Question Regulative principles for sex life Answer First of all, let me explicitly state that I assumed that you are asking about the rules & regulations that a husband and his wife should abide by.Because ,sexual activities, of any other forms are clearly stated ,in Shastras, as Adharmic. Well,except for few prohibited days ,like the days of period,and few others,sexual activities are perfectly legal between a husband and a wife....
Question Are there non-ISKCONic translations of the Bhagavata Purana? Answer Check the following translation by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. But it doesn't appear to be a word-for-word translation. https://archive.org/details/BhagavataPuranaMotilalEnglish If you see below the translation of the very first verse, the footnotes list some 7 different commentaries on the verse. The same tr. is also available for download in this answer (at the end) and also on West Bengal Public Library Network....
Question Martyr concept in Hinduism Answer Yes , there is a concept of Martyrism in Hinduism scriptures.This concept is described in a story in Shreemad Bhagvat Purana. Background - This story is of a demon "Vruttasura" Rushi (sage) Dadhichi, Indra & Demigods.In this story demon "Vruttasura" hide all the weapons & powers of demigods.Then Indra (King of demigods) and all gods seek refuge of the Supreme Lord. He instruct's them to build a weapon from bones of Sage Dadhichi....
Question What is the core message of the Bhagavad-gītā? What are some verses from Bhagavad-gītā that one can refer to, to enrich life in general? Answer The answer to this question would depend on whether the reader of the Gita is a householder or a sannyasi or monk. The best teaching for a householder is the stirring call of the Gita to fight the problems of life: Gita 2.3: क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते । क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ।। 2....
Question Bhagavad Geeta 5.4 - Can one attain samādhi by practicing science? Answer The problem is with translation of the word Samkhya it is used as a synonym of Jnana Yoga(The path of Liberation through Knowledge). Adi Shankaracharya, Bhagwad Ramanujacharya and different Other Acharyas have enlightened us on this through their commentaries. Adi Shankaracharya's Comments: This defect does not arise. Although the question was put by Arjuna merely with regard to renunciation and Karma-yoga, yet the Lord, without actually avoiding them, and by adding something special which was intended by Him, gave the answer by expressing them through other words, ‘Sankhya’ and ‘(Karma-) yoga’....
Question Do Yajurveda 40.9, Yajurveda 32.3 and Bhagavadgita 7.20 reject idol worship? Answer Don't believe blindly what you see on internet. Hinduism or सनातन धर्म (Sanātana Dharma) can't be false as name itself says it is eternal and has "Dharma" in it. Hinduism is confusing for some people because they don't read scriptures in Sanskrit or in other language with proper interpretations of Guru or Acharyas. To understand Hinduism properly, first you should have some knowledge about Sanskrit Language or Veda Bhasha....
Question Is taking interest from bank a sin? Answer Lending at interest is not a sin at all. Its perfectly legitimate. But usury (lending money at unreasonably high rates) is a minor sin(an Upapataka). Manu Smriti 10.115. There are seven lawful modes of acquiring property, (viz.) inheritance, finding or friendly donation, purchase, conquest, lending at interest, the performance of work, and the acceptance of gifts from virtuous men Manu Smriti 11....
Question Were Radha and Rukmini the same person? Answer I have also read these stories but haven't found any scriptural reference to support that assumption. They are not the same in literal terms however, in terms of their spiritual significance, Rukmini being the incarnation of Lakshmi does have the same level as Radha. According to the 39th Chapter of the 9th Book of Devi Bhagavatam: 4-33. Nârâyana said :-- Of old, in the beginning of the Prâkritik Creation, from the left side of Krisna, the Supreme Spirit, appeared in the Râsamandalam (the Figure Dance) a Devî....
Question Why didn’t Ravana use the Chandrahasa sword against Lord Rama? Answer Yes. Ravana used his sword against Jatayu. Ravana forcefully abducts Seetha in his air-chariot also known as Pushpaka Vimana. Finally, Seetha sees Jatayu, the eagle, and asks him to narrate her abduction to Rama. Jataayu confronts Ravana on hearing the wailing of Seetha. He boldly forestalls Ravana and his air-chariot in the sky itself, and as an elderly being he reviles Ravana from the viewpoint of righteousness befitting to kings, but of no avail....
Question Is the ocean (sāgara) named after King Sagara or is it the other way round? Answer Yes. The ocean (सागरः or Sāgara) is named after Sagara (सगर), a king of Ikshvaku dynasty. He is the son of king Asita. Ocean on the earth is formed by one of his deeds i.e., he dug the bed of ocean. Sagara's stepmother gives poison to Sagara's mother Kalindi out of jealousy. She was also pregnant....
Question Do we take rebirth if we help others? Answer Let's apply superposition theory. Imagine that in your life only this Karma will decide, whether you will take rebirth or not. Karma If someone is starving for the food and then, You offer food thinking that "I did good job of fulfilling hunger.", then you may take rebirth to 'enjoy' the result of such good deed. You don't offer food & are aware that "...
Question BG 4.40 - What does Kṛṣṇa mean by saṁśayātmā (doubting mind)? Answer The word संशयात्मा does not literally mean doubting mind. But it has an inner meaning. Samshayatma means a cynic who does not agree with the scriptures. If we consider only shloka you are quoting, there may be some misinterpretations and doubts. Therefore, we should also consider the shlokas which precede the 40th shloka. śraddhāvāllabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ |...
Question Why low-caste people are not allowed inside some temples and homes? Answer Well,the Hindu Shastras ,mostly consider the lowest caste,the Sudra,as being impure and also consider that they can transmit this impurity to other objects or living beings by touch or association etc. Similar are the rules,for the fallen caste or the outcaste or the chandala. I'm adding here a few verses from the Parashara Smriti,which is widely regarded as the Dharma Shastra to be followed in the current Yuga i....
Question How do the Vedas survive during the dissolution of the Universe? Answer During the time of dissolution Lord Shiva doesn't destroys the Vedas because they enter the Panchakshari Mantra (Nama Shivaya) and thus Lord Shiva graces on them. In the Linga Purana Chapter 85 "Glory of Panchakshara Mantra" Lord Shiva states to Godesses Parvati: प्रलये समनुप्राप्ते नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे । नष्टे देवासुरे चैव नष्टे चोरगराक्षसे ।। सर्वं प्रकृतिमापन्नं त्वया प्रलयमेष्यति ।...
Question Can a Sudra become a Brahmin in ’this’ birth? Answer Yes, it is possible through the power of Panchakshari Mantra. As already discussed in question Mantras can have wonderful powers. Similarly through the power of Panchakshara Mantra even a Shudra can become a Brahmana in this very birth. Panchakshara Mantra is "Namaha Shivaya" or "Om Namaha Shivaya" or "Shivaya Namaha." In the chapter Glory of Pranava Panchakshara Mantra [Chapter 17 Videsvara Samhita Shiva Purana] various powers of Panchakshara Mantra are told....