is almost 4,723,920.

Total number of persons died in war is 1,660,020,000.

Both figures have a high variation. Is there any reason behind this inconsistency?

Sanskrit Verses:

  Adi Parva 2 : For Akshauhini details

15 [स]
 एकॊ रथॊ जगश चैकॊ नराः पञ्च पदातयः

 तरयश च तुरगास तज्ज्ञैः पत्तिर इत्य अभिधीयते

16 पत्तिं तु तरिगुणाम एताम आहुः सेनामुखं बुधाः

 तरीणि सेनामुखान्य एकॊ गुल्म इत्य अभिधीयते

17 तरयॊ गुल्मा गणॊ नाम वाहिनी तु गणास तरयः

 समृतास तिस्रस तु वाहिन्यः पृतनेति विचक्षणैः

18 चमूस तु पृतनास तिस्रस तिस्रश चम्वस तव अनीकिनी

 अनीकिनीं दशगुणां पराहुर अक्षौहिणीं बुधाः

 19 अक्षौहिण्याः परसंख्यानं रथानां दविजसत्तमाः

 संख्या गणित तत्त्वज्ञैः सहस्राण्य एकविंशतिः

20 शतान्य उपरि चैवाष्टौ तथा भूयश च सप्ततिः

 गजानां तु परीमाणम एतद एवात्र निर्दिशेत

 21 जञेयं शतसहस्रं तु सहस्राणि तथा नव

 नराणाम अपि पञ्चाशच छतानि तरीणि चानघाः

 22 पञ्च षष्टिसहस्राणि तथाश्वानां शतानि च

 दशॊत्तराणि षट पराहुर यथावद इह संख्यया

 23 एताम अक्षौहिणीं पराहुः संख्या तत्त्वविदॊ जनाः

 यां वः कथितवान अस्मि विस्तरेण दविजॊत्तमाः

  Udyoga Parva 152 : For Pandava Army details

 22 वाहिनी पृतना सेना धवजिनी सादिनी चमूः

अक्षौहिणीति पर्यायैर निरुक्ताथ वरूथिनी

एवं वयूढान्य अनीकानि कौरवेयेण धीमता

23 अक्षौहिण्यॊ दशैका च संख्याताः सप्त चैव ह

अक्षौहिण्यस तु सप्तैव पाण्डवानाम अभूद बलम

अक्षौहिण्यॊ दशैका च कौरवाणाम अभूद बलम

  Bhishma Parva 19 : For Kaurava army details

1 [धृ]
  अक्षौहिण्यॊ दशैकां च वयूढां दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः

  कथम अल्पेन सैन्येन परत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवः

  2 यॊ वेद मानुषं वयूहं दैवं गान्धर्वम आसुरम

  कथं भीष्मं स कौन्तेयः परत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवः

  Stri Parva 26 : For count of died and alive people

 9 [य]
  दशायुतानाम अयुतं सहस्राणि च विंशतिः

  कॊट्यः षष्टिश च षट चैव ये ऽसमिन राजमृधे हताः

  10 अलक्ष्याणां तु वीराणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश

 दश चान्यानि राजेन्द्र शतं षष्टिश च पञ्च च


texts: What is the authentic life story of Ramanuja?

texts:
I came to know that most of the life stories of rAmAnuja are actually Hagiographies which were written centuries after his life.

Further, there are also sectarian Hagiographies on him. Several things including his life span and other life events have been questioned by modern scholars and historians.

  They place his life in the period of 1017–1137 CE, yielding a lifespan
  of 120 years. These dates have been questioned by modern scholarship,
  based on temple records and regional literature of 11th- and
  12th-century outside the Sri Vaishnava tradition, and modern era
  scholars suggest that Rāmānuja may have lived between 1077-1157 (about 80 years).

  A number of traditional biographies of Rāmānuja are known, some
  written in 12th century, but some written centuries later such as the
  17th or 18th century, particularly after the split of the Śrīvaiṣṇava
  community into the Vadakalais and Teṉkalais, where each community
  created its own version of Rāmānuja's hagiography. The Muvāyirappaṭi
  Guruparamparāprabhāva by Brahmatantra Svatantra Jīyar represents the
  earliest Vadakalai biography, and reflects the Vadakalai view of the
  succession following Rāmānuja. Ārāyirappaṭi Guruparamparāprabhāva, on
  the other hand, represents the Tenkalai biography.[citation needed]
  Other late biographies include the Yatirajavaibhavam by Andhrapurna.

  Modern scholarship has questioned the reliability of these
  hagiographies.

In such a situation where each sect have made own versions of biographies to suit their views.

How then can we know which one is authentic and reflects history?


texts: What are the details of this process of identifying a thief in the scriptures?

texts:
'A red-hot axe was placed before two persons accused of theft charge and both were asked to touch the axe one by one. The thief got his hand burnt while the other one remained unhurt'

the above is quoted in the Bengali version of the Vivekachudamoni by Swami Dhireshananda (Udbodhan, page 228).

The process is said to have its origin in the Chandogya Upanishad (6/16/1-2), while such processes seem to be Tantrik to me.

Can someone identify the source and explain the process in avalable detail ?


texts:
In the life of Adi Shankara, there is a famous incident involving a Chandala and his Four dogs:

  When Sankara was going with his disciples to the Ganges for midday ablutions, he noticed an outcaste approaching them with a pack of four dogs. Shankara and his disciples asked him to keep out of their path...

and the rest is history.

Does this act of Sankara indicate that he practiced untouchability?

SOURCE: Madhavīya Shankaravijayam Part 2, can be checked at the Sringeri Mutt website


texts:
As per hinduism there are nine graha (planets) and Earth is not included in this list. Here are following nine graha

Surya (Sun)
Chandra (Moon)
Mangala (Mars)
Budha (Mercury)
Guru (Jupiter), the Guru (Master/Teacher) of the Devas(Gods)
Shukra (Venus), the Guru of the Asura(demons)
Shani (Saturn)
Raahu (North Node/Ascending Node)
Ketu (South Node/Descending Node)

Question is, all graha and earth looks same. If we see images of planets and Earth (taken by ISRO, NASA etc) then they looks same. Shape of them are same. So
it's clear that appearance is not the reason of difference between Earth (loka) and graha (planets). So What's difference between graha and loka? what's the reason Earth is considered as loka, not as graha?


texts: Is the Svetavaraha Kalpa and the Padma Kalpa the same?

texts:
According to Wikipedia, the previous kalpa was known as the Padma kalpa:

  Currently, 50 years of Brahma have elapsed. The last Kalpa at the end of 50th year is called Padma Kalpa. We are currently in the first 'day' of the 51st year.[26] This Brahma's day, Kalpa, is named as Shveta-Varaha Kalpa.

However, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his commentary of the Srimad Bhagavatam 2.10.47 states:

  The present duration of a kalpa of Brahmā is called the Varāha-kalpa or Śvetavarāha-kalpa because the incarnation of the Lord as Varāha took place during the creation of Brahmā, who was born on the lotus coming out of the abdomen of Viṣṇu. Therefore this Varāha-kalpa is also called Pādma-kalpa, and this is testified by ācāryas like Jīva Gosvāmī as well as Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in pursuance of the first commentator, Svāmī Śrīdhara. So there is no contradiction between the Varāha and the Pādma-kalpa of Brahmā.

So then are the Padma Kalpa and the Svetavaraha Kalpa the same or different?


texts: What are different types of sins and good acts and their karmic effects?

texts:
I am interested to know if there is any book in Hinduism that describes the effects of different karmas.
For example, the karmic effects of act of theft or the karmic effects of act of offering food to poor etc.

Edit 1:
What is 'Brahmahatya' sin and if done what is the effect?
Also I feel angry about the way many people kill the foetus if it is of a girl.
A well developed foetus is considered similar to a Hrishi as he/she knows all his/her past lives.

What is the ill effect of such acts?
Which kind of sin makes you suffer from mental disorders?


texts:
In Spandakarika Section III Verse 15, Page 162, it says:

Svarupävarane câsya saktayah satatotthitäh!
Yatah sabdanuvedhena na vina pratyayodbhavah/ 15
"Brahmi and other Powers are ever in readiness to conceal his real nature, for without the association of words, ideas cannot arise."

Who is this Brahmi and other powers mentioned here in this verse?


texts: Why suthak applies for different number of days in different casts?

texts:
Why suthak effects on people for different days in defferent region or cast? I did read THIS ANSWER and came to know about suthak. But from the answer and also from the comment section of this answer I came to know that Suthak apply for different number of days in different religion and cast! Why is that...?

First of all who decides days of suthak? Means, suthak will be applied for that many days, this is decided by whom? And why different days in different casts?

UPDATE

And also what will happen if we don't care about suthak and just follow our life's work by ignoring suthak's time?


texts: Are places like Gyanganj and Siddhashram mentioned in shastras?

texts: Gyanganj and Siddhasram are said to be mystical places which only very advanced spiritual aspirants can enter.


texts: Which Tamil Scripture mentions about the doctrines of "Pancha Pakshi"?

texts:
My knowledge of "Pancha Pakshi" is limited to what is being found on this page.It is said that this knowledge was given to this world by the Tamil Siddhas.

My question-Which ancient Tamil text mentions about them and how valid an astrological system it is compared to Vedic astrology?

Also, i want to know in how much more detail(compared to the very minimal description found on the linked page) the laws(of Pancha Pakshi) are laid down in that Scripture.

On a personal note, i have found this Shastra to be quite interesting and useful too.


texts:
Do the Vedas mention time eras known as Yugas; Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali?

Or is it only found in Itihasas and Puranas?


texts: Who can be considered the better archer between Lord Rama and Arjuna?

texts:
According to scriptures, if there has to be comparison between "Lord Rama" and "Arjuna", then who was the better archer among them?
Though both can be considered great in their own way.

In my opinion, Rama was the best archer among all. But according to some other people, Arjuna was the best. But to avoid the personal opinion, kindly provide the scriptural reference.

Please refer this chatroom comments for further info.


texts:
I do everything: pooja and Pranayam, but still I always get negative thoughts.

It always seems that only bad things will happen with me.

I do read sunder kand daily.

Please advise. why it is like that?


texts: i want to know what is mann. often we say mann nahi kar raha. either we say i don't want to do this. is I(main) and Mann are same.


texts:
Among North Indian Hindus the marriage between brother and sister is not allowed for seven generations from father side and three generations from mother's side, but among South Indian Hindus  particularly among  Brahmins cross-cousin marriage is prevalent (i.e. a boy can marry the daughter of his maternal uncle).
What is the reason behind this? Does any Hindu  scripture illuminate on this issue ?


texts: What does Hinduism say in regards to suicide? Or maybe even assisted suicide? Not just out of depression or anger, but what if your just tired and want to retire?


texts: Is levirate marriage allowed in Hinduism?

texts:
Wikipedia defines it as:

  Levirate marriage is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow. The term levirate is itself a derivative of the Latin word levir meaning "husband's brother."

Does Hindu scripture allow this sort of marriage?

Whether or not this was allowed, are there any instances of such marriages in Itihāsas and Purāṇas?


texts: Does the fruit of Mantra Japa automatically go to Indra if Japa Samarpana Mantra is not chanted?

texts:
Please let me know does all the mantra chanting energy go to Indra, if we don't chant the below Samarpanam mantra after mantra chanting:

Devta:

गुह्याति-गुह्य-गोप्ता-त्वं
गृहाणास्मितकृतम् जपं।
सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देवो
त्वत्प्रसादान्मयि स्थिरा ||

Devi:

गुह्याति-गुह्य-गोप्त्री-त्वं
गृहाणास्मितकृतम् जपं।
सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देवी
त्वत्प्रसादान्मयि स्थिरा ||


texts: Origin, guru name, dhyan of this shiv mantra?

texts:
I found this mantra from YouTube :

  Om namo Neelkanthaya Vrishdwajaya namo hoom Fat.

What is the origin, guru name and dhyan of this Shiva Mantra?


texts: How do different Astika schools prove the existence of God?

texts:
There are two kinds of schools of Indian philosophy, Astika and Nastika.  Astikas accept the authority of the Vedas, whereas Nastikas reject the authority of the Vedas.   The Astika schools are part of Hinduism, while the Nastika schools fall under the broader category of Dharmic faiths.  Now there are six Astika schools: Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, and Vedanta.  (They're all dead other than the Vedanta school, which encompasses most Hindus today as I discuss here.)

Because they accept the authority of the Vedas, these schools all believe in Yagnas, the law of Karma, the existence of the soul, the afterlife, reincarnation, and Moksha.  But one thing they disagree on is on the existence of God and how to prove it.  Two Astika schools are atheist or agnostic on the existence of God: Samkhya and Purva Mimamsa.  I discuss their arguments on the subject here.  The other four Astika schools, namely Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and Vedanta, accept the existence of God.  My question is, how do each of these four schools prove the existence of God?


texts: Is it true that Vishnu has not only 10 avatars but 24?

texts:
Today when I was reading a magazine I got to know from it that Lord Vishnu has total 24 avatars and his 21st avatar was guru Veda Vyas who wrote Mahabharata. Is that true as well that Veda vyasa is the person who divided or say separated all 3 major Granthas of Hindus?

And also as per wikipedia

  महाभारत के बारे में कहा जाता है कि इसे महर्षि वेदव्यास के गणेश को बोलकर लिखवाया था। वेदव्यास महाभारत के रचयिता ही नहीं, बल्कि उन घटनाओं के साक्षी भी रहे हैं, जो क्रमानुसार घटित हुई हैं।

Translation of above quote is

"It is said about the Mahabharata that it was written by Maharishi Vedavesh Ganesh for speaking. Vedas not only have been the creators of the Mahabharata, but also have witnessed the events which have happened in sequence."

So why he is not mentioned anywhere in whole Mahabharata?


texts: Which scriptures are available for Artha and Kama?

texts:
In one of his speech, Pandit VijayShankar Mehta says:

Ramayana teaches us जीने की कला (art of living)
Bhagavad Gita teaches us कर्म करने की कला (art of doing)
Bhagavatam teaches us मरने की कला (art of dying)
Mahabharata teaches us रहने की कला (art of existence/survival)

Similarly, we have several scriptures for Dharama such as Dharma-sutras and Dharma-sastras. Even most of the scriptures talk about Dharma.
Similarly we have scriptures for Moksha such as Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. Many other scriptures also talk about Moksha.
But do we have scriptures which talk about Artha and Kama?
Well, so first name will come out as Kamasutra of Vātsyāyana for Kama but it is not considered as scripture in many posts of this forum such as in q1, q2, q3 and even in many more such questions. But there must be some scripture on Kama too as it is also one of the four Purusarthas ('object of human pursuit' or 'purpose of human being'). Even in a religious debate between Adi Shankaracharya and Bharati (wife of scholar Madana Mishra), the questions on Kama were asked as described here.
And for Artha, the name Arthashastra of Kauṭilya might come in mind. But it's new literature, don't we have any ancinet text on Artha?
In Mahabharata it is written that it focuses on Artha and Kama:

It contains much useful instruction on Artha and Kama (profit and pleasure). This sacred history maketh the heart desire for salvation. Learned persons by reciting this Veda of Krishna-Dwaipayana to those that are liberal, truthful and believing, earn much wealth. -chapter 62 of Adi Parva: Adivansavatarana Parva of Mahabharata

So what are the main shlokas in Mahabharata which focuses on Artha and Kama?


texts: what is the significance of tulsi at homes?

texts:
I have seen Every Hindu having a Tulsi plant at home and being worshipped everyday....In Modern days as today why would one need a Tulsi Plant at home?
Is it useful or just because of rituals
Why do hindus plant a tulsi tree outside their homes?
Any scientific reasons?


texts: What are the eight segments between sunrise and sunset called in Vedic Astrology?

texts:
I know that the time between sunrise and sunset is divided into 8 segments.
One of the segment is called RahuKalam. The other two are Gulika kalam and Yamanagandam.
What are the other 5 segments called? If they have any name as such.


texts: Which Purana mentions about Sati's death?

texts:
The story of Prajapati Daksha's daughter, Sati, married Lord Shiva is well known. And also that, Daksha organized a great yajna, in which Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire and committed suicide. Sati died, but her corpse did not burn. Virabhadra was sent by Lord Shiva to decapitate Daksha for being responsible for Sati's death and Shiva forgave by resurrecting him. The wild, grief-stricken Shiva wandered the universe with Sati's corpse. Finally, the lord Vishnu dismembered the body of Sati into 52 parts, each of which became Shakti Peetha, temple to a form of the Goddess.

This is the well know story of Sati and origins of the Shakti Peethas.

I would like to know the source of this popular story.


texts:
Scenario: A devotee prays to Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy for accomplishing some task. He takes a vow (mokku) that he will visit the Temple after his task gets accomplished without any obstacles. His/her task gets accomplished without any obstacles and the devotee forgets his vow (mokku). Now something bad happens to him/her.

I'm not assuming anything here. These are the experiences shared by my family and friends. I don't know about other temples but certainly bad happens if someone forgets a vow made to Lord Venkateswara.

Most of the people pay visit to the temple immediately after planning a certain task. They generally don't defer the plan to visit temple. Also people generally don't return without darshan when they go to Tirumala (hilltop where the temple is located) even if it takes long hours. Some people literally fear while taking their vow.

In most cases, the vow would be to pay a visit to the temple.

Why does something bad happen to people who don't fulfill their vow?


texts: Which group of currently active Hindus (not necessarily a sect) reject the least from the totality of Hindu scripture?

texts:
Most modern Hindus would probably reject animal sacrifice - although it is actively practiced by many Hindus today.

Many sects are currently active today and many of them are defined more by what they reject than by what they accept from the totality of Hinduism.

Is there a name (not necessarily the name of a sect) for Hindus that reject the least of Hindu beliefs and practices?


texts: Why is Sri Krishna idol turned towards a window in Udupi temple?

texts:
In most of the Hindu temples, the main deity faces towards east. The devotees seeking darshan have darshan directly from the front. But this is not followed in Udupi Krishna matha, Karnataka. This temple has a long history. The idol of Sri Krishna was installed and worshipped here by Sri Madhvacharya . The tradition still continues.

Lord Krishna's idol is turned westwards and the devotees have darshan of Lord through a window. Why is this difference? Why did Lord Krishna idol turn westwards towards a window rather than east?


texts: If Rama used Brahmastra on Ravana, why didn't Ravana turn to ashes?

texts:
Question 1:

Did Lord Rama really use the Brahmastra on Ravana to kill him?
If he did use it, then, Ravana's entire body should have turned to ashes. It would have even created a major natural disaster in the sky and on land as Brahmastra's power is just too great. But Ravana's body was still there. Lakshmana and the entire army was safe too and Lord Rama's chariot was not scratched a tiny bit.

Question 2:

If Lord Rama used the Brahmastra then Ravana would have been fully aware of it then why didn't Ravana launch his own Brahmastra to counter it?


texts: How is Buddhism's "Shunyata" (void / Nothingness) interpreted in Hinduism to represent God?

texts:
Some time back I got a perception that "Shunyata" (absolute nothingness) of Buddhism and "Me" (ParamAtma / True self) referred by Krishna are same. Because both refer to the ultimate reality in an objective way. I have referred this concept in many of my answers, based on this.
Couple of years back, to verify that, I had even purchased an Amazon e-book from our fellow member @BeHappy/Jabahar who happens to believe in "Shunya-vada" originated in Orissa, India.

Has Shunyata been referenced in direct or indirect way in any other Hindu philosophy?


texts: Conversation between the Krishna and Karna

texts:
Krishna had given many offers to Karna for coming to Pandava's side. Like...

If Karna would come into the Pandava's side then Krishna would make him king of Hastinapura after winning the battle of Kurukshetra?

What is the summary of that conversations between the Krishna and Karna when Krishna at the before Kurukshetra battle started?


texts: What is the earliest reference to Vāsudeva as a name of Vishnu?

texts:
In the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana, the sage Vishwamitra tells Rama and Lakshmana the famous story of the descent of the Ganga river to Earth.  As described in this chapter of the Bala Kanda, Rama's ancestor Sagara once conducted an Ashwamedha Yagna (horse ritual), and Indra, fearing that the yagna would make Sagara too powerful, stole the sacrificial horse so that Sagara couldn't complete the ritual.
So Sagara sent his sons to look for the horse, and they scoured the earth trying to find it.  As described in the next chapter, Sagara's sons finally found the horse near the ashram of Kapila, a great sage and incarnation of Vishnu.  They accused Kapila of stealing the horse, and he was so enraged that he burned them all to ashes.  It was the quest to scatter the ashes of Sagara's sons in a holy body of water that motivated Sagara's descendant Bhagiratha to bring the river Ganga from Devaloka to Earth.

But my question is about how the sage Kapila is referred to in the passage.  For instance, here is what Brahma says when he tells the gods that Kapila is going to burn Sagara's sons to ashes:

  To whom this Mother Earth belongs in all her entirety, he is that prescient Vāsudeva, and she is also the consort of that Maadhava, and that Vishnu eternally props up Mother Earth. Hence, that reverential Vishnu donning the semblance of Sage Kapila will burn down the sons of emperor Sagara to ashes in a fire of fury.

And here is the description of Kapila when he is seen by the sons of Sagara:

  But all those great-souled and great-mighty ones with terrible dash have seen the Infinite Vāsudeva in the form of sage Kapila there in the northeast, and oh, descendant of Raghu, they have also seen the ritual-horse moving nearby that sage Kapila, thus all of the sons of Sagara obtained a matchless delight.

I'm interested in the fact that Vishnu is referred to by the name "Vāsudeva". Now when people today refer to Vishnu as Vāsudeva, they mostly do it because it's a name of Vishnu's incarnation Krishna, since his father was named Vasudeva.  Yet this is a passage in the Ramayana, which was composed long before Krishna was even born, and it's talking about events that happened long before Rama was even born!  This could be because Brahma and Vishwamitra already foresaw Vishnu being born as Vasudeva's son in the future, or it could be that the name "Vāsudeva" is being used literally, to mean "Lord of the Vasus"; the Vasus are a group of 8 Vedic gods associated with various slements of nature.

In any case, my question is, is the Ramayana the earliest Hindu scripture which refers to Vishnu as Vāsudeva, or are there even earlier scriptures?  Is he called Vāsudeva in the Vedas?


texts: Is growing bamboo at home considered inauspicious?

texts: Are there any scriptures or traditional systems around growing bamboo plants in a pot in the house? I heard from one of my elders but the elder was not certain, and hence would like to know more about it.


texts: Is there any scripture mentioning Lord Rama creating fire or inventing it?


texts: Worship of combined deities of "Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra" as in Jagannath Puri?

texts:
Where else other than Jagannath Puri, is the worship of combined deities of "Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra" done? i.e., any other temples such as the Puri Jagannath temple?

From the official website of Shree Jagannath Temple:

  Jagannatha is not the only deity worshipped in the temple, though it is known as the 'Jagannatha Temple'. But along with Jagannatha, two others namely, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are also worshipped here. These three, constitute the basic and fundamental Trinity and are considered to be the forms and manifestations of the omni-present, omni-scient and omni-potent supreme power. Sudarsan who is supposed to be the fourth important divine manifestation is also worshipped with the celebrated trio and these four are known as the Caturdha murti or the four-fold divine images. Besides, Madhava, a replica of Jagannatha, Sridevi and Bhudevi are also installed in the sanctum sanctorum and worshipped.


texts: Was Draupadi reborn in the house of Adi Shankaracharya?

texts:
In this excerpt from the Garuda Purana, various incarnations of Vayu the wind god are described.  In particular, it says this:

  When lord Rama incarnated on earth, Vayu was born as Hanuman for rendering assistance to Rama.  When lord Krishna descended on earth, he was born as Bhima, the offspring of Vayu.  Vayu will be born as Maniman daitya, known as Shankara.  He will be so called, for he will abolish caste and destroy Dharma.

Now I think the part in bold is probably either the source or the product of Madhvacharya's belief that Adi Shankaracharya was a rebirth of a demon, described in this book:

  Madhva believed himself to be an incarnation of Vayu, and probably as a result of Shankarite persecution, he taught that Shankara was a reincarnation of obscure demon named Manimat who appears in the Mahabharata.

In the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhima kills a demon named Manimat.  Since Madhvacharya considered himself to be an incarnation of Vayu, he thought he was the rebirth of Bhima and Adi Shankaracharya was the rebirth of Manimat.  For the record I find this whole line of thinking absurd; I consider Adi Shankaracharya to be an incarnation of Shiva as I discuss here.  And besides, that Garuda Purana chapter identifies Shankara, not Madhva, as an incarnation of Vayu.

But I'm interested in a statement found later on in that chapter.  The Garuda Purana also describes the incarnations of Vayu's wife Bharati, and in particular it says this:

  Draupadi, the daughter of Drupada gave up her body together with her maidens. O lord of birds, she will be born in the Kali Yuga in the house of Shankara in the village of Karati.

Now Karati is the actual birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya.  So my question is, who is this rebirth of Draupadi supposed to be?

The fact that she was born "in the house of Shankara" might indicate that she was Adi Shankaracharya's sister or something.  But then again, if Adi Shankaracharya is being considered an incarnation of Vayu and this woman is being considered an incarnation of Vayu's wife Bharati, then the logical relation would be that of husband and wife.  But the traditional biographies of Adi Shankaracharya make clear that he took up Sanyasa at a you age.

Is it possible that before he had become a Sanyasi, his mother was planning to have him marry some girl?  Are there any biographies of Adi Shankracharya that shed light on who this rebirth of Draupadi may be?


texts: Were cows sacrificed in Gomedha Yagnas brought back to life as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says?

texts:
In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, the traditional biography of Gaudiya Vaishnava founder Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a Muslim Kazi asks Chaianya Mahaprabhu about the Gomedha Yagna, a Vedic fire-ritual where cows were sacrificed.  Here is his response:

As a learned scholar, the Kazi challenged Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “In Your Vedic scriptures there is an injunction for killing a cow. On the strength of this injunction, great sages performed sacrifices involving cow-killing.”
Refuting the Kazi’s statement, the Lord immediately replied, “The Vedas clearly enjoin that cows should not be killed. Therefore every Hindu, whoever he may be, avoids indulging in cow-killing.  In the Vedas and Purāṇas there are injunctions declaring that if one can revive a living being, one can kill it for experimental purposes.  Therefore the great sages sometimes killed old cows, and by chanting Vedic hymns they brought them back to life for perfection.  The killing and rejuvenation of such old and invalid cows was not truly killing but an act of great benefit.  Formerly there were powerful brāhmaṇas who could make such experiments using Vedic hymns, but now, because of the Kali-yuga, brāhmaṇas are not so powerful. Therefore the killing of cows and bulls for rejuvenation is forbidden.”

My question is, why does Chaitanya Mahaprabhu say that cows sacrificed in the Gomedha Yagna were brought back to life?  Is he right that there are references "in the Vedas and Puranas?"
This seems rather strange to me, because the Vedas have plenty of descriptions of the afterlife of the sacrificed animal.  The Sri Vaishnava Acaharya Ramanujacharya cites various such Vedic verses in the Sri Bhashya, his commentary on the Brahma Sutras:

For Scripture declares that the killing of sacrificial animals makes them to go up to the heavenly world, and therefore is not of the nature of harm. This is declared in the text, 'The animal killed at the sacrifice having assumed a divine body goes to the heavenly world'; 'with a golden body it ascends to the heavenly world.' An action which is the means of supreme exaltation is not of the nature of harm, even if it involves some little pain; it rather is of beneficial nature.--With this the mantra also agrees: 'Thou dost not die, thou goest to the gods on easy paths; where virtuous men go, not evil-doers, there the divine Savitri may lead thee.'

It seems odd that those scriptural passages wouldn't mention the soul of the sacrificed animal coming back into its own body.
This chapter of the Drona Parva of the Mahabharata says the same thing about the Yagnas of the great king Rantideva (whom I discuss in my answer here):

Of rigid vows and always engaged in due performance of sacrifices, countless animals, desirous of going to heaven, used to come to him of their own accord. So large was the number of animals sacrificed in the Agnihotra of that king that the secretions flowing from his kitchen from the heaps of skins deposited there caused a veritable river which from this circumstance, came to be called the Charmanwati.

So clearly the animals didn't come back to life if their skins were heaped up.
In any case, does anyone know what scriptures Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had in mind when he made his statement?


texts: How many and who heard Gita from Lord Krishna?

texts: Since time was stopped when Lord Krishna told arjun gita then how can sanjay would not be stopped and even if he is not stopped due to the blessing of vedvyas then dratrashtra must be stopped.


texts: Why not sleep with your head facing North direction?

texts:
People usually avoid sleeping with head facing to the North. What I heard is that doing so will bring death. Is this true?

What is the reason behind this?


texts: How to reconcile mention of word Taittiriya in Ramayana?

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In Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Ayodhyā kāṇḍa), Sri Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to gift dasis to brahmins studying Tattiriya (school of Yajurveda).

kausalyām ca yāaśīrbhir bhaktaḥ paryupatiṣṭhati |

ācāryaḥ taittirīyāṇām abhirūpaḥ ca vedavit || 2-32-15

tasya yānam ca dāsīḥ ca saumitre sampradāpaya |

kauśeyāni ca vastrāṇi yāvat tuṣyati sa dvijaḥ || 2-32-16

"Oh, Lakshmana! Which brahman is studying Taittiriya(a school of yajurveda), a preceptor, a man of conformity; a knower of Vedas, serving Kausalya with his devotion and blessing, to him see that he is duly gifted conveyance, servant maids and silken clothing till he gets satisfied."

But as seen in answers here and here , Taittiriya was first taught by sage Vaisampayana to Yagnavalkya, Subsequently Vaisampayana being offended with Yaganavalkya, made him disgorge the Veda committed to him ; whereupon other disciples of Vaisampayana being commanded to pick it up, took in the form of patridges, and swallowed the soiled texts, hence named black(called Krishna Yajurveda) the other name of Taittiriya referring to the partridges. The said incident has taken place sometime in 28th Dwapara Yuga because Vaisampayana was disciple of Veda Vyasa who was born at time of Mahabharata
But from scriptures we know that Valmikiji composed Ramayana in 24th Treta Yuga. So question is how come Valmikiji use the word Taittiriya to refer to the said Veda when arguably the said incident from which the Veda got the name had not taken place until 28th Dwapar Yuga ?
Please note I am looking for answers based on traditional understanding (ideally backed by scriptures).


texts:
Sita is the incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi and is said to have been the reincarnation of Vedavati, also an incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi.

The story about Vedavati seems like only a prelude to the story of Sita.

Are there any other stories about Vedavati? If not, then why did Sita have a past life which was very similar to her present life? Also, why did the Goddess Lakshmi have to perform penance as Vedavati to become the wife of Lord Vishnu, when she was his wife already?


texts:
Goddess Shyamala is worshipped by the Tamils in Batam, Indonesia.

Can someone give me her story?

Does it have any scriptural basis or is it a folklore?


texts: Is there any sect or school that believe vedas are authored by humans?

texts:
Apparently all the schools believe that vedas are either authorless or are authored by God.
But is there any sect that believe that vedas are authored by enlightened humans.

 By "enlightened" I mean the one who knows about Brahman ( i. e  Moksha)


texts: What is the hymn to Vishnu that Shunashepa said to save his life?

texts:
One of the most famous stories found in the Vedas is the story of Shunashepa, which is recited during the famous Rajasuya Yagna (the Vedic ritual for becoming an emperor).  The story is told in this excerpt from the Aitareya Brahmana of the Rig Veda.  There was once an ancient solar dynasty king, variously identified as Harishchandra or Ambarisha, who was childless, so on the sage Narada's advice he prayed to Varuna the ocean god.  Varuna appeared before him and agreed to give him a son, on the condition that he would have to sacrifice the child to Varuna after he was born. Harishchandra agreed, and sure enough he soon got a son named Rohita.  But when Varuna came for him, Harishchandra kept delaying giving up his son until his son grew up.  Finally he could delay his promise no longer, and told his son that he had to be sacrificed.  Rohita refused and ran away to the forest, where he met a starving Brahmin named Ajigarta.  He offered him a hundred cattle for one of his sons.  Out of desperation, Ajigarta gave up his son Shunashepa.  Rohita returned to the kingdom with the boy, and Harishchandra prepared to sacrifice him to Varuna.  But while tied up to the sacrificial post, Shunashepa prayed devoutly to the gods, reciting large number of Vedic mantras, and as a result his life was spared.  Shunashepa was later adopted by the sage Vishwamitra, who was officiating the ritual.

But question isn't about the story itself, but rather the mantras that Shunashepa chanted.  The Bala Kanda of the Ramayana describes two of the hymns he chanted:

  When Shunashepa is tied to ritual post he immensely pleased two gods, namely Indra and Upendra as well, with those two hymns he got from Vishvamitra.

I think it's clear what the hymn to Indra is in reference to: as you can see in the Rig Veda Anukramani provided in my answer here, Shunashepa son of Ajigarta is listed as the seer of Rig Veda Book 1 Hymns 24-30.  And several of those hymns, either in whole or in part, are addressed to Indra.

But my question is, what is the other hymn mentioned in the Bala Kanda, the one addressed to "Upendra"?  For those who don't know, Upendra is a name of Vishnu, referring to the fact that in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf he was was the little brother of Indra.

So where is Shunashepa's hymn to Vishnu?  It's not mentioned in the excerpt from the Aitareya Brahmana I linked to above, and I don't see any hymns to Vishnu listed in the Rig Veda Anukramani for which Shunashepa son of Ajigarta was the seer.  Does anyone know if it's in the Rig Veda or one of the other Vedas?


texts: Has Krishna said explicitly how to measure spiritual advancement?

texts:
One sloka I personally like refer to in order to remind me of spiritual advancement is in the Bhagavad-Gita 2.56.

duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ
sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ
vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ
sthita-dhīr munir ucyate

Word for word:

duḥkheṣu — in the threefold miseries; anudvigna-manāḥ — without being
agitated in mind; sukheṣu — in happiness; vigata-spṛhaḥ — without
being interested; vīta — free from; rāga — attachment; bhaya — fear;
krodhaḥ — and anger; sthita-dhīḥ — whose mind is steady; muniḥ — a
sage; ucyate — is called.

Translation:

One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or
elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear
and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

Is there any passage(s) where Krishna states what is/how to measure spiritual advancement?


texts: It is said that from Brahman uncountable universes are emanated. Every Multiverse has different Brahma. Something like following image. My question is do these multiverses have same Veda or different?


texts: Translation of verses from Matsya Purana

texts:
Requesting a translation of the following verses 34-36 to English, from the Matsya Purana, Chapter 3:

ततो वसिष्ठप्रमुखा भगिनीमिति चुकृशुः।
ब्रह्मा न किंचिद् ददृशे तन्मुखालोकनादृते॥३४॥
अहो रुपमहो रूपमिति प्राह पुनः पुनः।
तत: प्रणामनम्रां तां पुनरेवाभ्यलोकयत्॥३५॥
अथ प्रदक्षिणं चक्रे सा पितुर्वरवर्णिनी।
पुत्रेभ्यो लज्जितस्यास्य तद्रुपालोकनेच्छया॥३६॥


texts: Making a daily checklist for vedanta karma and upasana yoga requirements

texts:
I have tried to develop a daily checklist based on my role as a sannyasa and a jnana marga to moksa. Please assist me if you find something I am lacking to progress from a mumuksu to a jijnasu.
- deva yajna
- pitr yajna
- Brahma yajna
- manusya yajna
- bhuta yajna
- concentration meditation
- expansion meditation
- value meditation
- relaxation meditation
- accept
- no comparing
- humility
- devotion

any comments on what I may be overlooking would be highly appreciated. namaskar.


texts: What is the significance of the curse given by Sri Krishna to Ashwattama?

texts:
Ashwattama who was Dronacharya's son was Lord Shiva's Ansh(part)  himself.After the Kurukshetra war, Ashwattama avenged his father's death by killing Drishtidyumna and five sons of Pandavas when they were asleep. After that when He was confronted by Pandavas, He along with Arjuna used Brahmastra on each other.

After Sri Krishna,Vyasa and Narada's intervention both Arjuna and Ashwattama agreed to take back their weapons. However,while Arjuna was able to take his Astra back, Drona never taught Ashwattama about taking BrahmAstra back. So, Sri Krishna asked Aswattama to direct His Astra to some other direction. Ashwattama in his anger directed the astra to Uttara's womb. SRI Krishna saved Uttara's son(Parishcit).

Krishna then cursed Ashwatthama that he will roam in the forests with blood and pus oozing out of his injuries and cry for death till the end of Kaliyuga. Some say this curse also made him immortal while other say he was Chiranjivi from birth.

So my question is, why did Sri Krishna cursed Aswattama. Even Kamsa killed Krishna's brothers when they were born and all the babies in Gokul.Even after this Sri Krishna gave Kamsa an easy way by killing kamsa Himself thus ultimately giving him moksha. Similarly even Ganga killed her seven babies before Bhisma. Duryodhana and Dushasana insulted Draupadi but even their punishment was not as extreme as Ashwattama. Also given the fact that Aswattama was part of Lord Shiva Himself and that He will be Vyasa in next Manuvantara, why Did Sri Krishna cursed him with such extreme punishment? Is there any significance to it? Will Ashwattama,like Lord ParshuRama have some role in Kalki Avatara?


texts: Can a non-Indian person trust Sanatan Dharma, follow it and so become Hindu?


texts: Views of ISKCON giving importance on Bhakti Yoga

texts: Why does ISKCON emphasize bhakti yoga over karma and gyan yoga?Which Yoga does the Vedas most emphasize?


texts: How can we say satyuga is the age of righteousness when tyrants like Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashyapu tormented people in that same yuga?

texts:
Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashyapu tortured people in the satyuga for long time and therefore lord Vishnu had to incarnate as Varaha and Narasimha respectively to kill both of them .

All of this happens in Sat yuga. Imagine how the subjects of those kings felt. They must have felt they're living in horrible age


texts: Why do devotees offer gods own creation as offering to him?

texts: I see lot of people offering flowers, fruits and other tangible things to god to please him. However, I fail to understand, how can god be pleased by offerings that are his own creation.


texts: Are Brahmins who eat fish fallen Brahmins?

texts:
Some Brahmins are known to be lovers and avid eaters of fish.

Are Brahmins allowed to eat fish?


texts: Does fate act in such a detailed and planned manner

texts:
Something really unbelievable / unexpected happened to me recently - I was about to get a new job and move to a new company. Within no time I lost both my current job and my new job.

When I think back I realise that the sequence of events leading up to my acceptance of the new job etc. seem to be planned in extreme detail with the end objective in mind - loss of both jobs.

Is this possible or am I reading too much into it?


texts: What is the best way to attain Moksha (God-realization) in Hinduism?

texts: According to many different scriptures (Vedas, Upanishads, Gita) that I have read, I am having a hard time understanding the general consensus for the path towards God-realization. Each book has a slightly different view. Is there any form of general consensus on the best past towards God-realization?


texts: Complete biography/hagiography of Ramanujacharya

texts: Where I can get the complete biography/hagiography of Ramanujacharya, which contains all the details of his life and deeds, right from his birth, till his passing away? Fantastic accounts are also fine.


texts: Alternative day for Upakarma when one misses it

texts: If one misses the Yearly Upakarma (sacred thread changing ceremony) rituals on that given day, is there any alternative day one can perform that  ?  After one week or month ?


texts: Japa Sankalpam for Australia ( Melbourne)

texts: I've been meaning to do Sandhya vandhanam but I don't know what words to use instead of "Bharata Varshe" "Bharata Khande ". Can anyone please help me out. Thanks


texts: Is it necessary for devotees to have idols at home?

texts: Do the scriptures mandate that devotees need to have idols and portraits of gods in their houses?


texts: Did Shiva's army molest women during Daksha Yajna?

texts:
In Shiva Purana I heard it's mentioned that Shiva's army consisting of Bhūtas (bhūta gaṇa), Vetālas etc., molested many women who attended the Daksha Yagna. Is this true?

If yes, how is this action by Shiva's army justified?


texts: Can Lila played by Gods interact and be causative of the reincarnation conditions?

texts:
Karma, rebirth, geographical place
Lila is an integrant part of these conditions or those all depends by the past births of each individuals?


texts: Why does the Yajur Veda call Vishnu overlord of the mountains?

texts:
The main Yagna (fire-ritual) described in the Vedas is the Soma Yagna, where a drink taken from a plant (whose identity was lost) is offered.  But the Vedas also describe some less important Yagnas, and in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Yajur Veda, the Fourth Prathaka of the Third Khanda describes some Yagnas that are optional.  Here is one of the verses chanted during such a Yagna:

  iii. 4. 5. a Agni overlord of creatures, may he help me; Indra of powers, Yama of earth, Vayu of the atmosphere, Surya of the sky, Candramas of Naksatras, Brhaspati of holy power, Mitra of truths, Varuna of waters, the ocean of streams, food of lordships overlord, may it help me; Soma of plants, Savitr of instigations, Rudra of cattle, Tvastr of forms, Visnu of mountains, the Maruts of troops overlords, may they help me.

Some of these are understandable, like Surya the Sun god being overlord of the sky, Chandra the Moon god being overlord of stars (as described in the Bhagavad Gita), and Shiva being overlord of cattle (which is why he's called Pashupati).  But my question is, why is Vishnu described as overlord of mountains?  What connection does Vishnu have to mountains in particular?

Could this be related to the Rig Veda describing Vishnu as a mountain-roaming bull, which I discuss in this question?  Or could this be related to Venkateshwara (the Vishnu deity in Tirupati, AKA Balaji or Srinivasa), who is called the lord of seven hills?


texts:
Background 1

Sri Aandal in Kali yuga wanted to emulate Krishna Bhakthi which Gopika women had enjoyed in his presence.She was inspired and chose the practice of pavai nombu or vratha followed by Gopika women who prayed to Goddess Karthiyayini for them to attain Krishna.

question 1:

Why did the Gopika women not pray to Krishna to attain Krishna? Did they not know he was God?

Background 2

When Draupathi was insulted in public by the Kauravas. She called to Krishna for help. Assuming if she had believed in some other God, she would have called that God's name or atleast shouted Amma. But she chose to call Krishna for help

Key Question

Did people in Krishna's time know that he was God?


texts: Puranas besides Bhagavata & Devi-Bhagavata stating themselves as the foremost or best

texts:
I came across two answers Bhagavata-Purana Considered as best and Devi Bhagavata Purana Considered as best.

On the same lines, are there any claims about other puranas claiming themselves or others as the best, foremost etc.?


texts: Where can I find the details about the weapons that kshatriyas had at olden times?

texts: Are there any Vedas, Puranas, or holy scripts that contain their descriptions?


texts: Which Hindu sects prohibit idol worship?

texts: I have often read that there are some Hindu sects which speak against idol worship. I want to know who they are and what reasons they cite to justify their claims.


texts: What is the story of Rishika Vagambharni who had reached the stage of identifying herself with Devi through her Saadhana?

texts:
While chanting Devishukta of Rigveda (10.125) in recently passed Navaratri time, I came to know about daughter of Ṛṣi Aṃbhṛṇa, named Vāk (also known as Vāk + Aṃbhṛṇa = Vāgāṃbhṛṇi). It is said that she sung this sukta in the exalted state of realizing identity with Devi. Similar thing is mentioned in this answer by SwiftPushkar.
You can read Devisukta in Sanskrit from here and English translation from here, quoting some initial portion from there:

Devi Sooktam: (Part of Rig Veda 10.8.125- a.k.a. - Rig Vediya Devi
Sooktam)
Introduction:
This is supposed to be the Sukta that is liked most by Devi and hence,
it is chanted by thousands of wise men everyday.
This has been writtn by a woman sage by name Vaak, who is the daughter
of Sage Ambrunar. The Woman Sage had reached the stage of identifying
herself with Devi through her Saadhana - she sings this Suktam in such
exalted state
Verse I:
Om ! I move along with the Rudras, Vasus, Adithas and all other Devas.
I bear the Mithra, Varuna, Indra, Agni and the two Ashwini Devas.

I want to know the story of this Rishika Vāgāṃbhṛṇi, if description available e.g important part/event of her life or description of how she performed Sadhana. Is this story described in any of Puranas or described by Acharyas in their commentary?