Q&A: Is sannyasa a Vedic way of life? Is it recommended by the Vedas, the ten authentic Upanishads or Grhyasutras?

Question Is sannyasa a Vedic way of life? Is it recommended by the Vedas, the ten authentic Upanishads or Grhyasutras? Answer I am referring to Rig Vedic mantras alone, which are the oldest and considered to be apaurushEya. The definition of Sannyasa was already elaborated by the OP. Hence, I am not reproducing similar content here. The Rig Vedic mantras were composed by the Sages. They prayed, apart from wealth, for children also....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Do humans breathe 21600 times in a day according to Yoga sastra?

Question Do humans breathe 21600 times in a day according to Yoga sastra? Answer Hamsa Upanishad, Yoga Upanishad which belongs to Shukla Yajurveda, mentions that. अथ हंस ऋषिः । अव्यक्ता गायत्री छन्दः । परमहंसो देवता । अहमिति बीजम् । स इति शक्तिः । सोऽहमिति कीलकम् । षट् सङ्ख्यया अहोरात्रयोरेकविंशतिसहस्राणि षट् शतान्यधिकानि भवन्ति । English Translation by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar: (Here the performance of Ajapā Gāyaṭrī is given). "Now Hamsa is the ṛshi; the metre is Avyakṭā Gāyaṭrī; Paramahamsa is the ḍevaṭā (or presiding deity) 'Ham' is the bīja; 'Sa' is the śakṭī; So’ham is the kīlaka....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Who are the pseudo-advaitins referred to by Shringeri Acharya? Does Adi Shankara state characteristics of true advaitins?

Question Who are the pseudo-advaitins referred to by Shringeri Acharya? Does Adi Shankara state characteristics of true advaitins? Answer Thanks to Rickross and Partha for their answers. You are not wrong. But this question is significant even in Advaita circles and deserves a level of detail which neither have covered. Advaita, during the course of time, has been morphed in to a confused, hodge podge of philosophical diversions. In the same book quoted in the question, on page 604, the acharya says: They will do well to bear in mind the declaration of the Kaṭha-upaniṣad, “One who has not desisted from bad conduct, whose senses are not under control, whose mind is not concentrated and whose mind is not free from hankering for the result of concentration cannot attain the Ātman through knowledge....

February 14, 2023 · 6 min · TheAum

Q&A: What exactly is meant by Harernamaiva Kevalam

Question What exactly is meant by Harernamaiva Kevalam Answer Narada Muni was repeating to many other similar verses found in other Mahapuranas i.e., Vishnu Purana and Bhagavatam in different matters. The mode of worship change from time to time and yuga to yuga due to change in conditions and the ability of the worshippers. The spiritual levels of people has also fallen. We do not have much time to perform penances or do meditation....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: What do ancient Hindu acharyas say about accepting the authority of Shruti but denying the authority of Smriti?

Question What do ancient Hindu acharyas say about accepting the authority of Shruti but denying the authority of Smriti? Answer Ancient Acharyas say that it is only logical to accept the validity of Smriti, because the expounders of Shruti also expound the Smriti. Hence, the Smriti is based on Shruti. Firstly, we accept the Vedas as eternal and divine because Vedic scholars say so. In other words, we have trust in Vedic scholars and the Vedic Sampradayas that produce very learned, trustworthy, and religious Vedic scholars....

February 14, 2023 · 6 min · TheAum

Q&A: Does Krishna say in the Bhagavad Gita that he alone can grant liberation?

Question Does Krishna say in the Bhagavad Gita that he alone can grant liberation? Answer This actually depends on the commentator or the one who is reading it. This link shows that Sri Adi Shankaracharya means the Real Self by 'Me' here, whereas some others mean Narayana. And this link shows it means Lord Krishna: https://asitis.com/18/66.html It is very cllear that Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti and Surya are just the altrnative forms of the Supreme Godhead according to Mahabharat and Gita , because:...

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: What is the original Hare Krishna mahamantra

Question What is the original Hare Krishna mahamantra Answer The original mantra is indeed "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare". The scriptural basis of this mantra comes from the Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa Upanishad where Brahma reveals this mantra to Narada in response to the latter's question of how Jivas can resist the effects of Kali in Kali-Yuga: At the end of Dvāpara yuga, Nārada went to Brahma and addressed him thus: "...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is the Manusmriti written to favor a particular Varṇa?

Question Is the Manusmriti written to favor a particular Varṇa? Answer NOTE: Manusmriti critics have cherry-picked certain verses from the Manusmriti to show that Manu was unfair towards Shudras and partial towards Brahmins. The purpose of this answer is to provide the rest of the other verses that censure bad Brahmins and praise good Shudras, to show that the critics cherry-picked those verses unfairly, and that Manu is actually fair towards all castes....

February 14, 2023 · 8 min · TheAum

Q&A: What exactly is the role of the Puranas in the Sanatana Dharma?

Question What exactly is the role of the Puranas in the Sanatana Dharma? Answer According to the Devi Bhagavatam, for the benefit of the Sudras, lower Dvijas and women Puranas are composed. 18-24. At every Manvantara, in each Dvâpara Yuga, Veda Vyâsa expounds the Purânas duly to preserve the religion. Veda Vyâsa is no other person than Visnu Himself; He, in the form of Veda Vyâsa, divides the (one) Veda into four parts, in every Dvâpara Yuga, for the good of the world....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: How come Shukadeva did not undergo Upanayanam?

Question How come Shukadeva did not undergo Upanayanam? Answer First of all, the Madhwa commentator Viijayadhvaja Tirtha and the Pushtimarga Acharya Vallabhacharya both say that the word "pravrajantam" in this verse does not mean taking up Sanyasa, and that Shuka did not take Sanyasa without doing Upanayana; see page 15 of this book. Second of all, the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan actually discusses Shuka in this excerpt from the Alepakamatabhangavada, a chapter of his Satadhusani devoted to refuting the Advaita view that those who have attained Brahmajnana do not have to follow the rules of Varnashrama Dharma....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is dark skin considered beautiful in Hindu scriptures?

Question Is dark skin considered beautiful in Hindu scriptures? Answer Yes, dark complexion is considered beautiful in Hindu scriptures. Like, Draupadi is one of the most beautiful woman and she is of dark complexion. It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Chaitraratha Parva: SECTION CLXIX. And there arose, after this from the centre of the sacrificial platform, a daughter also, called Panchali, who, blest with great good fortune, was exceedingly handsome....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why are Hindus vegetarian? What is the real meaning of the word 'mamsah' (मांसः) or meat?

Question Why are Hindus vegetarian? What is the real meaning of the word ‘mamsah’ (मांसः) or meat? Answer Mahabharata - Anushasana Parva -Dana Dharma Parva - Chapters 114-116 are discussing this issue in very detail. This is discussion between Bhishma , Yudhisthira and Rishi Vaishampayana. These chapters is highlighting the topic of Ahimsa (non killing). what is the real meaning of the-word-mamsah-मांसः? The etymology of word mamsah : The essence of word Mansa is told by Bhishma in Chapter 116 - Verse 25....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: How exactly did the killing of Abhimanyu violate the agreed-upon rules of war?

Question How exactly did the killing of Abhimanyu violate the agreed-upon rules of war? Answer Abhimanyu's killing was totally dharmic. Indian TV depicts his killing in a grossly untruthful manner But the truth from KMG's translation shows a largely Dharmic way Abhimanyu was made to pay for his youthful hubris: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07046.htm We can discuss the many-on-one early phases of the combat - including cutting away the chariot wheel - but the final combat is a fair one-one-one combat with equal weapons...

February 14, 2023 · 4 min · TheAum

Q&A: What are some good books to read for understanding philosophy and life of Ramakrishna?

Question What are some good books to read for understanding philosophy and life of Ramakrishna? Answer His simple stories encapsulate his teachings in an accessible way: http://yousigma.com/biographies/Tales%20and%20Parables%20of%20Sri%20Ramakrishna%20(English).pdf Note: “The question: What are some good books to read for understanding philosophy and life of Ramakrishna?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA.

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Ancient rishis were married, was sanyasa invented by Buddhists and Jains?

Question Ancient rishis were married, was sanyasa invented by Buddhists and Jains? Answer Was sanyasa (renunciation of worldly life, monasticism) then a concept invented by the shramana movement including Buddhists and Jains, and later imported into Hinduism? No, it has its origins in the Upanishads. The view that Sannyasa and other celibate orders are non-Vedic has been held by ancient followers of the Vedas. Maharishi Gautama says: Gautama (3.35)—‘There is only one life-stage, say the revered Teachers; since the householder’s life is the only one that is directly enjoined [in the Vedas]....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum