Q&A: Does every mantra begin with/contain ॐ(Aum)?

Question Does every mantra begin with/contain ॐ(Aum)? Answer Almost every mantra begins with OM. The reason is given below. The syllable Om is the root from which the Vedas have sprung. (Every rite, therefore, should commence with the utterance of that syllable of vast import). Of him who has uttered for him the syllables Om, Namas, Swaha, Svadha, and Vashat, and who has according to the extent of his ability, performed sacrifices, and other rites, there is no fear in respect of next life in all the three worlds....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: How did the Vedas in Hinduism come into existence?

Question How did the Vedas in Hinduism come into existence? Answer The Vedas are Śruti, which means "that which is heard" (what Christians would call "revelation"). Hindus believe that from time immemorial, sages known as Dhrishtas (literally "seers") have, during a state of Tapasya (deep meditation), heard sacred verses directly from the gods. In the Dwapara Yuga (the age before the one we're currently in), these verses were compiled by a sage named Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa (or Vyasa for short) into a set of four books we call the Vedas....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Is the complete English translation of the Padma Purana available online?

Question Is the complete English translation of the Padma Purana available online? Answer I've so far found two legal sources that have certain volumes of the Motilal-Banarsidass translation of the Padma Purana: DSpace, the digital repository of the West Bengal Public Library Network, which has books in PDF format, but breaks each book into 80-page chunks. The Digital Library of India (DLI), which currently has lots of books only in TIFF format but is in the process of converting them all to PDF....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why is there a Damaru attached to Lord Shiva's trishul?

Question Why is there a Damaru attached to Lord Shiva’s trishul? Answer Shiva is often described as cosmic dancer and a great musician. Shiva's Tandavam is the cosmic dance and his Damaru (a small hourglass shape drum) represent the cosmic sound. It is said in Shiva Mahapurana that the sounds from the damaru beats the the rhythm of the cosmic vibrations and the energy is activated by the divine Mother or Shakti....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why does lord Shiva have three eyes?

Question Why does lord Shiva have three eyes? Answer The third eye as seen on Lord Shiva's forehead is also the spiritual eye or ajna chakra which stands for higher consciousness and allows us to see the real world for the world as we see it is an illusion. Hindus believe that every human possesses this 'third eye' which can be activated only after years of meditation. Who gave him the third eye?...

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why did Vishnu take on an avatar that was half human and half lion?

Question Why did Vishnu take on an avatar that was half human and half lion? Answer The reason that Vishnu went through all that rigmarole is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam. To avenge the death of his brother Hiranyaksha at the hands of Vishnu in his Varaha (boar) incarnation, Hiranyakshupu undertook long and arduous Tapasya (deep meditation), until Brahma appeared before him. He asked Brahma for the following boon: O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why did Hanuman fight with Lord Rama?

Question Why did Hanuman fight with Lord Rama? Answer As far as I know, this story has no scriptural basis; it may just be folklore. The story as I remember it goes roughly as follows: the king of Kashi was once in Ayodhya, perhaps during the coronation of Rama, and he insulted the short-tempered sage Vishwamitra who was there at the time. Vishwamitra was furious and he told Rama that he wanted the king's head at his feet by sunset....

February 14, 2023 · 4 min · TheAum

Q&A: How many people listened to the Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata along with Arjuna?

Question How many people listened to the Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata along with Arjuna? Answer The following is given for thought which is based on Vyasa Bharata, 1) Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, by boon to Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra: Nobody talked on Bhagavad Gita at any other time except by Arjuna who wanted to hear again but the request was rejected by Lord Krishna! (Mahabharata, Book 14: Aswamedha Parva, Chapter 16, Anugita Parva)....

February 14, 2023 · 5 min · TheAum

Q&A: What is the significance of Bel leaves in Shiva worship?

Question What is the significance of Bel leaves in Shiva worship? Answer The reason that the leaves of the Bilva tree are used in the worship of Shiva is that the Bilva tree emerged from the sweat of Shiva's wife Parvati, as described in the this excerpt from the Nagara Khanda of the Skanda Purana: The splendid Daughter of the Mountain; the goddess [Parvati] became tired due to her sports. Drops of sweat appeared on her forehead ....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why is Lord Hanuman known as 'Pavan putra Hanuman'?

Question Why is Lord Hanuman known as “Pavan putra Hanuman”? Answer It was because, Vayu god had impregnated Anjana through his mind. Hence, Hanuman, although was born from Anjana and Kesari, is also known as Pavan-putra (son of wind): मनसा अस्मि गतो यत् त्वाम् परिष्वज्य यशस्विनि | वीर्यवान् बुद्धि संपन्नः पुत्रः तव भविष्यति || [VRM - 4.66.18] Meaning By which reason I embraced you and impregnate myself within you through my mind, by that reason you are impregnated in a super sensory manner, thereby you will beget a valiant son endowed with intellect...

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: How did Goddess Sita protect herself in Ravana's palace?

Question How did Goddess Sita protect herself in Ravana’s palace? Answer Ravana was not able to force himself on Sita due to a curse he had received years earlier, as described in this excerpt from the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana. Ravana and his army were once camped on mount Kailash, preparing to attack Devaloka (the kingdom of the gods), when he saw the Apsara (nymph) Rambha and was enchanted by her beauty....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: What is the meaning of the word 'Shiva'?

Question What is the meaning of the word “Shiva”? Answer The meaning of the name Shiva is "Auspicious, Pure" Shiva is a male Sanskrit name that refers to the third aspect of god, called in the Vedas. If pronounced with a long final vowel "a", Shiva is a female name; a name of the goddess Parvati, Uma and Lakshmi. It can also be described as "The god staying in a state blissful, enjoying in its own self eternally, without any flaws....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why is Mohini not one of the Dashavatara of lord Vishnu?

Question Why is Mohini not one of the Dashavatara of lord Vishnu? Answer Lord Vishnu has many types of avataras. In fact, His avatars are innumerable: O brāhmaṇas, the incarnations of the Lord are innumerable, like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water. [SB - 1.3.26] But these ten are only the prominent ones; especially because they take place on this material plane, our earth. avatarati it avatara - so those are called avataras because they descend to earth and take up material bodies of transcendental nature....

February 14, 2023 · 1 min · TheAum

Q&A: Why isn't Lord Ayyappa an avatar of Lord Mahavishnu?

Question Why isn’t Lord Ayyappa an avatar of Lord Mahavishnu? Answer The difference between a descended avatāra and a foolish embodied being (dehī) is that avatāra does not forget his spiritual identity in the process and maintains a strong connection with the spiritual plane. E.g. in the Kurukšētra battle Krišna was hit by all kinds of divine weapons, including one that Arjuna could not possibly deflect, but Krišna did not suffer....

February 14, 2023 · 2 min · TheAum

Q&A: Does Hinduism forbid sexual intercourse before marriage?

Question Does Hinduism forbid sexual intercourse before marriage? Answer TL;DR: May or may not be permitted for Kshatriyas, but forbidden for everyone else, and not encouraged for Kshatriyas either. Technically there is no such thing as premarital intercourse in Hinduism. Whenever two people consummate a relationship, regardless of the circumstances, it is usually classified as a marriage of one sort or another. It's even considered a marriage if the woman doesn't consent, like if she's drugged or unconscious....

February 14, 2023 · 3 min · TheAum