Questions tagged [history]
For questions about the history of Hinduism.
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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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What was Adi shankara s view on Puranas?
Puranas are the Scriptures of Hinduism which are accepted by some people and rejected by some people.There are 18 mahapuranas which are the most important. The basic theory that puranas are ...
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51 views
Did Adi Shankara persecute Buddhists in Nagarjunakonda?
Neo-Buddhists often claim that Adi Shankaracharya killed many Buddhists and destroyed many Buddhist shrines in Nargarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh. They also say there is a local legend which supports ...
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2answers
202 views
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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0answers
62 views
Who were the people that thought Śaṅkarācārya was the author of Bhagavad-gītā?
In his lecture Thoughts on the Gita, Swami Vivekananda says the following. I'm interested in the part that's in bold.
THOUGHTS ON THE GITA
The book known as the Gita forms a part of the ...
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1answer
103 views
When avatar concept got introduced in Hinduism?
Vedas do not talk about avatars. When and why this concept got introduced in Hinduism?
5
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451 views
Were there religious wars in Hinduism itself? As it was the case for Christian between Catholics and Protestants?
An introduction would be better I guess to understand my initiative. I am new here. I am French, and most of the French people do not understand English. So, I want to bring some knowledge to French ...
1
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1answer
92 views
What is the historical origin of Bhakti?
In the Vedas, Karma Marga (path of action) and Gayn Marga (path of knowledge) are described. Upanishads (Vedanta or the end part of the Veda) talks about the path of knowledge, while the earlier Vedic ...
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2answers
72 views
What is the historical origin of Yoga?
We all know that Patanjali systematized the Yoga. However, he merely systematized the practices that were already there. What is the historical origin of Yoga?
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36 views
Sthala Purana of the Thiruneermalai Temple
In the Divya Desam called Thiruneermalai, Lord Vishnu resides in four different forms:
a) Sri Neervanna Perumal (literally meaning, Lord with the complexion of water)
b) Sri Ranganatha
c) Sri ...
5
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42 views
Who are these first commentators on Bhagavata?
Sridhara Svami's Bhavartha dipika is the oldest full commentary extant now. Before Sridhara, however Madhvacharya commented whose commentary is also extant called Bhagavata Tattparya Nirnaya. It is a ...
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Who is the first commentator Vishvesvara on Gopala Tapani upanishad?
The first commentator and the only pre gaudiya commentator on Gopala Tapani Upanishad is Vishvesvara. I could find no information about him. His' is mix of monism and theistic commentary as Gopala ...
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1answer
141 views
Does the transliteration of 'Dravidian' exist in Hindu scripture? Does 'Dravida' refer to a Geographical area or an ethnic group?
I read somewhere that the religious texts do not have any mention of referring to some people as 'Dravidians'. There is rife debate on whether the people in the Dravid were the original inhabitants, ...
2
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1answer
73 views
Who are the Samaneans?
St. Jerome, in his Against Jovinianus bk. 2 (393 A.D.) c. 14, divides the
Gymnosophists of India [into two classes,] the one [of which is] called Brahmans, the other Samaneans [Samanæos], who are ...
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72 views
What is the story of origin of Yoga?
There is a story about the origin of yoga by Maharishi Patanjali and how he gave the knowledge of Yoga to mankind.
What is that story and what is the significance of it?
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99 views
Was Nityananda Mahaprabhu a non-vegeterian?
Mahaprabhu Nitayananda took sannyasa at an early age. As per the Sri Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavata, the first authentic biography of Sri Chaitanya by Srila Vrindavana Das Thakura, Sri Advaita Acharya says ...
4
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1answer
138 views
Who are called Yavanas?
The purport of sloka 213 of chapter 18 of the Madhya-khanda of Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita reads
The word yavana means "meat-eater." Anyone from a meat-eating community is called a yavana. One who ...
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0answers
53 views
Is there any relation between Trailanga Swami and Kulandai Swami?
Sri KulandaiAnanda Swamigal:
According a current biography of Sri Trailanga Swami, He and Sri Kulandai Ananda Swamigal (Who left His body in Madurai) are one and the same. Some websites also supports ...
2
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1answer
107 views
Was there really a caste system in vedic period as it is perceived today by many? [duplicate]
With little to no knowledge of our scriptures now, can a person born in a brahmin family can rightfully be called a brahmin just by the virtue of his birth in that family?
4
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1answer
117 views
Why do Brahmins have such surnames?
In Uttar Pradesh Brahmins have common surnames as Chaturvedi alias Chaubey, Dwivedi alias Dubey and Trivedi. Are these surnames which have "Vedi" included in them have something to do with the Vedas. ...
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34 views
What work on Sharanagati did Thirukannamangai Andan compose?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. The 4000 verses of the Alwars were compiled by ...
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2answers
270 views
Does ISKCON identify itself as a Hindu organization?
Koenraad Elst in Who is a Hindu? claims the following:
6.7. Are travelling gurus Hindus?
...
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) generally denies that it is Hindu,...
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Sankaracharya's philosophical 'Sarvagnapeetha' event at Kashmir
What historically authenticated records of this Adi-Sankarācharya's event exist now ? i.e., before he established Shankara Mutt at KedarNath?
When was it conducted, who were the organizers and ...
3
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1answer
221 views
Does Ramakrishna Mission consider itself a Hindu organisation?
Back in 1980s, Ramakrishna Mission tried to separate legally from Hinduism in order to consider itself as a separate religion (Ramakrishnaism). They claimed various philosophical differences. Like:
...
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2answers
143 views
What is the birth-place of Sri Chaitanyadeva?
There are "birth-place" temples of Sri Chaitanyadeva at Navadvip and Mayapur,one at the east side and another at the west side of the Ganges.Which place seems authentic? I am interested in knowing the ...
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0answers
59 views
Which Mleccha race do Thenkalais think Thirumangai Alwar was descended from?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their devotional poetry in praise of Vishnu. It is the beliefs and principles ...
2
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1answer
166 views
What was the population of India in the age of Lord Krishna?
What was the population of India in the age of Lord Krishna? Was it still overcrowded like it is now? We all know its overpopulated now but was it the same previously?
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232 views
Which Sri Vaishnava Acharya drew this world map based on the Mahabharata?
This picture, showing a world map based on the Mahabharata, is often circulated on the Internet:
It’s based on this chapter and subsequent chapters of the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. But my ...
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3answers
141 views
Complete biography/hagiography of Ramanujacharya
Where I can get the complete biography/hagiography of Ramanujacharya, which contains all the details of his life and deeds, right from his birth, till his passing away? Fantastic accounts are also ...
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1answer
68 views
History of Brahmin's diet
What is the history of brahmana diet?
Brahmins are generally vegetarians but there are some exceptions to it such as Pancha-Gauda Brahmans, Kashmiri Brahmans, and Oriya Brahmins?
So why is there so ...
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71 views
Where did Thirumangai Alwar meet Narasimha?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. One of the Alwars was Thirumangai Alwar, aka ...
3
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2answers
262 views
Are mythologies real (historical) or merely allegorical?
Are all mythologies real or are they stories or symbolic things meant to teach us something higher?
I know that we (individuals) too are not so real as far as Vedanta is concerned. All is one. But ...
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2answers
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Was Gaudiya Vaishnavism influenced by Madhwa's teachings?
I read that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had met and was guided by Sri Vyasa Tirtha.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vyasatirtha
If this is true, are there Gaudiya doctrines/practices that are influenced by ...
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1answer
83 views
Can firm calendar dates be assigned to scriptures and events described in them?
A book I read recently says that the only firm date is the history of ancient India is the invasion of Alexander (327-326 B.C.).
Can anything more be said about this?
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1answer
243 views
Did Max Müller actually distort Hindu scriptures in his translations?
This answer claims:
It is also said that Müller was hired by the British East Indian Company only to distort Hindu scriptures.
But did Müller actually distort Hindu scriptures? If yes, how exactly ...
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2answers
184 views
Did the great Vedic scholar Sayanacharya reincarnate as Max Muller who propagated Aryan Invasion Theory?
Swami Vivekananda has claimed that the great Vedic scholar Sayanacharya, who wrote a commentary on the Vedas, had reincarnated as the infamous Max Muller.
Does this claim have any basis?
From what ...
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1answer
116 views
Where is the account of Ramanuja recovering the Melkote idol from the Delhi Sultan originally recorded?
I have heard that Ramanuja went to Delhi to ask for the idol after it had been plundered. The idol was in a room with other plundered items but when he called out its name the idol came and sat on ...
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1answer
218 views
When did Vaishnavites start wearing Urdhva Pundram?
Did Ramanuja introduce the Namam? What did Vaishnavites wear before that?
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1answer
94 views
What are the dates of Subala and Mudgala Upanishads?
Scholarly opinion is as follows:
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Mudgala_Upanishad.html
The author or composition date of Mudgala Upanishad is unknown. Jan ...
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2answers
68 views
Why do people put warm clothes on idol in winter?
I notice people put warm clothes on idols in winter time. Is this a personal practise or is it supposed to be followed?
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43 views
who is Audulomi who appears in Brahmasutras?
What is the history of Audulomi who appears in Brahmasutras of Vyasa
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150 views
What was the lifestyle of Gaudapada?
The Satadhusani is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan consisting of 100 refutations of Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy of Advaita. One chapter of the work is devoted to refuting the ...
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1answer
64 views
Which came first, dharma śāstras and smṛtis or the people that followed them?
This is a chicken-and-egg problem.
Did the dharma śāstras and smṛtis come first and then people started following them or people already had some unwritten rules and they were then codified into ...
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Who was the king who argued with Adi Shankaracharya using karma siddantha (law of karma)?
What is the name of the king who debated with Adi Shankaracharya against Advaita and supporting karma siddhantha (law of karma)?
Which authentic text contains the discussion between them?
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1answer
67 views
Where are drona and shiva used as meters, what other meters are there similarly?
I learned recently about Koorathaazhvar and Kulothunga Chola's apparent argument, although I'm not interested in the context it was used, I'm curious about the question, as what and when are these ...
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95 views
Was Nathamuni originally an Ekadandi Sanyasi?
The Satadhusani is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan consisting of 100 refutations of Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy of Advaita. One chapter of the work is devoted to refuting ...
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0answers
42 views
Who divided/rearranged the brāhmaṇas, āraṇyakas and upaniṣads?
According to SB 12.6.50 it appears Vyāsa (Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana) only rearranged the Vedic mantras into four parts:
50. Just as (out of a heap of mixed up)
precious stones of the same kind are ...
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Is Vyāsa being the compiler/divider/arranger of Vedas recorded anywhere in the Vedas themselves?
There are several Purāṇic references, e.g., SB 12.6.50 that say Vyāsa (Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana) arranged the disorganized Vedic mantras into four parts:
50. Just as (out of a heap of mixed up)
precious ...
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1answer
123 views
Which saints or Yogis from history are recorded to have done Parakaya Pravesha successfully?
Parakaya Pravesha is an advanced level Yogic Siddhi (accomplishment) obtained by certain adept Yogis. By virtue of which these Yogis can enter other's bodies.
Adi Shankaracharya mastered this Siddhi ...
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1answer
44 views
How is the date of Aryabhata calculated?
Kali Yuga is said to start at around 3000 BCE because Aryabhata said he is living 3600 years into Kali Yuga.
But how do we know when Aryabhata lived?
