Does God exists? How does one understand God?
It’s a significant thought, but one has to define the word ‘exists’ in-order to get a response. So the better question is what is God / Ishwara? If the answer has to be phrased into a single line then Ishwara is Satyam or Veda. Such a significant desire to understand Ishwara is rare so, kindly read slowly and carefully with an clear mind. Please click here to continue reading about Ishwara.
How can I see God? Or is He an imagination?
To see God / Ishwara is to expect Ishwara to be seen through ‘Indria’ (sense organs). So there are two types of Indria, one is Karmendriya (like eyes) in which case Ishwara should show up in a material form and reflect light or emit light Himself. The second type of Indria is Gyan:indriya meaning the sense of visualization evolved out of Gyana (enlightenment), that visualization is endless. So let’s try to comprehend Ishwara, Please click here to continue reading about Ishwara.
Why does Ishwara behave and mimic us (living beings) by manifesting in forms and relationships similar to us? And what about the various forms that are depicted on sculptures and paintings?
What is Dharma?
What is Sanatana Dharma?
What is Shastra?
What is Devotion / Bhakthi? How does one foster Bhakthi? What are the different ways to foster and express devotion / Bhakthi?
What is Karma? Is there a way out of our Karma? Can God / Ishwara override our Karma?
What is Kama?
What is Punya & Paapa?
Why do good and innocent people get hurt? Why does bad things happen to good people?
On what basis should I make a good choice or action?
Should I worship God out of fear?
Is God / Ishwara pure energy? What is the difference between God / Ishwara and Shakthi?
Is God / Ishwara male or female?
Who is a Mother? Is God / Ishwara Mother or Father?
Is Devi more powerful or Deva?
Who is a Guru? Is Guru a teacher? What is the difference between Guru, Aacharya, Rishi, Sanyasi and Upadhaya?
What is the need for a Guru? Can I read Sanatana Dharma literature myself and understand it?
What is the significance of a temple?
What is the significance of performing Namaskar?
Does Earth and creation get destroyed? Is destruction imminent? Why does it happen?
What is time?
What is evil? Why does it exists and why does God / Ishwara allow it to exists?
What is dhyana (meditation) or dhyanam and how can one perform it? Should I think about something during meditation? Should I breath in a specific way? Should I be seated during meditation? Can I think about God during meditation?
Before Kshera:sagara Madan(am) (from which Sri Lakshmi emerged) was Sri Vishnu just Vishnu (along)?
Does life exists after death?
Life when defined in-terms of a physical body then the answer is no, this physical body in the concept known as Kaal (kalam or time) dissolves back into Prakruti (Nature). However, life when defined as Jiva, then the answer is yes. Jiva and atma are indestructible and exists indefinitely. Please click here to read about jiva.
What is the purpose of being a Human? Why each individual is different?
What is happiness and how can I be happy? Can I be happy always?
Happiness is a state of mind. Which is a result of some sort of availability of a material, a sense of safety or comfort, which are all as a result of Punya arising out of Karma. As per Sanskrit Happiness is called Sukha and Sadness is called Dukha, which are a result of Punya and Karma. Also read Kshemam and Yogam to complete the concepts as they are interconnected. Kindly click on the respective titles to read about their topics. Can I be happy always? Yes, such a state is called Brahm:anandam which arises from Jiva:brahma:ikya:siddhi.
Is this existence real? What is Maya? What is Gyana?
As long as this reality is utilized as a stepping stone towards the evolution of conscience, this reality is real, once that is done, this reality becomes an illusion. For the one who is selfish and a slave to ego then this reality is an object to be controlled in-order to seek pleasure. Please continue by reading the topic of Maya by clicking this title.
Why so many Gods?
Ishwara is ONE, there is no secondary entity other than Ishwara. In the concept of Tri:murthi, He the Ishwara appears to operate in three modes, they are creation, preservation and finally dissolution. Exploring Ishwara through any of these three modes leads to one destination. If one hopes to understand Ishwara through any manifested forms, then each such manifested form can be perceived as Ishwara, however, choosing to arguing about one manifestation over another is ignorance and ego. Ishwara as an anomaly who comes time and again in different forms to support and preserve creation, in other words He comes to preserve Dharma. Please read the concepts of Ishwara, Prakruti, & Divine Mother by clicking on their respective title.
What is the difference between Veda, Puranas and Upanishad?
Puranas are collections of Ishwara’s accounts during various manifestation in kaal(am) (time). Where as Upanishad are more a dialog between a Guru and a Sisya (Student/disciple) over a topic of Veda. Veda means Satyam, and Ishwara is Satyam, and this Satyam is understood thought a Guru. A Guru is not a teacher. Kindly read the topic of Guru to understand why. Veda is the breath of Ishwara heard by Rishis during their tapasya, and since its Smruti (that which is heard) its considered as the breath of Ishwara because for humans it’s the inhale and exhale of breath that creates sound.
What is truth? Which is true?
Truth in Sanatana Dharma is known as Satyam. In a single line Ishwara is Satyam. Because Ishwara is ONE and so Satyam is ONE. There can’t be two truths. The word truth is diluted in our common usage to represent a fact in a given point in time and space. For those who are yet to comprehend Ishwara, the truth constitutes a broad spectrum of information. Please explore various concepts on this portal to get a holistic comprehension of Sanatana Dharma.
Who is a Rishi or Rushi?
Closest word is a sage, but Rishis are those who are not just devotees or saints, they go through tapasya (a deep meditative state) and become a medium to Ishwara and the ultimate truth. It’s through them that this truth is shared as Shruti and Kalpa(m).
What is Tapasya?
A deep meditative state aspiring Ishwara’s truth in which one gradually opens their nadi or chakras, hence, reaching conscience beyond the physical realms of reality and be able to comprehend Ishwara and Ishwara’s vaani (speech/voice).
What is Manas?
Shastra defines manas as “Sankalpa Vikalpa Sangatham”, meaning our manas is a reasoning which struggle between resolutions and instability towards making a resolution, or in other words a doubt. The manas is the thought process of a jiva which experiences various deformities because of its inherent vasana and guna. A jiva forgets its true self and keeps becoming a victim to its inherent vasana and constantly struggles with reasoning and decision making.
What is Vasana?
It is an inherent habit which constitutes the manas(u). This inherent habit is an impression over a jiva from its previous lives, which it carries over to the next.
What is Guna?
Guna meaning default human nature and habits (vasana) based on the level of conscience. In the process of evolving in conscience a person strives to shed its inherent vasana. Each person is different and has a different interpretation and approach towards things, like a choice or perspective and more, but how can one define the reason why people are born with such interpretation. Circumstance does play a role by providing experience, however, the choice made by an individual when presented with options is defined by nature or guna. Guna can be classified into three evolving states, they are satva guna, rajas or rajo guna and thamas or thamo guna. The final evolved state is the Shudha Stava guna.
What is Janma?
A jiva to reside in the physical relams of this reality needs a physical host body like a human being or animal or a plant and more. The concept of taking that form is through birth in a given era of kaal(am) (time), which is known as Janma.
What is Athma?
It is the conscience that acts an interface between this reality and the innate energy which is the jiva, and helps the jiva retaining an upaadi to realize itself and in-return realize Ishwara who is the Para:matma. An atma is an extension of Para:matma.
What is a Sloka?
It is a verse that mostly has a poetic aspect. It is chanted or recited in a rhythm which encompasses an explanation towards Ishwara’s accounts, nature, and acts as a means towards performing a ritual.
What is a Stotram?
It is a hymn, or a collection of slokas, which also can have a poetic construct towards the admiration of Ishwara or a list of names or titles of Ishwara.
What is an Astotram? Why 108 names for God/ Ishwara and what is the significance of 108?
It is a stotram, which constitutes a list of 108 titles of Ishwara. The number 108 signifies the 108 possible durations in which a species is born on earth. Because there is a total of 27 nakshatra(m) (stars), each divided by 4 paadam (sectors of a day) hence, the chanting of 108 titles is a way for us to convey our gratitude and anugraham (grace) towards the well-being of all species born on earth, and not just for one’s self-wellbeing.
What is a Sahastra Namavali?
Is also a stotram, which constitutes a list of 1008 titles of Ishwara. Sahastra, though widely interpreted as 1008 actually means infinite and since it’s not possible to list all titles of Ishwara the list stops at 1008 expressing our limitation to go no further.
What is a Dandakam?
Is also a stotram or hymn but with a specific approach towards its recitation. It is recited in a fast fashion as a continuous list of titles and phrases with very short pauses.
What are the five location where Sri Lakshmi resides?
Lotus flower, forehead of Elephant, the rear of a cow, the temple of a woman wearing sindoor and Bliva leaf.
What are akshata? Why do we use rice in puja?
Kshata(m) means the one that depletes and A:kshata means one that doesn’t get depleted. This is the reason why rice (not broken rice) mixed with turmeric and ghee (clarified butter) gives longitivtiy to the rice and so is offered during pooja as a substitute to various upcharas (offerings like thrown, cloths, jewels and more).
What are the names of 5 arrows (Baan) held by Manmadha (Kamadeva)?
Ashokam, Nelotamum, Navamalikam, Aravindanam, Chutamum.
Sanatana Dhara 