Questions tagged [hindu]
For questions about Hindu mythology and legends.
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How does the character from Ramayana and Mahabharata, Hanuman's understanding of niyati affect his relationships with other characters?
The character of Hanuman, primarily known from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, embodies profound themes of duty (dharma), righteousness, and the moral dilemmas that arise from these concepts....
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What story/lesson about karma taught by Krishna (?), maybe from Bhagavad Gita is this in my memory?
I am looking for the source of a story I read long time ago; It goes like that:
the spiritual teacher (maybe Krishna) meets a young man and is asked how the creation resp. the spirit is related to ...
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The elephent whose head attached to Lord Ganesha; Who was he? Had he got any curse in his previous life?
As we all know how Lord Ganesha's having an elephent head. But My question is that the elephent whose head was beheaded for attaching dead Ganesha's body;
Who was he?
What was his previous life?
Was ...
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Hindu mythology. We already know that Kalki Avatar will appear in Kaliyuga. So was it already known in Tretayuga that Krishna will come in Dwaparyuga
We already know that Kalki Avatar will appear in Kaliyuga before his appearance. So was it already known in Tretayuga that Lord Krishna will come in Dwaparyuga, like is it written in the sacred texts ...
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Why did Vishnu violate Vrinda, to defeat Jalandhar?
I personaly don't think he violated Vrinda as per current violation defination. I believe he violated her per ancient defination by siting with her.
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Vishwamitra common link Ramayan and Mahabharata
As per Ramayan, Ram and Laxman helped Vishwamitra to kill Tataka yakshi. Viswamitra was a sage by then, that means he had already met Menaka, and Shakuntala was born.
As per Mahabharata Shakuntala was ...
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Tamil mythology: Where can I find Nakkirar's description of the Sangams? (English translation if possible.)
Many websites refer to the Tamil legend of a submerged land off southern India, where the sangams took place. E.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Sangams This lost land is often equated with ...
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Why is syncretism mostly described through an "interpretatio graeca", rather than any other polytheism?
It is well known that ancient Greeks such as Herodotus thought other culture's gods (e.g. Egyptian) are actually same deities as theirs, just having different names.
For example, Plutarch said
Not ...
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How many gods are in Hindu mythology?
I heard that in ancient Hindu texts there's 33 gods in Hindu mythology, but this doesn't make sense since I have compiled a list of way more than 33 gods who's names I have found so far.
What's up ...
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Are myths related to and comparable to Draupadi found in other culture's myths also?
The myth of Draupadi is found in the famous Hinduism mythological epic poem Mahabharat where she is disrobed by her brother in law in front of her five powerful husbands, in the King's Court full of ...
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Is being reborn as a god in Hinduism possible?
I know Hindus believe that people can become plants, animals, humans, monsters when they are reincarnated, but do Hindus mention that people can become gods after death?
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Are there any non-European versions of "Elves" in Indian/Persian/Arabic/Chinese/Meso-American folklore/fairy tales?
Basically the traits should be long life, good looks, pointy features, thin, magically adept and closer to divinity.
I think, Yaksha of Hindu Mythology
could potentially be one candidate but he seems ...
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Why Mahabharata or Ramayana did not considered as earlier civilisation than IVC?
As we all know IVC is the first civilisation in India between 3300 to 1300 BCE. But Mahabharata and Ramayana should dated before this period based on Yuga cycle. Then we haven’t considered these are ...
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How did dasavataras end?
We know the stories of Narasimha (man with lion head), Rama and Krishna.
I am seeking answers for how other incarnations of lord Vishnu was ended.
Let’s take an example of incarnation ended.
Lord ...
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How are Vetalas similar to Medusa?
According to Hindu Mythology, Vetalas are snake-like creatures. How are they similar to Medusa?
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In the Ramakien, why did Phra Narai declare that when both him and Nontuk reincarnate they’ll fight each other again?
When Phra Narai caught Nontuk off guard and forced him onto the ground (where he proceeded to act like a whiny little bitch to Phra Narai) and made the absolutely absurd statement that he could’ve ...
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In the Ramakien (Thai version of the Ramayana) how was it that Thotsakan was able to conquer all three realms of the universe?
I know that Phra Narai (Narayana) declared that he will reincarnate as a human (Phra Ram/Rama) and kill Thotsakan but when Thotsakan was reborn as the demon king of Lanka and started conquering the ...
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Books on Hinduism, with an eye on art
I have read Zimmer's Myths And Symbols In Indian Art And Civilization, and loved it.
I would like to find some other books along those lines (attention to the beauty of the narration, the ideas more ...
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Where has ancient Hindu technology knowledge gone?
As we know in Hindu mythology there were so many powerful Weapons like the Shudarshan, Brhmastra, Shabdavedi Ban etc and an air vehicle like Pushpak Viman, and vast technologies like nano technology ...
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Do Indians openly adopt and syncretize foreign religions? [closed]
I don't know much about Hinduism and the details of Indian history, but I feel that in India it is very common to nationalize foreign religions, beginning with the indianization of Sumerian deities, ...
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According to Hindu Mythology, why do people produce smoke, light and ring the bell?
Could you please explain, while doing worshiping, according to Hindu Mythology, why do people produce smoke through burning joss sticks; light a candle-like light called "Dip jyoti" prepared from ...
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Who is Kali and where did he come from?
We all know that on the era of king Parikshita, Kali came. When the king has gone for hunting he saw a person hitting a one legged cow...
But from where did he come from and who are his parents? When ...
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Dating the Battle of Ten Kings relative to the Ramayana and Mahabharata
(cross posting from hinduism.SE. Hope this is OK)
Related to this question though much more specific: are there any clues we can glean about the historical situation of the Battle of Ten Kings ...
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Language spoken during times of Ramayana and Mahabharata
What was the day-to-day spoken language during the times of Ramayana (reign of Lord Rama) and Mahabharata?
If I'm right both of these books were written in Sanskrit, and then were translated ...
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Relationship of Mithra and Varuna
Just need an answer about the two gods Mithra and Varuna, their situation actually.
I know that Mithra isn't worshiped at all, but I read and suspect personally that his name still remains in the "...
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Why is Chhinnamasta called The self-decapitated Goddess?
She is a Mahavidya, a list of Sakta and Buddhist goddesses, and the sixth listed on the Wikipedia page. (I don't know if that's important.) Here, she is described as the 'self-decapitated Goddess.' ...
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Which cultures worship boars?
I'm searching for a list of cultures/regions which worshiped/revered boars.
I only know of Hinduism of the Indian Subcontinent, where an avatar of Lord Vishnu, Varaha is worshiped.
Further, I'm ...
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Why did Vishnu rape Vrinda?
If Vishnu was the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead', why did he have to rape his sincere devotee Vrinda to defeat Jalandhar who was merely a demon who did not achieve any powerful boons? If Vishnu was ...
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Are there any close analogues to the Fairy King & Queen Titania and Oberon, in Indian/Hindu mythology?
I am looking to create a version of Titania & Oberon, the Queen & King of the Fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream, that would have context in India. Probably deities or mythological beings ...
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Are Krishna and Hermes related?
Both gods have legends involving extraordinary powers as children.
This link discusses the infant Krishna, as an incarnation of Vishnu, instructing his father Vasudeva on how to escape the wrath of ...
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How did Christianity come to equate the place of punishment and the place of demons?
In Hinduism, the cosmology works roughly like this: there's Earth; there are worlds above the Earth called Swargas where you go as a reward for good deeds; there are worlds under the Earth called ...
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Maruti, is this the name of Lord Hanuman or his mother Or both?
I have heard so many times that Maruti is the other name of Lord Hanuman. Also heard that Maruti Nandan (The son of Maruti)
Hey dukh bhanjan Maruti nandan Sunlo meri pukar..
Which one is correct? ...
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Why is Indra supplanted as chief God?
Wikipedia states that "over a quarter of the 1,208 hymns of the Rigveda mention Indra, making him the most referred to deity than any other."
But in the post-vedic texts his importance is greatly ...
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Is Ravana's true intent to be slain by Rama?
In the William Buck's English translation I recall a note left by Ravana indicating he was aware of his impending demise at the hands of Rama, and got the impression that being slain by Rama was ...
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Why are cows sacred in India?
Does it purely have to do with ahimsa or is it also partly based on the status of Nandi?
(If Nandi is a factor, does this also bear on the protected status of monkeys per Hanuman's assistance to Rama?...
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Why there are graphic depictions of sexual acts in some Hindu temples?
Google Khajuraho and you will come upon one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of art work, of which 10% is sexual or erotic art outside and inside ...
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How did Vayu the wind god start being associated with Vishnu?
There are three prominent Hindu philosophies today: Advaita or monism, Dvaita or dualism, and Visistadvaita or qualified monism. Now the chief exponent of Dvaita was the 13th century philosopher ...
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When did Lord Indra asked for Kawach-Kundal to Karna? It's before Kurukshetra war or in the mid of war?
I am a bit curious to know that when did lord indra asked for Kawach-Kundal to Karna? It's before Kurukshetra war or mid of war? Because while making link-up of many things related to karna's life, ...
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Veda, Upanishad and the Physical Universe
I haven't read the Veda or Upanishad (and other Hindu scriptures). But I'm eager to know whether it does offer any account of how the universe came into existence?
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How did the Trimurti come into power?
How did Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva come to replace Indra as the Chief of the Hindu pantheon? Was there a war (e.g. Titans vs Olympians)? Or were they consumed (e.g. Amun + Ra = Amun-Ra)? What changed ...
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What is the origin of the worship or deification of cows in India?
Too far back to remember, the deification of cows in India seems to have existed. Are there some possible events in history which would explain this?
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Was the Kali Yuga invented in the Kali Yuga?
One of the most well-known features of Hindu time-scales is the cycle of four Yugas, known as Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali. In the Satya (aka Krita) Yuga, almost all humans are good. In the Treta ...
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What is the name of the Mahabharata version told from the point of view of Sahadeva?
I found this blog about an article in the newspaper The Hindu, which has and excerpt from a retelling of the Mahabharata from the point of view of Sahadeva.
I searched for the book but could not ...
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Are there any epics featuring a female protagonist with less explored male characters?
In the Indian epic Ramayana, the women show some great complex characters, behaviours etc but they are much less explored and sometimes sidelined/forgotten(not entirely) by the overshadowing persona ...
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Are there Kali-types deities in other pantheons?
Is Kali, the dancing goddess, with skull necklaces, and blood licking tongue, unique? Specifically the mix of joyous rapture, death embrace, yet mothering and sexual.
Eros and Thanatos, at once a ...
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What are the differences between Shakuna, Sundara, Rukma and Tripura Vimana flying machines?
On Wikipedia page we can read:
Vimāna is a mythological flying palace or chariot described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics.
Early 20th-century sanskrit Vaimānika Śāstra claim that the vimānas ...
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Is there any textual evidence that confirms the color of Hindu gods?
Hindu gods, most notably, Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, are depicted as blue colored beings. But they are also depicted with many different skin colors, some looking
more natural than others.
Is ...
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What do we know about the beliefs of the people of modern India before Hinduism and how much did that affect modern Hinduism?
Hinduism is a very ancient religion and has predominated the area of modern India for millennia. It's a complex religion with a very large pantheon that doesn't seem to be strictly regulated by any "...
user93
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Does Kalki appear at the end of every Kali Yuga, or just the current one?
We currently live in the Kali Yuga, at least according to the Hindu conception of time. At the end of it, Kalki is supposed to descend, destroy evil, and bring an end to this mahayuga.
But there are ...
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