All Questions
4,365
questions
27
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What percentage of Hindus belong to a sect that subscribes to the Vedanta school?
Indian schools of philosophy are traditionally divided into two categories, Astika and Nastika. Astika schools accept the authority of the Vedas as divinely revealed truth (shruti), whereas Nastika ...
- 96.4k
44
votes
1
answer
7k
views
What are some online sources to get unabridged Hindu Scriptures or to learn Hinduism?
What are some good websites to find unabridged versions of Hindu Scriptures and to learn Hinduism (with proper interpretations)?
Also, see:
Where can I find/get basic information about Hinduism on ...
- 30.9k
38
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is the Anukramani index of sages and deities of the Rig Veda available online?
As I discuss in this answer, how the Vedas originated is that from time immemorial, sages known as Dhristas have heard mantras (sacred verses) directly from the gods during a state of Tapasya (deep ...
- 96.4k
61
votes
8
answers
10k
views
How did the Vedas in Hinduism come into existence?
Who wrote the Vedas and why?
How did the Vedas exist since their inception?
Where can we read the Vedas?
user304
55
votes
11
answers
14k
views
How were the Trimurti born?
In Hinduism, there are three supreme gods, Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh (Shiva). Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the protector/Preserver, and Shiva (Rudra) is the Destroyer/Regenerater.
But how these ...
- 1,115
21
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How has Lord Vishnu's understanding developed and what was his role initially?
I've recently come by an excellent research on how the understanding of Shiva has been evolving through the ages and I wonder whether such a research has been made with respect to Vishnu. The book I ...
85
votes
6
answers
46k
views
Is our destiny predetermined? If yes, then why do our actions affect our karma?
Is our destiny predetermined? I've read some stories which do show that a person's destiny is predetermined, like:
pathi pragrahiṇaṁ kaṁsam ābhāṣyāhāśarīra-vāk asyās tvām aṣṭamo
garbho hantā yāṁ ...
- 7,011
26
votes
1
answer
16k
views
Where does a Soul attach to the Body?
A human is identified in terms of 3 bodies, 3 States and 5 Koshas or Sheaths.
The Atman or soul is covered by three bodies, which are:
Karana sharira (Causal body),
Sukshma sarira (Subtle body) ...
- 4,236
58
votes
12
answers
51k
views
Why is Shiva primarily worshipped in a linga form?
In Hindu temples, the statues of the deities are present in the sanctum. But in (most) Shiva temples, only a linga is present instead of a Shiva statue. The linga worship seems to be limited only to ...
- 3,373
97
votes
21
answers
47k
views
Why can we eat 'living' plants but not 'living' animals?
I attended a session of a priest. He described how eating non-veg food is disfavoured in Hinduism. He told us that a verse of Bhagavad-Gita says that eating non-veg food is evil.
Priest: If you eat ...
- 4,326
27
votes
3
answers
14k
views
How to read Hindu Scriptures.?
Ok, I understand there are lot of Hindu scriptures.
How to read them?
I wish to read them for.:
meditation
to gain wisdom/knowledge
raise positive vibrational energy
but most importantly break out ...
- 1,549
38
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Did the Mahabharata and the Ramayana happen in the current Yuga cycle in the current Manvantara?
The Mahabharata war has been given a date of around 3300 BC by back-tracing planetary positions from scriptural references (archeo-astronomy). The Ramayana is speculated to be anywhere between a few ...
- 3,724
29
votes
5
answers
39k
views
What were the previous births of the characters of Mahabharata?
There is a very interesting story about Karna being an Asura named as Dambhodbhava.
Quora: Who was Karna in his previous birth?. Arjuna-Krishna being Nara-Narayana kids, who fought with Dambhodbhava.
...
- 19.6k
41
votes
9
answers
11k
views
Is Moksha a permanent state?
In Bhagavat Geeta (Chapter 9 Verse 7), it is said that the Jeevas are created at the start of Kalpa, and this cycle keeps on repeating for-ever. This implies that the Mukti or Moksha is not a ...
- 1,883
28
votes
4
answers
42k
views
Complete English translations of Puranas
Some English translations of Puranas can be found online here:
Vishnu purana
(a) Garuda purana (abridged)
(b) Garuda purana (full)
Bagavata Purana
(a) Shiva Purana (b) Online proofread edition
Linga ...
- 30.9k
19
votes
3
answers
13k
views
What is chronological timeline (in Manvantara and Mahayuga) of Lord Vishnu incarnations/avatar?
Please tell me chronological timeline (in Manvantara and Mahayuga) of Lord Vishnu's various incarnations.
- 365
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Was the Purva mimansa an atheist school?
Why purva mimansa school did not believe in existence of vedic gods but were strict believers of Vedas?
- 10.4k
56
votes
6
answers
138k
views
What exactly happens at end of Kali Yuga? Will the world be destroyed?
I heard that at the end of the Kali Yuga, the world will be destroyed.
What does this mean?
Will the Earth be destroyed or will the entire Universe be destroyed?
Can someone throw light on this?
- 1,516
29
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How the universe was created?
I always think what was the start.
How it started?
Who was the creator?
Who created god?
Who created the creator?
Where did the solid material, to create planets, came from?
Can anybody explain me ...
- 291
23
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Is there any scripture that tells story about Lord Vishnu and MahaVishnu?
As per the Shiva Purana, there is a main God Shiva who is Nirakara and thereafter his physical manifestation who is known as Shankara. I know that different Hindu texts about different Gods treat ...
- 10k
41
votes
7
answers
8k
views
What is the origin of the word "Hindu"?
It is a fact that the term "Hindu" derives from the river "Sindh". But most of Hinduism's tenets and teachings derive from the Vedas. Why wasn't it named after the Vedas, but it's rather given a name ...
- 3,332
29
votes
6
answers
40k
views
Is it true that one can not convert to Hinduism from any other religion or vice versa?
One of my friends told me that you are either born as a Hindu or not: You cannot convert from any other religion to Hinduism or the other way round. Is something of that sort mentioned in the Vedas or ...
- 968
65
votes
5
answers
19k
views
What is the significance of ॐ (Om/Aum)?
Every mantra begins with the word ॐ (Aum/Om). (Ex. Aum Namho Bhagwate Vasudevaya Namah etc.)
ॐ itself is considered a mantra in Ayurveda.
My Questions:
What is the meaning of ॐ?
Why is it given the ...
- 4,326
32
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Repetition of Time and Yugas in Hinduism
The following is the time span of yugas. Now we are in kaliyuga.
Will these yugas repeat?
If the same yugas repeat, then what about the incidents happening in the universe? Will they also repeat? E....
- 31k
24
votes
9
answers
5k
views
What is the purpose of the caste system? How has it changed?
I understand there is a caste system on the basis of occupation. What is the reason for having such a classification system?
Has the original concept stayed the same or has it evolved over time (if ...
- 727
21
votes
5
answers
43k
views
What is difference between Aatma, Jeevatma and Paramatma?
Jivatma – Soul
Atma– Self
Paramatma - God
Jivatma is the individual, and Atma and Paramatma are Universal.
What is difference between Aatma, Jeevatma and Paramatma?
- 2,483
20
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Why are brahmins represented by names of Vedas?
Why are brahmins represented by names of Vedas?
For example, a person x is a brahmin of some y class (Kanyakubja/ Kokanstha/Deshastha etc.) Then person x will be introduced or called as x person is a ...
- 10.4k
17
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Difference between Smartas and Advaitins?
What is the difference between a Smarta and an Advaitin? Both are the followers of Adi Sankaracharya only.
People who worship Lord Shiva are called Shaivite and those who worship Lord Vishnu are ...
- 4,277
15
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What is Shakti Visishtadvaita philosophy?
Does any one know what this(Shakti Visishtadvaita) philosophy is all about? I know what are dvaita, advaita philosophies but this is new one.
- 265
13
votes
6
answers
9k
views
What is the duration (Timeline) of the four "Yugas"?
What is the duration (timeline) of the four Yugas in Hindu cosmology?
- 183
11
votes
3
answers
758
views
Looking to learn about Hinduism?
I'm an American and a Christian, and I don't know a lot about it but I think Hinduism just seems really beautiful and intriguing. I've heard of Hindu Atheists and one person told me it's more a way of ...
- 111
23
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Dvaita vs Advaita vs Vishistadvaita vs Shuddhadvaita vs any other
I hear these terms Dvaita, Advaita, Vishistadvaita, Shuddhadvaita, and may be any other XYZdvaita, etc in most of the questions but I am not very sure what do they refer to. Are these some communities ...
- 10k
13
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Did Tamil Vaishnavites (Iyengars) descend from Shaivites (Iyers)?
Wikipedia article on Iyer has a passage without citations which says:
The title 'Iyer' was used as a designation for all Tamil Smartha
Brahmins during the medieval period, during which they were ...
- 6,902
51
votes
6
answers
210k
views
What does Hinduism say about masturbation?
Semitic religions such as Islam and Christianity consider masturbation to be a sin. What about Hinduism? Please give some authentic quotes for the answers.
- 8,053
25
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What are the Agama scriptures? Are they related to Shruti/Vedas?
I know that Hindu scriptures classified as Shruti and Smriti but don't know much about Aagama.
I would like to know about Agama Scripture:
What are the Agama Scriptures?
Are they related to Vedas?
...
- 25.7k
21
votes
7
answers
50k
views
What is difference between Shruti and Smriti?
The Hindu texts are classified in Shruti (श्रुति) and Smriti (स्मृति). I want to know:
What is the difference between Shruti and Smriti?
What scriptures are included in Shruti & in Smriti?
- 25.7k
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Should a Brahmin be vegetarian?
Is there something in scriptures which compels a Brahmin to be a pure vegetarian or can he eat non-vegetarian food if his health forces him to do so?
- 1,041
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What are Five Layers (Pancha Kosha) of Human?
While going through I found scriptures depicting about Pancha Kosha, suggesting the Atman is not just inside the physical body but is actually wrapped up in these Five Kosha.
What are these Pancha ...
- 3,417
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Converting to Hinduism and Caste
I have read that people who convert to Hinduism do not belong to any specific caste.
If the concept of no caste (or Jati, Varna) exists, and we are willing to allow people to be free of the caste ...
- 435
10
votes
2
answers
103k
views
Death in family - does a marriage need to be postponed?
I recently had a death in the family. My paternal grandmother (father's side) died at the ripe old age of 87 after a short battle with cancer. We are Hindu/Iyengaars. I am supposed to marry my fiance (...
- 201
9
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Whose commentaries on the Vedas and Upanishads are most followed?
There are many people who write commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita etc. Whose commentaries is most followed.
Also where can I get all of those Upanishads and Vedas in English? ...
- 4,277
24
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Can a Sudra become a Brahmin in 'this' birth?
Scriptures have remedy for everything. Various mantras various austerities can give us miraculous position. For eg. It is possible to become Indra (who is King of Heaven) by performing 100 Ashwamedha ...
- 47.3k
17
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Which shloka or scripture states that there are 33 crores of Hindu gods?
Please mention the shloka that explicitly states that there are 33 crores of Hindu Gods.
Please do not quote Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, because I think it just states that there are 33 gods. Not 33 ...
- 365
17
votes
4
answers
29k
views
What to do when a self-imposed vow is broken? Is there a punishment?
What to do when a vow of controlled (self-imposed) brahmacharya has been broken? The vow is not actually a vow of celibacy (as in the case of a Sannyasin). Here the aspirant controlled himself by this ...
- 171
16
votes
5
answers
859
views
What are the steps for a person to take if he/she wants to convert to Hinduism?
What are the steps to take if a person wants to convert to Hinduism?
Is it possible for anyone to convert to Hinduism?
- 8,053
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What are the Vedas technically? How can Upanishads be called Vedas when some parts are neither revelations nor hymns dedicated to any specific deity?
It is believed that the Vedas are the revelations from the Almighty to the seers in exalted states of consciousness.
Further, it is also believed that the Vedas are authorless.
Keeping these ...
- 19k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the Life span of the Hindu Gods.?
I have seen an article at the following url it says all god have live span including Vishnu, Shiva and Par Brahm (Akshar Purush).
Is there any evidence in Hindu books that Shiva and Vishnu also go ...
- 535
42
votes
6
answers
44k
views
Did Ramayana occur 1.6 million years ago? [closed]
Many Western scholars and Indian scholars with Western mindset tried to fix the age of Srimad Ramayana, to approximately the 5th to 4th century BC. And, they succeeded to some extent in making ...
- 17.1k
26
votes
6
answers
119k
views
What were the ages of Pandavas & other characters during the Mahabharata war?
I have not found any specific reference to the age of each of the Pandavas, like Arjuna and Bheema when they fought the epic Mahabharata battle.
It will be also interesting to know the age of Bhishma ...
- 3,501
25
votes
4
answers
8k
views
What is the life cycle of a soul (atma) in Hinduism?
I am confused about the life cycle in Hinduism.
What is the starting point of a soul?
Yes, a soul exchanges bodies, but when does a soul take birth and how will fate be written to it (as it has no ...
- 1,547