For the last couple of years it’s been my privilege and personal delight to be corresponding via WhatsApp messages with the well-known writer, novelist, playwright and scholar, Sri. Indira Parthasarathy (pen name “Eepa”) almost daily while we casually discuss a whole range of subjects of mutual interest — mostly Tamil and English literature but occasionallyContinue reading “சோம்பரை உகத்தி போலும்….” and “lazy bones”: transformation from the Ravanesque to the Rama-like .”
Category Archives: philosophy
தொல்லை இன்பம் (“thollai inbam”): an oxymoron for Krishna Bhakthi that Peria-Azhwar knew only too well!
Here is a “paasuram” from Peria-Azhwar’s “tirumozhi” that I consider is an utterly enchanting still-portrait of Krishna Leela theme expounded in the Srimadh Bhaagavatham. You must read it with the portrait of Bala Krishnan above etched in your imagination. வெண்ணெய்விழுங்கிவெறுங்கலத்தைவெற்பிடையிட்டு அதனோசைகேட்கும்கண்ணபிரான்கற்றகல்விதன்னைக்காக்ககில்லோம் உன்மகனைக்காவாய் *புண்ணில்புளிப்பெய்தாலொக்கும்தீமைபுரைபுரையால்இவைசெய்யவல்லஅண்ணற்கண்ணானர்மகனைப்பெற்றஅசோதைநங்காய்! உன்மகனைக்கூவாய் —- யெரியாழ்வார் 2.9 “Your little boy ate up all the butterContinue reading “தொல்லை இன்பம் (“thollai inbam”): an oxymoron for Krishna Bhakthi that Peria-Azhwar knew only too well!”
“Naming is not knowing”, says Richard Feymann; but “Naming is the key to knowing”, says the “Purusha Suktam”and “Vishnu Sahasranama” (Part 2 of 2- CONCLUDED).
The Purusha Suktam hymn describes the primordial cosmic creation as a process in which the universe and all its elements emerge from the sacrifice of the Purusha, the Cosmic Being. The hymn details how various aspects of the cosmos—such as the moon, sun, wind, earth, sky, and even the social classes—arise from different parts ofContinue reading ““Naming is not knowing”, says Richard Feymann; but “Naming is the key to knowing”, says the “Purusha Suktam”and “Vishnu Sahasranama” (Part 2 of 2- CONCLUDED).”
“Naming is not knowing”, says Richard Feymann; but “Naming is the key to knowing”, says the “Purusha Suktam”and “Vishnu Sahasranama” (Part 1 of 2).
This morning a very erudite online friend of mine, a retired Judge of the High Court of Telangana, Justice T.N.C. Rangarajan ( https://tshc.gov.in/showFormerJudgeProfile?id=278) forwarded to me for my edification an extremely thought-provoking article on the Richard Feynman. Who is Richard Feynman? Richard Phillips Feynman (May 11, 1918 – February 15, 1988) was an American theoretical physicist. HeContinue reading ““Naming is not knowing”, says Richard Feymann; but “Naming is the key to knowing”, says the “Purusha Suktam”and “Vishnu Sahasranama” (Part 1 of 2).”
எம். கே. சுதர்ஷனின் “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?” – தமிழில்புத்தக விமர்சனம்
https://amzn.in/d/3XQhmIB எம். கே. சுதர்ஷனின் “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?” – தமிழில்புத்தக விமர்சனம் எம். கே. சுதர்ஷனின் “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?” என்பது இந்து தத்துவத்தில் தெய்வத்தின் இயல்பை ஆராயும் சிந்தனைமிக்க நூலாகும். இதில் பிரம்மம் என்ற கருத்து மற்றும் வேதாந்தத்தின் பல்வேறு பிரிவுகளில் அதன் விளக்கங்கள் குறித்து விரிவாக ஆராயப்படுகிறது. பாகவத் குண தர்பணம் மற்றும் சததுஷணி போன்ற அதிகாரப்பூர்வ நூல்களை மேற்கோள் காட்டி, பிரம்மத்திற்கும் அதன்Continue reading “எம். கே. சுதர்ஷனின் “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?” – தமிழில்புத்தக விமர்சனம்”
M K Sudarshan’s “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?”: stands out for its logical, coherent, and smooth-flowing narrative, making intricate philosophical arguments accessible to the reader.
BOOK REVIEW M K Sudarshan’s “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?” is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of the divine in Hindu philosophy, specifically examining the concept of Brahman and its interpretations within different Vedantic traditions. Drawing upon authoritative texts like the Bhagavad Guna Darpanam and the Satadushani, Sudarshan navigates complex theological debates, suchContinue reading “M K Sudarshan’s “The Nondescript God: Abstraction or Paragon?”: stands out for its logical, coherent, and smooth-flowing narrative, making intricate philosophical arguments accessible to the reader.”
“The Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava” — the new India Edition 2025! Just out in online bookstores as paperback and available as Ebook on Google Play
“The Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava” — new India Edition 2025! Just out in online bookstores !
The earlier international editions (2016 and 2021) of this popular and critically acclaimed book were priced @₹.5000/+. Now, the new 2025 India Edition at an affordable price of ₹.1000/- is available for sale: The 60 delightful essays penned inside this book include also two short-stories based on imaginative reinterpretations of an episode each from theContinue reading ““The Unusual Essays of an Unknown Sri Vaishnava” — new India Edition 2025! Just out in online bookstores !”
Tharoorian balderdash: ‘Why am I a Hindu?’: (Part 2 of 2-Concluded)
In the book Ten Heads of Ravana edited by Rajiv Malhotra, the well-known Hinduism scholar and historian, and his co-author, Divya Reddy, compiled ten excellent essays portraying ten prolific and very influential contemporary Hinduphobic writers in India and abroad. Shashi Tharoor finds a place of pride in the pantheon of those notorious ten who areContinue reading “Tharoorian balderdash: ‘Why am I a Hindu?’: (Part 2 of 2-Concluded)”
Tharoorian balderdash: ‘Why am I a Hindu?’: (Part 1 of 2)
A friend of mine sent me yesterday on WhatsApp a “many times forwarded’ copy of Shashi Tharoor’s excerpted speech reportedly now going viral on the internet. It is titled “WHY AM I A HINDU?” which I read with great interest but great disappointment. For Tharoor as elocutionist, politician, author and astute diplomat, I have greatContinue reading “Tharoorian balderdash: ‘Why am I a Hindu?’: (Part 1 of 2)”