Mythologist | Author | Speaker | Illustrator
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Articles
The Mysterious Temple Texts Called Agama
Agamas are essentially manuals that were produced to manage temples. It is mainly, though not exclusively, a South Indian phenomenon, where there were vast temple complexes controlled by the Brahmins…
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Articles
Land of the Gods in Uttarakhand
When we speak of the northernmost point of sacred India, we refer not to Kashmir but to Uttarakhand, source of the major sacred rivers of India: Ganga and Yamuna…
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Articles
Three Aryan Invasions
When people speak of the Aryan invasion, it is important to clarify which Aryan invasion they are talking about. Believe it or not, there are actually THREE…
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Articles
Magnificent Epics of Regional Guardian Gods
India is replete with regional epics that are often overlooked as they are composed in a local language and deal with local issues. …
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Articles
The Greek Hero
Greek stories are full of defiance, and achievement, not about obligation, obedience, and charity…
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Articles
The Lion Goddess and the River God
Nourished by the river Nile, Egyptian culture began with many settlements on its banks and in the delta, each its own god and chieftain. …
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Articles
The Politics of Ghosts
The spirits of the dead people were considered to be powerful, and these spirits are channelized during special ceremonies by special groups of people who are associated with singing, dancing, playing drums and going into trance. …
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Articles
The Cattle Army of Kotrabaina
You have probably never heard this saga as you do not belong to the Gaur community of cattle-herders in Western Odisha…
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Articles
Hinduism Across Telugu Lands
Telugu emerged from the larger Proto-Dravidian language over 2000 years ago, but was formalised only during the reign of the Kakatiyas about 1000 years ago, who carved out a Telugu speaking kingdom from the erstwhile Chalukyan empire…
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Articles
How Shiva First Appeared in Mumbai
Mumbai has a long history with tribal, Buddhist, Jain, Hindu, Muslim and Christian roots, dating from Mauryan times…
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Articles
Khandoba and the Gods of Collaboration
In Maharashtra, near Pune, is the town of Jejuri. Here, atop a hill, is a citadel-like turmeric-covered temple dedicated to the much-revered folk deity locally known as Khandoba…
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Articles
Alone As the Rhinoceros’ Horn
We know the one-horned rhino is the state animal of Assam. As per a folk poetry in the Terai region, Vishwakarma created this beast by mixing elephant skin, horse hooves, crocodile eyes, bear brain, lion heart and a bull’s horn…
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Articles
Hinduism in Maharashtra
Today, we see Maharashtra as a land defined by political boundaries. But traditionally it has been the land of the Marathi-speaking people, who speak a set of multiple dialects that emerged from Maharashtri Prakrit and was deeply influenced by Sanskrit (which Brahmins encouraged) and even Persian (which Brahmins hated)…
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Articles
From Fortune’s Favourite to Mother’s Son
Indians have visualised India in many different ways. Often through the lens of outsiders. About …
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Articles
When the Rising Sun in the South Was Auspicious
The South has been the home of Sugriva, king of monkeys (vanara) and Ravana, king of demons (rakshasa). …
