28
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Why we put 'a' after each Hindu name?
TL;DR: It's due to schwa deletion rule of Hindi.
First off, it is incorrect and incomplete to write the Sanskrit or Devanāgarī word राम (Rāma) as "Rama" as commonly written by English writers on this ...
- 30.6k
17
votes
Who is Rudra deva?
The Best definition of Lord Rudra is given by Lord Krishna himself in Harivamsha Parva [2.74 section] of Mahabharata:
रुद्रो देव त्वं रुदनाद् रावणाञ्च
रोरुयमाणो द्रावणाच्चवातिदेवः ।
Lord ...
- 48.1k
14
votes
Why is Lord Surya also called Suryanarayana?
The connection between Vishnu and the Sun is described in this chapter of the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda. The gods once accidentally cut off Vishnu's head with his own bow (this is all ...
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13
votes
Who is Rudra deva?
There's a subtle difference between Shiva and Shankara or Rudra. Shiva is Supreme Purusha while Shankara aka Rudra is human manifestation of Supreme Purusha Shiva. Shankara or Rudra is generally ...
- 31.1k
13
votes
What is the meaning of the word "Shiva"?
'Shiva' denotes the nature of the self or the transcendental aspect. It represents Turiya which is beyond three Gunas of nature ie. Satva, Rajas and Tamas.
30th verse of Shiva Mahimna ...
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13
votes
Accepted
Why Lord Krishna is referred as Vasudev?
First of all, Vāsudeva (with a long a) is the patronymic name of Krishna, what we would call a "last name". It means "son of Vasudeva" (with a short a). Second of all, long before the birth of ...
- 97.2k
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 ...
- 25.7k
13
votes
Accepted
Why "Rama" Nama is called Taraka mantra?
By Taraka Mantra we basically mean the Pranavam, the first sound or OM, also called the Nada Brahman.
So, Taraka: Deliverer.
Taraka Mantra: From the root word tara–that which crosses. The Taraka ...
- 111k
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 ...
- 48.1k
12
votes
Why is Sanātana Dharma also sometimes called Ārṣa Dharma?
According to Sanskrit Dictionary,
आर्ष relating or belonging to or derived from ṛṣi-s (id est the poets of the Vedic and other old hymns) , archaistic [1][2] etc.
आर्ष the speech of a ṛṣi-, the holy ...
- 26k
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 ...
- 8,860
12
votes
What is the meaning of Narayana?
Narayana consists of two words as Naara+Ayana. Naara means water and Ayana means home. It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Vana Parva, SECTION CLXXXVIII.
3 आपॊ नारा इति परॊक्ताः संज्ञा नाम कृतं मया
...
- 23.7k
12
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Accepted
Why is Surya referred to as Martanda?
Is this story of Surya being born dead and revived later given in any scripture?
Yes , apart from Brahma Purana , we find the brief mentioning of Aditya or Sun God being born dead and revived later ...
- 31.9k
12
votes
Accepted
On what basis are puranas named?
The Puranas are named according to following points (these are my observations):
On the basis of which deity is glorified.
On the basis of which Kalpa events are mentioned.
On the basis of who is ...
- 23.7k
11
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita?
What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita?
Srimad Bhagavatam or the Bhagavat Puran, is the 5th major purana amongst 18 different puranas. It contains 12 different parts (...
- 2,358
11
votes
Accepted
Which Rakhasa has taken away Sita mata before surpanakha meet them?
Yes, the name of that demon is Viradha. This story is described in Ramayana, Aranya Kanda, Sarga 2.
अहम् वनम् इदम् दुर्गम् विराघो नाम राक्षसः || ३-२-१२
चरामि सायुधो नित्यम् ऋषि मांसानि भक्षयन् |
...
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11
votes
Accepted
Is any name of Vishnu Siva?
Yes, Lord Vishnu is also called Shiva in few versions of Vishnu Sahasranama. For example, Shiva appears as 27th name in Vishnu Sahasranama found in Mahabharata: Anusasana Parva:
17 सर्वः शर्वः शिवः ...
- 24k
11
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of Uma?
Do scriptures mention that 'Uma' name is Pranava swarupa?
Yes, the Great Goddess herself describes her form as that of the Praṇava, in the Chapter 49: Manifestation of Uma from the Section 5 - Umā-...
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10
votes
Accepted
Meaning of साम्ब ("Samba") with Sadashiva
Yes, Samba means Sa + Amba ie. Attended/ accompanied by Amba or With Amba.
स + अम्बा = साम्ब (ie. With Amba)
स + उमा = सोम (ie. With Uma)
स + उमा + स्कन्ध = सोमस्कन्ध (ie. With Uma and ...
- 48.1k
10
votes
What was the surname of the Pandavas?
The Surname is modern concept , in ancient times all the Dwijas (dwija jaatis) used to have similar surnames according to their varnas. When a dwija greeted somebody he used to recite adhivadan to the ...
- 10.5k
10
votes
Which Hindu scriptures use the word Ārya and in what sense?
The word Arya is used in Vasistha Dharma Sutras as follows:
The country of the Âryas (Âryâvarta) lies to the east of the region where (the river Sarasvatî) disappears, to the west of the
Black-...
- 111k
10
votes
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What was the name of 'Hindustan' before 'Bharat'?
The name was Ajanābha-varṣa. This was the name given to the planet earth. But after the activities of the king Bharata, the country is named as Bhārata-varṣa.
This is said in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. ...
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10
votes
What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita?
What is the difference between Shrimad Bhagvatam and Bhagvad Gita? Are they equivalent to each other or both are different?
The "Bhāgavata Purāṇa" is otherwise known as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Śrīmad ...
- 24k
10
votes
Accepted
Is Hanuman really 'Hanumat' in Sanskrit Ramayana?
The word Hanuman is made of हनु + मतुँप् = हनुमत् for which Hanuman is the correct word for Male - 1st Vibhakti - singular-
Most of तकारान्त (ends with त) words have similar kind of Vibhakti forms, ...
- 24k
10
votes
When was the expression "Sanatana Dharma" first used and what does it mean?
Sanatana (सनातन) is a Sanskrit word referring to eternal, having no beginning or end. The phrase dharma sanātana does occur in Hinduism scriptures. Traced back as far as valmiki Ramayana . The word ...
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10
votes
Why is god Śiva called Mīḍhúṣṭama (मीढुष्टम)? Is there any specific story?
Vedas also call Lord Shiva by the name "Midhustama". Sri Rudram of YajurVeda 5th Anuvaka states:
नमो गिरिशाय च शिपिविष्टाय च । नमो मीढुष्टमाय ... (Yajurveda 4.5)
Salutations to Girisha, ...
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9
votes
Why we put 'a' after each Hindu name?
References for this annswer:
Chapter 1 of Samskrita Bharati Pravesha
Chapter 1 of A Practical Grammar of the Sanskrit Language
Consonants section under Devanagari transliteration wiki article
In ...
- 24k
9
votes
Accepted
Is the ocean (sāgara) named after King Sagara or is it the other way round?
Yes. The ocean (सागरः or Sāgara) is named after Sagara (सगर), a king of Ikshvaku dynasty. He is the son of king Asita. Ocean on the earth is formed by one of his deeds i.e., he dug the bed of ocean. ...
- 25.7k
9
votes
Are there temples where the deity is simply called "Vishnu"?
Yes, it is at Gaya in Bihar where it is called Vishnu pad temple. It is claimed that the foot print of Lord Vishnu on stone is kept inside of the temple. Gaya is an ancient place for worshiping ...
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