The Varnashrama system, as described in Manusmriti and other ancient texts, was structured fundamentally to organize society based on vocational aptitudes and duties, aiming to maintain social order and harmony in accordance with cosmic and moral laws (dharma). (Chapter 1.88-91). This system classified society into four main varnas: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers),Continue reading “Peter Turchin, “Manu-Smriti” and the “distress” of “Elite Overproduction” looming over India – (Part 2 of 3)”
Tag Archives: Ramayana
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)”
My Appreciation: A bold feminist re-telling of a scene from “Ramayana” by Indira Parthasarathy (published in “Amuda Surabhi”)
Sri Indira Parthasarathy (Eepa to his fans) was kind enough to send me yesterday a copy of a short-story he had written for the Tamil Magazine “Amudha Surabhi” (please scroll down to read it) . “My story based on uttarakaandam (a little modern for your liking, maybe!) has been published in the latest issue ofContinue reading “My Appreciation: A bold feminist re-telling of a scene from “Ramayana” by Indira Parthasarathy (published in “Amuda Surabhi”)”
Reality of “bhagavath avataara” eludes even the best minds: No wonder Vedanta says it “avataara rahasya”
A very senior and highly distinguished IAS officer (retired) –whose name I shall not disclose here since I respect his privacy — is a good friend of mine for whom I have great respect, knowing as I do his yeoman services rendered to the Goverment of India in his career heydays as a top-bureaucrat. ThisContinue reading “Reality of “bhagavath avataara” eludes even the best minds: No wonder Vedanta says it “avataara rahasya””
More conversations on the Dushyant Sridhar-Rangarajan Narasimhan controversy over dating theory of Rama avatar
In response to a posting of mine on my Facebook Page yesterday July 6. 2024 on the subject https://www.facebook.com/share/RFMkifU5LDErYQQX/?mibextid=WC7FNe, a reader Sri. Para Saran commented as below ⬇️ “Dear Swami, I agree with the overall theme you have written. However Sri Rangarajan is not stirring a storm. If this was said by Nastikas, it isContinue reading “More conversations on the Dushyant Sridhar-Rangarajan Narasimhan controversy over dating theory of Rama avatar”
குயில் நின்றார் பொழில் சூழ் குருகூர்: Part-5: A pilgrim’s jottings at “Azhwar Tirunagari Kshetra”
A pilgrim’s jottings on a 3-day whirlwind pilgrimage, May 4th, 2024 (Tirunelveli-Tuticorin) of Nava Tirupati temples As my road-journey that day wended its way towards Azhwar Tirunagari , a small part of my mind was still pondering over how divine Synchronicity was showing itself up in so many strangely serial ways, or in mysteriously coincidentalContinue reading “குயில் நின்றார் பொழில் சூழ் குருகூர்: Part-5: A pilgrim’s jottings at “Azhwar Tirunagari Kshetra””
EPILOGUE: “Snaanam”, “Shraadham”, “Darsanam”, “Alinganam”: (CONCLUDED): Personal reflections on my pilgrimage to Gaya, Kashi, Prayag and Ayodhya – November 11-20, 2023
“Alinganam” This word “aalinganam” is one of the most beautiful sounding words in the Sanskrit language. One needs to read only two lines of poetry quoted below to understand what I mean…. They are found in an invocatory verse (in the stotra “narasimha prappathi”) sung in praise of the Deity of the great temples onContinue reading “EPILOGUE: “Snaanam”, “Shraadham”, “Darsanam”, “Alinganam”: (CONCLUDED): Personal reflections on my pilgrimage to Gaya, Kashi, Prayag and Ayodhya – November 11-20, 2023″
Kancha Illiah’s challenge to Brahmins and the revivalism of Sanskrit
Why no Hindutva or contemporary Brahmin scholar ever writes in Sanskrit ? Asks the well- known Dalit academician, thinker, activist and writer, Kancha Illiah….: “ Brahmins do not write in Sanskrit. Why is it so? Is it because they hate the language but continue to praise it to deceive the gullible Shudra/Dalit/Adivasi masses?” Kancha Illiah’sContinue reading “Kancha Illiah’s challenge to Brahmins and the revivalism of Sanskrit”
Tasteful Tongue-tied-ness
Here is a tale from the Ramayana that I came across circulating in the social media today: Strolling through the streets of Lanka at night, Hanuman was taken aback when he heard the chants of Sriram coming from a home. They were not loud but whispers through the windows. Hanuman wondered who could be chantingContinue reading “Tasteful Tongue-tied-ness”
“How Hanuman offers lessons for India’s and the world’s public diplomacy orientation today”
Yesterday the author Sri. Sudarshan Ramabhadran of an article published in THE PRINT online magazine sent me his below email which is self explanatory I read the article and was so impressed by it that I responded to Sudarshan Ramabhadran with my own take on the subject. Here is my email below: Hello Sri SudarshanContinue reading ““How Hanuman offers lessons for India’s and the world’s public diplomacy orientation today””