Q&A

Question Why did Lord Hanuman decide to spend his life as a celebate? Answer No, Hanuman was technically not a bachelor (Brahmachari). His wife was Suvarchala¹ who was the daughter of Surya (the Sun god). According to Surya, Suvarchala was an ayonija (born without [the participation] of the yoni). Because he wanted to learn Nava Vyakarnas (the 9 Grammar Rules), he has to marry, and being an Aajanma Brahmachari (life-long bachelor), Hanuman was not eligible to study it....

Question What is the significance of the janeva (sacred thread)? Answer The term "upa" means near and "nayanam" means leading. So Upanayam means "leading near". It's one of the 13 samskara prescribed by the Vedas. What does the Sacred Thread signify? The Janeu or yajñopavītam symbolizes the ability of the wearer to perform Sandhyavandanam and recite the Gayatri Mantra. There is a variation in the thread count of yajñopavītam. Bachelors wear a single thread, married men wear 2, and married men with children wear 3....

Question What is the significance of pouring milk on the Shivling? Answer From shivmandirsarthali.com: (emphasis mine) Abhishek is a Sanskrit term denoting a devotional activity of giving Holy bath to a deity. It literally means “to cleanse.” Before starting the ritual, a devotee washes his hands and pours water over the Ling. However, this practice is not to cleanse the Ling, as God doesn’t need any cleansing. He is the purest—but it is an implication of cleaning oneself....

Question Is Yami the twin sister of Yama? Answer The story is described in chapter 77 of the Markandeya Purana: The daughter of Vishwakarman [the divine architect] was the wife of the sun, by name Sajna who begat on her a son, by name Manu, who, illustrious as he was, was equally a master of various branches of learning. He was the son of Vivaswat and was therefore called Vaivaswata. As soon as she was espied by the sun Sajna used to close her eyes and therefore he, in anger, addressed to her cruel words: "...

Question What are the steps for a person to take if he/she wants to convert to Hinduism? Answer Is it possible for anyone to convert to Hinduism? As P. V. Kane says in History of Dharmaśāstra, Vol II Part I, there is no provision in the Hindu smṛtis and dharma śāstras for people of other faiths to convert to Hinduism because one is simply born a Hindu: Hinduism has not been an avowedly proselytizing religion....

Question Is the Gayatri mantra used to worship the sun or Goddess Gayatri? Answer Gayathri is not a mantra. There are classes of mantra called Gayathri which follow a particular meter called Gayathri. The most popular Gayathri mantra ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं । भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि, धीयो यो न: प्रचोदयात् ।। happens to be one among the many. Gayathri Chandus is a format of 24 meters, any mantra set to this chandus is called a Gayathri (and there are many gayathries)....

Question What is that flow of water on the head of lord Shiva? Answer I would like to state that, the water which comes out of lord Shiva's hair is River Ganges or Ganga, as Bhagavata Purana depicts... Lord Vishnu in one of his incarnations, appeared as Vamana in the sacrificial arena of Asura King Mahabali. Then in order to measure the universe, he extended his left foot to the end of the universe and pierced a hole in its covering with the nail of his big toe....

Question What is the significance of Sashtang Namaskar? Answer What is Sashtang namaskar or dandvat? Sashtang namaskar or dandvat is a symbol of complete submission that reminds devotees to respect God. Devotees perform sashtang dandvat pranam by lying fully prostrate on the floor with their arms stretched out towards the Idols. Eight specific parts of the body should touch the floor: thighs feet hands chest mind head speech eyes Why we must do it?...

Question The origin of “Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu”? Answer This phrase is from one of the Mangala Mantra often recited after a pooja or religious ceremony. स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्यः परिपालयंतां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः । गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनोभवंतु ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः | svasti-prajā-bhyaḥ pari-pāla-yaṁtāṁ nyāyena mārgeṇa mahīṁ mahīśāḥ | go-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham-astu nityaṁ lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino-bhavaṁtu || auṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ | Translation May the well-being of all people be protected By the powerful and mighty leaders be with law and justice....

Question When did Hinduism begin? Answer In ancient period, Hinduism was known as "Sanatana Dharma". Sanatana Dharma is by its very essence a term that is devoid of sectarian leanings or ideological divisions. This is evident by the very term itself. The two words, "Sanatana Dharma", come from the ancient Sanskrit language. 'Sanatana' is a Sanskrit word that denotes that which which is Anadi (beginningless), Anantha (endless) and does not cease to be, that which is eternal and everlasting....

Question What is Mangal Dosh (Mangalik) Answer In the lagna kundali (birth chart with the ascedant) of a person if any malefic planet (especially the planet mars) is present at least in the lagna (1st house) or in the 7th house (house of the spouse or marriage) then the person is considered to be a mangalik. Other houses that are considered for mars's presence for a person to be mangalik are 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th....

Question Why do Hindus shave a baby’s head (first hair cut)? Answer As per the scripture, it is done for the spiritual benefit of the child in the first or the third year after his/her birth: As per the direction of the revealed texts, the chuda karma (tonsure) must be performed, for the sake of spiritual merit (observing dharma), by all twice-born men in their first or third year. [Manu - 2....

Question What is the story of Kalki (tenth avatar of God Vishnu)? Answer The Appearance of Lord Kalki (the Avatar or incarnation of Godhead) is foretold in the "Srimad Bhagavatam" 12th Canto and described also in detail in the "Brahmanda-purana". Therein it gives predictions as to where he will appear (the village name), who his parents will be, what his mission will be, and when he will appear. It is described that he will appear at the conjunction of the two yugas, namely at the end of Kali-yuga and the beginning of Satya-yuga....

Question Are there other Brahmas and universes? Answer Chapter III On seeing the Devî of Devi Bhagavatam says, there are multiple Brahmas, multiple Vishnus and multiple Rudras. After killing Dânavas Madhu Kaitabha, three deities got into a beautiful Vimana sent by Devi Bhagavathi. They saw multiple Satyaloka, multiple Vishnuloka and multiple Kailasa. Brahma said this to his son Narada, Then the car, where we were situated, began to get up high in the sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, we reached Brahmâ loka, that is saluted by all the Devas....

Question Do Indians have real surnames? Answer The practice amongst Hindus in modern India varies. Indian Passports are standard with First Name and Last Name fields. In North India, for many people surnames have been standard for generations and are dependant on caste and family group. Some family groups may have multiple interchangeable surnames available to them, so that a child of someone called X LastName1, may choose to call themselves Y LastName2, where both LastName1 and LastName2 are indicative of the same family group....