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.
45 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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How does artificial confluence of rivers differ from natural confluence of rivers?
The AP Government linked rivers Krishna and Godavari by artificial means. Given that;
What does this artificial confluence mean according to Hinduism? Does it signify anything in religious or ...
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Is the Jallikattu festival connected to Hinduism? If so, what is its significance?
The famous Jallikattu festival of Tamil Nadu, India was temporarily banned and then reinstated recently. My questions are:
Is the Jallikattu festival connected to Hinduism?
If so, what is the ...
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Who are Gramadevathas found especially in South India?
Common names of these Gramadevathas are Ankamma, Poleramma etc.
What is their relation to Lord Shiva?
Can we Worship Lord Shiva along with Gramadevathas? See this blog.
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Why is Holi not much known in Southern India?
Why is Holi not much known in Southern India? Did the festival come into being relatively late in North India?
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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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Is the North Indian custom of the bride kicking over a pot of rice on first entering the in-laws' house based on scripture?
I believe the rice getting scattered over the house represents the bride filling her new home with prosperity. Does any scripture prescribe/describe this custom?
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What are the guidelines on child adoption?
A neighborhood couple adopted a child a while back. The main criteria they saw, was if the skin colour & general appearance of that child is matching with them, so that it looks natural to others.
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While praying, who are allowed to touch/caress "Shiva Linga", the sacred phallus?
As per this thread, there are various opinions of whether the idol at the temple should be touched or not: Is it allowed to hug/touch the main idol at a temple?
Now there is a special case of Shiva, ...
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Is Dristhi (Evil Eye) Pottu,Photos and other activities are said in our scriptures?
Dristhi pottu for new babies are applied as a black dot in their cheek to escape from Evil Eye.
Industries have scary photos in its gate as to escape from Evil eye .
When a person looks very jealously ...
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What is the difference between saint,yogi and sidhas?
I wish to know but the persons who dedicate their life in search of God or peace or getting to know the meaning of Life.People often call them as saints, Sidhas, Yogis and so.
My question:
What is ...
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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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Why are Tantras used in fierce ways? To whom they are unaffected?
I have read rickross answers which are stated from tantras and angmas but almost i found nothing scarey in what he writed so how they are used in such a fierce manner?
Is there are some type ...
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Which deity should be prayed or which mantra can be recited, while flying in an aircraft?
Sometimes while a flight takes off, I become nervous. I would like to know which mantra to recite or which deity to invoke.
I know to remove fear of water while travelling in water one may chant शं नो ...
user12262
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In Hinduism, is it commanded to change clothes everyday?
If we wear the same clothes for more than a day, is it unclean according to the culture? I know in general, that one should change his clothes everyday if possible, but what does our culture say ...
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Why are we named 12 days after birth?
Including myself, many of my family members got their names 12 days after their birth, a day called Namakarana. This is done via a ritual, for example in Nepalese tradition (My ethnicity) we have an ...
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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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Why did they hit coconut on dead Jayendra Saraswathi's head?
Jayendra Saraswathi passed away recently. During his funeral at Kanchi, one of his followers, hit coconut on the head of Jayendra Saraswathi's body. Why did they do so?
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Why religious activities aren't suggested during absence of Venus?
In most of places where Hindu religion is believed, Most of the religious activities are not suggested during period of absence of Venus. Can anyone describe reason behind this ?
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Which hand should be used for supporting head while applying Tilak on the forehead?
Which hand do i have to put on the back of the head while getting a tilak on the forehead? If someone applies tilak on my forehead, i should place my hand on the back of my head. But do I have to use ...
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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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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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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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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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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 ...
user17294
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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 ...
user17294
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What is the benefit of attending Kumbh Mela?
I learned at university that the Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people ever and that it occurs once every 12 years. I know it rotates between four cities meaning there is a Kumbh Mela ...
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How has Hinduism spread & existing in Russia?
Russia & nearby countries were part of communist USSR for a while, which was typically anti-religion.
Yet there are several Hindu Russians (0.1% of population). How did it spread in such remote ...
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for gods that are worshiped in both north and south india are their faces depicted similarly in the two areas?
do scriptures like agamas prescribe how different deities should look? to me except siva,durga/kali and ganesa all other gods look quite dissimilar in north and south india.
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Why Mata given more importance than Pita?
We all know that in order to bring a child into this world we need need both a female and a male (not taking into consideration current scientific methodologies), agree that a woman nurtures the baby ...
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Fasting time with one time meal
I do night shift till 4 am so what will be the normal fasting start time . Fast with one time meal I.e only dinner .
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Who is the "fiend" in this verse - Rigveda Book 10, Hymn 85
Who is the "fiend" in this verse from Rig-Veda, Book 10:
Give thou the woollen robe away: deal treasure to the Brahman priests.
This female fiend hath got her feet, and as a wife attends her ...
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blonde haired and blue eyed people in Bharata varsha in earlier yugas
I am interested in knowing whether people in Bharata varsha in earlier yugas had blonde hair and blue eyes(the combination). Or is that combination foreign to Bharat varsha ?
Usually these are ...
user4592
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Non-Indian Hindus
Are there European/American Hindus who converted to Hinduism, but not the newly reformed sects like Hare Krishna, Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, but who adopted traditional sects like Shaivism, Vaishnavism,...
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Origin of the Shankara legend?
The film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is based on a lot of lurid and sensationalist stereotypes about worshippers of Maa Kali and Sri Shiva. However, the central plot conceit is based around a ...
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Whenever Goswami's meet, why do they say Aum Namo Narayana?
Whenever two Goswami's meet then why do they say Aum Namo Narayana?
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Why do some hindu men wear black strings around their waists?
Why do some hindu men wear black strings around their waists?
Even i do, but i don't know the significance of it.
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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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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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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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what is the religious significance of the nine yards saree?
Brahmin ladies in the South wear it on religious occasions. It goes as far north as Maharashtra as far as I know.
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Did the term "blind support" originate from Mahabharata?
DhritarAshtra was physically blind and implicitly supported wrongdoing of his son Duryodhana. GAndhAri blindfolded her eyes to follow the distress of her husband & never objected Duryodhana.
...
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How does Hindu life make different from any other religion?
I had a discussion with my friend that Indian (Hindu) culture is restricted, or one should obey their elders, respect them, and do what elders want not what that individual wants. I was like this is ...
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Are there any handshake restrictions for Hindus?
According to this question on Workplace.SE:
Muslims have some restrictions when it comes to interacting with members of the opposite sex. Usually many people in USA and Europe do not know that, for ...
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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..
