Regarding tagging questions asking for scriptural reference

Question

There seems confusion regarding using tags scripture and identification-request and users have different opinions on definition of the tag. So, it would be better to clear the confusion and reach to some conclusion. I'm here trying to consider different cases with providing example questions and giving my opinion on using tags. You're welcome to provide your feedback.

---

Let's assume certain cases:

1. Questions asking about scriptures e.g.

   • What are the Hindu scriptures which every Hindu should abide by?
   • What are the Agama scriptures? Are they related to Shruti/Vedas?
   • What are 16 shastras?
   • What are some online sources to get unabridged Hindu Scriptures or to learn Hinduism?
   • Which Shastras are more authoritative,the Smritis(Dharma Shastras) or the Puranas?

---

2. Questions looking for location or source of stories and verse from scriptures which can be of following sub-types (I don't feel much difference between them though):

   This again can have two possibility (again there doesn't look much difference between 2.1 and 2.2 however may be worthy in some case)

   1. Verse (Either completely unknown)

      • Which scripture is the source of the verse "janmana jayate shudrah.. " (everyone is born a shudra)?
      • What is the source of this (Kayena vacha...) text? or Where does it come from?

      • Where is the mention of 'Shiva is Supreme Lord of Vishnu and Vishnu is Supreme Lord of Shiva'?
        
        Or locating from particular text

      • Where does Yajurveda have "karpūragauraṁ karuṇāvatāraṁ....bhavaṁ bhavānīsahitaṁ namāmi" verse?

      _{Note that this is not about asking for particular verses e.g. "what is the sloka for worshiping Saraswati?"}
      
      

   2. Story: questions finding story from text (Either completely unknown)

      • Which scripture contains the story of Lord Venkateswara?

      • Which Hindu scripture contains the story of a desperate man hanging from a tree branch?
        
        Or locating from particular text

      • Where in Mahabharata is found the story of Vashishta trying to commit suicide in Sutlej river?

      _{Note that this is not about knowing particular story e.g. "what is the story of sage Shakti?"}

---

3. Questions asking scriptural reference for any theory or concept:

   • Are there any references to Gravity in Hindu Scriptures?
   • Are there Hindu scriptural references for "Simulation hypothesis" or the "theory of simulation"?
   • Reference to the 7 chakras in Hinduism
   • Does Any Hindu Texts Say Anything About The Evolution Of Consciousness?
     
     

   Questions asking for scriptural reference for custom/practice or saying:

   • Which is the oldest scriptural reference for Diwali?
   • Do any scriptures say you're not allowed to read multiple Shakhas of a Veda?
   • Which Scriptures say that by chanting Lord's name during the time of one's death one can attain "Moksha"?
   • Can I please have a scriptural reference for Pitru Runa?
     
     

   Note: This also includes questions like "Swami Vivekanada said something, is there any scriptural base of it?", "Is ...something.... mentioned in scripture"

   Part of these questions have been framed like looking for scriptural-reference are more or less similar to find story from scripture i.e can be classified as 2nd type:

   • Do we have scriptural reference on Ashta Bhairava incarnations?
   • Why Dattatreya is shown surrounded by 4 dogs and cow?
   • Devshayani or Harishayani or Toli Ekadashi : Is there a Scriptural references?
   • Are there any scriptural references of the trinity "Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh(Shiva)" as depicted in popular culture?

---

4. Questions like "According to Vedas/Gita/Scripture/Hinduism........" or "As per scripture......."

   This type of question has several possibilities i) they can be looking for any advice/guidance for practice, ii) they can be looking for scriptural-reference, iii) they can be off-topic. So, we need to recognize the nature of question by reading body of question and then can take any necessary action viz. re-tagging, correcting title or casting close vote.

---

5. Questions allowed to identify deity from images e.g. Does anyone know the name of this Hindu deity?

---

Tagging:

Let's recall the purpose of tag:

A tag is a word or phrase that describes the topic of the question. Tags are a means of connecting experts with questions they will be able to answer by sorting questions into specific, well-defined categories.

Tags can also be used to help you identify questions that are interesting or relevant to you.

As mentioned in this meta scripture should be used for questions about scriptures. Though it can be used as broad tag for other cases also.

Now, let's talk about tagging different types of questions:

• scripture is the most suitable for 1st type of questions.

• For 3rd type of questions scripture would be inappropriate according to the tag excerpt. For these type of questions introducing a tag like scriptural-reference would be good idea.

• As mentioned if we consider 2nd and 3rd type similar than tagging them with scriptural-reference would work. For 2.1 scripture may be ok as broader tag, observing questions of type 2.2 using scripture may not be ok.

• For 5th type of questions image-identification would server the purpose.

  Presently identification-request has been introduced for image, verse and story identification. Now, the purpose of tag is to filter questions on particular topic. Here image, idols etc. pictorial things are different than scriptural things verse and story. Look at the couple of questions mentioned in Are identification questions allowed in here?, that is about allowing recognizing deities from images. So, using a tag like image-identification would server the purpose.

• For 4th type of questions we need as mentioned, it needs to look over the nature of question and then to decide which tags would work.

Also note that sometimes for any kind of question, questions would like to prefer scriptural source (though other sources may also work) to be cited in answer For that purpose they specifies it in body of question and not necessarily required to add scripture or scriptural-reference. However, If questioner is explicitly looking for only scriptural source to be cited then, it may be fine to add scriptural-reference in addition to specify in question.

By the way, there is one reference-request tag used for 14 questions so far. reference-request looks unclear, either that tag can be removed or made synonyms to scriptural-reference.

Thanks

Answer 1

I disagree with splitting of identification-request to image-identification and scriptural-reference because the identification-request is not broader tag and no harm in using for verse identification, story identification and image identification. This post gives more clear info about it.

Finding source and scriptural reference are not same. Example for finding source is what is the source of this famous verse and for scriptural reference, are there any references to gravity in hindu scriptures

I don't see any improvement in the changes you said, because the existing tags are totally fine and clear. If there is any confusion then it's a matter of writing the tag wiki clearer.