Question Why is Surya referred to as Martanda? Answer Is this story of Surya being born dead and revived later given in any scripture? Yes , apart from Brahma Purana , we find the brief mentioning of Aditya or Sun God being born dead and revived later in Satapatha Brahmana - Kanda 3 - Adhyaya - 1 - Brahmana 3 . .But here instead it's said that Martanda was born unformed or immature than dead ....
Question Karmic result of a gay man marrying a straight woman fraudulently Answer Fraudulent marriages may distinctly fall under "PishAcha" marriage (sub demonic), which is the lowest category among all types of marriages. According to Manusmruti, chapter 3, among 8 types of marriages, 2 of them, viz. Asura & PishAcha -- should never by practiced. When (a man) by stealth seduces a girl who is sleeping, intoxicated, or disordered in intellect, that is the eighth, the most base and sinful rite of the Pisakas....
Question What are steps for following karma yoga (in all aspects of life)? Answer Bhagavad Gita describes 2 ways of Moksha (liberation): SAmkhya & Yoga. [BG 5.5] It describes Yoga in 4 ways: Karma-Yoga, GyAna-Yoga, DhyAna-Yoga, Kriya-Yoga [BG 12.12] (Bhakti should not be considered as part of Yoga) But before we delve into the Karma-Yoga, one should ask oneself: "Why do I want to follow Karma Yoga?" The product of any Yoga (or SAmkhya) is "indifference" (i....
Question The Oracle said that the eighth son of Devaki would kill Kansa, then why did he kill seven sons? Answer The reason was the fear and insecurity created in Kamsa's mind after meeting with sage Narada. After hearing a prophecy by an unembodied voice (Akash vani. It was not by a sage) that eighth son of Devakī would kill him, Kamsa was shocked and decided to kill his sister Devakī....
Question Is a neutral person in a religious war equal to enemy, according to GITA? Answer Gita is quite clear that one must oppose the wicked and fight on the side of dharma. There is no room for neutrality in a war against adharma. The concrete example is that of Arjuna. He refused to fight against adharma on personal grounds. Sri Krishna chastised him for such unmanliness. O Arjuna! Whence has this loathsome stupidity come upon you in this crisis?...
Question Is it true that the next life depends on our thoughts while dying? Answer Yes. BG 8.6 — Also [when] the body is left remembering whatever "Nature" at the end, O son of Kunti, [it] always approaches towards establishing those nature(s) only. This is further confirmed by below verse, which though said in the context of the Yogi-s, is applicable to all. i.e. we carry forward the practices/samskAra-s of our past births....
Question Was there a process of impeachment if a king was found to be in violation of dharma? Answer No such thing as impeachment is found in the Smritis. But I've found something relevant in the Mahanirvana Tantra's 11th Chapter, which talks about Prayaschittas (expiatory rites), regarding what shall be the punishment for such a King. [Lord Shiva says] O Kula−nayika! know that there are two kinds of sin−− that which contributes merely to the injury of one's own self, and that which causes injury to others (15)....
Question Is sexual activity by devadasi sanctioned in Hinduism? Answer There is no sanction in Hindu scripture for sexual activity by Devadasis. The Temple Dancers The tradition of women being dedicated to a temple can be found in all ancient civilisations including Greece and Egypt. In India, the devadasis, the handmaiden of god. was married to the deity as a child and became part of a temple establishment. A devadasi was supposed to have the highest status of a hierarchy of the temple after the temple priests and their presence was considered essential during religious relations....
Question Who records Karma of all living beings? Answer The Atman and the five organs of perception do. Bhishma said,’ No act done with the aid of the five organs of sensual perception, is ever lost. The five sensual organs and the immortal soul which is the sixth, remain its witnesses.’ Mahabharata Anusasana Parva Section VII Records of all our deeds are kept in the casual body. The reason for calling this body causal is that the record of our karma kept in this body causes rebirth....
Question What are the different sources that describe vedangas or limbs of the vedas? Answer Vedangas literally mean the limbs of the Vedas. The Vedanga are six auxiliary disciplines traditionally associated with the study and understanding of the Vedas. They are six in number. Just like the limbs of the body, they perform various supportive and augmenting functions in the study, preservation and protection of the Vedas and the vedic traditions....
Question Is it possible for us to see the subtle body? Answer I thought you are asking if scriptures mention whether it is possible to see the subtle body or not. So, if you are also looking for answers like this, then Sri Ramakrishna also saw his own subtle body coming out of his gross body. This inicident is quite famous in his life. He saw signs of the throat disease in that subtle body that he were to be afflicted with in the future....
Question Who is devi in devi suktam? Answer Vaak Suktam Or Devi Suktam is in Rig- Veda - Mandala 10 as sukta 125. The Rishika of this sukam is Vagambharni i.e. this sukta has been heard by a female sage by name Vaak , who is the daughter of Rishi Ambhrina and so the sukta is also called as the VakAmbharni Sukta. The explanation given in various sources say that this suktam came out from deep of her heart when she was in communication with Brahman in her worship in exalted state....
Question Is me and my body separate? Answer The "I" is the soul. And it is distinct from the body. The body is declared to be dead when the soul leaves the body. Asya visramsamAnasya sharirasthasya dehinah | DehAdvimuchyamanasya kimatra parishishyate | Etadvai tath || When, one, who is established in the body as it's lord, gets detached from the body, what remains in the body then? That is That (or the AtmA)....
Question Did Brahman split into multiple souls? Answer The exact verse you are referring to is Chandogya VI.2.3. The division is only apparently so, and is only seen from the aspect of maya. Krishna says in Gita Chapter 13 verse 16 (Swami Nikhilananda translator): It is indivisible, and yet It is, as it were, divided among beings. That Knowable Brahman is the Sustainer of all beings, and also their Devourer and Generator....
Question What are the “Three Worlds” referred to in the Bhagavad Gita 3.22? Answer The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad V.xiv.1 (Swami Madhavananda translator) says: 'Bhumi' (the earth), 'Antariksa' (sky) and 'Dyaus' (heaven) make eight syllables, and the first foot of the Gayatri has eight syllables. So the above three worlds constitute the first foot of the Gayatri. He who knows the first foot of the Gayatri to be such wins as much as there is in those worlds....