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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Why do Brahmacharis who break the vow of celibacy need to sacrifice a donkey as atonement?
From Apastamba Dharma Sutras 1.9.26.8:
A [student] who has broken the vow of chastity, shall offer to Nirṛiti
an ass, according to the manner of the Pāka-yajña-rites.
This same Prayaschitta is ...
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Has the current day India become a mlecchadeśa? Is it still fit for sacrifices?
Commenting on Manusmṛti 2.23, Medhātithi says:
In fact, the name ‘mlecchadeśa’ is to be taken literally, in the sense that it is ‘the country of mlecchas’; so that if mlecchas happen to conquer a ...
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What rules do Devas have to follow? Do human dharma shastras apply to them?
It is well known that Draupadi had 5 husbands. Ordinarily, this would be a huge sin for human women. However, Draupadi was an incarnation of a Deva (Devi), particulary Sachi (wife of Indra). ...
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What are the duties of Dvija-Bandhus?
According to the book "Hindu Dharma" by Sri Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati:
If the Gayatri has not been chanted for three generations in the
family of a Brahmin, its members lose caste (they ...
user9969
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Is it okay to Ignore Jananashucha from distant relative(but sapinda)
Janaashucha is the period of impurity after birth in family. Manu Smriti prescribes Janashucha for the period of 10,12,15,30 days for the four Varnas respectively
A Brahmana shall be pure after ...
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What is the difference between Sati and Jauhar?
Is Jauhar the same as Sati? If not what is the difference and what is the origin of these terms?
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Can a non-virgin woman marry? If yes, how?
Non-virgin women are excluded from marital rites with its Agni-hotra, etc.
pāṇigrahaṇikā mantrāḥ kanyāsveva pratiṣṭhitāḥ |
nākanyāsu kva cinnṝṇāṃ luptadharmakriyā hi tāḥ || 226 ||
The marriage-...
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Were the harsher punishments laid out in smṛtis actually carried out or they merely served as a deterrent?
Were some of the harsher punishments laid out in smṛtis like the Manu actually carried out (any real examples?) or they merely served as a deterrent?
From Manusmṛti:
On abusing a Brāhmaṇa the ...
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Can a son perform amavasya tarpanam in place of his sick father?
Doing tarpanam (water libations) on the day of Amavasya is a well-known fact. My father was doing it very sincerely on all Amavasyas.
But now, since he became very old and has health issues, he is not ...
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Did Karna think that it was adharma to not appoint Duryodhana as king of Hastinapura?
In Star Plus Mahabharata (e.g., S11 E7), it is shown again and again that Karna believed that it was adharma to not appoint Duryodhana as King/Yuvaraja (crown prince) of Hastinapura.
Did Karna really ...
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When were women allowed to have multiple husbands without sin?
When were women allowed to have multiple husbands without sin?
According to this answer, the Rishis permitted this practice at one point in history:
King Pandu well-acquainted with all rules of ...
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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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How is the ritual of Vratyastoma performed?
Vratyastoma, is a ritual performed by Vratyas (people who have failed to perform Upanayana in time) to readmit themselves to the fold of Varnashrama Dharma. Many Westerners who convert into Hinduism ...
user9969
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What are 36 kinds of weapons & tactics of the war?
In Shiv Rahasya on 11th chapters Lord Shiva giving commandments to Kaliyuga people. Here is characteristics of a King.
The King shall favour peace above war. He shall not start a war without just ...
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Why was Mother Saraswati so unfair with KumbhaKarna?
We all know the story that to stop KumbhaKarna from asking boon from Brahma, all Gods eulogized Saraswati to enter KumbhaKarna's mouth to ask- "I may sleep for years". And Mother Saraswati did it!
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Between japa yajna and yuga dharma which is to be followed and to what extent?
Japa or repeating mantras, shlokas, Bhagavan’s names, etc is in fact a form of yajna supposed to be highly effective as per the Puranas and Agamas. In fact even the dharmashastra, Manusmriti is in ...
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What is the difference between the role of Lord Shani and Lord Yama?
We know from various scriptures that Lord Yamaraja gives us the results of our karma (either good or bad) when we die.
But at the same time, it is said that Lord Shani is 'Karmafala Daata' and gives ...
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Is "Democracy" naturally in accordance of "Dharma" (righteousness)?
"Democracy" was not famous until last few centuries. Famous political system till then was "Dynastic". i.e. the dynasty was not only prevalent among the ruler clan (i.e. Kshatriya), but also ...
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What is the relation between Niti , Nyaya and Dharma?
Ruling Lands of great Kings are said to be complete in Niti , Nyaya and Dharma without any decline.
While solving problems, these three must be there in judgement and one must only live considering ...
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Why there should be degradation of dharma with the change in the yuga?
It a well known fact that there are four ages satya, treta, dwapara and kali.
But why there is a demarcation in the ages, one explanation is that there is decline of dharma.
The dharma stands on ...
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How to forgive people who have wronged you in life?
Forgiving people is essential to get Mukti . How to forgive people who have wronged you in life , who have mistreated you , cheated you etc ?
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Are Brahmins allowed to use non-cow leather products?
Are Brahmins allowed to use non-cow leather products? Obtaining leather involves ahimsa, but many things Brahmins already use involve ahimsa like silk (killing worms alive), deerskin for Brahmacharis, ...
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Path to salvation in kaliyug
What should the "fated" humans in this kaliyug do to attain the divine salvation once and for all? What's to happen to those after Salvation and to those who couldn't attain?
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Who are Upa Brahmins?
Came across this verse in Jatibhaskar By Jwala Misra.It mentions Kayasthan as one of the types of Upabrahmins,who were Upbrahmins ? And who does this Kayasthan refer to ?
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The case of Infertility and Dharma
As per the Baudhayana Dharmasutra (BD)
A man who ejaculates his semen in any place other than the vagina
becomes equal to a thief and to a murderer of a Brahmin. [BD 3.7]
AND also
The Gautama ...
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Any relationship between the Three Guṇas (गुण) and the three Ayurvedic Doshas ( दोषः)?
In Hinduism (Sanātan Dharma) the number - "three",.occurs in many instances
The Trimurtis - Brahmā, Vishnu and Mahesh (त्रिमूर्ति - ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश ), the Three (Guṇas) Qualities - ...
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Is getting promotion using influence dharma or adharma?
In offices, people may often resort to lobbying and using influence to get a promotion in their jobs.
Will this practice be considered as adharma or dharma?
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Do Kshatriyas have to abide by the Dharmic rules of engagement when fighting enemies who do not abide by the same rules of engagement in battle?
Kshatriya dharma has certain rules of engagement in battle.
For example:
Manu 7.90 - While fighting his enemies in battle, he shall hot strike with concealed weapons; nor with arrows that are ...
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Is it the dharma of Rakshasas to be evil?
I remember Ravana being berated for being adharmic (fighting while rendering himself invisible, if i recall right) and he says thats the way Rakshasas behave.
Is Rakshasa Dharma described anywhere?
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Are there instances in Hinduism where Dharma is cited to both support and oppose an act?
For example - the killing of Duryodhana is condemned by Baladeva and celestial beings showered flowers on the fatally wounded Duryodhana when he chastised Krishna for his acts of treachery throughout ...
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How to identify the person who asks for Dana deserve or not?
I saw Is it adharma to give Dana without considering what we are giving and to whom we are giving?
But When we give Dana to some person, how to find that person deserved dana or not? Some looks like ...
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What is/are the punishment(s) for corruption?
Corruption is a dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. More particularly, Bribery is a specific offence which concerns the practice of offering something, ...
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Is Marriage with desire considered to be adharma?
Marriage should be made in Love by the couples towards each other.
Marriages are also conducted with Desires like Beauty,Money,Physical Strength,etc,....
Material desires are not considered to be a ...
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What is the story behind Karna and the Two golden Mountains?
There is story in other sites and many people say this story of Karna and the two golden mountains
This story is about Karna and Arjuna giving dana of the two golden mountains and the story concept ...
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Who do I bow down to the feet and who to the hand?
Every time I see a person from my Father's family, my parents ask me to bow down to their feet. However, when I see someone like my 'mama' (mother's brother) or an unrelated elder person I have to bow ...
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Forgotten culture from centuries
Many people want to follow their culture as their ancestor was following centuries back.
But unfortunately they are not having enough knowledge about this, so they are forced to neglect and start ...
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Lustful Thoughts
Someone enlightened me with their answer to lustful thoughts and god being antaryami observes each and every thought. These thoughts are said to be innate and with practice can be controlled to attain ...
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What is Hinduism's view on racism?
Does Hinduism uplift racism or does it condemn it, according to the Vedas Dharma Shastras Puranas and others?
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does dharma have stages?
the eternal dharma, known as sanatana dharma, is a concept in hinduism. eternal is often confused with unchanging, constant, but it might be more correct to say without beginning-end, forever. I've ...
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Which caste is "software developer"?
Advocates of the varnashrama dharma claim that we should follow the varna professions listed in the dharma shastras. For example:
10.47 - For Sūtas, the management of horses and chariots; for ...
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Does the sequence of mantra matter for HRIH and HUM?
Looking to seasoned mantra practitioners to provide your kind perspective on this. Thanks in advance.
Energetically speaking is the mantra beeja sequence "HRIH HUM SVAHA" same as "HUM ...
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Are husbands required to give up their lives to save their wives?
Is a husband required to sacrifice his own life, if needed, to save his wife's life?
Are there any scriptures commanding this, or any scholars dealing with this question?
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If dharma protects one then how could unrighteous people like Alauddin Khilji win so many times?
If god protects people who follow dharma then how could unrighteous man like Alauddin Khilji win against so many Hindu kings who used to follow dharma, who always had god in their mind,followed ...
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Meaning Of word Sanatan Dharma
What is the meaning of word sanatan dharma ?
Can anybody quote it from hindu Scriptures with Meanings ?
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Is Dharma of all people different ? How to know one's own dharma with precison?
Perhaps dharma of all people are different . It is indicated in this verse of Gita -
BG 18.47 — Faulty Swa-Dharma is better than well performed Para-Dharma ; Naturally prescribed performance of ...
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What determines the value of a life of a lifeform?
Killing a human is a bigger sin than killing a fish, and killing a fish is a bigger sin than killing a tree. This is because a human has a more valuable life than a fish or a tree.
What determines the ...
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What does Hinduism says about earning anything through wrong means but using it for the benefit of others?
Example -
A police man takes bribe(not his choice, but due to circumstances) from someone but he uses the money for good things like some charity, donations, feeding poor etc.
So is it a papa or punya?...
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Is it valid to quote half-lines of ślokas?
While reading nibandhas like Nirṇayasindhu & Smṛtitattva, it is found that the authors often quoted half-verses instead of the entire verse. For example, Kamalākara Bhaṭṭa quotes 'शरत्काले महापूजा ...
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What is meant by 'scarifying whole earth for oneself'?
It is always rational to sacrifice a smaller group for the sake of a larger group if both groups are irreconcilable. The same idea is present in the scriptures.
For the sake of a family a member may ...
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Closure of temples
Generally temples are closed during the afternoon. Can anybody enumerate the reasons why they are done so ? Quotes from our Dharmashastras, if any would be welcome.
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