Questions tagged [culture]
Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
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Why do chanting malas have 108+1 beads?
I have often heard that the number 108 has a special significance in the Vedic culture; when mantras are chanted using beads, it is done in a cycle of 108 times. And when 108 times are completed, the ...
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Does the colour of turban in India have any specific meaning?
The above question is posed as far as the following photo is concerned..
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Is it wrong to hug a friend of the opposite gender?
I was listening to a katha and the katha vachak said that in our shastras, it is forbidden even to touch a female wooden toy. In which shastra is it mentioned that you shouldn't touch/hug females?
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Does Taylor Swift's 'Karma' song even remotely have anything to do with the Hindu notion of Karma?
Not a Hindu here, but I'm wondering if this new song is getting under the skin of Hindus the way Alanis Morrissette's 'Ironic' annoyed English teachers. In the song, she mentions several dozen things ...
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"Topi pehnana" association with deception [closed]
How and when did the phrase "topi pehnana" become associated with deceiving someone? My mother tongue is Kannada which also has a similar phrase.
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Do we have references to Ramaleela being enacted in the previous yugas?
Rāmalīlā/Ramaleela (रामलीला) —
Name of a dramatic performance or play, on the story of Rāma & Sītā based on
the Rāmāyaṇas; (Literally - ‘Rāma's līlā or divine play/pasttime ’) is any
dramatic ...
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What are panths (पंथ)?
I'm from a place in India where some groups like panths have existed for a long time. Since we are in a modern age they aren't seen or heard about much but still as the older people do coexist so does ...
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Is it ok for me (Not Hindu) to wear a turban/head wrap to represent the Hindu character I am playing in a play?
I have done a bit on research into this, and I plan to do more, but I am looking for a more personal answer from people who are Hindu. If you can help, please do, as I need it. I am attempting to ...
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Mudi kanikkai at oppiliappan [closed]
Namaskaram,
We are a south Indian brahmin family. As per our tradition, we have to give mudi kanikkai thrice for infants borne in our family after ayushyahomam. For my second daughter, We could not ...
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How to type पत्ते with half त् as in त्य [closed]
I know this is not directly related to Hinduism but as this community seems to have a background of typing in in Devnaagari / Hindi / Sanskrit. I have searched a lot. I hope someone will answer...
I ...
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Is the popular practice of applying Mehndi (Henna tattoo) during weddings supported by scriptures?
From Wikipedia:
Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration usually drawn on hands or legs, in which decorative designs are created on a person's body, using a paste, created from the ...
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Who are some ancient Singers of Sanskrit in the past? [closed]
Sanskrit is a phonetically active language that vibrates brain and heart and makes the environment positive. Could you suggest a few Sanskrit singers of ancient India whom one may listen to?
Thanks!
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Why do people divide the great Sanskrit language into Vedic Sanskrit and Classical sanskrit?
Is the language of Vedic era Sanskrit, different from the Classical era Sanskrit?
I have heard, read and listened at almost all the forums regarding this prevalence of difference.
Some of the people ...
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Can evidence for ideas/beliefs/practices we would now call part of Hinduism be found from before the Rig Veda? [closed]
Is there any scholarly work that argues that ideas/beliefs/practices that are part of Hinduism are from before the Rig Veda, e.g., Indus Valley Civilization?
This questiion follows up on Were Aryans ...
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Origin of Vikram-Beetal stories?
The Vikram-Betaal stories are derived from the Vetālapañcaviṃśati (वेतालपञ्चविंशति) or famously called, Baital Pachisi ("Twenty-five (tales) of Baital").
Do these stories find any kind of ...
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Origin of "Rãma Nãma Satya Hai"
"Rãma Nãma Satya Hai"
"राम नाम सत्य है"
i.e.
The name of Ram is the truth, is commonly chanted by Hindus while carrying a dead body to be cremated.
What might be its scriptural ...
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What is New Year in North India called?
I did try to read online but some pages say Phalgun Poornima while others say Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Any clarification would be appreciated.
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Influence of early communication in prenatal vasana modeling
The Video (Telugu) reminds viewers that Abhimanyu and Prahlada had acquired Bhakthi transmitted by intelligent oral suggestions which after birth gave prenatal and primordial connection to natural ...
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What beliefs are there regarding the moral status of eating lab grown or plant based meats in Hinduism? [closed]
I have seen various arguments about the validity of vegetarianism as a core tenet of Hindu moral thought. I would like to set that aside for this question and focus just on the belief systems within ...
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Wolves appear often in religion, with many wandering, houseless people/deities having wolves as companions Why, then, are there no domesticated dogs?
Wolves are commonly mentioned in religion, appearing as beloved companions of many deities. Domesticated dogs, who are known as Man's best friend have no representatives on the other hand. I find this ...
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What was the status of actors in Ancient India ? What were the laws applicable to them ? What rights or restrictions were levied on them? [closed]
It is said that in ancient Rome, actors were banned from mixing with common citizens. Certain restrictions were levied on them and they were viewed as one if the lowest rungs of society. I would like ...
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Defending and saving the religion [closed]
I have been wandering my mind over saving my religion. Sanatan religion is dying today facing extreme bashing,abuse, conversion etc.
Is there any scripture which say something about this and hindus?
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What is the origin of bengali Hindu Swastika?
Swastika is an important symbol for almost all Dharmic faiths. Particularly in Hinduism, the symbol of Swastika is pretty much constant through out the world(unlike Om which have different symbol in ...
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Does the Adiyogi of Sadhguru have a scriptural basis
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has a large following in India and abroad. His main sculptural work is the Adiyogi Statue in Velliangiri hills, Coimbatore.
Does the Statue have any Sthala purana or is it ...
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Significance of a SADGURU, in the confusing age of Kali [duplicate]
In times today people are living into full of temporary information overriden constantly, without much time devoted to learning about self.
Is there any way one can devote himself to a SADGURU ...
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How many times and what all we can eat in Navratri?
I want to know that how many times in a day we can eat when we are doing Navratri fast? Some are saying that we can have sattvik any number of times and some are saying two times. Please help me with ...
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Is there any religious significance of saffron flag as per our scriptures?
Modern Hindu organisations usually use saffron triangular flag as a unanimously accepted symbol of Hinduism. However, does the flag or colour have any significance as per authentic Hindu scriptures?
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What defines a "hero," from a Hindu perspective?
For some context, see this question, which I will also summarize: I plan to run a Dungeons & Dragons game soon for some people who follow Hindu faith. For those unfamiliar, it's like a cooperative ...
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What is the significance of Dhoti in life of a Hindu male? [duplicate]
Does Dhoti have any Hindu religious association or is it simply ancient Indian dress for males?
Is there any reference in shastras or elsewhere that a hindu male when doing puja or other religious ...
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Rangoli (Kolam) according to shastra and tradition
What powder is the ideal to put rangoli?
Is current rangoli colors are tradition? If not what is natural and tradition substitute for colors?
Which location is the ideal to put rangoli? In front of ...
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Are Hennas Tattoos and how do they fit into Hinduism?
Are Hennas tattoos and how do they fit into the equation?
Often, they start on the hand and the design goes up and down both arms. It's important to note that henna tattoos aren't really "tattoos." ...
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Why do only some Brahmins have a tuft of hair? Is it mandatory to cut the tuft of hair before leaving India?
Why is it that some Brahmins have a tuft of hair and some don't? Is it optional?
Furthermore, the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan before leaving to Cambridge University cut his tuft ...
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What is Ganesh Chaturthi/ Ganesh Utsav idol worship size according to shastra and Dharma
In my Marathi state we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as a Ganesh utsav for ten days and bring clay idol from market on the first day and make visarjan on 10th day.
My question is, what is the right size ...
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Why do we put water around plate before eating in the process Chitrahuti (चित्राहुति) Or "Chitravati"?
I have checked the following Q&A which addressed about this ritul in the past.
Which Scriptures mention "Chitrahuti" (चित्राहुति) or "Chitravati" procedure which we carry out ...
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What does the Vedic literature speak about pre-marital sex and sexual abstinence? [duplicate]
I understand that unlike Abrahamic religions, sex is primarily not a taboo in our Sanatana Dharma.
However, I would like to know what is laid out in the scriptures regarding 'pre-marital sex' and ...
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What makes a person a Hindu? [duplicate]
In Hinduism we have monotheists as well as polytheists. We do not have same deities and same customs. Does one become Hindu by accepting supremacy of Vedas? We don't have a single book like other ...
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Why do most of the people visit India to achieve high spiritual state or for becoming great?
I am always curious to know why do most of the people visit India to achieve high spiritual state or for becoming great ?
Example Steve Jobs, Mark Zukerburg etc.. the list is long.
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Do RV 8.33.19 and 10.85.30 suggest women should wear a veil in the presence of men?
Some answers to *What do Hindu scriptures say about women headscarf (hijab)*? on Quora.com cite these verses from the Rigveda that seem to suggest Hindu women should wear a head veil:
God made you ...
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Why does the Gayatri Mantra NOT end with OM except in Bengal?
In Bengal, the Gayatri (Savitri) Mantra always starts with OM and ends with OM. The mantra is thus printed in the very famous book 'Ahnik-Krittya' by Shyamacharan Kaviratna Vidyavaridhi.
But so far ...
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What could be preventing Krishna to advance to the Middle West states? [closed]
The below map comes from this webpage and shows
North American ISKCON temples, centers, gatherings, and home programs.
I was wondering what could be the reasons why there are no centres for Krishna, ...
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Why is the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata is read during the srAddha ceremony?
In Bengal, I heard that the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata is read aloud during the srAddha ceremony.
I am not aware of whether this is followed in other parts of India though.
What is the ...
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Do Bali Hindus eat beef and pork?
I heard that Balinese Hindus always include non-vegetarian in their diet including pork and beef. Is this true?
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Are different ways of salutation (pranaam) just cultural or prescribed in scripture?
In the North, the young just bend down and touch the feet of elders. In the South, they lie down flat on the ground while doing namaskaram (women would keep the midriff off the ground).
There are ...
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What is my religion? [duplicate]
I was watching Satguru (Jaggi Vasudev) video on YouTube where he said that Hindu is not a religion, its a geographical identity and that's why all part of India follows different practices and have ...
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Requirements for wearing Tilak
What are the rules / requirements of applying a Vaishnava tilaka? Is diksha required?
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Didn't the Sati practice exist in India? [duplicate]
There's a YouTube channel called FMF, which makes videos on Indian culture and Hinduism. Recently one of its videos focused on the Sati practice.
here's the link to that video. It will also be ...
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Guidance about visiting temples after a 13th day of death of any family member
I am a Hindu and Maratha Kshatriya from Goa.
I just wanted to ask few questions which I believe to have different answers from different brahmans I consulted so far.
It's been a month, I lost my ...
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Who is the goddess depicted as "Bharat Mata" & why is she having Indian tricolor flag?
What is the story of Bharat Mata?
What's her connection with the Indian national flag?
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Are there famous deities/gods or spiritual supremo, who had a daughter?
In India, culturally boys are preferred over girls as a child by many orthodox families. Such attitude creates kind of deep rooted gender bias and certain wrongful activities like abortion or ...
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What does Hinduism say about organ donation? [duplicate]
Does the religion say anything good/bad about organ donation ?
Is one not circumventing some sort of karmic rules by giving and receiving organs ? Say, if someone is blind, he is paying for his karma....
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