60
votes
Accepted
Does Hinduism forbid sexual intercourse before marriage?
TL;DR: May or may not be permitted for Kshatriyas, but forbidden for everyone else, and not encouraged for Kshatriyas either.
Technically there is no such thing as premarital intercourse in Hinduism. ...
- 93.6k
23
votes
Is there any significace of twitching of eyes?
Twitching of eyes have great significance in our scriptures. There are various description of auspicious and inauspicious omens in our scriptures and eye twitching is one of them.
Twitching of Sita's ...
- 44.2k
21
votes
Vedas and Vedic dharma on homosexuality
Homosexuality in men is clearly stated as a sin in the Manu Smriti.
मैथुनं तु समासेव्य पुंसि योषिति वा द्विजः ।
गोयानेऽप्सु दिवा चैव सवासाः स्नानमाचरेत् ॥ १७४ ॥
maithunaṃ tu samāsevya ...
- 101k
20
votes
Under which circumstances physical punishment to wife is allowed?
Nothing specific, but Manu Smriti says this:
8.299. A wife, a son, a slave, a pupil, and a (younger) brother of the full blood, who have committed faults, may be beaten with a rope or a
split ...
- 101k
17
votes
Does Hinduism forbid sexual intercourse before marriage?
Yes, Manusmriti forbids sexual intercourse with a virgin girl (without marriage). It consists provisions for the atonement of this sin.
Carnal intercourse with sisters by the same mother, with (...
- 22.3k
17
votes
Accepted
Why is God's name used for people?
One of the primary reasons is the sin destroying effects the Lord's names. The inspiration for doing this can be linked to the story of Ajamila as described in the Bhagavatam:
Ajamila was a pious ...
- 25.8k
16
votes
Why can Garuda Purana be read on specific days only?
No, it's not like that, it can be read on normal days as far as I know. The Garuda Purana has a part known as preta kalpa which describes the journey after death and the related rituals to be done. ...
- 25.8k
16
votes
How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?
The Vedas, in particular, do not have a limited (narrow) vision of patriotism. The Vedas clearly say that we all are the children of Mother Earth. Hence, we should love the whole earth as our ...
- 101k
16
votes
Accepted
Is there any mention of "Scissors" in the Hindu literature?
Scissors symbolises that the Goddess cuts asunder the attachments to
this material worlds, much feared by the spiritual souls.
The first thing we need to verify is whether Goddess TAra is at all ...
- 101k
15
votes
Accepted
Do Hindus intermarry with other religions?
Hinduism/Sanatan Dharam is much older than any other practicing religion that's why there is no literature to inter-marry other religions. This is more like a culture question. Culturally People who ...
- 198
15
votes
Accepted
What is the relationship between Hinduism and atheism?
Atheism is not the pillar of Hinduism, but only a part of Hinduism. Moreover, the term nastika (atheist) means different in Hinduism than its usual meaning. Generally atheist means a person who doesn'...
- 25.8k
15
votes
Accepted
Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?
No. A married woman is not allowed to remove mangal sutra for the sake of convenience.
As you have said in the question, we see many people who do not wear mangal sutra to offices and to some social ...
- 25k
14
votes
Why Hindus wear red tilak and sandal wood tilak on foreheads?
One of the most visible external symbols of Hindu identity is the mark that many of us wear on our forehead. Origin of this practice is unclear. But, in ancient times, when the Varna system ...
- 3,205
14
votes
Why are Gods and Yogis shown sitting on animals skins?
From mahashivratri.org
Lord Shiva is shown sitting on or wearing a tiger skin. The tiger is
the vehicle of Shakti, the Goddess of power and force. Shiva is beyond
and above any kind of force. ...
- 6,337
14
votes
Accepted
Why do Hindus bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?
King Bhagirath did Tapas to bring the Holy Ganga to earth in order to wash the ashes of his forefathers and free them from sin. Bhagirath's wish was granted and Ganga was released from the Heavens to ...
- 3,205
14
votes
Is organ donation allowed? Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice?
I believe, organ donation is not a bad practice. Its a religion of Humanity where we can help someone even after your death. Its one way you can help someone after your death. As per my knowledge ...
- 296
13
votes
Does Hinduism forbid sexual intercourse before marriage?
Apart from the verse found in Triyugi Narayan Mani's answer above there is another verse in the Manu Smriti that clearly condemns pre-marital sex.
It is said that only virgins are fit for marriages:
...
- 101k
13
votes
Accepted
Why do Hindus feed milk to snakes?
There are many folk tale behind the drinking of the milk, the famous one is :-;
A tale of a farmer living in a village. He had two sons and one of
whom killed three snakes during ploughing ...
- 6,761
13
votes
Should we chant mantras before eating food?
We do have a "bhojan mantra" which we should chant before eating food:
ओम् यन्तु नदयोः वर्षन्तु पर्जंया सुपिप्पला ओषधयोः भवन्तुः ।
अन्नवताम् ओदनवताम् मामिक्षवताम् एशाम् राजा भूयासन् ।।
...
- 233
13
votes
Accepted
Are we encouraged to become a brahmin?
Based on the nature a person has acquired from material modes; he can be classified to be belonging to one of the varnas.
There are 4 varnas Viz. Brahmin,Kshatriya,Vaishya and Shudra.
The ...
- 2,581
13
votes
Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?
This is to supplement Sree Charan's correct answer with quotes from Shastras.
The Manu Smriti says that there is no Vedic sacrament for women.But what is Vedic sacrament for men the nuptial (wedding) ...
- 101k
13
votes
Why is Lord Hanuman also referred as "Bajaranga Bali"?
Hanuman is very well known for his physical strength. The name Bajrang is acquired by Him due to this reason. There are numerous references to this strength in Valmiki Ramayana. Bajra is a cultural ...
- 25k
12
votes
Why do Hindus feed milk to snakes?
Varaha Purana suggests to bathe the images of Naga in milk on Naga Panchami and it doesn't mention anything about feeding milk to snakes.
If one remains austere on that day, give us all that is sour ...
- 29.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Why is Ganga considered sacred? Why do so many devotees worship this river?
As per the scripture, river Ganga is considered sacred because it has arisen from the feet of Vishnu and destroys the sins of a person:
caraṇābjasamudbhutā gaṃgā nameti viśrutā
pāpāanāṃ ...
- 25.8k
12
votes
Accepted
Why bengali brahmins are non-vegetarians?
Not all Bengali Brahmins eat fish. Vaidikas, who migrated from Kannauj, follow the same dietary rules as Brahmins in the rest of the country.
The reason for the relaxation of rules among the ...
- 1,183
12
votes
Why are women advised to tie their hair in temples?
Setting your hair loose is not suggested not only when you visit temples but also when you are at home. Setting your hair loose is an indication of sorrow, grief, inauspicious things poverty and sins. ...
- 25k
12
votes
How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?
In Hinduism, Earth and Bharatvarsh is considered as mother. And, in general, everyone love their mother.
Vishnu Purana says:
उत्तरम् यत् समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रे: चैव दक्षिणम्।
वर्षम् तद् भारतम् नाम भारती ...
- 22.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Why is Lord Hanuman also referred as "Bajaranga Bali"?
I read this and to me makes sense.
Hanuman is called Bajrang Bali. I tried to understand why he was so
called. This name is being used mostly in Northern India and less in
Southern India, indicating ...
- 8,482
12
votes
Is there a scriptural basis for Out-of-India hypothesis?
Why this is only unacceptable to Hindus.
No not only to the Hindus but it is well known in rest of the world that Aryan Invasion Theory is wrong.
It looks like you are more impressed with the 120 ...
- 30.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible