Question On what basis are puranas named? Answer The Puranas are named according to following points (these are my observations): On the basis of which deity is glorified. On the basis of which Kalpa events are mentioned. On the basis of who is narrator of events. On the basis of to whom the events are being narrated. The complete list of Puranas and why they are named so is given in Shiva Purana, Uma Sanhita, Chapter 44....
Question Is Kalki an avatar of Vishnu? Answer Kalki avatar is an avatar of Lord Vishnu only. There is no doubt in this. It has been prophesied in many puranas that Lord Vishnu will incarnate to remove evil from Kaliyuga therefore restoring dharma again. In this Kali Yuga itself, when the junction period is yet to lapse, the lord will be born under the name of Kalki and Viṣṇu Yaśā. He will be born in the family of Parashara and have great exploits....
Question On what basis is Krishna claimed to be source of Vishnu? Answer Why is Krishna considered as source of Vishnu? The answer is based on analysis by Jiva Goswami in his Sandarbhas. This belief is based on Srimad Bhagavatam & other Vedic literatures. Few reasons Srimad Bhagavatam is considered as sarva-pramananam cakravarti - emperor of all evidences: After composing all the Vedas, puranas and mahabharat, Vyasa was still dissatisfied and then finally wrote Bhagavatam and got satisfied....
Question “Cows are sacred” & at the same time “It’s only a sinful soul which gets born as an animal” - How to deal with this apparent contradiction? Answer Cow is not animal its more than animal its demi god.. Then there is no contradiction.. similarly idol worship you have to see antaryami in idol as idol itself is not god.. idol in temple is higher because it conscreted with mantra....
Question Is there any reference that Krishna was connected to Brahman while speaking Gita? Answer Apparently this comes from a statement from Anugita, as another member Lakhi has posted. Here's the explanation given by the authors of the Narayanastra blog. para.n hi brahma kathitaM yogayuktena tanmayA |itihAsa.n tu vakShyAmi tasminnarthe purAtanam || 12|| They explain Yoga as "Dhyana" as in thought/will instead of being in meditation or connection with brahman....
Question What is the meaning of Tri-sapta in Atharva-veda? Answer The first Sukta of Atharva-Veda is Medha Janan Sukta , Rishi of which is Atharva and Devata is Vachaspati. This is a prayer to Vāchaspati for divine illumination and help. ये त्रिषप्ता : परियन्ति विश्वा रूपाणि बिभ्रता : | वाचस्पतिर्बला तेषां तन्वो अद्य दधातु मे ||1|| The thrice-seven that go about , bearing all forms - Let the Lord of speech assign to me today their powers [their] selves (tanu)....
Question Was Adi-Shankara initiated into Kriya Yoga? Answer The reference of Babaji giving initiation to Adi Shankara is found in Autobiography of a Yogi. As per Paramahansa Yogananda, Mahavatar Babaji himself stated that he gave initiation to Adi Shankara. Autobiography of a Yogi / Chapter 33 - Babaji, the Yogi-Christ of Modern India: Babaji’s mission in India has been to assist prophets in carrying out their special dispensations. He thus qualifies for the scriptural classification of Mahavatar (Great Avatar)....
Question Who is the first well known saint to mention Radha in his works? Answer As far as I know, Adi Shankaracharya mentions Sri Radha's name in his Yamunashtakam stotra Slokas 6 & 7. Sankskrit-Tamil translation available in this kamakoti website. जलान्तकेलिकारिचारु राधिका ङ्गरागिणी स्वभर्तुरन्यदुर्लभाङ्गसङ्गतांशभागिनी स्वदत्तसुप्तसप्तसिन्धुभेदनातिकोविदा । धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥६॥ Jala-Anta-Keli-Kaari-Caaru-Raadhika-Angga-Raaginnii Sva-Bhartur-Anya-Durlabha-Angga-Sangga-Taamsha-Bhaaginii Sva-Datta-Supta-Sapta-Sindhu-Bhedana-Ati-Kovidaa | Dhunotu Me Mano-Malam Kalinda-Nandinii Sadaa ||6|| May Yamunā — Whose water is mixed with the cosmetics of sporting Rādhikā, Who enjoys the continuous touch of Her consort (Kṛṣṇa) which is a luxury for others, Who is mighty enough to penetrate the serene seven oceans, and Who is the daughter of Kalinda — washes the malice of my mind....
Question Why is Lord Shiva identified as Mahadeva? Answer Such a thing is clarified in Karna Parva, in a conversation between Duryodhana and Shalya about the latter being the charioteer of Karna, in the process Duryodhana narrates the destruction of Tripura: Duryodhana said, 'O supreme among kings! The gods accepted what the lord of the gods had said. 324 All of them gave him half of their energy and he became superior....
Question What are the benefits of chanting the names of Lord Vishnu? Answer Here are some quotes from Bhagavatam. SB 12.3.51: My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom. SB 11.5.36: Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this Age of Kali....
Question Where is it mentioned that chanting Krishna is more powerful than chanting Rama’s name? Answer This comparison is actually unfair and made famous from some particular sects only. This is same how they started saying "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" instead of Kali-Santarana Upanishad version "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" i....
Question How many different Chandas are there in the Vedas? Answer A question What are the 21 meters known to Rig Vedic seers? (actually a Rigveda mantra quoted) triggered me to search for the list of 21 Chhandas. So, I have searched for Chhandasutras of Pingalacharya which is the oldest scripture on Chhanda, one of the six Vedangas. Original Sanskrit text is easily available on Vedic reserve of Maharshi University site, I searched for the translation but couldn't find any handy English or Hindi translation....
Question Did Adi Shankaracharya accept equality of 5 major gods in his works? Answer Since you believe the Stotrams attributed to Adi Shankara are later works, I guess then it will be difficult to prove that he believed all the Panchatayana deities as Saguna Brahman. This is because his major works only refer to Sriman Narayana as supreme alone. For example, his Bhagavad Gita commentary states that nobody is equal to Sriman Narayana:...
Question Are children of Brahmin parents also Brahmin by caste? Answer Yes, caste is based on birth. There is scriptural support for it. Scriptural support: Manusmriti (10.5).- In all castes (varna) those (children) only which are begotten in the direct order on wedded wives, equal (in caste and married as) virgins, are to be considered as belonging to the same caste (as their fathers) Āpastamba (2.13.1).—‘Sons begotten by a man who approaches in the proper season a woman of equal caste, who has not belonged to another man, and who has been married legally, have a right to follow the occupations of their castes....
Question Who was the author of the Manusmriti? Answer So who was this narrator who wrote the Manusmriti? It depends on whether you are looking for the traditional answer or an academic (non-faith) scholarly opinion. Based on your citing the example of Vyasa/Ganesha for the Mahabharata, it appears you are looking for the former. In that case, the narrator of the Manu-Smriti is Bhrigu Maharshi. The last verse of the text reads:...