Q&A

Question How can one meditate? Answer Meditation is a step by step process and the sadhak (seeker) should start the process with Ashtanga Yoga, the first being Yama and then gradually move on to the next step. If you think that closing the eyes and trying to stop the mind is meditation, then you can try it. But you will not be successful unless you have developed very strong willpower. Without the power of anashakti, vairagya or non-attachment, meditation is very difficult to practise....

Question Mantras, Prayer for Health? Answer There are some special types of Stotras called Kavachas (literally "armours"), where the presiding deity is requested to protect the devotee's various body parts. So, possibly you can take help of them. Recitation of these Kavachas will help increase the well-being of the corresponding body parts. These Kavachams are mostly found in the Tantras. I am giving here two such examples. Durga Kavacham Srunu devi pravakshyami Kavacham sarva sidhitham,...

Question Are Itihasa and puranas superior than Vedas? Answer For this we have to do comparison of scripture as per the scriptures Devi Bhagwatam 11:1 Where you will find differences between S’ruti, Smriti and Purânas, accept the words of the S’rutis as final proofs. Wherever Smriti disagrees with the Purânas, know the Smritis more authoritative. And where differences will crop up in the S’rutis themselves, know that Dharma, too, is of two kinds....

Question Is the Advaita concept of jiva aNu (atomic) or vibhu (all-pervading)? Answer The 'size' of the soul is discussed in Brahma Sutras Chapter 2, Section 3 Adikarana 13 (II.3.19-32) here with commentary (https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/brahma-sutras): Adhikarana summary: The size of the individual soul 19. (As the Sruti texts declare the soul’s) passing out, going (to other spheres) and returning (thence), (the soul is not infinite in size). From this up to Sutra 82 the question of the size of the soul--whether it is atomic, medium-sized or infinite—is discussed....

Question Is working according to desire is right dharma Answer Before replying the main issue " Desire", it would be in the fitness of things to give some relevant information. Among few others Karma, Attachment, Desire has been the focal theme of Geeta. Almost all copies of Geeta quote around dozen shlokas under the caption Geeta Mahatmya wherein we find a beautiful analogy of lead characters of Mahabharata . There is the mention of "...

Question contradiction between Nasadiya Sukta and Hiranyagarbha Answer I agree that most of translation of Nasadiya Sukta concludes that " he knows - or maybe even he does not know." Rigveda 10.129.7 Whence all creation had its origin, he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not, he, who surveys it all from highest heaven, he knows - or maybe even he does not know. However another interpretation I found for this line is No other than him does know it completely (only he knows)....

Question Does consuming non-vegetarian food hinder our spiritual progress? Answer I have found some scriptures of what they say about eating non-vegetarian from a vlog: Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah : Manusmrithi 5.51 Those who permit slaying of animals, those who bring animals for slaughter, those who slaughter, those who sell meat, those who purchase meat, those who prepare dish out of it, those who serve that meat and those who eat are all murderers....

Question Are aggressive sages like Durvasa not true sages? Answer There are 3 methods of adoring the Almighty, as far as I understood. Performing religious rituals, as laid down in Sastras, offering prayers at prescribed times, following Dharmic way of life - ritualistic life.- Example: Dasaratha, Yudhisthira, etc. Performing tantric rituals, as laid down in tantra texts, undergoing severe austerities, if necessary by performing various Homas, which are prohibited by Vedic way of life (dakshinachAra), for achieving powers in a shortest possible period - Example: Ravana, Indrajit, etc....

Question What does Chanakya impliy when he says “Dharma” and “Kama” depends on “Artha”? How do the two depend on Artha? Answer The interdependence between the dharma (virtue), artha (wealth) and kama (pleasure) can be understood well form the words of Bhimasena in Mahabharata. Note that the words of Chanakya are mainly intended for a Kshatriya and hence my answer is. I will divide my answer into two parts. First part addresses the dependence of dharma on artha and the second part addresses the dependence of kama on artha...

Question Where does the real Ayodhya lies and where does the Lord Ram born? Answer The distance between Ayodhya and Valmiki Ashram is about 300 kilometers. In the Ramayana, it is mentioned that Laxman left Sita at the Valmiki Ashram and returned the same day. The author argues that at that time, it was not possible to return to Ayodhya from the Valmiki Ashram, which was 600 km away. So, on that basis author claims that Ayodhyapuri is only 17 kilometers away from Valmiki Ashram, Ram's birthplace is Ayodhyapuri in Nepal....

Question What is the exact meaning of this quote by Neem Karoli Baba? Answer Have a look at the following verse: Dve pade vandhamokshAya mameti nirmameti cha | Mameti vAdyate janturna nirmameti vimuchyate || Mama (Mine) and Nir-Mama (Not Mine) - These two words are respectively the indicators of Bandhana (bondage due to illusion) and Moksha (liberation from bondage). The thought "Mine" binds the Jiva, but the thought "Not-Mine" liberates it....

Question Does Vaishnavism ordain one to cut the tongue of a blasphemer? Answer The passage you quoted in your question is from Shreemad Bhagavata Maha Purana 4.4.17 and it says that "one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender". And your enquiry is about "does Vaishnavism ordains one to the cut-the tongue of a blasphemer? " The answer is No. Not only Vaishnavism but none of the sects of Hinduism advocate or endorse such an act, nor such a thing is said anywhere in Hinduism scriptures....

Question Are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, etc., which encouraged sectarian attitude, contrary to Rig Vedic principles, therefore, anti-Hindu or anti-Sanatana Dharma? Answer It is certainly correct to say that Vedas do not espouse a hierarchy of the Devas. There is no superior or inferior deity in the Vedas, as seen in RV 1.164.46, which you have mentioned. Similarly, RV 5.59.6: अज्येष्ठा ... अकनिष्ठासः ... अमध्यमासो They have no elder, younger or middling members...

Question How can Garuda eating Nishadas be justified? Answer The Story of Garuda, as mentioned in Mahabharata, has roots in Rig Veda. In Rig Veda IV.26.5-6, bringing of Soma by a swift falcon was mentioned. This hymn was dedicated to Indra and rishi was Vāmadeva Gautama. भर॒द् यदि॒ विरतो॒ वेवि॑जानः प॒थोरुणा॒ मनो॑जवा असर्जि । तूयं॑ ययौ॒ मधु॑ना सो॒म्येनो॒त श्रवो॑ विविदे श्ये॒नो अत्र॑ ॥५॥ ऋ॒जी॒पी श्ये॒नो दद॑मानो अं॒शुं प॑रा॒वत॑: शकु॒नो म॒न्द्रं मद॑म् । सोमं॑ भरद् दादृहा॒णो दे॒वावा॑न् दि॒वो अ॒मुष्मा॒दुत्त॑रादा॒दाय॑ ॥६॥...

Question What are the correct mantras while giving arghya to Surya? Answer In Bhavishya Purana a lot is found on Surya worship as the text considers Surya as the supreme deity. In it, we find Shri Krishna advising son Samba on how to correctly worship Surya Narayana. As per that, the mantra to be used while pouring the Arghya is a mantra called as the Shakshatkara mantra of sun. Quoting from the book "Essence of Bhavishya Purana":...