Questions tagged [mahabharata]
The epic by Veda Vyasa narrating the great war fought in India between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
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Parents of Dhaumya
A Gandharva suggests Arjuna to appoint Dhaumya as (purohit)priest
"The Gandharva replied, 'There is in these woods a shrine of the name
of Utkochaka. Dhaumya, the younger brother of Devala is ...
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38 views
Vijayadashami - Reference of Arjun's victory
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.In the southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states of India, ...
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Who taught archery and other weapons skills to Lord Rama?
Vashishtha is considered as the family priest of the Raghu dynasty and teacher of Lord Rama and his brothers.
This is what Wikipedia says about him
In the Ramayana, he was the family priest of the ...
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Names of the kings and their kingdoms who participated in Mahabharata war
I want to know the names of the kings and their kingdoms who participated in Mahabharata war either from Kaurava side or Pandava side.
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Is Kuvera Rākṣasendra? Where is Rākṣasendra mentioned in the Mahābhārata? What is the source [Ann.111]?
Source: https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/rakshasendra. It says it means Rāvaṇa (I find this unlikely), or Kuvera (which would bring about more questions, but will also answer a few). Where in the ...
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Is there any mention of practice of writings during Ramayana or Mahabharata?
Did people use to write down things in Sanskrit or Prakrit during Ramayana or Mahabharata period?
Had the concept of written language been invented?
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Ramayana and Mahabharata epics age period [duplicate]
We are in the 21st century. How old is the Ramayana and Mahabharata in terms of centuries?
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37 views
Are the warrior lineages birthed by Surabhi (the cow) Sūryavaṃśa, Candravaṃśa or neither? Who are their common father?
In sacred texts, such as the Mahābhārata, it is said that warrior lineages of humans were created by a sacred cow. These include lineages that would become important in the history of China and Iran. ...
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Is Brahma referring to the incidents of previous mahayugas?
Anusasana Parva contains a long discussion between Bhishma and Yudhishthira.
In the conversation, Yudhishthira once asks the following question
"Yudhishthira said, 'Tell me, O learned sire that ...
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1answer
48 views
Who is Daksha mentioned by Indra?
Consider the following statements of Indra from Mahabharata
Assuming then the shape of a Brahmana, Sakra descended on the Earth and addressing the bird, said,--O Suka, O best of birds, the
grand-...
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1answer
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Did Yudhishtira ever have any misconception?
Yudhistira is known to be a well virtuous person in Mahabharata.
Did Yudhishtira ever have any misconception?
Misconception in the sense that he has wrong perception/interpretation on something and ...
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117 views
Why didn't Krishna kill only the Kauravas instead of allowing the death of many innocent people?
If Krishna was ready to break all rules and promises why didn't he just kill only Kauravas?
He was ready to fight against Bhishma and was ready to break promise by lifting a wheel. But why didn't he ...
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50 views
How time lapses when Arjuna visits Indra? [duplicate]
As per wiki article on Muchukunda:
Then Indra said to the king Muchukunda, "O king, we, the Devas are indebted to you for the help and protection which you have given us, by sacrificing your own ...
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1answer
79 views
Age differences between Lord Rama & Lakshman, Balram & Lord Krishna
What were the Age differences between Lord Rama & Lakshman according to Valmiki-Ramayana, Balram & Lord Krishna according to Vyas-Mahabharata?
I mean age difference between Elder brother Lord ...
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232 views
Was Vishnu Sahasranama, a part of Anusasana Parva of Mahabharata, or a later day addition?
According to the material available in the Internet, Anushāsanaparva is not a part of original Mahabharata. If the above material is correct, then Vishnu Sahasranama, which is a part of ...
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Was first stanza 'नारायणं नमस्कृत्य' of Mahabharata a later interpolation? [duplicate]
It has been mentioned earlier that the Mahabharata was in the custody of the Brahmins of the Bhrgu race. The epic got its vast size even before the rise and development of the Gupta reign. The ...
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144 views
Which calendar was followed during Mahabharata and Ramayana?
There are so many astronomical evidences given in Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is said that there are about 500+ in Ramayana and 200+ in Mahabharata.
I wonder,
What calendar they followed
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143 views
Why aren't other religions detailed in Puranas and other scriptures?
Why don't Hindu texts talk much about other religions?
Some people say no other religion existed at the time of Santana Dharma but as per holy books of other religions their religions existed right ...
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The road to Taxila [closed]
During a study about various neoplatonic authors like Philostratus, there are beautiful passages in his scriptures , on how the western ascetics from the pythagorean school , which for their rules and ...
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1answer
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Vasishta attempting suicide unsuccessfully
We know that when Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill Prahlada, a staunch devotion towards Vishnu protected Prahlada.
Vasishta tried to kill himself in several ways but didn't achieve success. We can get ...
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Why is evil so strong?
Ravana, Duryodhana, Kansa have two things in common. 1: They all are evil & 2: They are extremely powerful.
Why is evil so powerful when compared to a normal person? A normal person of Ayodhya or ...
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How and from whom did Duryodhana learn the art of Jalastamba (art of staying under water)?
In the 18th day of Kurukshetra, Duryodhana hid himself inside the water using a knowledge he had about staying under water. There is no way Drona might have taught him this technique since Drona ...
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Was Kunti right to beget a child from both father(Surya) and son(Yama)?
Namaskaram. I have a humble doubt regarding the relationship between Karna and Yuddhistra and Kunti and Surya and Yama. Surya and Yama are father and son respectively. So their sons through Kunti ...
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119 views
If slavery is immoral, why did Yudhishthira donate slaves to Brahmins? [duplicate]
So, I was browsing here and found a post which supposedly said that Yudhishthira gave female slaves to a bunch of Brahmins. Slavery is obviously immoral and is even condemned in several scriptures so ...
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Were there public events for sports and recreation which were followed in Ancient India? [duplicate]
In both Ramayan and Mahabharath, there are references to marriage alliance being made through tests of skill. If so, were there public events like the Olympics or World Cups of today which were ...
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312 views
How can Garuda eating Nishadas be justified?
I am currently reading Bibek Debroy's translation of the Mahabharata. In Volume 1, Section 5; Garuda asks his mother what he should eat, and his mother replies,
The nishadas have their excellent home ...
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31 views
Who are Pandavas [duplicate]
This question was asked by many political speakers in TN, just writing it here, if one could answer.
None of the Kuntis sons are born for Pandu. Karna born to Sun, Yudishtra born to Dharm, and so on. ...
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What are scriptural reference of not getting angry at those who disrespect our religion?
So basically there are lots of power currently and also they might be present in past too, which actually tries to insult our practice and scriptures, or else they will oppose our bhakti by many ways!
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1answer
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Was Sudarshan Chakra given by Lord Shiva to Lord Vishnu? [duplicate]
Many puranas says that Lord Shiva had given Sudarshan Chakra to Lord Vishnu. But what epics like Valmiki Ramayana & Mahabharata says about it? Does anybody had created it? Who was the creator of ...
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Is Yudhistira a Yogi?
Pandavas, along with Draupadi, at the end of the Mahabharata, traveled through Himalayas. It should be remembered that they travelled through Yoga.
Consider the following excerpt
Vaishampayana said: &...
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Why did (Late) Sri K. M. Ganguli consider Anushasana Parva to be an interpolation? [closed]
In the translation of Anusasana Parva in Mahabharata by (Late) Sri K. M. Ganguli, we see a paragraph note in the page which states:
The Anusasana Parva, like the Santi Parva before it, is a long ...
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Story of Shvetaketu, Krishna's friend
In an old book on The Harivamsa Purana, I had read that Shvetaketu and Uddhava fought against each other for Shaibya.
Both wanted to marry her, who then married Lord Krishna.
They were Brahamana-...
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how did yamaraj sabha had 100 Dhritrashta , 100 Bhimas and 200 Bhishma?
from sabha parva -
"a hundred kings of the name of Dhritarashtra, eighty kings of the name of Janamejaya; a hundred monarchs called Brahmadatta, and a hundred kings of the name of Iri; more than ...
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Nature of vidya of dice possessed by Shakuni
Shakuni wins over the game of dice against Pandavas.
Shakuni declares that no one can defeat him in the game of dice.
Does any statement of Vyasa Mahabharata declare that Vidya possessed by Shakuni ...
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25 views
What is the source of Gita Jayanti date?
Gita Jayanti is the birthday of Bhagavad Gita, the sacred text of Hindus. It's celebrated on the Shukla Ekadashi, 11th day of waxing moon of Margashirsha month of the Hindu calendar.
Where is the ...
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Did Parashurama ever object to the way his students, Bhishma, Drona and Karna were killed by the Pandavas?
I am curious to know what/if Lord Parashurama had thought about the way all his shishyas (students/disciples), Bhishma, Drona and Karna, died in the Mahabharata war.
Did he object to the way they were ...
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1answer
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Why did King Shantanu wait to see his seven sons die at the hands of Brahmaputri Ganga and not marry another woman?
I am watching B.R Films' series on "Mahabharat". In Episode 1 of which the union between King Shantanu of Hastinapur with Brahmaputri Ganga has been shown. She goes on to kill the sons born ...
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1answer
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Are the Pandavas the sons of Gods, or Gods themselves?
I am currently reading the Mahabharata, (Adi Parva) by Bibek Debroy, and it has a Chapter called the Vaivahik Parva, which explains how the Pandavas came to be. The relevant section has been explained ...
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What is the duration for which Dwarka existed?
From the Mahabharata (Gandhari's curse), it is evident that Dwarka was submerged 36 years after the war but how many years prior to the war was it created ? I have gone through some online sources but ...
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Did eklavya blame himself for cutting the thumb?
Eklavya's abilities were far better than any other archer during his time, the story is no secret that he cut his thumb as Gurudakshina. But after that did he blame himself for trusting, Did he ever ...
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What are the original Sanskrit verses where astronomical and seasonal references are made in Mahabharata, and the internal chronology of the verses?
This is regarding the research of dating of Mahabharatha War.
There are too many speculations on internet ranging from 6000 BC to 500 BC all giving their own explanations with different ...
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1answer
129 views
Was Duryodhana a good or bad person? [closed]
In Mahabharat, I noticed that Shakuni has done many adharma in support of Duryodharna but at some point were they not correct?
It was Yudishter fault in dice game to put forward his wife and brothers.
...
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2answers
179 views
Did Arjuna really win against the Kauravas all alone in Virata Kingdom Battle
Lately I have grown interest in the Mahabharata and Hinduism. I haven’t read the books but I watched B R Chopra’s Mahabharata and the Star Plus Mahabharata. In the old one, it was shown that Arjuna ...
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1answer
105 views
Exactly when did Vishvamitra become Brahmarshi?
In Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayan, Vishvamitra's war with Vashishta is mentioned. After his defeat, he leaves for penance and becomes Rajarshi. Indra sent menaka to disturb his penance. Menaka later ...
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Is it SPECIFICALLY mentioned in the Vedas, Agamas, Itihasa or Puranas that left-handed men are inherently evil?
Scriptures say that our left hand is not to be used for eating, drinking and puja rituals like feeding idols. Some cultures say its bad to eat, drink or do auspicious things by using the left hand. ...
2
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1answer
116 views
Why did each Pandava fall during Svargarohani?
In final Mahabharata Mahaprasthanika Parva, during Svargarohani (ascent to heaven), 5 Pandavas and Draupadi take the long trek beyond Badrinath in Uttarakhand beyond Mana village (Satopanth marg ...
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How come demon Mayasura appear in both Ramayana and Mahabharata? [duplicate]
As per Vayu Purana, Ramayan happened in 24th Tretayuga and Mahabharat happened in 28th Dwaparayuga. Mayasura is mentioned as the father of Mandadari in Ramayan. In Mahabharata, he comes out of snake ...
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Why did Arjuna allow Draupadi to marry all 5 Pandava brothers? Why did he not disobey his mother? [duplicate]
I understand that there are many versions of this story in the Mahabharata, but in one of them, it is said that Arjuna had brought Draupadi home after winning her Swayamvaram. Arjuna had told his ...
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60 views
Do Hindu Gods commit sin and go to hell? If yes please quote the scripture
because Krishna said that Gods are also trapped in the system of creation
Krishna said He is the one who does all- both good and evil by incarnating himself.
Does it mean that when a bad guy is ...
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2answers
115 views
Who exactly are nishadas?
Nala was a king of Nishadas
Vrihadaswa said, "There was a king named Nala, the son of Virasena.
And he was strong, and handsome, and well-versed in (the knowledge of)
horses, and possessed of ...
