31
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How has Lord Vishnu's understanding developed and what was his role initially?
First of all, to answer your side question, yes, there is something that is more particular to Vishnu that both Vaishnavite and Shaivites would acknowledge about him, and that is that he is the god of ...
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25
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Is there any scripture that tells story about Lord Vishnu and MahaVishnu?
First of all, yes, there is a notion of a greater Vishnu and a lesser Vishnu. This concept is expressed in simplest terms in this chapter of the Vishnu Purana:
Affecting then the quality of ...
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23
votes
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Was Rama a god?
Yes, Sri Rama, the son of Dasharatha is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So, he himself is the Lord.
It is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana, Baala Kanda that all world had become sad because of Ravana. ...
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16
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Was Rama a god?
Valmiki Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda provides answer to this question. See Here
तेषामपि महातेजा रामो रतिकरः पितुः | स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः
|| २-१-६
RaamaH = Rama; svayambhuuriva = ...
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14
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When did Vaishnavites start wearing Urdhva Pundram?
The Urdhvapundra has been worn from ancient times (pre-Ramanuja). The Pancharatra, Puranas and Smritis glorify the Urdhvapundra worn with white clay and gopi-chandana.
In the Sri Vaishnava Guru ...
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13
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Where does the Linga Purana declare Vishnu to be the supreme soul?
Uttara Bhaga of Linga Purana consists a section called Vishnu Mahatmya which talks about greatness Vishnu. 1st chapter to 8th chapter of UttaraBhaga describes the greatness of Lord Vishnu:
The first ...
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13
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Does Vaishnavism ordain one to cut the tongue of a blasphemer?
The passage you quoted in your question is from Shreemad Bhagavata Maha Purana 4.4.17 and it says that "one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender". And your ...
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12
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Was the Vedic commentator Sayana a Vaishnava?
Sayana was an Advaitin and brother of Madhava (generally believed to be pre-ascetic name of Sri Vidyaranya). Sri Vidyaranya played a crucial role in formation of Vijayanagara Empire.
Three brothers ...
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11
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Why did Sri Ramanuja refuse to hail Shiva? What was the need to prove that Vishnu is the one true God?
Ramanujacharya was not being asked to worship Shiva. Now if he had been asked to do that, he might well have refused; as discussed in this answer Sri Vaishnavas who have performed Sharanagati often ...
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10
votes
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Which scripture describes six kalyana gunas (auspicious attributes) of Vishnu?
Vishnu Purana in 6.5.74 states:
"ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य धर्मस्य यशसरिश्रयः।
ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा ।।"
Complete splendor, virtue, glory, opulence, knowledge, dispassion - these ...
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9
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What scriptures describe Krishna granting Moksha to Ghantakarna, a Pishacha who killed a rishi?
Ghantarkarna hasn't received moksha yet. However his moksha is granted due to boon by Lord Krishna. He will attain Sayujya with Vishnu after the period of present Indra is over. It is described in ...
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9
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Can somebody be a Vaishnava and believe in Hari-Hara-abheda?
The Harivaṃśa has a stotra extolling both the similarity and unified form of Viṣṇu and Śiva. There are even several epithets dedicated to them: Hariharātmaka and Agniṣomātmaka.The following is an ...
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9
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Where does Periyavachan Pillai discuss Mleccha devotees of Vishnu?
The verse quoted by Vedanta Desika in the Rahasyatrayasara is Garuda Purana 1.227.9
भक्तिरष्टविधा ह्येषा यस्मिन् म्लेच्छो ऽपि वर्तते
स विप्रेन्द्रो मुनिः श्रीमान् स याति परमां गतिम्
...
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9
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What are the qualities of a true Vaishnava?
Qualities of a Vaishnava is described by Lord Vishnu himself in Padma Purana, Part 10, Section 7 (KRIYAYOGASARAKHANDA), Chapter 2 as below:
83-103. Those who are without lust and anger, who are ...
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9
votes
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Does Tirupati Balaji's idol have real hair?
No, Tirupati Venkateshwara doesn't have real hair. These are only rumours spreading over the internet.
Former chief priest of Tirumala, Ramana Deekshitulu confirmed that there is no real hair. Lord ...
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9
votes
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Proof of Vedic or Indic origin of Vaishnavism (Monotheistic Supremacy of Vishnu)?
I have access to a Ramakrishna mission Bengali translation of Rig Veda Book 1. I have given my free translation of Rig Veda 1.22.16-21. These mantras treat Vishnu as Vaishnavas do. The idea that ...
9
votes
What is the position and role of Lord Vishnu in Kasmiri Shaivism?
Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishwara, and SadaShiva are called Panchabrahmans. Kashmiri Shaivism too with the addition of Anashirta Shiva in the above five deities list calls them Karana Devas. Sri ...
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8
votes
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What exactly are Pancharatra texts?
What is Pancharatra
Pancharatra texts are Vaishnava Agama Shastras, the name pancharatra literally means 'five nights', since these scriptures were revealed by Sage Narayana
in 5 Nights to all ...
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8
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What scriptures describe Krishna granting Moksha to Ghantakarna, a Pishacha who killed a rishi?
As said by @surya, the story of Ghantakarna is mentioned in the Bhavishya Parva of Harivamsa. I didn't found any version of it in English but I have read the story in Hindi version by Geeta Press ...
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8
votes
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What was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's opinion on Madhvacharya?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu belonged to the disciplic succession from Madhvacharya. The followers of the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu formed a separate sect called
Gaudiya Vaaishnavas. As you have said in the ...
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8
votes
Can somebody be a Vaishnava and believe in Hari-Hara-abheda?
Yes, a true Vaishnava do not differentiate between Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. It has been described by Lord Vishnu himself to Lord Brahma in Padma Purana, Part 10, Section 7 (...
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8
votes
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Why are there no more Alwars?
The āḻvārs, also spelt as alwars or azhwars are 12 devotional saints born in the region of south India. These saints wrote devotional poems in Tamil in the praise of Vishnu directly or his ...
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8
votes
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Can Vaishnavas join the Natha Sampradaya?
Actually for a Vaishnava it's better to go for a Vaishnava Guru. And, the same for others.
Quoting Lord Shiva's words from the KulAchudAmani Tantram:
UdAsino hyudAsinAm vanastha vanavAsinah | ...
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8
votes
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Requirements for wearing Tilak
The following describes how Srivaishnavas wear the Urdhvapundra. Other Vaishnava Sampradayas may have different practices.
Srivaishnavas who have not undergone basic diksha/initiation called ...
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7
votes
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If Radha and Krishna aren't married, why do we worship Them together, like Sita-Rama?
Besides the Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentioned in the other answer, the 39th Chapter of the 9th Book of Devi Bhagavatam also mentions the origin of both Radha and Lakshmi from Krishna:
4-33. Nârâyana ...
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