(Other similar questions on this site don't have proper answer with scriptural reference. The Wikipedia answer doesn't cite sources, also don't think it's accurate, because Gita 'rudranam sankaras casmi', and sankar is not mentioned in that site) We say there are 33 crore gods, but the word 'cro...

I can’t really remember. But I read somewhere where he says to keep telling yourself “Aham Brahmasmi”....and other mahavakyas until it becomes the living reality

If I am learning something like learning physics or chemistry or maths means who is learning? Is it Atman or my brain? If Atman means why can't it (Atman) realize after death that I belong to this body and then I will enter back to this same body. If it is just my brain, my brain is learning ...

Since Shiva resides in Kailasa (which is on Earth I think), does he have avataras? For example, is his test of Arjuna, where he blesses him with the Pasupata-astra considered an avatara?

According to Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna was siddha in 18 bhavas.Can anybody mention what are these 18 bhavas according to our scriptures?

In our Vedas/ Upanishads, Vishnu/Narayana, Shiva/Rudra and Uma/Devi are all names of the Supreme Godheads. They same holds for different Puranas also. Why does then Vyasadeva declare the Shaiva Mata as inconsistent with the Vedas in His Brahma-sutra by saying :"patyur asamanjyasyaat"?

Devi Parvati was born as Himalaya's daughter and was married to Shiva. She has no death. Why is She not included in the list of Chirajivis like Bibhishana, Ashvatthama etc?

How are the slokas in Skanda Purana divided? Suppose Ramayana is divided into Kandas, which are further divided into sargas etc..

Sri Vasudev Sarvabhouma, Kavi Karnapur, Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Sri Srijiva Goswami, Sri Baladev Vidyabhushana --none of them accepted any link between Madhva sect and the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect.(Reference: Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya, Radhagovinda Nath, Sadhana Prakashani, Page 753. Why were they ...

Where the emphasis should fall? nAchiket nachIket nachikEt

I'm a grade teacher, who is going to introduce astronomy to 12 year olds. I want them to have a phenomenalogical understanding of the subject. From there I want to present the models in existence. In my quest to understand the subject better, I have been ridden by questions as to why text books t...

According to Advaita Vedanta, things like caste, gotra, etc, will cease to exist after realization. But when Adi Shankara met a Chandala in Varanasi, he asked the Chandala to move away from his path. Chandala inquired that whether Adi Shankara is asking my body to move away or the real me to move...

The caste system is the biggest black mark on the face of Hinduism. While the whole of Hinduism is struggling to eradicate it, I think this website is quietly harboring caste feelings. Check some of the answers to these questions. Why Hinduism won't encourage inter-caste marriages?. Is stoppin...

I searched a lot while trying to find answer to What was the lifestyle of Gaudapada? ; Though I couldn't find an answer worthy to post. I read couple of research papers and some pages of a very useful book "Gaudapada A study in early Advaita by Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan. While reading The soteriology ...

The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. One of the Alwars was Thirumangai Alwar, aka Parakala.  At various points in his life, he was a chieftain and a robber.  And he met Vishnu on m...

This question quotes the Sanskrit grammarian Yāska as saying he didn't know the meaning of some 400 words of the Vedas. Is this still the case with modern translations of Vedas?

Uttamam swArjitam vittam madhyamam putrArjitam adhamam bhrAtru jAyAdi stree vittam adhamAdhamam Meaning: One's own income/wealth is the best to live on, it is moderate to live on son's income, living on brother's income is bad, and it is worst to live on a women's income/wealth.