Q&A

Question What is the punishment for consensual sex in Hinduism? Answer Punishment for illicit sex (which includes sexual intercourse with someone else's wife and also with one's maid) as per Srimad Bhagavata Purana is torment in a hell called "Taptasurmi". yas tv iha vā agamyāṁ striyam agamyaṁ vā puruṣaṁ yoṣid abhigacchati tāv amutra kaśayā tāḍayantas tigmayā sūrmyā lohamayyā puruṣam āliṅgayanti striyaṁ ca puruṣa-rūpayā sūrmyā (Bhagavata Purana, Canto 5, Chapter 26, Verse 20)...

Question Why do Indian women wear bangles? Answer I have two reasonable answers for your question Reason1: Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human. Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body....

Question Is reciting Vedic Mantras without being preceded by “Om” condemned somewhere in Vedas or in other scriptures? Answer The Upanishads say that the Vedas are Om. Om is the Vedas. Why prayers and rites are started with Om is explained in Taittiriya Upanishad I.viii.1. (Swami Gambhirananda translator) - "...A Brahman, when about to recite the Vedas utters Om under the idea, 'I shall attain Brahman'. He does verily attain Brahman....

Question Where can I find/get basic information about Hinduism on the web? Answer Few places to get information & knowledge about Hinduism, Wikipedia* Hindupedia Bharatkosh (Hindi) Veda.Wikidot Hinduwebsite Dharma Wiki *Also consider General disclaimer & About trusting. May be considerable that Most part are written by Western Christian academics. Note: “The question: Where can I find/get basic information about Hinduism on the web?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA....

Question Why and how did Lord Shiva fall in love with Mohini? Answer "Any Shiva bhakt will be shocked if they read about this!" One doesn't need to get shocked from this story. It can be interpreted in various ways: i) Vaishnavite Interpretation: This story shows even Shiva is bewildered by Maya of Vishnu. So, Vishnu is Supreme. ii) Shaivite Interpretation: This story shows Vishnu is Prakriti tatwa (feminine) and Shiva being Purusha is attracted to Prakriti....

Question Is Mahishasura Mardini Lakshmi or Durga? Answer Godesses Ambika who is also known by the name Godesses Durga is the Mahisasura Mardini (slayer of Mahisasura). Precisely speaking it is Chandika form of Godesses Ambika who slays Mahisasura: Chaptet 81 to Chapter 93 of Markandeya Purana is called Devi Mahatmyam and it sings the Glory of Devi. First of all Mahisasura defeats all gods and take their position as described in chapter 82:...

Question Why is the Sloka “Suklambaradharam Vishnum…” used as Ganapaty Dhyanam when it is clearly a Dhyana Sloka for Lord Vishnu? Answer शुक्लाम्बरधरम् विष्णुम् शशि वर्णम् चतुर्भुजम् | प्रसन्नवदनम् ध्यायेत् सर्व विघ्नोपशान्तये || "shuklamvaram dharam vishnum sashivarnam chaturvujam | prasanna vadanam dhyayet sarva bighnopashantaya ||" Let's examine each word of the sloka: शुक्लाम्बरधरम् = शुक्ल + अम्बर + धरम् Shuklamvaradharam = white+cloth+wearing ie, White cloth wearing Vishnu is especially called पीताम्बरम् (Pitamvaram)...

Question What is Turiya and how can we realize it? Answer Turiya refers simply to the Fourth. There are four quarters to Brahman; the waking, dream, dreamless, and the Turiya. The Fourth state is not separate from the other three but rather transcends and encompasses the other three states as well as a Fourth. Turiya is Pure Consciousness and is the same as the Atman or the Unconditioned Brahman. The Mandukya Upanishad verse VII says:...

Question Why Krishna says He is Sama Veda among Vedas in Bhagavad Gita? Answer Vedas are not only just some chants or some type of books, they are the fundamental building blocks of this universe itself. Every part of universe is composed of some vibrating Veda mantras. The particles contain abundance of RigVeda (Ayam Lokoh RigVeda), the space consists of abundance of YajurVeda (Antarikshyam vai YajurVeda), the bright particles/light contain abundance of SamaVeda Lord in Bhagvad Gita tells he is SamaVeda among the Vedas, in the Vibhuti chapter where all the things told are such which shows shining nature of all....

Question How do we decide what is dharma and adharma? Answer What is dharma and adharma is determined by scripture. Krishna says in the Gita (XVI. 23-24): He who discards the injunctions of the scriptures and acts upon impulse of desire attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal. Therefore let the scriptures be your authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done....

Question Why is madhu (honey) considered a prohibited food in brahmacharya? Answer The Shatapatha Brahmana Section 11.5.4 describes the Upanayana ceremony for the initiation of a pupil into Brahmacharya: 1 He says, 'I have come for Brahmakarya:' he thereby reports himself to the Brahman. He says, 'Let me be a Brahmakârin (student):' he thereby makes himself over to the Brahman. He (the teacher) then says, 'What (ka) is thy name?'--now Ka is Pragâpati: he thus initiates him after making him one belonging to Pragâpati....

Question Is every Jeeva “eternal” like the ultimate God (nirguna Brahman) or “temporary” within cycle? Answer From our discussions in the chat room, since we stumbled upon this, I will formalise it as an answer: Gita Chapter 15, Verse 7 mamaivāḿśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati Translations: Gambhirananda: It is verily a part of Mine which, becoming the eternal individual soul in the region of living beings, draws (to itself) the organs which have the mind as their sixth, and which abide in Nature....

Question Which scripture says that during eclipse all water become pure like Ganges water? Answer Parashar Smriti, Chapter 12 source 1 source 2 says , during eclipse all waters become pure like Ganges. सर्वं गंगा समं तोयं राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे। सोमग्रहे तथैवोक्तं स्नानदानादि कर्मसु।। When the sun or the moon is seized by rahu, all water becomes as pure as the water of the Ganga, so far as bathing and giving, and other religious rites are concerned....

Question What is equivalent of Santhara(Sallekhanā) in Hinduism? Answer The Manu Smriti says in its chapter 6 that a Brahmin,residing in forest and living the life of an ascetic ,may end his life by fasting till death. 6.29. These and other observances must a Brahmana who dwells in the forest diligently practise, and in order to attain complete (union with) the (supreme) Soul, (he must study) the various sacred texts contained in the Upanishads,...

Question According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe “unreal” or “unworthy”? Answer There is a common popular misconception in People that according to Advaita World doesn't exist at all. It is not true. When we are deciding reality of things as per Advaita. Then, Advaita itself gives three level of reality to us: 1)Paramarthika Satyam/ Absolute Reality level 2)Vyavaharika Satyam/ Ishwara Shristi level 3)Pratibhasika Satyam/ Jeeva Shristi level I have given their definition with examples in my answer here....