Q&A

Question Is an evil, but devoted, person more valued by the Gods than a good, but an atheistic, person? Answer This is a good question often asked by people. This question is asked because people think that good karma automatically should lead to moksha, bliss and relief from suffering. I will try to establish that this simplistic idea is not right. Does Ishvara distinguish between a devotee and an atheist?...

Question Why materialism is bad in Hinduism? Answer Why materialism is bad in Hinduism? Why materialism and materialistic people are bad. Sanathan dharma does not forbid materialistic enjoyment for everyone. Discouraging pleasures depend on several factors such as the goal, occupation, knowedge, virtue of human under consideration. Pleasures from materials are encouraged by scriptures For example, you can read the statements by Bhimasena on the importance of pleasures. Many scriptures do explain the importance of materials and pleasures....

Question What is the explanation for Rigveda 5.2.11? Answer The Vedas, including Rig Veda 5.2.11, were composed by Rishis. They did not come down from heaven. So the question boils down to how a book written by humans can be considered to be divine. The answer is that the spiritual information contained in the Vedas is not the product of the intellect of the Rishis but have been discovered through deep meditation....

Question What is the English translation of brihadaranyaka-upanishad Verse 6.4.3-6? Answer Here is the translation of Hume; Her lap is a sacrificial altar; her hairs, the sacrificial grass; her skin, the soma-press. The two labia of the vulva are the fire in the middle. Verily, indeed, as great as is the world of him who sacrifices with the Vâjapeya ('Strength-libation') sacrifice, so great is the world of him who practises sexual intercourse, knowing this; he turns the good deeds of women to himself....

Question Why does part of Vaishnavism consider Gautama Buddha to be an Avatara of Lord Vishnu, even though he rejected Vedic wisdom? Answer All serious Vaishnavas consider Buddha an avatar of Vishnu, but the question is which Buddha? First, let us prove that the Buddha was indeed an avatar. Some claim that the Buddha was either an interpolation in the puranas or that the puranas themselves came after the time of the Buddha....

Question What are the components of the word om (ॐ) Answer The Omkāra is made up of 3 letters: (1) akāra - अ; (2) ukāra - उ; (3) makāra - म and also an anusvāra (ardhamātrā). It is often a misconception that it has only the first three letters but the Upanishads are clear that it has even an anusvāra. So you will pronounce it as Om and let the ma resonate after for a bit in the mouth/ nose area....

Question Is gita 2:45 asking us to reject the Vedas? Answer Absolutely not. But for understanding this verse's clear meaning we have to also know the other two verses before it. Here they are: Chapter 2 यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः । वेदवादपराः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीतिवादिनः ॥ ४३ ॥ The undiscerning, delighting in the study of the Veda, O Pārthа, speak flowery words declaring that there is nothing else. कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलेप्सवः । क्रियाविशेषबहुला भोगैश्वर्यगतीः प्रति ॥ ४४॥...

Question If God alone exist(advaita) then what’s wrong with following materialistic desire? Answer Firstly from Brahman alone this whole world comes and from that, Sat (Eternal i.e Atman ) and Asat(Non Eternal like Body, Elements in Prakriti etc) come from. But still Brahman transcends everything and is in-dweller of the body as well as the creation. Desires only in accordance with Dharma will lead to good path. Other desires keep binding man in Samsara....

Question Can anybody share the ebook link of Manubhashya of Medhatithi Part II (English Translation)? Answer Manusmrti with the Manubhashya of Medhatithi (translated by Ganganath Jha) has 10 volumes. The first two volumes contain Sanskrit verses. The English translation is present in the 3rd to 7th volumes. These five volumes are also known as Part I to Part V. 8th-10th volumes have some additional notes. Here I have added the links to the important volumes (3rd to 7th)....

Question Where can I find the English translation of Parashara Smriti? Answer The link everyone is sharing is not a published book. Someone created that document. The only published translation of Parashara Smriti that I could find is part of the following book The Dharma Sastra or The Hindu Law Codes (English Translation) Vol. II by Manmatha Nath Dutt (Shastri). Apart from Parasar Samhita, it also contains translations of Sankha, Gautama, Apastamba and Vashistha Samhitas....

Question What is karma? Why god tell to perform duties? Perform your actions but do not have any expectation of the fruits. अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीं भगवतीम्- अष्टादशाध्यायिनीम् अम्ब त्वामनुसन्दधामि भगवद्- गीते भवद्वेषिणीम् ॥ १॥ Om Parthaya prathi bodhithm bhagawataa naaraayanena swayam, Vyasaena gratitaam Puraana muninaa madhye Mahabaratam… “Oh Bhagavad Gita, destroyer of rebirth(s), thou hast been instructed to partha(son of prutha) by Lord Narayana himself and later included by the ancient sage Vyasa within the Mahabharata....

Question What were the heights of Rama and Krishna? Answer Partial Answer: Lord Rama Valimiki Ramayana: Sundara Kanda: Sarga 35: Verse 18, Lord Rama's height is given as four Hindu cubits or four kishku(चतुष्किष्कुः): त्रिवलीवांस्त्र्यवनतश्चतुर्व्यङ्गस्त्रिशीर्षवान्। चतुष्कलश्चतुर्लेखश्चतुष्किष्कुश्चतु स्समः।।5.35.18।। Translation चतुष्किष्कुः he is four cubits in height He has three folds in the skin of his neck and belly, is depressed in the middle of his soles and the nipples, undersized at four placesthe neck, penis, shanks and back, has three spirals on his head, has four lines under his thumb, has four lines on his forehead, he is a person with four cubits in height and symmetrical arms, cheeks and thighs....

Question Which scripture mentions Yuga length? Answer I have given below a discussion of the length of the yugas in Linga Purana. O brahmins, the Krta yuga consists of four thousand years. Four hundred, three hundred, two hundred and hundred years respectively constitute the period of transition both at the beginning and end of a yuga. [1] Linga Purana I.4.5-6 [1] Each Yuga is prefixed and suffixed by a sandhya which specifies the advent and culmination of yuga....

Question What exactly does Bhagavadh Gita say about athesits Answer Bhagavadgita condemns only atheists who do evil acts to destroy the world. This is what Gita says about Demonic people - Those who are demoniac do not know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behavior nor truth is found in them. They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control....

Question How can I work without desires? Answer Dharma, Artha, Kama and moksha are four purusharthas. So Sanatana dharma accepts that ordinary people will have desires. So people are free to work with desires. Nishkama karma, work with out desire, is only for people who want to attain moksha. Karma Yoga is explained below. You are asking about the practicality of nishkama Karma which is part of Karma Yoga. A person practices Karma Yoga when his work benefits other people and the work is done without caring about the result or name, fame, promotion, wealth etc....