texts:
In Shiva Purana Rudra-samhita, Tarakasura boasted and also disrespected Lord Vishnu before his war with Kartikeya. During his boasting, he also mentioned Rama avatar and Krishna avatar which happened in the future much after the time period of Tarakasura. How did Tarakasura know about future incarnations of Lord Vishnu? These are his dialogues:

Taking birth as Rama he killed a woman (Tāḍakā). Bālī’s death was brought about by him with a vile trick. A brahmin descendant of Viśravas was killed by him. Thus he violated the injunction of the Śruti. Sinful that he was, he forsook his own innocent wife. There too, he violated the path of Śruti for achieving his selfish end. In his sixth incarnation (as Paraśurāma) he cut off the head of his own mother. This wicked man insulted his own preceptor’s son. Incarnating as Kṛṣṇa he defiled the wives of others and forced them to violate the traditional virtues of the family. He contracted his marriages without any reference to the Vedic path. Again in his ninth incarnation he slighted the Vedic path and contrary to its principles, preached and established the atheistic philosophy called Buddhism.


texts:
Hindu mythology has mentions of the Gurukula system of education. I have heard how the Guru and the Guru-Patni (Guru's wife) lived with their students.

However, the Guru (teacher) is always a man. Is there any mention of any Gurukulam where the teacher is a woman?


texts: Do the gods incarnate as mythical creatures in other lokas?

texts: Gods are often born on Earth (Bhulok). As you know these incarnations are known as avatars. A popularly known avatars is Shree Krishna. However as per my knowledge, avatars are born as humans (Manava) on Bhulok. Are there any avatars who are not Manavas, e.g. Apsaras, Nagas in other lokas? If not, why don't the gods incarnate as mythical creatures in other lokas?


texts: Is being Vegan necessary for spiritual growth?

texts:
Is there Any if at all relation between Spirituality & food? If yes, what is good and what is bad? I want to know if there is some proper text/scripture suggesting best food for spiritual growth?

Please forgive if question seems naive, I tried to search but articles/suggestions I got are more confusing & are mostly personal opinions from experienced people. There is some description of food based on nature(satvik, tamasic and rajasic food) but I was not able to find correct source to refer based on different people occupation.

Any help with reference text from scriptures is welcome.


texts: I came across some websites that mention that Goddess Neela Saraswathi and Nila Devi, the third wife of Lord Vishnu, could be the same. The websites are here and here. Is this fact mentioned in any scriptures like Devi Bhagavatham?


texts:
Please give references.
If not, then why do people believe in it, or why is it used in marriage ?


texts: Why does Lord Jagannath suffer from fever?

texts:
It is believed that Jagannath suffers from a high fever after the Snana-Yatra. During this time, devotees are prevented from seeing Him. After taking special care, the deities gets cured and the famous Ratha-yatra is started.
From here:

....9) Resting in high fever time:
The door to the main Jagannath Temple in Puri is kept shut for the last 7 days before the Rath Yatra festival. Well, can you guess the reason? Apparently, every year, during this time, Lord Jagannath gets high fever due to which “visitors” are not allowed to see him. And, it is this fever that calls for a change and hence, the famous visit to their maternal aunt’s (or Mousi’s) place!

And from here:

After the rituals, as per the mysteries the deities fall ill, supposedly suffering from fever after taking the bath, and would remain on bed for 15 days. In this period, the deities are kept in a special sick room called the ‘Ratan vedi’ inside the temple. The deities stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days. This period is known as ‘Anasara’.
During Anasara the deities are offered only fruits and water mixed with cheese and Dasamula medicines to cure from fever and are treated by the Raj Vaidya with specific medicines.

So, I want know: how/why did this custom (Jagannath getting fever) come into existence? Is there any story behind it? And how many days are the deities kept for special care?


texts: Names of 33 Gods and their Jobs (including goddesses)?

texts: I know they are 33 Gods already some people ask How many Gods? My Question is Who Are 33 Gods and their Roles?


texts:
In some text relating to advaita I've found two Vada(वाद) i.e doctrine/thesis:

Vivartavada (विवर्तवाद)
Ajatavada (अजातवाद)

I also found some mention Advaita Vedanta as Vivartavada. So, I want to know what the Vivartavada and Ajatavada are in the spiritual philosophy of Advaita.


texts: Sections of scriptures which deal with Bearing the Physical Pain

texts:
What sections of scriptures deal with Bearing the Physical Pain because of disease, old age or accident?
What kind of discourse is given regarding the physical pain?
Any lead would be fine, One can take think this question on line of how Shree Gita explains about the emotional pain of death of loved one.


texts: Are there Hindu texts which do not fall under the Sruti-Smriti classification?

texts:
This talks about what is the difference between Sruti and Smriti: What is difference between Shruti and Smriti?

The above link also talks about what can be classified as Sruti i.e. Vedas and some related texts.

Do all other texts come under Smriti? Or, only some other texts can be classified under Smriti and the rest do not fall under this classification?


texts: There are three types of Karma namely Agami Karma, Sanchita Karma and Prarabdha karma. Among these, Agami Karma means our current actions; Sanchita Karma means our actions in the past lives which are yet to be experienced by us and Prarabdha Karma is the portion of Sanchita karma being experienced in the present incarnation. Now, who records the good and bad deeds of living beings and who is responsible for the experience of Prarabdha Karma?


texts: Who can a Mleccha marry? A mleccha is outside the varna system,i.e they are neither brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, or even Shudras. can a mleccha only marry a mleccha? I'm talking about a convert since he is not a Vedic person by birth.


texts: The vedas are the scripture of authority the highest. So do the vedas has a law or constitution that every one must follow to achieve salvation(Moksha) . Please give reference from vedas and upanishad only.


texts: If mother is superior to father then why did Parashurama kill his mother on his father's command?

texts:
We know that Parashurama killed his mother Renuka without a blink on his father's Jamadgani's command. But Manusmriti 2.145 says

  In veneration, the Preceptor excels ten Sub-teachers; the Father a hundred preceptors, and the Mother a thousand Fathers.

So why did Parashurama obey his father's command ?


texts: What are the puranas that describe the life of Brahma (the four-headed God)? I want to learn more about him.


texts:
Do the vedas mention shiv Ling?
So the Vedas mention shiv Ling.


texts: Difference between Smartas and Advaitins?

texts:
What is the difference between a Smarta and an Advaitin? Both are the followers of Adi Sankaracharya only.

People who worship Lord Shiva are called Shaivite and those who worship Lord Vishnu are called Vaishnavite. Then what is one called when he worships both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu only?


texts: Did Sugreeva have a son (or a daughter perhaps)? If so what is his name? I have heard that he had a son but I am not sure about the name.


texts: Does Shankara teach to renounce one's own duties?

texts:
Padma Purana 6.236:

  The doctrine of illusion (Mayavada) is an impious, wicked belief and
  against all the conclusions of the Vedas. It is only covered Buddhism.
  My dear Parvati, in Kali-Yuga I assume the form of a brahmana (Adi
  Shankara) and teach this imagined philosophy.(7)

  The doctrine of Mayavada shows the meaninglessness of the words of the
  holy texts and is condemned in the world. In this (doctrine) only the
  giving up of one's own duties is expounded.(8)

Padma Purana says in the doctrine of Mayavada, giving up of one's own duties is expounded. However, is this what Shankara taught?


texts:
I have come across the following verse in one website.

sundare sundaro ramah sundare sundari katha
sundare sundari sita sundare sundaram vanam,
sundare sundaram kavyam sundare sundarah kapih
sundare sundaram mantram sundare kim na sundaram.
In the Sundara Kanda, or the beautiful chapter, beautiful is Rama, beautiful is the story; Beautiful is Sita Devi, beautiful is the Asoka Vanam; Beautiful is the poem; beautiful is the kapi Hanuman; Beautiful is the mantra; what is not beautiful in Sundara Kanda?

http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Sundara_Kanda/Sundarakanda.htm
Can anybody explain who wrote this verse?  And, out of various beautiful aspects, which one is more appropriate in naming this Kanda as such?


texts:
I was told by a person that the last 2 pradakshinams to be done anti clockwise for rahu and kethu. But one other kurukkal said that you do all the nine in clockwise only.
Which to be followed? kindly give the reasons.


texts: Was Parsvanatha, the 23rd tirthankara of Jainism, an avatar of Lord Shiva?

texts:
Parsvanatha was the 23rd tirthankara of Jainism. He was very popular and belonged to Ikshvaku dynasty like other tirthankaras.

He has a lot of temples across India, the most popular of which is at Shikhar Ji, also known as Parsvnatha hills where it is believed he got Moksha. There is another temple that belongs to him which is present in Nakoda, Rajasthan known as Nakoda Parsvnath. It is extremely popular Jain temple but the most popular deity there is not Parsvnath but Bhairav! Because the area is Nakoda, he is known by the name of Nakoda Bhairav.

In his lower left hand is the Damaru and in upper left hand is Trishula so he is the same Bhairava which can be found in many Shiva temples. The story of the origin of this idol in Nakoda goes like this:

  There are stories of Jain statues that were hidden underground to protect them from attacks by intolerant rulers and chieftains during the first half of the second millennium. Many such statues were forgotten and some are still dug out today. The statue of Pārśvanātha or Lord Pārśva in Nākoḍā – Nākoḍā Pārśvanātha – was rediscovered in this way in 1455.
  According to the story, a Jain lay man had a dream in which Nākoḍā Bhairava told him of the long-forgotten statue of Pārśvanātha or Lord Pārśva, the 23rd Jina, and where it was hidden. The statue was then discovered and installed in the Nākoḍā temple by the Kharatara-gaccha monk Kīrtiratna-sūri. As Kīrtiratna-sūri was carrying the rediscovered statue of Pārśva, people spontaneously formed a procession behind him. They saw Nākoḍā Bhairava in the form of a boy dancing and walking with them, eventually causing them to stop in Nākoḍā. Kīrtiratna-sūri decided to keep the Pārśvanātha statue there and installed the aniconic image – piṇḍākar – of Nākoḍā Bhairava by the temple entrance.

According to the story, Bhairava was extremely happy to see the Parsvnath idol which is pretty odd because Bhairava has nothing to do with Jainism. So there has to be something special in Parsvanatha that made Bhairava very happy. I think Parsvanatha might be an avatar of Shiva. Interestingly enough, Parsvanatha was born in Kashi, the city of Shiva.

Another unique aspect of Parsvanatha is that he is associated with snake. When I read snake and Shiva, it only reminds me of Vasuki so could that mean Parsvanatha was avatar of Vasuki?


texts: What does Lord Shiva mean by saying that in Shaiva traditions Gurus are three?

texts:
In KulArnava Tantram's 13th chapter, Lord Shiva discusses about Guru and its signs in great details. In that context he says the following verse:

  Shaive Gurutrayam Proktam Vaishnave Gurupanchakam | VedashAshtreshu Sataso Gururekah KulAgame ||

  ...........

  According to Shaiva Tradition, Gurus are three, according to Vaishnava, Gurus
  are five, according to Vaidika Tradition Gurus are numerous but according
  to Kula Agama Guru is only one.

Now, its obvious to me that here Lord Shiva is not talking about the number of Gurus that a Shaiva can have. Because in the same chapter itself, he mentions that one can have many Gurus as long as one does not get a good one.

So, is he talking about three types of Shaiva Gurus that the Shaiva scriptures prescribe for the disciples at different stages of sadhana? If yes which are those three Gurus?


texts: Who is the figure Aktakshya, quoted in the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda?

texts:
The Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda, in a passage that simultaneously discusses the creation of the world and the way to properly conduct a yagna (fire-ritual), quotes two individuals concerning the laying of bricks in a yagna:

  Here now Âktâkshya used to say, "Only he who knows abundant bricks possessed of (special) prayers, should build up the fire (altar): abundantly indeed he then heals Father Pragâpati."  But Tândya used to say, "Surely the bricks possessed of prayers are the nobility, and the space-fillers are the peasants; and the noble is the feeder, and the peasantry the food; and where there is abundant food for the feeder, that realm is indeed prosperous and thrives: let him therefore pile up abundant space-fillers!" Such then was the speech of those two, but the settled practice is different therefrom.

But my question isn't about the content of these quotations, but rather about who is quoted.  I assume that Tandya is the eponymous seer of the Tandya Mahabrahmana of the Sama Veda, so presumably his quotation is taken from the Tandya Brahmana.  (Can anyone verify this?)

My question is, who is Aktakshya, the other individual who's quoted?  Is he the seer of one of the Brahmanas of the Vedas?  Is his quotation taken from some other work that he is either the seer or the author of?


texts: Is there a scriptural base, from other than the Veda and Puranas, to indicate that the Battle of the Ten Kings occurred?

texts:
There is already a question existing - Timeline of the battle of the ten kings in the Vedas.  However, there are no answers posted yet and my question is different.

It was mentioned in this wikipedia article that The Battle of the Ten Kings (Sanskrit: दाशराज्ञ युद्ध, romanized: Dāśarājñá yuddhá) is a battle alluded to in the Rigveda (Book 7, hymns 18, 33 and 83.4–8), the ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns.
It was also mentioned that the battle took place during the middle or main Rigvedic period, near the Ravi River in Punjab. It was a battle between the Puru Vedic Aryan tribal kingdoms of the Bharatas, allied with other tribes of the north west India, and the Trtsu-Bharata (Puru) king Sudas, who defeats other Vedic tribes.

However, mention of the Battle of the Ten Kings is missing in  Bṛhaddevatā, but many a translator of Rig Veda, including Stephanie W. Jamison and Joel P. Brereton, mentioned it as occurred.
Was it mentioned in brAhmanas or aranyakas or upanishads or any commentary on Rig Veda/any other literary work, other than Puranas, by Indian authors of past era(prior to 18th centuary) that the Battle of the Ten Kings (दाशराज्ञ युद्ध) really occurred ?
If so, please provide references.


texts: Does kirtana of lord's name erase the yet-unmanifested effects of sanchita karma?

texts:
that which is manifested and is running is called prarabdha and it cannot be changed so it is said
but that which is to be manifested in future lives can be changed by meditation on  gods name ? one can avoid all that suffering


texts: Sahadeva knew future events in Mahabharata. How many times did he use this knowledge in Mahabharata?

texts:
I am not sure about it. I have just read folk story about this.

Is Pandu's last wish, not to burn his body but eat it away, real?

Is there any valid scripture available for this story?

If yes,

Then, How many times did he use this knowledge in Mahabharata?


texts: Physical exercise/activity importance in Hindu texts

texts: Do any of the ancient Hindu/Indian texts mention the importance/unimportance of physical activity/exercise in one's life?


texts: What's exact "ShukropAsita Mrityunjaya Mantra"?

texts: Can someone tell me the exact "ShukropAsita Mrityunjaya Mantra" which is the combination of mrutyunjay mantra and gayatri mantra?


texts: Who is the Rishi who cut off his own hands for stealing?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, and Nyaya. My question is about the Samkhya school, founded by the sage Kapila. Now in Adhyaya 4 of Kapila's Samkhya Sutras, one of the defining texts of the Samkhya school, Kapila discusses various scriptural stories which illustrate different Samkhya teachings. In particular, here's what he says in Adhyaya 4 Sutra 7:

chinnahastavadvā
And moreover, like an amputated hand.

Here is how Aniruddha interprets the Sutra in his commentary on the Samkhya Sutras:

A certain Muni, entering the hermitage of his brother, gathered fruits, etc.  And he was told by his brother, "Thou art a thief." He said, "Tell me what the penance is." His brother also said, "There exists no penance except the amputation of thy hand." And he, informing the king, cut off his own hands.  Therefore, (the moral is), prohibited acts should not be done, and, if done through inadvertence, steps must be taken for obtaining freedom from the consequences thereof.

My question is, who is the Rishi who cut off his own hands to make up for the sin of stealing from his brother's Ashram?  That would require quite a noble character.  And what scriptures describe this story?
There are probably not a lot of pairs of Rishis who are brothers one of whom has no hands, so his identity may be easy to narrow down!


texts: Things that we need to take care on Lord Hanuman's fast

texts:
I am doing Lord Hanuman's fast (vrata) since long. I know some rules of fast but day by day new rules I am hearing by different persons (don't know how much they are currect). Here are rules which I use to follows

I eat meal at evening or night (one time a day).
As per my knowledge, taking service or help from a lady is forbidden.
That's why, I don't ask my mother to prepare meal for me on Tuesday. I
prepare it by myself. But my mother says it's fine if she will make
meal for you because Hanuman ji also used to eat meal prepared by his
mother(Anjana). So mother can cook food. But still I prepare by myself
because I am not clear on this point, Why taking unnecessary risk.
I use to do Kathaa at evening. In morning I do nothing. Mother told
me earlier that we should not pray to Lord Hanuman in morning because
in morning he himself busy in praying Lord Rama. So our prayer might
disturb him. This is the reason we visit Hanuman's temple in
evening instead of morning (like others Lords) to offer food (Boondi
as prashad).

So, this is the things that I use to take care (don't know how much I am right on those points). But I have heard some other rules also by some persons like

One said that in Lord Hanuman's fast we can't sleep on bed but
instead we have to sleep on floor. He said there are some wreslers
live near his house who also use to do Hanuman's fast and they don't
sleep on bed on Tuesday.
In hurry of going to work, sometimes I don't drink water in morning. And
in office I don't drink water (just for extra care). So like that I
only drink water after reaching home in evening (more like night)
after doing kathaa. But someone says if I won't drink water till
night then it will become roza (Muslim's fast) instead. It will no
longer be a Lord Human's fast.
My mother says it is compulsary to have bath on next day of fast so
the fast can be complete. As per my understanding, bathing is
necessary on starting fast in morning but it is also mandatory to
have bath on next day to end a fast? I am not sure.

I am not sure how much these points are correct. Please let me know all mandatory rules (without whome fast can't be complete) of Lord Hanuman's fast.


texts: What is the story of Vikhanasa, founder of the Vaikhanasa school?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, one of the early movements that was important in the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures to worship the sage Narayana, an ancient incarnation of Vishnu.  Since the Pancharatra texts originated from Narayana himself, they are followed by pretty much all mainstream Vaishnava Sampradayas, whether Sri Vaishnavas, Madhvas, Gaudiya Vaishnavas, etc.  In fact you can pretty much define Vaishnavism the belief in the supremacy of Vishnu as it's described in the Pancharatra texts.

But there is another group of Vishnu-worshippers who worship Vishnu according to the different set of texts, the Vaikhanasas.  Vaikhanasas place more emphasis on rituals than in high-minded philosophy; while mainstream Vaishnavas are committed to elaborate Vedantic philosophical systems, like Dvaita or Visistadvaita, Vaikhanasa doctrines are more about the construction and worship of idols and the like.  The vast majority of Vishnu-worshippers are Vaishnavas, but there are a few Vaikhanasa temples in India.  In fact, the most popular Vishnu temple in the world, the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple, is a Vaikhanasa temple, not a Vaishnava temple, although since the time of Ramanujacharya (the Sri Vaishnava acharya) the Vaikhanasa priests have agreed to follow some Pancharatra customs.

In any case, the origin of the Vaikhanasa tradition is recounted in this excerpt from S. Rangachar's book "Philosophy of Pancaratras":

  Brahma incarnated himself as Vikhanas in the Naimisharanya and then Vishnu Himself taught Brahma the mysteries of worship in the form of thirty two questions.  Since God, the Bhagavan himself taught this Agama to Brahma first, Vishnu Himself is the originator of the Agama also as in the case of Pancharatra Agama.  As it was Vikhanasa who gave this Agama to the world directly through his four disciples or Maharishis, namely Atri, Marichi, Kashyapa and Bhrigu, he is as said to be the Pravartaka of this Agama and hence the agama is called after him.

My question is, what is the story of Brahma's incarnation Vikhanasa, founder of the Vaikhanasa tradition?  What was his ancestry and what else happened to him, apart from getting 32 questions answered by Vishnu and teaching his doctrines to four famous sages?

The only information I could find in Hindu scripture about the origin of the Vaikhanasas is in the Narayaniya portion of the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata.  As I discuss in this answer, the Narayaniya is a Pancharatra text that is part of the Mahabharata.  It's an 18-chapter religious dialogue between Yudishthira and Bhishma in the importance of worshipping Narayana/Vishnu, similar to the 18-chapter religious dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna we call the Bhagavad Gita.  In any case, in this chapter of the Narayaniya, Narada describes the religion of Vishnu-worship was passed down in every Mahakalpa, and here is what he says about the first Mahakalpa:

  In that [Mahakalpa] when Brahma the Creator, O king, took his birth in the mind of Narayana and issued from the latter's mouth, Narayana himself performed, O Bharata, his Daiva and Paitra rites in accordance with this religion. Those Rishis that subsist upon the froth of water then obtained it from Narayana. From the froth-eating Rishis, this religion was obtained by those Rishis that go by the name of Vaikanasas. From the Vaikanasas, Shoma got it. Afterwards, it disappeared from the universe.

So was Vikhanasa one of these "Rishis that subsist upon the froth of water"?  Are there any other scriptures that mention Vikhanasa's story?  Do the Vaikhanasas texts themselves discuss it?

On a side note, do the 32 questions that Vikhanasa asked Vishnu still survive?  After listing the various Vaikhanasa texts, Rangachar says "For all these, the Muladhara, the basic foundation is said to be the Thirty Two Sutras given out by Vaikhanasa himself."  So has this foundational text been preserved?


texts: Is Neo-Vedanta a modern modification of Hinduism?

texts:
According to this article, Neo-Vedanta is a modern interpretation of Hinduism that incorporates Western values. The author says this:

  During this short span of time in the 19th century, the ancient
  grandeur and beauty of a classical Hinduism that had stood the test of
  thousands of years came under direct ideological attack. What makes
  this period especially tragic is that the main apparatus that the
  British used in their attempts to destroy traditional Hinduism were
  the British-educated, spiritually co-opted sons and daughters of
  Hinduism itself. Seeing traditional Hinduism through the eyes of
  their British masters, a pandemic wave of 19th-century Anglicized
  Hindu intellectuals saw it as their solemn duty to “Westernize” and
  “modernize” traditional Hinduism to make it more palatable to their
  new European overlords. One of the phenomena that occurred during
  this historic period was the fabrication of a new movement known as
  “neo-Hinduism.” Neo-Hinduism was an artificial religious construct
  used as a paradigmatic juxtaposition to the legitimate traditional
  Hinduism that had been the religion and culture of the people for
  thousands of years. Neo-Hinduism was used as an effective weapon to
  replace authentic Hinduism with a British-invented version designed to
  make a subjugated people easier to manage and control.

So, is Neo-Vedanta a modern modification of traditional Hinduism designed to satisfy Western needs?


texts: What is the relation between Light (Suryadevta) and Air (Vayu)?

texts: Sun is the Devata (Deity/Surya Deva) of Air (Vayu) and Sun travels on Air (vayu) as its chariot (Vayu rupi rath). If there is no air can the sun rays have speed?


texts:
It seems people seem to be mentioning benifits of staying awake during the MahaShivatri festival. What is the time in the morning till which they have to stay awake? Does it end after midnight 12 o'clock?

EDIT: Also please mention the best way to stay awake, like doing poojas, listening bhajans, staying in a meditation posture (IS playing video games, watching movies even benificial?)


texts: Is it SPECIFICALLY mentioned in the Vedas, Agamas, Itihasa or Puranas that left-handed men are inherently evil?

texts:
Scriptures say that our left hand is not to be used for eating, drinking and puja rituals like feeding idols. Some cultures say its bad to eat, drink or do auspicious things by using the left hand. Some take the opposite view.
But I recently heard a child who is a self-proclaimed online Guru claim that he read himself in the Mahabharata and Bhavishya Purana that left-handed people are inherently evil natured. He forgot where this is mentioned. Can anyone cite a shloka or translation from any scripture which says something to the effect of:

Left-handed people are impure and wicked by their very birth... No left-handed man can become a brahmin or rishi... Left-handedness is a brain defect.

Or is it a fabricated myth?


texts: What is the story behind the Brahmasthra? Was it actually ever fired?

texts:
In different Puranas there are mentions of the Brahmasthra which is one of the powerful weapons capable of destroying the whole world. I have seen usually in Purana TV serials, these astras (arrows) are portrayed with some sparks, glitters and smoke - nothing more nothing less.

Actually, what is the story behind Brahmasthra? Does this weapon make use of mantras and convert ordinary arrows to Brahmasthra? And has anyone ever used this in history, and if so, on what occasion?

EDIT: @Creator has asked some further doubts on this in the comments. Adding those questions here:

Is the Brahmasthra mantra and control still depicted anywhere in astra vidya or in any scriptures?
And is that vidya still alive?


texts: Is the naivedyam ritual mentioned in the Vedas?

texts:
We know that naivedyam is an important smarta/pauranik ritual usually done before or after nirAjanam/Arati.
Is this ritual also indicated in the Vedic rites? Like how it is done in the 16 upachAra poojA.


texts: What are the methods to overcome/minimize the effect of Kalipurush in Kaliyug?

texts:
We all are living in Kaliyug and the 'Kali'/'Kalipurush'(not to be confused with Goddess Kalimatha) has great influence on people these days. Are there mentions of major places where 'Kali' resides in any of the scripture? Also what are the major methods to minimize the effect of Kali according to scriptures?

P:S: I have heard that Kali resides in the places where 'competition' occurs(like the reputation game in here). So Kalipurush is present in Stakexchange too, Isn't it the right assumption?


texts: In Advaita, is jiva the same as subtle body?

texts:
Followers of advaita like Pradip or Milind would say that when the universal Atman is being encapsulated or embodied, it is known as jiva. Or when Atman is limited by upadhis like mind, ego etc. its called Jiva.

But i want to know, whether this jiva is the same as subtle body or not?

Also in some websites it is stated that jiva is a reflection of the universal Atman. What is meant by reflection here?


texts: 12 Major battles between the Devas and Danavas

texts:
Many Puranas talk about 12 major battles between the Danavas and Devas. As per Brahmanda Purana (3rd Canto, Ch 72), they are as follows:

Lord Narasimha fighting the Danavas
Lord Vamana binding the Bali
Lord Varah fighting Hiranyaksha
Battle after churning of the ocean: Prahlada defeated in the battle.
Tarakamaya battle: Kalanemi killed by Krishna
Adibaka battle: Jambha killed by Visnu
Traipura battle: Daityas defeated by Lord Siva
Andhakara battle
Dhvaja battle: Vipracitti was killed by Mahendra.
Vrtra battle: Vrtrasura killed by Indra
Halahala battle
Kolahala battle
13? Sanda and Marka conquered by Devas [even though there should be 12, 13 are mentioned :-0]

Link for english translation of Brahmanda Purana: https://archive.org/details/24BrahmandaPurana.Vol.3/page/n203

Now here is my question what are dates for these battles?

  Few I know from another question asked on the stackexchange
  During what Yugas did Hiranyakashipu, Mahabali, and Ravana rule?

  Lord Narasimha deva appeared in Chaksusa Manvantara 4th Kali & 5th Satya transition.
  Lord Vamana appeared in 7th Treta yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara.
  Lord Varaha appeared right in the beginning of Chaksusa Manvantara

As per Srimad Bhagavatam 6.10.16 http://vedabase.com/sb/6/10/16

  10.Vrtrasura defeated by Indra in the the beginning of First Catur Yuga at the onset of Treta Yuga during the Vaivasvata manvantara.

As per Padma Purana I.40.122-123

  Tarakamaya war happened in a Satya yuga after Vrtrasura was killed.


texts: Correct procedure of giving Arghya to Surya according to our scriptures?

texts:
What is the correct procedure of giving Arghya to Surya/Sun God according to our scriptures? Arghya is a form of worship where water sometimes with different ingredients are offered to the Sun.

I happen to know a few pundits and astrologers, but they all suggest a different method. I would like to know what is written in our scriptures about this subject.


texts:
What is the significance for a woman of seeing one's hair parting filled with Vibhuti (sacred ash ) during her marriage in her dreams?

Do any Scriptures discuss the significance of such dreams?

Does the analysis vary depending on whether the woman is married or not?


texts: Is this activities count in lust/sin or not ? I mean he/she will get paap or not?

texts:
suppose if someone is not married .If  he is doing sex with many girls ( call girl, prostitute) or if she is  doing sex with many boy's( play boy)
Is  this  activities count in lust/sin ?  I mean he/she  will  get paap or not ?
I know that  this  is  sin  for married person . But  here im confused  about  unmarried person.


texts: What are the Vibhutis of Lord Shiva as told in Mahabharata?

texts:
Vibhuti means through which potency of Lord is expressed. Bhagvad Gita 10th chapter is itself named as Vibhuti Yoga and we find several descriptions about Vibhuti of Lord there like:

  आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् ।
  मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥१०- २१॥
  Of the Adityas I am Vishnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon.

  वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः ।
  इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना ॥१०- २२॥
  Of the Vedas I am Samaveda, of devas I am Vaasava, of the Indriyas I am Mana, of the beings I am their consciousness.

  रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् ।
  वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ॥१०- २३॥
  Of Rudras I'm Shankara, of Yaksha I'm Vittesha , of Vasus I'm Pavaka and of mountains I'm Meru.

And so on. As I discuss in my answer here, Brahman is equated to be everything of this universe. Like SataRudriya states:

  Salutations to him who is chariot itself, maker of chariot, rider of chariot, charioteer, horses and lord of horses.

Likewise as I discuss here, Shiva Purana states:

  ब्रह्मादितृणपर्यन्तं यत्किञ्चिद्दृश्यते त्विह ।
  तत्सर्वं शिव एवास्ति मिथ्या नानात्व कल्पना ।।
  Right from Brahma to the twig of leaf, ie . Everything in this Universe is Shiva himself. The concept of manifestation is not real.

So, Brahman is equated with everything of this Universe. But still for describing Brahman he can be described through his various Vibhutis which are present in this world.

Various Vibhutis of Lord Shiva are stated itself in Yajurveda Sata Rudriya Hymn. But, are there any instances in Mahabharata where Vibhutis of Lord Shiva is spoken?


texts:
Sage Panini was a great grammarian of Ancient India. There is a word mentioned in Rig-Veda, Pani, which means different things according to the context.

One of the meanings (albeit in later sources) is used to describe a tribe of people.

Is it possible that Sage Panini belonged to Pani tribe? Is there any such reference in the ancient texts?


texts: Where in the Ṛgveda (Rig Veda) is Vṛṣaṇaśva? Does anyone have the Sanskrit with translation of Rig Veda 1:51?

texts:
I recently found out from here that the father of Menā, Vṛṣaṇaśva is not just mentioned in the Brahmanas, but in the Rig-Veda itself. What is a good translation of this verse on the mysterious ancestor of the Parvata?
See here: https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vrishanashva
While the verse of Vṛṣaṇaśva has been found. I wonder what the rest of the hymn says. What especially confuses me is why it says "to him," at the end, when Menā is supposed to be female.
https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01051.htm


texts: Why is Lord Shiva's daughter Ashokasundari not worshipped?

texts:
The sons of Lord Shiva, Ganesha and Muruga (Kartikeya) are very famous and worshipped by many, but not his only daughter, Ashokasundari.

What is the reason behind it?


texts: Why did Thirumazhisai Alwar never sing about the Thirumazhisai Jagannath temple?

texts:
I just came back from a trip to India, and one of the temples I visited was the Madhya Jagannatha Vishnu temple in Thirumazhisai.  Most people only know about the Jagannatha temple in Puri (which I discuss here), but there are two other Jagannatha temples in Thirumazhisai and Thirupullani.  But my question is about another feature of Thirumazhisai, namely that it's the birthplace of Thirumazhisai Alwar.

The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their devotional poetry in praise of Vishnu. The collection of their 4000 poems, known as the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam, is considered by many to be the "Dravida Veda", or South Indian Veda. The Alwars are crucially important figures in the history of Vaishnavism; it's the beliefs and principles embodied in the Alwars' poems that ultimately gave rise to the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I'm a member).

In any case, as I discuss in this question, one of the Alwars was known as Thirumazhisai Alwar. He was the son of the sage Bhargava, but he was raised by tribal people and became a famous Shaivite poet, before ultimately converting to Vaishnavism.  Now given the fact that he was born in Thirumazhisai, I assumed that he would have sung about the Madhya Jagannatha temple in his poems.  But it turns out his poems never mention it, and for this reason Thirumazhisai isn't one of the Divya Desams, the 108 sacred places of Vishnu sung about in the Alwars poems which I discuss here.

So my question is, why did Thirumazhisai Alwar never sing about th Vishnu temple in his own home town?  Is it because of the fact that he went to Kanchipuram as soon as he converted to Vaishnavism?  I find it awfully strange that he would never wouldn't even write a single verse in praise of his birthplace and the great Madhya Jagannatha statue found there.

Do any Sri Vaishnava works shed light on this?


texts: What is the concept of the mind according to Hindu scriptures? As far as I understood, it is something very small in the head to which the brain reports to. And our visible universe is the reaction of the mind. Am I correct?


texts: What is the importance of 1st chapter in Bhagavad Gita?

texts:
I always wondered, why Gita contains 1st chapter, which doesn't have much of sermons unlike other chapters!

Or for that matter why Gita doesn't start with Krishna commencing on divine teachings?


texts: Are there any epigraphical sources of our Sanskrit scriptures?

texts: Sanskrit is the oldest language in the world. Are there any epigraphical sources of our scriptures, such as the Bhagavatam, the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas?


texts: How many shakas of Vedas are not extant now?

texts: How many shakas of vedas are extant and not extant now. Do we have any record of non extant ones from history.


texts: Ever had any Mantra siddhi and used for real purposes?

texts: Ever gained siddhi over a Mantra and used it to fulfill your desires ? Had your wishes came true


texts: is "shastric evidence" acceptable for events that allegedly happened after India developed a historical tradition?

texts:
the date of sankaracharya is given variously and it is said that a kapalika tried to sacrifice him.  but these were times when more historically oriented religions were on the scene- buddhism, Jainism islam and Christianity as well as travelers such as Marco Polo, al beruni and so forth.  Wiki says that evidence about Kapalikas is available from fictional works and other traditions who disparage them.

we need to adhere to verifiable truth as far as possible.


texts:
According to Bṛhaddevatā, Indra, immediately on his birth, fought with Sage Vāmadeva for 10 days and nights.

What is the mystery behind Sage Vāmadeva fighting with Indra?


texts: What were the acts of the first human between the Svāyambhuva Manvantara and Vaivasvata Manvantara. (Manvantaras 2-6) What do other humans do then?

texts: In the long period of not hearing about the first human a lot, he was born by the names Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, and Cākṣuṣa. What was that Sāvarṇi up to during those times? How did his natures of being Sarvavarṇyantaka manifest back then as it would later on with the events in the Kali Yuga prophecies? Also, where are all the other humans? Are there any stories involving humans before the flood story in Vaivasvata Manvantara?


texts: Which Scriptures contain the verse "Arogyam bhaskarad ichcheth"?

texts:
First line of the following verse is used in Ayurveda and Surya Namaskaras to substantiate significance of Lord Surya as bestower of good health.

  Arogyam bhaskarad ichcheth  Sriyam ichcheth uthasanath
  Iswarath jnana manvichcheth  Moksham ichcheth janardanath

  If you want just health, you have to worship the lord in the form of
  Sun. And if you want just wealth, you need to worship the lord through
  the fire. But if you want just knowledge, you have to worship Lord
  Shiva. But if you want a release from all bondages, you need to
  worship the Lord in the form of Vishnu.

A Google search of this verse gave link to Sri Venkateswara University Oriental journal, where the journal says verse is present in Bagavata Purana 4.29 42. (Footnote of Page 15)

I searched Bhagavatam 4.29 42 from Vedabase but i couldn't find this verse. Does anyone know which scriptures contain this verse?


texts: Does Hindu Scripture say that only mantras of Karma Kanda need to be pronounced exactly?

texts:
There is a famous story in which "Indrashatru" could either mean Indra's enemy or one who has Indra for his enemy depending on the accent.
In this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaQxPTdCY40
The preacher is saying pronouncing "Krishna" as "Krishnaa" is just fine (Westerners do it with Sanskrit words that end in "a" like "Yoga","Krishna") and would not refer to Draupadi.
He says Chinese devotees say "Klishna" and that is fine too.
Does Hindu scripture support this?


texts: Did the term "blind support" originate from Mahabharata?

texts:
DhritarAshtra was physically blind and implicitly supported wrongdoing of his son Duryodhana. GAndhAri blindfolded her eyes to follow the distress of her husband & never objected Duryodhana.

Both of these are found in scriptures. I also scarcely remember similar dialog from BRC Mahabharata, where Bhishma/Vidura tells to/for DhritarAshtra not to extend blindness in emotional matters too.

Like how there is a folklore of "women can't keep secrets" - is associated with Yudhishtira's curse. Is the term "blind support" also associated with Mahabharata as a folklore or in reality?


texts: What are the regulations related to food for sanyaasis?

texts:
I am not sure if there are any sources which give details related to the regulations on food for sanyaasis. If anyone knows some information in this regard either through direct experience or from other sources, please share.

Edit: I don't think we should club sanyaasis with yogis, in this context. I have told that there are a plethora of rules for a sanyaasi whereas the definition or the derivative rules for a 'yogi' are about as vague or diverse as they can be.


texts:
In context to this question about Lord Hayagriva, considered as the avatara of Lord Vishnu, I have some clarification to do.

Hayagriva, I think is not a Lord Vishnu's Avatar, but a Vishnu Himself but in different form (as Lord Hayagriva is not mentioned in the Dashavatar List)
The Incident mentioned Lord Hayagriva getting vedas, is similar to Lord Vishnu getting vedas back from Rakshasa Hayagriva in Matsya Avatar.
Hayagriva, as mentioned in the referenced question's answer, means Horse Neck, then why the Rakshasa got that name?
Or there is no Rakshasa named as Hayagriva.

This is the link which is the main source of creating confusion, please clarify. What I think is we are not interpreting the scriptures rightfully.


texts: Can i chant nama of lord Rama without initiation?

texts:
Is it ok to chant ramanama without initiation?
I am chanting without initiation until now.

Is it ok to chant ramanama without tulasi beads?


texts: What is the reason behind fasting (vrat)?

texts: I have seen people keeping numerous fasts in an year. Where does the idea of fasting originate, and what is the reason behind keeping a fast?


texts:
I am an atheist(not going in detail about that one), and I heard people say that "Hinduism accepts you no matter what". So that must mean I am a Hindu. Great. But here is the problem (other than being a paradox saying everyone is hindu), Pretty much NOONE accepts me >:). In my family, not hindu, in a temple, not let in. So on WHAT Vishnudamn terms(get it?...) does one say I am "accepted" as a Hindu by hindus unless acceptance means being rejected everywhere??? You are still judging me based on the terms on my belief.

EDIT: If rather I am supposed to be judged based on this, can someone provide me a couple verses from books most hindus agree on? The gheeta?

EDIT 2: This isn't a duplicate as I want a straight forward answer. The other discussion consists of reading through an entire chapter


texts: Are there any reasons to maintain spiritual practices very secret?

texts: Does scripture say to maintain secrecy in spiritual practices? Are we not recommended to speak about our Ishta Deva, spiritual practices or devotion?


texts: Who are the other people in this Shiva picture?

texts: Who are these people in this picture? I bought it in India but I can only remember that the blue guy is Shiva. I have no idea who the others are.


texts: Are there duplicate/almost same verses in scripture?

texts:
For example, from Bhagavad gita:

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.

In this case the similar verses are from the same scripture. Are there verses in one scripture that are the same or almost the same as verses from another scripture?


texts: What is the exact dharma to be followed in case of a marriage outside the caste or religion?

texts:
What exactly does the dharma say in the tricky circumstances or situation where a brahmin community girl loves and willing to marry a non-brahmin hindu/non-religion boy.

What Dharma is to be followed by her parents (especially girl's father), her siblings or others based on the Bhagavad Gita/Vedas/Shastra/other scriptures/puranas etc...?


texts: Which form of Shiva is in the attached picture?

texts: Which form of Shiva is it in this picture? Why did he take this form?


texts: What happened to Hanuman's son Makardhwaja after he became the king of Patala?

texts:
I need to know the detailed story of Makardhwaja the son of Hanuman.

I know that he was born from sweat of Hanuman. Hanuman and Makardhwaja both  met in Patala when Hanuman was searching for Rama and Lakshmana in Patala.

And after that Rama advised  Hanuman to announce him as the king of patala.

I need to know what happened with Makardhvaja after he became the king of Patala.

If there is any reference then please share it.


texts:
Where did the 10 forms of Durga known as the Mahavidyas originate from?

Why are they lesser known and not worshipped as much as the traditional 'Navadurga'?


texts: When should one shift focus from artha and kama to dharma?

texts:
The Kama Sutra seems to state that early in life, it is best to focus on artha and kama, and that only later in life should we truly seek dharma. Is this interpretation correct? Is it useless to seek dharma early in life?

If so, when do we know that it is time to release artha and kama and seek dharma? Is it a certain age?


texts: Are there universes without any deities?

texts:
As per Section III. Utpatti Prakaranam - chapter 29-30:

Of those countless universes, O Rama, in some there are only plants; some have Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and others as the presiding deities, and some have none at all.

So are there universes without any deities? Are there any other verses in scriptures that say about such universes?


texts: Is there scriptural support for Madhwa's "atat tvam asi"?

texts:
The book

"A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature", Volume 1
By B. N. Krishnamurti Sharma

says in the footnote of page 373 that

Madhwa, in his Chandogya Bhashya cites a  post-upanishadic interpretive source called "Sama Samhita" to support his Sandhi split to derive "atat tvam asi".

Is this scripture still available and can this claim be verified?


texts: What is the principle behind Hindu deities having more than two hands and more than one head?

texts: Many of Hindu deities are having more than two hands and more than one head. What is the principle behind this?


texts: Difference between Deep sleep and Death!

texts: please explain what happens to our body or what is the difference between deep sleep and death? (as mentioned in vedas or upanishads or any of our Hindu literature)


texts: What is the main reason behind praying to animals like mice, monkeys and cows?

texts: I'm a little confused as to why Hindus worship animals like mice, monkeys and cows. I have searched on the internet but I didn't find any answer.


texts: In a family, does the birth of a son vs daughter, signify anything with respect to Pitru-s (ancestors)?

texts:
Scriptures suggest that, a person himself gets reborn as his own children, whether boy or girl.

  Bhishma said, 'The son is even as one's own self, and the daughter is like unto the son. How, therefore, can another take the wealth when one lives in one's own self in the form of one's daughter?  Section 45 Anushasana Parva

Having children is essential to pay the debt to ancestors (Pitru runa):
Is it not obligatory for a householder to try begetting children?

Usually female child would marry to another family lineage, while male child would continue the same family lineage.

Question: What is the terminology behind, when a Pitru is reborn as a girl or boy child?
 e.g. Does it mean that, being a girl they want to change the family values and being a boy they want to retain the family value system?

By this question, I want to understand:

What could be the reasons for many families insisting for a boy child
Why in some families, only girl children are born majorly


texts: I have this doubt from the time I started reading Hindu Purana. In Hindu Purana there are many stories about interaction between Asuras, Monks, Devas and common people. According to my knowledge Mahabali was a king of Asuras , who ruled the people. I want know that what happened to the Asuras? Do they still exist? If so, why don't they interact with people?


texts: How many times can prayaschitta prapatti be done?

texts: For a person who has already performed saranagati (or prapatti) it is mentioned in the texts that his sins are wiped out. However, in case he commits sins after prapatti, he needs to do atonement (or prayaschittam ) for these. The atonement prescribed is performing prapatti again, which is known as prayaschitta prapatti. My question is whether this prayaschitta prapatti can be performed any number of times for atonement?


texts: Is there any clue in Hinduism religion that depicts "Tree has life"?

texts:
Is there any clue in Hinduism religion that depicts Tree has life? If anyone has answer please answer it.

Thanks.


texts:
Are there two gauri Kunds? Wikipedia says Gauri kunda is the base camp of Kedarnath trek
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauri_Kund
There's another gauri Kund on the route of Mount kailash surroundings, parikrama
https://www.lumle.com/placestogo/gauri-kund/


texts:
Ashwatthama is considered as an avatar of Lord Shiva.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwatthama

Inspite of being Rudramsha, why did he side with adharmis like Kauravas?


texts: Are advaitha peetadhipathis necessarily jivan mukthas?

texts: Is it mandatory that the Peetadhipathi of Advaitha Peetas has to be liberated?


texts: Is the concept of "Holy Cow" found in the Vedic literature?

texts: Are there Vedic Mantras that promote the Hindu concept of sacred cow?


texts: Who was the earliest Vedic scholar to claim that only Indra and no other Deva is Brahman?

texts:
Many people today are saying that Indra is the supreme Brahman. This theory is primarily advocated by people who reject the Upanishads and believe that the Rig Veda Samhita is the only true Veda.

Did any ancient or medieval scholar advocate the theory that Indra is the supreme Brahman?

Nadadur Ammal was a medieval Sri Vaishnava scholar who was Vedanta Desikan's guru's guru. In his work called "Para Tattva Nirnaya", he establishes that Narayana is the supreme Brahman. But before that, he lists some purvapaksha theories that were common during his time:

The first obvious view is that Rudra is Brahman:

  The prima facie view is- 'Rudra is the greatest Reality of all.' To explain...

Another view is that Brahma is Brahman:

  Here rises up another disputant with an objection: Hiranyagarbha (Brahma) alone is entitled to be accepted as greater than all.

And then finally the view that Narayana is Brahman:

  Here the final view is presented thus - Narayana is the supreme Brahman, because....

He doesn't make any mention of Indra or Surya, etc.

So who was the earliest Vedic scholar to claim that only Indra and no other Deva is Brahman?

NOTE: To clarify, I am looking for someone who is identified as an exclusive Indra-devotee, similar to vaishnavas and shaivas. Basically, someone who thinks only Indra is the parabrahman. I'm not looking for people who say all gods are identical or brahman or anything like that.

PS: This question has been modified after one of the members wrote an answer.


texts:
According to astrologers, each and every second of incidents of a person takes place according to his planetary positions.

If that is the case, we do bad and good actions, that is also caused by the planetary positions.

So, why are we punished in hell if our actions are corresponding to planets and not on our own?


texts: Does Karma (going from a higher life-form to a lower one) only apply to humans?

texts:
As most of you might know that in Hinduism, it is believed that you and every other living thing consist of two things one is "a soul" which is indestructible, true and reality. No harm can be done to the soul. The other is your "body" which is illusion. It is destroyed after you die. Your soul then gets free from your body when your body dies and goes to another body it calls rebirth.

Every soul has to pass through several species as per evolutionary process.  According to Padma Purana, the different types of life-forms in the universe are 8,400,000:

  900,000 of which are aquatic ones;
2,000,000 are trees and plants;
1,100,000 are small living species (like- insects and reptiles);
1,000,000 are birds;
3,000,000 are beasts and
  400,000 are human species.

Only after passing through all of the above forms will a soul get its human form. As we can say the soul inside of a human is the same as that of a soul inside of an ant or an elephant.

The cycle of birth and death continues on until it is merged with the Supreme One called "Paramatma" (or a soul gets free from the cycle of rebirth). This is called "Moksha". The time taken for the Moksha will depend upon one's "Karma" and "Dharma".

For example, as we know for the sake of food, a Tiger kills a Deer, Plants are killed by Elephants, a Snake kills a Rat, and we, humans, also kill many things like plants and animals for food (or for habitat) and so on. As per my knowledge the above all have done the same karma or sin. But as we know if human's karmic account is not clean, he will only be wandering in different planes of existence in different kinds of bodies suffering or enjoying different kinds of pain and pleasure depending upon his actions (karma) respectively.

My questions are:

Does it mean the 8,400,000 forms are created simultaneously at one time?

If yes, then, does it mean some souls are coming directly to human-form?
If not, then, why is a specific number of life-forms given in Padma Purana?

Does Karma apply to all life-forms?

E.g., can the soul of a tiger take birth as tiger only or can it go to a lower life-form according to its karma (by killing a animal for the sake of food)? Or will it always gain a higher life-form of the evolutionary process?
How to know that it's their result of karma or it's their own way of life (it means no prarabdha karma generated and they will go direct to higher life-form)?
Is there any possibility of skipping one life-form of evolutionary process and go upward or downward? Specially, does this happen in humans i.e., going to a lower life-form? (Higher simply means attaining moksha, as per my knowledge)
Does this karma only apply to humans?
Are there any scriptural references for any of this?

UPDATE: Added one more question related to this topic.


texts: In which year Sita was abducted by Ravana?

texts:
For many years Lord Rama and Sita lived together in the forest.

Out of 14 years of exile, in which year was Sita captured by Ravana?

Is there any reference in Valmiki Ramayana about the years?

EDIT: This question is a specific to year of Sita's abduction while the other question is about the ages of characters. What has timeline of events got to do with ages of Ramayana characters?!


texts:
Some say that saryuparin is a sub-caste of kanyekubja while some say both are very different.
Is there any origin story? And how are the saryuparins identified?


texts: Tripura Rahasya. What is the general opinion?

texts: What is the opinion of this text? I am very interested in Shakti Sadhana. Would this text prove helpful?


texts: Vedanta philosophy states that samâdhi is obtained by realising one's identity with the soul(âtman) separate from the body & mind. Tantra philosophy, though not denying the existence of âtman states that samâdhi is obtained by the ascent of the Kundalinî to Sahasrâra-chakra. How can the âtman be related to Kundalinî ?


texts: Why did Indra flee after slaying Vritra and why did he cook dog meat?

texts:
Rigveda I.32 gives a detailed account of famous Indra and Vritra battle. After killing Vritra and his mother Danu, however, Indra flees the battle scene.

I.32

  Whom did you see, Indra, as the avenger of the serpent when fear came
  into your heart after you smashed him, and when you crossed over the
  ninety-nine flowing rivers, like a frightened falcon through the airy
  realms?

Now, IV.18 might give one hint why did he flee because after he killed his father someone was about to dishonor his mother

IV.18

  And his mother followed the track of the buffalo, (thinking,) “Yonder gods are abandoning you, my son.” Then Indra said as he was
  about to smash Vritra: “Viṣṇu, my companion, stride out widely.”
  Who made your mother a widow? Who tried to smash you as you lay, as you wandered? What god was merciful toward you when you destroyed
  your father, having grasped him by the foot?
  [Indra:] Out of need I cooked for myself the entrails of a dog. I found none who was merciful among the gods. I saw his wife being
  dishonored. Then the falcon carried the honey here to me.

I suppose, Indra became weak and started to lose his strength that's why he cooked dog meat. He gained strength after drinking the Soma stolen by the falcon from the heaven which I asked here

Now here is what I want to ask if we have puranic accounts of:

Do we know in details what made Indra fleed the battle scene since he was a winner
Out of need, why did he cook dog meat. Is there any significance here.


texts:
I heard two theories about gambling by Yudhistira in Mahabaratha.

1) He is addicted to gambling or has a weakness for gambling. i.e., he  had a gambling problem.

2) Kings can't decline a gambling challenge or request according to Dharma.

Which is true? What does Mahabharata tell us about gambling and especially Yudhishtira's gambling?

Is gambling considered not just moral but also the righteous thing to do?

Do different versions of Mahabharata say different things?


texts: Do the eight immortals (Including Lord Hanuman) still exist in Kaliyuga?

texts:
Hindu scriptures contain a mantra about the Eight immortals:

अश्वत्थामा बलिव्र्यासो हनूमांश्च विभीषण:। कृप: परशुरामश्च सप्तएतै चिरजीविन:॥

सप्तैतान् संस्मरेन्नित्यं मार्कण्डेयमथाष्टमम्। जीवेद्वर्षशतं सोपि सर्वव्याधिविवर्जित॥

  Ashwathaama Balirvyaaso Hanumanshcha Vibheeshanaha
  Krupaha Parshuramascha Saptaitey Chiranjivinaha
  Saptaitaan Samsmareynnityam Markandeymathaashtamam
  Jivedvarshshatam Sopi Sarvavyadhivivarjit

The above lines mean that by daily remembering these 8 immortals - Ashwatthama, King Bali, Ved Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Kripacharya, Parashuram and Rishi Markandaya

I believe Lord Hanuman appeared in  Ramayana and also plays an important part in the Mahabharata but what about Kali yuga?

Are there any signs in 20th/21st century of these Chiranjivi's appearing in Kali yuga?


texts:
I've come across two versions of the Gayatri mantra.
One is this:

The other is this:

The only difference is that in the first pada, the word "varenyam" is different. Both these variations are valid since they come from authoritative sources.
But why is there a difference? And which one is to be used in sandhyavandana japa?
This is what is said on wikipedia:

Whereas in principle the gāyatrī mantra specifies three pādas of eight syllables each, the text of the verse as preserved in the Samhita is one short, seven instead of eight. Metrical restoration would emend the attested tri-syllabic vareṇyaṃ with a tetra-syllabic vareṇiyaṃ.

But then why do authoritative sampradayas enjoin the first version?


texts: Was Bhishma really not aware about the difference between Dharma and tradition?

texts:
In Star Plus Mahabharat, season 3 episode 2, when Karna was a teenager, he wins a little competition which involved bow and arrow. Karna won, but Bhishma only praised his chariot driver skills, and told Karna's father, "here, in our area, it is tradition that only Kshatriya can be archer. And tradition is Dharma".

Very soon, Krishna says (there's a 1-2 minute class by Krishna in every episode, who briefly talks about the main thing of the episode, in an indirect way, to educate people and relate it to current life): There was tradition that people worshiped Indra, but later they found Dharma inside that tradition by breaking that tradition and worshiping Gowardhana.

So clearly, Krishna wants to prove what Bhishma said is not always true.

Also, I'm not sure what Krishna said was a message by Mahabharat producers/directors/content team, or was it really written in original Mahabharata.

So, was Bhishma really unaware of it?


texts: What magical powers are obtained from the Amalaka plant?

texts:
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, and Nyaya. My question is about the Yoga school, which had a similar worldview to the Samkhya school except it embraced the existence of a supreme being. The defining text of the Yoga school is Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

In Adhyaya 4 Sutra 1 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali discusses the various ways you can obtain Siddhis or magical powers:

  janma-oṣadhi-mantra-tapas-samādhi-jāḥ siddhayaḥ

  Supernatural powers (siddhis) arise from birth, drugs, mantras, austerity, or yoga (samadhi)

In my question here, I asked what drugs or herbs give Siddhis, and I found an answer, namely the Soma plant and the Amalaka plant, as described in this excerpt from Adi Shankaracharya's commentary on the Yoga Sutras:

  oṣadhibhir asurabhavaneṣu rasāyanena somāmala-kādibhakṣaṇena
   pūrvadehānapanayenaiva

  "From drugs - such as the elixir of the demon realms": here the original body is not discarded, but by taking drugs such as Soma or the Amalaka plant (some perfection [Siddhi] is attained)

Now the Soma plant is notoriously hard to identify, although scholars today think it's most likely the Ephedra plant. But the identity of Amalaka is well-known; it's the Indian gooseberry.  So my question is, what Siddhis does the Amalaka plant give?

Here are the traditional Siddhis described in the Yoga Sutras:

  Aṇimā: reducing one's body even to the size of an atom
  Mahima: expanding one's body to an infinitely large size
  Garima: becoming infinitely heavy
  Laghima: becoming almost weightless
  Prāpti: having unrestricted access to all places
  Prākāmya: realizing whatever one desires
  Iṣṭva: possessing absolute lordship
  Vaśtva: the power to subjugate all

So which of these Siddhis does the Amalaka plant give?  Page 32 of this book describes an Ayurvedic medicine made from Amalaka whose effect is "to transform old men into young, with new hair and teeth, and induce physical power like that of an elephant."  It's possible that that's related to a Siddhi.

But what does Hindu scripture have to say on the subject?  And does Hindu scripture discuss how to use the Amalaka plant to obtain Siddhis?


texts: Is there any written evidence in Mahabharata why Krishna supported Pandavas in war?

texts:
In serials, discussions about duet sabha results also showed that both Pandavas and Kauravas did adharm that day. I guess similar discussions would be part of Mahabharata.

But still Krishna supported Pandavas. Is there any written source in Mahabharata where it is explained by author or someone else or Krishna himself why he supported Pandavas?


texts: Do any scriptures other than the Bhagavatam say that Krishna washed Sudama's feet?

texts:
I read on the net that:

The story of Sudama and Krishna has a great value in the Hindu world of legends. Not only just in the Bhagavata Purana or Srimad Bhagavatam, but there are also many books where the story holds great importance

Do any scriptures other than the Bhagavatam say this?


texts: Were there any incarnations of Lord Shiva?

texts: I heard that Hanumaan and Ashwathama were incarnations of lord Shiva. What were the other forms of Him?


texts: What is the difference between Avatar and Saint or Mahakshatriya?

texts: We say Krishna was an avatar of Vishnu. Why don't we say so many other great saints who preached religion, to be an avatar? Or why don't we consider other great kshatriyas who fought against adharma to be an avatar? How is it decided whether it is an avatar? How is an avatar different from any other soul? A soul is also a part of Parameshwar. So what is the difference between the avatar soul and any other soul?


texts: Mandavya Rishi, the King and Yamaraja Curse

texts:
As per the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, Chapter 106 & 107, the story of Mandavya Rishi is narrated.
In short,

he was given a punishment by the soldiers of a (KING ?) , and
thus made to sit on a stake. Due to his austerity, he wasn't killed
and thus through the power of his tapa went to Yamaloka,
questioning the reason for his punishment. Yamarãja cites his
childhood acts whence he use to kill insects and thus the punishment.
The rishi gets angry and curses Yamarãja, to have given punishment
more than derserved, thee shall be born on Earth. And thus Vidura (of
Mahabharata) is born.

Now, here starts the doubt part
As per,
Manu Smriti (MS) 9.249.

When a king punishes an innocent (man), his guilt is considered as
great as when he sets free a guilty man; but (he acquires) merit when
he punishes (justly).

So, even if the soldiers might have adjudicated the punishment for the Rishi, the credit or responsibility shall fall onto the King only.
So, as per the above MS verse, the King himself becomes guilty of the crime of punishing an innocent.
And surely, the Rishi, as great as Mandavya, must be aware of this Dharma, and thus, logically, before proceeding to punish the Yamaraja, he should have given appropriate punishment to the king.
(That's my understanding of this situation)

Thus here, are my questions:-

Does scriptures explicitly mention the name of this King. I remember hearing his name in that Shri Krishna TV soap, but can't place it in my memory.
Did the king deserved to be punished? Why or why not wasn't the King punished as per Dharma? If punished, how was he punished?
Which other scriptures or local folkloric Puranic stories maybe, describe this incident, albeit with some variations maybe?
(Because, in some other articles the stake is not able to pierce through the rishi due to his penance powers, while in others the stake does pierce through, rendering him to be called as ani-Mandavya.)


texts: Which is the Taraka Brahma Nama for kaliyuga as per scriptures?

texts: 'SrirAmarAmarAma' and the 'Harenkrishna' Mahamantra--both are referred to as Taraka-Brahma nAma. Which one is the TAraka-Brahma nAma for the kali yuga as per the scriptures?


texts: Is there any dating available for the book Shri Shani Mahatmya?

texts: I wanted to know if anybody has tried dating the book 'Shri Shani Mahatmya'? Is there a version in Hindi/English available online?


texts: Who was the last Brahma-Vadini as per scriptures before the current Kaliyuga?

texts: I am interested in knowing if there was some chronological order associated with them and if it's possible to find out the last one.


texts: What are the dwelling places of Sri Lakshmi Devi?

texts:
We know that there are some liked and disliked places by Alakshmi, who is elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi who was born out of churning of ocean. She was granted some places to dwell by the gods. These places are still believed to be favorite and unfavorite places of her by people.  Similarly, are the dwelling places of Goddess Lakshmi Devi stated any where in texts? I have heard that she likes places which are clean and tidy, also some objects like Gold etc., as favorite.

In simple words, what are favorite and unfavorite places of Goddess Lakshmi Devi?


texts: Do Thenkalai Sri Vaishnavas believe that liberated souls have powers of creation of the material Universe?

texts:
The members of the Sri Vaishnava sect of Hinduism, especially the Iyengars (Sri Vaishnavas who are Brahmanas), are divided into two sub-sects, Thenkalais and Vadakalais. These sub-sects both agree on the Visishtadvaita philosophy of Ramanujacharya that characterizes the Sri Vaishnava belief system, but they have several fine-grained but important doctrinal differences; my answer here lays out the main points of dispute.  One such difference is described in this quote from a journal paper:

  The power of Free (Nitya) and Freed (Mukta) Souls.

  [Vadakalais] say that the Free and the Freed Souls have no power to create, or, for example, make a kosmos.

  [Thenkalais] say that there are no such restrictions. Any Nitya or any Mukta is capable of doing anything by virtue of God’s commands.

My question is, is this journal paper right that Thenkalais believe that liberated souls have no limitations on their power and that they have powers of creation of the Universe and the like?  The reason I'm skeptical is that Thenkalais, like all Sri Vaishnavas subscribe to the philosophy of Visistadvata Vedanta, which is part of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.  And the defining text of the Vedanta school is Vyasa's Brahma Sutras, which specifically say this near the end:

  Topic-7: Acquisition of Divine Powers

  The released soul gets all the divine powers except that of running the universe (with its creation, continuance and dissolution),
  as is known from the context (which deals with God) and from the
  non-proximity (of the individual soul).
  If it be held (that the powers of the liberated soul are unlimited) owing to direct scriptural declaration, then it is not so,
  since it is (the attainment) of Him (ie., God) who appoints others as
  lords of the spheres and resides in those spheres that is spoken of
  (in the Upanishad)....
  Also from the indicatory mark in the Upanishads about the equality of experience alone (it is known that the liberated souls do
  not get unfettered powers).

That seems to state that liberated souls do not get unlimited powers, and that they can't do things like creation of the Universe.  And Ramanujacharya's commentary on the Brahmasutra, the Sri Bhashya, confirms this; here it what he says about Sutra 17 above:

  The released soul, freed from all that hides its true nature, possesses the power of intuitively beholding the pure Brahman, but does not possess the power of ruling and guiding the different forms of motion and rest belonging to animate and inanimate nature.

And here is what he says about Sutra 19:

  The meaning of the text stating that the Released freely move in all worlds, and similar texts, therefore is only that the released soul while conscious of Brahman with its manifestations experiences also the enjoyments, lying within the sphere of change, which abide in the world of Hiranyagarbha and similar beings; not that it possesses the world-energies--creative, ruling, and so on--which are the distinctive attribute of the highest Lord.

So how do Thenkalai thinkers square their beliefs with the clear words of the Brahmasutras and Ramanujacharya, the most important Acharya of Sri Vaishnavism?  Or is the journal paper mischaracterizing their views?

In the interest of full disclosure, I should add that I'm an Iyengar (Sri Vaishnava Brahmana), my Dad is a Thenkalai and my Mom is Vadakalai.
So technically I'm a Thenkalai, and thus it might seem like I'm asking what I myself believe.  But that's not the case, because my personal beliefs tend to lean more toward the Vadakalai side.

EDIT: To be clear, Muktas can do things like make planets in Vishnu's highest abode of Paramapadam, but what the Brahma Sutras and Sri Bhashya say is that Muktas do not have control of the world-energies, i.e. Vishnu's core function of creation, preservation, and destruction of the Universe inhabitated by Jivas.  Whereas Thenkalais say that Muktas have no restrictions on their powers, and can do everything Vishnu can do.  That's what I want to see reconciled.


texts: Is it mention in vedas that we have to merge with supreme God after we have broken the cycle of rebirth. Please give reference

texts: Is it mention in vedas that we have to merge with भ्रमण after we have broken the cycle of rebirth. Please give reference.


texts: How many commentaries have there been of the Nyaya Sutras?

texts:
The Nyaya Sutras, composed by the Gautama, is one of the most important Indian philosophical texts and forms the basis of Nyaya school of thought.

Now, how many commentaries are there of these Sutras? Are any of these commentaries translated in English and available free online?


texts: Do Scriptures confirm about the "Swayambhu" nature of Shalagramas and Banalingas?

texts:
One can refer to this related question to know which are the 5 "Swayambhu Silas" or what is meant by a "Swayambhu Sila".

Hindus believe that Gods are present(naturally,without any human interventions) in certain  stones and fossils found in some sacred rivers.

It is believed that Pujas done to such Holy objects produce merits which are equal to million times  the Punyas(merit) obtained by worshiping "ordinary "man made God's idols.

Since,they are "Swayambhu"(self manifested)(it is believed) that the elaborate rituals of Prana Prathistha involving the Avahana Mantras and Avahanadi Mudras are not required .

Shalagramas are fossils found in the beds of Gandaki river ,Nepal and they  represent Lord Vishnu.

Similarly ,Banalingas,found in Narmada riverbeds(in Madhya Pradesh) are considered as the corresponding "Swayambhu" forms of Lord Shiva.

But are these mere Hindu beliefs or are there confirmations available of these beliefs from  Scriptures?


texts: Why did Lord Vishnu incarnate on earth as Sri Krishna? Was Lord Krishna born to lighten the burden of earth?

texts: Some texts say Lord Krishna was born to protect righteousness and some say he was born to lighten the burden. Which is true? Why did Lord Vishnu incarnate on earth as Krishna?


texts: About the Ram setu bridge on a floating stones

texts:
Floating stones are used to build this bridge Ram Setu but now the NASA found it is under the sea however the floating stones how could sink in the ocean.

Updated: Its actually the story of war within Rama and Ravana by the way Rama and his army entering via floating bridge build by Nala. All the things are clear and understood.

Now the Floating stones why sunk in an ocean now.


texts: Why was Indra afraid of Himalaya's devotion to Shiva?

texts: Was there a reason Indra being afraid of Himalaya's devotion to Shiva ?


texts: Do devotees of the goddess Tara sit on six-month old babies?

texts:
One of the most famous incarnations of Durga is the goddess Kali.  As I discuss in this answer, she was created by Durga's incarnation Ambika in order to defeat the demons Chanda and Munda, which is why she's also known as Chamundeshwari.  In any case, it is well-known that people do a variety of  rituals to worship Kali, most notably non-Vedic animal sacrifice.  (The Vedas prescribe animal sacrifice only in the case of Yagnas as I discuss here, not when worshipping goddesses like Kali.)
But my question is about the worship of a goddess closely related to Kali, named Tara.  In this excerpt from the Narada Purana, various rituals to worship the goddess Tara are described, including this one:

In the cremation ground or in a vacant house, or in a temple, or in a lonely place, in a mountain, in a forest, the knower of the mantra shall climb onto a dead body that has been killed in the battle-field or on a child of six months, should make an effort for the propitiation of the vidya (of Tarini), thus he would soon be able to make it fruitful.

I can understand sitting on a dead body and chanting mantras.  (Well, I can't really understand that either, but I can at least picture someone doing it.)  But my question is, what does it mean to say that the devotee of Tara "shall climb ... on a child of six months"?  Does that mean sitting on a live six-month old baby, or a dead body of a six-month old baby? Do any devotees of Tara do this practice today?
I should add the Narada Purana is considered to have a lot of interpolations, so this may not be a genuine passage.


texts:
When Bheeshma was glorifying Krishna with Sahasranamam everyone was looking at him including Krishna and Vyasa. The first to react was Yudhistirar. He said, ‘Pithamaha has chanted 1000 glorious names of Vasudeva. All of us listened but none of us have noted it down. The sequence is lost’. Then all turned to Krishna and asked for His help. As usual He said, ‘I also was listening like the rest of you. What can we do?’
Who recorded the Vishnu sahasranama and thru which mode?


texts: Where does Rama Shlaka Prashnavali work?

texts:
Following is the image of Tulasidaskrit Rama Shlaka Prashnavali. You can find it in RamaCharitaManasa of Tulasidasa. First ask any question in mind and we have to select a box by eyes closed.. the letter which gets selected take that next 5th letter after that n search for the word in the given doha next.. it answers your question

I just want to know does that really works


texts: Is online piracy (downloading books/videos/etc) considered as stealing in Hinduism?

texts:
Context: Online piracy means downloading of books/games/movies/courses which might be available for sale at some non-zero price. Hinduism has strict rules against stealing. But is online piracy equivalent to stealing?

Opinions: There might be two opposing opinions on this:

Online piracy is downloading a 'copy' of the original content and hence not stealing the actual source.
It is stealing nevertheless as you aren't paying for it.

Question: Is piracy a sin similar to stealing?


texts:
For me guru is just another human with his understanding, learning and experinces. So I dont get trust on someone worthy to take him as my guru as he is also just another human like me.

Almost every spiritual organisations ask to have guru which I dont understand that why do I need guru and ristrict myself to him only?

Why having guru is must to advance spiritually?


texts: Do characters in the same Brahmavidya always have the same caste?

texts:
As I discuss in the this answer, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa which summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads. You can read the Brahma Sutras here. In any case, Adhyaya 3 Pada 3 of the Brahma Sutras describes the Brahma Vidyas, 32 lessons found in the various Upanishads which can each lead you to Brahman if you meditate upon them. You can see the full list of 32 Vidyas here.

One of these Brahma Vidyas is the Samvarga Vidya, and it is found in Prapathaka 4 of the Chandogya Upanishad.  It was taught by a cart-driver named Raikva to the king Janashruti.  In Adyaya 1 Pada 3 of the Brahma Sutras, Vyasa references this story in the course of demonstrating that only Dvijas (members of the first three castes) are eligible for Jnana.  When Raikva agrees to teach Janashruti, he tells him this:

  You have brought these (cows and other presents), O Sûdra, but only by that mouth did you make me speak.

In order to refute the objection that Raikva was willing to teach a low-caste person, and thus low-caste people are eligible for Jnana, Vyasa explains that Raikva is using the term in the sense of "consumed by grief", not in the sense of the name of the fourth caste.  Then in Adhyaya 1 Pada 3 Sutra 35 of the Brahma Sutras, Vyasa demonstrates that Janashruti was in fact a Kshatriya:

  And because his Kshatriyahood is known later on from the indicatory mark of his mention along with a descendant of Citraratha.

You see, later in the Samvargya Vidya of the Chandogya Upanishad, there is a mention of a Kshatriya named Abhipratarin Chaitraratha.  Vyasa claims that this is sufficient to conclude that Janashruti is a Kahatriya.

Here is what Adi Shankaracharya says in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras:

  Gânasruti cannot have been a Sûdra by birth for that reason also that his being a kshattriya is understood from an inferential sign, viz. his being mentioned together (in one chapter) with the kshattriya Kaitraratha Abhipratârin. For, later on, i.e. in the passage complementary to the samvarga-vidyâ, a kshattriya Kaitrarathi Abhipratârin is glorified... The fact now of Gânasruti being praised in the same vidyâ with the kshattriya Abhipratârin intimates that the former also was a kshattriya. For as a rule equals are mentioned together with equals.

Ramanujacharya says much the same thing in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras:

  The kshattriya-hood of Gânasruti is further to be accepted on account of the Kshattriya Abhipratârin Kaitraratha, who is mentioned further on in this very same Samvargavidyâ which Raikva imparts to Gânasruti.... Now Abhipratârin is a Kshattriya, the other two are Brâhmanas. This shows that there are connected with the vidyâ, Brâhmanas, and from among non-Brâhmanas, a Kshattriya only, but not a Sûdra. It therefore appears appropriate to infer that the person, other than the Brâhmana Raikva, who is likewise connected with this vidyâ, viz. Gânasruti, is likewise a Kshattriya, not a Sûdra.

My question is, why does the fact that someone else in the same Brahma Vidya is a Kshatriyas imply that Janashruti is a Kshatriya?  Is it always the case that when two people are mentioned in the same Brahma Vidya, they're of the same caste?  Is that what Adi Shankaracharya means by "as a rule equals are mentioned together with equals"?

This reasoning seems rather peculiar to me, so can someone please clarify things?


texts: Change in status of Lord Vishnu's wives according to Brahma vaivartha purana

texts: The Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions the exchange of curses among the Goddesses - Lakshmi, Saraswathi & Ganga when they were wives of Lord Vishnu. Will they get back to their original positions after the curse is over? When will that be?


texts: Why Parashurama taught art of warfare to Kshatriya(s)?

texts: Guru Drona's guru Parashurama was against teaching to Kshatriyas. However he still taught to Bhishma. In the similar way, Drupad and Drona were considered Guru-Bhai; probably that means Parashurama also taught to Drupad. Why?


texts: Can I visit other gods' temple after have visited Saneeshwara temple (Thirunallar, Karaikkal)?

texts:
I have plan to visit Saneeshwara temple which is in Karaikkal , Pondicherry.
Also in the next day,  I thought to attend Maha Magam festival.

Is it OK to visit another God's temples after visiting Saneeshwara temple?

I am asking this because I heard that we should go back to home after visiting Sanneshwara temple.

Please clarify!


texts: About Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Kaali Maa

texts:
Did anywhere history record that, Kaali maa appeared in front of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa?
Whats the significance of the picture,image we see  in net, where Kaali Maa appeared before Paramahamsa.
is it just a caricature created  by Ramakrishna math ? or whats the story behind this.

also, whats the symbolism behind this image, why Paramahamsa chosen KAli ma as HIS IshtaDevata
link to pic : https://www.facebook.com/AadiParashakti/photos/ramakrishna-wouldnt-eat-unless-mother-kali-eats-first-this-used-to-be-a-daily-af/2206381772796451/


texts: I have heard this phrase a number of times. Also have heard this in the Indian historical drama viz. Bharat Ek Khoj, wherein Dushyant wasn't able to recollect about Shakuntala, and Shakuntala claimed that she bore his son. At that very moment he says "Shantam Papam, do not try to malign my ancestors O Lady" What is the exact meaning of this words ? Is it a curse phrase or something else ?


texts: Clarification needed on sign/constellation Makara (Capricorn)

texts: Yesterday I was browsing some links and learnt that astrologically, 'Vishnu Nabhi' or the 'Navel of Sri Vishnu' is said to be aligned at the constellation of Gemini (Mithuna). But the text was too lengthy and said certain things about sign Makara too, that is, that sign Makara is the galactic anti-center and that the axis of the evolution of the galaxy lies along the Cancer-Capricorn sphere. Is this correct? What is the right term to phrase the sign Capricorn - as 'Galactic anti-center'?


texts: Did Ramanuja do a mass initiation of people at Srirangam?

texts:
It is believed that Ramanuja (Vaishnava philosopher) openly gave out the nArayana ashtAkshari mahAmantra to the common public after climbing the temple gopuram.

  News of this latest attempt on Sri Ramanuja's life spreads to
  thiruKOttiur and reaches  thiruKOttiur Nambi.Who then teaches him the
  maha mantram, whispers in  his years and warns him that if he tells
  anybody , he will derive no benefit from it.

  After , this koorathazwan and others want him to go back to SriRangam
  but our acarya instead remembers the "thondar kuzhaam" (the low caste
  people) climbs on top of  a Gopuram and addresses all people outside:

  "People! Hear me carefully! I am giving you the secret mantram which
  will get you salvation in  this very birth, irrespective of your caste
  of at birth. Listen! Om namo  naaraayaNaaya!."

Source

Now my questions are,

Did he actually did this as given the above paragraphs?

If pranava is included in the mantra then why do these acharyas forbid shudras and women from chanting other mantras which also have "om" in it ?

Any scripture allows such act of open mass initiation? if yes then what are the references?


texts: Do one needs to follow his own Dharma Sutra or all Dharma Sutras?

texts: I have read that there are many Dharma Sutra like Apasthamba Sutra, Gauthama Sutra, Baudhyana Sutra,etc. My question is that Do we need to follow only his own Dharma Sutra got by birth or all of the Dharma Sutra?


texts: Will the scriptural statements about continuous creation be falsified upon liberation of all as per Advaita?

texts: According to Advaita Vedanta, this world is just an illusory perception because of avidya of jiva. When jiva realizes that he is brahman, then nothing else exists for him. If all the jivas in the world attain mukti, then does the scripture statements about creation again after pralaya have any meaning. Is there anyone to perceive this illusory creation? Does some other portion of brahman fall under avidya keeping the statements valid?


texts:
Why does not the soul, that is so powerful, stop the intellect from choosing the wrong path/decision/karma?

How does the soul control the intellect (buddhi)?


texts: Are many peetadhipathis pseudo Vedantists?

texts:
The term Pseudo Vedantist has been explained by Swami Sivananda in an article called "Pseudo-Vedantic Student".

Vedanta in the hands of raw and unregenerate persons who lack purity
and devotion and who have not removed the impurity of their hearts
through untiring selfless service with Atma-Bhava and Kirtan and
prayer, is perilous. It is like a sharp razor in the hands of a child.
Instead of expanding their hearts the Vedantic study will thicken and
fatten their egoism. They fall into the deep abyss of ignorance. There
is no hope, for them, of being lifted up, as their heart is filled
with foolish, Tamasic, obstinacy, false Vedantic pride and
self-superiority and false Tushti (satisfaction).

Does any scripture mention or explain the term Pseudo Vedantism, which many of the peetadhipathis appear to be following?
Edit 24-7-2020
The question How to tell if your guru is god-realized?, as suggested by Swami Vishwananda, is different.


texts: Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swami at Thiru-Ananta-Puram (Trivendrum)

texts:
This question is about Sri Ananatha Padmanabha Swami in the reclining pose at Thiru-Ananta-Puram (also known as Trivendrum in the modern times).

My specific question is, The Lord, Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swami is in reclining pose, like Sri Ranganathar at Sri Rangam, but with Sridevi and also a Shiva Lingam right below the Lord's hands pointing down.

What is the exact context behind this? Are there any Puranic stories that expand on this pose? What is the story / concept behind the The Lord Shiva being present as a Shiva Lingam right in front of Lord Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swami?

Also what is the difference in Vaishanvite theology between the poses of Lord Sri Ranganatha and Sri Ananta Padmanabha Swami? Are there any interpretations provided by either Azwars or Vaishnavacharyas?

Thanks in advance for any comprehensive response with references and pointers.


texts: Belief In God or Knowledge Of God. Which is better?

texts:
A lot of people in the society believe in God, but barely have knowledge of God. Does God help them?
Belief is better or knowledge of God? Or belief after knowledge of God?

The question arises:

Will god help people who don't have knowledge about God but believe in God?
Will God accept people who worship God according to their own faith/beliefs?
Can a person deny a knowledge written in religious books and begin worshiping god according to his own understanding. Will god help them?


texts: In 34th verse in 109 sarga of ayodhya kanda in valmiki Ramayana, the words यथा हि चोरः स तथा हि बुद्ध | appear. My question here is how did Buddha come to be referenced in Treta yuga?


texts:
I have read that Adi Shankaracharya's parents were childless for many years and they worshipped Lord Shiva, so that they will be blessed with a son. Then the Lord appeared in their dream and asked them "You can choose to have either one extraordinary son with a short life or many ordinary sons".

They chose the extraordinary son.

It is said that Adi Shankaracharya left his house at the age of 12 and became a sanyasi. I want to know after that how long he lived.


texts: Why are the Vishnu Silas found from Gandaki river called 'Salagrama' Silas?


texts: Is the Manusmriti written to favor a particular Varṇa?

texts:
Critics say the Manusmriti is pro-Brahmin, and written by casteist Brahmins by favoring a particular section of society and thereby oppressing Shudras, women, and other lower castes.
Edit Note: While Varṇa and class are often associated in general use, from within the religion Varṇa is objective, and isn't dependent on how humans organize themselves. As can clearly be seen in the number of times people get it wrong.
Is this argument valid?


texts: Why the poet said in plural form in Rig Veda VII.91.7?

texts:
Rig veda VII.91.7 says :

  अर्व॑न्तो॒ न श्रव॑सो॒ भिक्ष॑माणा इन्द्रवा॒यू सु॑ष्टु॒तिभि॒र्वसि॑ष्ठाः
  । वा॒ज॒यन्त॒: स्वव॑से हुवेम यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥७॥

  We, VASISHTHAS, (bearing oblations) like horses (bearing burthens),
  soliciting food, desiring  strength, invoke with praises INDRA and
  VAYU for (our) sure defence: do you ever cherish us with blessings.

Original mantra and Translation of mantra is missing in Ralph T.H. Griffith's version.  Hence, I took mantra from here and H.H. Wilson's version of translation.

The rishi is Vasistha.

My question is why the poet stated in the mantra Vasishthas (plural form), instead of singular form?


texts:
I'm a 42 yr male looking to learn some chants. Assuming i know nothing, what can be the correct order of learning chants?
Nothing is too small - right from one shloka to big chants, how to approach learning?

Is there a jyotish approach? like my nakshatra or lord of lagna etc?

Appreciate your inputs

Ravi


texts: Why worship, respect and do pradikshna for Rahu and Ketu?

texts: Rahu and Ketu are part of a demon who fraudulently became immortal. But why respect them and do their pradikshna in temple? I am looking for an answer which says more then “to avoid negative influence from Rahu and Ketu they should be worshipped”?


texts: Worshiping planets a vedic tradition or Puranic tradition?

texts: Is Nava Graha worship a Vedic tradition or a puranic tradition? Are there any references to Nava Graha worship in Vedas?


texts: Were all sons of Pandavas (from Draupadi and other wives) killed?


texts:
Chandra Deva,the Moon God, required a booster dose to restore His immortality. It seems that the sip of Amrita was not enough to ensure his survival against the wrath of Daksha.
The waning moon was rescued by the chants of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
Are there any other such instances in our scriptures ?


texts: What is the panchang to be used when generating a horoscope?

texts:
When generating a horoscope for a person, what is the Panchang to be used? There are two major panchangs, Vakya and Thirukanitha (Tamil name; I don't know what it is called in other states). Out of these two, which is advised for use? Which Panchang will give exact results?

There are two groups of astrologers each following one of the two Panchangs. And the horoscope generated by them have different values. Which will be the correct one?

What Panchang did Vashista use to generate the horoscope of Lord Rama?


texts: What is the chronological order of appearance of Jyotirlingas?

texts:
12 Jyotirlingas are shown in the pic. I'm interested to sort these Jyotirlingas based on the time of their appearance. ( To analyze the pattern they form once joined based on chronological order of their appearance)
Can anyone give me chronological order of their appearances?


texts: Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct?

texts:
I personally believe that a mother would never ask someone to kill her own children; moreover she would ask to kill the wrong and the negative things within each individual.

I have been told in my community that if we do not follow our traditions of offering a Goat to Mother Kali, then our lineage would be cursed.

I had asked few Bhramins and found out that we can use a pumpkin instead of any animal and for the Red color kumkum dissolved in water as red is priya to Mother Kali.

Guys, please help me to clear my doubt what exactly Mother Kali wants as an offering.

Kindly suggest with references from puranas.


texts: Jada Samadhi , Jeeva samadhi and Siddha vithai does this lead to jnana and moksha?

texts:
Swami Sivananda Saraswati - Says in hatha yoga when one collects all of his prana using either lambika yoga/khechari mudra and focuses it in his eyebrow center he goes into jada samadhi. This is more of an acrobatic feat of being buried under ground as breathless state is achieved and being in a hibernation or jada(inert) state where no knowledge of the supreme or transformation of the mind occurs.

There is this art of yoga called siddha vithai in south India where people practice Vaasi yoga and go into jeeva samadhi as it is being called. A state where complete breathlessness is achieved and the individual is called a Gnani and a jeevan mukta and is buried underground and considered immortal.

The definition of the two seem very similar. Jada state should be avoided but how do you know what vaasi or lambika actually leads to?


texts:
King Harischandra arranged Shunahshepa, a brahmin boy for sacrifice to be given to Lord Varuna in place of his son Lohita which is a sin. [Reference - Ithareya Brahmana Panchika 7 Adhyaya 3]

Still, he is called Satya Harischandra. On what basis Maharshi Vasishta justified this?


texts: महामद is not Islamic Muhammad, its a Sanskrit word and it has its own meaning?

texts:
I visited many of non Hindu sites that they argue that Prophet Muhammad is mentioned in our(Hindu) scriptures and they mention some sloka , I find one sloka in Bhavishya  Purana that they mention

in above image and sloka line is महामद  इति  ख्यात:

they mention महामद as Prophet Muhammad but महामद is a Sanskrit word with its own meaning like

  महामद   mahAmada    m.  elephant in strong rut   मजबूत लीक में हाथी
    महामद   mahAmada    m.  excessive or violent rut    अत्यधिक या हिंसक लीक
    महामद   mahAmada    m.  fever       महामद   mahAmada    m.  great pride or
  intoxication(drunkenness)  means मादकता  and  नशा

महामद

ख्यात:  meaning

  ख्यात   khyAta  adj.    denominated नामित

  ख्यात   khyAta  adj.    told    कहा था
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj.    well known  अच्छी तरह से जाना जाता है
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj. ppp.   called  कहा जाता है
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj. ppp.   celebrated   मशहूर
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj. ppp.   notorious   कुख्यात
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj. ppp.   well-known  रूढ़
    ख्यात   khyAta  adj. ppp.   named नामित

ख्यात

महामद  इति  ख्यात: means who ()well known or called) as drunkenness (intoxication) or many other above describe meaning and it's not talking about prophet Muhammad!  It is talking  about mleccha म्लेच्छ

mleccha म्लेच्छ has own meaning

  म्लेच्छ   mleccha m.  man of an outcast race  एक निर्वासित जाति का आदमी
  म्लेच्छ   mleccha m.  person who does not speak Sanskrit   संस्कृत बात
  नहीं   करता जो व्यक्ति    म्लेच्छ mleccha m.  foreigner   अन्यदेशीय
  म्लेच्छ   mleccha m.  barbarian   असभ्य   & जंगली , अशिष्ट, गँवारू,
  असंस्कृत      म्लेच्छ mleccha m.  non-Aryan   गैर आर्यन
  म्लेच्छ   mleccha m.  ignorance of Sanskrit संस्कृत की अज्ञानता   who
  does not know Sanskrit

म्लेच्छ means who does not know Sanskrit  or barbarian (असभ्य   & जंगली , अशिष्ट, गँवारू, असंस्कृत) etc.. and  धर्म  means manner or nature ,that time no other religious exist    so धर्म

  धर्म   dharma  m.  manner
  धर्म   dharma  m.  nature

धर्म so,  म्लेच्छधर्म    means  barbarian manner or nature , अन्यदेशीय धर्म  , जंगली nature (swabhav)  etc above describe

So my question is why other religions(islam) argue that prophet Muhammad is in our scriptures ?


texts: Why people donate hair on funeral of relatives?

texts: In some Hindu communities, on death of father, son removes his own hair and keep a choti (a small bundle of hair on head at tail part.). What is the reason for  shaving the hair?