Hinduism Questions & Answers

Question What should one choose according to scriptures between thoughtless mind and mind filled with the thoughts of God? Answer A mind becomes thoughtless during SamAdhi in the true sense. Because at that time everything is merged into one. So, what is there then to fix your mind upon? So, then, how can scriptures straightaway recommend in having a thoughtless mind? When it has to come at the very last stage of SAdhana?...

Question Are there any temples exclusively for women? Answer There are certainly a lot of women-only temples. Two of the famous ones, which I can recall are: Kamrupa Temple in Guwahati The Kamrupa Temple is a Shakti Peeth, where the yoni of Sati fell. During the menstrual cycle of the presiding deity, Kamakhya, only the female priests are present, and only women are allowed to visit the temple. Attukal Temple in Trivandrum...

Question Why should god bless us & fulfil our wishes? Answer First of all, we should know the right interpretation of the term "God". If by the word "God" you mean the ultimate reality, then according to various philosophies including Bhagavad Gita, that's called the "Self" (Atma). Atma is common among all beings. Like how the same artist creates 'Jack & Jill', who love each other OR 'Tom & Jerry' who hate each other....

Question Which sect did Ramakrishna’s family belong to? Answer From the preface of the book "A short biography of Sri Ramakrishna": This is in response to a great demand for a shorter biography of Sri Ramakrishna whose message is spreading far and wide with ever increasing rapidity. The matter is taken mostly from the Life of Sri Ramakrishna, published by us, though other available books have been consulted and the plan is quite different....

Question What is name of tiger in vedic-age? Is he present in rig-veda? Answer In the Atharva Veda (denoted by AV here), at least, the tiger is mentioned. It's mentioned as VyAghra. And, the lion as Simha. The following Mantra makes mention of both the tiger and the lion. Ye ta AranyAh pashavo mrigA vane hitAh, SimhA vyAghrAh purushAd charanti, Ulam vrikam prithivi ducchunAmita rakshikam raksho, Apa vAdhayAsmat || The animals of the forest, and wild beasts of the woods, lions, tigers, man-eaters that prowl about, the hyena, the wolf, the bear with its evil ways (ducchunAm), and demons (rakshah), drive these out, from here, away from us, O Earth....

Question What is the meaning of Brahman & Vasudeva? Answer The definition of Brahman is given in this chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad: yato va imani bhutani jayante । yena jatani jivanti । yatprayantyabhisaṃviśanti । tadvijijñasasva । tad brahmeti । That from whence these beings are born, that by which, when born, they live, that into which they enter at their death, try to know that. That is Brahman. This is the passage that Adhyaya 1 Pada 1 Sutra 2 of the Brahma Sutras is based on:...

Question Is Vishwamitra also a creator of a new Universe like Brahma? Answer Yes, Vishwamitra did his own creation. This is described in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana. The solar dynasty king Trishanku wanted to go to Swarga in his own body, so he asked the sage Vasishta to help him. Vasishta refused, so Trishanku did a variety of bad things to Vasishta in response. Vasishta was outraged and cursed Trishanku to become a Chandala....

Question What is the meaning/definition of the word Shudra? Answer In ChAndogyo Upanishad 4.2.3 the Shudra word is found. The translator of my book (SwAmi GambhirAnanda) says that according to ShankarAcharya and according to Brahma Sutra 1.3.34-35, here the word's Yogic meaning is implied. And, for that meaning, the etymology is the following: Shudra --- "ShuchA dravati" (one who melts in grief/sorrow is a Shudra). But, this is just one of the many etymologies for Shudra....

Question How many commentaries are there of the Srimad Bhagavatam? Answer I know of 29 commentaries on the Bhagvatam. This book contains 28 Sanskrit commentaries: 1) Kardama Kshama (Anvaya) 2) Srila Sridhar Swami's Bhavartha-Dipika 3) Srila Vamshidhara's Bhavartha-Dipika-Prakash 4) Srila Jiva Goswami's Vaishnava Toshani 5) Srila Jiva Goswami's Brihad-Vaishnava Toshani 6) Sri Sudarshan Suri's Shukapakshiyam 7) Srila Srinath Chakravarti's Chaitanya Mata Manjusha 8) Srimad Viraraghavacharya's Bhagavat-Chandrika 9) Srimad VijaydhvajTirtha's Pada-Ratnavali 10) Srila Jiva Goswami's Krama-Sandarbha and Brhat Krama-Sandarbha 11) Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakura's Sarartha-Darshini 12) Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana's Vaishnavanandini 13) Sri Chalarinarayanacharya's Bhagavat Tatparya Tippani 14) Sri Satyabhinavayati's Durghata Bhava Dipika 15) Sri Pandhari Narayanacharya's Durgatoddhara 16) Sri Prabhucharan's Sri Tippani 17) Sri Purushottam Charan's Subodhini Prakash 18) Sri Vallabh Maharaja's Sri Subodhini Lekha 19) Sri Dixit Lalu Bhatta's Subodhini Yojana 20) Sri Bhagavadeeya Nirbhaya Rama Bhatta's Subodhini Karika Vyakhya 21) Sri Ganga Sahay's Anvitartha Prakashika 22) Sri Gopalananda Muni's Nigudhartha Prakash Vyakhyanam 23) Sri BhagavatPrasadacharya's Bhakta Manoranjani 24) Sri Harisuri's Bhakti Rasayanam 25) Sri Shukadev-Acharya's Siddhanta-Pradipa 26) Srimad Vallabhacharya's Subodhini 27) Sri Purushottamcharan Goswami's Subodhini-Prakash 28) Sri GiridharLal Goswami's Balprabodhini...

Question Who is Arjuna, who had captured Ravana at Narmada river? Answer Who is Arjuna, who had captured Ravana at Narmada river? This Arjuna was a king of Maheshmati from Haihayas (a branch of Yadavas). He was son of Kritavirya hence famously known as Kartavirya Arjuna. He is also known as Sahasrabahu Arjuna or SahasraArjuna. He is believed to be an incarnation of Sudarshana Chakra. He got boon from Lord Dattatreya which made him so powerful....

Question Nine gates of a human body? Answer Which are the nine gates being referred here? Are these ears, nose, mouth, eyes etc? Yes the Nine gates referred here ae our bodily organs like ear , nose , mouth etc. within Pancala kingdom (5 senses ). It's said that a jiva accepts a material body by virtue of his own desires. Accepting two hands, two legs, and so on, the living entity fully enjoys the modes of material nature....

Question Where Epics and Puranas are mentioned as 5th Veda? Answer Similarly, I heard that Epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata) are called as 5th Veda or sometimes Epics and Puranas collectively called as 5th Veda. So, is there any scripture where Ramayana is mentioned as 5th Veda or Epics collectively are mentioned as 5th Veda? Yes, there is. First of all, the Bhagavatam is one of them, in fact the very Bhagavatam verse you quoted:...

Question Why did Rama construct bridge to Lanka? Answer Thanks to @Just_Do_It and @YDS to providing answers and here are two cents from my side: while watching ramayana (TV series, based on ramcharitmanas and valmiki ramayan). Laxman suggested construction of boats but vibhishan suggested that sinking of boats is easier for lanka warriors (using big stones) so unsinkable medium of travel should be searched. No one knew what to do that's why he suggested to ask solution from ocean....

Question What is the relationship between Rig Veda and Sama Veda? Answer The relation between Rik and Saman is described in Chandogya Upanishad -Adhyaya 1 - verse 2. एषां भूताना पृथिवि रस: पृथिव्या आपो रस: | अपामोषधयो रस औषधीनां पुरुषो रस: पुरुषस्य वासग्रो वाच ऋग्रस ऋच :साम रस: साम्न उद्गित्थो रस: ||2|| The earth is essence of all the beings ; Water is the essence of the earth ;Herbs are essence of water ; Man is essence of herbs ;Speech is essence of man ; Rik is essence of speech ; Saman is the essence of Rik ; Udgita is essence of Saman ....

Question Did Lahiri Mahasaya defeat Swami Dayanand Saraswati in a debate in Kashi? Answer Arya Samaj accounts don't mention such a debate, but this excerpt from the Yogiraj Charit, a traditional biography of Lahiri Mahasaya, describes him defeating Dayananda Saraswati in a debate on idol worship, in the course of which he magically silences Dayananda Saraswati's supporters. I would to narrate an incident from the life of Yogiraj Rev. Lahiri Babaji....