Exploring the World of Varna
Introduction Varṇa, the system of classification of society into different groups, has been a topic of much controversy, debate, and deliberation. The numerous studies on varṇa fill up whole bookshelves and deal with humongous details. However, we will explore the subject from a broader perspective, using as references our foundational texts and More...
Mahabharata and Charity
When trying to opine on an epic like the Mahabharata, perhaps the most appropriate way to keep one’s ego in check to be reminded of a verse from Ch 279 of the Shanti Parva, Moksha Dharma, which describes among More...
Outlines of a Dharmic Grand Narrative
It is fairly self-evident that the world stands at a historic crossroads, when long-suppressed Asia is finally re-asserting itself. It is widely accepted that the Atlantic Century is long gone, and that the Indo-Pacific More...
The Scientific Dating of the Ramayana
Did Rama exist? A billion Hindus believe he did and an unbroken tradition of Rama worship has continued for thousands of years in India. Rama is also a hero in Indonesia (despite it being a Muslim country), Thailand More...
The Need for a Resurgent Bharat
There is an ongoing battle occurring at many levels relative to the concept of India and what India is, was and is meant to be. This is not merely a scholarly debate to arrive at truth but resembles more a struggle More...
Rudra: A Brief Journey through Early Śaiva Thought
[contextly_sidebar id=”bgsTWOzHyBVG1fiSJGPMk6nwzNh6gzBg”]There is a persistent motif of the deva Rudra (Śiva) being originally refused ritual offerings of the yajña to which the other deva-s were entitled. More...
History and Nationalism: Excerpt from Hinduism and the Clash of Civilization.
One of the main purposes of history books, as taught in different countries in the world, is to instill a sense of national pride and honor—in short, to inculcate a sense of patriotism and nationalism. Whether More...
Despoiled Gaṅgā as a Metaphor for Loss of Hindu Discernment
With the river Sarasvati going dry the plains watered by the Gaṅgā became the focus of civilization in India. This civilizational phenomenon is philologically mirrored in Hindu tradition with the Gaṅgā and More...
Clarifying the Hindu View
Co-authored by Hari Ravikumar Our previous article titled ‘Hindu View on Food and Drink’ understandably received a fair bit of outraged reactions from a section of readers and was the subject of much debate. While More...
An Open Letter to Maa Durga
Dear Mother, Open letters are currently in vogue, so I thought of writing one myself and since they are usually written to those who wield some kind of power, I chose you, the Infinite Power Herself. Sticking to More...