Questions tagged [name]
For use in questions involving reason behind names of people, Devas, places and just about anything related to Hindu mythology, scripture, culture, etc.
184 questions
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When was the expression "Sanatana Dharma" first used and what does it mean?
Does it mean it has existed forever and would exist forever? Does it mean it is changeless? The evidence shows that India is now only 80 percent Hindu and there are all kinds of forces trying to ...
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how many different names of Karna are mentioned in Mahabharata?
I listen total 10 or 13 names are there but not knowing the names. I listen one or two like Radheya,Vashusena. So I want to know how many different names of Karna are mentioned in Mahabharata? Is ...
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Was Laxman Kumara named after Lakshmana?
Laxman Kumara was the only son1 of Duryodhana and Bhanumati. He battled in the Mahabharata war and did perform many acts of bravery, like saving King Bahlika, killing Shikandi's son, etc. He was later ...
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What is the meaning of Saraswati?
Devi Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, learning and creativity. But what is the etymological meaning of the name Saraswati? How does Nirukta explain the name Saraswati?
I guess it's related to '...
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Why is Sita mata also known as Vaidehi?
In Ramayana, when and who named Sita mata as Vaidehi? What is the meaning of the name?
Update:
I found that Sita mata was called by the name "Vaidehi" only during the exile period. Is that right?
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Name of Ballia on Raja Bali and his yagna
I am a resident of Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh . I have read somewhere that it has been named after Raja Bali the demon king who was sent to Hell by Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is said that ...
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Is Balrama (Baldeva) mentioned somewhere as VAsudeva (Vaasudeva)?
I am referring VAsudeva (Vaasudeva) as son of Vasudev and not the ancient name of Lord Vishnu. Like Vaivasvata means son of Vivasvat (Surya).
And not only 7th Manu (i.e Manuvaivasvata who is also ...
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How many ekadashi are there in a year?
How many Ekadashi are there in a year?
How many days after one another Ekadashi comes? and why?
Does each one different from each other? why is it different?
Does the sequence of Ekadashi remain ...
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Is Hanuman really 'Hanumat' in Sanskrit Ramayana?
Bibek Debroy says in his Ramayana translation, 'Hanumat is a case in point, where Hanuman seemed to be too contrary to grammatical principles'.
What grammatical principle is that? Is it really ...
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Which Rakhasa has taken away Sita mata before surpanakha meet them?
Is there any story that a Rakhasa has taken away Sita mata before surpanakha meet them, and later lord Rama and Shri Laxman fight with him and recover Sita mata?
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Why did the ancient Indians name Mars as "Angaraka"?
The ancient Indians (Vedic) named Mars as Angaraka which means Son of the Earth. Is there any mention of the "Angaraka" in the Vedas?
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Who is Kevat who helped Lord Rama and sita to cross a river
Who is Kevat in ramayan, who helped Lord Rama and sita to cross a river.
When and which river they meet?
After crossing the river, When Lord Rama was praise him giving a golen ring, then how did ...
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How many types of marriages are there according to Hindusim?
Are there any scriptures that talk about different types of Hindu marriages?
How many such types are there and what are their names and what are their descriptions?
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Which is correct name Krushna or Krishna?
I have listen from one of the preist after some discussion about god and he suggested me to say as krushna instead of Krishna. I wondered and said that both are same. But he insisted and I was treated ...
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What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita?
Is Bhagavad Gita tells about one avatar and Shrimad Bhagavatam tells about all the Avatars?
Are they equivalent to each other or both are different?
Which is first written?
And when and why the ...
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How the original name of "Jai Samhita" changed to "Mahabharat"?
I heard that the original name of Mahabharat was "Jai Samhita".
Who had originally named as "Jai Samhita" and why?
Who had changed the name to "Mahabharat" and why?
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What does "Avatar of Kali Yuga" and "Avatar of Dwapara Yuga" mean?
I can understand lord Rama and lord Krishna are Avatars of lord Vishnu. But when I listen that, Duryodhana was Avatar of "Kali Yuga" and Shakuni was the Avatar of "Dwaapara Yuga" which I could not ...
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What are graha and Nakshatras?
What are graha and Nakshatras?
Is there any story how they are created?
What are their effects to human?
How many graha and Nakshatras are there?
Is there a specific God for each of them? What are ...
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Is Sanvi one of the other names of goddess Lakshmi?
There are different opinion on web about this. I am not able to get any confirmation. In case of yes, it is in which language?
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Why "Rama" Nama is called Taraka mantra?
At Manikarnika Ghat of Varanasi (Kashi), Lord Shiva liberates the dead by saying "Taraka mantra" in ears of the dead. Many Puranas assert this fact.
Chapter 30, Purvavadha , Kasi Khanda of Skanda ...
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What is the story behind the name of Indrajit?
What is the story of Indrajit (Meghanada) who defeated Indra and hence received his title.
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What are Char Dham?
What is the meaning of dham?
Why there are 4 only i.e char-dham.
If someone visit to char-dham, then will their sin be erased?
Means why people visit there and what do they get there?
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Are there temples where the deity is simply called "Vishnu"?
All Vaishnavite temples I have been to - the deity is called something other than "Vishnu", like "ranganatha" or "Venkatachalapati".
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What is the sanskrit name for the "Star of David"?
Is there a Sanskrit name or term for the "Star of David" itself, since archeological evidence shows it being part of Vedic culture in India?
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What is the original name for "O bull like heir of Bharata"?
What is the original name used in the ancient MahaBharata for the translation: "O bull like heir of Bharata"? I find the English translations as in the title given above many times in the MHB ...
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What is the meaning of the word 'Hayagarddabhi',used as a name of lord Shiva?
Anusasana parva of Mahabharata contains the very famous Shiva Sahasranama Stotram discovered by sage Tandi.In 36th sloka I found a name "Hayagardabhi"[49 th name,I think] which literally means ' one ...
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Which one God have more maximum names? Krishna or Shiva?
I read that Shiva have 1008 names and also know that Krishna have also various names. My question is which one God have more than names others?
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Is the etymology of the name Yudhishthira correct?
As we know, the eldest of the Pandavas is Yudhishthira (IAST : Yudhiṣṭhira and Devanagari: युधिष्ठिर). It is said that he got his name due to his steadiness in war. This is also a famous one. From ...
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What did Hindu's call themselves before 'Hindu'? [duplicate]
What did Hindu's call themselves before they were referred to as 'Hindu' from other cultures?
I read that it was foreigners that referred to people from India or near the Indus river as 'Hindi' or ...
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Why is Lord Hanuman also referred as "Bajaranga Bali"?
The name "Bajaranga Bali" is quite famous especially in the northern parts of India. There are popular movies made with this name, such as Bajrangbali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
However these names are ...
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We say Siya Ram and Radheshyam why we say Shiv Parvati why don't we say Parvati Shiv?
There is always name of female before male like Siya Ram, Radheshyam then
we say Shiv Parvati not Parvati Shiv.
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What was the name of 'Hindustan' before 'Bharat'?
Well I know that 'Hindustan' was called 'Bharat' after the name of king Bharat, but curious to know what was the ancient name prior to that?
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Which scriptures describe Vritra as an Asura?
As per my understanding, Vritra was a great ascetic and knew all the Shastras. He was the excellent son of Tvashtar, the divine artisan of Gods born of the divine fire of Vishwakarma's Yagya.
So why ...
user9392
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Origin of Ravana's name
What is the story reference of Ravana, who made a loud cry (thus deriving this name ) crushed by Shiva? { When proud Ravana tried to lift and trouble Shiva on the Kailash mountain).
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Why are the names of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama superior to the name of Lord Vishnu?
Though Krishna and Rama are said to be incarnations of Vishnu, many scriptures tell us that names of Krishna and Rama are superior to the name of Lord Vishnu. In the Padma Purana Lord Shiva tells Mata ...
user9969
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What does "Baba" (बाबा) in the "Baba Nam Kevalam" mantra mean?
Many sources translate "Baba" as "beloved". For instance, Yogapedia said
This mantra is used for practice of kirtan in Ananda Marga
Baba means "beloved," nam means "...
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Who is Krishna? Is it Draupadi or an avatar of Vishnu?
I am confused with the name Krishna. As per my current knowledge, then name of the the Ninth Avatar(birth) of Narayan is Krishan/krishn (not krishna). And Krishna is the name of Draupadi. But we often ...
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Why Yudhishtira is called Ajāta śatru (अजात शत्रु)?
One of the exclusive names of Yudhishtira is Ajāta śatru (अजात शत्रु).
Ajāta śatru = Who has no enemies.
Why is he called as Ajāta śatru. Kauravas are his enemies. Aren't they? Why is the name ...
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What is the meaning of 'Hara'?
I heard "Har Har Mahadev", that is call for "Mahadev" But I want to know the meaning of "Har" in "Har Har Mahadev"?
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Which Hindu scriptures use the word Ārya and in what sense?
What does the word "Ārya" really mean in the context of Hinduism?
And which Hindu scriptures use this word and in what sense?
If you think the question is too broad, limit your answer to The Vedas, ...
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Why is Sanātana Dharma also sometimes called Ārṣa Dharma?
Most Hindus are familiar with the term "Sanātana Dharma" which is used in several scriptures. E.g., Manusmṛti 4.138 uses the term as follows:
satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyānna brūyāt ...
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Why do some Hindu sannyāsi names end in 'ānanda' e.g., Vivekānanda, Śivānanda etc?
Why do some Hindu sannyāsi names end in 'ānanda' e.g., Vivekānanda, Śivānanda, Chinmayānanda etc.?
Is it a mere coincidence or is there a rule or custom?
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How to identify the shannavathi (96) days of an year for tharpanam?
Shannavathi Tharpanam - means 96 days of oblations to our elders. While this answer beautifully explains how the count 96 is arrived, I am still perplexed on how to identify them on the calendar/...
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Sanatana dharma or Hindu [duplicate]
From somewhere I came to know 'Hindu' is a geographical word, it is not a religious one. Original word is 'Sanatana'. Is it true?
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Which Purāṇas define the word "purāṇa" within their text?
From the sample page of this book:
Questions:
Which all Purāṇas define the word 'purāṇa' within their text?
Can you cite the exact verses (and their translation) from each of the Purāṇas that ...
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Correct gender version of Sanskrit name तेजस्वी or tejasvī
Not sure if this is a relevant question for this site.
Is Tejasvi, a masculine or feminine term or name in Sanskrit?
Any references from Hindu scripture or Sanskrit literature on how this word is ...
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Is the ocean (sāgara) named after King Sagara or is it the other way round?
This morning I was simultaneously reading and listening to this śloka from Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa and this question occurred to me.
येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानित: ।
षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं ...
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Why we put 'a' after each Hindu name?
For example:
Yog becomes Yog'a' or Krishn -> Krishna;
same way Ram -> Rama
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Did Balram really call Krishna "Munna"?
I had read around 3 years ago somewhere (can't find that website now) that while Krishna called Balram "Dau" (Brother), Balram affectionately refered to Krishna as "Munna" (Little Boy).
Can anyone ...
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Why is Muruga also known as Thanikachalan?
What is the meaning of Thanikachalan which the name of Lord Muruga?
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