On Hinduism

God is one, however God manifests in different forms. Hindus believe in the trinity (Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्ति trimūrti) of gods (three main forms): Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the dissolver). The trinity is the triple deity of supreme divinity Ishwara or Parmatma.

Other reading material: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti, ^[2][3][4][5]

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: Who are Bramha Vishnu & Shiva , Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho (Lyrics & Meaning) – Aks & Lakshmi, Padmini Chandrashekar,

Contributor: Nilesh Chaudhary

Location of this post (1d): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/who-are-brahma-vishnu-and-shiva/

Lord Shiva is often called the “destroyer,” but this is a limited understanding. More accurately, Shiva is the transformer, guiding beings toward higher states of consciousness. This is why he is revered as the Lord of dance (Nataraja), yoga, enlightenment, and mysticism.

What Shiva dissolves is not creation itself, but the illusion of reality (maya)—the false mental frameworks that trap us in ignorance and suffering. This dissolution is not the same as destruction. Rather, Shiva absorbs illusion into the Absolute, making way for renewal and spiritual growth.

In another sense, Shiva presides over the cosmic cycle of life and death. Just as Brahma is associated with creation (birth) and Vishnu with preservation (sustenance), Shiva oversees the transition of the soul (ātman) from one form to another. He is not a destroyer in the ordinary sense, but the administrator of transformation and renewal.

Contributor: Dilip Amin

Location of this post (1l): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/is-lord-shiva-a-destroyer/

Ordinary Hindus and Hindu scholars do not consider Shivalingan a phallic symbol. For them, the formless representation of Shiva has no likeness to any human anatomy.
Arvind Sharma, the Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at Canada’s McGill University, doesn’t deny the possibility of an anatomically accurate interpretation of Shivalingam. However, he blames such misrepresentation on the cult of phallic worship that mistakenly identified Shivalingam as a phallic symbol.
Even Mahatma Gandhi was not aware of any such interpretation. On September 15, 1927 Gandhji wrote in Young India that “It was in a missionary book that I first learnt that shivalingam had any obscene significance at all. And even now, when I see a Shivalingam, neither the shape nor the association in which I see it suggests any obscenity.”
Like any other language, Sanskrit also has words with many meanings depending on the context. The term ‘linga’ in Sanskrit means ‘mark’ or ‘sign’ as well as ‘phallus.’ Hindus use the word ‘linga’ in the former sense. As the sign of Shiva, writes Eck, “the linga is honoured in the sancta of many temples and shrines of India.”

Shiva represents the pure light of consciousness. The linga, or sign, is a physical manifestation of a more intuitively understood phenomena. It is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva.

The significance of Shivalingam in Hinduism in general and Shaivite tradition in particular is immense. According to Shiva Purana (Vidyesvara Samhita: Chapter 5 to 11) the Shiva lingam is a fiery column of light–Niskala Lingam which has no beginning and end. Niskala means nameless and formless aspect of Brahman. There is no mention of any likeness to human anatomy.

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Source: https://theprint.in/opinion/western-reading-of-shivalingam-as-phallic-symbol-is-incorrect-for-hindus-shiva-is-formless/971907/
Other reading material:
Relevant videos: Sex & Shiva Lingam
Contributor: Avatans Kumar

Location of this post (2g): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/why-is-shivlingam-not-a-phallic-symbol/

Every Hindu prayer begins with Om, the sacred sound in Hinduism that holds a lot of spiritual significance. This is followed by an invocation to Lord Ganesha, the giver of auspicious beginnings and remover of obstacles: Om Śhrī Mahāgaṇapataye Namaha.

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These are selected Sanskrit prayers for the Welfare of the World:

• Om sarve bhavantu sukhinaha. Sarve santu niraamayaaha. Sarve bhadraani pashyantu. Maa kaschid dukha bhaag bhavet “May all beings be happy. May all beings be healthy. May all beings experience prosperity. May none in the world suffer.”

• Lokaah samastaah sukhino bhavantu “May all beings be always happy”

• Om shanti, shanti, shantihi “Om, peace, peace, peace”

Many Hindus meditate on this Sanskrit word, “Shanti,” thereby invoking inner peace and radiating the same in external circumstances. 

A popular hymn chanted in times of fear, danger, and uncertainty is the Hanuman Chalisa, forty verses that glorify Lord Hanuman, the giver of strength, courage, and protection.

Advanced practitioners chant these Sanskrit mantras and stotras (devotional hymns) to seek the grace of various deities in the Hindu tradition. Chanting these prayers with utmost faith is the key to reap their full benefits. These are specifically for good health, expedited healing, and the elimination of disease:

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Prayers to Lord Vishnu:

Om Achyuta Ananta Govindāya Namaha 

Salutations to Achyuta Ananta Govinda! (These are all names of Lord Vishnu.)

Stotra: Śhrī Sudarśhana Ṣhatkam, śhloka 3

Srākārasahitam Mantram

Paṭhantam Śhatrunigraham

Sarvarogapraśhamanam

Prapadyeham Sudarśhanam

I salute Lord Sudarshana, who destroys all enemies,

and cures all diseases of those who chant his mantra “Sra”.

Stotra: Śhrīman Nārāyaṇeeyam, daśhakam 8, śhloka 13

Asmin Parātman Nanu Pādmakalpe

Tvamitthamutthāpita Padmayonihi

Anantabhūma Mama Rogarāśhim

Nirundhi Vātālayavāsa Viṣhno 

Oh Supreme Lord of incomprehensible powers, 

you made Lord Brahma emerge from the lotus.

Oh Lord Vishnu who has manifested in the temple of Guruvayoor,

Please cure all my diseases. 

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Prayer to Lord Shiva: 

Stotra: Śhrī Vaidyanātha Aṣṭakam, śhloka 4

Prabhūtavātādi Samastaroga

Pranāśha Kartre Munivanditāya 

Prabhākarendvagni Vilochanāya 

Śhrī Vaidyanāthāya Namah Śhivāya

I bow to that Lord Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who cures all great diseases like rheumatism and arthritis, who is worshipped by great sages, and to whom, the Sun, Moon and God of Fire are eyes.

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Prayer to Goddess Devi: 

Stotra: Śhrī Lalitā Sahasranāmāvali, 551 & 552

Om Sarvavyādhi Praśhamanyai Namaha (Salutations to the goddess who cures all diseases)

Om Sarvamrtyu Nivāriṇyai Namaha (Salutations to the goddess who removes all types of death)

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Prayer to Lord Kārtikeya, also known as Sharavana Bhava: 

Om Śharavaṇa Bhavāya Namaha (Salutations to Lord Sharavana Bhava)

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Prayer to Lord Rama: 

Āpaduddhāraka Śhrī Rāma Stotram, śhloka 1

Āpadām Apahartāram

Dātāram Sarvasampadām

Lokābhirāmam Śhrīrāmam

Bhūyo Bhūyo Namāmyaham 

I respectfully bow down again and again to Shri Rama, who removes all obstacles, blesses one with all types of wealth, and pleases all in the world.

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Prayer to Lord Hanuman:  

Āpaduddhāraṇa Hanumat Stotram, śhloka 5

Ādivyādhi Mahāmāri Grahapīḍāpahāriṇe

Prāṇāpahartre Daityānām Rāmaprāṇātmane Namaha

I prostrate before Lord Anjaneya, who is the destroyer of worries (ādhi), illnesses (vyādhi), chronic illnesses (mahāmāri), evil effects from the changes in the position of planets (grahapīḍā); he is the annihilator of demons, he is the protector of living beings. 

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Other reading material:Relevant videos: Health & Healing Mantras for Coronavirus Protection, Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: Does God Answer Our Prayers (this one is general on prayer, not covid)

Contributor: Lakshmi Subramanian

Location of this post (3j): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-hindu-prayers-for-covid-19-situations/