Demystifying Tantra-IV: Shakta tantras, Kaula tantras, Mantrashastra and Nibandhas
[contextly_sidebar id=”FuK9o27OYL3qGG4wIfNakWo3W2dMil45″] In the previous article, we had started an exercise of classifying tantric texts to help us make sense of the diversity of traditions, and to More...
Understanding Navaratri through Vedanta
Navaratri or the festival of nine nights is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Hindus across the world. There is a diversity in the way the festival is celebrated in various parts of the country, More...
Contemporary challenges facing Hindu society
Waking up to the sonorous voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, reciting the intensely poignant Mahisasuramardini, announcing Mahalaya, is a moment of extraordinary significance for Bengali Hindus. Its memory prompted More...
Prana, desha, anna: the origins of spiritual agriculture- I
“Pressed (by men at the helm of affairs) in the words ‘Let food be given again and again and (also) article of wearing apparel of various kinds’ many men in that sacrifice did as they were told More...
Hygiene in Ancient India as in Ganeśa Purāṇa
Hygiene is a very important part of life as it keeps each one of us healthy both physically and mentally. Some people have a tendency to believe that modern man knows best, and that our ancestors were unaware of More...
Importance of Pitr Karma
Every year during the second fortnight of the lunar month of Bhardrapada, right after the Ganesha puja, a period of 14 days is set aside for offering reverence to ancestors, known as pitrpaksha. During this time, More...
Hindu roots of modern ‘ecology’
One of the first lessons a student of ecology is taught is that this science is relatively new, that the term ‘ecology’ was only first defined in 1866 by Ernst Haeckel. Among the sciences, it has become sought More...
Veda and Yoga are One
Veda, from the root “vid” to know, refers to Knowledge in the highest sense as direct perception of the Eternal and Infinite Consciousness called Brahman. Brahman is present as the Atman or inner Self of all More...
Made Snana: Another case of dismantling Hindu practices?
The controversial practice of “Made-Snana”, which involves devotees rolling over the food leftover by Brahmins, in certain temples of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, once every year is again in the news. This time, More...
In the Beginning -II: Are Vedic texts outcome of speculations or first-hand experiences?
[contextly_sidebar id=”8VyPrFhqai9CRVtNmhJTfzVdaBOf5mVX”] Western scholars like to speculate and so import speculation, even in places where none exists. Almost all who have dealt with the early aspect More...