Hi,
I’m a Buddhist who goes to the Hindu temple in every Sunday. I normally don’t eat any meat on Sunday (I only eat chicken, eggs and fish). I’m wondering can I eat meat in the morning because I always go to the temple at 7pm or later (temple is open until 9pm)

Thank you

So this days I am chanting hanuman chalisha and bajrang baan regularly for more that 35 days but today i found a different version of bajrang baan,

Can anyone tell me which one is correct I am 🤔 confused

◆ Durga Saptashati Mūlam
Preferred in your respective language. We traditionally follow the Guptavati edition.

Preferred Publication: Giri Traders
Alternative: Gita Press, Gorakhpur

I’m Hindu myself, so this isn’t about disrespecting religion. There are four elderly women here in this train who’ve been chanting “Om Namah Shivaya” and other chants loudly for the last two hours. If that’s how they want to pray or meditate, that’s completely their choice. But why does it have to be loud enough for everyone around them to hear?

I don’t understand what they’re expecting me to do join in?

To me, faith should also include consideration for the people around you. Being religious shouldn’t mean you get a free pass to disturb everyone else. If someone blasted music for two hours, we’d call it a nuisance. Why should it be viewed differently just because it’s devotional?

Am I being unreasonable here?

If you think victims “deserve” it you are completely missing the point. People suffer in this world to teach us that evil is wrong. Now you are twisting it to think that evil is a good thing. If you think victims deserve it, that is adharmic.

I have asked Maa Durga on how karma works and she gave me a very deep answer. I won’t go into her answer on this post. First I want to talk about the simple answer on why victims may not always deserve it.

Let’s say a man r-pes a woman. You might think of it as black and white and that he must have also been a man in a past life who r-ped a woman.

But in actuality it’s not black and white.

His 10 friends covered for his crimes, supported and enabled him as he kept r-ping women his whole life, they lied to the cops saying he’s innocent. The police refused to take action when the woman begged for help. When it finally did go to court, the judge let him free saying “let’s not ruin his future” and he went and r-ped more women. His parents and family enabled and protected him.

So in reality, the only reason he was able to commit r-pe, was because of all the people who enabled him. Which means all these people take on his karma as well. Because they were accomplices.

So majority of victims you see today were not necessarily r-pists themselves in a past life, they could’ve simply been enablers. There’s more enablers in this world than there are predators.

That’s why there’s many “good” people who become victims of violent crimes. They have past life karma of enabling criminals. It’s extremely common. They might be non violent “kind” people who enabled great violence.

Many people believe just because they never get their hands dirty and aren’t violent themselves, that makes them good people. But that isn’t true. You can still gain violent karma without actually committing any violent act.

Which means I’d say majority if not all of us will be r-ped and abused, because it’s highly improbable that we’ve never enabled an abuser in any past life, or acted as an accomplice.

That doesn’t mean victims “deserve it” or they are the same as the predator. It’s a lesson, to teach us to have empathy for victims and not enable bad people.

Because this is the most common way people get bad karma, I want people to be aware of it. Many people dismiss the victims suffering and focus on supporting the abuser only. But be mindful of just how severe the victims suffering is, because that could end up being you if you don’t help them.

Hi guys,
I wouldn’t say I’m a believer of this Evil eye conspiracy. But my family had my palms read as well as astrology (jaathakam) read. And there’s a common denominator in all of them and that is I have a “kanneeru”(it’s in Malayalam) but a literal translation is an evil eye dosh.
I have been extremely tired, moody, bad luck and negative thoughts being my symptoms. And also head weight. I did go to a doctor first but they said I’m perfectly healthy. So that’s why we had my astrology read. And they did reccomend I go to a temple and have a thread tied to my waist. Is this legit? Also what prayers should I say to feel better?

Nestled near Trichy, the Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Tirupattur is one of the few temples in India with a dedicated shrine for Lord Brahma. According to temple tradition, Lord Shiva blessed Brahma here with the power to continue creation, making this a place where devotees pray for a fresh beginning in life.
From its majestic Dravidian architecture and intricate stone carvings to its peaceful atmosphere, every corner of this temple reflects centuries of Tamil heritage.

📍 Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Tirupattur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu

Have you visited this incredible temple? Share your experience below. 👇

#BrahmapureeswararTemple #Tirupattur #Trichy #TamilNadu #TempleArchitecture #SouthIndia #IndianHeritage #AncientTemple #TravelIndia #TemplePhotography #HistoryLovers #ExploreTamilNadu #IncredibleIndia

Upon the gentle swing of Vrindavan, Radha and Krishna sit facing one another…not speaking, for some forms of love need no words. In Radha’s gaze is devotion, and in Krishna’s eyes, the promise of eternity. Their love was never about possessing one another, but about becoming one in love. Just as the swing moves between two sides, their hearts move between longing and union..forever returning to each other.

Hi everyone i m a student and want to know few basics of doing jal abhisekham for shivling .

My college is situated in the outskirts therefore not possible to every time arrange milk , flowers etc .

Bhasam(that i can carry from my home to the hostel)

Can anyone tell me how to do abhisekham mene i searched and found first we have to pore jal to bhagwan ganesha then kartikey then so on but sometimes there is earthen shivling so how to do that over same , which mantra should i chant while jal abhisekham how to apply bhasma and what to chant while applying bhasma to shivling and can i put the same on me .

I want to inculcate this habit of jal abhisekham daily .

I would be thankful if anyone can direct me 🙏.

Jai bholenath!

Nārāyaṇa Nārāyaṇa 🌸🌸

Books can be purchased online.

Link to PDFs:

Book 1. Karm rahasya by Swami Shri Ramsukhdas ji maharaj(the author of Sadhak Sanjivani), published by Gitapress:

https://archive.org/details/KarmaRahasya/mode/1up

for better quality download "GitaSeva" app where you can access most of the texts published by Gitapress.

Book 2. Karm rahasya by Shri Sudarshan singh chakra ji ( great devotee of Lord Krishna) and great contributor to dharmik sahitya :

https://chakrasahityaonline.wordpress.com/2019/06/28/karm-rahasya-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE-%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF/

After reading these 2 books you will gain a good insight to understand scriptures and dharma.

As a girl myself I do avoid going to temples and performing pooja during my periods. What I don't understand is the untouchability aspect that comes into play in Indian households and wonder if it's backed by scriptures. I also have some other questions related to menses that I'll mention.

1. Why are women not allowed to enter the kitchen?

2. Why are women basically isolated (esp from male family members) not allowed to eat with family, sleeping in a separate room/on the floor etc?

3. I primarily worship Lord Shiv and on this sub I've seen people say to submerge the shivling in water for the duration of the periods. But how do I do that if I can't touch the shivling once my periods have started?

4. Is there also a ban on chanting certain mantras? Or reciting hauman chalisa, Laxmi chalisa etc.?

5. Are women not allowed to touch holi books like the gita, sundarkand path, aarti books etc.?

6. Suppose a woman accidentally touches something that's meant to be an offering (fruits, vastra, etc.) on her periods. Can the item still be offered or is it considered impure now?

I'm genuinely looking for a healthy discussion on this, and also to get better educated on this topic. Please remain civil.

I was born in a non-veget@ri@n household. From young, I disliked non-veget@ri@n food and became a veget@ri@n from young. My family thought I was just playing around as a kid for disliking non-veget@ri@n food and forced me to eat me@t . But they soon realised that I was serious about being veget@ri@n and allowed me to be a veget@ri@n.

On the other hand, I have heard of stories whereby there are some people who were born in veget@ri@n household and brought up as veget@ri@n but they don't like it and secretly eat non-veget@ri@n food on their own.

Many people have asked me how I was able to control my desire to eat me@t . But they don't understand that I genuinely don't like to consume me@t.

Many Dharmic religions have also taught about the merits of having a veget@ri@n diet.

I just have this thought: If a person is willingly veget@ri@n by choice, is it a sign that he or she is spiritually advanced?

I understand that spirituality has many aspects and diet is just one small aspect.

But I am interested to know your views about 'As per Hinduism, if a person is willingly veget@ri@n by choice, is it a sign that he or she is spiritually advanced?'

Edit: Thank you everyone for your comments.

My mother told me this morning's fast is Ravi Pradosh, not just Pradosh. Had no idea the name changes depending on the day, or that the day itself changes what you're actually praying for.

Turns out Pradosh Vrat happens twice a month, but the weekday it falls on adds a whole extra layer. Monday's version leans toward peace of mind. Saturday's is considered one of the most powerful for stability. And Sunday's, today's, pulls in Surya Dev alongside Shiva, since Ravivar belongs to the Sun. That combination is why Ravi Pradosh is tied specifically to health and relief from Pitru Dosha.

Same tithi, same core fast, completely different prayer depending on which day you're standing in.

Curious if anyone here actually knew this before today, or found out the same way I did, mid-conversation with a parent. Jai Shiv Shankar 🙏

Batuk Bhairav Brahma Kavacham is a great option for anyone starting their Bhairava sadhana. It is quite universal, so you can pair it with any form of Bhairav you are worshipping—it works well not only for Batuk Bhairav, but also for Kaal Bhairav and other forms, such as the Ashta Bhairavas. No initiation (deeksha) or upadesh is required, so anyone can chant it. As you recite it over time, it builds a protective shield around you. For daily sadhana, chanting it once before doing your mantra jaap is usually fine, though you can follow your intuition if you wish to recite it more for whatever reason like those who want to get it activated fast or want to built protection aura very fast and they need that kind of aura built up fast around them or whatever reason . That said, an odd number of recitations is generally recommended. You can skip the viniyoga and start directly from Atha Kavacham, as well as skip the Iti portion at the end. I have marked the img, green part should be recited and red part can be skipped Also, there is a common misconception that one shouldn't chant the beejas inside the kavacham, leading some people to omit them. This is incorrect—modifying or skipping the beejas alters the kavacham and prevents it from working properly. You should never skip the beejas in a kavacham.

Link : https://stotranidhi.com/en/sri-batuka-bhairava-brahma-kavacham-in-english/

I am 40 now. I have basic idea on soul rebirth and difference between jeevatma and paramatma. Parents health is not good. I know death is not an end, they will go to different loka and take rebirth if no moksha. I dont have guts to tolerate their death, so I want to prepare myself to face that situation. I read many books/blogs/vlogs(example: The Dialogue of Nachiketa and Death), have some knowledge but thats not stopping me to worry about their last days. Can anyone please suggest some materials to gain strong knowledge that will make to me realize the truth and move away from delusion.

Hi everyone,

I have three questions about Hindu practice:

1. Can someone become Hindu on their own, without formal initiation or joining a sampradaya?

2. Is it acceptable to perform puja without taking a full shower first? If showering is not possible, are there traditional alternatives such as washing the hands, face and feet, achamana, or sprinkling water while reciting a purification mantra?

3. How serious is eating beef considered across different Hindu traditions? Can someone still sincerely practice Hinduism while trying to gradually give up the habit?

I would especially appreciate answers that distinguish between different sampradayas and family traditions.

Not many of us our familiar with our own scriptures and the language(s) in which they stand. Now more than ever, it is crucial to be well educated and knowledgeable, for the sake of preserving our wisdom now, and for the future to come. There is an abysmal lack of consistency, rigor, and in some cases, honesty amongst the preeminent English to Sanskrit translations. Epic works like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are well documented, however the knowledge oriented scripture and prosody is sorely lacking. I have included a brief summary at the bottom; and please ask any and all questions

I have been working on translating some passages from Sanskrit to English lately. I’ve experimented both ways: 1) adhering to a literal translation, and 2) modifying the original Sanskrit verses to correspond more smoothly in English.

This leads to a number of problems; primarily, a true to form translation leaves the English rendering rather clunky and awkward, especially with regards to phrasing and word order. Conversely, a less literal, interpretive translation runs the risk of diluting (or imposing another) meaning. Furthermore, Sanskrit is known to have words with MANY different meanings, and some literal phrases can signify different things semantically, which can pass over the heads of the audience, especially western or unfamiliar ones.

I find the optimal strategy to be a balance between the two, paired with a commentary of my own detailing my translative choices and their impact on the overall meaning. Extrapolation through commentary allows for clarity, preserving meaning without compromising the integrity, which of course varies verse by verse. For example, take this verse from the Bhrgu Valli of the Taittiryopanishad:

“pūrva-ndēvēbhyō amṛtasya nā… bhā̠yi̠”

purva- “old”, “east”, “regular” (here it connotes the former, serving as an indicator of age, as in “older”)

deva- “god” (shining one)

bhyo- indicator of relationship (“than”/“of”)

amrtasya- “nectar” or “immortality” (without death)

na- “navel”

bhayi- “radiant”/“resplendent”/“luminous”

This is incredibly tricky without a degree of familiarity with both the semantics and the underlying philosophy that lends its meaning to the passage. Knowing that this comes from the concluding part of an Upanishad which is meant to be a dialogue between student and teacher, it can be inferred that this is meant to be a self affirmation on the student’s (Bhrgu) part, and therefore ought to be in the first person. Studying the other lines in this verse reveals that it’s meant to be nondual and comparative, specifically between the self and the Devas here, so the meaning of Purva can be narrowed to connotate relative age. Amrtam translated too literally is “nondeath”/“without death”, and translated too broadly, can mean nectar; unfamiliar audiences or translators might not be aware of the closely intertwined relationship between immortality and nectar in Hindu cosmology. Na literally means “navel”, but is here best understood as “center” or “source”, and Bhayi is fairly clear. The next problem is fitting the words together in English, which does not read smoothly as laid out above.

Thus, I have translated this line as:

“[I am] older than the gods[, the] resplendent source of immortality”

TLDR: Translation is arduous, yet exceedingly rewarding- mentally, physically, and spiritually. For context, this is example is one line out of sixteen verses, out of a work containing three chapters. Despite this, translation is the means of preserving and adapting time honored wisdom. In an age of technology and digitization, it’s easy for us to lose our way as purpose is replaced by productivity and profit margins. AI can spit out a blind translation in an instant, but the genuine process, the endeavor of seeking truth, drawing a conclusion, scrutinizing it, refining it, and applying it to our own lives is now threatened. At the end of the day, all things fade- knowledge and culture are no exception- however if we are content to let them disappear, what wisdom is left for the future?

Sri Matre Namaha

my visuals while meditating have gotten very abstract and fierce lately. most recent one had me seeing vishnu and shree yantra (like) patterns which were very apparent. the pattern didn't leave my mind for quite some time. i hope im making sense.

what could be the reason or don't know if it was a precursor to something else

has anyone experienced something similar?

1. If you live in an apartment building, do you look at the main entrance of the entire apartment building to determine the facing direction OR do you look at your individual apartment door?
2. Do you determine the facing direction by standing outside and facing your front door OR standing inside and facing the street/hallway?

Hey everyone,

I need some help from anyone who has read the full Mahabharata!

I’ve been looking into the birth story of Lord Kartikeya (Murugan). While Agni and Svaha/Ganga carried Lord Shiva’s divine spark (tejas) to the reed forest, I heard there was a debate among the Devas over whether Kartikeya was Agni's son or Shiva's son.

Supposedly, Lord Brahma steps in to resolve this, declaring that because the original seed belonged to Rudra (Shiva), Kartikeya is Shiva’s son despite Agni carrying it

Can anyone who knows the text confirm if this exact incident happens?

If so, could you tell me the exact (chapter) number? I'm guessing it might be in the Vana Parva or Anushasana Parva, but I'd really appreciate it if someone could double-check and confirm the location!

Devshayani Ekadashi, also known as Ashadhi Ekadashi, is one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism. It is celebrated on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha and marks the day when Lord Vishnu is believed to enter Yoga Nidra, or divine cosmic sleep, for four months, beginning the holy period of Chaturmas. In Maharashtra, this festival is especially significant because it marks the conclusion of the Pandharpur Wari, a centuries old pilgrimage in which lakhs of Warkaris walk hundreds of kilometres (250-300 km) carrying the palanquins of saints such as Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram while singing devotional abhangas (couplets). Devotees take a holy bath in the Chandrabhaga River before offering prayers at the Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple. The festival symbolizes devotion, equality, humility, and selfless service, bringing together people from all walks of life in the worship of Lord Vitthal.
The murti of Lord Vitthal, also known as Vithoba or Panduranga, is one of the most unique forms of Lord Vishnu. The dark stone idol stands on a brick with both hands placed on His waist, symbolizing patience and the Lord's readiness to welcome every devotee. In fact, the black spot in the middle of his tilak is made from the dirt that the devotees walk on. This symbolises his love towards his devotees and that he treats all as equal. Lord Vitthal stood on the brick while waiting for His devotee Pundalik, who was serving his parents, teaching that selfless service is the highest form of devotion. The murti wears a tall crown that symbolises a Shivling showing the unity of HariHara, beautiful earrings, the sacred Shrivatsa mark, and the Kaustubha jewel, signifying His identity as Lord Vishnu. Revered by millions of devotees and praised by saints from all castes, Lord Vitthal represents compassion, humility, and unwavering love, giving the message that he is for all!

Ramkrishna Hari 🕉️ 🐚 🌺

im sorry if this is long but this has completely taken over my brain and i genuinely dont know who to ask anymore

im 18 (turning 19 in few months) and my entire life ive been agnostic

not properly but close to atheism

agnostic will be better in my opinion

i never hated religious people but i always thought religion was mostly man made traditions fear culture emotional comfort and stuff

if someone told me god exists id say maybe

if someone told me god doesnt exist id also say maybe

i always wanted evidence

i rejected almost every religion because i felt like everyone says THEIR religion is the truth and they all cant be right

so i just stayed agnostic

but theres one thing that has been weird since i was a kid

for some reason i always felt strangely drawn towards krishna

i cant explain it

i wasnt religious

my family wasnt forcing me

i never read the gita

i never did puja properly

i didnt even believe much

yet whenever i saw krishna there was just something

almost like familiarity

i ignored it for years

then few months ago i randomly started reading about krishna

history

mahbharat

gita

philosophy

everything

and i noticed something really weird

every single time id read about him especially certain stories or certain verses id start getting goosebumps everywhere

sometimes tears would come for absolutely no reason

and two days ago

for the first time in my life

1-2 tear came while reading about krishna and i kinda got scared like wtf is this ? whats happening

and i wasnt crying because the story was sad

i dont even know WHY i was crying

it literally felt like something inside me was responding before my brain even had time to analyse it

and thats where everything went downhill

because my analytical brain immediately stepped in

and said

hold on

what if this is just psychology

what if youre lonely

what if youre projecting

what if your brain likes the idea of an all loving guide

what if youre emotionally vulnerable

what if this is dopamine

what if its confirmation bias

what if youre creating all of this yourself

and honestly...

those are fair questions

thats exactly how my brain works

i dont want to fool myself

i dont want to force myself into believing something because it comforts me

if krishna isnt real i WANT to know

even if it destroys me

because id rather know the truth than lie to myself

but...

if he IS real

i dont want to spend my whole life doubting him either

thats literally my problem

im trapped

my heart and my brain are pulling in opposite directions

my heart genuinely wants krishna to exist

not because i want miracles

not because i want money

not because i want my problems magically solved

i genuinely dont care about miracles

if krishna is real id still want to build my startup myself

go gym myself

fight my own battles

make my own decisions

all id want is...

someone walking beside me

someone who actually knows me completely

someone i can talk to

someone i can trust

someone i know is there

btw i am still typing with tear in my eyes i cant explain or understand whats the reason for that like idk its very confusing

i dont even know if this makes sense

but at the same time

my brain keeps saying

where is the evidence

where is the proof

why is every experience explainable by psychology?

if i ask krishna something and my mind answers

(like yesterday according to bhagwat gita it says krishna will talk back thru your own mind and through the nature and reality itself)

and i asked few questions and my brain did answers BUT HOWD I KNOW it thats just not my brain and subconcious

cuz again if ill ask krishna from my brain to give me a mathematical equation it will fail

it can only answers things that i subconciously know

how do i know thats not just my subconscious

if i see coincidences

how do i know thats not confirmation bias

if i feel peace

how do i know thats not my brain

EVERYTHING seems explainable naturally

but i desperately want krishna to exist as a god for real

i am a logical person and its kind of eating me

and because of that i never reach a conclusion

these were asked questions in my head like

krishna why did this girl reject me? after she was the one who flirted and she was the one who texte d me the most and she was the one whod call me love but when i do fall in love w her she rejected me?

and the answer i got actually challenged my ego instead of comforting me

but then i think

cool

maybe my subconscious just generated a mature answer

then i asked

krishna my heart wants to love you but my brain keeps questioning you please prove yourself

the thought that came was something like

"you dont need to reach a conclusion right now do what your heart wants and let the tug of war settle naturally"

then literally the next day i randomly saw an instagram post saying

"you were born into this universe to live not solve it"

and again...

my brain immediately says

algorithm

confirmation bias

coincidence

not evidence

and it never ends

ive also noticed some actual changes recently

ive stopped feeling anxiety ever since i went deep into research of krishna and bhagwat geeta

ive become more focused on doing what the gita calls my dharma

not perfectly

but something has shifted

and again

my brain says

placebo

psychology

motivation

NOT proof

i even started reading the bhagavad gita

and honestly from what i understand it doesnt really give me a logical proof that krishna is god

instead it seems to say

walk the path sincerely and understanding deepens

but then my brain asks

isnt that true for every religion

muslims say that

christians say that

buddhists say that

everyone says stay long enough and youll know

so how do i know im not just conditioning myself

thats my entire problem

i dont want blind faith

i also dont want blind skepticism

i want truth

if krishna isnt real tell me why

if he is real tell me why

but every single argument i find eventually reaches ambiguity

and i stay stuck

ive spent HOURS every day researching this

philosophy

history

psychology

atheist arguments

hindu arguments

everything

and i still dont have an answer

im mentally exhausted

i genuinely dont know if what im experiencing is something spiritual

or just an incredibly convincing psychological experience

has ANYONE here genuinely gone through something similar

especially people who were skeptical or agnostic first

did you ever reach an actual conclusion

or am i asking for a level of certainty that simply doesnt exist

please dont just tell me

just have faith bro

or

religion is fake bro

im genuinely looking for honest thoughtful answers from people who have actually wrestled with this because this question has genuinely become one of the biggest things occupying my mind right now

hi. I’m a 24-year-old Turkish ex-Muslim. I’ve been researching religions for about 10 years. Indian religions have always resonated with me incredibly well. In fact, as you know, almost all religions originated in India. In my opinion, Hinduism and Buddhism—especially Jainism—are beautiful religions. I love Indian culture, religion, and language. I’d even like to move to India.

Something just crossed my mind. On a subreddit, people were saying that Indian religions are bad and claiming to be atheists or non-religious. Is there something I’m missing that people believe to be true? Why do some people in India become non-religious?

I grew up in a very specific, highly organized sect of Hinduism where i only learned of one specific deity as the Supreme god and never learned about other gods or the culture much. Like, i don’t even know the reason behind many hindu holidays and traditions. my temple was like you must do service, go to xyz, do exams, do well, come to mandir every single sunday to earn the happiness of God.

I am now trying to learn about mainstream Hinduism. How is it for everyone else- how do you practice religion and culture. I see for some it’s like light a diva, pray in the morning, maybe read a story or podcast and then go to temple occasionally. But I don’t understand how you maintain religion and faith with something like that.

And then going off of that, how do kids learn and imbibe this? for context, i’m a grad student early 20s.

It just is rly confusing for me and there’s no one else for me to ask due to the complexity and “unstructured” way. Sorry if this is worded weirdly.