Q&A

Question “Once Yogi, Twice Bhogi, Thrice Rogi” – What should be the number of meals per day? Answer What do other scriptures say about total meals per day (1, 2 or more)? For a Grihastha (Householder), Dharma Shatsras has prescribed to take food two times, in Morning and in Evening. But if one has already taken excess of food in morning, he should not eat second time (in evening). Apastamba Dharma Sutra, PRASNA II, PATALA 1, KHANDA 1...

Question Is perpetual virginity or remaining unmarried superior to marriage? Answer Yes, it is superior. Although in Hinduism faithfully following the path of a married person is way of dharma, scripture says brahmacharya, especially lifelong celibacy, is superior. The Mahanarayana Upanishad says (78.12): Brahma Hiranyagarbha considers that sannyas is the means to liberation. Hiranyagarbha is indeed the Supreme. The Supreme alone is Hiranyagarbha (although he is a personality). Certainly those austerities set forth above are inferior [other austerities listed in the preceding verses of this section]....

Question Is the Svetavaraha Kalpa and the Padma Kalpa the same? Answer No the two are not the same and wikipedia is actually right on this point. According to this excerpt from the Vishnu Purana they are certainly different: When the-three worlds are but one mighty ocean, Brahmá, who is one with Náráyańa, satiate with the demolition of the universe, sleeps upon his serpent-bed--contemplated, the lotus born, by the ascetic inhabitants of the Janaloka--for a night of equal duration with his day; at the close of which he creates anew....

Question Why is Lord Hanuman also referred as “Bajaranga Bali”? Answer I read this and to me makes sense. Hanuman is called Bajrang Bali. I tried to understand why he was so called. This name is being used mostly in Northern India and less in Southern India, indicating Lord Hanuman. According to my understanding, the original word might be VAJRAANGABALI. If we split this word, we will get 3 words. VAJRA + ANGA + BALI....

Question Which scriptures or Vedic hymns declare the Sun as the Supreme God (Brahman)? Answer The following Veda Mantra describes the Divine Sun as the inner soul of all that exists. Chitram devAnAm udagAd anikam chakshur mitrasya varunasya agneh (1), AprA dyAvAprithivi antarikshma (2), surya AtmA jagatas tasthushah cha (3) Meaning The wonderful face of the Gods has arisen, the eye of the Mitra, Varuna and Agni (1); The Sun has filled the Heaven and the Earth and the middle space (2), He, the soul of all that moves and moves not (3)....

Question Which scriptures mention about Sutak dosha (various prohibitions on child birth)? Answer which scriptures mention about Sutak dosha? Manu Smriti, Chapter 5 declares ten days of Sutaka (impurity) for Sapinda. A man who hears of a (Sapinda) relative's death, or of the birth of a son after the ten days (of impurity have passed), becomes pure by bathing, dressed in his garments. Vishnu Smriti, Chapter 22 gives impurity period by each Varna....

Question How to overcome maya? Answer "satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmOhatvam nirmOhatve nizcala tatvam nizcala tatve jIvanmuktiH" -Sankaracharya in bhaja govindam. The second line in the above verse is what you are looking for. Sankara says release from attachment progresses one towards overcoming maya and such non-attachment is achieved through continuous company of the pious. Translation of the whole sloka is given in the linked answer. https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/7697/1195 Note: “The question: How to overcome maya?...

Question How do I know what is the right kind of work for me? Answer This is a great question, for any saadhaka (Hindu practitioner). It has received some depth-touching answers. But I have a different one, so I am contributing this late. Some concepts are inter-dependent systems (अन्योन्याश्रित व्यवस्था). For example, Newton's laws are valid in inertial frame of reference. And Inertial frame of reference is defined as the frame of reference where Newton's laws apply....

Question Is the etymology of the name Yudhishthira correct? Answer Etymology of Yudhishtira = steady in war, is correct. Here, the war can be any kind of battle or struggle. Throughout the Mahabharata, Yudhishtira was known to behold the Dharma & remaining steadfast in every challenging situations. The passage you described about Yudhishtira 'wanting' to go in exile - is just part of warring frustrations. That should not be considered as a proof, as it really didn't happen....

Question How do Vaishnavas interpret the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra? Answer Lord Narasimha is described as Mrityumrityu (Death's death) in the Nrisimha Mantra. Accordingly, Sri Vaishnavas interpret tryambaka - the three-eyed one as Narasimha. This is supported in various places including Shruti, Smriti and works of Acharyas (whether or not they subscribe to Vishishtadvaita philosophy). Here are a few examples: Nrisimha-Purva-Tapaniya Upanisad (NPTU) refers to Narasimha as three-eyed one and also as Mrityumrityu....

Question Do the Vedas mention Yugas? Answer Yes, RigVeda mentions about 'yuga' starting with the 'asat yuga' from which deva brought forth the 'sat yuga'. Ref. RV. 10.72 (2) - ' devana purvye yuge asat sat jayat'. And RigVeda can tell us what preceded it not of forthcoming as done by some of the finalist scriptures which tell us that 'kali yuga' is the last one and 'sat yuga' will follow it....

Question Why do Devas stop people from attaining Brahma Vidya? Answer When a person gets Brahma-Vidya / Moksha then there is no rebirth for that person. And when he doesn't have birth he can't do various sacrifices and rituals for Devatas. So, Gods do not want that men should attain Brahma Vidya. It is explained in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as: I-iv-9: They say: Men think, ‘Through the knowledge of Brahman we shall become all’....

Question Why can’t sudras read vedas according to smritis? Answer I have used this YajurVeda mantra in more than one answers of mine till date. One such answer is this one. The correct translation, word to word, is as follows: YathA imAm vAcham kalyAnim AvadAni janebhyah (1) BrahmarAjanyAbhyAm sudrAya cha AryAya cha (2) SwAya cha aranAya cha (3) Meaning May i speak the sacred word to the masses of the people (janebhya) (1) to the brahmana, kshatriya, to the sudra and the Arya (2) and to our own men and the strangers (3)....

Question Translation of Rig Veda 1.160.4 (Earth supported by pillars) Answer In Jamison and Brereton's version (page 339) , the verse is translated as follows: 1.160 (4) This one here, the best artisan of the artisans of the gods, who begat the two world-halves beneficial to all, who measured out the two airy realms with a display of his good resolve, with unaging props—he has been universally praised. So you can seen here that the translation suggests the verse is used to praise a deity who has a ability to measure greatness of heaven and earth with great accuracy!...

Question What is the means of attaining Moksha according to the different Astika schools? Answer Let me address each of the six Astika schools: Samkhya: The Samkhya school believed that meditation on the 25 Tattvas, i.e. Purusha or soul, Prakriti or matter/energy, and the 23 evolutes of Prakriti, is what leads to knowledge of the difference between Purusha and Prakriti, which is what leads to Moksha. Here is what Ishwara Krishna says in verses 64-66 of the Samkhya Karika:...