Questions tagged [customs]
The customs tag has no usage guidance.
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Are there any rules for giving bhiksha (alms) according to the shastras?
I've heard that there is eligibility and rules for engaging in bhikshadana but are there any rules to giving bhiksha as well?
We see people begging around temples in India, both ordinary people and ...
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Trimming of Shikha/tuft
It has already been discussed here that without Shikha, one is considered naked and hence shaving is not allowed.
My question is, can it be trimmed to certain length?
If not trimmed, it would grow ...
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Rain Water is considered pure or impure
Normally when it rains after a homa, yagna or any religious activity, it is considered auspicious ("devatas are pleased with the ritual; hence its raining"). However, while performing ...
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Made made snana ritual
As described in this Wikipedia post, made made snana involves rolling over the banana leaves after eating.
Is there any scriptural validity (apart from the fact that it's now a "custom") for ...
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What are different types of Arties?
What are the different types of Arties available?
What is the use of Mangala Arti?
Is Mangal Arti and Dhrishti Arti both same?
How to prepare for Mangala Arti?
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Are customs still important to follow and why?
We have many customs and traditions to follow in hinduism, but I see that many persons are not following or neglecting them.
For example Brahmins should not cross the ocean but that is already broke ...
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Eunuchs curse/blessings
Eunuchs demand for money at crossroads/signals/shops/etc. There is fear and people try to avoid their curse. Also some people seek their blessings.
Are there any scriptural references where eunuchs ...
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Cooked rice during rituals
In Karnataka, mainly around Udupi/Mangalore/Sringeri, the cooked rice is called "musure (ಮುಸುರೆ)" (in Kannada). Not sure what it's called in English (may be impure) or Sanskrit.
If cooked ...
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Why Physicians and Musicians are not qualified for many religious activities?
Many places in the Shaastras says the Physicians and musicians are not eligible to receive gift, considered as witness, invite to Shraddhas, etc. Why are these professions have been classed like this?
...
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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 do yogis prefer bathing with cold water?
I have been reading in many autobiographies and biographies about the preference of cold water for bathing even during harsh winters. So my question is: for the person on the path of spirituality does ...
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My home temple's bell broke. Is it inauspicious to repair it and use it again?
My home temple's bell broke by falling on the ground while cleaning it. Does it mean any inauspicious thing is going to happen ? Is it inauspicious to repair it and use it again ?
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Can a woman step out of the house?
In the past there was a saying that women enter into house on four shoulders (i.e on a palanquin/doli) and step out of the house on four shoulders (i.e funeral bier/arthi) . Other than them a woman ...
user23977
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What are the days to avoid oiling of hair?
Many people say in general that on so and so day one(it applies to men/women/both) should not apply oil.
Say for example they may avoid oiling hair on full moon day(i.e., poornima) or no moon day(i.e.,...
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Is there a scripturally recommended age of marriage for men?
As discussed in this QnA: What is the recommended age for marriage for girls as per Shastra?
We have lots of guidelines for how much "younger" a bride must be compared to her groom.
For ...
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Dwitiya Nasta: importance of second day
I heard in one upanyasa a vidwan say that we should must continue the activity/work on second iteration; he said "dwitiya nasta" will not result in good outcome.
For example:
if you start ...
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Today I took an oil bath (abhyangana snana on Amavasya). What does it mean? With parents? or does shastras describe the consequences of such action?
I there is already question about abhyangana snana. But I for someone who took a oil bath by negligence. What does it mean? Or if i gave a oil bath to my kid on Amavasya. what does it mean? Are there ...
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What is the significance of smearing of Kumkuma on the chest by women in the scriptures?
Srimad Bhagavatam, while describing the consorts of Lord Krishna, such as Srimati Rukmini and others, and the close associates of Lord Krishna such as the gopikas and the women in Mathura, frequently ...
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Why is it said not to eat before worshiping God?
Even for worshipping god everyday in the morning, it is said to have breakfast only after worshipping god. Or it can be said in other way that if one worships god, he or she has to complete pooja ...
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Head shaving when father is alive
Elders in community say full shaving of head is not allowed for those with living father (parents). Only at the death of the father the head is full shaved and after that one can shave any time.
Here ...
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Custom of covering head with handkerchief in temple?
Us Punjabis cover the head with handkerchief in temples and even during home worship (panchopchar puja) but I haven't seen others do it
I was wondering whether we have any scriptures which hints at it ...
user22928
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Hindu customs to make a normal women to widow [closed]
Why the women chew jeera & salt while seeing widow first time in their relatives ? If they don't chew, what will happen ?
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Is it mandatory to shave beard also along with head
After someone's demise, I know family member's go through a ritual where they shave off their head but I heard a new thing from my house Pandit Ji, he said now it is mandatory to shave beard also, ...
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Was Sati (a hindu custom) a rule during Shivaji's tenure?
I want to know : To whom was it mandatory to perform sati during shivaji's rule- only kshatriya widows? or all widows irrespective of castes?
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Why did Shivaji not ban the Sati custom altogether in his kingdom, whereas he stopped his mother from doing so? [closed]
It is said that When Shahaji died, Jijabai tried to commit sati - committing suicide by burning oneself in the husband's pyre, but Shivaji stopped her from doing so by his request. Why did he not ban ...
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Can I marry my paternal uncle's wife's cousin's daughter according to Hindu religion? Also how normal/extreme is it in north India? [closed]
Will us be blood related, as she is from my uncle's wife's side and I am from my uncle's side?
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Who were/are required to wear purvashikha?
I guess they wore their tuft of hair on the front part of the head.
(1) What is the significance of "purvashikha"?
(2) Has this practice now died out?
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Why is cracking knuckles bad from the POV of Hinduism?
Our elders have always advised us to not crack knuckles of our fingers or elsewhere intentionally. What is the significance behind this?
user19925
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Cremation by child whose parents alive
is it allowed for a son to perform cremation and related samskaras when his father is alive?
If a man's father in law dies and that person didn't have sons, as soon in law, he steps up. But can be do ...
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Rules to be followed for wearing the Sacred thread / Janeu
What are the rules that one must observe to wear the Yagnopaveetham ? Would prefer if appropriate text is also quoted.
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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 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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I want to get a permanent tatto on my body. Is it sacred in Hinduism or not? [closed]
Can I get a permanent tattoo of mother Earth as a respect towards her? I want to get it on my back just between the shoulders. Is getting a permanent tattoo on our body sacred according to Hinduism?
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Death formalities done under wrong Gotra
I want to know what happens if all the death related formalities ie, Puja, Antim Sanskar, Pind daan, Asthi Visarjan, etc are done unknowingly using wrong gotra. Are there any remedies mentioned in any ...
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Does the notion of people being in temporary non-sacred or polluted status exist outside the South?
Reasons could be things like a death in the family, women having their period.
Does this come from scripture and is it practiced outside the South today?
- 22k
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What does Sanatana Dharma say regarding shaving pubic and anus hair?
Some religions encourage, both men and women, to shave off their pubic hair and anus hair.
What does Sanatana Dharma say to its followers about this?
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What is the reason behind closing the village/street/agrahara temple in case of a death in the nearby area?
I have seen this several times, that temples are closed if there is a death in the houses in the vicinity. To clarify, vicinity has a variable scope here; sometimes it's a street, sometimes an ...
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What are the rules associated with the ritual of kshoura/kshavaram (shaving of hair)? And do these differ between sampradayas? [duplicate]
Almost all samparadayas and communities have some set of rules associated with the kshoura karma. There are rules related not just to the days on which such activities can be performed but also ...
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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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Do any scriptures mention what would happen if temple restrictions are not followed?
The Supreme Court allowed the entry of women in the Swami Ayappa Temple at Shabarimala and ever since then a lot of protests have erupted in Kerala against the decision. One of the points that is ...
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Why Lord Ayyappa Vratam or Mandalam is done only in few months?
Why Lord Ayyappa vratam or mandalam done only during Karthika masa or generally from September - January? I know even temple is generally opened during this period. Is there any reason or shastra ...
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What do our scriptures say about naming a child?
Do Hindu scriptures provide details on how to properly name a child?
If there are any do’s and don’ts. Is it really necessary to name child based on month or tithis?
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Does Hinduism allow siblings to have their marriages at the same time?
Let us consider the following scenario:
X, Y are children to same parents and are going to marry a, b respectively. Are there any rules in Hinduism that does not allow X and Y to have their marriage ...
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Why should a girl leave her home after marriage?
After the marriage, the wife has to live at her husband's home. What do our scriptures say about this custom?
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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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Is Akshata used in North India?
It is ubiquitous in the South on religious occasions - is it also used in North India?
For example refer this
The rice doesn't seem to have been covered in turmeric.
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Menstruation myth in Hindu culture [duplicate]
Why are Hindu women not allowed to enter prayer areas like temples while they are menstruating?
I want to know that why are they not allowed to worship not asked to be separate from family for three ...
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Can a Brahmin shave off his mustache on his daughter's engagement,or marriage?
I just want to know whether a Brahmin can shave off his moustache on the occasion of his daughter's engagement or marriage. Are there any other occasions where Brahmins can be clean shaved?
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What is Hinduism's stand on "circumcision"?
Though there is no mention of circumcision in our scriptures. Neither it prohibits it, nor allows it.
Circumcision is often related with jews and muslims customs.
But can a Hindu get circumcised for ...
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Death Time for Grandmother
My Grandmother(Father's mother) aged 88 has passed away on Thursday 22/03/2018 inbetween 3PM to 3:15PM due to natural death inside the hall of the house. Strange thing is that she said at 3:10PM ...
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