Posted on: 21 Dec 2021
1. Is it true that attending a function being performed on not good muhurta day will harm those who attend it?
[Is it true that attending a marriage function or house warming function or any other auspicious function which is not fixed to a good muhurta or not in a good Nakshatra day will harm those who attend these functions? If so what is the way out? Kindly clarify this.]
Swami replied: If you have firm faith on God, nothing will happen to you.
[Few questions asked in an internet forum are given below. Kindly give Your response to it.]
2. What is the context of Shankara's statement that ‘Woman is the gateway to hell’ found in His work Prashnottari?
Swami replied: Here, the word woman does not mean actually a female because, the influence of gender is totally meaningless as far as the soul or pure awareness is concerned. That only means that provoking of illegal sex must be avoided. Here, the preached soul happens to be male. Instead of male, if a female is preached the answer for such question will be ‘a male person’. Do you think that the greatest spiritual preacher like Shankara will unnecessarily raise this issue of gender while the excellent spiritual knowledge is preached? Hence, words must be taken in their proper sense as per the context, otherwise, misinterpretations and misunderstandings will arise leading to unnecessary quarrels.
3. Why was the death of Lord Krishna so painful, but death of Rama was not painful? What was the reason behind this?
Swami replied: Do you think that a person drowning in the river has peaceful death? Krishna and Rama are Gods and there is no pain of death in any case.
4. Some English writers mention Lord Ganesha as an elephant God and Lord Hanuman as a monkey God. How do Hindus react to this?
Swami replied: When God merges with any devoted soul, it becomes incarnation of God irrespective of whether a soul is human being or monkey or elephant. The soul gets suppressed before God and the soul will behave like God irrespective of the external medium. Will the contents of the letter change by the influence of the external cover in which the letter is kept?
5. If Brahma is real, does He only write fate for Hindus or for all humans who don't believe Hinduism too?
Swami replied: There is no religion in this point. This means that as per the divine constitution (representing God Brahmaa) the fruits of deeds of the soul are written on the forehead to be enjoyed in the future birth. This system is arranged by God and this is the meaning for God Brahmaa writing the fate of the souls on their foreheads.
6. How much time does it take for Dharmaraj and Chitragupta to make the assessments of karmas?
[How much time does it take for Dharmaraj and Chitragupta to make all the assessments of karmas after death and send the Jeevatma to the respective place, either it be swarg, narak or adhogati?]
Swami replied: The names mentioned by you are having unimaginable power sanctioned by unimaginable God and such power is beyond time. You need not worry about all such silly questions since you have to worry about the fruits of sins to be enjoyed by the souls without any exception.
7. Does the following statement of Krishna in Gita make Hinduism monotheistic?
[Lord Krishna said in Bhagwadgita, “Whomever you pray and in whichever form you pray, you are ultimately praying Me…”. Is this statement not a best indication that Hinduism is monotheistic? Why can’t Hindus, RSS and VHP proudly advertise this fact?]
Swami replied: Advertisement of this single statement will not solve all the problems. All problems shall be answered with clarity.
8. According to the scriptures, can I get my son married to my sister's daughter?
Swami replied: The ethical scriptures do not agree to such marriage because of the closeness of blood. Even doctors say that it is not good.
9. Is it a good thing to live over 100 years?
Swami replied: If the soul is not worried about God, even if one lives for 1000 years, it is one and the same. Do you know that the world preacher Shankara lived for just 32 years?
10. If I am a lawyer defending guilty people, would I go to hell in Hinduism?
Swami replied: In any religion, the doer of sin, the director of the action of the sin, the promoter and supporter will distribute the sin equally. This does not mean that everyone enjoys 1/4th punishment only. It only means that the full punishment is enjoyed by all the four souls.
11. Why to reincarnate? Can't we learn lessons in spirit world?
Swami replied: Can’t you study books in the library, write the examinations and finally get the degree? Lot of funds can be saved in the department of education. Why so many colleges and so many teachers involving so much expenditure?