Questions tagged [history]
For questions about the history of Hinduism.
527
questions
3
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1answer
68 views
What is the oldest commentary on the Vedas (Saṃhitās)?
What is the oldest commentary, extant or otherwise, ever written on the Saṃhitā portion of the Vedas?
Assuming no commentary was written prior to 1000 A.D, what could be the reason for this?
P.S. ...
5
votes
0answers
65 views
Does any scripture mention about Chanakya other than the Srimad Bhagavatham?
Srimad Baghavatham has an indirect mention to Chanakya
A certain brāhmaṇa [Cāṇakya] will betray the trust of King Nanda and
his eight sons and will destroy their dynasty. In their absence the
Mauryas ...
2
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0answers
25 views
Is it possible that all sects of Hinduism could be right about their Parabrahman?
Different sects of Hinduism declare different God's as Parabrahman. Is it possible that all are true if Parabrahman takes different forms in each Kalpa?
Since Parabrahman can take any form, is the ...
0
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1answer
47 views
Do new God's emerge from Parabrahman at the end of each Mahapralaya?
Please clarify the following:
If other Mahapralayas have occurred before, have the same God's always emerged from Parabrahman (such as Shiva, Shakthi, Vishnu etc) or do different God's emerge at the ...
0
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0answers
34 views
Who is Lord Dattatreya and Lord Dakshinamurthy? What is their relation with other avatars? When did they originate? What is their true timeline?
I know many say lord dattatreya and lord dakshinamurthy are guru rupas or avatars of Vishnu and shiva, but are they really? Can someone really tell the truth?
Also what were they doing in other kalpas ...
2
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0answers
20 views
Shiva Tandava Stotram [duplicate]
I am trying to write an article on the origin and meaning of Shiva Tandava Stotram for the general audience. I know the basic background story of how Ravana wanted to impress Lord Shiva and how this ...
1
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0answers
118 views
Are pornographic sculptures part of sanatan dharma?
I stay in a small town in west bengal, india, I found a temple ruin/old temple of very low archeological importance which had orgy position. if you need will upload photos.
My question is since many ...
-1
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1answer
152 views
In what context did Vivekananda say “don't throw mud at others, take the blame on your shoulders…”
Swami Vivekananda appears to have said, "don't throw mud at others, take the blame on your shoulders..." in one of his speeches.
In what context did he say this?
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0answers
33 views
Biographies of 27 Nakshatras
Nakshatra is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology and Indian Astronomy which are 27 in number. I want to know about the complete biographies of 27 Stars.
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Is it common in the previous yugas for a women to have multiple husbands? Like Draupadi had [duplicate]
Draupadi had five husbands but no where in the Mahabharatam its described as out of the ordinary, as of my knowledge, or its described as a sin. Is it common in those eras to have multiple husbands ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
When was Yama Smriti lost?
Yama Smriti is one of the eighteen Smriti which is no more extant.
Till when it is in existence and when did (in which year) we lose that scripture?
2
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0answers
54 views
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?
3
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0answers
42 views
Did Adi Shankaracharya establish Akharas in addition to mathas?
Quite a few websites have popped up that claim Akharas were set up by Adi Shankaracharya. Some sites have even claimed that the Naga Sadhu order was organized into a mitary order by Adi Shankaracharya ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Why Brahmans cannot touch the blue color
In Alberuni’s India Volume 2, page 132 , about Brahmans , is said :
...the blue color is impure for him, so if it touches his body , he is
obliged to wash himself
Albiruni, writing about 1030 c....
2
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0answers
100 views
Does any sacred Hindu text have knowledge of electricity?
At many places our ancient books exhibit deep knowledge of various branches of maths, and that is discussed a lot. For instance, Yuktibhasha, a 15th century Malyalam textbook of maths teaches ...
1
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0answers
81 views
Does anyone write books on analyzing ( or reviewing) Hinduism?
Did any non-Hindu write any analysis (review) of Hinduism about why Vedas said like this and why our Puranas said like that etc?
The concepts in our Vedas and Puranas are far away from reality, so ...
4
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0answers
33 views
Does the tradition of writing Rama Koti have any scriptural basis?
Rama Koti is a practice in Hinduism in which a devotee of Rama writes the name of Rama in a book for one crore times.
Is this tradition of writing rama koti mentioned anywhere in the scriptures or ...
1
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0answers
41 views
Is Hinduism a foreign belief system in India? [closed]
As far as I know, Aryans migrated from Asia Minor (Anatolia or Turkey) to Indus valley.
And, in order to rule over the local and indigenous people, they created the caste system. They also created ...
0
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0answers
23 views
Datta guru's time and ashrams
When did Dattatreya live and preach and help devotees? If he was in the 15th century, who were his contemporaries? Where are his ashrams situated, and are they now protected and available for pilgrims'...
0
votes
2answers
91 views
What were Kauravas doing during geetopadesham from Sri Krishna? [duplicate]
When Arjuna was feeling bad to fight against Bheeshma and his Guru Dronacharya, Shri Krishna tries to enlighten Arjuna by preaching Geethopadesha when they are in the middle of the war field. What ...
0
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0answers
33 views
What happened to Ekalavya? [duplicate]
We have heard the story that Ekalavya just by peeping the training of Dronacharya to Arjuna, he became master in archery. But once Dronacharya found that Ekalavya is greatest Archer than his favorite ...
4
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0answers
91 views
Is Anushasan Parva from Mahabharat an interpolation? It is claimed by many scholars and also it is not mentioned in the spitzer manuscript [closed]
https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m13/index.htm
I have read at many places that Shanti parva and Anushasan parva were later added in the original mahabharata. Does that also make vishnu sahasranamam ...
3
votes
2answers
155 views
Why there was so much hatred towards Karna on the part of Bheeshma and Dronacharya?
During the time of war also, they did not let Karna do war. They always insulted every given chance against Karna. Is it just because Karma is a Sut Putru? Or they just hate him that Karma was a ...
2
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0answers
63 views
When was Vasavadatta praised in Sita’s assembly?
Madal is an ancient Indian practice where a man rejected by the woman he loved would go around riding on a fake horse made of palmyra stems badmouthing the woman, in an effort to embarass her into ...
5
votes
1answer
145 views
Who decided that mantras should be used for yajñas that came later?
Were the ṛṣis who heard the mantras (found in the saṃhitā portion of the Vedas) aware that what they heard (or was revealed to them) will be used to conduct yajñas (sacrifices)?
If not, who decided ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
What is a jambu tree?
I am reading 'The Wonder That Was India' by A.L.Basham. In chapter 1, Introduction the author mentions as a footnote that,
The ancient Indians knew their sub-continent as Jambudvipa (the continent ...
3
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0answers
39 views
Is yoga an independent philosophy as classified in shad-darshan? or was it later incorporated in Tantra? or is it a part of tantra itself?
There is a separate school in Āstika tradition of Sanatana dharma as "Yoga". Also, the tantrik texts consists a section as Yoga itself. So how does the yoga as mentioned in Shad-Darshana differs from ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Hinduism opposite of a third eye [closed]
Is there the concept of someone who sees futures that shouldn't exist or shouldn't be?
I know about the third eye.
0
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1answer
71 views
Is Kṛṣṇasāra mentioned in Manusmṛti 2.23 the spotted deer (Axis axis) or the blackbuck (Indian antelope)?
Ganganath Jha translates 'kṛṣṇasāra' as 'spotted deer':
kṛṣṇasārastu carati mṛgo yatra svabhāvataḥ |
sa jñeyo yajñiyo deśo mlecchadeśastvataḥ paraḥ || 23 ||
But the region where the spotted ...
1
vote
1answer
227 views
Which group of currently active Hindus (not necessarily a sect) reject the least from the totality of Hindu scripture?
Most modern Hindus would probably reject animal sacrifice - although it is actively practiced by many Hindus today.
Many sects are currently active today and many of them are defined more by what ...
5
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0answers
98 views
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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0answers
48 views
Where are imperishable personalities from Mahabharata?
The characters listed below are Chiranjeevi's or imperishable personalities from Dwaaparayuga that means they are immortal. So where do they exist in Kaliyug? Is there any evidence or documents ...
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0answers
31 views
Indian Solar dynasty king
Was there a Solar Dynasty king called Salisuka. If yes, please provide details of his place in the list of solar dynasty kings.
0
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0answers
46 views
Who is Jalangiman Chetti and what powers did he possess?
Swami Vivekananda in one of his talks mentions a person, Jalangiman Chetti, claiming he acquired some special powers from constant repetition of certain mantras.
Who is this person and what powers ...
5
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0answers
121 views
What scriptures describe Hiranyaksha mining the Earth?
Most people only know the story of the demon Hiranyaksha putting the Earth in the Garbhodska ocean, after which Vishnu’s incarnation Varaha the boar killed Hiranyaksha and rescued the Earth. But page ...
7
votes
1answer
166 views
When was the last Ashwamedha yajna conducted?
I have read at few sites that Pushyamitra Shunga (2nd century B.C.) had conducted two Ashwamedha yajnas. Did any king conduct Ashwamedha yagna after Pushyamitra ?
4
votes
2answers
421 views
Is there any religious significance of saffron flag as per our scriptures?
Modern Hindu organisations usually use saffron triangular flag as a unanimously accepted symbol of Hinduism. However, does the flag or colour have any significance as per authentic Hindu scriptures?
2
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0answers
79 views
What is the earliest reference to identifying/differentiating Siddhartha Gautama and the Buddha Avatara?
Hindu scripture describes two Buddha Avataras of Vishnu born to deceive people. One Buddha Avatara took place during the Tripura incident. Another Buddha Avatara took place in the present Kali Yuga. ...
6
votes
1answer
276 views
Did Ramakrishna ever meet Dayanand Saraswati?
I read somewhere(maybe Ramakrishna Kathamrta) that Ramakrishna had a meeting with Dayanand Saraswati(founder of Arya Samaj). Is it true? If so what topics were discussed between then and what ...
2
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0answers
17 views
Has anyone combined Adi Shankaracharya's various purva paksha debates and shastrarthas?
Adi Shankaracharya is well known for his debating skills, I wonder if I can find his debates in written form anywhere.
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0answers
150 views
Is there any evidence to support Dayananda Saraswati's unorthodox claim that the medieval Sri Vaishnava scholar Yamunacharya was a Muslim?
Hindu-reformist Dayananda Saraswati claimed that the medieval Sri Vaishnava scholar Yamunacharya was a Greek or Muslim who was originally called "Yavanacharya".
From Life of Dayanand Saraswati:
...
6
votes
2answers
220 views
Is Sanskrit really a divine language or is it simply the common spoken language of the Vedic era?
If Vedas were to be "heard" in the medieval era by the sages, I am sure they might have composed it in Awadhi or some other common language, as even Tulsidas composed.
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Are today's Rajputs descendants of Kshatriyas of previous yugas?
Are today's Rajputs descendants of Kshatriyas of Dwapara Yuga and Treta Yuga?
In Short are Rajputs descendants of Shri Rama, Shri Krishna and Pandavas?
2
votes
2answers
266 views
What is the role of Jainism and Buddhism in introducing Vegetarianism to Hinduism?
It is said on multiple occasions that initially Hinduism was not a vegetarian society. From Was Lord Rama a non-vegetarian? :–
I know meat eating is not restricted to any Hindu Caste, while in
...
0
votes
1answer
196 views
Hindu scriptures before Mahabharata about thinking capability of head
Consider the following excerpt from the Shalya Parva of The Mahabharata
Indeed, the son of Pandu, filled with rage, struck off that head which
was the root of the evil policy of the Kurus, with ...
1
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0answers
216 views
Does the Kamma caste existing today fall into Sudra Varna?
There was no strict varna system in South India outside Kerala. They had only three classes namely Brahmin, non-Brahmin and Dalit. So their divisions are different from varna system. Since the Brahmin ...
7
votes
1answer
185 views
Charan samaj and their history
I am a chAraN (चारण in Devanagari), we usually call ourselves devi Putra (Son of Devi), we are the sons of Maa hinglaj.
I just want to know more about chAraN, I have seen we are mentioned in Ramayana, ...
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0answers
71 views
Is there any historical evidence that Britishers interpolated Hindu scriptures? [duplicate]
For many years, there is a lot of influence of British in India.
East India Company 1612–1757
Company rule in India 1757–1858
British Raj 1858–1947
Partition of India 1947
Wiki
Is there any ...
1
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0answers
108 views
Who was the earliest Vedic scholar to think that the Upanishads are not part of the Vedas?
It is a belief among some modern Hindus that the Upanishads in general are not part of the Vedas, nor are they Shruti (apaurusheya), and that they were authored after the Samhitas, which are the truly ...
4
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0answers
39 views
Was the Rig Veda organized into “Books” or “Mandalas” before it was written down?
I am reading on Wikipedia about how the Rig Veda was orally passed down "with unparalleled precision". And how it is divided into 10 books, with books 2-7 being the "family" books which are older and ...
