Q&A

Question Which Shastras are more authoritative,the Smritis(Dharma Shastras) or the Puranas? Answer Here is my answer which is based on the Devi Bhagavatam & the Vyasa Smriti. The Devi Bhagavatam states that in such situations the views of the Puranas are to be rejected .In other words,the Smritis are more authoritative. From Book 11,Chapter 1,Devi Bhagavatam: Nârada said :– “O Muni! The S’âstras are not one, they are many and they lay down different rules and contradictory opinions, How then Dharma is to be followed?...

Question Who are Pancha brahmas’ Lalita Devi sits on and Why are they called so? Answer Pancha-Brahmans are the five fold manifestation of Lord Shiva and are named as Sadyojata, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Ishana. Each five manifestations further manifest as five deities which are as Brahma from Sadyojata, Vishnu from Vamadeva, Rudra from Aghora, Maheswara from Tatpurusha and SadaShiva from Ishana. Thus the primary Pancha Brahmas are: ➡➡Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, Ishana....

Question Why is Lord Shiva called Pashupati? Who are the Pashus? Answer Meaning of Pashupati: Pashupati means Lord of all Pashus. Here Pashu means every creatures and not just animals. It is clarified itself in the YajurVeda. Yajurveda states: येषामीशे पशुपतिः पशूनां चतुष्पदामुत च द्विपदम् ।। [YajurVeda 3.1.4] Which Pashus do the Pashupati rules? He rules both the two footed and four footed. When Vedas say ruler of two footed and four footed (dwipada , chatuspada) then it has special significance because it is the attribute of Brahman described in the Upanishads....

Question Puranas besides Bhagavata & Devi-Bhagavata stating themselves as the foremost or best Answer Like Bhagavatams, Shiva Purana also says itself as best among all the Puranas and best remedy in age of Kali. Chapter 1 Glory of Shiva Purana says कालव्यालमहात्रासविध्वंसकरमुत्तमम्। शैवं पुराणं परमं शिवेनोक्तं पुरा मुने॥८॥ This Purana is the best remedy for the biggest danger like the death, which bites like the snake and is the biggest danger....

Question Are Sudras not allowed to study any scriptures of Hindusim? Answer Are sudras allowed to read scriptures other than Vedas ? Yes they are allowed to read and hear some Scriptures like the Puranas,Itihasas etc. From Devi Bhagavatam: 18-24. At every Manvantara, in each Dvâpara Yuga, Veda Vyâsa expounds the Purânas duly to preserve the religion. Veda Vyâsa is no other person than Visnu Himself; He, in the form of Veda Vyâsa, divides the (one) Veda into four parts, in every Dvâpara Yuga, for the good of the world....

Question The factors that should match for a couple to live a happy life? Answer For beginners it is recommended to use an online Match Calculator, that use Ashta-Kuta system and takes into account the exceptions. Matchmaking is the process of matching two persons together, usually for the purpose of marriage Based on Gunas or Marks , Which is done with the help of Panchanga along with Match Making Charts ....

Question How Universe has No beginning? Answer Vedas say time is cyclic. So, there is no first creation. Even we can comprehend it logically. If we assume there was first creation of Universe and other living beings (jivas), why some Atmans aquired status of Devas and why some Atmans took birth as humans and Rakshasas during very first birth? Even in Humans, why some Atmans were born as Brahmanas and why some Atmans were Sudras for the first time?...

Question Which shloka or scripture states that there are 33 crores of Hindu gods? Answer Is it accurate to state that: "No, Hindu scriptures do not mention anywhere that there are 33 कोटि (crores) देवी देवता (devi-devata)" No, it is not accurate to state it because of the fact that there are thirty three crores of devi-devata. Some slokhas in Skanda Purana are explicitly saying the fact that there are thirty three crores of devi-devata....

Question What are the rules for wearing Rudraksha bead Answer The Rules for wearing Rudraksha are discussed in Vidyes’vara Samhita ,Chapter 25 (The Glory of the Rudraksha) in Shiva Maha-Purana. These are some of the Rules -: शिरसीशानमन्त्रेण कर्णे तत्पुरुषेण च | अघोरेण गले धार्यं तेनैव ह्य्रुदयेsपि च ||40|| One should wear Rudraksha reciting the Isana-mantra ,with Tatpurusha in ears and with Aghora mantra , over the heart.Rudrakasha thus be worn....

Question Which varna are ‘Hindu’ Buddhists part of? Answer Since the Buddhists don't follow the Hindu Caste system they will fall in the category of "those having no cast"(or outcast) from the Hindu perspective. If some generations ago some of their forefathers adhered to the Hindu caste system even then ,since that is all broken now,all the present Buddhists will fall in the outcast category only.Because mixed casts are outcast only....

Question To save themselves from the Lākṣāgṛha (house of lac), did Pāṇḍavas kill an innocent niṣāda woman and her five children? Answer It's me again. I have not seen Suryaputra Karn. Starbharat has 6 bodies magically appear. SOURCE: BORI Critical Mahabharat translated into English by Bibek Debroy (Book 1: Section 8 - Jatugriha-Daha Parva [Burning down the house of lac] Alright, first of all: PLOT HOLE / DEUS EX MACHINA ALERT!...

Question Why casteism (varṇa system) is based on birth instead of present guṇa-s & karma-s? Answer Better we talk about Sukshma Sharir in prior. It is made up of Manas, Buddhi & Ahamkar + 5 tanmatras. A soul (Jeevatma) leaves the body in this form after death. This is a bag whose content decides the next birth of the soul after death. This is explained by Swami Vivekananda (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Jnana-Yoga/The Cosmos: The Microcosm) here....

Question Why is it said in Vedanta that you are not the doer of any action? Answer "Now if I am not the doer and reaper of any action what's the significance of law of karma?" The law of Karma has significance only if one considers himself/herself as the doer. In reality, neither Karma exists, nor the result of Karma, nor the doership. That's the reason, whatever good or bad deeds one does, wouldn't go beyond the material world....

Question What are the curses given to Ravana? Answer In this chapter of the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana, right before deciding to wake up Kumbakarna, Ravana enumerates various curses that he's received which have led up to the defeat he is now experiencing: All that great penance performed by me became a waste indeed, for, I who am equal to Mahendra the Lord of Celestials have been defeated by a mere man!...

Question Why reading Bhagvad Gita without Guru can be dangerous? Answer Many people here are aware of the fact that Sruti(the Vedas) should be learned and studied only under the guidance of a Guru.But the necessity of a Guru is not limited to Veda study only. All the other Hindu Scriptures, like Smritis(Dharma Shastras),Vedangas,Puranas,Itihasas etc, are also to be studied under and learned from a Guru only. A twice-born (pupil) should study the Dharma S'astras under- the guidance of his preceptor for- learning the rules of decorum and cleanliness (both mental and physical), and: do whatever is beneficial to his, master....