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Why Nãrãyana (Vishnu) had to pray Rudra (Shiva) to obtain supreme powers? (excerpt from Mahãbhãrata)
Lots of questions can be spawned from this 'never before read' Mahãbhãrata story, but above is the major one.
Until now my perception was that, Nãrãyana was an equivalent God to Shiva and does not require austerities to get power even while in human…
iammilind
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Story of Purandara Indra
Every kalpa has 14 manvantaras and each manvantara has an Indra. Name of current Indra is Purandhara.
Anybody knows, previous life of the current Indra Purandara?
How exactly he became qualified to become Indra?
tekkk
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Why do Hindus bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?
I've seen at many of the devotees bathe in river Ganges at sacred places.
This is often seen when people are celebrating Kumbh Mela as well, so why do they bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?
Image Credits : dandapani.org
Mr. Alien
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14
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What is the meaning of Swadha?
Many mantras have "swaha" Or "Namah" at the end of them. I know that, we chant Swaha at the end of some mantra while performing "havana" or "homam"
(as some sort of havan ahuti) like om shrim maha lakshmiyei swaha. And Namah type mantra is also…
LightAchala
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Where is this Srimad Bhagavatam verse about the different forms of Moksha?
According to Vaishnavism, there are six kinds of liberation from Samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). They're each defined in relation to Vishnu, since Vaishnavas consider Vishnu to be the supreme goal:
Ekatva, or oneness with the…
Keshav Srinivasan
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14
votes
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Why does Vishnu have eight arms when Krishna and Arjuna go to see him?
Most people only know of occasions in which two different incarnations of Vishnu met, for instance the encounter of Rama and Parashurama as described in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana. What is not as well known, however, is that Vishnu's…
Keshav Srinivasan
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14
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What is the significance of Ashwamedha Yagna?
Throughout the Hindu scriptures, there have been instances of Kings offering Horses as sacrifice to the Gods in the Ashwamedha Yagna.
What is the significance of this ritual?
Why only horses were chosen and not any other animal?
How did this…
Pawan
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Why did lord Shiva chop off lord Brahma's fifth head?
As I've heard before, there was a story which said that lord Brahma had five heads but the fifth one was chopped off by lord Shiva.
So why did lord Shiva chop off the fifth head of lord Brahma?
Also, did he really had five heads or he has four as…
Mr. Alien
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14
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2 answers
What are the meditation techniques found in the scriptures?
There is so much emphasis on Meditation in Hinduism. Can common meditation techniques of today be traced to scriptural sources? I have heard through word of mouth that Transcendental Meditation technique can be traced to Shiva Sooktam. Like that…
Bharat
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Why does lord Shiva wear a Naga (snake) around his neck?
As you can see in many pictures of Shiva, he wears a naga wrapped around his neck.
Credits for Image
So is there any reason behind keeping that naga around his neck, or is that a vahan for lord Shiv just like lord Ganesha has a rat or like the…
Mr. Alien
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14
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0 answers
What are the meal timings according to Smritis?
While there is Intermittent Fasting and Time Restricted Feeding buzz going on in the fitness community, I want to know what is the take of Smritis regarding
Time of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Of what part of the day is prohibited to eat and in…
user13262
14
votes
1 answer
What are the differences among Rakshasas, Daityas, Danawas, Pisachas?
Puranas say that these species are born from different wives of Maharshi Kashyapa.
Kashyapa + Danu = Danavas
Kashyapa + Diti = Daityas
Kashyapa + Krodhavasa = Pisachas
In Hymn 87 of the tenth mandala of the Rig Veda says that,
Brahma was asleep…
tekkk
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14
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3 answers
Do great saints know everything?
Great Saints are said to have lot of powers which come for their meditation. Like god Sai Baba removing out the intestines and cleaning them, and Sri Madvirat Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy telling the future etc.
My question is, do they know…
user12458
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Who all were the different Ved-Vyas?
We all know that the Mahabharat was written by Ved-Vyas, but what many of us don't know is that Ved-Vyas was not the name of the person but the title. This title is given to the one who add/modify/delete the original Ved, Puranas and Epics.…
Aby
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Why did Sita have a past life?
Sita is the incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi and is said to have been the reincarnation of Vedavati, also an incarnation of the Goddess Lakshmi.
The story about Vedavati seems like only a prelude to the story of Sita.
Are there any other stories…
Suhasini
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