Questions tagged [dharma]
Dharma (Sanskrit: धर्म ) is a key concept with multiple meanings in the Indian religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
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What exactly is a leela (लीला)? Is there a scriptural definition of leela (लीला)?
When people cannot logically explain certain actions of Gods, their incarnations, Saints, Ṛṣis etc., they often use the term leela which is sometimes spelled as līlā and lIlA.
I think the word ...
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Do any texts explicitly forbid Hindus from eating beef?
I have been told many a times that I shouldn't eat beef because I am a Hindu by religion. Even though I have never worshiped a cow in my life or interacted with any on more than exotic basis, I find ...
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Why did Sri Rama banish Lady Sita when he was a witness of her fire-test himself?
Sri Rama was a great and just king of Ayodhya. There were some rumors reported by his subjects against the purity of Lady Sita.
So, as per the Raja Dharma, Rama had to banish Sita. But was it against ...
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Is it wise to kill an insect just because it is bothering you
Is it wise to kill an insect just because it is wandering around your apartment or just because it is bothering you?
I've seen people killing small insects just because it is wandering/jumping/hiding ...
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What is the definition of sin according to Hinduism?
What is a definition of a sin? What are the criteria by which an act becomes sinful?
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What is the difference between dharma and religion?
Hinduism is called "Dharma" unlike Christianity or Islam, which are called "religions".
My question is: What is the difference between Dharma and Religion?
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Should Krishna be considered good or bad?
I have read the Mahabharata and it seems that unrighteous behaviour or adharma is followed by Krishna in many places, but most people do not care about Krishna's character/behaviour and righteousness, ...
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Why did god create us even though he knew that we will partake in adharma? [duplicate]
God knows that humans will partake in adharma. So why did he create us?
user14752
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In Hinduism, what exactly is a lie? And is lying adharma?
I would like to know what is considered a lie in Hinduism? Sometimes we speak good but we speak the same thing in a different way which appears as a lie to the listener but it's not really a lie.
In ...
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What is Dharma according to the Bhagavad Gita?
What is Dharma according to the Bhagavad Gita? Are hymns and worship of God compulsory in the Bhagavad Gita ?
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What are the four legs of Dharma?
It is said that Dharma has four legs (pillars) and it is depicted in the form of vrushabham (nandi). What are those four legs? As far as I know, cow's four legs are also seen as four legs of Dharma.
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Why did Rāma kill Śambūka? And is Rāma justified in killing him without a second chance?
In Uttara-kāṇḍa of Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, we see Vālmīki narrate the story of Śambūka.
Questions:
Why did Rāma kill Śambūka? Is it because Śambūka was a śūdra or is it because he was doing Tapasya for the ...
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How do the scriptures describe an ideal Sanyasi?
This page describes some of the Dharmas that a "Sanyasi" has to follow.
For example, a Sanyasi:
Should always have a dhanda (bamboo staff) and kamandulu (used for abulations made of wood). If ...
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What are different types of sins?
According to Sanatana Dharma, what are the types of sins?
What types of sins can be washed and how and in what cases it is not considered as sin even if people commit one?
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Is it adharma to give Dana without considering what we are giving and to whom we are giving?
Dana is a dharma action followed in every yuga as it prevents selfishness, ignorance and helps other beings to live very peacefully.
But, the Dana which helps society can also bring problems to it if ...
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What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
I am asking this question from a modern perspective.
Does Hinduism consider the use of abusive words as "Vaani Hinsa"?
Is there any punishment for this and also does it affect our deeds (...
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How can Draupadi be a pathivrata (dutiful wife) while being married to 5 men?
What are the qualities and requirements needed to be a pathivrata?
Draupadi is considered to be one of the Panchkannyas, and a great pathivrata too. This link says why Draupadi married 5 persons (the ...
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Punishing a couple to stop intercaste marriage is of which Karma(Good Or Bad)?
Inter-caste marriage is not appreciated by our scriptures and also in practical life and Stopping a inter - caste marriage is dharma and is of good karma.
Couples get killed or beated by their ...
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Dharmic role of wife in marriage
In the Ramanandsagar TV serial Ramayana, a sage (Vashistha or Viswamitra?) defines duties of a wife i.e., She should provide prerana, chetana and utsaaham (roughly: inducing, motivation and ...
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Does the shloka 'ahiṃsā paramo dharma' or excerpt appear in Mahabharata?
Ahimsa paramo dharma, is it taken from Mahabharata?
Many sources over internet say so and claim that it is a half-truth and the remaining half is Himsa dharma tadaivacha. Is it true?
Who is the ...
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Is organ donation allowed? Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice?
According to some religions, donating the human organs (especially after one's death) is considered a good practice.
So is it a good thing to do according to Hindu scripture?
Have any Hindu acharyas ...
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What to do when scriptures go against conscience?
TL;DR WHAT TO DO WHEN SCRIPTURES GO AGAINST CONSCIENCE?
What to do when Parshara Smriti go against my conscience? How can I treat a chandala (I do not even know what that means, except that it is a ...
user17858
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Why did Lord Krishna kidnap Rukmini to get married?
As per the Vedas, getting married to a girl after kidnapping is considered devil or daemon (दानव dānava) Vivaha (marriage) which isn't righteous (धर्मानुकूलन dharmānukūlana).
And Lord Krishna ...
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What is Dharma according to Veda or Upanishad?
I know that the question asked before What is dharma? but the question and answer shows what Dharma is according to Bhagavad Gita.
I am interested in the explanation of Dharma according to shruti. So,...
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What are the Prajapatya, Chandrayana, and Krcchra penances?
The Dharmashastras prescribe various penances such as the Prajapatya, Chandrayana, and Krccha penances.
For example, here is a verse from the Manusmriti:
On having had intercourse with one’s ...
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Is there any advantage for a person dying as virgin?
I know staying virgin whole-life really needs good discipline, strong will power et cetera.
But what are Spiritual & Material benefits of being Virgin whole life? Id est, dying as a virgin? Do ...
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Drona and his dharma
In Mahabharata, we know that Drona was a Brahmin. He would refuse to teach any Shudra student citing that it is not their Dharma to become a warrior.
In the same vein, was it not wrong on Drona's ...
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How can we make sure it's impossible for us to commit any sin or violence?
Is there a way to make committing violence impossible?
Can someone do something so that it will be impossible (or at least very difficult) for him to commit any violence in any corner of the world?
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Are these verses from Garuda Purana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad asking men to beat women? If not, how should they be interpreted?
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 6.4.7:
If she is not willing, he should buy her over; and if she is still unyielding, he should strike her with a stick or with the hand and proceed, uttering the following ...
user9810
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Kshatriyas and alcohol consumption
What are the alcoholic beverages suitable for consumption by a Kshatriya?
What about other three varnas? Are they allowed to consume alcohol?
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What do Hindu scriptures say about gambling?
Is gambling considered righteous or is it a sin?
Are Kshatriyas allowed to gamble?
Do Kshatriyas have accept a gambling invitation compulsarily? (The Mahabaratha answer seems to say so)
Is ...
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How do we decide what is dharma and adharma?
In real life there are circumstances where we are in dwanda (indecisive state of mind) and we cannot make a clear decision on what is dharma and what is adharma. For example:
When someone with the ...
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Why didn't Lord Ram try to prove Mother Sita's Purity but rather chose to exile her?
Lord Ram exiled Mother Sita to follow his Raja Dharma as his peoples doubted Mother Sita's Purity.
Many of the people other than Lord Ram and Lakshmana witnessed Mother Sita's Agni Pariksha
King ...
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Are Hindu children meant to serve their parents forever whether they like them or not?
Do children need parents' permission to live away from them?
What if parents are just bad apples, should children continue to serve their needs?
What do the shastras say?
After marriage, did ...
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Did Swami Vivekananda eat fish and meat before he turned a sannyasi? Did he continue eating fish and meat after?
Did Swami Vivekananda eat fish and meat before he turned a sannyasi?
Did he continue eating fish and meat after?
What were his views on consumption of vegetarian or non-vegetarian food?
PS. Please ...
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Circumstances sanctioning falsehoods
In Sukra Neethi (followed by Rakshasas Mahabali, Prahlada) it is stated that there are certain circumstances under which lying has a licence (e.g., where women are concerned, where marriages have have ...
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Why shave hair after parents die?
Recently, a cousin of mine lost his father. Before conducting a ritual for the well being of his father's soul, he had to shave all his hair except for a bit at the back (choti). Why did he have to do ...
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To save themselves from the Lākṣāgṛha (house of lac), did Pāṇḍavas kill an innocent niṣāda woman and her five children?
In this YouTube video (1988 TV series Mahabharat, Episode 31 - Escape from Lakshagraha) it is shown that a niṣāda woman and her five children are urged by Purocana, the builder of the infamous ...
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Do farmers have the right to kill pests?
To control caterpillars, thrips, mites and whiteflies, farmers use insecticides and kill a large number of these insects.
It is in fact necessary to use these pesticides, otherwise crops will not ...
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Does Hindu morality come from scripture or is it the other way round?
Background:
The question Is the Gadhimai massacre a Hindu ritual? has an answer which says animal sacrifice is against the Hindu principles of ahimsa while the other answer says 'Animal sacrifice is ...
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Did Yudhishthira lie more than once?
From the childhood I was knowing that Yudhishthira had lied just once at the time of Guru Drona Vadha and that was also the half truth half lie. But recently, I came to know that Yudhishthira had also ...
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After Dhritarashtra, why was Yudhishthira and not Duryodhana considered the next in line to be the king?
Duryodhana was the son of a king and should be made the next king but still generally all people consider Yudhishthira to be the righteous owner of the throne. Why should Yudhishthira be the crown ...
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Did Pandavas really complete their ajnatavasa?
Did the Pandavas really complete the terms of their ajnatavasa (living in concealment)? Or were their hidden identities revealed before its completion and hence it was adharma to fight against the ...
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Does one gain pāpa or puṇya by remaining neutral in a moral crisis?
I came across this quote today and am wondering what the Hindu scriptures have to say about this. Does one gain pāpa or puṇya by remaining neutral during a moral crisis?
The darkest places in hell ...
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How can one know their dharma?
Living one's dharma seems to be paramount, but first I must discover what my dharma is. I was born and reared in the West, so how can I discover my dharma?
I have read the Gita and it helped me ...
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Does the Bhagavad Gita declare that caste is based on birth?
Does the Bhagavad Gita declare that caste is based on birth?
If so, which verses from the Gita declare that caste is based on birth?
What do ancient, Vedantic commentators say?
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On use of contraceptive methods and enjoying sex-life without being kandarpa
Kandarpa is a person who only uses his sexual power to beget good children from his dharmapatni or wife.
So for being a kandarpa, a person can only have sexual contact with his wife for having ...
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Does Hinduism promotes violence against inter caste marriage
Background:
Many violence are occuring in name of STOPPING INTER CASTE marriage.
Question :
- Is our scriptures promoting these or not ?
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Is Euthanasia considered morally right?
Is Euthanasia considered morally right?
Is it acceptable under certain conditions, for example, if a person is in extreme pain?
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Are Sanatan Dharm and Hindu Dharm synonymous terms? If not, what is the difference between the two?
I heard about these two words and want to know, are they the same or is there any difference or relation between them?
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