Hinduism Questions & Answers

Question What is the means of attaining Moksha according to the different Astika schools? Answer Let me address each of the six Astika schools: Samkhya: The Samkhya school believed that meditation on the 25 Tattvas, i.e. Purusha or soul, Prakriti or matter/energy, and the 23 evolutes of Prakriti, is what leads to knowledge of the difference between Purusha and Prakriti, which is what leads to Moksha. Here is what Ishwara Krishna says in verses 64-66 of the Samkhya Karika:...

Question Why is the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita secret and confidential? Answer I am going to explain "Why the knowledge of Gita is confidential" on the basis of another similar shloka given in the 15 th chapter i.e. last Shloka of 15th chapter ,and commentaries written on this shloka by scholars including Adi Shankaracharya. There are two different point of views (meanings) given , with which we are going to look at your query....

Question Queries on Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Phalaśruti Answer This KAmAkotimanadali page tries to determine "lalitA sahasranAma - adhikAra nirNaya". That means trying to determine who all are competent to recite the stotram. That means not all are competent to start with. Bhagavan Hayagriva clearly mentions the qualification required for the recitation/practice of Sri Lalita Sahasranama in the pUrva pIThikA of the Sahasranama. Qualification The Sahasranama is never to be given to a one who is a crook, who finds pleasure in other’s misery and one who has no faith in Amba/Guru....

Question Where was Ashwatthama when Pandavas spread the false news of his death? Answer Addressing your questions one by one. Q. Where was Ashwatthama when Pandavas spread the false news of his death? On that day, was Ashwatthama too far from his father like Arjun was when Abhimanyu died? Yes, Ashwatthaman was far away from Drona and not at his sight. This is what gave his chance to Pandavas to plan the way to slay Drona....

Question According to Hinduism, when does a day start? Answer In KrishnaBhaagwatam, Book 4, Chapter 31 यथैव सूर्यात्प्रभवन्ति वारः पुनश्च तस्मिन् प्रविशन्ति काले । भूतानि भूमौ स्थिरजङ्‌गमानि तथा हरावेव गुणप्रवाहः ॥ १५ ॥ Just like days start from Sun's appearance, and again after some time end within Sun. The same way all the existence, moving or not moving, on living dimension, are like flow of the Gunas(Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) in Hari....

Question Who is Ratri devi? Is she same or different from Devi Kaali? Answer You must be knowing about Sri Chandi, which is also known as the DurgA Saptashati or the Devi MAhatyam and which is a part of the MArkandeya PurAna. Now, a Chandi PAtha is considered to be flawed or incomplete if all the Shad-Angas ( the Kavachas, the Rahasya Trayas etc) are also not chanted along with. So, chanting simply the slokas of Sri Chandi is not enough....

Question ‘Dream’ of Lord Shiva Answer This is a good sign or a guidance to be followed which you decipher by yourself what it could be. More likely it seems a guidance. Lord Shiva says thus in 11th chapter of Shiv Rahasya My Signs are of two kinds, those that endure and those that pass away. The enduring ones are the Sky, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Mountains and the Sea....

Question Is Surdarshan Chakra mentioned In Vedic literature? Answer Yes surdarshan chakra was called Vishnu s chakra in ancient texts including RIG Veda and even in valmiki Ramayana it is called Vishnu s Chakra. He, like a rounded wheel, hath in swift motion set his ninety racing steeds together with the four.Developed, vast in form, with those who sing forth praise, a youth, no more a child, he cometh to our call(Rig veda 1....

Question How are onions and garlic to be considered as non vegetarian food? Answer Why No Onion and No Garlic in Goodness Diet? Once, in Satya Yuga the rishis were performing gomedha and asvamedha sacrifices for the welfare of the whole universe. A cow or a horse would be cut into pieces and placed in the fire. Afterwards the rishis would utter mantras and the same animal would come alive in a beautiful young body....

Question Is Shalagram worship forbidden to non-Brahmins? Answer No. It is not forbidden. The importance of Gandaki river is explained in chapter 20 of Patala Khanda of Padma Purana. In that chapter, the importance of śālagrāma is also said. The disc born (i.e. found) in Dvaravati and the stone born (i.e. found) in Gandaki, destroy in a moment men's sins earned during a hundred existences. Even if a man would have committed a thousand sins, he would be purified by drinking the water of (i....

Question Are Ramayan and Mahabharat parabols? Answer Swami Vivekananda explained the life cycle of people by giving the example of Ramayana. Complete Works/Volume 5/Sayings and Utterances: Shri Râma was the Paramâtman and that Sitâ was the Jivâtman, and each man's or woman's body was the Lanka (Ceylon). The Jivatman which was enclosed in the body, or captured in the island of Lankâ, always desired to be in affinity with the Paramatman, or Shri Rama....

Question Are there any scriptures that portray Lord Rama to be the source of all incarnations including Lord Vishnu? Answer Yes, there are scriptures that are used by Ramanandi Vaishnavas to support their claim of Lord Rama being the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead. raghavasya guno divyo mahavisnuh svarupavana । vasudevo ghanibhutastanutejah sadasivah ।। matsyasca ramahrdayam yogarupi janardanah । kurmascadharasaktisca varaho bhujayorbalam ।। narasimho mahakopo vamanah katimekhala । bhargavo jamnghayorjato balaramasca prsthatah ।...

Question Are Yakshinis succubi? Answer I think wikipedia is wrong in this case. Let me explain: The closest archetype in Hinduism to the western concept of Succubus seems to be Apsaras or Water-Nymphs. Scriptures abound with examples of Apsaras distracting Rishis in their tapas by employing sexual tactics1. An example that springs to mind is Viswamitra-Menaka encounter. 1. Many a time they are sent by Gods such as Indra who fear the power/release mortals gain via Tapasya...

Question What does the word ‘Asura’ mean in the Vedas? Answer The word Asura has 2 meanings in the text Rig Veda In positive sense and negative sense. The word asa means breath and the word Asura would mean who has his strength in the breath or who is the possessed of breath (the meaning given by yaksha nirukta).That means an asura is someone who is posser of breath that he could perform Great actions by his power or a very powerful supreme Being....

Question Why did Indra flee after slaying Vritra and why did he cook dog meat? Answer Let us begin with the beginning. RV.1.32 (14)- "aher yatar kam pashya Indra hridi"(after seeing Ahi (Vritra)reduced Indra by heart)"yat te jaghnuso bhir gachchat" (there you killed those fleeing by fear) "Nav cha yan navati cha sravanti"(those nine and ninety (water sources)are flowing) "shyeno na bhito ataro rajansi" (shyena (Indra ) has broken by moving around the dominion)....