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CULTURAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
CULTURAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1 Which are the four divine abodes of Hinduism?
A1 Badrinath (in the north)high in the Himalayas near the source of Ganges, associated with Lord Shiva.
Puri(in the east),important to devotees of lord Krishna. Puri holds a "Rath Yatra" of Jagannath temple every year at the end of the June.
Rameshwaram(in the south), as the name suggests is related to Lord Rama; who crossed this place on his journey to rescue Sita from Ravana.
And Dwarka (in the west), is associated with Lord Krishna as his capital.In his life Lord Krishna spent maximum period in Dwaraka.
Q2 What is sade sathi legend related to Anjaneya / Lekshmana?
A2 Legends have it that during the warfare of Ramayana, Lakshmana, was injured seriously. To save his life Lord Hanuman had to bring the medicine from Sanjeevi Hills which could heal the wound.
Lord Hanuman started his journey towards Sanjeevi when on his way to the hills, He got intercepted by Saturn claiming that Lakshmanan would have to experience the effect of Saturn transit at this particular time. (There is another say that it was Hanuman's Sade-Sathi).
Whatever it is , Sani stopped Hanuman from continuing his journey to the hills. Hanuman reasoned with Saturn; tried explaining him the importance of Lakshmana's presence in the combat. …to know avail.
Neither Saturn was ready to lend his ears to Lord Hanuman's explanations; nor Hanuman unable to control his rage in turn.
This is when Lord Hanuman took full control of Saturn's power by STEPPING ONTO SATURN UNDER HIS MIGHTY FEET. Many say this incident stands proof enough to show that lord Hanuman was so powerful that he could control even the fierce Saturn!
Yes, his powers are so great that even Saturn fears to influence him and his devotees.
In fact those who surrender at Lord Hanuman's feet will never be troubled by any of the 9 planets. "His power is so great that he controls Saturn with his tail!"
Q3 What is Gall Bladder and Gall stones?
A3 Our Gall Bladder is a bag like organ which is located below the liver. It is the storehouse of digestive juices that are made by your liver.
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in your Gall Bladder.
Q4 What is the nature of normal bowel movement? How to know by a person whether he suffer from constipation?
A4 Having a bowel movement once a day is quite normal, but it is not essentially a hard and fast rule that you must have a bowel movement everyday.
Some individuals may have bowel movement as many as three times a day to three times a week, which also happens to fall in the normal range.
However for most the feeling of bowel movement appears at a particular time . This can be regulated by going to toilet in the morning after walk etc. Once regulated the feeling will appear in the same time.
How are you to know if you are suffering from constipation? It is quite simple. If we have fewer bowel movements than we usually do, you may be suffering from Constipation.
We can take care of constipation by two methods-1. taking fibre rich food whether liking or not. 2. Go to bath room immediately on feeling an urge WITH OUT DELAYING.
Q5 Can we use laxatives?
A5 Try to avoid the use of laxatives. Long-term use of laxatives can make us dependent on them whenever you want to have a bowel movement.
If we have used laxatives for a long time, with out prescription and getting from local market, our doctor may recommend that we gradually reduce the use of them to give your body a chance to return to normal.
There are certain laxatives called "bulk-forming laxatives" that work naturally to add bulk and water to your stools, so that they can move more smoothly through your intestines. This kind of laxative can be used everyday.
However laxative can produce side effects like bloating, gas and/or abdominal cramps. Seek your doctor's advice before you begin using them. Hence in short it is good in all senses to stop taking laxatives by those taking gradually
Q6 Do Hermorrhids and piles are one and the same?
A6 Yes. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in the passage for passing stools (anus and rectum).
Depending on where they occur Hemorrhoids are classified into three types:
Internal hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins located inside our Rectum. Although they may not cause pain, they may cause bleeding.
External hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins outside our anus and can cause a lot of discomfort like itching and pain. Sometimes, they can also crack and bleed.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins inside our anus and on occasions may come out of our anus.
A prolapsed hemorrhoid may go back into your Rectum on its own. Otherwise you can gently push it back inside
Q7 How do we know whether we have piles?
A7 Knowing whether we have Hemorrhoids is quite simple. We will feel a lump around the opening of your anus. Additionally we may also notice blood in the toilet after a bowel movement or blood on the toilet paper.
Avoid laxatives—certain types of laxatives can lead to diarrhea, which can worsen Hemorrhoids.
Q8 What is Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) ?
A8 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bowel syndrome IS A DISORDER OF THE INTESTINES. Excessive squeezing motions or the lack of adequate squeezing motion of the intestines makes food move too swiftly or too slowly through them. IBS affects both men and women but is more common in women.
Q9What is OAB?
A9 Overactive Bladder (OAB), also called irritable bladder, is a disorder of the urinary Bladder characterized by a sudden urge to urinate that one may find difficult to hold back.
OAB can cause you to have little or no control over the flow of urine—a condition known as urinary incontinence where urine flow happens much against our will.
Among men, it typically affects those above 65 years of age. However, women tend to be affected earlier. The chance of women getting an overactive Bladder increases once they reach their 40s.
The two types of OAB are:
Overactive Bladder dry: When you have frequent urges to urinate, but are able to reach the toilet in time without any leakage of urine, the condition is known as overactive Bladder dry.
Overactive Bladder wet: If you have frequent urges to urinate, but suffer urine leakage before you can reach the toilet, the condition is known as overactive Bladder wet.
Symptoms include:
1.An urgent need to urinate that is difficult to control.
2. Urine flow happens against your will.
3.Frequent urination—more than eight times in a day.
4.Waking up more than twice in the night to urinate.
5 Diabetes (one of the symptoms of Diabetes is excessive urination).
My note- I am very interested to add this QA since we have many members with diabetic. Though answer is big, so I have added.
As the diabetic years increase, this could happen. There will be control over passing urine, but when the urge appear with in minutes it has to be met.
On account of this if a diabetic go out, ensure starting after going to toilet. 2. Whether required or not where hygene toilets are there, make use of them.
Q10 How much sleep is required by an average person?
A10 On an average we need to get around 8 hours of sleep every night although some individuals can do with far less sleep while some people need more than 8 hours of sleep each night. As age advance requirement of sleep become less in most. This answer is from Kidshealth.com.
How ever many find in ages above 60 about four hours is sufficient UNLESS DID SOME TIRESOME WORK.
Q11 What is the Significance of Kumbh Mela?
A11 Significance of Kumbha Mela is that it offers the chance to attain liberation from the endless cycle and suffering of existence and to merge with the Brahman. The legend of Kumbh Mela begins with the search of Amrut in Puranas.
Brahma Purana and Vishnu Purana state that bathing in month of Magh at Prayag or Sangam (Allahabad) is equal to millions of Ashvamedha rituals. The bathing ritual is equal to circumbulating the earth one million times. The Kumbh Mela bathing ritual also washes away sins of several generations.
Rig Veda also talks about the importance of the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswathi at Prayag. The importance of the ritual can therefore be traced back to Rig Veda.
The ritual is also mentioned in the Varaha Purana and the Matsya Purana.
Liberation or merging with the Brahman is the main significance of Kumbh Mela.
I have added this question for the purnaic reference about Kumbha mela.
Q12 What is the importance of Prayag?
A12 It is also believed that the ashram of the great sage Bharadvaja where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana stayed during their exile was located at the Sangam.
Mahabharata states that Lord Brahma conducted a yagna at Sangam. The Pandavas is also said to have visited the Sangam.
Several great saints including Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shankaracharya is believed to have visited the Sangam and the Kumbh Mela.
It is at this sangham we start our first Gayasraadha rituals
Q13 How do timing for Kumbhamela is decided?
A13 Timing – Planetary Configuration -According to Indian astrology, it is celebrated when the planet of Brahaspati (Jupiter) moves into the zodiac sign of Aquarius or Kumbha.
Each sites celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter
Q14 What are the legends and myths about Kumbha mela?
A14 With Kurma Avatar (the tortoise) of Vishnu, below Mount Mandara and supporting it and Vasuki, the snake wrapped around it, the devas and asuras churned the ocean in search of the immortal nectar. This Samudra manthan finds mention in Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
The observance of Kumbh Mela dates back many centuries in Ancient India, to the Vedic period, where the river festivals first started getting organized.
The Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrita (the nectar of immortality). This required them to make a temporary truce with their arch enemies, the demons and work together with a promise of sharing the nectar equally.
However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (EQUIVALENT TO TWELVE HUMAN YEARS) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita.
There are two versions from here on:
During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda the vehicle of Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha of elixir. Drops of amrita fell at four places on earth: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, and that's where the Kumbh Mela is observed every twelve years.
As per the second version as mentioned in Skanda Purana, Indra's son Jayanta got hold of the Amrita during the fight between the Devas and Asuras. He started to run away with it. The demons started to chase Jayanta around the earth. The chase lasted for 12 days or 12 human years. During this time, the nectar spilled at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.
Q1 Which are the four divine abodes of Hinduism?
A1 Badrinath (in the north)high in the Himalayas near the source of Ganges, associated with Lord Shiva.
Puri(in the east),important to devotees of lord Krishna. Puri holds a "Rath Yatra" of Jagannath temple every year at the end of the June.
Rameshwaram(in the south), as the name suggests is related to Lord Rama; who crossed this place on his journey to rescue Sita from Ravana.
And Dwarka (in the west), is associated with Lord Krishna as his capital.In his life Lord Krishna spent maximum period in Dwaraka.
Q2 What is sade sathi legend related to Anjaneya / Lekshmana?
A2 Legends have it that during the warfare of Ramayana, Lakshmana, was injured seriously. To save his life Lord Hanuman had to bring the medicine from Sanjeevi Hills which could heal the wound.
Lord Hanuman started his journey towards Sanjeevi when on his way to the hills, He got intercepted by Saturn claiming that Lakshmanan would have to experience the effect of Saturn transit at this particular time. (There is another say that it was Hanuman's Sade-Sathi).
Whatever it is , Sani stopped Hanuman from continuing his journey to the hills. Hanuman reasoned with Saturn; tried explaining him the importance of Lakshmana's presence in the combat. …to know avail.
Neither Saturn was ready to lend his ears to Lord Hanuman's explanations; nor Hanuman unable to control his rage in turn.
This is when Lord Hanuman took full control of Saturn's power by STEPPING ONTO SATURN UNDER HIS MIGHTY FEET. Many say this incident stands proof enough to show that lord Hanuman was so powerful that he could control even the fierce Saturn!
Yes, his powers are so great that even Saturn fears to influence him and his devotees.
In fact those who surrender at Lord Hanuman's feet will never be troubled by any of the 9 planets. "His power is so great that he controls Saturn with his tail!"
Q3 What is Gall Bladder and Gall stones?
A3 Our Gall Bladder is a bag like organ which is located below the liver. It is the storehouse of digestive juices that are made by your liver.
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in your Gall Bladder.
Q4 What is the nature of normal bowel movement? How to know by a person whether he suffer from constipation?
A4 Having a bowel movement once a day is quite normal, but it is not essentially a hard and fast rule that you must have a bowel movement everyday.
Some individuals may have bowel movement as many as three times a day to three times a week, which also happens to fall in the normal range.
However for most the feeling of bowel movement appears at a particular time . This can be regulated by going to toilet in the morning after walk etc. Once regulated the feeling will appear in the same time.
How are you to know if you are suffering from constipation? It is quite simple. If we have fewer bowel movements than we usually do, you may be suffering from Constipation.
We can take care of constipation by two methods-1. taking fibre rich food whether liking or not. 2. Go to bath room immediately on feeling an urge WITH OUT DELAYING.
Q5 Can we use laxatives?
A5 Try to avoid the use of laxatives. Long-term use of laxatives can make us dependent on them whenever you want to have a bowel movement.
If we have used laxatives for a long time, with out prescription and getting from local market, our doctor may recommend that we gradually reduce the use of them to give your body a chance to return to normal.
There are certain laxatives called "bulk-forming laxatives" that work naturally to add bulk and water to your stools, so that they can move more smoothly through your intestines. This kind of laxative can be used everyday.
However laxative can produce side effects like bloating, gas and/or abdominal cramps. Seek your doctor's advice before you begin using them. Hence in short it is good in all senses to stop taking laxatives by those taking gradually
Q6 Do Hermorrhids and piles are one and the same?
A6 Yes. Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in the passage for passing stools (anus and rectum).
Depending on where they occur Hemorrhoids are classified into three types:
Internal hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins located inside our Rectum. Although they may not cause pain, they may cause bleeding.
External hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins outside our anus and can cause a lot of discomfort like itching and pain. Sometimes, they can also crack and bleed.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids: They occur in the veins inside our anus and on occasions may come out of our anus.
A prolapsed hemorrhoid may go back into your Rectum on its own. Otherwise you can gently push it back inside
Q7 How do we know whether we have piles?
A7 Knowing whether we have Hemorrhoids is quite simple. We will feel a lump around the opening of your anus. Additionally we may also notice blood in the toilet after a bowel movement or blood on the toilet paper.
Avoid laxatives—certain types of laxatives can lead to diarrhea, which can worsen Hemorrhoids.
Q8 What is Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) ?
A8 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bowel syndrome IS A DISORDER OF THE INTESTINES. Excessive squeezing motions or the lack of adequate squeezing motion of the intestines makes food move too swiftly or too slowly through them. IBS affects both men and women but is more common in women.
Q9What is OAB?
A9 Overactive Bladder (OAB), also called irritable bladder, is a disorder of the urinary Bladder characterized by a sudden urge to urinate that one may find difficult to hold back.
OAB can cause you to have little or no control over the flow of urine—a condition known as urinary incontinence where urine flow happens much against our will.
Among men, it typically affects those above 65 years of age. However, women tend to be affected earlier. The chance of women getting an overactive Bladder increases once they reach their 40s.
The two types of OAB are:
Overactive Bladder dry: When you have frequent urges to urinate, but are able to reach the toilet in time without any leakage of urine, the condition is known as overactive Bladder dry.
Overactive Bladder wet: If you have frequent urges to urinate, but suffer urine leakage before you can reach the toilet, the condition is known as overactive Bladder wet.
Symptoms include:
1.An urgent need to urinate that is difficult to control.
2. Urine flow happens against your will.
3.Frequent urination—more than eight times in a day.
4.Waking up more than twice in the night to urinate.
5 Diabetes (one of the symptoms of Diabetes is excessive urination).
My note- I am very interested to add this QA since we have many members with diabetic. Though answer is big, so I have added.
As the diabetic years increase, this could happen. There will be control over passing urine, but when the urge appear with in minutes it has to be met.
On account of this if a diabetic go out, ensure starting after going to toilet. 2. Whether required or not where hygene toilets are there, make use of them.
Q10 How much sleep is required by an average person?
A10 On an average we need to get around 8 hours of sleep every night although some individuals can do with far less sleep while some people need more than 8 hours of sleep each night. As age advance requirement of sleep become less in most. This answer is from Kidshealth.com.
How ever many find in ages above 60 about four hours is sufficient UNLESS DID SOME TIRESOME WORK.
Q11 What is the Significance of Kumbh Mela?
A11 Significance of Kumbha Mela is that it offers the chance to attain liberation from the endless cycle and suffering of existence and to merge with the Brahman. The legend of Kumbh Mela begins with the search of Amrut in Puranas.
Brahma Purana and Vishnu Purana state that bathing in month of Magh at Prayag or Sangam (Allahabad) is equal to millions of Ashvamedha rituals. The bathing ritual is equal to circumbulating the earth one million times. The Kumbh Mela bathing ritual also washes away sins of several generations.
Rig Veda also talks about the importance of the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswathi at Prayag. The importance of the ritual can therefore be traced back to Rig Veda.
The ritual is also mentioned in the Varaha Purana and the Matsya Purana.
Liberation or merging with the Brahman is the main significance of Kumbh Mela.
I have added this question for the purnaic reference about Kumbha mela.
Q12 What is the importance of Prayag?
A12 It is also believed that the ashram of the great sage Bharadvaja where Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshmana stayed during their exile was located at the Sangam.
Mahabharata states that Lord Brahma conducted a yagna at Sangam. The Pandavas is also said to have visited the Sangam.
Several great saints including Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shankaracharya is believed to have visited the Sangam and the Kumbh Mela.
It is at this sangham we start our first Gayasraadha rituals
Q13 How do timing for Kumbhamela is decided?
A13 Timing – Planetary Configuration -According to Indian astrology, it is celebrated when the planet of Brahaspati (Jupiter) moves into the zodiac sign of Aquarius or Kumbha.
Each sites celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter
Q14 What are the legends and myths about Kumbha mela?
A14 With Kurma Avatar (the tortoise) of Vishnu, below Mount Mandara and supporting it and Vasuki, the snake wrapped around it, the devas and asuras churned the ocean in search of the immortal nectar. This Samudra manthan finds mention in Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
The observance of Kumbh Mela dates back many centuries in Ancient India, to the Vedic period, where the river festivals first started getting organized.
The Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrita (the nectar of immortality). This required them to make a temporary truce with their arch enemies, the demons and work together with a promise of sharing the nectar equally.
However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (EQUIVALENT TO TWELVE HUMAN YEARS) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita.
There are two versions from here on:
During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda the vehicle of Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha of elixir. Drops of amrita fell at four places on earth: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, and that's where the Kumbh Mela is observed every twelve years.
As per the second version as mentioned in Skanda Purana, Indra's son Jayanta got hold of the Amrita during the fight between the Devas and Asuras. He started to run away with it. The demons started to chase Jayanta around the earth. The chase lasted for 12 days or 12 human years. During this time, the nectar spilled at Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.
