Q&A

Question Did Yudhishthira lie more than once? Answer No, Yudhishtira did not lie in this case. And this fact is without any hidden or deep meaning. When we relate "truth" or Satya with just "information", then we can often find contradictions in the behaviours of righteous people. Dharma doesn't solely rely on correct/incorrect information. If that was the case, then all computers will become DhArmik! PAndava-s were specifically ordered or agreed to remain disguised for the last 1 year after being defeated in dice game....

Question Does Hinduism prohibit talking while eating? Answer As per Hindu Shastras, one should not talk while bathing,eating and also not while one is performing a Homa(Yajna/Fire Ritual/Agnihotra). Maharshi Veda Vyasa gives us the following reasons for the prohibitions : Maharshi Veda Vyasa cautions: Snaasyato Varunasshobhaam juhvatognih shriyam haret, Bhojane mrityumaapnoti tasmaanmounam trishu smritam/ Conversation while bathing is disliked Varuna Deva and in the course of Homa prakriya the God of Agni detests it just as while taking food Mrityu Deva(Or Yama) is annoyed; hence during these three acts of snaana-homa-bhojana, silence needs to be observed strictly....

Question What are Vivartavada and Ajatavada? Answer 1. Vivartavada: Sanskrit word विवर्त means [1] transformation, more precisely [2] apparent form in Vedanta philosophy. Vivartavada means the doctrine of apparent transformation. According to Adi Shankaracharya Jagat (word) is actually apparent transformation of Brahman under the effect of illusion. That means the transformation is only apparent (illusory/virtual) i.e unreal. Just like snake appeared in rope in dark is due to ajnana or avidya i....

Question Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct? Answer I personally believe that a mother would never ask someone to kill her own children moreover she would ask to kill the wrong and the negative things within each individual. What you feel is absolutely correct.Goddess Kali does not need the sacrifice, the necessity arises only from the side of those who eat meat.Because the Shastras unanimously agree that eating meat without sacrifice is a sin....

Question Did Lord Rama reach Ayodhya after 20 days from Dusherra? Answer I do not know how the story of Rama killing Ravana on Vijaya Dashami and returning on Deepawali became famous. If we go through Valmiki Ramayana. It doesn't give precise information on time span between killing of Ravana and returning of Rama to Ayodhya. Furthermore, it is not possible that Rama killed Ravana on Vijaya Dashami and awaited 20 days there and returned to Ayodhya on Deepawali, as they returned through Pushpak Vimana....

Question Is there any hierarchy for Devi’s incarnations? Answer Before knowing about hierarchy of incarnation of Devi, it is necessary to know about hierachy of Devi herself (with respect to other Gods). So, to explain this I have divided the answer to this question to several parts: 1) Explanation from Absolute Level: Below is the explanation from the absolute level point of view or Paramartha Satyam; ● Devi as only one that exists:...

Question On verses, from major Hindu texts, similar in purport to those found in the Bhagawat Gita Answer Bhagavata Purana talks about following one's own Dharma in SB 3.28.2. sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyā vidharmāc ca nivartanam daivāl labdhena santoṣa ātmavic-caraṇārcanam One should execute his prescribed duties to the best of his ability and avoid performing duties not allotted to him. One should be satisfied with as much gain as he achieves by the grace of the Lord, and one should worship the lotus feet of a spiritual master....

Question Why does Chinna Jeeyar Swami carry a bunch of sticks and a flag attached to them? Answer Not just Chinna Jeeyar Swami, but all Sri Vaishnava Acharyas carry these three sticks. They are called the Tridanda, and they are carried by those who have taken up Tridandi Sanyasa, which is the type of Sanyasa that Sri Vaishnavas follow. The appearance of Sanyasis in general is described in this chapter of the Manu Smriti:...

Question Why do Sannyasis avoid looking at women? Answer For sannyāsis, not looking at women is only the starting point, it is not the destination. They are actually trying to slay their indriyas to the point that they are unaffected by the opposite sex. Śaṅkarācārya says in Vivekachūdāmani: The deer, the elephant, the moth, the fish and the honey-bee---these five meet death because of their bondage to one of the five senses....

Question Are we encouraged to become a brahmin? Answer Based on the nature a person has acquired from material modes; he can be classified to be belonging to one of the varnas. There are 4 varnas Viz. Brahmin,Kshatriya,Vaishya and Shudra. The predominating modes that drive these four classes are: Brahmin-Mode of Goodness Kshatriya-Mode of passion Vaishya -mix of passion and Ignorance Shudra-mode of Ignorance This is mentioned in 18th Chapter of Gita....

Question Why some spiritual people become cynical? Answer The answer is provided in Shreemad Bhagvat purana by Lord Shree Krishna. He explains about "Vanaprastha" (वानप्रस्थ) and "Sanyasi Dharma." In these shlokas Lord Shree Krishna explains How a spiritual oriented person and Sadhus and Sanyasi's should behave who are his pure devotee's. प्रसंग्ड:मजरं पाशमात्मणन: कवयो विदु:| स एव साधुषु कृतो मोक्षद्वारमपावृतम||२०|| prasaṅgam ajaraṁ pāśam ātmanaḥ kavayo viduḥ sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto mokṣa-dvāram apāvṛtam...

Question How important is the Bhagavad Gita when compared to other Hindu texts? Answer Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam writes: Question Swamiji, is there some basic text, for example, the Bible in Christianity, that defines the Hindu religion? Answer In Hinduism, we have a galaxy of saints, prophets and incarnations of God. We have also inherited a large collection of books. And thus if I have to name a book which represents the essence of Hinduism, it becomes a daunting task....

Question In which caste was Lord Krishna born into? Answer There are verses in "Shreemad Bhagvatam" that points towards "Lord Shree Krishna's" relation with Pandavas. Although he has been raised in Gokula, Kunti mother of Pandavas was sister of Vasudeva (Father of shree Krishna"). So we can say that Shree krishna was a kshatriya. तं मातुलेयं परिरभ्य निवृतो भीम: स्ययन प्रेमजवाकुलेइंद्रिय:। यमौ किरीटी च सुह्यत्तमं मुदा प्रवृद्धबाष्पा: परिरेभिरेsच्युतम।।27।। Tam Matuleyam Paribhya Nivritto Bhimah Sasyan Pramjava kule indriya Yamo kiriti Ch Suhruttmam Muda Pravrubgdbashpah Paribhirechhutam....

Question Negative Characterisitcs of Women - Ravana Answer Do our scriptures say anything about the negative traits of women or which women to avoid in general? According Manu Smriti, there are six negative traits or characteristics of women that bring about her downfall or ruin. 9.13. Drinking (spirituous liquor), associating with wicked people, separation from the husband, rambling abroad, sleeping (at unseasonable hours), and dwelling in other men’s houses, are the six causes of the ruin of women....

Question Will saying something in anger come true? Answer I will say No, Everyone's Curse or Blessings is not going to be true. People who have achieved the power to curse & give blessings, their sayings will only be true. Every Mother wants her son to be a good human or a rich man. She always give her blessings to her son, but for everyone it doesn't become true. Every Father blesses her daughter to lead a happy life but those blessings does not become true....