Questions tagged [scripture]
For questions about the holy texts of Hinduism. Please also use a more specific tag (e.g. [vishnu-purana]) if possible.
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What is the story of Prahlada being slain by Indra?
In Mahabharata, Santi Parva, SECTION XCVIII, it is said by Indra himself that he has slain Prahlada.
Having slain in battle Jambha, Vritra, Vala, Paka, Satamaya, Virochana, the irresistible Namuchi,...
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What is the origin of Kumbha Mela?
Once every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh is celebrated at Haridwar, Prayag, Nasik and Ujjain. It is generally believed that the reason for celebrating Maha Kumbh at those 4 places is because the Amrita (...
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Scriptural reference for the statement "gods reside towards our right side"?
Quoting from an article hosted at kamakoti.org "VEDA DHARMA SASTRA PARIPALANA SABHA (Regd.), Kumbhakonam, Publication No. 50":
MORNING ROUTINE
Everyone should get up from bed in Braahma ...
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Which Tantric scripture classifies the Agamas into SAttvic, RAjasic and TAmasic categories?
It is a well known fact that the PurAnas have a classification based on the TriGunAs (Sattva, Rajas and Tamah). That is, there are SAttvic PurAnas, RAjasic PurAnas and TAmasic PurAnas.
Now, for the ...
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Are there any popular works attributed to Govinda Bhagvatpada?
Govind Bhagvatpada was Guru (teacher) of Adi Shankaracharya who has preached Advaita (one of the most popular philosophy/doctrine of Vedanta). According to Advaita Guruparampara, he was Shisya (...
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What are the weapons created by Sage Dadhichi's bone?
I have heard a story that many weapons including Indra's Vajra was created with Sage Dadhichi's bone.
Was only one weapon (Vajra) created? If no, then I want to know exactly which weapons are created?...
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How does artificial confluence of rivers differ from natural confluence of rivers?
The AP Government linked rivers Krishna and Godavari by artificial means. Given that;
What does this artificial confluence mean according to Hinduism? Does it signify anything in religious or ...
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What is this ancient animal called Yali?
I have been told that Yali is a fierce animal of ancient times. I have seen this in temple sculptures:
It is beyond doubt that this animal is extinct now, but my questions are as below.
Which Hindu ...
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Who were the custodians of scripture in different eras?
In the Vedic period they were called Rishis, then we hear about Sutas. Was the occupation of scribe known in Hinduism?
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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?
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Which scriptures are available for Artha and Kama?
In one of his speech, Pandit VijayShankar Mehta says:
Ramayana teaches us जीने की कला (art of living)
Bhagavad Gita teaches us कर्म करने की कला (art of doing)
Bhagavatam teaches us मरने की कला (art ...
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Is there any planetary arrangement described for end of the world in Hindu scriptures?
Is there any planetary arrangement described for the end of the world in Hindu scriptures? If yes then please describe.
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Are there any references for claims that "purush sukta in Rigveda" is an interpolation?
Many people claim that as per many scholarly studies and references, "purush sukta in Rigveda is an interpolation"
Can somebody provide references to such scholarly studies and references ?
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Does the different texts within Vedas follow a certain hierarchy or any known order of authority?
In Vedas there are texts such as Aranyakas, Brahmanas, Upanisads, Samhitas etc. so in the case of differing views of various texts is there a certain order of which text view should be taken first?
...
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Scriptural references for Hanumāna Jyotish
I came across this book, Hanumāna Jyotish ( हनुमान ज्योतिष ) which has been compiled by various astrologers under several different publications and all of them, supposedly attributes the original ...
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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 ...
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Will guru approach me if I read guru charitra for a fixed number of times?
I heard from one of my well-wishers that If I read Sri Guru Charitra a fixed number of times then a guru will surely approach me.
Is it true according to the scriptures?
If yes, then how many times do ...
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Does Shri Vaishnava sannyasa rules restrict their monks to enter into Shiva temples?
I read in a book on Kinkar Madhav Ramanuj Jeor that ShrinVaishnava saints are NOT permitted by the sect to enter into Shiva Temples.
We know that both Shiva and Vishnu say in different scriptures ...
user17294
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Different methodologies for teaching to students and their sources
I have heard there are 20+ methodologies mentioned in some upanishads like Taittiriya about how to impart education/learning to students some go like:
samvAda / discussion
sambhAShana / group ...
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What is the oldest text on Gandharva Veda?
In this answer, it is told that Gandharva Veda (Music Theory) is one of the four Upa Vedas, the other three being Ayurveda, Dhanurveda and Arthashastra.
What is the oldest text on Gandharva Veda?...
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What were the 7 previous births of Brahmarishi Vasishtha?
The Yog Vasishtha narrates the fascinating story of an immortal crow named Bhushunda who is met by Brahmarishi Vasisth. In Chapter 22 while reminiscing about his past lives, the divine crow tells ...
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What classes of scripture are claimed to be apaurusheya?
It is well known that Vedas are claimed to be apaurusheya or not of human origin. Hindu scripture has been continuously produced since the Veda-Samhitas – Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Itihasas, ...
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Which scriptures describe swayambhu linga lakshanas (signs) and what are those?
I have a small book called Shiva Tattva PradipikA which discusses the various facts associated with Lord Shiva by quoting from scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Agamas.
In it we find the ...
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Where do Vedas state that Destiny is the nature of Time?
Shiva Purana Kailasha Samhita chapter 13 (13.29-30) states;
मायां तु प्रकृतिं विद्यादिति माया श्रुतीरिता ।
तज्जान्येतानि तत्त्वानि श्रुत्युक्तानि न संशय ।।29
It has been propounded in the ...
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Is the Satvata Samhita, the oldest Pancharatra text, available online in English?
Before the time of the sage Vyasa, people had a very different understanding of which gods were important than the understanding we have today. The Vedic mantras had not yet been compiled into the ...
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Where is the complete Shambhu Utkarsha Stotra (शम्भूत्कर्ष स्तोत्र) found? (also known as शिवोत्कर्ष स्तोत्र / Shivotkarsha Stotra )
Sri Shivendra Saraswati has written a bhasya on Shiva Sahasranama stotra (available here). While explaining the very first name "ParaDeva", he gives an entire stotra composed by Vyasa as &...
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Is there any type of food capable enough to change the contents of causal body?
According to Sanatana Dharma, a Jeeva or human contains three bodies: Physical body, subtle body, and causal body.
It is well known that food can directly impact the physical body. We can also notice ...
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Do all astika schools of thought in Hinduism believe that itihaas(Ramayan and Mahabharata) are really historic and not mythology?
There are many schools of thought in Hinduism
So, do all astika schools of thought believe that Ramayan and Mahabharata are real history and not mythology?
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Which scripture claims to be essence of all Aranyakas?
Each Veda has been subclassified into four major text parts – the Samhitas, the Aranyakas, the Brahmanas, and the Upanishads.
Now,
Essence of all Samhitas --> compiled as Devata Kanda Sutras
...
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Is burning bamboo sticks really prohibited in Hinduism?
There is a popular Zee News video circulated around claiming that burning bamboo sticks are prohibited in Hindu religion. That video also shows how harmful it can be for the environment inside the ...
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Where can I read Manusmriti along with all its commentaries in English?
Manusmriti has more than six commentaries so far (Bhāruci, Medhātithi, Govindarāja, Kullūka, Nārāyana, Sarvajnanarayana, Nandana, Raghavananda, Ramacandra). Only Medhatithi's commentary which has been ...
user9554
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Which is the oldest known reference to a 7 day week in Hindu scriptures?
I thought of this question after reading about day-wise restrictions on shaving/haircut
These weekly day-wise restrictions must have started after a 7 day week was established.
Which is the oldest ...
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Lost Sri Vaishanva Literature/Works
How many or I can say which Sri Vaishnava works(literature) are lost or exist as citations in other literature?
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Are the planets of our solar system ( like Brihaspati, Shukra, Chandra etc) Devas or the abodes of the respective Devas?
We all know that Brihaspati is Teacher of Devas. Shukracharya is also teacher of Daityas. Mangal Deva etc. Are also Deva. So are the planets and sun moon just their abodes or is Surya Deva really a ...
user9392
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In which worship are these organs mentioned in YajurVeda offered to Lord Shiva?
Association of various bodily organs to Lord Shivas AsthaMurty form (8 forms) are mentioned in YajurVeda. Here is passage from YajurVeda Taittariya Samhita 1.4.36:
चित्तम् संतानेन भवं यक्ना रुद्र ...
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Which scriptures talk about the Kurma avatar of Vishnu?
I would like to know more about the Kurma avatar of Vishnu. I know that Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to facilitate Samudra Manthana. Although, no other details are known. The Wikipedia article ...
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Tapping temples (on forehead) and worship of Mahaganapaty
It is usually believed that tapping temples on forehead five times with closed fists, accompanied with the recitation of the "Suklambaradharam..." sloka is a shortcut method of worshiping Lord ...
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Do our scriptures declare that if God has to descend on earth then that place has to be somewhere in India?
Do our scriptures declare that if God has to descend on earth then that place has to be somewhere in India?
Are there any shlokas in scriptures that confirm that God's avatar(human birth) will only ...
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Where is the mention of Surya Loka(सूर्य लोकं) in Hinduism?
One of the famous stotras for Lord Surya in Hinduism is श्रीसूर्याष्टकम् (Surya ashtakam). In the last line of this सूर्याष्टकम्, there is a mention of Surya Loka.
स्त्रीतैलमधुमांसानि ये त्यजन्ति ...
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Who composed "Lingashtakam" & what are the "Asta Daridras" mentioned there in it?
The Lingashtakam is one of the most popular Ashtakams(a Stotram with 8 verses) dedicated to Lord Shiva which praises Him in the abstract "Lingam" form.
You can read it here.
However,till date,i ...
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Where can I read Tantric texts in English
Where can I read Tantric texts? Is there any online pdf? I want the mantra in English and its meaning. Are there any commentaries by a Proper Guru?
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Is there any explicit concept of working hours in scriptures?
In the current society, every one has a profession which provides her money and resources for survival. For a person having enough amount of money or other resources may consider the profession for ...
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Diet for fasting in hinduism
There is a mention of fast in Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva about fasting which is continued for twenty-eight days, which is the maximum number of days of fasting.
That man who having fasted for eight ...
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Procedure for getting mantra siddhi without Guru initiation
In general, guru is mandatory for mantra initiation. Siddhi may never happen without (physical, living, human) guru initiation.
But recently I heard that, if there is no availability of physical ...
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Do we have any segment or fraction of Shashti Tantra surviving today?
Recently while researching on tradition of Sankhya from some articles and research papers [1][2], I have concluded that possible Guru-Shihya parampara would be Kapila > Asuri > Panchashikha > ...
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Size of Hindu Gods?
Are there any scripture references for the size of Gods?
Did Rishis who had Darshan of Gods, describe their size?
Example: Mahabhrata Pandavas; were they of today's human size?
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Story of Godess Saraswati?
Why is She called
Vidyadatri (Goddess who provides knowledge)
Vagdevi (Goddess of speech)
Veenapani (Goddess carrying veena in her hands)
Hansavahini (Goddess who sits on swan)
Is there any ...
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What are the differences in teachings between Yoga Vasista, Ashtavakra Gita, and Vivekachudamani?
Yoga Vasistha (योग-वासिष्ठ), Ashtavakra Gita (अष्टावक्रगीता), and Vivekachudamani (विवेकचूडामणि) are teachings about Enlightenment and (Moh)Maya. What are the Philosophical differences between these ...
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Does the concept of multiverse exist in vedas?
Does the concept of multiverse exist in vedas just like puranas in samhitas,aranyakas,brahmanas and major upnishads.
I think it's a puranic concept if i am right then give evidences that establish ...
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Does the Ramacharitamanas Prashnavali concept have any basis in Scriptures?
The Ramacharitamanas Prashnavali or Sri Ramashalaka Prashnavali
The answers/predictions in Ramacharitamanas Prashnavali or Sri
Ramashalaka Prashnavali (राम शलाका प्रश्नावली) are based on the
...
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