Questions tagged [itihasa]
This tag can be used for questions regarding the stories of itihasas i.e.,Ramayana and Mahabharata. These two are classified as Itihasas.
107 questions
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Is poverty in the present life due to past life's bad Karma?
I am not looking for a general answer (like, all problems in this life are due to bad Karma of the past). I want to know specifically about poverty. Is it written anywhere in our scriptures, that ...
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Why Balarama is known as Samkarshana?
Why is Balarama known as Samkarshana? It sounds like something to do with agriculture. He also holds a plough. Was there any connection of Balarama with agriculture?
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Where can I find the reference of a story, where Indra's obsession with building a palace taught him a lesson on impermanet nature of material things?
I heard this story in a YouTube video, where a Westerner narrated it. The story is beautiful.
Once Indra was building a grand palace, and he was obsessed with the minor details. He was instructing the ...
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Is it permissible to do puja with stolen flowers from other people's gardens?
Is doing puja with stolen flowers from other people's gardens permissible?
The question might sound silly, but it is a genuine issue in the place I stay. In the early morning, people collect flowers ...
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What is the Puranic story behind the celebration of Bhatri Dvitiya or Bhai Tika or Bhai Dooj or Bhai Phonta or Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam?
Bhatri Dvitiya is a Hindu festival, where sisters put a tilak on the brother's forehead and wish them a long life. It is celebrated immediately after Diwali. In Bengal, this festival is known as Bhai ...
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"Is 'Atimaharathi' a fake term? If not, what is its reference in ancient texts like the Vedas, Puranas, or Itihasas?
"Is 'Atimaharathi' a Newly created fake term? If not, what is its reference in ancient texts like the Vedas, Puranas, or Itihasas?
Please provide exact refrence.
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Is interrupting someone's sexual intercourse considered a sin in Hinduism?
Is interrupting someone's sexual intercourse considered a sin in Hinduism? Is it a punishable offence? What kind of punishment is prescribed? Is it categorically mentioned anywhere?
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What is the punishment for lusting on female relatives?
What is the punishment for a lusting on female relatives especially father's sister in smritis and itiHasas?
Please dont use chatgpt or ai as i am not finding even one verse mentioned in ai in actual ...
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Is there any instance of Sati practice described in Itihasa and Purana?
Was Sati practice (a widow sacrifices herself by sitting atop her deceased husband's funeral pyre) prevalent or rare in Hindu society described in Itihasas, Puranas, Vedas etc? Was it a norm or an ...
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What puranas and ithihasas to Iyers follow being an aspiring "cultured" Iyer
I am curious what Ithihasas and Puranas as well as other legendary texts Iyers follow.
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Where can I find reference of Caturvarga?
According to Hinduism, there are four Purusharthas or the goal of life: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. However, in Mahabharata (Mahabharata 1.139.69-70) and Arthasastra (Arthasastra of Kauṭilya 1.7.3-...
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Transition of Vedas to Puranas and Tantric literature
How and why did the people transition from the Vedic literature to the Puranic and Tantric. If Vedas are fundamental with its essence cumulated into the Upanishads, why and how did it transition into ...
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Is their story inverse to Matanga based on illegitimate birth?
From this story in the Mahabharata (https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-mahabharata-mohan/d/doc826352.html) Matanga who was thought to be a Brahmin by his cruel acts and nature was deduced to ...
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Manusmriti: Legal Guide or Sacred Text?
I’ve heard discussions about the Manusmriti not being considered a religious text for Hindus. Some claim that it was just made out to be a Hindu legal document by colonial British authorities, and was ...
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Who are Pitris?
I used to think Pitris are our departed ancestors. We do tarpans for them. Also, invite them during the Shraddh ceremony (last rite). But, I read recently that they are not our ancestors. They are ...
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What is Sanatana Dharma?
I have heard somewhere that it's Shaivam that makes Sanatana Dharma eternal. Are there some reference from shastras?
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A peculiar question regarding marriage?
Namaste,
Is there any mention in our scriptures about a man marrying a girl of different kingdom? Of course there are mentions about kings..but are there mentions about other varnas like Brahmanas or ...
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A question about Marriage
It is said in Manusmriti that a Brahmana may marry a Brahmana girl of his own race(same country probably) then girls of lower varnas..
In itihasas and puranas we find examples of Sages marrying ...
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List of Advaita Vedanta proponents: The rishis, sages, gods that supported Aham Brahmasmi
Consider this question as a sequel to this question: Advaita Vedanta Gitas
Advaita Vedanta as an interpretation of Vedanta is one of the oldest. Consider this question as a comprehensive list of all ...
user29449
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Question on Mahabaharta
Dyuta Parva—Section 57—KMG
Para 1—"King Yudhishthira the just having said this unto Vidura,
commanded that preparations for his journey might be made without loss
of time. And the next day, the ...
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Is Rama called ekapatni vrata in any scripture?
There is circumstantial evidence suggesting he was ekapatnivrata (took only one wife) - but is he explicitly called that in any Ramayana or other scriptures?
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Are the Itihasa superior to the Puranas?
We know the Puranas are less in authority to the Smritis (i.e. Dharma Shastras) as this is according to Vyasa Smriti,Chapter 1,Verse 4. So if Puranas are below Dharma Shastras then where are the ...
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Scriptures and Adultery
What do Hindu Scriptures remark about adultery for wives and for husbands? Are there specific exemptions or also the references that injunct punishment of any kind for adulterous wives or adulterous ...
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Who is the god of craft?
In greek myths, there is one god named Hephaestus. He is the god/patron of craftsmen and forges and blacksmiths etc.
Is there a similar god in Hinduism? I think that there is one, just he isn't very ...
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Does any scripture talk about extinction of Vanaras?
I have never heard of any scriptures talking much about vanaras after Ramayan and except lord hanuman. And they seem to have gone extinct in today's time except for lord hanuman again. Does any ...
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Why did Arjuna blame Jayadratha for Abhimanyu's death?
Why did Arjuna blame Jayadratha for Abhimanyu's death; after all he only did his duty of protecting the formation? If at all, if anyone is to be blamed, it should be Drona who was the commander in ...
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Where does Bhagwan Parshuram live at present?
Bhagwan Parshuram is supposed to be immortal, but where does he live at present?
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What are the different texts to learn about Lord Rama?
I love hinduism and in that I love reading about Lord Rama and Mata sita. I want to know which other Ramayanas or texts related to Lord Rama are available to us so that I can read them. Can someone ...
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Is there some scriptural background to this phrase?
Mata
Pita
Guru
Devta।
Translation.:
Mother Father Teacher God.
This means the order of respect and reverence that one should give in decreasing order. With Mother worthy of most respect and ...
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Are the other avatars of Lord Vishnu mentioned in Mahabharata.?
I found the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu in this chapter of Santi Parva.
Appearing in the forms of a swan (Hansa), a tortoise (Kurma), a fish (Matsya), O foremost of regenerate ones, I shall then ...
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Was shri rama born from ashvamedha yajna or putrakameshti yajna?
I will procedurally conduct the ritual contained in the preamble of adharva-veda with procedural hymns, called putra kaameSTi i.e., the ritual that bestows sons, for your benefit." VR [1-15-2]
...
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From which shastra is the story of a wife and her husband Kaushik who was visiting prostitutes?
The story is mentioned here in wikipedia:
A Brahmin named Kaushik from Pratishthan used to visit a prostitute, despite being a Brahmin and having a devoted wife.
It's also mentioned on other sites ...
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Are there any documented cases of opposite-sex friendships in Hindu scripture?
Are there any documented stories or cases of non-sexual friendship between men and women in Hindu scripture?
For reference, the Kama Sutra says sex with female friends is prohibited:
Then, here is ...
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Is abortion permissible if life of mother is in danger?
I understand abortion in general is a sin as per the answers to this question here
But what if mother's life is in danger due to a complicated pregnancy. In that case is it permissible ? If not ...
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From where can I get Shiva Rahasya Purana's English translation?
Also known as just Shiva Rahasya. This great scripture is also considered Shaiva Itihasa and contains Ribhu Gita which was quoted by Ramana Maharshi. I want to know where can I get full english ...
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Who were the Kriyashakti Acharyas and who among them was a contemporary of Shri Vidyaranya?
I have read that there were saints called Kriyashakthi Acharyas in Karnataka and one of them was a contemporary of Shri Vidyaranya of Sringeri during the period of Vijayanagara empire.
They seem to ...
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Is the translation of Bhusundi Ramayana available online?
Is the translation of Aadi Ramayana/Bhusundi Ramayana (spoken by lord brahmaa) available online?
(English or Hindi translation)
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Why Vidvat Sannyasa is considered superior as compared to Vividhisha Sannyasa?
I want to know from scripture or from saints why Vidvat Sannyasa (sannyasa taken after self-realization) is considered superior to Vividhisha Sannyasa (sannyasa taken with the desire to gain knowledge ...
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Which canonical scripture is this sahasranama part of?
Any Sahasranama is not usually found as an independent hymn/devotional scripture , but as a part of purana , itihasa. etc ,normally traced through its menion in sankalpa vakya(epilogue)(that begins ...
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Is there any mention of the previous birth of Rishi Markandeya?
Does any scripture mentions about the previous birth of Rishi Markandeyaji?
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Is there any instance of rape described in the Itihasa or Purana?
Some say rape is a western thing and got introduced in India due to western influence. I was wondering whether any instance of rape was mentioned in Puranas or Itihasas. By the way, I am not ...
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Does even a single sacred scripture sanction or even mention a "patnivrata dharma"?
Pativrata dharma is mentioned everywhere. As per this every wife has to obey, worship and serve her husband. She can even be beaten by him if required.
But some feminists and apologists are saying ...
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Are the signs of evil possessions on a person given in Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas?
By Vedas I mean all 4 vedas, all their 4 parts and all Vedangas. By Puranas I only mean Mahapuranas. Itihasa means Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Shaiva Itihasa
Evil possessions can mean ghosts or ...
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What are the new duties of the 4 varnas as per Saunaka & Bhargabhūmi?
In the Puranas, Manu and his wife had many children and future generations who changed their caste (varna) totally freely. For example, in Brahma Purana Chapter 5 it is given:
Vaivasvata Manu (...
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What is the war summary addendum of Mahabharata?
I remember reading a small Sanskrit work which was supposed to be an addendum of Mahabharata, which summarizes the war and gives dates according to Hindu calendar.
I can't recall where I read it or it'...
user22253
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Research question: What are the mentions of seasons along with lunar months or lunar phases in Mahabharata
Research question: What are the citations of seasons along with lunar Hindu months or lunar phases in Mahabharata?
This is extremely important tool for dating Mahabharata, using precession of ...
user22253
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Is Buddha or Buddhism mentioned explicitly in Mahabharata?
In the famous Mahabharata translation of Kisori Mohan Ganguli, he remarks at the start of Shanti Parva
The Santi Parva is a huge interpolation in the Mahabharata, in the
genre known as 'wisdom ...
user22253
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Is there any mention of Adhika Masa in Mahabharata War?
The online debate for dating Mahabharata is going strong between 3067 BCE and 5561 BCE groups on Twitter and YouTube.
Both these years conjecture that there was an Adhika Masa during the year of ...
user22253
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Proof of hereditary caste system in Vedas OR Ramayana and Mahabharata
Edit: This is not a duplicate question because this is a specific question asking for proof for caste being heridetary, not just what Vedas have to say about caste. Please understand the difference.
...
user22253
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Where has it said in the authentic scriptures, that a year in the Yuga schematic of Manu is actually a Daiva year?
The one of the early mentions of Yuga theory of Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali occurs in Manu Smriti.
There the Yuga is acutally only 12000 years with
Kali Yuga - 1200 years
Dwapara Yuga - 2400 ...
user22253