Q&A: 'Dream' of Lord Shiva

Question ‘Dream’ of Lord Shiva Answer This is a good sign or a guidance to be followed which you decipher by yourself what it could be. More likely it seems a guidance. Lord Shiva says thus in 11th chapter of Shiv Rahasya My Signs are of two kinds, those that endure and those that pass away. The enduring ones are the Sky, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Mountains and the Sea....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is Surdarshan Chakra mentioned In Vedic literature?

Question Is Surdarshan Chakra mentioned In Vedic literature? Answer Yes surdarshan chakra was called Vishnu s chakra in ancient texts including RIG Veda and even in valmiki Ramayana it is called Vishnu s Chakra. He, like a rounded wheel, hath in swift motion set his ninety racing steeds together with the four.Developed, vast in form, with those who sing forth praise, a youth, no more a child, he cometh to our call(Rig veda 1....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: How are onions and garlic to be considered as non vegetarian food?

Question How are onions and garlic to be considered as non vegetarian food? Answer Why No Onion and No Garlic in Goodness Diet? Once, in Satya Yuga the rishis were performing gomedha and asvamedha sacrifices for the welfare of the whole universe. A cow or a horse would be cut into pieces and placed in the fire. Afterwards the rishis would utter mantras and the same animal would come alive in a beautiful young body....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is Shalagram worship forbidden to non-Brahmins?

Question Is Shalagram worship forbidden to non-Brahmins? Answer No. It is not forbidden. The importance of Gandaki river is explained in chapter 20 of Patala Khanda of Padma Purana. In that chapter, the importance of śālagrāma is also said. The disc born (i.e. found) in Dvaravati and the stone born (i.e. found) in Gandaki, destroy in a moment men's sins earned during a hundred existences. Even if a man would have committed a thousand sins, he would be purified by drinking the water of (i....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Are Ramayan and Mahabharat parabols?

Question Are Ramayan and Mahabharat parabols? Answer Swami Vivekananda explained the life cycle of people by giving the example of Ramayana. Complete Works/Volume 5/Sayings and Utterances: Shri Râma was the Paramâtman and that Sitâ was the Jivâtman, and each man's or woman's body was the Lanka (Ceylon). The Jivatman which was enclosed in the body, or captured in the island of Lankâ, always desired to be in affinity with the Paramatman, or Shri Rama....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Are there any scriptures that portray Lord Rama to be the source of all incarnations including Lord Vishnu?

Question Are there any scriptures that portray Lord Rama to be the source of all incarnations including Lord Vishnu? Answer Yes, there are scriptures that are used by Ramanandi Vaishnavas to support their claim of Lord Rama being the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead. raghavasya guno divyo mahavisnuh svarupavana । vasudevo ghanibhutastanutejah sadasivah ।। matsyasca ramahrdayam yogarupi janardanah । kurmascadharasaktisca varaho bhujayorbalam ।। narasimho mahakopo vamanah katimekhala । bhargavo jamnghayorjato balaramasca prsthatah ।...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Are Yakshinis succubi?

Question Are Yakshinis succubi? Answer I think wikipedia is wrong in this case. Let me explain: The closest archetype in Hinduism to the western concept of Succubus seems to be Apsaras or Water-Nymphs. Scriptures abound with examples of Apsaras distracting Rishis in their tapas by employing sexual tactics1. An example that springs to mind is Viswamitra-Menaka encounter. 1. Many a time they are sent by Gods such as Indra who fear the power/release mortals gain via Tapasya...

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: What does the word 'Asura' mean in the Vedas?

Question What does the word ‘Asura’ mean in the Vedas? Answer The word Asura has 2 meanings in the text Rig Veda In positive sense and negative sense. The word asa means breath and the word Asura would mean who has his strength in the breath or who is the possessed of breath (the meaning given by yaksha nirukta).That means an asura is someone who is posser of breath that he could perform Great actions by his power or a very powerful supreme Being....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why did Indra flee after slaying Vritra and why did he cook dog meat?

Question Why did Indra flee after slaying Vritra and why did he cook dog meat? Answer Let us begin with the beginning. RV.1.32 (14)- "aher yatar kam pashya Indra hridi"(after seeing Ahi (Vritra)reduced Indra by heart)"yat te jaghnuso bhir gachchat" (there you killed those fleeing by fear) "Nav cha yan navati cha sravanti"(those nine and ninety (water sources)are flowing) "shyeno na bhito ataro rajansi" (shyena (Indra ) has broken by moving around the dominion)....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why Agni is called 'twice born' in Rigveda?

Question Why Agni is called ’twice born’ in Rigveda? Answer Agni is twice born in RigVeda the second birth is the ritual fire and household fire ("sva adhvaro raja visham athiti" RV.2.2(8) - king of the ritual pole and guest of the village). This is the Agni produced by human effort as explained by @Swift Pushkar above. Rishi Angira was first to worship Agni as deva - " tvam Agne prathamo Angira Rishih devo devanam bhavah shivam...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Was Daitya king Bali present during the Samudra Manthan? If so then how was it possible? Please check the details

Question Was Daitya king Bali present during the Samudra Manthan? If so then how was it possible? Please check the details Answer Yes, Bali was there during the churning of the ocean. He led the rakshasas during the churning. He took the Uccaiḥśravā, the white horse generated from the milky ocean. tata uccaiḥśravā nāma hayo ’bhūc candra-pāṇḍuraḥ | tasmin baliḥ spṛhāṁ cakre nendra īśvara-śikṣayā || Thereafter, a horse named Uccaiḥśravā, which was as white as the moon, was generated....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why is Devi Ambika called Lord Shiva's sister in Yajurveda?

Question Why is Devi Ambika called Lord Shiva’s sister in Yajurveda? Answer First, we have to understand who is the feminine version of Rudra? Maruts are also said to be the children of Rodasī (consort of Rudra) and the same hymn distinctly addresses Rudra as their father RV5.57. Rudra is not necessarily a single entity or a group because of the unique nature of Rudra to manifest across various concepts and divinities....

February 14, 2023 · 4 min · TheAum

Q&A: How to please Lord Shiva to get grace?

Question How to please Lord Shiva to get grace? Answer In this Kurma Purana chapter, Lord Shiva prescribes Bhakti or devotion as the best means of achieving his grace. Parama Shiva asserted: Naaham Tapobhirvividhairna Daanena na cheyjyayaa | Shakyo hi Purushair jaaturmutey Bhaktiamanuttamaam || .... I am always realisable by Bhakti or Pure Devotion and not necessarily by Tapasya, Daana or Charity and Yagnaas!. He further elaborates what is required of his devotees as follows:...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: How did Ravan get 10 heads? What are the names of those heads?

Question How did Ravan get 10 heads? What are the names of those heads? Answer Ravana was born with ten heads. His birth is mentioned in the Chapter 9 of Uttara Kanda Uttara Kanda of Ramayana as well as this answer by user Keshav Srinivasan. It is written that he was born with ten heads. From Having been thus accosted, the girl, O Rama, after a length of time brought forth a very terrible and hideous offspring having the form of a Raksha, having ten necks, furnished with large teeth, and resembling a heap of collyrium, with coppery lips, twenty arms, huge faces, and flaming hair....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: What is the context of Adi Shankara's statement 'Woman is the gateway to hell' found in his work Prashnottari?

Question What is the context of Adi Shankara’s statement “Woman is the gateway to hell” found in his work Prashnottari? Answer The question and answer quoted in the article is in the book Mani Ratna Mala which is said to be the work of Shree Adi Shankaracharya. Translated by by Paramhans, Swami Yoganand. Shloka no. 3 This book is in the question and answers , asked by Shishya and answers given by Guru....

February 14, 2023 · 4 min · TheAum