19
votes
What is the truth behind the practice of Sati? How is it related to Hinduism?
The "Sati Pratha" has been praised in Hindu Shastras but it is voluntary, not mandatory.
So,it is upto the wives to decide and can't be enforced upon them as a "Sastra Vachan"(a ...
- 112k
17
votes
How do you know death is near for a person as per scriptures? Is there any reference?
Some signs, which foretell that death is nearing, are given in this Linga PurAna chapter:
Suta Maha Muni indicated certain premonitions of untoward tidings and
of death when human beings ought to ...
- 112k
14
votes
Accepted
How do the departed souls get the food given by their siblings?
Summary- Though the gross offerings remain here, the essence of these offerings is delivered to the departed ancestors. The ones who carry the offering to them are called the Pitr devatas and the ...
- 11.1k
12
votes
Accepted
If soul gets rebirth into another body, will pinda pradanam and shraddha rituals reach that soul?
The same question was asked to Sri Swami Sivananda. He answers this question in his book "May I Answer That?"
267. When the Jiva undergoes transmigration and takes another birth after ...
- 31.5k
12
votes
How do you know death is near for a person as per scriptures? Is there any reference?
Some signs, which foretell that death is nearing, are given in
43rd chapter of Markandeya Purana (Sanskrit shlokas and Hindi Translation)
19th chapter of Vayu Purana (Sanskrit shlokas and Hindi ...
- 24.6k
11
votes
Why do Hindus believe in cremation instead of burial?
why-do-hindus-believe-in-cremation-instead-of-burial ?
One of the reasons and explanations why Hindus believe cremation of the dead is also given in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Adhyaya 5 - Brahmana ...
- 32.2k
11
votes
Why do we bury dead body of a Sannyasi rather than burn it?
For the Sannyasis, there is an explanation given in the so-called Sannyasa Upanishads, which are all minor Upanishads.
I am quoting from the Paingala Upanishad that is linked with the Shukla ...
- 112k
10
votes
Accepted
How did Arjuna die in Mahabharata?
Arjuna died twice. Let me address each of the three stories you mentioned:
During the end of their time in the forest, all the Pandavas except Yudhishthira temporarily died after drinking water from ...
- 98.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Is Chitragupt of Yamlok mentioned in any scriptures?
Is there a real character called Chitragupta?
"Brahman said, 'O highly blessed
one, excellent is the duty that thou
hast enunciated, together with its
secret ritual. Praise be to thee! I
...
- 3,959
10
votes
Accepted
What can one do to enjoy death or the dying process?
How can someone(the one who is dying) enjoy his death moment?
Yes, one can also even enjoy his death hours or last days or death moment, not by doing things pleasurable to him. But through Gyana or ...
- 32.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Do all Non-Hindus remain as Pretas after death?
Usana Smriti's Chapter 7 has the following verse:
It is laid down that Sapindikaran, S'raddha should be preceeded by the
Daiva, (i.e., offerings made to the Deities). There one should invite
the ...
- 112k
9
votes
Accepted
Did Vivekananda prophesy he would die before the age of 40? Why didn't he prolong his life through yoga?
Yes it is quite well-known that he did. You can find it being mentioned in this PDF (Swami Vivekananda - A
Biography by Swami
Nikhilananda), on pp 190.
At the end of an hour his hands trembled a ...
- 112k
9
votes
How exactly did Swami Vivekananda die?
There is a detailed chronology of the last day of Swami Vivekananda in the Bengali Best Seller 'Achena Ajana Vivekananda' by Sankar.
9:00 pm: The Swami was lying face up.He turned on his left side. ...
- 37.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Cremation rituals for cows after death?
I am not sure how you got the idea that a cow should be cremated. To be frank I have never found (so far) a reference which says that a cow should be cremated or even buried. So, there seems to be a ...
- 112k
8
votes
Is organ donation allowed? Have any Hindu acharyas commented on this practice?
I am posting an excerpt from Mahabharata that supports organ donation:
The Deities said,-…The Asuras are being aggrandised, while we are
being weakened. It behoveth thee, therefore, to ordain ...
- 37.6k
8
votes
Why man is mortal irrespective of good or bad activity?
Why is man mortal?
We are not mortal. In fact no living being in true sense is mortal. it is only owing to our ignorance that we think that we are being born, growing, dying etc.
in Bhagavad Geeta ...
- 2,796
8
votes
Is Chitragupt of Yamlok mentioned in any scriptures?
Yes he is mentioned in many Puranas (like Agni, Varaha, Devi Bhagavata etc) as the accountant of Yama - the God of death. Whenever, Yama is mentioned, Chitragupta is also mentioned along with.
From ...
- 112k
8
votes
Accepted
How do Spiritual Masters,Yogis Avatars and Demons transcend the veil of death and appear in the here and now?
By the power of Yoga, a Yogi can transcend birth and death. He is then like the Jivanmukta (liberated while living).
It is not necessary for him to take birth then but if he chooses to do so he can ...
- 112k
8
votes
Is this true that a person who dies in Kashi never gets reborn?
Yes, that's true as per the Puranas and that's what the Hindu belief is. That's why many Bengalis used to build additional homes in Kashi so that they can pass their last days in Kashi. And, that's ...
- 112k
7
votes
Accepted
Does the soul remain at home for 10 days after death?
Yes, It does. It has been explicitly stated in Preta Khanda Chapter 15, Verse 72 of Garuda Purana
देहं प्राप्तः क्षुधाविष्टो गृहे द्वारे च तिष्ठति । दशमेऽहनि यः
पिण्डस्तं दद्यादामिषेण तु ॥
...
- 3,577
7
votes
What is "Moksha" in Hinduism?
To understand the Moksha, one should first understand the concept of Samsara and life cycle of soul. Samsara means cycle of repetitive birth-rebirth. Jiva gets birth according to his past Karma, then ...
- 26.2k
7
votes
Karma & Rebirth: If you're too attached to your pet and are reborn as that pet, what happens to your karma?
Was it merely written to convey a message? Yes I think so and its seems “The story seems to suggest that your final thoughts play such a crucial role that nothing else matters. “ is also right. The ...
- 32.2k
7
votes
Punishment in garuda-purana
Committing suicide is not recommended in Garuda Purana.
Suicide leads to a lower birth and a person has to suffer from ghosthood after death. No sraddha or water oblations are made to a person that ...
- 4,500
7
votes
Accepted
What are the effects if rituals after death are not performed at all?
If Shraddhas are not done, then the deceased persons receive Pretatva or Preta-hood. That is they attain ghost like state of beings. Then, they will not be able to move to the Pitruloka and will be ...
- 112k
7
votes
What can one do to enjoy death or the dying process?
The simplest and most effective way to do this is to chant the name of the deity you admire or adore the most be it Vishnu, Shiva or Krishna or any other. Quoting from Elevation at Death
When we ...
- 8,928
7
votes
Accepted
What happened to Ravana's body after his death?
False.
The antim samskara (funeral rites) of Ravana's body was performed by Vibishana.
After the death of Ravana in war with Rama. Rama asks Vibishana to perform funeral rites to Ravana's body
In ...
- 31.9k
7
votes
Accepted
The husband of my father's own sister has passed away. Does this mean me and family gets sutak?
As per the definition of Sapinda relation explained here, the husband of the paternal aunt does not fit in that definition. He is instead categorised as a Yoni sambandha (I.e. your relation to him ...
- 11.1k
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