The recent Sabarimala judgment by the Supreme Court of India has once again thrown open the debate about ‘essential’ practices of a religion. The honourable judges have declared, yet again, that any practice that is not ‘essential’ to the religion shall be open to reinterpretation — by the non-religious, secular institution called judiciary! The honourable judges say... Continue Reading →
Hinduism and Religious Denominations
Once every 12 years, the Kumbha Mela takes place at Prayaga in Uttar Pradesh. Similarly three other Kumbha Melas take place at Haridwara, Nashik and Ujjain. Depending primarily upon the placement of Jupiter in the vedic astrological chart, the timings of these melas are determined. The mela at Prayaga is the world’s largest religious congregation... Continue Reading →
Bal Gangadhar Tilak: Speech on National Education
Source: “Bal Gangadhar Tilak His Writings and Speeches” — Ganesh & Co, Madras, 1919 I shall speak here this evening on national education. We are not accustomed to this term; hence it needs a little explanation. To be able to read and write alone is no education. These are simply the means of its attainment. That which... Continue Reading →
Evolution of BJP’s Policy Towards Educational Institutions
In this post, we look at how the policy of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its predecessor organization - the Bharatiya Jana Sangh - has evolved over the years with respect to the administration and management of educational institutions. These stances of the party have been sourced from the publicly available policy documents and manifestos.... Continue Reading →
DVG: Three Must-Haves for Achievement
Sri D V Gundappa has written, in Kannada, an amazing short book titled “Baligondu Nambike” (A belief for life). The purpose of this book is to elucidate the importance of having a goal in our life and pursuing it with all vigour, to grow personally. The book contains a number of short chapters covering different... Continue Reading →
Bhima Sthairya: Steadfastness in Bhagavata Dharma
We continue 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 the personification of bhakti,... Continue Reading →
Bhima Vairagya: The Death of Ghatotkacha
This is continuation 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 the personification... Continue Reading →
Bhima Gita: The Jnana of Vrikodara
This is continuation 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 the personification... Continue Reading →
The Need For Preventing the Cultural Erosion of Bharata
Nani Palkhivala, in his book “We, The Nation — The Lost Decades” quotes Will Durant on the need for preserving and nourishing the culture of a nation. “Just as continuity of memory is necessary for the sanity of an individual, continuity of the nation’ s traditions and culture is necessary for the sanity of the nation” I... Continue Reading →
Naishtika Brahmachari And The Need For Extreme Sense Control
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a PIL regarding women between 10 to 50 years of age being prevented from entering the Sabarimala Swamy Ayyappa temple. Continuous hearings are underway (as of July 2018) and various Hindu religious requirements are being debated in the context of constitutional provisions. One of the main points of arguments... Continue Reading →
Pranasutra 