Q&A

Question Why is Ganga considered sacred? Why do so many devotees worship this river? Answer As per the scripture, river Ganga is considered sacred because it has arisen from the feet of Vishnu and destroys the sins of a person: caraṇābjasamudbhutā gaṃgā nameti viśrutā pāpāanāṃ sthūlarāśīnāṃ naśinī śeti nārada [Padma Pu. - 6.22.3] Meaning O Narada, renowned as Ganga, it has arisen from the lotus like feet (of Vishnu) and destroys sins in larger quantities....

Question What is “Moksha” in Hinduism? Answer Moksha in Hinduism and Nirvana in Buddhism are closely related concepts. One of the core beliefs of Hinduism is re-incarnation. Everyone is subjected to this never ending cycle of misery and is bound to this suffering by the laws of Karma. Again, Karma mean 'your deeds'. It can be good or bad and you will be given the fruits of your Karma in your next life....

Question Why can we eat ’living’ plants but not ’living’ animals? Answer I am going to give the answer from a different perspective. The conception of Guna (property). There are Three types of Guna Sattva (the quality of goodness): Sattva is Calm, Saintly. Its brings up quality that allows spiritual holiness, forgiveness and submission to God. Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction....

Question Does Hinduism acknowledge the existence of other religions? Answer No. Hinduism or more properly Sanathana Dharma predates mature religions which are well known today. Also, Hinduism evolved as a way of living or culture as opposed to a strict set of rules enforced by a religious/political/other influential body hence there is no need to compare or take examples from other religions. The scriptures focus on stories (historical or folklore) to serve as examples for human living of what is right or wrong....

Question Why do Hindus have no restrictions on going to churches or any other religious places? Answer Because Hinduism is not structured like Islam or Christianity. There is no 'one' supreme god or 'one' single book to guide you. Everyone is free to find their own way to the ultimate freedom (moksha) and most of the religious books (Vedas, Upanishads, Geeta etc.) prohibit harming other living things. As long as you don't hurt anyone, you can live even without praying and not be condemned....

Question Why don’t men wear the likes of Mangal-Sutra to signify they are married? Answer First a small clarification from Wikipedia entry Contrary to false impression generated in recent decades by Indian movies and TV soap opera, the practice does not exist in every part of India, nor is it an integral part of a marriage ceremony. Apart from the mangala sutra, the toe rings (bichhua), kumkum, bangles, nalla pusalu (black pearls) and nose ring form six symbols that may indicate that a woman is married....

Question How exactly does karma work? Answer A complex topic, but I will try to give the basics and make some points. First, let's understand what creates karma from the Vaishnava perspective. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 4.16-23), Krishna explains that are three different types of work: akarma, which is work done in pure consciousness, which produces no karma karma, prescribed work, which accrues either good or bad karma (work produces fruit), vikarma, or forbidden activities....

Question Does the concept of Evil Spirits occur in Hinduism? Answer There's no equivalent of Satan in Hinduism. Hinduism has a universal Brahman which pervades all things good as well as evil. Satan (an absolute evil) is a necessity in Abrahamic faith to explain all things bad because the Abrahamic God cannot do anything evil. Hindu God on the other hand pervades everything good as well as bad. According to the Vedas, there are only three principles or entities that exist in reality, in sum total....

Question What does Hinduism say about third-gendered people? Answer From hrc.org The erotic sculptures on ancient Hindu temples at Khajuraho and Konarak, and the sacred texts in Sanskrit constitute irrefutable evidence that a whole range of sexual behavior was known to ancient Hindus. The tradition of representing same-sex desire in literature and art continued in medieval Hinduism. Ayyappan is a Hindu deity who is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sasta, the offspring of Shiva and Vishnu (in the form of Mohini)...

Question What is the difference between sacrifice (yajna) and charity (dana)? Answer Yajna, the fire sacrifice, is the central ritual of the Vedic sacrificial cult. The basic idea of Yajna according to the Vedic ritualists was that man can have a happy and prosperous life only if he lived in harmony with his environment, consisting of Nature and the Devas who control the forces of Nature. Man gets his progeny and his sustenance as the gifts of Nature and he should express his thanks to the Devas....

Question What is the significance of the saffron color? Answer Quoting from About.com If there is any color that can symbolize all aspects of Hinduism, it's saffron - the color of Agni or fire, which reflects the Supreme Being. As such, the fire altar is regarded as a distinct symbol of ancient Vedic rites. The saffron color, also auspicious to the Sikhs, the Buddhists and the Jains, seems to have obtained religious significance much before these religions came into being....

Question Why do Gods take avatar? Answer This is indeed a very good question. But unfortunately no specific reason can be pointed out as the sole cause for God's incarnations: हरि अवतार हेतु जेहि होई। इदमित्थं कहि जाइ न सोई।। [Ramcharit Manas - 1.121] However, from scriptures and whatever sages have said three primary reasons can be pointed out, 1. Establishment of Dharma 2. Deliverance of saintly people 3. Destruction of the wicked people...

Question Why is lord Ganesha worshipped first before any puja? Answer Here's the story of its origin. Shiva Bhagwan left his abode on Mt. Kailas in the Himalayas to meditate in a cave. Parvati’s friends suggested that she should have an attendant (gana) of her own because they were not pleased with Shiva’s ganas. Thus, she used her divine powers and bore a son. She named him Vinayak and instructed him to guard their home....

Question Why did Lord Rama strike from behind to kill Vaali? Answer We don't need to speculate; we can look at the justification Rama himself gave for his actions: (This is all taken from this translation of the Valmiki Ramayana by Desiraju Hanumanta Rao and KMK Murthy.) In response to Vali's claim that Rama has no jurisdiction to enforce laws there, since they're not in Ayodhya, Rama says that the Ikshkvaku dynasty has authority over the entire earth: "...

Question How were the Trimurthi born? Answer Basically by asking "How were Trimurthis born?" This question is asking "Who is the originator of whom?" Or "Who is the Ishwara?" Several answers are given here, but most of them are only from their perspective. Here I present all perspectives of all Trimurty. Brahma: Yajurveda Shatapatha Brahmana 6.1.3.1 Verily, Prajâpati [Brahma] alone was here in the beginning. He desired, 'May I exist, may I reproduce myself!...