Q&A

Question Which scriptures mention about Sutak dosha (various prohibitions on child birth)? Answer which scriptures mention about Sutak dosha? Manu Smriti, Chapter 5 declares ten days of Sutaka (impurity) for Sapinda. A man who hears of a (Sapinda) relative's death, or of the birth of a son after the ten days (of impurity have passed), becomes pure by bathing, dressed in his garments. Vishnu Smriti, Chapter 22 gives impurity period by each Varna....

Question How to overcome maya? Answer "satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmOhatvam nirmOhatve nizcala tatvam nizcala tatve jIvanmuktiH" -Sankaracharya in bhaja govindam. The second line in the above verse is what you are looking for. Sankara says release from attachment progresses one towards overcoming maya and such non-attachment is achieved through continuous company of the pious. Translation of the whole sloka is given in the linked answer. https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/7697/1195 Note: “The question: How to overcome maya?...

Question How do I know what is the right kind of work for me? Answer This is a great question, for any saadhaka (Hindu practitioner). It has received some depth-touching answers. But I have a different one, so I am contributing this late. Some concepts are inter-dependent systems (अन्योन्याश्रित व्यवस्था). For example, Newton's laws are valid in inertial frame of reference. And Inertial frame of reference is defined as the frame of reference where Newton's laws apply....

Question Is the etymology of the name Yudhishthira correct? Answer Etymology of Yudhishtira = steady in war, is correct. Here, the war can be any kind of battle or struggle. Throughout the Mahabharata, Yudhishtira was known to behold the Dharma & remaining steadfast in every challenging situations. The passage you described about Yudhishtira 'wanting' to go in exile - is just part of warring frustrations. That should not be considered as a proof, as it really didn't happen....

Question How do Vaishnavas interpret the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra? Answer Lord Narasimha is described as Mrityumrityu (Death's death) in the Nrisimha Mantra. Accordingly, Sri Vaishnavas interpret tryambaka - the three-eyed one as Narasimha. This is supported in various places including Shruti, Smriti and works of Acharyas (whether or not they subscribe to Vishishtadvaita philosophy). Here are a few examples: Nrisimha-Purva-Tapaniya Upanisad (NPTU) refers to Narasimha as three-eyed one and also as Mrityumrityu....

Question Do the Vedas mention Yugas? Answer Yes, RigVeda mentions about 'yuga' starting with the 'asat yuga' from which deva brought forth the 'sat yuga'. Ref. RV. 10.72 (2) - ' devana purvye yuge asat sat jayat'. And RigVeda can tell us what preceded it not of forthcoming as done by some of the finalist scriptures which tell us that 'kali yuga' is the last one and 'sat yuga' will follow it....

Question Why do Devas stop people from attaining Brahma Vidya? Answer When a person gets Brahma-Vidya / Moksha then there is no rebirth for that person. And when he doesn't have birth he can't do various sacrifices and rituals for Devatas. So, Gods do not want that men should attain Brahma Vidya. It is explained in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as: I-iv-9: They say: Men think, ‘Through the knowledge of Brahman we shall become all’....

Question Why can’t sudras read vedas according to smritis? Answer I have used this YajurVeda mantra in more than one answers of mine till date. One such answer is this one. The correct translation, word to word, is as follows: YathA imAm vAcham kalyAnim AvadAni janebhyah (1) BrahmarAjanyAbhyAm sudrAya cha AryAya cha (2) SwAya cha aranAya cha (3) Meaning May i speak the sacred word to the masses of the people (janebhya) (1) to the brahmana, kshatriya, to the sudra and the Arya (2) and to our own men and the strangers (3)....

Question Translation of Rig Veda 1.160.4 (Earth supported by pillars) Answer In Jamison and Brereton's version (page 339) , the verse is translated as follows: 1.160 (4) This one here, the best artisan of the artisans of the gods, who begat the two world-halves beneficial to all, who measured out the two airy realms with a display of his good resolve, with unaging props—he has been universally praised. So you can seen here that the translation suggests the verse is used to praise a deity who has a ability to measure greatness of heaven and earth with great accuracy!...

Question What is the means of attaining Moksha according to the different Astika schools? Answer Let me address each of the six Astika schools: Samkhya: The Samkhya school believed that meditation on the 25 Tattvas, i.e. Purusha or soul, Prakriti or matter/energy, and the 23 evolutes of Prakriti, is what leads to knowledge of the difference between Purusha and Prakriti, which is what leads to Moksha. Here is what Ishwara Krishna says in verses 64-66 of the Samkhya Karika:...

Question Why is the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita secret and confidential? Answer I am going to explain "Why the knowledge of Gita is confidential" on the basis of another similar shloka given in the 15 th chapter i.e. last Shloka of 15th chapter ,and commentaries written on this shloka by scholars including Adi Shankaracharya. There are two different point of views (meanings) given , with which we are going to look at your query....

Question Queries on Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Phalaśruti Answer This KAmAkotimanadali page tries to determine "lalitA sahasranAma - adhikAra nirNaya". That means trying to determine who all are competent to recite the stotram. That means not all are competent to start with. Bhagavan Hayagriva clearly mentions the qualification required for the recitation/practice of Sri Lalita Sahasranama in the pUrva pIThikA of the Sahasranama. Qualification The Sahasranama is never to be given to a one who is a crook, who finds pleasure in other’s misery and one who has no faith in Amba/Guru....

Question Where was Ashwatthama when Pandavas spread the false news of his death? Answer Addressing your questions one by one. Q. Where was Ashwatthama when Pandavas spread the false news of his death? On that day, was Ashwatthama too far from his father like Arjun was when Abhimanyu died? Yes, Ashwatthaman was far away from Drona and not at his sight. This is what gave his chance to Pandavas to plan the way to slay Drona....

Question According to Hinduism, when does a day start? Answer In KrishnaBhaagwatam, Book 4, Chapter 31 यथैव सूर्यात्प्रभवन्ति वारः पुनश्च तस्मिन् प्रविशन्ति काले । भूतानि भूमौ स्थिरजङ्‌गमानि तथा हरावेव गुणप्रवाहः ॥ १५ ॥ Just like days start from Sun's appearance, and again after some time end within Sun. The same way all the existence, moving or not moving, on living dimension, are like flow of the Gunas(Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) in Hari....

Question Who is Ratri devi? Is she same or different from Devi Kaali? Answer You must be knowing about Sri Chandi, which is also known as the DurgA Saptashati or the Devi MAhatyam and which is a part of the MArkandeya PurAna. Now, a Chandi PAtha is considered to be flawed or incomplete if all the Shad-Angas ( the Kavachas, the Rahasya Trayas etc) are also not chanted along with. So, chanting simply the slokas of Sri Chandi is not enough....