Q&A: Why do we need to worship nirguna brahman?

Question Why do we need to worship nirguna brahman? Answer Why We Need To Worship Nirguna Brahman? Saguna Brahma and the Nirguna Brahman are actually two levels of worship for two kinds of people. Simply terms, the saguNa worship means worshipping a divine form with Guna's or attributes like name, shape, the special powers .And worshiping Nirguna brahman is meditating on our self or atman and knowing that Atman is brahman i....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Where is it written that Kshatriyas are eligible to eat meat?

Question Where is it written that Kshatriyas are eligible to eat meat? Answer Bhishma in the 116th chapter of Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata, declares that Kshatriyas don't commit any sin by eating meat: "Bhishma said, 'It is even so, O mighty-armed one, as thou sayest. There is nothing on earth that is superior to flesh in point of taste. There is nothing that is more beneficial then flesh to persons that are lean, or weak, or afflicted with disease, or addicted to sexual congress or exhausted with travel....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is Tulasi offered to Shiva?

Question Is Tulasi offered to Shiva? Answer According to this Skanda Purana chapter the leaves can be offered to Lord Shiva. The Shiva Lingam called Arunachala is in fact prescribed to be worshipped with Tulasi leaves. This Arunachal is expected to be Parameswar Himself and a fourteen kilometre distance surrounding the Mountain is as good as a complete ‘Pradakshina’ (Circumambulation) of Lord Siva. A large number of persons perform the Pradakshina on every full moon night barefooted and Pournami of Chaitra Month is a very special day as over hundreds of thousands throng the Temple and the Mountain displaying sincere devotion from all over the World....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Did Lord Rama worship Devi Ambika?

Question Did Lord Rama worship Devi Ambika? Answer That Sri Rama worshipped Supreme Goddess is mentioned in Lalita Trishati Stotram found in the Brahmanda Purana: Lakaararthaa Latha Poojya Laya Sthithudbhaveswari Lasya Darshana Santhushta Labhaalaabha Vivarjitha Langhyetharaagjnaa Lavanya Shalini Laghu Siddhida LaakshaarasaSavarnaabha Lakshmanagraja Poojitha Labhyetara Labdha Bhakthi Sulabha Langalaayudhaa Lagna Chaamara Hastha Shri Sharada Parivijitha Lajjaapada Samaraadhya Lampata Lakuleshwari Labdha Maanaa Labdha Rasaa Labdha Sampath Samunnatih || You are esteemed and worshipped by the womanhood of chastity; the Supreme of the Universe in all the stages of Birth, Growth and Destruction alike; witnessing the joyous dance of women gives you immense pleasure; You are far above the considerations of profits and losses; Mother, your instructions are always carried out and never questioned and indeed none whosoever dared to ask you questions!...

February 14, 2023 · 5 min · TheAum

Q&A: What is the concept of ritam as per the vedas?

Question What is the concept of ritam as per the vedas? Answer Satyam is Truth and Rtam (pronounced as Ritam) is the law that governs the working of that Truth. So, although both words basically mean the same, there is still a subtle difference between the two. One Mantra can be cited here from the Rig Veda, that has both Rtam and Satyam in it: Rtam cha satyam chAbhidhdAt (1), tapaso adhyajAyata (2)...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: How is the first choghadiya decided?

Question How is the first choghadiya decided? Answer The order is decided by the day of the week. Day Choghadiya +-------+-------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | +-------+-------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrut | Rog | Labh | Shubh | | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | +-------+-------+---------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ Night Choghadiya +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | | Shubh | Chal | Kaal | Udveg | Amrit | Rog | Labh | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ Reference: http://www....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is it stated explicitly anywhere in the Mahabharata that a progressively adharmic War made Ashwatthama a monster?

Question Is it stated explicitly anywhere in the Mahabharata that a progressively adharmic War made Ashwatthama a monster? Answer Only person who thought in the lines of Drona being killed with fraud caused change to Aswattama is Dhritarashtra while speaking with Sanjaya but it is not explicitly stated anywhere else. We can infer it from the following words "Dhritarashtra said, 'After Drona had been slain with the aid of fraud, and the Narayana weapon baffled, what, indeed, did Drona's son, thus urged by Duryodhana then, do, beholding the Parthas once more arrived for battle freed from the Narayana weapon, and careering at the head of their divisions?...

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Names of 33 Gods and their Jobs (including goddesses)?

Question Names of 33 Gods and their Jobs (including goddesses)? Answer Eight Vasus (Deities of elements) Dyaus : Sky Prithivi : Earth Vayu : Wind Agni : Fire Nakshatra : Stars Antariksha : Space Surya : Sun Chandra : Moon Twelve Adityas (personified deities) Vishnu : The presever Indra : Leader of other Adityas and god of clouds Ansh : Due share Aryaman : Nobility Bhaag : Due inheritance Dhatri : Ritual skill...

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Does the narrator of Ramayana appear in Ramayana?

Question Does the narrator of Ramayana appear in Ramayana? Answer Yes Valmiki appears in the Uttara Kanda, where he provides shelter in his ashrama to the banished Sita. Later events take place at his ashrama with Valmiki playing an important role in the bringing up of Lava and Kusha. Refer link : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana#Uttara_Kanda Note: “The question: Does the narrator of Ramayana appear in Ramayana?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Does any work say 'Vishnuraham' - I am Vishnu like there is 'Shivoham' - I am Shiva?

Question Does any work say ‘Vishnuraham’ - I am Vishnu like there is ‘Shivoham’ - I am Shiva? Answer The Brahmanuchintanam which is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya mentions the term "Vishnuraham": ahaM viShNurahaM viShNurahaM viShNurahaM hariH | kartR^ibhoktrAdikaM sarvaM tadavidyotthameva cha || 13|| English Translation: I am Vishnu, I am Vishnu, I am Vishnu, I am Hari. I am bliss, I am full, unborn, and immortal. Prahlada, in the Yoga Vashista too, mentions the term "Vishnuraham":...

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Should ONLY ISKCON English translations of Scripture be cited when Traditional versions are also available?

Question Should ONLY ISKCON English translations of Scripture be cited when Traditional versions are also available? Answer Here's what I will say about this with all due respect. I had been a member of ISKCON for several years during my undergraduate degree (no longer one). My observations are as follows:- 1) ISKCON is a highly anglicized (almost Christianized) version of Vaishnav movements of the olden times (and by that I mean movements of Sri Ramanuja, Sant Tukaram and other Vaishnavas)....

February 14, 2023 · 5 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is K.M. Ganguli's translation of the Anu Gita in line with other Mahabharata translators?

Question Is K.M. Ganguli’s translation of the Anu Gita in line with other Mahabharata translators? Answer I am posting Bibek Debroy's translation. It agrees with K. M. Ganguli's translation. Having been thus addressed, the greatly energetic Krishna, supreme among eloquent ones, embraced Phalguna and replied in these words, "I made you listen to something that is eternal and secret. O Partha! That was about the nature of eternal dharma for all the worlds....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Does scripture say that widows are inauspicious?

Question Does scripture say that widows are inauspicious? Answer Yes, scripture suggests that widows are inauspicious and should be avoided "like the poison of a snake." Only exception is one's own widowed mother. Julie Leslie, in The Perfect Wife — a translation of/commentary on Strīdharmapaddhati (Guide to the Religious Status and Duties of Women) by Tryambaka of 18th century Thanjavur — says the following. Tryambaka also discusses the interesting question of the impurity and inauspiciousness traditionally ascribed to widows....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Whom & how to worship to develop fearless or fierce instincts?

Question Whom & how to worship to develop fearless or fierce instincts? Answer One can recite the so called Abhaya Mantras from the Vedas. The name of the Mantras itself suggests that those are to give freedom from fear. abhayam nah karati antariksham abhayam dyAvAprithivi ubhe ime abhayam pashchAdbhayam purastAt uttarAt adharAdabhayam no astu || May the mid-region free us from all fear, both heaven and earth make us fearless; Let there be no fear from behind, no fear from in front, no fear from the north or the south....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is Soma Really a drink Or a Metaphor For Vedic Immortality?

Question Is Soma Really a drink Or a Metaphor For Vedic Immortality? Answer Soma is not a metaphor rather it represents two distinct yet related things - ONE is the Moon-god also known as Chandrama and other is the invigorating drink that was consumed by the gods. They are both inter-related hence there is sometimes confusion regarding its real nature but the following excerpts should be able to help us understand the distinction as well as their relatedness....

February 14, 2023 · 11 min · TheAum