Q&A

Question To save themselves from the Lākṣāgṛha (house of lac), did Pāṇḍavas kill an innocent niṣāda woman and her five children? Answer It's me again. I have not seen Suryaputra Karn. Starbharat has 6 bodies magically appear. SOURCE: BORI Critical Mahabharat translated into English by Bibek Debroy (Book 1: Section 8 - Jatugriha-Daha Parva [Burning down the house of lac] Alright, first of all: PLOT HOLE / DEUS EX MACHINA ALERT!...

Question Why casteism (varṇa system) is based on birth instead of present guṇa-s & karma-s? Answer Better we talk about Sukshma Sharir in prior. It is made up of Manas, Buddhi & Ahamkar + 5 tanmatras. A soul (Jeevatma) leaves the body in this form after death. This is a bag whose content decides the next birth of the soul after death. This is explained by Swami Vivekananda (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Jnana-Yoga/The Cosmos: The Microcosm) here....

Question Why is it said in Vedanta that you are not the doer of any action? Answer "Now if I am not the doer and reaper of any action what's the significance of law of karma?" The law of Karma has significance only if one considers himself/herself as the doer. In reality, neither Karma exists, nor the result of Karma, nor the doership. That's the reason, whatever good or bad deeds one does, wouldn't go beyond the material world....

Question What are the curses given to Ravana? Answer In this chapter of the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana, right before deciding to wake up Kumbakarna, Ravana enumerates various curses that he's received which have led up to the defeat he is now experiencing: All that great penance performed by me became a waste indeed, for, I who am equal to Mahendra the Lord of Celestials have been defeated by a mere man!...

Question Why reading Bhagvad Gita without Guru can be dangerous? Answer Many people here are aware of the fact that Sruti(the Vedas) should be learned and studied only under the guidance of a Guru.But the necessity of a Guru is not limited to Veda study only. All the other Hindu Scriptures, like Smritis(Dharma Shastras),Vedangas,Puranas,Itihasas etc, are also to be studied under and learned from a Guru only. A twice-born (pupil) should study the Dharma S'astras under- the guidance of his preceptor for- learning the rules of decorum and cleanliness (both mental and physical), and: do whatever is beneficial to his, master....

Question If we don’t have a guru is it better not to read bhagavat gita or read it? Answer Its obvious that this confusion arose in your mind only after seeing my answer here.So,i am clarifying a bit more . It's a fact that all Hindu Shastras are to be studied under one's Guru.This is the traditional system which is followed since time immemorial.That's also why we used to have the Gurukulas where the Gurus impart their knowledge and the pupils learn various kinds of Vidyas,Shastras etc under his guidance....

Question Which scriptures describe the chariot of Sun God? Answer It is described in Srimad Bhagavat Purana. Srimad Bhagavat Purana Canto 5, Chapter 21 describes The movement of Sun and it's Chariot. यस्यैकं चक्रं द्वादशारं षण्नेमि त्रिणाभि संवत्सरात्मकं समामनन्ति तस्याक्षो मेरोर्मूर्धनि कृतो मानसोत्तरे कृतेतरभागो यत्र प्रोतं रविरथचक्रं तैलयन्त्र चक्रवद्भ्रमन्मानसोत्तरगिरौ परिभ्रमति ॥१३॥ तस्मिन्नक्षे कृतमूलो द्वितीयोऽक्षस्तुर्यमानेन सम्मितस्तैलयन्त्राक्षवद्ध्रुवे कृतोपरि भागः ॥१४॥ रथनीडस्तु षट्त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनायतस्तत्तुरीयभागविशालस्तावान्रविरथयुगो यत्र हयाश्छन्दोनामानः सप्तारुणयोजिता वहन्ति देवमादित्यम् ॥१५॥ पुरस्तात्सवितुररुणः पश्चाच्च नियुक्तः सौत्ये कर्मणि किलास्ते ॥१६॥...

Question What is the real concept of brahmacharya? Answer THE CONCEPT OF BRAHMACARYA – ITS TRUE MEANING, NATURE & IMPLICATION Brahmacarya as the name signifies, relates to brahman. The word ‘brahma’ derives its meaning from the root bRhmi “bRhmi dhAtvarthagocaraM vastu” (बृह्मि धात्वर्थगोचरं वस्तु) . The more famous term “brhatvAt bRhmaNatvAcca brahma ityucyate budhaiH” (बृहत्वात् बृह्मणत्वाच्च बृह्म इत्युच्यते बुधैः) neatly explains brahma - Meaning, “In view of its vastness of size or extent and in view of its expansiveness, it is called as brahman by the wise”....

Question Punishing a couple to stop intercaste marriage is of which Karma(Good Or Bad)? Answer @Sakthi,while the Scriptures generally don't encourage inter caste marriages but nowhere such marriages are said to be as punishable offences. In some cases (where the caste of the bridegroom is higher than that of the bride) such marriages are even allowed. A Brahmana can marry a Kshatriya or Vaishya girl; a Kshatriya can take a Vaishya wife, and a Vaishya can wed a Sudra's daughter....

Question Is it adharma to give Dana without considering what we are giving and to whom we are giving? Answer First of all dealing with Apatra Dana or charity given to the undeserving candidate.This is condemned in Scriptures. From the book "Essence of Dharma Bindu " Devala Maharshi clarifies: Charity given in small or large quanties is irrelevant but whatever is handed over with Shraddha bhakti or reverence and sincerity are given and the recipient too should truly desire and deserve it!...

Question Why self realization doesn’t imply omniscience? Answer Nice question! Since you have mentioned 'Advaitavaad' in your question I'm answering from Adi Shankaras Advaita perspective. Yes, Self realization doesn't imply Omniscience. It is because in Shankaras Advaita the attributes like Omniscient and Omnipotent etc... seen in Brahman are due to the product of Avidya. I discuss it in my answer here. Shankara in Brahma Sutra Bhasya 2.1.14 states: तदेवमविद्यात्मकोपाधिपरिच्छेदापेक्षमेवेश्वरस्येश्वरत्वं सर्वज्ञत्वं सर्वशक्तित्वं च, न परमार्थो विद्यया अपास्तसर्वपाधिस्वरुपे आत्मनि ईशत्रीशितव्यसर्वज्ञत्वादिव्यवहार उपपद्यते, तथा चोक्तम् - 'यत्र नान्यपश्यति नान्यच्छृणोति नान्यद्विजानाति स भूमा इति' यत्र 'त्वस्य सर्वमात्मैवाभूत्तत्केन कं पश्येत्' इत्यादिना च एव परमार्थवस्थायां सर्वव्यवहाराभावं वदन्ति वेदान्ता ।। 2....

Question What do Scriptures tells us about Kundalini? Answer Chandogya Upanishad 8.6.6 and Katha Upanishad  2.16 speak the same thing: यदा सर्वे प्रभिद्यन्ते हृदयस्येह ग्रन्थयः । अथ मर्त्योऽमृतो भवत्येतावद्ध्यनुशासनम् ॥ १५॥ शतं चैका च हृदयस्य नाड्य-     स्तासां मूर्धानमभिनिःसृतैका । तयोर्ध्वमायन्नमृतत्वमेति     विष्वङ्ङन्या उत्क्रमणे भवन्ति ॥ १६॥ When all the knots of Hridaya Granthi are cut down, mortal becomes an immortal and attains Brahman there. There are one hundred and one Nadis which emerge from Hridaya (heart) one Nadi goes out piercing the head....

Question What are the Hindu Code of Conduct (Ethics)? Answer In Santana Dharma, the "right way of living" is preached in many scriptures. Actually the Sanskrit word "Dharma" itself stands for similar meaning. Ethics (Ethical code or Code Of Conduct) are taught in various ways in Hindu Scriptures like as Divine Commandments in Vedas-Upanishad, Bhagavad Gita. In terms of Yama (यम) & Niyama (नियम) in Smriti literatures ("Dharma Shashtra") and in Yoga....

Question Rules for chanting Oṃ namo bhagavate Vāsudevāya Answer Who can chanta the mantra Any Sincere Vaishnava can chant it regardless of caste creed or sex The mantra Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya is very first verse of Shrimad Bhagwatam, Shrimad Bhagwatam is a smriti, so there are no restrictions on who is eligible to recite. The mantra is open to all, and anyone who is sincere Vaishanva can recite(do japa) it....

Question If a brahmin has qualities of sudra should he be prohibited from duties of a brahmin? Answer A Brahmin who does not have the qualities of an ideal Brahmin should have to be treated accordingly.There are many verses in Smritis which say so. Manu Smriti 4.245. A Brahmana who always connects himself with the most excellent (ones), and shuns all inferior ones, (himself) becomes most distinguished; by an opposite conduct he becomes a Sudra....