I was recently reading the Uttara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana and came across Chapter 76. Perhaps the most controversial question of all times. Chapter 76: Hearing the words of Rama of imperishable exploits, that ascetic, his head still hanging downwards, answered:— “O Rama, I was born of a Shudra...

So there is a common story, in short, the one about Divodasa, in which the king removes Lord Shiva from his own city. All the devatas come one by one but end up staying in the city themselves. As such, it is said that Kashi is home to all the devatas and as per local word of mouth, one will find...

In some religious discourse given by Shri Bannanje Govindacharya, I heard him say that Shri Adi Shankaracharya had said Ishwaraha Narayanasheelaha What is the source of it?

I read in the SREE LALITHA SAHASRANAMA STOTRAM: Muladharaika nilaya bramhagrandhi vibhedini Manipurantarudita vishnugrandhi vibhedine Aagyna-chakrantaralasdha rudra-grandhi vibhedini What is the exact purpose of Bramha-grandhi , Vishnu-grandhi and Rudra-grandhi?

To me, "vedic scriptures" are the four Samhitas - Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. No more, no less. EVERYTHING else - Vedangas.Upanishads,Brahmanas,Aranyakas etc. cannot be called Vedic, since they are not Vedas. Some of them maybe "Shruti" but that doesn't make them Vedic. T...

Where in Padma Purana the following verse about parampara is located? The answer to this question Sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah Atah kalau bhavisyanti catvarah sampradayinah catvarah sampradayinah Sri-brahma-rudra-sanakah vaisnavah ksiti-pavanah Catvaras te kalau bhavya hy utk...

The Padma Purāṇ states: yannakhenduruchir brahma dhyeyaṁ brahmādibhiḥ suraiḥ guṇatrayamatītaṁ taṁ vande vṛindāvaneśhvaram (Patal Khand 77.60) [v21] “The light that emanates from the toenails of God’s personality is worshipped as the Brahman by the jñānīs.” It seems to support the claim of Dwaita ...

I have read that there were saints called Kriyashakthi Acharyas in Karnataka and one of them was a contemporary of Shri Vidyaranya of Sringeri during the period of Vijayanagara empire. They seem to have been Shaivas who believed in the supremacy of Lord Shiva. Who was were they? And who was the c...

I'm really interested to know of the Puranas which criticize the Pancharātra, especially the verses from Linga and Aditya Puranas. Since I got to know so from the following link, https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/a-history-of-indian-philosophy-volume-3/d/doc209938.html#note-e-29010 Also, ar...

Yoga sutras of Patanjali is most common today and is available to every reader. It talks of 8 angas of Yoga known as Ashtanga Yoga, - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi. In this my question is specific to Pranayama. Pranayama types are different as per Hatha yo...

https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/10/verse/31 पवन: पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् | झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी || 31|| BG 10.31: Amongst purifiers, I am the wind, and amongst wielders of weapons, I am Lord Ram. Of water creatures, I am the crocodile, and of flowing rivers,...

https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/10/verse/31 पवन: पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् | झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी || 31|| BG 10.31: Amongst purifiers, I am the wind, and amongst wielders of weapons, I am Lord Ram. Of water creatures, I am the crocodile, and of flowing rivers, I ...

Hinduism had a division of society into four varnas based on duties expected to be performed by each. During last six or seven centuries India had some victories but crippling subjugation by defeat during Islamic and British conquests and their subsequent rule. What were the causes of defeat and ...