31
votes
Accepted
What is the Vedic Origin of Lord Shiva?
I think you are going through some western speculations. But whether there was Shaivism in a certain place doesn't matter at all. It's because Vedas are revealed scriptures and it's mantras are heard ...
- 48k
27
votes
Accepted
What is the shape of Earth according to Hindu scriptures?
In the Aitareya Brahmana of RigVeda 3.44
“The Sun does never set nor rise. When people think the Sun is setting (it is not so). For after having arrived at the end of the day it makes itself ...
- 48k
24
votes
Accepted
Can a Sudra become a Brahmin in 'this' birth?
Yes, it is possible through the power of Panchakshari Mantra. As already discussed in question Mantras can have wonderful powers. Similarly through the power of Panchakshara Mantra even a Shudra can ...
- 48k
24
votes
Was Adi Shankaracharya a Shaiva or a Vaishnava? What were his views on Shiva and Vishnu?
Shankaras Advaita is called Kevala Advaita ie. Only Advaita; there is no duality at all and any duality that is perceived is just due to ignorance. Here are some features of Shankara's philosophy:
1) ...
- 48k
21
votes
Is there anything against Islam in Hindu texts?
The Vedas are from about 1500 to 500 BCE. Islam is from the 7th century CE. Hence there is no mention of Islam in the Vedas.
Reference added.
However, it is known from internal evidence that the ...
- 1,650
20
votes
Accepted
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
First we should know our body is not just physical body, but has five sheaths (Pancha Kosha). What we see externally is Annamaya Kosha (food sheath). After death we shed Annamaya kosha and jiva with ...
- 31k
17
votes
Accepted
How much earth year passes in 1 second of Brahmaloka?
1 kalpa is equal to 1000 Chaturyugas..1 Day of Brahma Loka is 1 Kalpa
1 Chaturyuga = 12000 deva years
■ 1 kalpa = 12000000 deva years
■ 12 hour of Brahmaloka= 12000000deva years
■ 1 hour of ...
- 48k
17
votes
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
By practicing Yoga and pranayama (control of prana vayu) a Yogi can float in the air, walk in air. This is called Vayu-Siddhi or mastery over air. It can be achieved in the third stage of pranayama ...
- 111k
17
votes
Accepted
What are the eight forms (Ashtamurti) of Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva forms the basis of creation of everything and it is also represented by his AshtaMurti or Eight Fold forms.
1) AshtaMurti in Vedas:
RigVeda states Lord Shiva as 'Pururupa' or &...
- 48k
17
votes
Accepted
Why Gayatri mantra is widely recited by non-bramhins nowadays which was once the stronghold of only the brahmins?
gAyatri mantra HAS TO BE recited by non brahmins also, Kshatriyas and vysyas too have right for vedic initiation/upanayana.
Secondly women too have right to study and chant vedas and conduct vedic ...
- 19.1k
16
votes
Accepted
Did Lord Rama reach Ayodhya after 20 days from Dusherra?
I do not know how the story of Rama killing Ravana on Vijaya Dashami and returning on Deepawali became famous.
If we go through Valmiki Ramayana. It doesn't give precise information on time ...
- 48k
16
votes
Accepted
Was Adi Shankaracharya’s Parakaya Pravesha to learn Kamashastra Dharmic?
Renowned Advaitin Sri Vidyarana Swami had written a biography of Sri Adi Shankara. And this instance is also recorded in it.
Canto 9 of Madhaviya Shankara Digvijaya records this incident. Shankara ...
- 48k
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 ...
- 111k
15
votes
Accepted
Where does Rig Veda states about Cyclical Nature of Creation?
10.190 is the Hymn to the creation in Rig Veda. In it's third verse it states sun and moon were created like that of previous creation.
सूरय्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथा पूर्वमकल्पयत् I
दिवं च पृथ्वी...
- 48k
14
votes
Accepted
Is there anything against Islam in Hindu texts?
Hindu scriptures long predate the rise of Islam. I would say that Hindu-Muslim relationship has been bad for many centuries. The 1202 storm campaign of Muhammad Ghori resulted in the destruction of ...
- 35.8k
14
votes
Accepted
How do the Vedas survive during the dissolution of the Universe?
During the time of dissolution Lord Shiva doesn't destroys the Vedas because they enter the Panchakshari Mantra (Nama Shivaya) and thus Lord Shiva graces on them.
In the Linga Purana Chapter 85 &...
- 48k
14
votes
Can a Sudra become a Brahmin in 'this' birth?
By Deeksha also (Guru Deeksha i mean) a Sudra can get rid of his Sudratva.
Gatam Sudrasya sudratvam ViprashyApi cha VipratA||
DeekshasamskAraSampanne JAtibhedo Na Vidyate ||
After Deeksha ...
- 111k
14
votes
When did Vaishnavites start wearing Urdhva Pundram?
The Urdhvapundra has been worn from ancient times (pre-Ramanuja). The Pancharatra, Puranas and Smritis glorify the Urdhvapundra worn with white clay and gopi-chandana.
In the Sri Vaishnava Guru ...
- 3,585
14
votes
What Hinduism verse is similar to the following Christianity verse?
Mahabharata Shanti Parva 167:9
तस्माद्धर्मप्रधानेन भवितव्यं यतात्मना ।
तथा च सर्वभूतेषु वर्तितव्यं यथात्मनि ॥
Hence, by self-control and by making dharma your main
focus, treat others as you treat ...
- 8,001
14
votes
Are there any scriptures available (or mention) that are related to GyanVapi mandir?
Description of Jñānavāpī (Gyanvapi) or Jñānodatīrtha, and its mahatmya is extensively mentioned in many chapters of Kāśī Khanda of Skanda Purana.
In one of the early Satya Yugas, Īśāna was roaming on ...
- 31k
13
votes
Accepted
How Rudra became Shiva in Vedas?
Yes, one of such instance is found in 2.100 of Katha Aranyaka of Krishna YajurVeda. There the Devas couldn't recognize the Rudra wandering in lusture. There he displays his five attributes ...
- 48k
13
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 ...
- 31.9k
13
votes
Did Max Müller actually distort Hindu scriptures in his translations?
As per Rajiv Malhotra, Max Muller played double game. Although he tentatively proposed some (strange) theories, Rajiv Malhotra says later scholars used his speculations and solidified concept of Arya ...
- 31k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the story of KumbhaKarna's death?
Yes, It is true that those arrows which killed Vali also couldn't do any harm to Kumbhakarna. Here is how Valmiki Ramayana describes Kumbhakarnas Death::
दर्शयेक्ष्वाकुशार्दूल वीर्यम् गात्रेषु मे ...
- 48k
12
votes
Accepted
Why is Shiva called "Bholenath", Bhootnath, Amarnath, Kedarnath, Omakara etc.?
1) Kedarnath:
As discussed in answer here Kedara is name of mountain and when Lord Shiva got established there he came to be known as Kedarnath:
नरनारायणावूचतुः
यदि प्रसन्नेो देवेश ! यदि देयो ...
- 48k
12
votes
Accepted
Is Mahabharata the longest poem of the world?
Actually, the Sarala Mahabharata has 152,000 individual verses:
not an exact translation from the Sanskrit original, but a full-blown independent work. Sarala Mahabharat has 152,000 verses compared ...
- 3,337
12
votes
Accepted
What is the date of Adi Shankara, 8th century AD or 400 BC?
Summary: Adi Shankaracharya belonged to the 5th century BC only and this has been corroborated by various authentic records. As discussed here, the person dated to the 8th century is Abhinava Shankara....
- 10.9k
11
votes
Accepted
Why did Sri Ramanuja refuse to hail Shiva? What was the need to prove that Vishnu is the one true God?
Ramanujacharya was not being asked to worship Shiva. Now if he had been asked to do that, he might well have refused; as discussed in this answer Sri Vaishnavas who have performed Sharanagati often ...
- 96.9k
11
votes
Why did rAmAnuja abandon his first guru?
Ramanujacharya did not abandon his Guru Yadava Prakasha. Yadava Prakasha himself ordered to leave the school. So, he was following the command of his teacher.
Let's see what happened.
Hearing that his ...
- 25.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible