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The Story of Urvashi and Pururava
The story of Urvashi and Pururava is an eye-opener for those who ignore dharma and give preference to physical beauty. King Pururava was a very pious king, envied even by gods, but failed for the celestial nymph, Urvashi, and forgot his duties toward his family and people. But in the end, he got his lesson. The story of Urvashi and Pururava can be found in the Rig Veda, Shathapatha Brahmanas, Harivamsha Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, and Devi Bhagavata Purana. There are about eight versions of this story. However, the original story is in the Rig Veda,…
Names of Asuras
The main aim of this article is to list the names of all Asuras. Asuras are the enemies of gods who seek heaven. They are a significant part of Hindu texts. The history of Hinduism is incomplete without them. There have been many powerful Asuras like Ravana, Mahabali, Mahishasura, etc. The three main types of Asuras are Daitya, Danava, and Rakshasa. The total number of Asuras is countless, but still, we will try to list as many names of Asuras as possible. Names of Asuras: A: Aayu – the son of Hiranyakashipu. Abhikasura – An ally of Kansa who tried…
How Many Gods Are There In Hinduism?
One of the most frequently asked questions about Hinduism is “How many gods are there in Hinduism?” The most common answer to this question is that there are 330 million gods, but if you ask anyone to give their names, no one would be able to do so. Also, many Hindus do not agree with this number. Some say there is only one God, while some say there are 33 gods only. The reason behind this confusion is that the different scriptures give different numbers. How Many Gods are there in Hinduism? In this article, we will see what different…
Similarities Between Lord Shiva and a Black Hole
It is surprising to know that there are too many similarities between Lord Shiva and a black hole. Most of the symbols and many questions associated with Lord Shiva can be explained with this assumption. The stories in the Hindu scriptures are allegorical and have multiple meanings. Many scientific facts are hidden in them. Before seeing the similarities between Lord Shiva and a black hole, let us first see what a black hole is. What is a Black Hole? A black hole is a place in space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape from it, including light.…
The Somnath Temple
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The area is also popular by the name Deo Patan or Prabhas Kshetra. The Somnath Mandir is one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimages. The temple was attacked and destroyed multiple times by Muslim invaders and rulers in the past but was rebuilt by Hindus. The present Mandir was constructed in 1951 under the orders of the contemporary home minister, Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel. The Meaning of the Word Somnath: “Soma” means moon and “natha” means lord. Therefore, Somnath means “The Lord of the Moon,” which is one of…
Apsara
An Apsara is a celestial and/or a water nymph who serves gods by entertaining them with her dance and sometimes using her charm and beauty to break the penance of ascetics who might have an intention to conquer heaven. Apsaras are so beautiful and voluptuous that even staunch ascetics, as well as gods, fall for them. They are extremely good at dance and singing. They are often mentioned as the lovers or wives of Gandharvas and live in heaven and possess many divine powers. Urvashi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottama, and Ghritichi are the most famous of them. The Meaning of the…
Why Did Lord Rama Kill Shambuka?
One of the most controversial questions about Lord Rama is “Why did Lord Rama kill Shambuka?” There are many speculations about it that range from the authenticity of the Uttara Kanda to the specific reason behind the slaying of Shambuka. This article tries to find an answer to this question. This story is mentioned in the Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, Book 7, Chapters 73-76. The Authenticity of Uttara Kanda: Some scholars believe that Uttara Kanda is not written by Sage Valmiki but is an interpolation, but there is a problem with this assumption. The stories in the Uttara Kanda are found…
Apsara Urvashi – The Most Beautiful Nymph
Apsara Urvashi is a celestial nymph in the court of the king of gods, Indra. She is considered to be the most beautiful of all Apsaras. Apsaras are the voluptuous females in the court of Indra who entertain gods with their dancing and singing skills. They also help him retain the kingdom of heaven by alluring the persons who try to win over heaven by austerity. The Meanings of the Name Urvashi: 1. The name Urvashi is made up of two words, viz. Uru and Vashi, which means “born from the thigh”. Uru means “thigh” and Vashi means “born from”.…
Sudarshana Chakra – The Divine Weapon of Lord Vishnu
The Sudarshana Chakra (meaning The Wheel of Auspicious Vision) is a divine weapon that looks like a disc and is serrated along the periphery with a hole in the center. Lord Vishnu is always depicted as wielding it in his index finger of the right rear hand. It was also the prime weapon of Lord Krishna. The discus has 108 serrated edges. It is one of the most potent weapons mentioned in the Hindu scriptures and is nearly inexorable. When someone mentions Lord Vishnu, the first thing that comes into mind is the Sudarshana Chakra. It is a symbol of Lord…
Barbarik in the Mahabharata
Barbarik in the Mahabharata, aka Khatu Shyam, is believed to be the most powerful warrior in the epic, but unfortunately, there is no person named Barbarik in the Mahabharata written by Sage Vyasa. His story is in the Skanda Purana, which is the source of all legends. The Story of Barbarik in the Mahabharata per the Skanda Purana (Ch. 60-66): The Birth of Barbarik: Barbarik was the son of Ghatatkocha and Ahilawati. Ghatatkocha was the son of Bhima, and Ahilawati was the daughter of Muru. He was born on the 11th day of the bright half of the Kartika month.…