https://open.substack.com/pub/jimpalmerauthor/p/is-there-a-case-for-religion?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email I read the Op-Ed above with amused interest… interest because matters of Religion always have stoked my curiosity; and amused because I’m reminded of two old sayings — “The more things change, the more they remain the same” and “What goes round always comes around”. Religion went out of fashion and favour for theContinue reading ““Is there a case for Religion?”: Well… no, not to India and not in the Western sense”
Tag Archives: Sanatana Dharma
Now Available for sale in a bookstore near you: “The Epistles of a Prolific Pontiff” (My book of English translations of the Tamil “arul mozhi” of the 44th Azhagiyasingar of Sri Ahobila Mutt)
Musings on “Bhakthi”explained in Swami Vedanta Desikan’s “Rahasya Traya Saaram” as a “virtuous cycle”
ஸ்வாமி வேதாந்த தேசிகரின் “ரஹஸ்ய த்ரய சாரம்” எனும் அபூர்வ கிரந்தத்தில் விளக்கப்படும் பக்தி தத்துவம் குறித்து எழுந்திருக்கும் சிந்தனைகள் — அது ஒரே நேரத்தில் ஆன்மீக உயர்வையும் நற்பெருக்கையும் விளைவிக்கும் ஒரு புனிதச் சுழற்சியாகப் பதிவாகின்றன. எங்கள் ஸ்ரீ வைஷ்ணவ சமூஹத்தின் காவலனாகிய ஸ்ரிமத் வேதாந்த தேசிகரின் “ரஹஸ்யத்திரய ஸாரம்” என்பதின் திவ்யார்த்தங்களை விளக்கும் ஸதாசார்யர் உ.வே. ஸ்ரீ வளையப்பேட்டை இராமாச்சார்ய ஸ்வாமிகள் அவர்கள் ஆவாராந்திரம் ஓவ்வொரு வார இறுதியிலும் அருளும் கலாசேபங்களில், அடியேன் தன்னுடையContinue reading “Musings on “Bhakthi”explained in Swami Vedanta Desikan’s “Rahasya Traya Saaram” as a “virtuous cycle””
What is the Agama ritual of Pavithrotsavam? Why it is conducted for our Sri Vaishnava temples?
Rangamannar and Sri Lakshminarasimha Swami Perumal Kovil , Bheemana Street Abiramapuram commenced on September 27 through 30th, 2025 . Pavithrotsavam: Sri Andal Rangamanar Sri Lakshminarasimha Kovil , Bheemana St. Abiramapuram, Chennai – Sep 27-30 2025 … I had the mahaabaagyam to participate in kainkaryam as one of the three Homam Ritwiks. (Following behind) The pavithrotsavamContinue reading “What is the Agama ritual of Pavithrotsavam? Why it is conducted for our Sri Vaishnava temples?”
“Mudhal Mariyaadhai”, “primus inter pares” and a religious community’s “mos majorum”
Please scroll right down below to read a summary of the above verdict delivered by the Madras High Court in the matter of dispute over claims to rights of “Mudhal mariyadhai” in the Arulmigu Sri Kallazhagar Kovil , in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It could be argued that this verdict is blatant overturning of the wellContinue reading ““Mudhal Mariyaadhai”, “primus inter pares” and a religious community’s “mos majorum””
CONCLUDED:The Rt.Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastri’s memory and legacy…(Part-20): Death of the “Brahmin-Liberal”
On February 19, 1945, the anniversary of the death of Gopala Krishna Gokhale, Sastri spoke for about forty-five minutes at a public-meeting and suddenly lost consciousness. When he regained it after a while, he was advised by his doctors to give up all arduous work including public speaking. Nevertheless, on March 6. 1945, he gaveContinue reading “CONCLUDED:The Rt.Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastri’s memory and legacy…(Part-20): Death of the “Brahmin-Liberal””
The Rt.Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastri’s memory and legacy… (Part-14): “Anti-Sanatanist Liberal” or “Orthodox Performative Brahmin”? …
Srinivasa Sastri viewed Dharma as both personal ethical conduct and societal duty. He linked it closely to moral responsibility, justice, compassion, and wise governance. If there was only one overriding theme that overshadowed all others in his famous thirty “Lectures on the Ramayana“ 1944, it was this commandment and this alone: “Rulers must abide by Dharma—a combination ofContinue reading “The Rt.Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastri’s memory and legacy… (Part-14): “Anti-Sanatanist Liberal” or “Orthodox Performative Brahmin”? …”
Belief and Faith: what’s the difference?
“What is the exact Tamil word for faith?”, asked an old ex-colleague and friend of mine who lives now with his children in far away America. It was a casual question but I somehow could not get myself to be anything but serious about it. I replied: Sir, you are the expert …Is it நம்பிக்கை?Continue reading “Belief and Faith: what’s the difference?”
சோம்பரை உகத்தி போலும்….” and “lazy bones”: transformation from the Ravanesque to the Rama-like .
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 .”
The “Tolkappiyam” and Melkote Tirunarayanapuram: sombre thoughts
In 2017 , I had darshan of Lord Narasimha the deity on the sacred hill of Melkote . From the ramparts of the temple I took the opportunity to shoot a video clip of the lush green and vast landscape around Tirunarayana Puram. What a marvellous panoramic breathtaking scenery! In Sri Vaishnava sampradayam we callContinue reading “The “Tolkappiyam” and Melkote Tirunarayanapuram: sombre thoughts”