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What are the beliefs related to lunar and solar eclipses?
What are the beliefs related to Lunar and Solar eclipses according to Hindu culture? I have heard that they are the result of trouble making by Rahu and Ketu by devouring the sun/moon for a while.
Mr_Green
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Why is the mantra Gananam Tva Ganapatim used to worship Lord Ganesha?
There is a popular mantra which people use to worship Lord Ganesha which is as:
ॐ गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणाम् ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिःसीदसादनम् ॥
oṃ gaṇānāṃ tvā gaṇapatiṃ havāmahe kaviṃ…
Tezz
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Why is Lord Hanuman portrayed as tearing-open his chest and showing Lord Rama is within it?
I have seen many images like the following that portray Lord Hanuman tear-open his chest and reveal Lord Rama and Sita inside it. What is the story behind this?
Himanshu
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What is a Shivling?
As far as I know and understand, the Sanskrit word "lingam" लिन्गम् means the genital organ of a human or an animal.
Is the Shivling the same thing? If this is so, what is the significance behind this portrayal and how did worshipping the Shivling…
Aditya Somani
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Did Ramakrishna eat cow's meat during his time as a muslim?
Srila Prabhupada during a conversation about sakhibekhi(one of thirteen apasampradayas) mentions about Ramakrishna which can be read here
Hari-sauri: Oh, he became a woman sometimes.
Prabhupada: Yes, sometimes. And there was menstrual,…
RishX
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Why is Somnath of higher value than other Shiva lingas?
There is one sloka:
Saurashtre Somanatham cha Srisaile Mallikarjunam|
Shankaram|
Setu Bandhe tu Ramesam, Nagesam Darukavane|
Varanasyantu Vishwesam, Tryambakam Gautamee thate|
Himalaye tu Kedaaram, Ghrishnesam cha shivaalaye|
Etani…
The Hungry Dictator
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How do the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras refer to each other?
The most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by Vyasa which summarizes and systematizes the philosophical teachings of the Upanishads. You can read…
Keshav Srinivasan
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Why does Sage Bhrigu have an extra eye on his foot?
It is a part of folklore that Sage Bhrigu has another eye on his foot. However, it is difficult to find on the internet any authoritative source for this piece of information.
The Wikipedia article on Bhrigu has no mention of an extra eye, although…
user9440
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About the author of Shri Hari Stotram?
Shri Hari stotram is a beautiful hymn dedicated to lord Shri Hari (Vishnu). You may read or listen to it on this website http://reveredhinduism.blogspot.com/2016/07/sri-hari-stotram.html?m=1
This page mentions that this strotram was written by Swami…
Ketan
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Do we have any account of Nand and Yashoda's daughter's afterlife?
In Shreemad Bhagavatam, we have read that infant Krishna was replaced by an infant girl by Vasudeva. This girl was the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda and when Kansa tried to kill that girl she changed to a goddess (not sure but I think Devi Durga or…
Aby
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What was the symbolism of Ashwatthama's story?
It is well known that Mahabharata can be seen as an allegory for human life.
The characters of Yuddhishthira, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva are frequently discussed in this context. Even Bhishma, Drona, Dhritrashtra and Gandhari find a place…
Curious
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What do Hindu scriptures or Gurus say on How to Introduce Hinduism to Children?
I am aware that this question is more a parenting question.
The reason I ask the question is, to me and many young children around me, it was just told that idol worship in a temple is holy and wish-fulfilling. Some think is a very narrow definition…
skv
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Exceptions from adherence to strict rules of mantra chanting
While reading a book "Ancient Science of Mantras" by Om Swami, I have come across a chapter called exceptions. According to this book Shiva at one occasion found a devotee wrongly chanting the Maha Mrityunjay mantra. On the advice of Devi Parvati,…
GST MUNIMJI
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Origins of God names - Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu
Who gave the names to the God like Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu, etc.? Are they the writers of the Vedas?
Did they ask the god to name them like this so that people can worship them by that name or the god himself said to worship him by that name?
user12458
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Which Upanishads are quoted in sage Vyasa's Brahma Sutras?
As I discuss in this answer, each of the four Vedas consists of four portions: Samhitas, the core part of the Vedas which consist of verses heard from the gods; Brahmanas, which provide instructions on the proper conducting of important rituals;…
Keshav Srinivasan
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