Q&A

Question Is there any description of Bharatavarsha in Hindu Scriptures? Answer You said you already know the origin of the name Bharata Varsha, but for those who don't, the reason the Indian subcontinent is called Bharata Varsha is because it was conquered by the empire of the ancient king Bharata, as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam: Formerly this [land] was known as Ajanābha-varṣa, but since Mahārāja Bharata’s reign it has become known as Bhārata-varṣa....

Question What were the specific skills of the Pandavas? Answer Skills Of Pandavas Yudhishtira He was ingenious, dedicated to the path of Dharma and hence he was called Dharmaraja and a prudent politician. Bhima He was Fearless and Brave. His physical power was unmatchable at that time. In Mahabharat Shambhav Parva: In fact, those princes were no match for Bhima in pugilistic encounters, in speed, or in skill. Bhima used to make a display of his strength by thus tormenting them in childishness but not from malice....

Question What is Kriya Yoga? Answer Since you have mentioned in another question that you are reading Autobiography of a Yogi, I do not want to play spoiler. The information is contained in the same book. What is Kriya Yoga? Kriya Yoga is a yogic meditation technique by which the senses, body, mind, all come under the control of the seeker. Paramahansa Yogananda describes Kriya Yoga: The Sanskrit root of Kriya is kri, to do, to act and react; the same root is found in the word karma, the natural principle of cause and effect....

Question Was value of pi really defined in a sloka? Answer It looks this shloka originates from Bharati Krishna Tirthaji's system of so-called "Vedic Mathematics". Note that despite its name, it's widely agreed that Tirthaji's system isn't actually Vedic in origin; Tirthaji claimed that his 16 Sutras were from the Parishishta of the Atharvana Veda, but they're not actually found there. (Here's a good paper discussing the provenance of Tirthaji's Vedic Mathematics system....

Question Name all the hundred Kauravas in Mahabharata Answer In this chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, Vaishampayana tells Arjuna's great-grandson Janamejaya all 101 sons of Dhritarashtra: Their names, O king, according to the order of birth, are Duryodhana, Yuyutsu, Duhsasana, Duhsaha, Duhsala, Jalasandha, Sama, Saha, Vinda and Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Suvahu, Dushpradharshana, Durmarshana and Durmukha, Dushkarna, and Karna; Vivinsati and Vikarna, Sala, Satwa, Sulochana, Chitra and Upachitra, Chitraksha, Charuchitra, Sarasana, Durmada and Durvigaha, Vivitsu, Vikatanana; Urnanabha and Sunabha, then Nandaka and Upanandaka; Chitravana, Chitravarman, Suvarman, Durvimochana; Ayovahu, Mahavahu, Chitranga, Chitrakundala, Bhimavega, Bhimavala, Balaki, Balavardhana, Ugrayudha; Bhima, Karna, Kanakaya, Dridhayudha, Dridhavarman, Dridhakshatra, Somakitri, Anudara; Dridhasandha, Jarasandha, Satyasandha, Sada, Suvak, Ugrasravas, Ugrasena, Senani, Dushparajaya, Aparajita, Kundasayin, Visalaksha, Duradhara; Dridhahasta, Suhasta, Vatavega, and Suvarchas; Adityaketu, Vahvashin, Nagadatta, Agrayayin; Kavachin, Krathana, Kunda, Kundadhara, Dhanurdhara; the heroes, Ugra and Bhimaratha, Viravahu, Alolupa; Abhaya, and Raudrakarman, and Dridharatha; Anadhrishya, Kundabhedin, Viravi, Dhirghalochana Pramatha, and Pramathi and the powerful Dhirgharoma; Dirghavahu, Mahavahu, Vyudhoru, Kanakadhvaja; Kundasi and Virajas....

Question What is Apasmara? Answer Apasmara, AKA Muyalaka, is the demon crushed under Shiva's foot in his form as Nataraja the king of dance. He is a dwarf who symbolizes ignorance and/or evil, and Shiva is portrayed as crushing him: Now as far as I'm aware, the story of Nataraja isn't described in Hindu scripture, but here is how it's described in South Indian folklore: Followers of the orthodox Brahmin school of Mimamsa tried to destroy Shiva by successively creating a fierce tiger, a serpent, and an elephant whom Shiva killed....

Question What is the story of “Kali Maa”? Answer The story of the goddess Kali is told in the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana. She is an incarnation of the goddess Durga. For those who don't know, Durga was created from the combined powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in order to defeat the demon Mahishasura. But she is generally viewed be the consort of Shiva, because she is considered an incarnation of Shiva's wife Parvati....

Question What are the names of the Five villages that Krishna offers Kauravas to give Pandavas? Answer In this chapter of the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira sends an offer of peace to Duryodhana, and in the course of doing so he names the five villages: We are desirous of peace; give us even a single province of the empire. Give us even Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, and for the fifth any other that thou likest....

Question What were the previous births of the characters of Mahabharata? Answer This chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes exactly who incarnated as each of the major characters in the Mahabharata. It's too long a chapter to quote the whole thing here, so let me just address some important people. I discuss the previous births of Draupadi and the Pandavas here. As you said, Bhishma was an incarnation of one of the Vasus, a group of eight Vedic gods controlling various aspects of nature, but more specifically he was the Vasu known as Dyaus Pita, AKA Prabhasa, god of the sky....

Question The story behind Pashupatinath temple in Nepal Answer The Pasupatinath ShivaLinga is described in Koti Rudra Samhita of Shiva Purana in chapter 11 'Pasupatinath Linga': नयपालाख्यां तु प्रसिद्धायां महितले । लिङ्ग पशुपतिशाख्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् ।। शिरोभागस्वरुपेण शिवलिङ्गं तदस्ति हि । तत्कथां वर्णयिष्यामि केदारेश्वरवर्णने ।। A Linga named Pasupati became established in Nepal and it is able to fulfill all desires. The Linga as the form of the head and it's story will be narrated with the greatness of Kedareshwara....

Question How could Lord Krishna kill Bhishma even if he wanted to? Answer According to me, even if Bhishma couldn't be killed but still there were other ways of stopping him. If you know about the story of Samudra Manthan and what happened afterwards with Rahu, you can probably imagine what could Lord Krishna might have done. As per the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata the following describes what happened with Rahu after he drank Amrit:...

Question Why are non-Hindus not allowed inside temples? Answer Temples are sacred places and there are certain rules to be followed before entering temple. These rules are known as Pancha Shuddhi (5 kinds of purity). According to this 5 types of shuddhi is needed before going to temple: Sharira (bathe body) Ahara (Satvic food) Manas (mind) Vaak (Speech) Karma (deed) Not just a non-hindu, even hindus are not allowed inside temples if they does not posses one of this shuddhi....

Question How can I trust that Vedas are available in their authentic form (yathaswaroop) Answer The website you linked to actually has all four Vedas with swara indications: Rig Veda Shukla Yajur Veda Sama Veda Atharvana Veda By the way, you can trust these PDF files, but I would take the articles on this website with a grain of salt. They tend to interpret Hindu scripture in order to make it conform to modern sensibilities, in a way that in my view distorts their meaning....

Question War between Karna and Arjuna - Mahabharata Answer From the article "Karna and Arjuna" by Dr. Madhu Guptan and his comments under the article: On the basis of evidence from the Mahabharata Arjuna emerges as the greatest warrior. Arjuna humbles Karna many times before Mahabharata war like Draupadi Svayamvar, Virata war and in the killing of Jayadrath. Karna ,Gandharva's attack, in spite of all his boasting, is neither able to save Jayadrath from Arjuna nor Duhshasana from Bhima....

Question Where are Heaven and Hell? Answer This chapter of the Vishnu Purana describes the distances to the various Lokas above the Earth: The sphere of the earth (or Bhúr-loka), comprehending its oceans, mountains, and rivers, extends as far as it is illuminated by the rays of the sun and moon; and to the same extent, both in diameter and circumference, the sphere of the sky (Bhuvar-loka) spreads above it (as far upwards as to the planetary sphere, or Swar-loka)....