Hinduism Questions & Answers

Question If karma works, why are so many evil or corrupted people successful? Answer This is not difficult to explain from the Karma and rebirth doctrine of Hinduism. When you say a person is corrupt, you are only seeing the conducts and acts of the person in the current life. This in the scriptures is known as the Vartamana Karma. But, there are Sanchita Karmas (accumulated over previous births) as well as Prarabdha (which are commenced or ready to bear fruits)....

Question Is Life after Moksha possible? Answer No. It's not possible. After Moksha, a soul has become God by merging into the singularity of God. What God does, that soul does or what that soul does, the God does. Both are same. The question rather should be, Is it required to have a life after Moksha? A soul with no desire left and who has conquered its Rajo-Guna (the mode of passion) will not have anything to do with the material world....

Question Is it true that thieves kidnapped some of Krishna’s wives? Answer Yes. They were kidnapped as they saw Samba, who was born with Amsa of Lord Shiva, with lust. Samba was their son and due to this heinous act, they were cursed by Lord Krishna. This is explained in detail in Chapter 70 of Matsya Purana. Siva said— There will be 16,000 wives of Krspa in the Yuga mentioned above....

Question What do the Vedas say about animal sacrifice? Answer Animal sacrifice, when performed properly according to Vedas, is an exception to the general rule about not harming living beings. Here is what Adi Shankaracharya says in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras: We proceed to refute the remark made by the pûrvapakshin that sacrificial works are unholy because involving harm done to animals ... Now from scripture we derive the certain knowledge that the gyotishtoma-sacrifice, which involves harm done to animals (i....

Question Krishna said in Bhagawad Gita that He is Rama among the weapon wielders. Whom was He referring to Rama (or) Parasurama? Answer Adi Sankaracharya in his Bhagavad Gita Bhashyam says रामः शस्त्रभृताम् अहं शस्त्राणां धारयितृृणां दाशरथी रामः अहम् । rāmaḥ śastrabhṛtām ahaṃ śastrāṇāṃ dhārayitṛṛṇāṃ dāśarathī rāmaḥ aham । Swami Dayananda Saraswati explains the Sankara's commentary to this sloka as Among those who wield weapons, I am Rama who is an avatara of Visnu himself....

Question Does Anushasan Parva, chapter 88 of the Mahabharata, allow cow sacrifice? Answer Yes, Bhishma does say that in chapter 88 of the Anushasana Parva of the Mahabharata: Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons conversant with the ritual of the Sraddha regard as suitable in view of the Sraddha and what the fruits are that attach to each. With sesame seeds and rice and barley and Masha and water and roots and fruits, if given at Sraddhas, the Pitris, O king, remain gratified for the period of a month....

Question Is Bhagavad Gita text Shruti or Smriti? Answer According to Prasthanatrayi concept of Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita is considered as Smriti Prashthana. As presented in forward by T.M.P Mahadevan in English translation of BrahmaSutra Bhasya of Adi Shankaracharya by Swami Gambhirananda: .......The Bhagavad-Gita comes next only to the Upanishads. It is given a status which is almost equal to that of the Upanishads. As embodying the teachings of Sri Krishna and as constituting the cream of the Epic Mahabharata, the Bhagavad-Gita occupies a unique place in the Vedantic tradition....

Question Is Lord Shiva dark in complexion? Answer Lord Shiva's Complexion was described in Chapter Four (Cancula's Salvation) of Shiva Purana Mahatyam in Shiva Puranam. You can see that from here.(Page 18) She saw the three-eyed Mahadeva, the eternal, being served devotedly by Brahma,Vishnu and other gods. He had the brilliance of ten million suns and was reverently served by Ganesha, Bhrngi, Nandisa, Virabhadreshwara and others. His neck had a blue hue ; he had five faces, three eyes , the cresent moon as crest-ornament and his left hand was apportioned to Gauri , who had the brilliance of lighting....

Question Feminist’s claim that the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata were written by male writers Answer tl;dr It's true that the scriptures indeed prescribe principles, ideologies and ways of life which are pro-male. But it's based on physical & mental attributes associated with male-female body & mind. In other context, during Anushasana Parva, Bhishma also described women in highest regard: Respect, kind treatment, and everything else that is agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage....

Question What is the Pashupatastra? Did Arjuna use it in the Kurukshetra war? Answer 1) What is Pashupatastra ? Pashupatastra is the personal favourite weapon of Lord Shiva. Just like weapons of Lord Brahma, = Brahmastra, Brahmashirastra, etc... weapons of Lord Vishnu, = Narayanastra, Vaishnavastra, etc.. similarly weapons of Lord Shiva, = Pashupatastra, Maheswarastra, Raudrastra, etc... Literally, Pasupatastra = Weapon of Pasupati So, there can be two category. One is special Pasupatastra (which Arjuna received) which is very powerful....

Question What is the proper way to say ‘good bye’ in Hinduism? Answer In our culture we never say Good bye , we say come back again , I am Gujarati we used to say come back again, In Gujarati we says "chaalo aavjo(ચલો અવોજો)" means come back again. And "Tack care is there every time". but we never say Good Bye & we also says Pranam & take Permission for go outside, from our elders and they give us blesses....

Question Why do Hindus believe in doing ‘Sraddha ’ (annual death anniversary) of ancestors, even though they believe in the concept of rebirth? Answer First, there is no guarantee that one will take birth right after one dies. There is usually an undefined time lapse between births because the next upadhi may not yet be ready. Secondly, The offerings you offer to ancestors reach them in a form suitable to their current upadhi....

Question What are the Yagnas Sri Krishna was referring to in Srimad Bhagavad Gita? Answer Typically when someone says "Yagnya" (or "Yajna"), we visualize following or something similar: To avoid such impression, many translators use the word "sacrifice", which is also famous in various Sanskrit dictionaries. But, then we imagine following: In this case, Shri Krishna is not talking about such limited scoped aspects. Because, in today's time, it will be easily rejected by the most populace, as such activities don't render anything....

Question Was Rishabha, the first tirthankar of Jainism, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva? Answer Rishabhadeva was an avatara of Vishnu as is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (5th Canto, 3rd Chapter): SB 5.3.17 — The Supreme Personality of Godhead replied: O great sages, I am certainly very pleased with your prayers. You are all truthful. You have prayed for the benediction of a son like Me for King Nābhi, but this is very difficult to obtain....

Question Gandhari’s curse to Shri Krishna Answer Just being curious, I tried to find out the dates of the happenings. It is very difficult and needs a leap of faith to take all the dates as accurate. With different means to mention the time (A.D, BCE, B.C etc) tying all together was bit difficult. In one view I see these points which just amazes me (not quoting this as an answer, but may be it can be)....