39
votes
Accepted
Is the Anukramani index of sages and deities of the Rig Veda available online?
It took a lot of work, but through careful searching of the Oxford's Rig Veda translation through Google Books, I was able to compile most of the Anukramani's sage and deity information, except for ...
14
votes
Accepted
Who all were the different Ved-Vyas?
As I discuss in this answer, how the Vedas originated is that from time immemorial, sages known as Dhristas have heard sacred verses directly from the gods during a state of Tapasya (deep meditation). ...
12
votes
Accepted
Do Saptarishi exist in today's time?
Saptarshis live for a period of Manvantara. So, they are alive now. They live on seven stars (Sapta Rishi Mandala) which revolve around Pole Star.
Srimad Bhagavatam 8.13.5 gives names of seven sages ...
11
votes
Accepted
Who is the seer of the Isha Upanishad?
There are three levels of Rishis in Vajasaneyi Samhita.
The Sarvanukrama Sukta of Vajasaneyi Samhita states the Rishi for whole Vajasaneyi Samhita is Rishi Vivasvan. He is the first level of Rishi.
...
11
votes
Accepted
Story of a rishi converting a dog to a dragon that tries to eat the same rishi
The story is from this chapter and this chapter of the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. Bhishma heard it from his guru, Vishnu's incarnation Parashurama. (Bhishma and Parashurama later fought a ...
11
votes
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Why Miracles do not occur in Kali Yuga?
As per oxford dictionary, Miracle is 'an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency'.
If we go by above ...
11
votes
Accepted
Who were the seven rishis called Chitrashikhandins?
Chitrashikhandins are seven great sages (Sapta Maharshi) viz. Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu, and Vashishtha. It is described in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva (12.322.27).
मरीचि...
10
votes
What secret was Swami Vivekananda saying about in this phrase?
If you read more on the same page, you will come across this:
The human soul is eternal and immortal, perfect and infinite, and death means only a change of centre from one body to another. The ...
10
votes
Accepted
On Identity of Sage Valmiki
According to Skanda Purana, Nagara Khanda, Volume 17, Chapter 124, Sage Valmiki is Brahmin by birth too.
Formerly, there was a Brahmana named Lohajangha in Chamatkarpura. He hailed from the family of ...
9
votes
Why are there no Rishi in the current time?
The reason Rishis aren't born in the Kali Yuga is due to transgression of Brahmacharya, as described in this chapter of the Apastamba Dharma Sutras:
The word 'austerity' (must be understood to apply) ...
9
votes
Accepted
Who was the sage who witnessed Mahabharata and Ramayana multiple times?
He is Kakbhushuda(काक भुशुण्ड). There is a story of Kakbhushunda in Yogvashishtha, Nirvan Prakaran Purvardh, Sarga 14-25.
Quoted text is from Yogvashishtha English translation part-3.
Vashishtha ...
9
votes
Who all were the different Ved-Vyas?
Though Keshav's answer gives names of previous Vyasas, Shiva Purana gives different names for some of the previous Vyasas.
Chapter 4&5 of Satarudrasamhita Section of Shiva Purana mentions that ...
9
votes
Accepted
Are there any female rishis?
Most of the saints or rishis we see are male. Are there any female saints (except devotees through Bhakti yoga)?
We see that many females also follow their husbands, serve them and partake in their ...
9
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of Ganapathi Atharvasheersh?
The Ganapati Atharvashirsha Upanishad, AKA the Ganesha Upanishad or Ganapati Upanishad, is a text which claims to be an Upanishad associated with the Atharvana Veda; here is what it says about itself ...
9
votes
What do our scriptures mention about Maharshi Kanad & Paramanu (atoms)?
Maharshi Kanad ( महर्षी कणाद) was born in 600 BC in Prabhas Kshetra (प्रभास क्षेत्र) near Dwaraka (द्वारका) in Gujarat, India. He is also known as Kashyap Rushi (कश्यप ऋषी)
Once Kashyap Rushi was ...
9
votes
Accepted
Names of female scholars from Vaidic and Upanishadic times, or "Brahmavadinis"
According to Brihad Devata, 2.82-84 Sanskrit Source and English Transliteration Source, there are several Brahmavadinis as follows:
Ghosa Godha Visvavara Apalopanisan Nisat ;
Brahmajaya Juhur nama, ...
9
votes
Accepted
How did Shukracharya get Sanjeevani Vidya?
The story of Shukracharya receiving Sanjivani Vidya is found in Chapter 16 of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa.
As per it, Shukracharya performed a very severe penance, by inhaling smoke of husked ...
8
votes
Accepted
Has the Anukramani of the Shukla Yajur Veda ever been published in any form?
The Anukramani of Shukla Yajurveda Vajasaneyi Samhita is available in this book named Yajurveda Samhita. It gives "Prakaran" which means to which ritualistic purpose is it used, "Rishi" which means ...
8
votes
Accepted
What is the story of Badarayana Vyasa?
Badarayana and Veda Vyasa are one and the same.The reason why Vyasa came to be known by the Badarayana name is explained in the following passage:
In the Brahmasutra, on which there are ...
8
votes
Accepted
Was Rishi Vyasa the great grandson of Rishi Vashishtha?
There is a verse Attributed to Great Sage Vyasa which goes like this
vyAsam vasishta-naptAram Sakteh pautram akalmasham
parAsarAtmajam vande Suka-tAtam tapo-nidhim.
Which means
vyAsa is the Great-...
8
votes
Accepted
What are all the curses given by sage Durvasa?
I know of four stories in Hindu scripture involving Durvasa cursing or threatening to curse someone:
This chapter of the Vishnu Purana describes how Durvasa gave Indra a garland, and Indra's elephant ...
8
votes
What are the Vedas technically? How can Upanishads be called Vedas when some parts are neither revelations nor hymns dedicated to any specific deity?
As I've mentioned in my this answer, Though Brahmana, Aranyaka & Upanishads are not hymns heard (or seen) by ancient Rishis in Tapasya, they are considered to be forming the part of Vedas. ...
8
votes
Accepted
If Shiva Linga is worshiped in all yugas then what curse did Rishi Bhrigu give to Lord Shiva?
Firstly, Can anyone really Curse Lord Shiva?
Do the sages who come for fractions of time in the Universe have power to curse the Lord Shiva? No, it isn't possible. When in a story we see that ...
8
votes
Accepted
Who is the Rishi who cut off his own hands for stealing?
The sage who cut off his own hands was Likhita and his elder brother is Shankha. The story of these two sages is said to Yudhishtira by Sage Vyasa to remind his duty of chastising. This story occurs ...
7
votes
Does Shiva or Vishnu or Trikaladarshi Yogi know our Aagami Karma or our free will?
Yes, Brahman definitely knows what choices we're going to make, because Brahman is the one that causes us to make those choices. But then how is it fair that we are punished for choices that Brahman ...
7
votes
Was Rishi Vyasa the great grandson of Rishi Vashishtha?
This is mentioned in several Puranas and also in Mahabharat. I give reference from Mahabharat here:
The Adi Parva of Mahabharat mentions Shakti as son of Vasistha during the fight of Vishwamitra and ...
7
votes
Accepted
Are there any mantra or mantras in Veda Samhitas that confirm that Vedas are apaurusheya?
I am answering for the time being only from Rig Veda. The answer may be updated in future with references from the other Vedas.
First of all, a Rishi is a person to whom is revealed at least one Rik ...
7
votes
Accepted
What are the Vedas technically? How can Upanishads be called Vedas when some parts are neither revelations nor hymns dedicated to any specific deity?
The Manu Smriti defines Sruti (that has been heard) and Smriti (that has been remembered) as follows:
Srutis tu Vedo Vijneyo DharmashAstram tu vai Smritihi...
........
By Sruti is meant ...
7
votes
Accepted
How to identify saint/sage?
By definition a Saintly person is dear to God so as Bhagwan says in Bhagwad Gita 12.20
ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते।
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः।।12.20।।
Those who follow ...
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