Question Is there any story behind Lord Krishna’s death? Answer The story of Krishna's death is told in the Mausala Parva of the Mahabharata, but what led up to it starts earlier, in the Stri Parva. Right after the Mahabharata war, when Gandhari went to the battlefield of Kurukshetra where her sons' bodies were lying dead, she was overcome with anger at Krishna for not stopping such a deadly war, so she gave him the following curse:...
Question What is the story behind the Brahmasthra? Was it actually ever fired? Answer The Brahmastra is the weapon of Brahma. Like other astras (celestial weapons), it is invoked with a special mantra, and then you can use it to destroy anything that is created by Brahma. The Brahmastra does refer to a special arrow, but an ordinary arrow can also be given the same power using the mantra, and as discussed below, some people have even used the mantra on blades of grass when they didn't have arrows handy....
Question What does Hinduism say about Suicide? Answer As per the scriptures, one who commits suicide becomes a ghost: udbandhanamṛtā ye ca viṣaśastrahatāśca ye ātmopaghātino ye ca viṣūcyādihatāstathā [GP - 2.22.8] Meaning One who dies by hanging, also through poison and weapon, one who commits suicide and also dies by cholera etc. becomes a ghost. The scriptures also prohibit to perform any funeral rites (shradha) for people who have died by committing suicide and the relatives do not become unclean by such deaths unlike other natural and legitimate deaths....
Question Is the ultimate purpose of life only to serve God? Answer tl;dr; Worshiping God is not mandatory. But one who wants true happiness (which actually all do), can only obtain it by approaching and surrendering to God. But because God is both with and without attributes one can chose the path of worship and serving God or the path of meditating upon His formless aspect or only continue to do actions in a detached way without worshiping God....
Question Does Vedic Hinduism exist today? Answer Hinduism is almost always Vedic, even if the customs, method of worship, etc. change. It is true that performance of Vedic Yajna, rituals, etc. have decreased, but that's only obvious for this age of Kali. However, this doesn't mean that Vedic traditions have been forgot. Veda mantras constitute three kandas or sections (kanda trayatmika veda). They are: Karma Kanda 2. Upasana Kanda and 3....
Question Do The Hindu Scriptures Say If There Is Anything Special About Human Beings Compared To Other Unworldly Beings Such As Demi-Gods, Demons, Etc Answer There is something special about humanity. Mahabharata Santi Parva section CCC says: The swan [Brahman] said, "..I disclose unto you a great mystery. There is no status that is superior to humanity. Freed from sin like the Moon from the murky clouds, the man of wisdom, shining in resplendence, attains to success by patiently waiting for his time....
Question Is organ donation allowed? Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice? Answer Organ donation yes may be done for the welfare of others' in the view of service to human is service to god. But physical organs, beauty, 64 kalas are based on punya & pap earned by oneself through the life cycles. Afaik there are no references of such donations in Hindu mythology! After one's death, the ash of vital organs would be collected and is poured into holy rivers which will liberate soul from pap(salvation) & give them better life or mukthi(liberation)....
Question Why was Shakuni unhappy with his sister Gandhari’s marriage to Dhritarashtra? Answer As far as I can tell, stories of Shakuni being motivated by revenge are just folklore with no basis in Hindu scripture. The Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes Dhritarashtra's marriage to Gandhari in completely amicable terms, with Shakuni's father Suvala overcoming his reluctance over Dhritashtra's shortcomings after considering the virtuous qualities possessed by Kuru Dynasty men, and Shakuni happily participating:...
Question Who is the Brahmana changed into a woman in the Rig Veda? Answer The Brahmana who became a woman is Indra himself! I found the answer to my question in this excerpt from the Brihaddevata, an ancient work by the sage Shaunaka, which describes the different gods that Rig-Vedic verses are addressed to and the stories of how those verses were heard from the gods. Here's what Shaunaka says about verse 19:...
Question Repetition of Time and Yugas in Hinduism Answer The four yugas you listed, join to be called as Mahayuga or Chaturyuga. Every cycle(Mahayuga) has different happenings all together, its not clear whether each cycle(Mahayuga) will have same incidents. There are some marked incidents which have to happen, like the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, they are sure to happen in every yuga and in the same form, the difference will be circumstances....
Question What are the four legs of Dharma? Answer No, the four legs of the bull of Dharma do not represent percentages of righteousness in society (although it is true that the number of righteous people decline as the Yugas progress). Rather, the legs represent different virtuous qualities any individual can have. Here is what Arjuna's grandson Parikshit says in the Srimad Bhagavatam, upon seeing the bull of Dharma standing on one leg at the start of the Kali Yuga:...
Question Are mudras limited to hands? Answer Well there is first to know the significance of the Mudaras. Gheranda Samhita is a manual of yoga taught by Gheranda to Chanda Kapali. Unlike other hatha yoga texts, the Gheranda Samhita speaks of a sevenfold yoga: Shatkarma for purification Asana for strengthening Mudra for steadying Pratyahara for calming Pranayama for lightness Dhyana for perception Samādhi for isolation more over Here in which there are number of mudras are said....
Question Why are Yama temples few in number? Answer This is due to a curse pronounced on Dharmaraja by a Brahmin, when Yama killed his son as a part of His (Yama's) duty. This is explained in Chapter 139 Greatness of Dharmarajeswara Book 6 Nagarakanda of Skanda Purana. Formerly, there was a Brähmana hailing from the family of Kasyapa in that holy spot. He was well-known as Upädhyäya. He was devoted to the Vedic lore....
Question Can a Brahmana raise a war or kill someone? Answer The Brahmins can indeed raise war in times of emergencies or when their life is endangered or when the situation demands so. The Shastras clearly allow it. Manu Smriti ,Chapter 8,Sloka 348,says: 8.348. Twice-born men may take up arms when (they are) hindered (in the fulfilment of their duties, when destruction (threatens) the twice-born castes (varna) in (evil) times,...
Question Why praying is not a compulsion in Hinduism? Answer You used an Important word called Force (I will not talk about the scientific force here) Force ( Meaning ) : 1. Coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence. 2. Make (someone) do something against their will. What is Will : The thing that one desires(and the desire is limited to natural cause, e.g. You had a full meal, but you want to have more, its greed not will)....