Mythologist | Author | Speaker | Illustrator
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Articles
Kartikeya of Punjab, and the Southern Kartikeya
Kartikeya is no longer a widely worshipped deity in North India, but he remains extremely popular in Tamil Nadu, where he is venerated as Murugan, Subramanyam, or the bright jewel…
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Articles
Now an Angry Parashuram?
A film poster on Parashuram appeared on social media. And he looked terribly angry. Why? The answer in all probability will be revenge…
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Articles
Quarrelling Hindu Gods
One of the unique features of Hindu temple traditions is the stories of the resident god quarrelling with the resident goddess. These take the form of a domestic spat, and through the storytelling and rituals that enact this quarrel, audiences are drawn into the lives of the gods and the divine…
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Articles
Facts About Kumbha Mela
People have been gathering at the confluence (sangam) of rivers in India for thousands of years. A confluence of rivers is called Prayag…
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Articles
Tales of Aryan Horses
Hindu mythology states that horses were churned out of the ocean of milk by gods and demons. This myth is not found in Vedas, which has the earliest songs celebrating horses in the world…
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Articles
Who Did Parashuram Actually Kill?
Parashuram is being presented as a great hero who drove away the enemy, with suggestions that he expelled cow-killing invaders from the land. But is this really true?…
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Articles
The Parrot’s Erotic Secret
Andal’s love for her divine lord is expressed in her songs, which are highly erotic. There was no shame in expressing desire so overtly. At least, when Andal lived, 1,200 years ago. This was the time when celibacy was not linked to purity or piety…
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Articles
View: Indians Need to Market the Yagna Model as Japan Markets Ikigai
Nowadays, everyone is talking about Ikigai, the Japanese way of living that involves finding your life’s purpose…What is often overlooked, however, is the larger context of this model…
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Articles
How Debates Are Increasingly Becoming a Duel
Debates are increasingly becoming a duel, so much so that if you align with one idea, the opposition can argue that you are a racist, a bigot, or that you are committing a hate crime. In other words, those debating enter the arena convinced the other is wrong…
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Articles
This & That, Both & Neither: Cracking the Origins of the Mystifying Indian Headshake
Some of the earliest documented myths come from Mesopotamia, the Fertile Crescent where the earliest farming communities built cities around temples. These stories spoke of gods who wanted to enjoy luxury without labour, so they created humans out of clay. That is why humans toil, serving the gods, fearful of their wrath that causes flood…
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Articles
From Yakshas to Nagas — the Mainstreaming of Local Deities
Yakshas are magical creatures in Indian mythology much like dwarves of European lore, linked to gems and gold. They appear as corpulent deformed beings, wearing elaborate jewellery, on Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu shrines…
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Articles
The Significance of Rebirth
Modern people tend to be contemptuous of tradition and feel they are more rational than their predecessors. But if we accept rebirth as a concept, we need to understand what purpose this narrative tool serves. Rebirth brings forth three interesting ideas not found in cultures that believe in a single life…
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Articles
The Reality of Impermanence
Ancient Vedic ritual halls were set aflame to remind everyone that nothing is permanent. Buddha said the same thing. So did the Tirthankaras. Even today Hindu rituals involve building images of gods using perishable materials like straw, clay and flowers. After a few days of worship, the images are thrown in the river. A reminder…
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Articles
Uniting India with Itihasa-Purana
In India, the phrase ‘itihasa-puranaʼ has been used for 2,500 years to refer to transmitted memories. Many assume that this is an ancient division between history and mythology. However, the split between history and mythology happened only in the 19th century with the use of the scientific method to unravel the past…
