24
votes
What is Hinduism's view on abortion?
Abortion is strictly forbidden. Here is what this chapter of the Gautama Dharma Sutras says:
A woman becomes an outcast by procuring abortion, by connection with a (man of) lower (caste) and (the ...
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20
votes
Accepted
What are the after-effects of insulting gods or goddesses?
A punishment which one has to face in the afterlife is given in Devi Bhagavata Purana 9.33.
The wretch that abuses Mûla Prakriti, the Vedas, the S’âstras,
Purânas, Brahmâ, Visnu, S’iva and the ...
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19
votes
Accepted
What is the punishment for consensual sex in Hinduism?
Punishment for illicit sex (which includes sexual intercourse with someone else's wife and also with one's maid) as per Srimad Bhagavata Purana is torment in a hell called "Taptasurmi".
yas tv iha ...
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17
votes
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Why is killing a brahmin considered sin while killing other caste people is not?
Your confusion arises because you think that Hindu scripture supports the Hindu caste system as seen today. That is not the case. The term Brahmana in Hindu scripture has a different connotation from ...
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17
votes
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Is taking interest from bank a sin?
Lending at interest is not a sin at all. Its perfectly legitimate. But usury (lending money at unreasonably high rates) is a minor sin(an Upapataka).
Manu Smriti 10.115. There are seven lawful ...
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17
votes
Accepted
Does god know our thoughts? and is it a sin to have lustful thoughts?
Yes God knows as he is antaryami or one who resides inside us.
The Vedas say that the Brahman or God has entered our body and has established himself in the mind.
Shariram brahma prAvishat.
.....
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16
votes
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Clarification regarding adultery, extra-marital relations
Mutual consent does not make the actions allowable or moral. Thieves may mutually agree on robbing someone and not each other, but it does not make their actions either moral or allowable. Such ...
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15
votes
Accepted
Is it a sin to kill a mosquito in Hinduism?
According to Devi Bhagavatam it is a sin to kill mosquitoes. The reason is that Almighty has created mosquitoes to be like they are. They drink blood as it's part of their Swadharma.
He who kills a ...
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14
votes
Do plants have atman?
Going to the question: Do plants have souls?
Yes, many scriptures discuss the birth of Jiva as a tree. Example:
Chhandogya Upanishad 5-10-6:
अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति
त इह ...
- 26k
14
votes
What is Hinduism's view on abortion?
Here is my partial answer.
Abortion is a grave sin.The Parashara Smriti says that the sin is even greater than in the case of killing a Brahmin.And killing a Brahmin is considered as one of the 5 ...
- 111k
13
votes
Does taking a dip in the Ganges River actually wash away your sins?
The only way to cleanse one of sins permanently is to bathe in the Atman. What does bathing in a Tirtha mean?
Tirtha
Tuladhara said, ‘ All rivers are as sacred as the Saraswati, and all
...
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13
votes
Accepted
How to wash away sin after unconsciously consuming non-vegetarian food?
First of all, in general, consumption of non-veg food items, by all people, under all circumstances is not a sin that scriptures will prescribe atonement measures for the act.
As clearly said in the ...
- 111k
13
votes
Are husband and wife, associated/affected by each others' sins?
Husband being associated in wife's sins
The wife's sins definitely affect the husband. This is mentioned in the scriptures.
Mantridoshascha rAjAnam jAyAdoshah patim yathA |
TathA prApnotyasandeham ...
- 111k
13
votes
According to Hindu scriptures, what are some of the great sins that God never forgives?
The basic teaching of Hinduism and the scriptures of it is to not to feel guilt of past mistakes, and even the sinful of sinners can cross over the Ocean of Samasra and come out of past sins through ...
- 3,482
13
votes
Accepted
What kind of 'Paapa' results in losing an organ of the body?
Vishnu Smriti and Satatapa Smriti are two such scriptures that extensively deal with this topic. These texts link various sins committed in previous lives with the diseases/bodily deformities that one ...
- 111k
12
votes
What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
Almost all cultures & civilizations have warned against harsh speeches. Even the sarcasm or the criticism also mustn't be cruel in nature. Better to withdraw them. During SabhA Parva, when ...
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12
votes
What is Hinduism's view on abortion?
The sage Vyasa gives the following reasons for having written the Mahabharata.
As the full-moon by its mild light expandeth the buds of the water-lily, so this Purana, by exposing the light of ...
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12
votes
What are the after-effects of insulting gods or goddesses?
Such actions can be done in following ways:
Unintentional
One doesn't intend to harm, but due to some indirect actions, a person ends up damaging something. This doesn't result in anything as there ...
- 19.7k
12
votes
What are the after-effects of insulting gods or goddesses?
From Shiva Gita, Virodhi Bhakti too if in excess resulting into devotion, can become cause of liberation.
अनादरेण शाठ्येन परिहासेन मायया . शिवभक्तिरतश्चेत्स्यादन्त्यजोऽपि विमुच्यते [21]
Anyone ...
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12
votes
Accepted
Does prayer remove bad deeds of past lives?
Prayer, PujA (worship) etc can remove sins committed in infinite number of our past lives.
Here is a proof that prayer in the form Mantra Japa can do it:
Lakshyadwayen pApAni saptajanmakritAnyapi |...
- 111k
12
votes
Accepted
Will someone be punished again after death after once being already punished on the earth?
No, A person can't get punishment of same sin twice. After getting punishment of his sin, person becomes sinless. If a King punish a culprit for his sin Or he shows mercy on culprit, in either case ...
- 3,669
12
votes
Accepted
Did Parashurama perform any expiation for killing his mother?
After Killing his mother Renuka, Parasurama asked some of his wishes to his father. One of the wish is that he(Parasurama) might not be affected by any sin for killing his mother. Along with this wish,...
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11
votes
Accepted
How did Samba, Krishna's son, get relieved from Curse of Krishna?
Samba got relieved from Curse of Krishna (disease of Leprosy) by praying to Lord Surya, as per suggestions of Narada.
This is mentioned in Bhavishya Purana, Varaha Purana and Samba Purana which are ...
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11
votes
Accepted
What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
Vidura discusses the importance of controlling one's speech
To control speech, O king, is said to be most difficult. It is not
easy to hold a long conversation uttering words full of meaning and
...
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11
votes
What do Hindu scriptures say about gambling?
It is described in Rigveda Mandala 10, Sukta 34. You can read HYMN XXXIV. Dice, Etc.
Quoting couple of verses that show the adverse effects of gambling and advice not to gamble.
जाया तप्यते कि...
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10
votes
How to remove Bramhahatya Sin
There are many methods to remove Brahmahatya Sin and visiting Kasi (Varanasi) is one among them. This is described in Chapter 182 - Mahatmya of Kasi Tirtha of Matsya Purana.
आदेहपतनाद्यावत् क्षेत्रं ...
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10
votes
What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?
Although you have already selected an answer i am adding another one.
The reasons are two:
All your questions are answered in Manu Smriti itself and
The punishment for verbal abuse is also ...
- 111k
10
votes
Accepted
What is Hinduism's stand on bestiality?
I'm adding my own answer based on the Parashara Smriti.Looking for more answers from other users with valid Scriptural quotes.
Chapter 10 of Parashara Smriti is titled ...
- 111k
10
votes
Accepted
Immorality of the gods
Devas(Gods) are considered the positive , life sustaining forces of nature(like Sun,Moon,Vayu or Wind,Agni or Fire ,Varuna or Water etc) and it is usually the Dharmic behavior(lawful.legitimate as ...
- 111k
10
votes
What scriptures other than Dharma Sindhu say sins are stored in hair?
Chapter 29, Prabhas Khanda of Skand Puran says so...
Iswara said:
O Daughter Of the Mountain, whatever sin a man commits when in straitened circumstances due to want Of Sustenance, all that sin
...
- 24k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible