Q&A

Question Origin of the Sanatan Dharma Answer Why "Hindu Dharma" and "Sanatan Dharma" are synonym? : First of all, the Sanskrit term Sanatan means eternal or ancient. From Wikipedia: Sanātana Dharma (Devanagari: सनातन धर्म meaning "eternal dharma" or "eternal order") has been proposed as an alternative, "native" name for Hinduism (Hindi Hindu Dharm हिन्दू धर्म "Hindu religion".[5] The term was mentioned and explained in depth in Vedic literature (Rig Veda) (4-138) and was used during the Hindu revivalism movement in order to avoid having to use the term "...

Question What is the recommended age for marriage for girls as per Shastra? Answer Here is what this chapter of the Manu Smriti recommends: A man, aged thirty years, shall marry a maiden of twelve who pleases him, or a man of twenty-four a girl eight years of age; if (the performance of) his duties would (otherwise) be impeded, (he must marry) sooner. Bhishma says much the same thing in this chapter of the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata:...

Question Which scripts have been used to write Sanskrit? Answer Sanskrit originated as an oral language i.e. it was never penned down for the most of it's life. Hence, it doesn't have a writing system of it's own. During it's life cycle, various scripts have been used to write Sanskrit including many regional Indian tongues and most recently Roman script . The earliest occurrence of Sanskrit in written form is in Brahmi script ....

Question If Aryabhata invented zero in Kaliyuga, how could Hindus of earlier yugas describe Ravana as having 10 heads and Kauravas were 100 in number? Answer I feel the your doubt is about representation If you look at the history of representation, it starts with the story of people representing numbers with straight lines, and crossing them after sometime. Roman Numerals for example did not originally have 0. Multiplication and division might have possibly be done in form of addition and subtraction and if you look closely,you will not feel the importance of zero in them....

Question Why was Dasaratha so emotionally attached only to Rama? Answer Lord Rama in Ramcharitmanas Uttar kanda answers this question giving an analogy to that as: एक पिता के बिपुल कुमारा । होहिं पृथक गुन सील अचारा ।। कोउ पंडित कोउ तापस ग्याता । कोउ धनवंत सूर कोउ दाता।। कोउ सर्वग्य धर्मरत कोइ। सब पर पितहि प्रीति सम होई।। कोउ पितु भगत बचन मन कर्मा । सपनेहुँ जान न दूसर धर्मा ।।...

Question Who are Adi Shakti and Durga? Answer Goddess Durga herself is Adi Parashakti. In Sri Chandi (from the Markandeya Purana), she is described as the combined form of the 3 deities viz; Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. The Devi Atharva Sirsha describes Adi Parashakti's features as follows: sābravīt- ahaṃ brahmasvarūpiṇī । mattaḥ prakṛtipuruṣātmakaṃ jagat । śūnyaṃ cāśūnyam ca ॥2॥ She said: I am an aspect of Brahma. From me this Universe, in form of Prakriti and Purusha, is generated; which is both void and non-void....

Question Who created Datta Bavani? Answer Rang Avadhoot Maharaj Created Datta Bavani. He also gave one mantra Paraspara Devo bhava means we humans should behave as devas. means we should not harm anybody. Bhakti should be without sho off. Note: “The question: Who created Datta Bavani?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA.

Question Who is Virat Purusha? Answer The concepts are similar. In his introduction to Brahma Sutras 3.3, Sankara says (Swami Vireswarananda translator): It is not possible for the ordinary man to grasp the Infinite. Therefore the scriptures present various symbols of Brahman, such as Prana, Akasa, and mind, for the beginner to meditate upon. Sometimes they prescribe the cosmic form of Brahman (Vaisvanara) for meditation. These different methods of approaching the infinite Brahman are known as Vidyas or Upasanas....

Question Why are there two versions of Chapter 1 - Verse 8 of Bhagavad Geetha? Answer In his footnote to this verse, Swami Gambhirananda writes in his translation of the Bhagavad Gita (p 14): Asvatthama, son of Drona: Mention of Asvatthama before Karna's son Vikarna, and others, as also the mention of Drona before Bhisma and others, was for pleasing Drona. Saumadatti: King of Balhika (of Punjab), son of Somadatta; known also as Bhurisrava because of his preeminence....

Question Can we become God? Answer Yes. "brahma vid brahmaiva bhavati". One who knows brahman becomes brahman himself. The path to know brahman is yoga - any (or a combination) of bhakti/gnyana/karma (upasana)/raja yogas. स यो ह वै तत् परमं ब्रह्म वेद ब्रह्मैव भवति नास्याब्रह्मवित्कुले भवति । तरति शोकं तरति पाप्मानं गुहाग्रन्थिभ्यो विमुक्तोऽमृतो भवति ॥ ९ ॥ sa yo ha vai tat paramaṃ brahma veda brahmaiva bhavati nāsyābrahmavitkule bhavati | tarati śokaṃ tarati pāpmānaṃ guhāgranthibhyo vimukto'mṛto bhavati || 9 ||...

Question What is the punishment for consensual sex in Hinduism? Answer Punishment for illicit sex (which includes sexual intercourse with someone else's wife and also with one's maid) as per Srimad Bhagavata Purana is torment in a hell called "Taptasurmi". yas tv iha vā agamyāṁ striyam agamyaṁ vā puruṣaṁ yoṣid abhigacchati tāv amutra kaśayā tāḍayantas tigmayā sūrmyā lohamayyā puruṣam āliṅgayanti striyaṁ ca puruṣa-rūpayā sūrmyā (Bhagavata Purana, Canto 5, Chapter 26, Verse 20)...

Question Why do Indian women wear bangles? Answer I have two reasonable answers for your question Reason1: Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human. Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body....

Question Is reciting Vedic Mantras without being preceded by “Om” condemned somewhere in Vedas or in other scriptures? Answer The Upanishads say that the Vedas are Om. Om is the Vedas. Why prayers and rites are started with Om is explained in Taittiriya Upanishad I.viii.1. (Swami Gambhirananda translator) - "...A Brahman, when about to recite the Vedas utters Om under the idea, 'I shall attain Brahman'. He does verily attain Brahman....

Question Where can I find/get basic information about Hinduism on the web? Answer Few places to get information & knowledge about Hinduism, Wikipedia* Hindupedia Bharatkosh (Hindi) Veda.Wikidot Hinduwebsite Dharma Wiki *Also consider General disclaimer & About trusting. May be considerable that Most part are written by Western Christian academics. Note: “The question: Where can I find/get basic information about Hinduism on the web?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA....

Question Why and how did Lord Shiva fall in love with Mohini? Answer "Any Shiva bhakt will be shocked if they read about this!" One doesn't need to get shocked from this story. It can be interpreted in various ways: i) Vaishnavite Interpretation: This story shows even Shiva is bewildered by Maya of Vishnu. So, Vishnu is Supreme. ii) Shaivite Interpretation: This story shows Vishnu is Prakriti tatwa (feminine) and Shiva being Purusha is attracted to Prakriti....