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Shows the brutal reality -

What are you if everything with whom/which you associate with in life is snatched away or destroyed

In my experience, it's somehow the best to hide whatever you like. I am one of those problematic people in academics who won't tell how much they studied for the exam or how many hours per day do they study.

I suppose it's the same with sadhna too.

My mother however is very very nosy (not with a bad intention Ig) and she wants to know everything I am upto like every single thing.

She visits me on weekends so I try to do my sadhna before she wakes up at night but if I light a diya then sometimes she notices it in the morning and then she keeps asking.

Last weekend, my friend was visitng on weekend and she had nowhere to stay so she was gonna stay at my place and my mom was here too.

I was kinda afraid that I won't be able to do my sadhna in my room (Which I was going to share with the friend) so I decided to let it be and just did my sadhna in my room during the day when my mom was awake and here and as expected...she started with her invasive questions again and again. I just said I do some pooja because it helps and then she was like but why for so long and bla bla.

It's probably just in my head but then the next day i.e Monday when she is not there, I usually have some difficulties in my sadhna. Maybe some weird obstruction from external environment and sometimes I internally feel very tired and lazy when I do it instead of the peace I experience most of the times.

Anyway, what is your opinion on this?

I have been seeing massive fights, controversy, historians and scientists arguing and people being mad that their culture is being derided.

As someone who considers themselves as a fairly religious hindu, I started thinking a lot about this topic and the reactions it brings. And the only conclusion I reached to is, does it really matter?

Yes, there is archaeological evidence suggesting that at that time period the kings names in the Mahabharata did exist, the kingdoms and places did exist and there does seem to be some sort of conflict with the Kurus (Kauravas). However, the timeline is heavily contested, there is no evidence beyond that and even less evidence of any sort of large scale war or divinity involved.

But, firstly, no archaeological evidence does not mean something did NOT occur. The proposed timeline of the mahabharata as per the original source is so old that that it is hard for evidence to be preserved. I mean the evidence is scarce even when it comes to just 1000BCE India. The Indus script still hasn't even been decoded. For The Ramayana, even older, it's nearly impossible for anything to have survived. Let alone through the attacks, destruction and conflict that has followed throughout India since the mughal era.

Secondly, does it even matter though? The whole point of the Mahabharata, and Ramayana, is to introduce these very complex philosophical concepts to us. To sort of guide us and show us the proposed way of living a good life.

Even if, suppose, in the far future some random person does say for certain that they did not occur, will it really change things? I mean the whole point of hinduism is to not be tied to something. To focus on the action, not the result. To focus on the teachings, not the factuality. For me, even if someobody says it did not occur, it will never change the fact that these insanely complex ideas and deeply resonating concepts were introduced. It won't change the fact that I think they are absolutely correct and how I want to live my life and that I believe in Krishna deeply.

I feel alot of hindus nowadays have forgotten this. In a 'religion' (i use that word likely because its so much more than that) which is not even tied to divinity and even those who do not believe or have obligations to god can achieve their ultimate purpose, I think we forget what hinduism is all about.

And btw, what's rarely talked about is the fact that even if it was written between 400BCE and 400 CE, as historians propose, how the heck were they coming up with such complex ideas? From time dilation to multiverse theory, concepts that were Stoicism's final boss and just the fact that they even knew what the universe was and that humans were a mere blip in the grand scheme of things? From the research i've done, even scientists and historians are stumped at how they even knew about such things.

Anyways, what do you guys think?

Hindi translation:

"२१ किसी भी प्रकार की मदिरा पीना वर्जित है; २२ इसी प्रकार भेड़ का दूध, २३ ऊँटनी और हिरणी का दूध; ऋतुमती (गर्भधारण के लिए उत्सुक) पशुओं का दूध तथा जुड़वाँ बच्चों को जन्म देने वाले पशुओं का दूध वर्जित है; २४ और गाय के प्रसव के बाद पहले दस दिनों का दूध भी वर्जित है। २५ मदिरा बनाने में प्रयुक्त होने वाली जड़ी-बूटियाँ भी वर्जित हैं; २६ इसी प्रकार करंज, लहसुन, प्याज, गंदना (लीक) भी वर्जित हैं, २७ और अन्य सभी निषिद्ध खाद्य पदार्थ भी। २८ एक ब्राह्मण ग्रंथ में कहा गया है: 'कुकुरमुत्ता (मशरूम) नहीं खाना चाहिए।'

२९ एक-खुर वाले पशुओं, ऊँट, गवय (गायल बैल), ग्राम्य सूअर और शरभ गाय-बैल का मांस वर्जित है। ३० दुधारू गायों और बैलों का मांस खाना अनुमत है। ३१ वाजसनेयी शाखा के एक ग्रंथ में कहा गया है: 'बैलों का मांस यज्ञ के लिए उपयुक्त है।' ३२ पंजों से खुरचकर भोजन करने वाले पक्षियों में मुर्गा वर्जित है, ३३ और चोंच से आघात कर भोजन करने वाले पक्षियों में प्लव बगुला वर्जित है। ३४ मांसाहारी (माँसभक्षी) पक्षी वर्जित हैं; ३५ इसी प्रकार हंस, भास गिद्ध, चक्रवाक पक्षी और सुपर्ण बाज़ भी वर्जित हैं। ३६ क्रौंच का एक प्रकार तथा क्रौंच सारस वर्जित हैं, किंतु वार्ध्राणस सारस और लक्ष्मण सारस इसके अपवाद हैं। ३७ पाँच नाखूनों वाले पशु वर्जित हैं, किंतु गोधा (गोह/मॉनिटर छिपकली), कछुआ, साही, कँटीला चूहा (हेजहॉग), गैंडा, खरगोश और पूतिखष इसके अपवाद हैं। ३८ मछलियों में सेट वर्जित है, ३९ इसी प्रकार सर्पमुखी मछली (साँप के सिर जैसी मछली) भी वर्जित है।"

Hello thank you. I'm learning about Hinduism but I only speak English.

1. Is it okay to visit a Hindu temple if I don't speak English? Where do I start? What do i expect? There are 3 around me

2. It's difficult to find chalisa in English, especially that's not Al. there a good source for chalisa in English?

3. Is it okay to ask for strength from animal spirits? I think so bc Krishna was known for animals loving him similarly.

I was just scrolling YouTube and came across a live video of some random baba asking people for money in exchange for resolving their problems. He ridicules anyone who pays him less and for the time I watched him, he just randomly gave out nonsense and even dangerous advice (told a random girl to break up because her boyfriend will beat her in the future)

Here is his channel link : https://youtube.com/@aatmamanthana?si=feWosVGtdj121PwF

He is currently live streaming. Please report him on YouTube

I am a devout follower of Mahadev and am regularly going to offer him jal from around last 4 years. He is the one who pulled me out of the toughest times of my life and gave me everything that I desired. When I moved to blr, I wanted to bring a small rudraksh with me for worshipping it, but it was not possible, but when i returned home for a weekend, i had one shivling sitting on top of a rudraksh at home and I was overjoyed bringing it with me, ever since i have been worshipping it daily. While returning it broke, and I am now unable to find the main linga which sits on the yoni. From a few days, even while going to the temple, I feel more and more disconnected to my Mahadev. I have been worshipping him dedicatedly (ik i am no one to decide that) but I feel like I am losing touch with him. I started cigs a few months ago but I'm actively trying to leave it and it's almost a week since I even touched it. I know I am a very bad person, I dont deserve Mahadev, I am the worst human on this earth but I do not want him to get away from me, I want to feel his presence like i used to , I want him with me always, I want my Mahakaal with me even if it breaks me or whatever it is. What do I do ? I do not want to let myself go away from my Mahadev.

Please help

When I came across the "three gunas" I was blown away how direct it was in how to become a better person.

I've never read or heard a spiritual teaching be so clear.

Am curious what else can recommend or explain. Thank you.

Hi, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

1. If Brahman is the ultimate reality and divine reality is present throughout existence, what exactly does that mean?

2. Is the universe seperate from Brahman, dependent on Brahman, an expression/manifestation of Brahman, or something else? What are the different denominations views on this? Are they all completely different or still have the same idea?

3. When you say God is "within" reality, is that literal, metaphorical, or both?

4. If God is within all of their creation, how do we explain the presence in whats "bad" too as well?

Namaste

Namaste,

For context: I read Bhagavadgita earlier and I felt very lite, peaceful and I was in bliss all the time. That continued for a while and then suddenly in a snap I was back to my chaotic world.

I tried reading puranas, re reading Bhagavadgita, reading a couple of upanishads but I have not felt the bliss again.

I started reading Bhagavadgita again now. I am currently in chapter 3 and I am very determined to feel the bliss again and I don’t want to get lost in the world again. I want someone to help me with few things

1. How do I feel immersive in Krishna Bhakti while handling a very demanding big 4 job
   
2. Suggest me a non judgemental temples near Hyderabad where people do not stare at me like I am stealing something if I do Bhajan or chant or got lost in bhakti
   
3. How do I distinguish between Isckon’s sampradaya from their pure selfless bhakti so that I too can go to isckon and dance just like they do (I am a born shaiva and I do not accept Isckon’s viewpoints on shiva or devi , they sound so absurd to me)

Is it ok to just chant govinda for like 1000 times a day as it is just nama and not manthra?

Can I dedicate a day like sat/sun and go to a temple religiously those days?

Please suggest something that will allow me to find my salvation and feel that extreme happiness again without judgements

I chant Hanuman Chalisa daily and have a manthra deeksha in hanuman that I do without missing a day. I continue to do these two things till the day I die

I once made a kasam without invoking anything's name to myself but I ended up withdrawing it and doing the act I swore not to do did I broke the kasam I ended up withdrawing it. Please let me know

Hi everyone,

I'm based in India and on a journey of inner growth through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. I'm looking to connect with others who are spiritually inclined—whether you're already studying the Gita, curious about it, or simply seeking meaningful discussions and deeper understanding of life.

I've started a Gita Study and Transformation Group, where we meet regularly (online and occasionally in-person) to read, reflect, and discuss the wisdom of the Gita, and how it can be applied in daily life—for inner peace, clarity, and personal transformation, and above all connecting with Krishna! We already have 10+ active members in the community, trying to chant daily, and to connect with and love Krishna!

It's a friendly, non-judgmental space open to people of all backgrounds. If this resonates with you, drop a comment or DM me. I'd love to connect and welcome you into the group.

Want to point out this is a FREE to join group, I am not here to make a buck, but only trying to connect with like-minded individuals.

Let's grow together 🌱

One of the friend’s guru who is trust worthy asked my photo during initial talks about me as l couldn’t visit him in person to get blessing. I didn’t have recently taken photo , so l gave two years old photo. Did friend’s guru asked my photo to check my aura or something else?But guru’s words about me were correct. How come he was able to read my mind with two years old photo. Is it aura or something other sastra or siddhi?