Hinduism Questions & Answers

Question Where does the real Ayodhya lies and where does the Lord Ram born? Answer The distance between Ayodhya and Valmiki Ashram is about 300 kilometers. In the Ramayana, it is mentioned that Laxman left Sita at the Valmiki Ashram and returned the same day. The author argues that at that time, it was not possible to return to Ayodhya from the Valmiki Ashram, which was 600 km away. So, on that basis author claims that Ayodhyapuri is only 17 kilometers away from Valmiki Ashram, Ram's birthplace is Ayodhyapuri in Nepal....

Question What is the exact meaning of this quote by Neem Karoli Baba? Answer Have a look at the following verse: Dve pade vandhamokshAya mameti nirmameti cha | Mameti vAdyate janturna nirmameti vimuchyate || Mama (Mine) and Nir-Mama (Not Mine) - These two words are respectively the indicators of Bandhana (bondage due to illusion) and Moksha (liberation from bondage). The thought "Mine" binds the Jiva, but the thought "Not-Mine" liberates it....

Question Does Vaishnavism ordain one to cut the tongue of a blasphemer? Answer The passage you quoted in your question is from Shreemad Bhagavata Maha Purana 4.4.17 and it says that "one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender". And your enquiry is about "does Vaishnavism ordains one to the cut-the tongue of a blasphemer? " The answer is No. Not only Vaishnavism but none of the sects of Hinduism advocate or endorse such an act, nor such a thing is said anywhere in Hinduism scriptures....

Question Are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, etc., which encouraged sectarian attitude, contrary to Rig Vedic principles, therefore, anti-Hindu or anti-Sanatana Dharma? Answer It is certainly correct to say that Vedas do not espouse a hierarchy of the Devas. There is no superior or inferior deity in the Vedas, as seen in RV 1.164.46, which you have mentioned. Similarly, RV 5.59.6: अज्येष्ठा ... अकनिष्ठासः ... अमध्यमासो They have no elder, younger or middling members...

Question How can Garuda eating Nishadas be justified? Answer The Story of Garuda, as mentioned in Mahabharata, has roots in Rig Veda. In Rig Veda IV.26.5-6, bringing of Soma by a swift falcon was mentioned. This hymn was dedicated to Indra and rishi was Vāmadeva Gautama. भर॒द् यदि॒ विरतो॒ वेवि॑जानः प॒थोरुणा॒ मनो॑जवा असर्जि । तूयं॑ ययौ॒ मधु॑ना सो॒म्येनो॒त श्रवो॑ विविदे श्ये॒नो अत्र॑ ॥५॥ ऋ॒जी॒पी श्ये॒नो दद॑मानो अं॒शुं प॑रा॒वत॑: शकु॒नो म॒न्द्रं मद॑म् । सोमं॑ भरद् दादृहा॒णो दे॒वावा॑न् दि॒वो अ॒मुष्मा॒दुत्त॑रादा॒दाय॑ ॥६॥...

Question What are the correct mantras while giving arghya to Surya? Answer In Bhavishya Purana a lot is found on Surya worship as the text considers Surya as the supreme deity. In it, we find Shri Krishna advising son Samba on how to correctly worship Surya Narayana. As per that, the mantra to be used while pouring the Arghya is a mantra called as the Shakshatkara mantra of sun. Quoting from the book "Essence of Bhavishya Purana":...

Question Nondualism. There is One only. Why teach? Answer Non-dualism is a state that has to be reached. It is not natural or obvious. The natural state is that of dualism for everyone of us, as we all can see, feel the presence of many all the time. Even the propounders of Advaita must be feeling "many" all the time except when in the state of Samadhi they felt that eventually everything is one....

Question Confusion with duty ethics as instructed by Lord Krishna Answer Sri Krishna says in B.G. 3.35 श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 35|| It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger....

Question What is the inner meaning of the phrase dark wombs (kṛṣṇayonīḥ) in the Rig Vedic mantra II.20.7? Answer Rig Veda II.20.7 स वृ॑त्र॒हेन्द्र॑: कृ॒ष्णयो॑नीः पुरंद॒रो दासी॑रैरय॒द्वि । अज॑नय॒न्मन॑वे॒ क्षाम॒पश्च॑ स॒त्रा शंसं॒ यज॑मानस्य तूतोत् ॥७॥ sa vṛtrahendraḥ kṛṣṇayonīḥ purandaro dāsīrairayad vi | ajanayan manave kṣāmapaśca satrā śaṃsaṃ yajamānasya tūtot || Translation from the Rig Veda by Stephanie W. Jamison and Joel P. Brereton is as follows: Smasher of Vr̥tra, splitter of fortresses, Indra razed the Dāsa (fortresses) with their dark wombs....

Question Nature of enlightenment Answer No definitive answer can be given to this question. However, a speculative answer may be given. Advaita Vedanta enlightenment is attained when the mind becomes still. When the lake of the mind becomes clear and still, man knows himself as he really is, always was, and always will be. He knows that he is the Atman. His 'personality', his mistaken belief in himself as a separate, unique individual, disappears....

Question How to control /manage the mind when angry and lustful thoughts attack you very badly? Answer Anger is the negative emotion that hits the mind and body badly. To overcome the strong emotions, you have to do work on your mind thoughts lets reduce the frequency of thoughts through pranayama as adhi is the invitation of certain diseases. Yoga that helps to reduce mind fluctuations and relax. Here we work on our Manomaya Kosha:- Sit comfortably and practice conscious breathing, inhale, and exhale five to ten times....

Question what is the deep meaning of this Gita quote? Answer Sloka 67 of Chapter 2 of BG relates to pure SPIRITUAL aspects. If we start with Sloka 62 of Chapter 2 of BG, we can understand that they are related to PURE SPIRITUAL aspects, meant for persons proposing to be/already engaged in SPIRITUAL pursuits. ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते। सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते।।2.62।। In the case of a person who dwells on objects, there arises attachment for them....

Question What is the meaning of Gita ch.14 verse 27? Answer I will answer this question, from the point of view of advaita. I will quote a portion of the commentary by Madhusudhana Saraswati (MS) in his Gudartha dipika. The gist is based on the translation of Swami Gambhirananda. MS commentary (partial) अत्र हेतुमाह -- ब्रह्मणस्तत्पदवाच्यस्य सोपाधिकस्य जगदुत्पत्तिस्थितिलयहेतोः प्रतिष्ठा पारमार्थिकं निर्विकल्पकं सच्चिदानन्दात्मकं निरुपाधिकं तत्पदलक्ष्यमहं निर्विकल्पको वासुदेवः प्रतितिष्ठत्यत्रेति प्रतिष्ठा कल्पितरूपरहितमकल्पितं रूपमतो यो मामनुपाधिकं ब्रह्म सेवते स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पत इति युक्तमेव।...

Question Names of the kings and their kingdoms who participated in Mahabharata war Answer In the Mahabharata war, the number of tribes are so numerous that it is difficult to count each and every one of them. Further there are many kingdoms that took part on both sides of the war, adding to the complexity. In the Mahabharata Udyoga Parva (5.19), it is stated that: there was no space in the city of Hastinapura even for the principal leaders of Duryodhana's army....

Question Krishna visiting Sudra’s home or touching a Sudra Answer In Mahabharat era - Mahatma Vidura [महात्मा विदुर] - who was a dasi-putra (son of servant of Hastinapur's king) - was considered as Shudra (means worker class) Varna. And Sri Krishna did visit his home - when he visited as a "messenger of Pandavas" - with the purpose to avoid the war. Note: “The question: Krishna visiting Sudra’s home or touching a Sudra” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism....