18
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of Raksha Bandhan?
Raksha Bandhan was originally not a brother sister festival. It has its origins in a rite known as Vedopakarma (the beginning of Vedic Studies).
Chapter 124(pg 28) of Narada Purana Vol 4 gives a ...
- 4,430
15
votes
Accepted
Is there any mention or description of Karwachauth in Hindu scriptures?
Yes.
The Narada Purana (Part IV) has an entire section dedicated to performance on vratas on different tithis.
In the section of different vratas to be performed on the Chathurti Tithis, there is a ...
- 4,430
14
votes
How do Hindus celebrate birthday?
How do Hindus celebrate birthdays generally?
I think this is an opinion-based question. Most Hindu families living in urban areas these days have lost track of their roots and tradition on how to ...
- 30.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Why do Hindu festivals fall on different dates every year?
They do not fall on different dates. It appears as falling on different dates only if we are not following the Hindu calendar.
How festivals are determined?
They are determined by Hindu months and ...
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8
votes
What is the significance of flowers in Hinduism?
In Bhavanopanishat we find some beautiful philosophical symbolism explaining the actual significances of worshiping Gods with the Shodasa Upacharas.
The explanations are given in the context of ...
- 111k
7
votes
Why does Makar Sankranti follow English calendar?
A simple logic:
Who gave English Calendar to Bhishma Pitamaha to leave his body on Makara Sankranti?
Bhishma Pitamaha left his body on the day of Makara Sankranti. He wishfully remained alive up to ...
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7
votes
Why do we celebrate Maha shivratri festival?
Mahashivaratri (Great night of Lord Shiva) is the night when Lord Shiva appeared as Linga to stop conflict of Vishnu and Brahma. Chapter 7 and 8 of Vidyeswara Samhita of Shiva Mahapurana describes ...
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7
votes
Accepted
What is the importance and concept behind Masik Shivratri?
A description and importance of monthly Shivaratri and its significance is provided in Skanda Purana - Book 1 - Maheshwarkanda - Section 1 - Kedarkanda - Chapter 33 - Greatness Of Shiva Ratri Vrata. ...
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6
votes
Accepted
What is the significance of designing the courtyard?
I'm adding the scriptural reference for "Rangoli" which is missing in the other answer.The answer is correct nonetheless.
Maharshi Veda Vyasa instructed as follows-
Krutvaa mandalakam Braahme ...
- 111k
6
votes
Who was Chhati Maiya?
The origins of this festival are not clear but it seems to be related to the Surya Upasana that the eldest Pandav Yuddhishthir performed. The Section 3 of the Aranyaka Parva of the Mahabharat mentions ...
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6
votes
Accepted
Do people from Karnataka celebrate uttarayan festival?
Yes. They do celebrate the festival Uttarayan but the name is different. In fact, this festival is celebrated all over India but the names are different according to the language spoken at that place ...
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6
votes
Accepted
All 108 Names of Maa Durga?
|| durgaa ashTottara shata naamaavalee ||
om shriyai nama:
om umaayai nama:
om bhaaratyai nama:
om bhadraayai nama:
om sharvaaNyai nama:
om vijayaayai nama:
om jayaayai nama:
...
- 19.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Guru Dattatreya Parayan
I have just now downloaded the book Sri Guru Charitra. At the last section, the rules of properly reciting it are given and which are as follows:
Namdharak- "Kindly tell me the procedure of week-...
- 111k
6
votes
Accepted
Bali Padyami vs Onam
Summary:
please read the summary and appreciate the post as the detailed part is too long
As per Śrimad Bhāgavata Purana and ancient records about south India. Onam is Vamana Jayanti and not the ...
- 10.9k
5
votes
Why do we celebrate Maha shivratri festival?
Partial Answer:
We celebrate Shiv Ratri because Lord Shiva himself recommended for sake of grace. Although he recommended even Shivratri which falls every month, he laid importance of Maha Shiva ...
- 15.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Which Hindu scriptures mention Indradwaja or Brahmadwaja?
The mention of such a pole decked with finery and dedicated to Indra comes from the Adivansavatarana Parva of Mahabharata though it doesn't really connect it with Yugadi. However, it does mention it ...
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5
votes
Celebrating festival while menstruation
During courses a woman is considered very "impure"(the degree of impurity is described in one of the verses given below).The Scriptures even say that touching their husbands during those days is an ...
- 111k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the relation of Vasant Panchami with Goddess Saraswati?
Vasant Panchami is the day Magha Shukla Panchami.
From Wikipedia:
Vasant Panchami has a specific meaning: Vasant means "spring" and
Panchami means "the fifth day." Vasant Panchami falls on ...
- 111k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the proper procedure of celebrating new year?
New Year according to the Hindu lunar calendar, falls on Caitra śuklā pratipada.
Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa prescibes the worship Brahmā in the morning on that day after keeping a fast on the previous ...
- 2,074
4
votes
Guru Purnima celebration
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Akhanndda-Mannddala-Akaaram Vyaaptam Yena Cara-Acaram | Tat-Padam
Darshitam Yena Tasmai Shrii-Gurave Namah ||
Meaning: ...
- 31.9k
4
votes
Why does Makar Sankranti follow English calendar?
No, it is not celebrated according to the English calendar.
From the point of view of Jyotisha, Makara Sankranti is celebrate when Surya (Sun) enters Makara Rashi (the zodiac named Capricorn).
As, ...
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4
votes
Why do Bengalis celebrate Kali Puja during Diwali?
Not only Bengali Hindus, but Axomiya, Oriya & Maithil Hindus also do the same, following the Tāntrika injunctions.
कार्तिके कृष्णपक्षे तु पञ्चदश्यां महानिशि । आविर्भूता महाकाली योगिनीकोटिभिः सह ।।...
- 2,074
4
votes
Accepted
Significance of Chaitra Navratri?
Here is a partial answer based on the Devi Bhagavata Purana,BOOK 3 Chapter 26.
Maharshi Vyasa explains the significance of performing the Asvin and Chaitra Navaratris to King Janamejaya :
...
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4
votes
What is Holika Dahan timings?
The muhurat for Holika Dahan generally depends on the tithi. It is not fixed and change every year. For example in 2018, the timings as given by Drik Panchang were between 5:49 and 8:31 pm:
The ...
- 19.2k
4
votes
Which scripture mentions Lord Parshurama was born on Akshaya Tritiya?
Uttarakalamrita mentions that Lord Parshurama was born on Akshaya Tritiya.
The auspicious day known as Tretadi or beginning of the Treta Yuga, or
when the birth of Parasurama is celebrated is the 3rd ...
- 31.4k
4
votes
Which scripture mentions the prohibitions on food consumption in Chaturmas?
Which Shruti/Smruti talks about these food prohibitions in chaturmas?
Well the Skanda Purana does talk about the restrictions on foods. But the kind of month-specific restrictions you are talking ...
- 111k
4
votes
Accepted
staying awake during shivaratri
In Mahashivaratri, the principle rituals like Pujas and fasts are done during night. And, when one is fasting it is obvious that he has to stay awake during that period. So, devotees usually spend the ...
- 111k
4
votes
Scriptural reference for Navadurga
Durga saptshati has multiple mentions of Navdurga.
When Markandeya ji asks for Durga kavach mantra, Brahma ji describes nine form of Durga or Navdurga.
Shailputri / Parvati : fear and sorrow goes ...
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3
votes
Why is there so much diversity b/w north and south and still both hindu
The language Tamil was originally given to the people of the south by Lord Shiva himself and the Sanskrit is 100% preserved in the south and in Thailand as well.
Some of the difference in the north ...
3
votes
Why do we celebrate Maha shivratri festival?
In addition to the stories, there is also deep spiritual significance behind Maha Shivaratri. It is said that this is when Shiva Tattva comes down and touches the Earth:
According to the Shiva ...
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