Unlike Abrahamic faiths built on a single, divinely preserved text like the Qur'an, Hinduism has no central dogma, supreme authority, or mandatory creed. Its scriptures are largely viewed as time-bound human records open to debate, revision, and outright rejection. In fact, an individual can deny every sacred text, reject the concept of God, and remain fully within the fold of Hinduism.
How to verify information in this thread?
To ensure academic transparency and verifiability, the scriptural citations in this paper reference standard English translations, primarily Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s edition of the Mahabharata and Motilal Banarsidass’s editions of the Puranas. Readers verifying these passages should note that chapter numbering can vary slightly depending on the recension used (e.g., the Gita Press Vulgate versus the BORI Critical Edition). All referenced texts can be cross-checked and independently verified on digital academic archives such as Wisdom Library or Sacred-Texts by searching for the corresponding Book (Parva or Canto), section number, or original Sanskrit key terms.
Why this is hard?
Unlike the Qur'an, which is standardized and readily available in modern translations, Hindu scriptures are complex to search and navigate. Citations often rely on archaic phrasing and non-standard numbering, such as Roman numerals. Furthermore, direct access to primary texts was traditionally restricted to Pandits (Hindu priests and scholars), leaving everyday practitioners with little direct familiarity with scripture. Consequently, verifying these references requires consulting specialized academic archives rather than straightforward, everyday editions.
Some time after Gandhari conceived and she bore the burden in her womb for two long years without being delivered. And she was greatly afflicted at this...
And thereupon came out of her womb, after two years' growth, a hard mass of flesh like unto an iron ball.
Iron ball becomes 101:
"Vaisampayana continued, 'That ball of flesh then, sprinkled over with water, became, in time, divided into a hundred and one parts, each about the size of the thumb
101 Thumbs dipped in Clarified Butter for another 2 Years:
These were then put into those pots full of clarified butter that had been placed at a concealed spot and were watched with care. The illustrious Vyasa then said unto the daughter of Suvala that she should open the covers of the pots after full two years.
100 sons and a daughter born:
Then, O king, within a month, were born a full hundred sons unto Dhritarashtra and a daughter also in excess of this hundred.
“Puruṣa, who has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet, investing the earth in alldirections, exceeds (it by a space) measuring ten fingers.”
From that victim, in whom the universal oblation was offered, the mixture of curds and butter was produced, (then) he made those animals over whom Vāyu presides, those that are wild, and those that aretame
The waters, the wives of the destroyer, guarded by Ahi, stood obstructed, like the cows by Paṇis; but by laying Vṛtra, Indra set open the cave that had confined them
“They yoke the seven (horses) to the one-wheeled car; one horse, named seven, bears it along; the three-axled wheel is undecaying, never loosened, and in it all these regions of the universe abide.”
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
We apologise but you have been denied access to report posts in this thread. This could be due to excessively reporting posts and not understanding our forum rules. For assistance or information, please use the forum help thread to request more information. Jazakallah
