9
votes
Accepted
Is hiding one's caste a punishable offense?
In Hinduism the sin of Brahminicide is considered as one of the most grave sins. Now, claiming (falsely) oneself to be someone of a higher caste is regarded as a similar offence.
This is as per the ...
- 111k
8
votes
Accepted
Which scriptures mention Siva beheading Brahma?
Chapter 8, Vidyeswara Samhita of Shiva Mahapurana says Shiva created "Kala Bhairava" from his eyebrows to behead Brahma when Brahma lied about top of infinite Linga. Bhairava is nothing but Lord ...
- 31k
8
votes
Accepted
Why killing someone, stealing and drinking, all are equated on a same level of offense?
Summary: (Read conclusion below for a summarised compact understanding, since answer is long.)
Upapātaka doesn’t mean minor sin but general sin. There’s no hierarchy of sins per say except the 5 ...
- 10.9k
8
votes
Why killing someone, stealing and drinking, all are equated on a same level of offense?
Why slaying a woman must be considered "just a minor offense" (upapataka) while killing a brahmin (ब्रह्म-हत्या) is a despicable unforgivable offense - mahapataka? Why such presumed ...
- 21.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Are the Punishments in Manu Smriti and other Shastras literal?
If the crimes are imaginary only then it makes sense that the punishments are not literal. If crimes happened in real then apt punishments must also be delivered in real.
So, the punishments are ...
- 111k
6
votes
Accepted
Does Manusmriti (or similar works) prescribe punishments for Brahmins who propagate scripture to the undeserving?
The following verse says that the sin a Brahmin commits by teaching someone who is undeserved is removed by Japa (reciting sacred texts) and Homa (burnt offerings).
Manu Smriti 10.111. The guilt ...
- 111k
5
votes
Why can't we enter heaven with our physical body?
"Why can't we enter in the heaven with the human body?"
Followers of Dharma Can enter the heaven with physical body.
There are at least 2 instances.
Sudarshana and his granddaughter-wife ...
- 19.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Do entire countries suffer punishment for their sins?
Do entire countries suffer punishment for their sins?
Yes, Lord Rudra destroys evil countries.
From the Mahabharata:
In consequence of the sins perpetrated by sinful men, the god Rudra
appears in ...
- 21.9k
5
votes
Does Hinduism have a notion of proportionate punishment?
Does Hinduism have a notion of proportionate punishment?
Yes, some crimes are greater than other crimes. Also, crimes done intentionally are more punishable than crimes done unintentionally. The ...
- 21.9k
5
votes
Accepted
Does Medhatithi contradict Manu Smriti while writing Bhasya? Does this verse of Manu allow a Bramhana to commit all bad acts and escape punishment?
Summary: No there are no such meanings to be derived from this verse. The verse is a prescription to the king to not succumb to arrogance and invite his ruin by provoking and dishonouring those who ...
- 10.9k
4
votes
Why killing someone, stealing and drinking, all are equated on a same level of offense?
Why slaying a woman must be considered "just a minor offense" (upapataka) while killing a brahmin (ब्रह्म-हत्या) is a despicable unforgivable offense - mahapataka? Why such presumed ...
- 15.6k
3
votes
Punishment for Blasphemy?
Yes. There is prescription of hell for such people.
A sinner who slanders Brahma, the creator of the world, the goddess Durga who is the best of female deities, Laksmi, Saraswati, Sita, Tulsi, Ganga, ...
- 7,858
3
votes
Accepted
Was Ashwatthama punished for his heinous crime?
Pandavas went to punish Ashwatthama for the crime of killing Pandva children and Dhrishtadyumna but he used the divine weapon brahmashira against them. Then, Arjuna also used brahmashira in defend and ...
- 23.9k
3
votes
Does hurting someone for their own good accumulate bad karma?
Manusmṛti allows a parent to discipline a child to keep them on the right path. Since a dharma śāstra itself is recommending this, there should be no bad karma as a result of this action.
bhāryā ...
- 30.5k
3
votes
Accepted
What can a king do to prevent Rudra from destroying his kingdom and people?
What can a king do to prevent Rudra from destroying his kingdom and
people?
By offering the Ashvamedha.
After the sacrificial horse has been slain in the year-long Ashvamedha ritual performed by ...
- 21.9k
3
votes
Karmic result of a gay man marrying a straight woman fraudulently
According to Manusmriti:
A husband under no circumstances shall betray the trust, respect and honor of his wife, for another woman; for it will bring shame to himself, his family and wrath of God ...
- 7,212
3
votes
Accepted
Is capital punishment allowed in hinduism for abuse?
The answer to the question in the title is NO.
There are punishments given for verbal abuses in the Manu Smriti but those are not death penalty.
The punishments are based on the Varnas of the ...
- 111k
2
votes
Which scriptures mention Siva beheading Brahma?
I have heard from learned persons, the answer as follows:
Lord Shiva marries Maa. Parvathi. Lord Brahma conducts the marriage as the main priest. After the marriage, Shiva was very happy and wanted to ...
- 21
2
votes
Is Kushagni Pravesa a punishment mentioned in scripture?
Is Kushagni Pravesa a punishment mentioned in scripture?
Yes, it is a punishment for some crimes, as listed below:
Bṛhaspati (22. 27-28).—‘In the case of women, men, gold, gems, the
property of ...
- 21.9k
2
votes
How does the concept of reincarnation fit in with heaven and hell?
Vedanta says that moral excellence is necessary for moksha or liberation. It is a simple fact that most people are morally imperfect. If you don’t accept the concept of reincarnation then you will ...
- 35.8k
2
votes
Who is 'they' in Gautama Dharmasūtra 23.1?
Who shall pour hot spirituous liquor into the mouth of the brāhmaṇa? The king or fellow brāhmaṇas?
Even though the text does say "they should", it is neither the king nor other Brahmanas, ...
- 21.9k
2
votes
How is prāyaścitta different from daṇḍa? Are both complementary to each other?
How is prāyaścitta different from daṇḍa? Are both complementary to each other?
Prayaschitta and regal punishments (danda) both serve the same purpose: destroying the sin of the crime or sinful ...
- 21.9k
1
vote
Does hurting someone for their own good accumulate bad karma?
Sri Krishna says in BG as follows:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।2.47।।
Let your claim lie on action alone and never on the fruits; you ...
- 17.2k
1
vote
ill effects of not fulfilling a vow- Tirupati
Lord Balaji never punishes anyone. If you look into the history of Tirumala you will be admired how the process of vow fulfillment came into effect at Tirumala
.
https://www.tirumala.org/TempleLegend....
- 94
1
vote
Accepted
Is the law of karma violated when entire countries get punished for the evil actions of certain individuals?
This objection is actually brought up in the discourse between King Aila and Rishi Kashyap.
Aila says,
'If chastisement touches all viz., the honest and the wicked alike, in
consequence of the ...
- 21.9k
1
vote
Do entire countries suffer punishment for their sins?
No, God does not punish entire countries for their sins.
The theory of karma only applies to individuals. God remains detached from the universe. It is primordial nature that runs the universe. ...
- 35.8k
1
vote
Accepted
Karmic result of a gay man marrying a straight woman fraudulently
Fraudulent marriages may distinctly fall under "PishAcha" marriage (sub demonic), which is the lowest category among all types of marriages. According to Manusmruti, chapter 3, among 8 types of ...
- 19.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible