16
votes
Accepted
Is there any textual evidence that confirms the color of Hindu gods?
Short answer: Color signifies the property of the God's character. See this Mantra reference
Long answer: Honestly, anything I write here would be a duplicate of this excellent answer on Hinduism.SE: ...
13
votes
Is there any textual evidence that confirms the color of Hindu gods?
As with anything in Hinduism, there is an overabundance of sources rather than a lack of one.
Taking examples from just one text; Abirami Andhadhi, a poem on Abirami which is another name for ...
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13
votes
Are there Kali-types deities in other pantheons?
In fact, several! Four immediately come to mind: Dionysus, Inanna/Ishtar, Aphrodite, and Cybele.
Dionysus
First up is Dionysus, a god best known for wine and drunkenness, but surely you can see how ...
- 6,578
12
votes
Does Kalki appear at the end of every Kali Yuga, or just the current one?
No, Kalki only comes in this Kali Yuga, not every Kali Yuga. Let me first explain a bit about Hindu timescales. The four Yugas known as Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali together make up one Mahayuga, ...
10
votes
Accepted
Are there any epics featuring a female protagonist with less explored male characters?
Yes, several!
First, of the Greek world, we have the Catalogue of Women (sometimes called the Ehoiai). This is a debatable entry, as it lacks a strict narrative. Instead, it's the account of the ...
- 6,578
9
votes
Why there are graphic depictions of sexual acts in some Hindu temples?
The Kamasutra likely holds some clues. At the very least, it demonstrates that sexuality was a topic covered in Vedic literature.
Puruṣārtha is a concept in Hinduism referring to the goals of ...
- 13.9k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of the worship or deification of cows in India?
TL;DR
While the cow has always been treated with veneration in Hindu mythology and literature, the roots of the sacred status that it now enjoys are primarily because it was a convenient symbol of ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Why are cows sacred in India?
As you say, cows are sacred and respected in India. Indeed, a cow is often referred to as Go-Mata, meaning Cow-Mother.
There are a pretty high number of reasons why the cow is so sacred.
When ...
- 556
8
votes
Why are cows sacred in India?
Very good question!
In the ancient vedic texts and in Srimad Bhagavatam (composed about 5000 years ago) in particular, there is a mention of the 7 mothers for a human being who are as follows:
(1) ...
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7
votes
Why are cows sacred in India?
I would like to add a point. Surely, as answered by Malay, there are many references to different forms of cows playing a major role in various pastimes. However, along with those references and the ...
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7
votes
Are there Kali-types deities in other pantheons?
The Irish goddess the Morrigan is a fearsome war-goddess who also embodies sovereignty. As such, she mates with the chief god, and in the Cattle Raid of Cooley she offers victory to Cuchullain if he ...
- 5,818
6
votes
Is there any textual evidence that confirms the color of Hindu gods?
In essence God is formless, colourless, He is in everything and everything is with in Him. ( Refer to stanza 24 in Phalashruti) He lives in everything ( Search for 'Vyasa Uvacha:-
Vasanad Vasudevasya ...
- 99
6
votes
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 generally considered to have begun around 500-200 BCE. Hinduism was formed from a combination of other traditions, in what is often referred to as the "Hindu Synthesis" or "Brahmanic ...
- 9,108
5
votes
Accepted
Maruti, is this the name of Lord Hanuman or his mother Or both?
This should explain (source):
Maruti is a highly popular name used to address Hanuman. The literal
meaning of the word 'Maruti' is the one who is born from 'Marut',
meaning air. The other names ...
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5
votes
Why is Indra supplanted as chief God?
In the wikipedia link for post-vedic texts section, it states:
In post-Vedic texts, Indra is depicted as an intoxicated hedonistic
god, his importance declines, and he evolves into a minor deity ...
- 216
5
votes
Accepted
Is Ravana's true intent to be slain by Rama?
All in all, it all depends on viewpoints. The writer's, the translator's, and the reader's. There are different and conflicting versions of the story, but Valmiki's Ramayana and the Ramacharitmanas ...
- 556
5
votes
Why there are graphic depictions of sexual acts in some Hindu temples?
First things first. I do not agree with Ken Graham's answer. It is incorrect. I shall shortly tell why.
The Shivling is a form in which Shiva/Mahadev is worshipped. The Shivling with Yoni
In the ...
- 556
5
votes
Are Krishna and Hermes related?
That depends on your inference, in my opinion.
Both Krishna and Hermes were tricksters and thieves while in their childhood. Krishna stole and ate butter ( Which led to him being shackled to two pots ...
- 556
4
votes
Is there any textual evidence that confirms the color of Hindu gods?
The Sanskrit scriptures mentions the colour of the divine entities.
Sri Hari was first golden colour, then white, then sky blue and dark.
Siva is white
Durga/Lalitha - red in colour (raktha varna) ...
4
votes
Why did Vishnu rape Vrinda?
Vishnu was not "God." He was a god. Hinduism has a variety of labels on what kind of religion it is (i.e. polytheism, monotheism, atheism, non-theism...). But for the most part, more than one being is ...
- 6,815
4
votes
Why did Vishnu rape Vrinda?
The thing is a little complicated, but it was the only possible way Lord Vishnu had.
Jalandhar was a demon king and his wife Vrindha was a great devotee of Lorn Vishnu.
Once upon a time, Jalandhar ...
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4
votes
Accepted
Where has ancient Hindu technology knowledge gone?
Where has ancient technology knowledge gone? How did those technology ideas vanish?
The ancient technologies you mentioned like Shudarshan Chakra, Brhmastra, Pushpak Viman (Pushpak flying chariot) ...
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3
votes
Maruti, is this the name of Lord Hanuman or his mother Or both?
Maruti is the name of Hanuman and not of his mother.
In the line
Hey dukh bhanjan Maruti nandan Sunlo meri pukar..
Maruti nandan means child Maruti (like you would call someone child 'Name', ...
3
votes
Accepted
What is the name of the Mahabharata version told from the point of view of Sahadeva?
This answer has very little to do with mythology, but I found this question in the "Unanswered" list and thought I should pitch in. The answer is right there at the link in your question:
My Game ...
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3
votes
How did Christianity come to equate the place of punishment and the place of demons?
If anything early Christianity was well influenced by ancient Jewish culture of the day, including both Jewish laws, traditions, scriptures and mythology. For the most part both the New and Old ...
- 2,844
3
votes
Accepted
When did Lord Indra asked for Kawach-Kundal to Karna? It's before Kurukshetra war or in the mid of war?
As Hinduism is a living culture, its mythology is not just in texts but in the minds of the people, and there are various folk stories, family traditions, and even half-remembered distortions in ...
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3
votes
According to Hindu Mythology, why do people produce smoke, light and ring the bell?
In Aarti, a part of the Puja ritual, the burning of incense is said to be cleaning the air, and thus making it easier for the devas or other divine beings to manifest themselves in the place of ...
- 5,286
3
votes
How are Vetalas similar to Medusa?
I'm afraid the source you mentioned is on a TV show called Lost Girl.
The best source for finding relevant info on the Vetala is the Kathasaritsagara especially book 12
And especially the story (...
- 3,992
2
votes
When did Lord Indra asked for Kawach-Kundal to Karna? It's before Kurukshetra war or in the mid of war?
It was during the prelude of the war. Indra was scared that since Karna was invincible with his armor, he would vanquish Arjuna. So, to protect Arjuna, he took the form of a Brahmin while Karna was ...
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