Q&A: How can we know that an Aatma got Moksha?

Question How can we know that an Aatma got Moksha? Answer No there isn't any way to identify that one got mokshya or not as no one has any idea about how the atma is(as its so small as mentioned below and no ordinary human being can see it without the help of supreme Lord) and whose atma it is, only paramathma knows about it. When the upper point of a hair is divided into one hundred parts and again each of such parts is further divided into one hundred parts, each such part is the measurement of the dimension of the spirit soul....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: How do you find out your Ishta-Deva (personal deity)?

Question How do you find out your Ishta-Deva (personal deity)? Answer The key role in revealing one's Ishta Devata plays the Atma Karaka. Atma Karaka is the planet that has the highest longitude. To find one's Ishta Devata we have to look at the Atma Karaka in Navamsa, since the Navamsa shows blessings of God onto the native and the way in which the native communicates with God. Atma Karaka in Navamsa is called the "Karakamsa"....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why do Hindus worship different Gods if they believe in only one God which is parabrahma?

Question Why do Hindus worship different Gods if they believe in only one God which is parabrahma? Answer It is because, the one supreme God doesn't offer any material benefits to the worshipper. Rather, because material things cause attachment and bondage, He snatches away whatever material things his true devotee may have: yasyāhamanugṛhṇāmi hariṣye taddhanaṃ śanaiḥ tato'dhanaṃ tyajantyasya svajanā duḥkhaduḥkhitam [SB - 10.88.8] Meaning I gradually take away his wealth whomever I show my favour and grace....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: How applicable is the phrase 'I am God' to Hinduism?

Question How applicable is the phrase “I am God” to Hinduism? Answer If you want to know whether the phrase "I am God" has validity in Hinduism, that exact phrase is present in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Nikhilananda's translation): They say: “Since men think that by the Knowledge of Brahman they become all, what, pray, was it that Brahman knew by which It became all?” This [self] was indeed Brahman in the beginning....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Can animals attain moksha?

Question Can animals attain moksha? Answer No, animals don't attain moksha. Because the natural order is as below: sthāvarāḥ krimayo'vjāśca pakṣiṇaḥ paśavo narāḥ dārmmakāstridaśāstadūnamokṣiṇaśca yathākramam [VP - 2.6.34] Meaning After experiencing the sufferings of hell, the sinners go through the various stages of existence in the following order: immovable trees, worms, birds, animals, men, pious men, gods and liberated souls. Moreover, if by moksha you mean, the advaita one, then by no means animals can attain that because they cannot cultivate the knowledge to ward away ignorance....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why didn't lord Hanuman help Sugriva to kill Vali?

Question Why didn’t lord Hanuman help Sugriva to kill Vali? Answer Be Happy is right in answering this. Shri Hanuman ji was certainly more powerful than Vali as well as Ravana. This fact is supported here, go through 35th and 36th sarga for details in Valmiki Ramayana. The text in image translates as (this is my translation, not the literal one): Shri Rama: Undoubtedly, there was no match of the strength that Vali and Ravana possessed, but i believe that even the strength of both of these put together cannot be matched with the strength of Hanuman....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Can anyone explain the family tree of Pandavas?

Question Can anyone explain the family tree of Pandavas? Answer Name of sons of Draupadi are Prativindhya from Yudhishthira Sutasoma from Bheema Srutakirti from Arjuna Satanika from Nakul Srutakarma from Sahadev Reference : Wikipedia Yudhisthira, Nakula and Sahadeva also had a wife other than Draupadi Yudhisthira had other wife Devika, the daughter of Govasana of the Saivya tribe, who bore him a son named Yaudheya. Refer : Yudhisthira Nakula had other wife Karenumati, the daughter of the king of the Chedi Kingdom, who bore him a son, Niramitra....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why did only Lord Rama kill Ravana?

Question Why did only Lord Rama kill Ravana? Answer One important reason goes far back to even before Ravana was born. Ravan was actually one of the two gatekeepers at Lord Vishnu's abode Vaikuntha. Once, they stopped the four Sanat kumaras from entering into Vaikuntha and they got cursed. So they took take birth in demonic families as the Lord had desired: The Lord replied: O brāhmaṇas, know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why did Lord Chaitanya appear on earth?

Question Why did Lord Chaitanya appear on earth? Answer Harinama Sankirtana (chanting of the Lord's names) is the prescribed spiritual duty for the people of Kali Yuga: kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad hari-kīrtanāt [SB - 12.3.52] Meaning Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the name of Hari....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Was Abhimanyu's death, a plot by Krishna?

Question Was Abhimanyu’s death, a plot by Krishna? Answer As per The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII: And he who was known as the mighty Varchas, the son of Soma, became Abhimanyu of wonderful deeds, the son of Arjuna. And before his incarnation, the god Soma had said these words to the celestials, 'I cannot give (part with) my son. He is dearer to me than life itself....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Which previous karma made Karna's life full of sorrow despite his benevolent nature?

Question Which previous karma made Karna’s life full of sorrow despite his benevolent nature? Answer The other two answers cite this webpage, which claims to be telling a story from the Srimad Bhagavatam, but you can read the Srimad Bhagavatam here; I don't see any such story. As far as I'm aware, the only place in Hindu scripture where the story of Dambhodbhava is told is in the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, and it doesn't mention anything about Dambhodbhava reincarnating as Karna....

February 14, 2023 · 5 min · TheAum

Q&A: How can one know which path among karma, bhakti and jnana is suitable for him?

Question How can one know which path among karma, bhakti and jnana is suitable for him? Answer The answer is simple. Just ask yourself: How attached am I to this material life? How much material desire do I have? Do I like the life experience here? Depending upon your answers and how you feel about them, you can easily decide which path is suitable for you. Because the scripture says the following:...

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: How do I find the right Guru?

Question How do I find the right Guru? Answer As per the scriptures, a right guru must be fulfilling two important qualities: Srotriya : He must be well versed in all the sashtras, i.e. Vedas, Puranas, Philosophies, etc. (master in theory) Brahmanistha: He must himself have realized God and stays fixed in Him. (master in practice) So the scriptures say as below: tad vijñānārthaṃ sa gurum evābhigacchet samit-pāṇiḥ śrotriyam brahma-niṣṭham [Mund....

February 14, 2023 · 4 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is our destiny predetermined? If yes, then why do our actions affect our karma?

Question Is our destiny predetermined? If yes, then why do our actions affect our karma? Answer This is a very good question because most of us often wonder about it many times. So I am explaining it with an example. It will be a bit lengthy, so please read it with patience. Also make sure to read this answer to get an idea about the three types of karma. Are our destinies predetermined?...

February 14, 2023 · 6 min · TheAum

Q&A: How is betting against one's wife and selling one's life partner justifed in Hinduism?

Question How is betting against one’s wife and selling one’s life partner justifed in Hinduism? Answer Raja Harishchandra was renowned for his justice and being religious. He had two unique qualities,first- he kept his word and never went back on what he uttered as a promise and second he never uttered a lie in his life. The Story of Raja Harishchandra once Vishwamitra(a great sage) approached Harishchandra and informed him of a promise made by the king during the sage's dream to donate his entire kingdom....

February 14, 2023 · 5 min · TheAum