The one fundamental principle that sustains order in this world is the sense of right vs wrong. Hindus of course are very familiar with this and use the term Dharma to refer to this principle. There is a prevalent opinion in intellectual circles that the word Dharma has manifold meanings and represents a collection of... Continue Reading →
Bhima’s Purnahuti: Duryodhana Vadha
It was the second half of the 18th day of the great war. Only Duryodhana, Ashwathama, Krupacharya and Krutavarma remained on the Kaurava side. Duryodhana had fled the battlefield and had hidden in the Dwaipayana sarovara. Duryodhana had undertaken "Jalastambhana" inside the pond and was performing japa of a few mantras which were given to... Continue Reading →
Gayatri Devatas: The 24 Rupas of Sri Hari
The following attempt is to capture whatever has been beautifully explained by Sri Bannanje Govindacharya in one of his Kannada pravachanas. It is well accepted that the famous Brahma Gayatri mantra has 24 aksharas in them. But upon splitting the words in the mantra into their aksharas, we find the following: 1 तत् 2 स... Continue Reading →
Bhima Krupa: Killing of Bahlika
On the 15th day of the great war, upon the fall of his father Drona, Ashwathama was uncontrollable. His fury knew no bounds and the Pandava warriors paid a heavy price. Many sons of Drupada, the sons of Kuntibhoja and thousands of Rakshasa warriors who were part of Ghatotkacha's army fell to Ashwathama's arrows. Seeing... Continue Reading →
Bhima Vikrama – Slaying of Durmada
The evening of the 14th day of the great war had just started. A short while before that, Jayadratha had dropped guard after mistaking the maya created by Sri Krishna for the setting of the Sun. In the next moment, his lifeless head had dropped on the lap of his father. Both father and son... Continue Reading →
Bhima Karna Yuddha – 5
The intense battle between Bhima and Karna on the 14th day of the war seemed like would never end. Karna would get badly defeated and put himself in danger. Seeing this, Duryodhana kept sending his brothers to defend his dear friend. All of them in turn got killed by Bhima. Seeing the dead bodies of... Continue Reading →
Bhima Karna Yuddha – Part 4
On the 14th day, the battle between Bhimasena and Karna raged on, even as Karna kept getting humiliated with repeated defeats. Karna's false, but undiminishing, belief that he could take on and defeat Bhima, coupled with the tragic fate of multiple of Duryodhana's brothers, led to Vaikartana's numerous returns to the battlefield to face Bhima.... Continue Reading →
Bhima Karna Yudha – Part 3
The battle between Bhimasena and Karna continued on the 14th day even as Karna kept getting defeated repeatedly and one of the sons of Dhritharashtra got caught in the cross-fire. Karna, having lost his chariot at the fall of Durjaya, climbed another one and resumed his duel with Bhima. Through a cluster of arrows, Karna... Continue Reading →
Bhima Karna Yuddha – Part 2
After the resounding defeat of Karna in the first duel between them on the 14th day of the great war, Bhima desired to proceed towards Arjuna so his older brother's wish could be satisfied. However, Karna, was unable to tolerate the humiliation of the first defeat. He alighted a new chariot and came back to... Continue Reading →
Bhima Karna Yuddha – Part 1
On the 14th day of the Mahabharata war, Bhimasena is ordered by Yudhisthira to go look for Arjuna after Satyaki fails to report Arjuna's well-being on time. Bhima immediately obeys his brother's orders and heads out. He is stopped by Drona twice and challenged to a duel. Both times, Bhima hands Drona a resounding defeat... Continue Reading →
Pranasutra 