19
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What is the source of this famous verse?
The śloka appears to be from the end of Viṣṇusahasranāma belonging to a recension of the Mahābhārata that did not make it to the BORI critical edition:
13,135.142d*0637_06 rudra uvāca
...
19
votes
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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 ...
17
votes
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Any other slokas suggesting drinking of cow urine
There are numerous such verses in the Smritis. Consuming Panchagavyas (the five products obtained from a cow) is considered as an effective sin-cleansing remedy for a variety of sins.
Here are a few ...
15
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Do any verses in the Vedas declare Agni to be the Highest Brahman?
There are Plenty of verses. I'm just selecting a few of them from RigVeda.
“त्वमघ्न इन्द्रो वृषभः सतामसि त्वं विष्णुरुरुघायो नमस्यः
त्वं ब्रह्मा रयिविद् ब्रह्मणस् पते त्वं विधर्तःसचसे ...
14
votes
Which shloka or scripture states that there are 33 crores of Hindu gods?
I think the Vedas simply mention that the principle (or types of) Deities are 33 in number and not 33 crores.
The confusion I think arises while translating the word "koti" which can mean ...
14
votes
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What's the meaning & relevance of LIC logo "yogakshemam vahamyaham"?
Q. What's the source and meaning of this verse?
Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the source of this verse:
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।9.22।।
And ...
14
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Are there any scriptures that portray Lord Rama to be the source of all incarnations including Lord Vishnu?
Yes there are verses in scriptures which Declare Lord Rama as source of all Incartions.
Salutations to that Rama who is most superior, the primal Lord of Universe and free from all the vices. Brahma, ...
14
votes
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Vishnu's avataras
Figure C is Parashurama. I got a clearer image of the same statue. We can see an axe in the hands if we zoom closer. That is between him and D.
Figure A is Kala Bhairava. He is four armed. He holds a ...
Community wiki
14
votes
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Where is this verse from in the Vedas about the Manusmriti?
Krishna Yajurveda ➡ Taittariya Samhita : 2.2.10.2
Quoting Sanskrit text from Wikisource: Taittariya Samhita, Adhyaya-2, Prapathaka-2, Anuvaka-10, 2nd Mantra:
VERSE: 2
वै तिष्यः सोमः पूर्णमासः साक्षा...
14
votes
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In the painting shown who is the person standing on stairs in front of the throne?
It is Vayu Deva (Wind god).
The image depicts the coronation of Lord Rama after he has returned from the exile. I found the full image on the internet.
This image is almost accurate in depicting the ...
13
votes
Where is it written that Kshatriyas are eligible to eat meat?
The Smritis do not allow any of the twice borns to eat meat that is not first offered to Gods or Manes in sacrifice.
Manu Smriti 5.31. ’The consumption of meat (is befitting) for sacrifices,’that ...
13
votes
Accepted
In which scripture originally 'ahiṃsā sarvathā sarvadā sarvabhutānāḥ manabhīdroha' sentence was written?
Vyasa Bhashya of Patanjali Yoga Sutras has this verse. Vyasa Muni starts commentary on Sutra 30 of Sadhana Padha with this sentence.
अहिंसासयास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः ॥ ३० ॥ (Sutra)
तत्राहिंसा ...
12
votes
Origin of कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः (karaagre vasate lakshmi)
The sloka is originally from the Vishnu Purana.However,the version given in that Purana differs slightly from those given in the question.
The Vishnu Purana version states:
Karaagre Vasate ...
11
votes
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Looking for Sri Kalki's stotram to Lord Shiva in Sanskrit
Chapter 3 of Kalki Purana (unabridged version) has this sloka. Here is complete sloka (from verse 14 to verse 20) in Devanagari and IAST.
Sanskrit verses taken from here. You can also read complete ...
11
votes
Accepted
Do any scriptures describe fish to be vegetarian/Sattvic?
On the contrary, eating fish is specially not recommended for the following reason:
Manu Smriti 5.15. He who eats the flesh of any (animal) is called the eater of the flesh of that (particular ...
11
votes
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Did Vivekananda say "God does not create man in his image; man creates God in his image"?
The most relevant quote I find similar to that:
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Lectures and Discourses/One Existence Appearing as Many:
God Himself is your image. "God created ...
11
votes
Accepted
Who is this Devi?
She is Sri Saradamba of Sringeri.
Dhyana Sloka of Saradamba: (which resembles Dhyana Sloka of Dakshinamurthy as Saradamba is feminine form of Dakshinamurthy)
मुद्रामक्षगुणं सुधाढ्यकलशं विद्यां च ...
10
votes
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Mythological character in the Hindu newspaper logo
Kamadhenu is also represented with wings. From Wikipedia:
Another representation of Kamadhenu shows her with the body of a white Zebu cow, crowned woman's head, colourful eagle wings and a peacock'...
10
votes
Accepted
In what text(s) is the Naga gayatri mantra found?
I just found that mantra in Patha Bheda of First Anuvaka of Mahanarayana Upanishad. Mahanarayana Upanishad contains some Gayatri Mantras and it looks like some variants/lections include this mantra as ...
10
votes
Accepted
Did Lahiri Mahasaya defeat Swami Dayanand Saraswati in a debate in Kashi?
Arya Samaj accounts don't mention such a debate, but this excerpt from the Yogiraj Charit, a traditional biography of Lahiri Mahasaya, describes him defeating Dayananda Saraswati in a debate on idol ...
10
votes
Is there any mention of the Mahamrityunjay Mantra in the Puranas?
Here is a verse from the Shiva Gita (Padma Purana) where different mantras are chanted in praise of Lord Shiva/Rudra and the Trayambakam mantra is mentioned:
सौन्दर्यसारसंदोहां ददर्श रघुनन्दनः।
...
10
votes
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Source of the Sanskrit shloka- Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye
It is from Devi Mahatyam which is part of Markandeya Purana. When Goddess killed two demons Sumbha and Nisumbha, Devas eulogized Devi with their hymns. This hymn is part of their eulogy to Divine ...
10
votes
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Source of Sanskrit shloka - Avidyayamantare Vartamanah Svayam Dhirah Panditam-manyamanah
It's from Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.8.
अविद्यायामन्तरे वर्तमानाः स्वयं धीराः पण्डितंमन्यमानाः ।
दन्द्रम्यमाणाः परियन्ति मूढा अन्धेनैव नीयमाना यथाऽन्धाः || ८ ॥
avidyāyāmantare vartamānāḥ ...
10
votes
Accepted
Wherein the Shatapatha Brahmana it was mentioned about 8.64 lakh alphabets in Vedas?
It's in the AgniRahasya kanda of Shatapatha Brahmana:
स ऋचो व्यौहत् । द्वादश बृहतीसहस्राण्येतावत्यो हर्चो याः प्रजापतिसृष्टास्तास्त्रिंशत्तमे व्यूहे पङ्क्तिष्वतिष्ठन्त ता यत्त्रिंशत्तमे व्यूहेऽति...
9
votes
Accepted
What was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's opinion on Madhvacharya?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu belonged to the disciplic succession from Madhvacharya. The followers of the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu formed a separate sect called
Gaudiya Vaaishnavas. As you have said in the ...
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