Question Is Mahishasura Mardini Lakshmi or Durga? Answer Godesses Ambika who is also known by the name Godesses Durga is the Mahisasura Mardini (slayer of Mahisasura). Precisely speaking it is Chandika form of Godesses Ambika who slays Mahisasura: Chaptet 81 to Chapter 93 of Markandeya Purana is called Devi Mahatmyam and it sings the Glory of Devi. First of all Mahisasura defeats all gods and take their position as described in chapter 82:...
Question Why is the Sloka “Suklambaradharam Vishnum…” used as Ganapaty Dhyanam when it is clearly a Dhyana Sloka for Lord Vishnu? Answer शुक्लाम्बरधरम् विष्णुम् शशि वर्णम् चतुर्भुजम् | प्रसन्नवदनम् ध्यायेत् सर्व विघ्नोपशान्तये || "shuklamvaram dharam vishnum sashivarnam chaturvujam | prasanna vadanam dhyayet sarva bighnopashantaya ||" Let's examine each word of the sloka: शुक्लाम्बरधरम् = शुक्ल + अम्बर + धरम् Shuklamvaradharam = white+cloth+wearing ie, White cloth wearing Vishnu is especially called पीताम्बरम् (Pitamvaram)...
Question What is Turiya and how can we realize it? Answer Turiya refers simply to the Fourth. There are four quarters to Brahman; the waking, dream, dreamless, and the Turiya. The Fourth state is not separate from the other three but rather transcends and encompasses the other three states as well as a Fourth. Turiya is Pure Consciousness and is the same as the Atman or the Unconditioned Brahman. The Mandukya Upanishad verse VII says:...
Question Why Krishna says He is Sama Veda among Vedas in Bhagavad Gita? Answer Vedas are not only just some chants or some type of books, they are the fundamental building blocks of this universe itself. Every part of universe is composed of some vibrating Veda mantras. The particles contain abundance of RigVeda (Ayam Lokoh RigVeda), the space consists of abundance of YajurVeda (Antarikshyam vai YajurVeda), the bright particles/light contain abundance of SamaVeda Lord in Bhagvad Gita tells he is SamaVeda among the Vedas, in the Vibhuti chapter where all the things told are such which shows shining nature of all....
Question How do we decide what is dharma and adharma? Answer What is dharma and adharma is determined by scripture. Krishna says in the Gita (XVI. 23-24): He who discards the injunctions of the scriptures and acts upon impulse of desire attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal. Therefore let the scriptures be your authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done....
Question Why is madhu (honey) considered a prohibited food in brahmacharya? Answer The Shatapatha Brahmana Section 11.5.4 describes the Upanayana ceremony for the initiation of a pupil into Brahmacharya: 1 He says, 'I have come for Brahmakarya:' he thereby reports himself to the Brahman. He says, 'Let me be a Brahmakârin (student):' he thereby makes himself over to the Brahman. He (the teacher) then says, 'What (ka) is thy name?'--now Ka is Pragâpati: he thus initiates him after making him one belonging to Pragâpati....
Question Is every Jeeva “eternal” like the ultimate God (nirguna Brahman) or “temporary” within cycle? Answer From our discussions in the chat room, since we stumbled upon this, I will formalise it as an answer: Gita Chapter 15, Verse 7 mamaivāḿśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati Translations: Gambhirananda: It is verily a part of Mine which, becoming the eternal individual soul in the region of living beings, draws (to itself) the organs which have the mind as their sixth, and which abide in Nature....
Question Which scripture says that during eclipse all water become pure like Ganges water? Answer Parashar Smriti, Chapter 12 source 1 source 2 says , during eclipse all waters become pure like Ganges. सर्वं गंगा समं तोयं राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे। सोमग्रहे तथैवोक्तं स्नानदानादि कर्मसु।। When the sun or the moon is seized by rahu, all water becomes as pure as the water of the Ganga, so far as bathing and giving, and other religious rites are concerned....
Question What is equivalent of Santhara(Sallekhanā) in Hinduism? Answer The Manu Smriti says in its chapter 6 that a Brahmin,residing in forest and living the life of an ascetic ,may end his life by fasting till death. 6.29. These and other observances must a Brahmana who dwells in the forest diligently practise, and in order to attain complete (union with) the (supreme) Soul, (he must study) the various sacred texts contained in the Upanishads,...
Question According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe “unreal” or “unworthy”? Answer There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true. When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself gives three level of reality to us: 1)Paramarthika Satyam/ Absolute Reality level 2)Vyavaharika Satyam/ Ishwara Shristi level 3)Pratibhasika Satyam/ Jeeva Shristi level I have given their definition with examples in my answer here....
Question How do the scriptures describe an ideal Sanyasi? Answer Vishnu Purana, Book 3, Chapter 9 describes about the four orders of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa. In Vanaprastha, one prepare himself for Sanyasa, so I am mentioning all the properties of these two Ashramas. Description of Vanaprastha Ashrama When the householder, after performing the acts incumbent on his condition, arrives at the decline of life, let him consign his wife to the care of his sons, and go himself to the forests....
Question Why is killing a brahmin considered sin while killing other caste people is not? Answer Your confusion arises because you think that Hindu scripture supports the Hindu caste system as seen today. That is not the case. The term Brahmana in Hindu scripture has a different connotation from the Brahmana of Hindu caste system. Hindu scripture is talking of Varna which is dependent on conduct. Bhrigu said, 'He is called a Brahmana in whom are truth, gifts, abstention from injury to others, compassion, shame, benevolence, and penance....
Question Why is Brahma depicted as old in pictures? Answer Brahma is often referred to as "pitamaha" (forefather or grandfather) in scriptures, so I think some of the pictures that portray him in human form with white hair and beard is to just show how he is older than some of the other gods. From Valmiki Ramayana, here are a few verses that refer to Brahma as pitamaha: इति एवम् उक्त्वा देवेशः सर्वलोक पितामहः | यथा आगतम् तथा अगच्छत् देव लोकम् महायशाः || १-४४-१६...
Question Sandhyavandanam before the age of Vishwamitra? Answer In every age the Gayatri mantra is heard by a sage named Vishwamitra.. In this section of Ramanujacharya's Sri Bhashya, his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, Ramanujacharya explains how sages with the same names hear the same mantras after undergoing Tapasya: As words such as Indra and Vasishtha, which denote gods and Rishis, denote (not individuals only, but) classes, and as the creation of those beings is preceded by their being suggested to the creative mind through those words; for this reason the eternity of the Veda admits of being reconciled with what scripture says about the mantras and kândas (sections) of the sacred text having 'makers' and about Rishis seeing the hymns; cp....
Question Reason behind applying Vibuthi Answer The significance of Bhasma is well explained by Lord Shiva himself in the Linga Purana as follows: Significance of Bhasma: Bhagavan Shiva further analysed the significance of Bhasma which was product of Agni Karyaas like daily homas and Yagnas; the burning of ‘Sthavara Jangamaas’ by Fire would result in Ash: Bhasmattadvihitam Sarvam Pavitramidamuttamam, Bhasmaanaa Veeryamaasyaaya Bhutaani parishanchati/ Agnikaaryam cha yah krutwaa karishyati triyaayusham, Bhasmanaa mama veeryena muchyatey Sarva kilbishey/...