One of the big challenges in describing an event like the great war of the Mahabharata is to continually keep the interest of the reader/listener. When the intention is to describe numerous duels and battles fought over 18 days in great detail, only resorting to a mechanical recording of what happened can impact the readability... Continue Reading →
Day 8 of the Yuddha-Yajna: Eight Ahutis by Bhima
After a fierce round of fighting involving various duels, the 7th day of the great war had ended. Both sides took adequate medicines, and rest, overnight and returned to Kurukshetra, all eager to resume the battle. Bhishma was still leading the Kauravas with great energy in spite of constant chiding by Duryodhana at the end... Continue Reading →
Bhima Parakrama: Day 6 of the Great War
At the start of day 6 of the Mahabharata war, the Kauravas had suffered 4 continuous days of defeats, after their notional victory on day 1. Duryodhana was furious and was keen on Bhishma and Drona fetching him a victory. He urged them to come up with a special formation to attack the Pandavas. Bhishma... Continue Reading →
Bharata or Lakshmana? Who was born first?
In the Ramayana, it is quite clear that Lakshmana is the avatara of Sesha. While there are a few different narrations regarding Bharata and Shatrughna, Sri Madhwacharya has clarified in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya that it was Kama who took birth as Bharata and that Aniruddha was born as Shatrughna. (Note: In the Mahabharata Kama... Continue Reading →
Bhimasena’s Destruction of the Elephant Brigade
It was day 4 of the great war. The first day after Arjuna had finally given up his inhibitions against fighting his own family for the sake of Dharma. Bhagavan Sri Krishna had achieved the dual purpose of fulfilling his devotee Bhishma's wishes of holding a weapon in the war while at the same time... Continue Reading →
Bhimarjuna Veerya: Karna-Shalya Garvabhanga
The Swayamvara of Draupadi had reached its climax. After all the powerful rulers of Bharata - from Shishupala to Jarasandha to Duryodhana and Karna - had failed to even string the Kindhura, the divine bow of Lord Shankara, Arjuna easily lifted and strung it and pierced the matsya-yantra with five arrows. Raja Drupada's joy knew... Continue Reading →
Bhimasena and the Destruction of the Kalingas
On the second day of the Mahabharata war, a most extraordinary battle takes place that brings forth the great skill and force of Bhimasena and sets the tone for the direction of the war for the next 17 days (the Kauravas had a notional win on the first day). As the great warriors engage in... Continue Reading →
Pandemics and Planetary Placements
(Purpose of this post is to put together Jyotishya data collated. The intention is not to make any predictions, which is best done by sadhaka daivajnas). In light of the grave crisis that has engulfed the world currently, I started digging around to see what graha combinations or placements give rise to these global pandemics.... Continue Reading →
Pranasutra 