Understanding Sri Vaishnava Soteriology with the aid of Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’. (A) A comparative glance at moksha and salvation in the three Vedānta schools, Christianity, and Islam Across traditions, liberation or salvation — moksha — is conceived as the final release from bondage, suffering, and separation from the divine. But the nature of that release differs remarkably in ontology,Continue reading ““Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven” versus the Sri Vaishnava Ideal of “Nitya Kainkarya Praapthi””
Tag Archives: Unknown Sri Vaishnava
Why I’m an “Unknown Sri Vaishnava”
“Is it not possible to live in this world without ambition, just being what you are? If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation. I think one can live in this world anonymously, completely unknown—without being famous, ambitious, or cruel. One can liveContinue reading “Why I’m an “Unknown Sri Vaishnava””
Limits to Great Powers’ Military Might; no Limits to Hypocrisy!
Great powers project invincibility, yet current wars expose their Achilles’ heels: military might fractures without complementary domains, while moral posturing reveals boundless double standards. Russia’s Ukraine quagmire proves even nuclear-armed giants cannot conquer land decisively absent naval mastery. America’s Iran campaign reveals the inverse—even unmatched sea power falters without ground forces. Parallel hypocrisy underscores both:Continue reading “Limits to Great Powers’ Military Might; no Limits to Hypocrisy!”
UNESCO, Ahobilam, and the Limits of International Recognition for Hindu Temples
In recent months, the Paruveta Utsavam of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Ahobilam has entered the national spotlight with a Parliamentary resolution seeking UNESCO recognition—either as an Intangible Cultural Heritage element or as part of a broader heritage‑conservation framework. The Ahobila Mutt, custodian of the Ahobilam temple for over 750 years, stands at the centreContinue reading “UNESCO, Ahobilam, and the Limits of International Recognition for Hindu Temples”
What is present population size of Ayyangars? And how large is the size of the “Vadakalai” subsect?
Recently, some friends of mine on a WhatsApp group were engaged in chatter while discussing comparative Jain community population versus Ayyangar community size. Although , the Jains represent a religious minority while Ayyangars represent a Hindu sect , the lively discussion continued nevertheless. My views stated during the discussions were as follows : Ayyangars areContinue reading “What is present population size of Ayyangars? And how large is the size of the “Vadakalai” subsect?”
Sri Thyagaraja, the undeclared Sri Vaishnava “prapannan”
Like millions of Rasikas all over the world , I too consider myself an ardent Sri Thyagaraja bhakth who loves so many of the saint’s exquisite kritis and often, whenever swept away by the mood, I do sing a few of them in the privacy of my home purely for the delight of my ownContinue reading “Sri Thyagaraja, the undeclared Sri Vaishnava “prapannan””
Mapping the “Dreams of the World”: Freud, Jung and the Bhagavath Gita
What a fascinating Infograph indeed on the Freudian stuff that the Dreams of the whole world is about! If you study the map closely, you will not fail to notice that nearly the whole of world populations have either the “Snake” or the “Falling of Teeth“ to be objects appearing as recurring themes in theirContinue reading “Mapping the “Dreams of the World”: Freud, Jung and the Bhagavath Gita”
The Carnatic Music world quietly forgot (maybe even forgave?) Kamal Hassan deriding Saint Thyagaraja… but not this feisty Muslim woman!
The whole world of Carnatic Music aficionados, institutions, Vidwans, Rasikas and musicologist should watch this video-clip below and hang their collective heads in shame and sin. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DLUSD44eC/?mibextid=wwXIfr The Muslim woman castigates Kamal Haasan for having disgraced Sri Thyagaraja once when he spoke during an Instagram Live conversation with actor Vijay Sethupathi on May 4, 2020.Continue reading “The Carnatic Music world quietly forgot (maybe even forgave?) Kamal Hassan deriding Saint Thyagaraja… but not this feisty Muslim woman!”
Dushyant Sridhar’s jingoistic FB comment only proves the point made in my 2024 book: “The Decline and Fall of the “ubhaya vedantins”
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1818EjnJ4E/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17puU48Ue2/ The above URL of Sri. Dushyant Sridhar short-video clip of course will be music indeed to the ears and hearts of Vadakalais . I’m sure Dushyant’s fan following might increase by a few hundreds. It will most certainly be red rag waved in the raging faces of the Tenkalais . But the questionContinue reading “Dushyant Sridhar’s jingoistic FB comment only proves the point made in my 2024 book: “The Decline and Fall of the “ubhaya vedantins””
Tenkalai and Vadakalai Sri Vaishnavas’ endless legal battle: Can a Phyrric victory for either side erase the “writing on the wall” for both?
Pyrrhic means a victory won at such a devastating cost that it’s almost a defeat. King Pyrrhus of Epirus: his army suffered huge losses winning battles against the Romans, leaving him too weak to continue. It describes any success that ultimately proves worthless due to the immense price paid, like winning a lawsuit but losing everything in legalContinue reading “Tenkalai and Vadakalai Sri Vaishnavas’ endless legal battle: Can a Phyrric victory for either side erase the “writing on the wall” for both?”