Questions tagged [reference-request]

For questions asking for reference to particular Shloka, event, etc in scriptures.

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Does the shloka 'ahiṃsā paramo dharma' or excerpt appear in Mahabharata?

Ahimsa paramo dharma, is it taken from Mahabharata? Many sources over internet say so and claim that it is a half-truth and the remaining half is Himsa dharma tadaivacha. Is it true? Who is the ...
hanugm's user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
4k views

Do humans breathe 21600 times in a day according to Yoga sastra?

I came to know that a human breathes 21,600 times per day according to Yoga sastra. Which shloka explicitly states it?
hanugm's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
535 views

What are the different sources that describe vedangas or limbs of the vedas?

What is scriptural source (preferably vedic) of the term vedAnga? or In which acaryas' writing do we find the description that there are six limbs of the vedas or six Vedangas and what they enlist?
Prakash K's user avatar
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13 votes
0 answers
334 views

Slokas about discipline in Mahabaratha

It is well known that many people in Mahabaratha such as Bhishma, Drona, Arjuna, Duryodhana, Karna, Abhimanyu etc., are experts in certain fields. In order to gain such expertise, there should be a ...
hanugm's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
644 views

Vatuka Bhairava references

Where I can find some scriptural references about Vatuka Bhairava? Where does Vatuka appear the first time?
Lucky Pashu's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
181 views

Where does the verse "aavaahanan na jaanaami..." come from?

Whenever a pooja is completed in my home, my mother says this. आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि तवार्चनम्। पूजां श्चैव न जानामि क्षम्यतां परमेश्वर॥ Where does this verse come from?
Sarvottam Kumar Mishra's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

How many puranas are there and is there any full list mentioned in any of the scriptures

How many "Puranas" are there? Is there any authentic full list of all the Puranas (not just 18 mahapuranas) backed by some other Puranas or scriptures?
zaxebo1's user avatar
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10 votes
0 answers
137 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 ...
hanugm's user avatar
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10 votes
0 answers
240 views

Do we have scriptural reference on Ashta Bhairava incarnations?

Lord Shiva took the avatar of Kala Bhairava to kill the ego of Lord Brahma is the first Bhairava avatar of Shiva. Do we have reference to Ashta Bhairava stories in our texts?
Agamas Tantras's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
271 views

What are the earliest commentaries available on Sri Devi Bhagavatam and from which sampradaya?

While reading through on a different topic, I came across this link, which talks about Sri Bhaskararaya, which states: Bhaskaracharya was born in the period between the last part of the ...
Ambi's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the Bhairavi Yatana given by Mahadeva in Kashi?

It is well known that Mahadeva gives moksha to people in Varanasi by uttering the taraka mantra in the ears of those dying, as said in the Kashi Khanda: Who is competent enough to describe the ...
Adiyarkku's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
1k views

Which Purana talks about the incident of Lord Shiva saving The Sage Markandeya?

There is this popular story that Sage Markandeya was saved from death by Lord Shiva. Does any one know the source of this account? In which Purana is this described? As far as I know there is no ...
Vidyarthi's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
144 views

Where does the story of Ganesha taking the form of a crow come from?

There is a story about Lord Ganesha taking the form of a crow that I've seen in many places online. Here is Indian Time Zone's version: By this time, Sage Agastya had traveled to the Kodagu mountains ...
CDR's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
203 views

What do Shastra say about building Temples outside of India?

I want to build a Temple in Europe. Which Shastra would I refer to? Vastu, Agama or something else? Moreover I want to know what every geographical places carry as Karma Veda and if and how that ...
user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
242 views

Did Swami Vivekananda speak this statement? Please give the location where he says so

When More and more people start thinking for themselves, start placing reason over faith, science and logic over irrationality and blind belief and superstitions, that will be the day when Hinduism ...
Sethu Srivatsa Koduru's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
713 views

Do any authentic vedic scriptures depict Sri Ram as the only ultimate parabrahman?

In the present era, many people worship Shri Ram as Bhagavan, many people see him as merely an incarnation, and many people consider him to simly be an ideal man. But other than the Sri Valmiki ...
Anupom Mazumder's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
730 views

Which scripture contains the event of Shiva beheading Vinayaka?

Consider the sequence of events : Parvati making Vinayaka, Vinayaka disallowing Shiva, Shiva beheading Vinayaka, Shiva joining Elephant's head on Vinayaka's body, etc., Which scripture contains this ...
hanugm's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
931 views

What is the story of Gaya Tirth?

I have heard a story that Lord Brahma has done Yajna in Gaya on the body of Gayasur. But I want to know the scriptural basis of this story if any or how Gaya, the place, has became famous?
Triyugi Narayan Mani's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
9k views

Who are the Valakhilya rishis?

Source says: Valakhilyas- are thumb sized ascetics accompanying the sun in its every day travel in the sky. They are protecting the humanity by taking all the extra heat and act like the ozone layer. ...
S K's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
501 views

Exact References of number of wives of krishna in mahabharat?

Please give exact shloka number(and its translation) in Mahabharat(not puranas) , where number of wives of krishna is mentioned, Esp. the 16000 wives in narakasura episode and other wives? I will ...
zaxebo1's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
247 views

Please let me know correct scriptural reference which mentions that Ram naam jaap or bhakti is necessary to worship Hanuman?

Is it necessary for a Hanuman devotee to worship Shri Ram. If yes, please provide scriptural reference as a proof.
Ram's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
104 views

What happened to Lord Ganesha's original head?

The story of Lord Ganesha getting an elephant head is well known. I am interested in knowing what happened to the original head. According to this site, the head is in a cave: The head is in a cave ...
Artist Formerly Known As CSD's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
459 views

What are the seven Moksha granting cities?

In India A Sacred Geography by Diana Eck - it says (p 408) The great city of the Rama legend is Ayodhya, known to the Puranas as one of the seven moksha-granting cities of India. I know Varanasi is ...
S K's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
228 views

Which scripture contains the story of Lord Venkateswara?

Which authentic Hindu scripture contains the total story of Lord Venkateswara? From where one can read it?
hanugm's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
172 views

Are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali available online in Devanagari anywhere in copy/pastable text format?

I am looking for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali, do these exist in copy/pastable Devanagari anywhere online?
Lance's user avatar
  • 553
5 votes
1 answer
229 views

Who was Śukī, and what is the full story of Agni's desire for Śukī?

Srimad Bhagavatam says, Mahārāja Barhiṣat — henceforward known as Prācīnabarhi — was ordered by the supreme demigod Brahmā to marry the daughter of the ocean named Śatadruti. Her bodily features were ...
MassEnquirer's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
192 views

Seven seas, dynasties and forests

Below shloka: सप्तार्णवः सप्त कुलाचलाश्च सप्तर्षयो द्वीप वनानि सप्त । भूरादि कृत्वा भुवनानि सप्त कुर्वतु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम् ।। The seven seas, seven dynasties, seven rishis, seven isles and forests,...
Kanthri's user avatar
  • 3,081
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to reduce Tamasic qualities?

Is it possible to reduce Tamogun (Tamasic qualities) ? If so, then which steps can be taken to reduce Tamogun by following: Worship, Behaviour, Mental attitude and Seva It would be great if any ...
Catalyst's user avatar
  • 226
5 votes
0 answers
119 views

Sri Bhuvaneshwari scriptural references?

Where can the first historical references of Sri Bhuvaneshvari be found? Is there any reference that precedes the Mahavidyas?
Lucky Pashu's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
330 views

Does Pillai Lokacharya’s commentary on the Gadya Trayam still exist?

The Sri Vaishnava sect has two sub-sects, Thenkalai and Vadakalai. Vadakalais follow the teachings of Vedanta Desikan, whereas Thenkalais follow the teachings of Pillai Lokacharya. My question is ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
213 views

Has there been any mention of withdrawal of maya sarees by Krishna in any version of Mahabharata?

It is stated in the video by the Swamiji (as narrated to him by his Guru) Lord Krishna supplied unending sheet lengths of saree at first as a rescue measure in the hour of Draupadi's need when ...
Narasimham's user avatar
  • 2,538
4 votes
4 answers
153 views

Do any of the Puranas praise Advaita?

The Puranas are very dualistic in nature, so do any of them praise Advaita Vedanta? And if they do praise Advaita please put up the verses in which Advaita is being praised. Note: I only want praising ...
Rajam's user avatar
  • 767
4 votes
3 answers
231 views

Can Shudras attain Moksha?

I have seen the verse in the Bhagavad Gita which says that Shudras women etc. can achieve the highest reality or state which is Moksha by taking refugee in him,so is there any more such verses that ...
Rajam's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

The famous "Charaiveti" mantra is mentioned in which Vedic verse?

"Charaiveti" is a famous Vedic Mantra. It means keep moving on (if I am not wrong). From which verse this word is taken? What does the entire verse say?
Amritendu Mukhopadhyay's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
137 views

Reference for slokam "aho yashode tava balakoyam"

Can someone please give a reference to the following slokam? aho yashode tava balakoyam grude gruhe (39:23 in this video)
Praphulla Koushik's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
180 views

Regarding a shloka similar to a shloka in guru gita

गुरुर्ब्रह्म गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवोमहेशवरः । गुरुर्साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः​ gururbrahma gururviṣṇurgururdevomaheśavaraḥ | gurursākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ​ This is a ...
YOu will not know's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
136 views

Where is Bhagavad Gita referred to as Hari Gita?

I heard that Bhagavad Gita is referred to as Hari Gita. I don't know the exact reference. Where is it referred as Hari Gita?
Krishna Varna's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
96 views

Is Sookshma Sharira really made of Prakriti's 5 subtle elements or Tanmatras?

I posted a similar question here before but didn't recieve any answer. So i'll just post this again. In which holy text is there mention of sookshma sharira being a product of Prakriti's Tanmatras? ...
The Crimson Universe's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
299 views

Which scripture contains about "chin mudra" in detail?

Chin mudra is popular in sanathan dharma. Improving concentration is one of the effects that happens for a practitioner of chin mudra. I quickly went through the names of mudras from two yoga ...
hanugm's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
122 views

Which scripture is this shloka from? (vijñātāramare kena vijāniyāt)

I am trying to identify which scripture this sloka is from. I came across this sloka in a book: vijñātāramare kena vijāniyāt विज्ञातारमरे केन विजानियात When researching online I found this website ...
nunam's user avatar
  • 57
4 votes
3 answers
560 views

Has there been any commentary on "Soundarya Lahari" by any scholar from Sri Shankaracharya's lineage?

This page describes Soundarya Lahari as being authored by sage Pushpadanta and Adi Shankara. While there are many who believe this to be incorrect attribution, I am more interested to know if any ...
Ambi's user avatar
  • 2,394
4 votes
1 answer
52 views

Is this verse present in the Māitrāyaṇa-saṁhitā́ found in the Tāittirīya-saṁhitā́?

I vaguely remember this hymn in the Tāittirīya-saṁhitā́, I'd like if anyone could tell me where.
Savitr̥'s user avatar
  • 443
4 votes
1 answer
429 views

Uchiṣṭa Ganapati Suktam in Atharvana veda

Does anyone know where in the Atharvana Veda we can find Uchiṣṭa Gaṇeśa/Gaṇapati suktam?
Gratus Devanesan's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
135 views

Is there a tradition that recitations of Krishna-Bhagavatam should last exactly one week?

According to Bard the Google AI engine: Bhagavata Saptaham is a seven-day religious discourse on the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the eighteen major Hindu Puranas. It is a popular tradition in Hinduism, ...
S K's user avatar
  • 1
4 votes
2 answers
100 views

Who are the Gaṇas?

Devi Mahatmya says that gaṇas came out of the Devi and fought for her. (Devi Mahatmya 2.52) And the deep breaths, which Ambikā fighting in the battle breathed forth, came into real being at once as ...
Amritendu Mukhopadhyay's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
91 views

Reference to Sri Anjaneya holding gadha (mace / club)

In many Hindu temples and pictures, Sri Anjaneya Swami is portrayed with gadha (mace / club) on one of his hands. I am seeking to understand the origin of this depiction. As far as I know nowhere in ...
Vidyarthi's user avatar
  • 1,153
4 votes
0 answers
461 views

Which scripture is the source of the verse "Janmanā jāyatē jantuḥ karmaṇā jāyatē dvijaḥ" (everyone is born worm)?

Complete verse is as follows. Janmanā jāyatē jantuḥ karmaṇā jāyatē dvijaḥ | vēdādhyayanatō vipraḥ brahmavid brāhmaṇa smr̥taḥ || In Devanagari script: जन्मना जायते जन्तु: कर्मणा जायते द्विज:। वेदा...
Java Kumara's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
110 views

Which stotra are these verses from?

In this video, Dr. Chidabaram Sastry gives two slokas for getting the Grace of Devi for Poetry prowess. But it's hard for me to learn without knowing the lyrics. The slokas are in the video at 0:22 ...
trilok reddy's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
99 views

Where may I find references to Maa Durga's arrival and departure vehicle?

I have heard Maa Durga's arrival and departure vehicle (like horse, elephant, palanquin) depends on the days of the week when the festival starts and ends. And there is a significance of any such ...
Severus Snape's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
446 views

Manusmriti with commentary of Kulluka Bhatta

I am looking for translated versions (English/Hindi) of Manusmriti with commentary of Kulluka Bhatta online .
bhatnagar prakhar's user avatar