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1500 questions
21
votes
9 answers

What is good karma? What is bad karma? Who defines it?

Who defines 'good' or 'bad' karma - like this is bad and this is good? It depends on time or generation? Is there any book, Veda or any other holy book, where it's defined?
Vivek Doshi
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21
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1 answer

Why is Kartikeya not worshiped much compared to lord Shiva, lord Ganesha and goddess Parvati?

Kartikeya is elder son of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, but he is not worshiped much compared to his dad, mother and brother. If you visit temples in our country, rarely any temple will have an idol for Kartikeya, whereas the temple will always…
Mr. Alien
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21
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1 answer

What are the main differences between Valmiki Ramayana and Ram Charit Manas

Valmiki Ramayana and Tulsidasa's Ram Charit Manas are 2 books containing the story of life of Lord Rama and other sub stories. While Valmiki Ramayana is considered to be the original source of Lord Rama's story, Ram Charit Manas is said to be…
Aby
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21
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3 answers

Why did Shiva not swallow the poison arising from Samudra Manthan?

I was watching a TV show in which Samudra-manthan was in progress. In that when the poison came out of the sea, Lord Shiv has to drink it but he didn't swallow it. Because if he swallows it, he will die. Shri Krishna has once said that only those…
Singh
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21
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5 answers

What is difference between Aatma, Jeevatma and Paramatma?

Jivatma – Soul Atma– Self Paramatma - God Jivatma is the individual, and Atma and Paramatma are Universal. What is difference between Aatma, Jeevatma and Paramatma?
Eshan Singh
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21
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0 answers

Who is the Samaveda-singing Brahmin incarnation of Vishnu prophesied in the Skanda Purana?

As I discuss in this question, one of the early movements that was important in the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures to worship the sage Narayana, an ancient…
Keshav Srinivasan
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21
votes
1 answer

Why are crows considered to be a link to our pitris (spirits of ancestors)?

In Devasams (srardham) or annual memorial ritual performed to the deceased, rice is fed to crows. I was told by elders at home that the crows represent our Pitris. What is the reason behind crows acting as a link to our Pitris and not any other…
Bharat
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21
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2 answers

How did Krishna get Vishnu's Sharanga Bow?

As I discuss in this answer, the divine architect Tvashta (AKA Vishwakarma) created two powerful bows, the Pinaka bow for Shiva and the Sharanga bow for Vishnu. Brahma once got Vishnu and Shiva to fight each other to find out who was more powerful,…
Keshav Srinivasan
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21
votes
5 answers

What to do when scriptures go against conscience?

TL;DR WHAT TO DO WHEN SCRIPTURES GO AGAINST CONSCIENCE? What to do when Parshara Smriti go against my conscience? How can I treat a chandala (I do not even know what that means, except that it is a low caste) differently from a Vaishya? How are…
user17858
21
votes
6 answers

How could octogenarian heroes fight in Mahabharata?

According to Mahabharata, Puranas and many sources, it is assumed that Pandavas and Kauravas were more than 80 years old when Kurukshetra battle was fought. A detailed discussion on the calculation of ages from different sources can be found here.…
arin1405
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21
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3 answers

Can a Brahmana raise a war or kill someone?

As per Hinduism, Parashurama is widely known as a person who raised war against Kshatriyas. Now as per Vedas, whether a person is a Brahmana or a Kshatriya is based on his karmas only. If one kills another seeking revenge, is he a Brahmana or a…
prem30488
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21
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5 answers

Do some people have more Grace of God and some have less?

There are millions of people in the world, some are more successful and reach their goals while some try hard to reach their goals or their favorable profession, but fail to; or some people are more successful, more healthy while some are not. In…
Karmanya Nanda
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21
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1 answer

What happened to Karna's Kavach & Kundal?

In Mahabharat, Karna was the son of Lord Sun. The Sun has given him Kavach (Breastplate Armor) & Kundal (Ear-rings) to protect him. This Kavach & Kundal were attached to his body. As long as this Kavach & Kundal were protecting Karna, no weapon…
Kedarnath
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21
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5 answers

Do the Vedas prohibit idol worship?

It is a very controversial thing about this verse along the religious websites, especially non-Hindu websites, they claim that idol worship is prohibited in Hinduism. They are arguing with this verse. They enter darkness those who worship natural…
Kiran RS
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21
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4 answers

What made Indra the king of Svargalok?

Svargalok is considered as a place where good people reside. From the wiki - Svarga is seen as a transitory place for righteous souls who have performed good deeds in their lives. However, many stories/references on Indra's character do not…
Trialcoder
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