Q&A

Question Was Daitya king Bali present during the Samudra Manthan? If so then how was it possible? Please check the details Answer Yes, Bali was there during the churning of the ocean. He led the rakshasas during the churning. He took the Uccaiḥśravā, the white horse generated from the milky ocean. tata uccaiḥśravā nāma hayo ’bhūc candra-pāṇḍuraḥ | tasmin baliḥ spṛhāṁ cakre nendra īśvara-śikṣayā || Thereafter, a horse named Uccaiḥśravā, which was as white as the moon, was generated....

Question Why is Devi Ambika called Lord Shiva’s sister in Yajurveda? Answer First, we have to understand who is the feminine version of Rudra? Maruts are also said to be the children of Rodasī (consort of Rudra) and the same hymn distinctly addresses Rudra as their father RV5.57. Rudra is not necessarily a single entity or a group because of the unique nature of Rudra to manifest across various concepts and divinities....

Question How to please Lord Shiva to get grace? Answer In this Kurma Purana chapter, Lord Shiva prescribes Bhakti or devotion as the best means of achieving his grace. Parama Shiva asserted: Naaham Tapobhirvividhairna Daanena na cheyjyayaa | Shakyo hi Purushair jaaturmutey Bhaktiamanuttamaam || .... I am always realisable by Bhakti or Pure Devotion and not necessarily by Tapasya, Daana or Charity and Yagnaas!. He further elaborates what is required of his devotees as follows:...

Question How did Ravan get 10 heads? What are the names of those heads? Answer Ravana was born with ten heads. His birth is mentioned in the Chapter 9 of Uttara Kanda Uttara Kanda of Ramayana as well as this answer by user Keshav Srinivasan. It is written that he was born with ten heads. From Having been thus accosted, the girl, O Rama, after a length of time brought forth a very terrible and hideous offspring having the form of a Raksha, having ten necks, furnished with large teeth, and resembling a heap of collyrium, with coppery lips, twenty arms, huge faces, and flaming hair....

Question What is the context of Adi Shankara’s statement “Woman is the gateway to hell” found in his work Prashnottari? Answer The question and answer quoted in the article is in the book Mani Ratna Mala which is said to be the work of Shree Adi Shankaracharya. Translated by by Paramhans, Swami Yoganand. Shloka no. 3 This book is in the question and answers , asked by Shishya and answers given by Guru....

Question Is it true that Lord Shiva’s description is different in Vedas? Answer ।। Shiva in Vedas ।। vs ।। Shiva in Puranas।। First of all I would like to suggest to read this post: What names of Lord Shiva used today are from Vedas? It's because citing the same thing here would make answer extremely long. In it you can already see attributes like Nilagriva (blue necked one), Tryambakam (Three eyed one), Kapardin (Who has matted hair), etc....

Question What is the meaning of Gayatri Mantra? Answer The English translation of Rigveda 3.62.10 is as follows: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्॥ ३.०६२.१० May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the God: So May he stimulate our prayers. Knowing the literal meaning only would not help in understanding the Gayatri Mantra. So, some explanation for it would be useful. Actually the translation or commentary given by Acharyas would be the best source to understand....

Question How can one increase bhakti? Answer Yes, scriptures provide 9 steps of Bhakti known as Navdha Bhakti. In the Ramacharitmanas 3.35 - 3.36, Lord Shri Rama explains Navdha Bhakti to Shabri: प्रथम भगति संतन्ह कर संगा। The first step to devotion (Bhakti) is to keep company of the saints (Satsang). दुसरि रति मम कथा प्रसंगा॥ The second step is to enjoy listening to legends/discourses pertaining to the Lord गुरु पद पंकज सेवा तीसरि भगति अमान। Selfless service to the Guru's lotus feet without any pride is the third step....

Question What is the meaning of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare …? Answer This mantra is known as Hare Krishna Mantra. According to Gaudiya Vaishnavas, this mantra is: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare and according to Kali-Santarana Upanishad: Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. However there are three different interpretations for it....

Question Why “Rama” Nama is called Taraka mantra? Answer By Taraka Mantra we basically mean the Pranavam, the first sound or OM, also called the Nada Brahman. So, Taraka: Deliverer. Taraka Mantra: From the root word tara–that which crosses. The Taraka Mantra is that which enables its invokers to cross over the ocean of samsara and attain liberation. Taraka Nama: The Delivering Name; Om From Sannyasa Upanishad: That which is Om is the indestructible, the supreme and Brahman....

Question Why did god make few people look beautiful and others ugly? Answer Well as they say "beauty lies in the eyes of beholder", how you look at a particular human being is how you generally feel about living beings. There maybe certain factors that make your appearance the way it is and one of them certainly would be your past karmas, but there is another aspect of the same thing, it is said that a soul itself selects a body, circumstances/living conditions it wants to enter in order to experience something specific, gain from it and move ahead to the next level....

Question What is the definition of Veda? Answer The word 'Veda' means "knowledge" which is derived from the root 'Vid' which means "to know". For example, Ayurveda: knowledge (Veda) of longevity More definitions of Veda can be found in Rigvedaadi Bhasya Bhumika by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. You may read it on page 30 from here (Note: pdf might get downloaded on a few devices) Note: “The question: What is the definition of Veda?...

Question What happiness/joy God gets, when we humans pray him? Answer Well, certainly is that the Lord becomes satisfied and feels some joy when his devotee is doing something with devotion and affection (bhakti) for the Lord. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad gita 7.17: teṣāṁ jñānī nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir viśiṣyate priyo hi jñānino ’tyartham ahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ Of these, the one who is in full knowledge and who is always engaged in pure devotional service (bhakti) is the best....

Question How the original name of “Jai Samhita” changed to “Mahabharat”? Answer The first chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes how the Mahabharata got its name: In former days, having placed the four Vedas on one side and the Bharata on the other, these were weighed in the balance by the celestials assembled for that purpose. And as the latter weighed heavier than the four Vedas with their mysteries, from that period it hath been called in the world Mahabharata (the great Bharata)....

Question What should one choose according to scriptures between thoughtless mind and mind filled with the thoughts of God? Answer A mind becomes thoughtless during SamAdhi in the true sense. Because at that time everything is merged into one. So, what is there then to fix your mind upon? So, then, how can scriptures straightaway recommend in having a thoughtless mind? When it has to come at the very last stage of SAdhana?...