Q&A

Question What are the four legs of Dharma? Answer No, the four legs of the bull of Dharma do not represent percentages of righteousness in society (although it is true that the number of righteous people decline as the Yugas progress). Rather, the legs represent different virtuous qualities any individual can have. Here is what Arjuna's grandson Parikshit says in the Srimad Bhagavatam, upon seeing the bull of Dharma standing on one leg at the start of the Kali Yuga:...

Question Are mudras limited to hands? Answer Well there is first to know the significance of the Mudaras. Gheranda Samhita is a manual of yoga taught by Gheranda to Chanda Kapali. Unlike other hatha yoga texts, the Gheranda Samhita speaks of a sevenfold yoga: Shatkarma for purification Asana for strengthening Mudra for steadying Pratyahara for calming Pranayama for lightness Dhyana for perception Samādhi for isolation more over Here in which there are number of mudras are said....

Question Why are Yama temples few in number? Answer This is due to a curse pronounced on Dharmaraja by a Brahmin, when Yama killed his son as a part of His (Yama's) duty. This is explained in Chapter 139 Greatness of Dharmarajeswara Book 6 Nagarakanda of Skanda Purana. Formerly, there was a Brähmana hailing from the family of Kasyapa in that holy spot. He was well-known as Upädhyäya. He was devoted to the Vedic lore....

Question Can a Brahmana raise a war or kill someone? Answer The Brahmins can indeed raise war in times of emergencies or when their life is endangered or when the situation demands so. The Shastras clearly allow it. Manu Smriti ,Chapter 8,Sloka 348,says: 8.348. Twice-born men may take up arms when (they are) hindered (in the fulfilment of their duties, when destruction (threatens) the twice-born castes (varna) in (evil) times,...

Question Why praying is not a compulsion in Hinduism? Answer You used an Important word called Force (I will not talk about the scientific force here) Force ( Meaning ) : 1. Coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence. 2. Make (someone) do something against their will. What is Will : The thing that one desires(and the desire is limited to natural cause, e.g. You had a full meal, but you want to have more, its greed not will)....

Question Why can Tulsi leaves only be picked on certain days? Answer This question seemed to be discussed a lot and you can find some citations from Hari Bhakti Vilasa in the link below: http://www.lotusimprints.com/new/blog/2008/12/14/qa-worship-of-tulasi-devi-on-dvadasi-17-other-questions/ The take away from the above link: Tulasi is a devotee of Lord Vishnu (Kesava priya) and she is said to practice vratam/fasting on Ekadasi and so as not to disturb her in potentially weak condition people don't pick her leaves on the following day....

Question Why do Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva always meditate on each other? Answer I would try to correct a one misconception that Lord Vishnu meditates on Lord Shiva. No he doesn't, Lord Vishnu actually meditates on Lord Brahma. It is a cyclic process, Lord Brahma meditates on Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva meditates on Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu meditates on Lord Brahma, and the cycle goes on. Why this Cycle ?...

Question Why does Lalitha Devi sit on Shiva? Answer Lalitha Sahasra Nama is the best answer for all your questions here. She is Shrichakra Raja nilaya- Lalitha Devi, the divine mother. Let me give the answers based on the picture above. Sachaamara Rama Vaani Savya Dakshina sevitha. Rama (Lakshmi) and Vaani (Saraswathi) are said to do her seva with chamara (fans). sashara chaapa paasha ankushaam The two weapons in her upper right and left hands are to cut the worldly desires in out heart and bring us to her feet....

Question Does marriage really depend on Kundali and Gunas? Answer Kundali and Gunas are just a part of the mathematics which is given a name "Astrology". As per the person's birth time and birth place, the effect gravitational forces of planets and stars on those two persons forms their matching Lagana kundali. Now this mathematics of astrology is "Probability" based outcome. Astrology gives you % of probability based on the gravitational and time effects based on kundali gunas....

Question Each God has a specific trait in Hinduism Answer Ramakrishna Parmahamsa gave the example of a man who is a judge. When he goes into the courtroom he is seen by the people present as a judge. When he comes home his wife sees a husband. His children sees him as a father. It is all the same person, the different perceptions are in the eye of the beholder. God is one....

Question What are reasons for Karna’s death? Answer There are many reasons For karna's death,as given in Wikipedia Parashurama laid curse upon Karna that he would forget all the knowledge required to wield the divine weapon Brahmanda astra, at the moment of his greatest need. Karna was also cursed by a Brahmin for killing his cow while practising his skills with bow and arrows. BhoomiDevi cursed him that at a very crucial moment in battle, his chariot wheel would be trapped tightly in the mud Kunti extracted a boon from him that he would not kill anyone of her sons except Arjuna Kunti asked him not to use the nagastra more than once His charioteer Salya deserted him at an important moment Indra took away karna's Kavacha Kundala(natural armour) He exhausted the Vajrayudha he had reserved to kill Arjuna on Ghatotkatcha(Bheema's son) Karna attained Svarga(heaven) not Moksha(liberty) ,as all Kshatriyas(warriors) who die in war are sure to attain heaven....

Question Is there any hidden meaning behind this verse? Answer I think you're just misinterpreting the line. Tulasidas isn't calling Hanuman "buddhihina" or lacking in intelligence, he's calling himself buddhihina and thus in need of Hanuman's help. Here is how the Gitapress translation renders the line: Considering myself devoid of intellectual merits, I invoke Sri Hanuman, the son of wind-god. O! Bestow on me the strength, intellect and knowledge. Kindly remove my bodily ailments and mental maladies....

Question Why Jesus Isu Christ, Guru Nanak, Buddha and Muhammad should not be considered as Lord Vishnu’s avatars? Answer You have realised the correct thing. But the reason they should not be considered as avatars of Vishnu is because it has not been explicitly mentioned in the scriptures. It is the scriptures which tell us in the first place who Vishnu is and what are His incarnations. So without the scriptures explicitly mentioning any of the prophets it will always remain a subjective thing to decide whether someone is an avatara of Vishnu or not....

Question Why is goddess Kali shown topless? Answer The premise of the question, that Goddess Kali is like a human female, is incorrect. Ma Kali is the infinite Brahman according to the great spiritual figures like Ramprasad and Sri Ramakrishna. It would be a terrible mistake to read the iconography literally. I am posting one song by Ramprasad published in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna to make the point: Once for all, this time, I have thoroughly understood....

Question Did people in Krishna’s time know that he was God? Answer The answer is both yes and no. Some people were aware about His divinity and some were not. Hence not even all the Gopis were aware that He is God and loved Him as an ordinary boy. There were various categories of Gopis out of which some were sages in previous lives, some were manifested form of Veda richas....