'Hindu Mythology'List of Related Articles with Summaries |
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Published in Economic Times, 17 August 2008
Wealth in its most primal form comes from under the ground. Plants come from under the ground. Minerals come from under the ground. Water comes from under the ground. Even petrol comes from under the ground. Little wonder then that Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is called Patala-nivasini, [...]
Published in Hindustan Times (Brunch) on August 31, 2008
The rainy season is considered an inauspicious time. The sun is making its journey south; the days are becoming shorter and the nights colder; the earth is wet, worms and snakes are wriggling out, the walls are damp, and there is moss in every corner…it is Chaturmaas, [...]
First Published in Sunday Mid-day 'Devlok' on 20 July 2008
The Hindu cosmos or Brahmanda is visualized as a skyscraper. In the centre stands Bhu-lok, earth. Above are realms of increasing happiness, the topmost floor being Dev-lok, where all day people do nothing but enjoy the song and dance of Apsaras, qualifying it to be Swarga, [...]
Published on 6 June 2008, in Corporate Dossier, Economic Times
According to the Shiva Puran, Daksha-Prajapati sought worthy grooms for his many daughters, men of substance, gods who helped life on earth, like Indra, the rain-god or Agni, the fire-god. He was quite horrified therefore when his youngest daughter, Sati, of her own free will, chose [...]
Published in Corporate Dossier, Economic Times, 29 May 2008
If there was no Mahish-asura, the gods would not have invoked the warrior-goddess, Durga. If there was no Tarak-asura, there would have been no need for the divine warlord, Kartikeya. If there was no Ravana or Kansa, Ram or Krishna would not walk the earth. Demons and [...]
Published on 9 May 2008 in Corporate Dossier, Economic Times, as 'The Cursed Gossip Monger'
Randhir was very happy with his bonus until someone told him that his colleague, Sukant, had been given a higher bonus. “Its not fair,” he said and stormed to meet his boss. Despite every attempt of his boss to explain his [...]
First City, Mythos, October 2007
As one reads the Upanishads, ancient Hindu scriptures dated to 500 BC, one realizes they are constantly referring to two truths: a truth which changes and a truth which does not change. The existence of the one points to the existence of the other. In change we seek permanence. In restlessness [...]
First City, Mythos, Dec 2007
It is impossible to think of Krishna without thinking of Radha. Theirs is an eternal love story The stuff of romantic songs. And yet, some of the biggest Krishna temples in India do not enshrine the image of Radha. In Puri, Orissa, Krishna is enshrined with his sister, Subhadra, and his [...]
November 9, Indian Express (Editorial page)
Diwali is without doubt India’s answer to America’s Christmas, where the religious aspect takes a backseat and secular shopping comes to the fore.
It all began as a post-monsoon harvest festival. But what distinguishes it from other harvest festivals like Pongal (Tamil Nadu) or Bihu (Assam) is that it is [...]
26 Oct, 2007, 0530 hrs IST,Devdutt Pattanaik, TNN
One day, Drona summoned two of his students, Yudhishtira and Duryodhana. “Spend a day in Hastinapur and find me a really bad man,” he told the always-nice Yudhishtira. Then turning to the ever-angry Duryodhan, he said, “Spend a day in Hastinapur and find me a really good man.” [...]
