14
votes
Accepted
Approach to the Ultimate/Absolute Truth (Jnana)
The path of knowledge is commonly referred to as Jnana Yoga. What is meant by Jnana depends upon the scripture being read. Oftentimes scripture will distinguish between
Vijnana (refers to Knowledge -...
- 23.8k
14
votes
Accepted
What are Mahavakyas?
The Mahavakyas are "Grand Pronouncements" or "Great Sayings" usually taken from Upanishads. They have profound significance in Hinduism.
The four Mahavakyas (महावाक्यानि) are as ...
- 26k
14
votes
Are the 3 gunas mentioned in the Vedas?
Yes, there is reference to the Tri GunAs in the Vedas.
See the following Mantra from Atharva Veda (AV):
Pundarikam navadwAram (1) Tribhir gunebhirAvritam (2) Tasmin yad
yakshamAtmanvat (3) Tad ...
- 111k
13
votes
Aham Brahmasmi and Advaita Vedanta
One has to see the full context regarding how the Mahavakya is spoken. The complete verse from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is as:
ब्रह्म वा इदमग्र आसीत्, तदात्मानमेवावेत् ‘अहं ब्रह्मास्मि’ इति । तस्मा...
- 48.2k
12
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.
...
- 48.2k
12
votes
Accepted
How can you roll up space?
The mantra is not talking about rolling the sky, it's just used in analogous comparision:
निष्कलं निष्क्रिय शान्तं निरवद्यं निरञ्जनम् ।
अमृतस्य पर सेतुं दग्धेन्धनमिवानलम् ।। 19
यदा चर्मवदाकाशं ...
- 48.2k
12
votes
Accepted
Why did Adi Sankaracharya compare the color of Ishwara's eyes to that of monkey's nates?
First of all, here is the Chandogya Upanishad verse in question:
tasya yathā kapyāsaṃ puṇḍarīkamevamakṣiṇī
tasyoditi nāma sa eṣa sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhya udita
udeti ha vai sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhyo ...
- 97.2k
12
votes
Why do sanyasa scriptures degrade women?
Sanyas Upanishads were written for male spiritual aspirants and thus talk of women being dangerous to males. Women are allowed to be monks. Just as women are dangerous for men who are spiritual ...
- 36.1k
12
votes
According to Hinduism, who am I?
Atman. You've already said you've spent good time in understanding what is Atman or the self and the answer of "Who am I?" is already hidden in that thing.
Now, since you've started to learn ...
- 26k
11
votes
Accepted
What is the need of creation?
According to Sankara there is no creation. There is only vivarta vada - apparent manifestation.
Swami Vivekananda says (Complete Works, V3, pp 12-14, also available here under the heading Lectures ...
- 23.8k
10
votes
Accepted
What is Dharma according to Veda or Upanishad?
Dharma is one of those Sanskrit words that defy all attempts at an exact rendering in English or any other tongue.
In the hymns of the Rig-Veda ( ऋग्वेद) the word Dharma seems to be used either as ...
- 31.9k
10
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, ...
- 23.7k
10
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. ...
- 26k
9
votes
Accepted
What can I do to reduce anger, greed, lust, fear and ego?
Your question is about overcoming or wining Shadripus (षड्रिपु) meaning the six enemies of Human beings , as told in Hinduism. They are as follows.
Lust (Sanskrit: Kama) (काम)
Greed (Sanskrit: Lobha)...
- 31.9k
9
votes
Interpreting Bhagavad Gita verse 8.16
A literal interpretation of the Gita 8.16 would be disastrous since it would contradict Sruti. We know from Manu Smriti that when there is any difference between Sruti and Smriti then Sruti will ...
- 36.1k
9
votes
Irawati Karve says "Vidura is the biological father of Yudhiṣṭhira". Is she right? Which Upaniṣadic story is she referring to?
Vidura is not the father of Yudhishthira. The circumstances of Yudhishtira's birth are described in this chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata:
O Janamejaya, when Gandhari's conception had ...
- 97.2k
9
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 ...
- 111k
9
votes
Accepted
Is Adi Shankaracharya's Kena Upanishad Vakya Bhashya available in English?
Yes, it is difficult to get the Vakya Bhashya of Adi Shankaracharya on Kena Upanishad, since most of the translations only covers the Pada Bhashya.
I've found one pdf book that contains only Vakya ...
- 26k
9
votes
Accepted
Why is a major upanishad called "major upanishad"?
This classification must have originated from the way the Upanishads' "importance" are described in the Muktika Upanishad (linked to Shukla Yajurveda), which lists the names of the 108 ...
- 111k
8
votes
Approach to the Ultimate/Absolute Truth (Jnana)
Jnana or Jivanmukti is a state wherein, all the perceptions of duality is removed and the non-dual alone remains. In Isha Upanishad a Jnani is defined as a person "who perceives his Self in all ...
- 1,883
8
votes
What order should I read the Vedas and Upanishads in?
Vedas are Shruti texts. Sayanacharya in his commentaries on Rigveda, said that मंत्र ब्राह्मणात्मको वेद that means Mantra (मंत्र) and Brahmanatmak (ब्राह्मणात्मक) combined are considered as Veda. Here ...
- 26k
8
votes
Accepted
Is Krishna mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad?
Chandogya Upanishad declaration on Ghora Angirasa and Devaki Putra Krishna:
taddhaitadghor āṅgirasaḥ kṛṣṇāya devakīputrāyoktvovācāpipāsa eva sa babhūva so'ntavelāyāmetattrayaṃ ...
- 96
8
votes
Accepted
What is Turiya and how can we realize it?
Turiya refers simply to the Fourth. There are four quarters to Brahman; the waking, dream, dreamless, and the Turiya. The Fourth state is not separate from the other three but rather transcends and ...
- 23.8k
8
votes
Accepted
How do Dvaitins interpret this verse of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad?
Here's how the Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya renders the portion you put in bold, in this excerpt from his commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
But he worships any other god (than Brahman),...
- 97.2k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between living beings and dead matter according to scriptures?
First, your interpretation of verse 7.5 is almost there, but not quite, which leads to your confusion. It is best to read verses 4-7 together and not separately. Verse 4 refers to the apparent ...
- 23.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Conversion of Sattva, Rajas, Tamas
I think you are talking about 4th Prapathaka of Maitrayanai Upanishad. Maitrayania Upanishad is one of the important Upanishad.
Maitrayania Upanishad 4th Prapathaka states:
It was all Tamas – then ...
- 48.2k
8
votes
What does hinduism say about oneness of god?
The Vedas clearly declare that the ultimate reality is one but we know him by different names. So, yes, oneness of Gods has been discussed in the Vedas themselves.
Suparnam viprAh kavyo vachobhir ...
- 111k
8
votes
What all Hindu scriptures advocate The Golden Rule? And what is the oldest Hindu scripture to advocate it?
I have not found any direct reference in Veda Samhita upto now. However there can be various verses which can give indirect meaning of Golden Rule. For eg. This verse from YajurVeda:
यस्तु सर्वाणि ...
- 48.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Are the Vedanta Sutras Smriti or Shruti?
From Manu Smriti 2.10:
Srutis tu vedo vigneyo dharmashAstram tu vai smriti |
OR By Sruti is meant the Veda and by Smritis are meant the Dharma
ShAstras.
So, the VedAnta Sutras is a Darshana ...
- 111k
8
votes
Why does chandogya upanishad use kannada-telugu words?
According to Swami Gambhirananda the following is the translation of Chandogya Upanishad 1.10.1 (translated his Bengali translation into English):
When all the crops of the country of the Kurus ...
- 111k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible