In the ‘bhagavadyAna’ upa-parva of the ‘udyOga’ parva of mahAbharata, there is a very interesting incident which gives us a great lesson on the duty of a person when dharma is in danger. The pAndavas decide that peace must yet be given one last opportunity. Krishna decides he must play the role of the peace... Continue Reading →
The Cleansing of Jaya-Vijaya Inside Us
Note: This post is heavily influenced by the pravachana of Padma Sri Bannanje Govindacharya on the topic of narasimhaavatara. Many pranamas to him. (I have made a few extrapolations to what he has said) The story of jaya and vijaya — the doorkeepers of vaikunta — is well known to all readers of vaishnava literature. Their refusal to allow... Continue Reading →
Krishna — One Who is Always ‘satyavAk’
Those well versed in shAstras will tell you that paramAtma always says satya — truth. He never goes back on his words — he never lies — he never fails to keep his promise. The entire second adhyaya of the brahmasutras, as Sri Madhwacharya has elucidated — highlight this single quality of the paramatma — that he is ‘निर्दोष’ — without any defect. Therefore, if he did... Continue Reading →
The Contribution of The Bahamani Rulers
City of Vijayanagara: November: 1442 A.D — in the words of Abdur Razzak “Having left this mountain and this forest behind me, I reached a town called Belour, the houses of which were like palaces…… …..The city of Bidjanagar is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it, and the ear... Continue Reading →
Issues with the Karnataka HR & CE Act
Recently, the Karnataka Government sent out a circular seeking feedback from the public over the issue of taking over of Hindu mathas and (additional) temples. In the face of a strong backlash, the circular was withdrawn within a day. Even as the entire HR&CE Act was struck down as being unconstitutional by the Karnataka High... Continue Reading →
‘Opposing’ Parties And The Freedom Of Speech and Expression
The Indian Constitution grants complete freedom of speech to Parliamentarians (and members of state legislatures). Under Article 105, nothing that is said by a Parliamentarian can be challenged in any court of law. The founders of this nation granted such a rare privilege, not bestowed on any other institution in the country, with the hope... Continue Reading →
The Extraordinary Fearlessness of Bhagat Singh
Even the bravest people tend to lose control over fear in the face of imminent death. The facade of fearlessness falls off when the reality of one’s life being cut short hits you. Life is precious to almost all. Even a 100 year old hopes he can cling on to dear life for as long... Continue Reading →
The Childhood of Sri Madhwacharya
Sri Madhwacharya, the great vedanta acharya, who propagated the siddanta of tattvavada, was born in the 13th Century at Pajaka, near Udupi, Karnataka. There are two dates — 1199 C.E and 1238 C.E — that is proposed by scholars as his date of birth. But 1238 C.E is the more widely accepted date. There is, however, no confusion over... Continue Reading →
Bhima Bala: The Slaughter of Keechaka
This post is a part of the series of posts highlighting the ten guNas that bhimasena displays in the mahabharata. The ten gunas have been explained by Sri Madhwacharya in his mahabharata tatparya nirnaya as follows भक्तिर्ज्ञानं सवैराग्यं प्रज्ञा मेधा धृतिः स्थिथिः | योगः प्राणो बलं चैव वृकोदरो इति स्मृतः || २-१४१ || Vrikodara is... Continue Reading →
The Non-severability of Economic, Financial and Religious Practices in Hindu Temples
Link to an article arguing how Government takeover of Hindu temples is unconstitutional.
