Theology Thursday

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What is the Origin of Karma?
by Modi Toys
Karma refers to the cycle of cause and effect that governs human life. But, that isn’t how it started. The idea of Karma first appears in the oldest Hindu text, the Rigveda, with a limited meaning of ritual action. This...
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Why Do Hindus Use a Different Calendar?
by Modi Toys
In India, Hindus follow a different calendar than what is used in the Western world. But what's the reasoning for this? The Hindu calendar goes by many names: Lunisolar calendar or Vedic calendar or Panchanga. This calendar differs significantly from the western...
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Can We Defy Death?
by Modi Toys
Once upon a time... There was a sage named Mrikandu and his wife, Marudvati, who longed to have children. Lord Shiva heard their prayers and appeared before them. Shiva asked the couple to pick between the two: A righteous son,...
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Why Do We Blow The Conch Shell?
by Modi Toys
Do you know the significance of conch shells in Hinduism! Let's go through it together! Once upon a time... A demon named Sankhasura, who was in battle with the Devas, stole the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) and ran to the ocean....
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Why Do We Celebrate Sita Navami?
by Modi Toys
Sita Navami celebrates the birth of Goddess Sita. She's the daughter of the Earth, goddess of purity, and one of the central characters in the Ramayan. Once upon a time... A king named Janaka was working in a furrow when...
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Why Do Hindus Break A Coconut?
by Modi Toys
If you practice Hindu rituals, you've seen it before, but what is the reasoning behind always breaking a coconut? Coconut is known as shree phal, meaning, "an auspicious fruit." In Hinduism, it is the only fruit that is used to symbolize God....
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Why is Kajal Used to Ward Off The Evil Eye?
by Modi Toys
What is the "Evil Eye?" It is a curse transmitted through an evil glare, usually one inspired by envy. The envy in turn manifests itself as a curse that will undo their good fortune. A Greek philosopher suggested a scientific...
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The Story Behind Vishnu Kani
by Modi Toys
The significance of the mirror in Vishu Kani is to see yourself as a reminder that you are also equally important. Once upon a time, there was a demon named Ravana who was annoyed with Surya (the sun) for rising...
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The Story of Hanuman and Ram's Ring
by Modi Toys
This is the story behind Hanuman's Search for Rama's Ring. It had been 11,000 years since Ravana and other demons had been slayed. Rama had restored peace in the kingdom, when he received a surprise visitor... A messenger came to...
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Why do we eat yogurt or something sweet before leaving the house?
by Modi Toys
This might be a familiar story for you: Sound familiar? You're getting ready to leave the house for an important occasion. Maybe it's a job interview, an exam, or a trip. And your parent stops you and gives you a...
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Why don't Hindus sleep during sunrise or sunset?
by Modi Toys
The sunrise and sunset are very auspicious times in Indian culture. The early morning period has a name: Brahma Muhurta Brahma = the ultimate knowledge Muhurta = time period. Thus, this is an auspicious time to perceive the ultimate knowledge....
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The Story Behind the Extra Dollar / Rupee
by Modi Toys
Why do we add an extra rupee/dollar when gifting? It comes from Sanskrit: shagun, meaning an auspicious good omen, or a blessing. A gift of cash or check is given to be a blessing. BUT WHY NOT... ZERO? There’s a finality...
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The Hindu Symbol for Luck
by Modi Toys
What is the Hindu Symbol for Luck? In Sanskrit, the word swastika is a combination of: "su" = good "asti" = to exist ...which roughly means "all is well" or "well-being" SWASTIKA is the Hindu symbol for good luck. It...
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Why do Hindus Fast?
by Modi Toys
In Hinduism, fasting is major aspect of several celebrations and a part of our that culture most people are familiar with. But, why do we fast? Fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa: ‘Upa’ meaning near and ‘vaasa’ = to stay. These combine to create Upavaasa,...
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Why do we touch our elders' feet?
by Modi Toys
Some of us grew up having to remember to always touch our grandparents' feet when we saw them. But how many of us know exactly the reason why? This practice is known as Pranam, Charanasparsh or Padasparshan. Regardless of the name, it all...
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Why do couples get their horoscopes matched?
by Modi Toys
Astrology has had an uptick in popularity recently, but it has been a part of HInduism for longer than many of us know. For example, why do couples get their horoscopes matched? In Hindu culture, astrological concepts are pervasive in making...
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The Story Behind Lohri
by Modi Toys
There are many stories behind why Lohri is celebrated. As with all legends, this is just one of the many versions. Once upon a time, there was a man named Dulla Bhatti, popularly known as “Robin Hood of Punjab.” He stole...
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What is the Bhagavad Gita?
by Modi Toys
Once upon a time, there was a great warrior named Arjuna, who was caught in the middle of some major family drama, which escalated to a full blown war at the Battle of Kurukshetra.  The war was against two sets...
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Why Does Diwali Begin With Dhanteras?
by Modi Toys
While we all may be familiar with Diwali's customs, some of us may not know how many of them came to be. Today, we wanted to cover why Diwali begins with Dhanteras. Once upon a time, Indra, the King of Gods, really...
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The Story of Saraswati Devi's Music
by Modi Toys
This is one story of Saraswati Devi saved the day with her music. Once upon a time, there was a demigod named Vishvavasu, who hailed from the Gandharvas race. He was put in charge by the gods to guard somras,...
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The Story of Dussehra
by Modi Toys
This is the story behind Dussehra, but told from the point of view of Ravana. Once upon a time there was a ten-headed King of Lanka named Ravana. He and his siblings hailed from Brahma's lineage, who was the creator...