Question Is the ocean (sāgara) named after King Sagara or is it the other way round? Answer Yes. The ocean (सागरः or Sāgara) is named after Sagara (सगर), a king of Ikshvaku dynasty. He is the son of king Asita. Ocean on the earth is formed by one of his deeds i.e., he dug the bed of ocean. Sagara's stepmother gives poison to Sagara's mother Kalindi out of jealousy. She was also pregnant....
Question Do we take rebirth if we help others? Answer Let's apply superposition theory. Imagine that in your life only this Karma will decide, whether you will take rebirth or not. Karma If someone is starving for the food and then, You offer food thinking that "I did good job of fulfilling hunger.", then you may take rebirth to 'enjoy' the result of such good deed. You don't offer food & are aware that "...
Question BG 4.40 - What does Kṛṣṇa mean by saṁśayātmā (doubting mind)? Answer The word संशयात्मा does not literally mean doubting mind. But it has an inner meaning. Samshayatma means a cynic who does not agree with the scriptures. If we consider only shloka you are quoting, there may be some misinterpretations and doubts. Therefore, we should also consider the shlokas which precede the 40th shloka. śraddhāvāllabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ |...
Question Why low-caste people are not allowed inside some temples and homes? Answer Well,the Hindu Shastras ,mostly consider the lowest caste,the Sudra,as being impure and also consider that they can transmit this impurity to other objects or living beings by touch or association etc. Similar are the rules,for the fallen caste or the outcaste or the chandala. I'm adding here a few verses from the Parashara Smriti,which is widely regarded as the Dharma Shastra to be followed in the current Yuga i....
Question How do the Vedas survive during the dissolution of the Universe? Answer During the time of dissolution Lord Shiva doesn't destroys the Vedas because they enter the Panchakshari Mantra (Nama Shivaya) and thus Lord Shiva graces on them. In the Linga Purana Chapter 85 "Glory of Panchakshara Mantra" Lord Shiva states to Godesses Parvati: प्रलये समनुप्राप्ते नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे । नष्टे देवासुरे चैव नष्टे चोरगराक्षसे ।। सर्वं प्रकृतिमापन्नं त्वया प्रलयमेष्यति ।...
Question Can a Sudra become a Brahmin in ’this’ birth? Answer Yes, it is possible through the power of Panchakshari Mantra. As already discussed in question Mantras can have wonderful powers. Similarly through the power of Panchakshara Mantra even a Shudra can become a Brahmana in this very birth. Panchakshara Mantra is "Namaha Shivaya" or "Om Namaha Shivaya" or "Shivaya Namaha." In the chapter Glory of Pranava Panchakshara Mantra [Chapter 17 Videsvara Samhita Shiva Purana] various powers of Panchakshara Mantra are told....
Question Which Shastras are more authoritative,the Smritis(Dharma Shastras) or the Puranas? Answer Here is my answer which is based on the Devi Bhagavatam & the Vyasa Smriti. The Devi Bhagavatam states that in such situations the views of the Puranas are to be rejected .In other words,the Smritis are more authoritative. From Book 11,Chapter 1,Devi Bhagavatam: Nârada said :– “O Muni! The S’âstras are not one, they are many and they lay down different rules and contradictory opinions, How then Dharma is to be followed?...
Question Who are Pancha brahmas’ Lalita Devi sits on and Why are they called so? Answer Pancha-Brahmans are the five fold manifestation of Lord Shiva and are named as Sadyojata, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vamadeva and Ishana. Each five manifestations further manifest as five deities which are as Brahma from Sadyojata, Vishnu from Vamadeva, Rudra from Aghora, Maheswara from Tatpurusha and SadaShiva from Ishana. Thus the primary Pancha Brahmas are: ➡➡Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, Ishana....
Question Why is Lord Shiva called Pashupati? Who are the Pashus? Answer Meaning of Pashupati: Pashupati means Lord of all Pashus. Here Pashu means every creatures and not just animals. It is clarified itself in the YajurVeda. Yajurveda states: येषामीशे पशुपतिः पशूनां चतुष्पदामुत च द्विपदम् ।। [YajurVeda 3.1.4] Which Pashus do the Pashupati rules? He rules both the two footed and four footed. When Vedas say ruler of two footed and four footed (dwipada , chatuspada) then it has special significance because it is the attribute of Brahman described in the Upanishads....
Question Puranas besides Bhagavata & Devi-Bhagavata stating themselves as the foremost or best Answer Like Bhagavatams, Shiva Purana also says itself as best among all the Puranas and best remedy in age of Kali. Chapter 1 Glory of Shiva Purana says कालव्यालमहात्रासविध्वंसकरमुत्तमम्। शैवं पुराणं परमं शिवेनोक्तं पुरा मुने॥८॥ This Purana is the best remedy for the biggest danger like the death, which bites like the snake and is the biggest danger....
Question Are Sudras not allowed to study any scriptures of Hindusim? Answer Are sudras allowed to read scriptures other than Vedas ? Yes they are allowed to read and hear some Scriptures like the Puranas,Itihasas etc. From Devi Bhagavatam: 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....
Question The factors that should match for a couple to live a happy life? Answer For beginners it is recommended to use an online Match Calculator, that use Ashta-Kuta system and takes into account the exceptions. Matchmaking is the process of matching two persons together, usually for the purpose of marriage Based on Gunas or Marks , Which is done with the help of Panchanga along with Match Making Charts ....
Question How Universe has No beginning? Answer Vedas say time is cyclic. So, there is no first creation. Even we can comprehend it logically. If we assume there was first creation of Universe and other living beings (jivas), why some Atmans aquired status of Devas and why some Atmans took birth as humans and Rakshasas during very first birth? Even in Humans, why some Atmans were born as Brahmanas and why some Atmans were Sudras for the first time?...
Question Which shloka or scripture states that there are 33 crores of Hindu gods? Answer Is it accurate to state that: "No, Hindu scriptures do not mention anywhere that there are 33 कोटि (crores) देवी देवता (devi-devata)" No, it is not accurate to state it because of the fact that there are thirty three crores of devi-devata. Some slokhas in Skanda Purana are explicitly saying the fact that there are thirty three crores of devi-devata....
Question What are the rules for wearing Rudraksha bead Answer The Rules for wearing Rudraksha are discussed in Vidyes’vara Samhita ,Chapter 25 (The Glory of the Rudraksha) in Shiva Maha-Purana. These are some of the Rules -: शिरसीशानमन्त्रेण कर्णे तत्पुरुषेण च | अघोरेण गले धार्यं तेनैव ह्य्रुदयेsपि च ||40|| One should wear Rudraksha reciting the Isana-mantra ,with Tatpurusha in ears and with Aghora mantra , over the heart.Rudrakasha thus be worn....