Q&A

Question How many Tantra (Sakta Agamas) texts are there? Answer Arthur Avalon mentioned in the Principles of Tantra(English translation of the Bengali work Tantratattva written by his guru Shivachandra Vidyârnava) that each Krântâ has it's own 64 sets of Shâktâgamas. There are 3 Krântâs, which makes a total of 192 Shâktâgamas. For Vishnukrântâ, these 64 Shâktâgamas are : Siddheshvara Tantra, Kâlî Tantra, Kulârnava Tantra, Jnanârnava Tantra, Nîla Tanta, Phetkârinî Tantra, Devî Âgama, Uttara Tantra, Shrîkrama Tantra, Siddhayâmala Tantra, Matsyasûkta, Siddhasâra Tantra, Siddhasârasvata Tantra, Vârâhî Tantra, Yoginî Tantra, Ganeshavimarshinî Tantra, Nityâ Tantra, Shivâgama, Châmundâ Tantra, Mundamâlâ Tantra, Hamsamaheshvara Tantra, Niruttara Tantra, Kulaprakâshaka Tantra, Devîkalpa Tantra, Gândharva Tantra, Kriyâsâra Tantra, Nibandha Tantra, Svatantra Tantra, Sammohana Tantra, Tantrarâja Tantra, Lalitâ Tantra, Râdhâ Tantra, Mâlinî Tantra, Rudrayâmala Tantra, Brihatshrîkrama Tantra, Gavâksha Tantra, Sukumudinî Tantra, Vishuddheshvara Tantra, Mâlinîvijaya Tantra, Samayâchâra Tantra, Bhairavî Tantra, Yoginîhridaya Tantra, Bhairava Tantra, Sanatkumâra Tantra, Yoni Tantra, Tantrântara Tantra, Navaratneshvara Tantra, Kulachudâmani Tantra, Bhâvachudâmani Tantra, Devaprakâsha Tantra, Kâmâkhyâ Tantra, Kâmadhenu Tantra, Kumârî Tantra, Bhûtadâmara Tantra, Yâmala Tantra, Brahmayâmala Tantra, Vishvasâra Tantra, Mahâkâlasamhita, Kuloddîsha Tantra, Kulâmrita Tantra, Kubjikâ Tantra, Yantrachitâmani Tantra, Kâlîvilâsa Tantra, Mâyâ Tantra...

Question What is the proper translation of Rig Veda 10.95.15? Answer No the translation is absolutely fine. We need to see the context here. According to legend, Pururava and Urvashi lived together and Urvasi leaves him one day. Pururva goes back to her and asks her to come back. She refuses and then Pururva threatens her that he will die and never return, hence she speaks these words. By this, we can conclude that these verses don't have any philosophical/prescriptive but only descriptive usage as part of a Legendary Story....

Question Are fire cracks really a part of diwali celebration? Answer Are fire cracks really a part of diwali celebration? Short Answer: NO There's no scriptural injunction in any way whatsoever which prescribe for burning crackers on the auspicious day of Diwali or Deepavali. Also, contrary to the popular belief that "Diwali is celebrated only because Shri Rama returned back to Ayodhaya after his vanavasa, there are several other reasons in different parts of India, another popular one being, the "Emergence of Bhagawati Lakshmi from Samundra Manthan and thus subsequent tradition of extolling and worshipping Goddess Mahalakshmi on the night of Diwali....

Question Why killing someone, stealing and drinking, all are equated on a same level of offense? Answer Summary: (Read conclusion below for a summarised compact understanding, since answer is long.) Upapātaka doesn’t mean minor sin but general sin. There’s no hierarchy of sins per say except the 5 major ones and killing of women (or anyone) is in no way inferior. There is no differentiation between the killing of Men and women both have been accorded an equal status but yet an exception has been made in the case of fertile women....

Question Is it true that if supreme lord kills someone then she/he will attain Moksha? Answer Yes. Anyone killed by Lord gets Moksha. Lord awards Moksha to even people who hate and reject him. I will give few examples of people who got liberated from Bhagavatam. These two associates of Lord Viṣṇu — Jaya and Vijaya — maintained a feeling of enmity for a very long time. Because of always thinking of Kṛṣṇa in this way, they regained the shelter of the Lord, having returned home, back to Godhead....

Question Shri Ramakrishna was from which school of thought? Answer The great mystic & Saint, Sri Ramakrishnan Paramahamsa, born in Bengal, started his journey with unflinching devotion to Maa KAli which later also took him towards the Advaita School of Vedanta, after the incident - " when he cut Maa Kali into two pieces using the sword of jnana (knowledge) ". His Wikipedia Page quotes as follows Sri Ramakrishna experienced spiritual ecstasies from a young age, and was influenced by several religious traditions, including devotion toward the Goddess Kali, Tantra, Bhakti and Advaita Vedanta....

Question Do all Non-Hindus remain as Pretas after death? Answer Usana Smriti's Chapter 7 has the following verse: It is laid down that Sapindikaran, S'raddha should be preceeded by the Daiva, (i.e., offerings made to the Deities). There one should invite the departed Manes and point out again (i.e., invoke) the deceased.* (17) On this verse the translator/commentator (Manmatha Nath Dutta) says: A deceased person is called Preta till the celebration of the Sapindikaran Shraddha , after which he is designated Pitri,...

Question Is Rigveda 10:138:4 is asking to kill Non Hindus? Answer Well if you look at the Hindi translation of it here on Vedakosh, the complete translation says: (धृषितः) शत्रुओं का धर्षणकर्ता दबानेवाला (अनाधृष्टानि) न धर्षण करने योग्य बलों को (वि-आस्यत्) विशेषरूप से फेंकता है (अयास्यः) अभ्रान्त-न थका हुआ (निधीन्-अदेवान्) बलनिधि नास्तिक उद्दण्ड शत्रुओं को (अमृणात्) हिंसित करता है (मासा इव सूर्यः) अपनी रश्मि से सूर्य रस खींच लेता है, उसी प्रकार (पुर्यं वसु-आददे) शत्रु के पुरि नगरी में होनेवाले धन को बल को ले लेता है (गृणानः) प्रार्थना में लाया हुआ (विरुक्मता शत्रून्-अशृणात्) विशेष तेजस्वी वज्र से शत्रुओं को मारता है ॥४॥...

Question What is the explanation for Yajur Veda 19.37? Answer We need to read and understand the underlying sloka/verse to decipher the correct meaning intended in the Vedas. But you need to be careful with western translations when relying on their interpretations of vedas. I will write the sanskrit verse below and provide meaning for it, and then clarify what its intention is thereafter. But first, one thing I need to caveat - you said "I mean how it is possible, because once you are dead your soul goes for reincarnation....

Question What are some similar verses to Gita 2:26 Answer Mandukya Karika has a similar verse - Ātman, in regard to its birth, death, going and coming (i.e., transmigration) and its existing in different bodies, is not dissimilar to the Ākāśa (Mandukya Karika 3.9) Shankaracharya comments "The point which has been just stated is again thus developed:—Birth, death, etc., of the Ātman as seen in all bodies is like the creation, destruction, coming, going and existence of the Ghaṭākāśa"...

Question Is an evil, but devoted, person more valued by the Gods than a good, but an atheistic, person? Answer This is a good question often asked by people. This question is asked because people think that good karma automatically should lead to moksha, bliss and relief from suffering. I will try to establish that this simplistic idea is not right. Does Ishvara distinguish between a devotee and an atheist?...

Question Why materialism is bad in Hinduism? Answer Why materialism is bad in Hinduism? Why materialism and materialistic people are bad. Sanathan dharma does not forbid materialistic enjoyment for everyone. Discouraging pleasures depend on several factors such as the goal, occupation, knowedge, virtue of human under consideration. Pleasures from materials are encouraged by scriptures For example, you can read the statements by Bhimasena on the importance of pleasures. Many scriptures do explain the importance of materials and pleasures....

Question What is the explanation for Rigveda 5.2.11? Answer The Vedas, including Rig Veda 5.2.11, were composed by Rishis. They did not come down from heaven. So the question boils down to how a book written by humans can be considered to be divine. The answer is that the spiritual information contained in the Vedas is not the product of the intellect of the Rishis but have been discovered through deep meditation....

Question What is the English translation of brihadaranyaka-upanishad Verse 6.4.3-6? Answer Here is the translation of Hume; Her lap is a sacrificial altar; her hairs, the sacrificial grass; her skin, the soma-press. The two labia of the vulva are the fire in the middle. Verily, indeed, as great as is the world of him who sacrifices with the Vâjapeya ('Strength-libation') sacrifice, so great is the world of him who practises sexual intercourse, knowing this; he turns the good deeds of women to himself....

Question Why does part of Vaishnavism consider Gautama Buddha to be an Avatara of Lord Vishnu, even though he rejected Vedic wisdom? Answer All serious Vaishnavas consider Buddha an avatar of Vishnu, but the question is which Buddha? First, let us prove that the Buddha was indeed an avatar. Some claim that the Buddha was either an interpolation in the puranas or that the puranas themselves came after the time of the Buddha....