Hindu scriptures
Interesting Facts about Lord Shiva You Might Have Never Heard Of
Lord Shiva is one of the most important Hindu gods. He is a part of the Hindu trinity. There are many interesting facts about Lord Shiva that many people are unaware of. Interesting Facts about Lord Shiva: 1. Number 3 is the favorite number of Lord Shiva. Although it is not mentioned anywhere officially, number 3 seems to be his favorite number because of the following reasons: A. Three eyes. B. His main weapon Trishula has three points. C. He wears a Tilaka called Tripundra on his forehead, which is three horizontal lines. D. Bael leaf is dear to him,…
Jayadratha – The Story of the King of Sidhu Kingdom
Jayadratha was the king of the Sindhu Kingdom and the husband of Dushala, the sister of Kauravas. He was evil in nature and tried to abduct Draupadi during Pandava’s exile. Arjuna killed him on the 14th day of the Mahabharata war with the help of Lord Krishna. Meaning of the Name Jayadratha: The name Jayadratha consists of two Sanskrit words, viz. Jayat and Ratha. Jayat means the victorious, and Ratha means a chariot. Therefore, the name Jayadratha means “a victorious chariot” or “the one who has a victorious chariot”. Other Names of Jayadratha: The following names are used in the…
Paundraka Vasudeva – The False God
Paundraka Vasudeva was a king of the Pundra Kingdom who considered himself the real Vasudeva (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and challenged Lord Krishna to battle him. He was the son of King Vriddhasharma and Queen Shrutadeva. Shrutadeva was the sister of Vasudeva, Lord Krishna’s father. Per another version, he was the son of Vasudeva (not the father of Lord Krishna) and Sutanu (the princess of Kashi). His story appears in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, and the Mahabharata. Meaning of the Name Paundraka: It is a common belief that Paundraka got the name…
Dhruva – An Ascetic Child
Dhruva was a child ascetic and one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu who attained an immovable position through penance. The story of Dhruva is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana. The pole star is called Dhruva Tara in some Indian languages. The word Dhruva means “immovable or fixed”. Per some stories, Dhruva became the pole star after his death, but the story in the Vishnu Purana implies that Lord Vishnu gave the planet to him. Who was Dhruva in his Previous Birth? Per the story in the Vishnu Purana, Dhruva was a Brahmin in his previous…
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…
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”.…
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.…