Mythologist | Author | Speaker | Illustrator
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Articles
History of Amrita Manthan
There are far more Samudra Manthan images found in Southeast Asia than in India, and this remains a huge mystery…
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Articles
The Saint Outside the Temple
There is tension between the social idea of purity and pollution, and the spiritual idea of connection between the deity and the devotee. Here are five such stories drawing attention to the tension…
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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
Is Green an Islamic Colour?
Since green is the dominant colour of the Pakistan flag, many Sanatani Hindutva folks see it as the colour of Islam. …
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Articles
Fifth Veda Uses Gender As a Metaphor
We need to remember that as per popular lore, the gods created the Puranas as the Fifth Veda to transmit Vedic wisdom to women and lowborn people who did not have access to the mantra and the ritual…
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Articles
The Forest and the Field
Increasingly, we find laws that protect forests being cut down, giving way for industries. This brings tribal communities into conflict with the state. …
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Articles
The Celestial Stories of Plants in India
We have come a long way from the days when there were sacred groves across India, where no one was allowed to graze cattle, plant crops or forage for fruit or firewood…
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Articles
Diwali for Ram, Krishna, Lakshmi, Yama, Asuras and Ancestors
Diwali celebrations vary across India: In north India, it commemorates the return of Ram, while south India celebrates the defeat of Narakasura. Western Diwali involves a business-related renewal and in eastern India, the focus shifts to ancestor worship and paying off karmic debts. These varying traditions underscore the diversity of Hinduism across the different regions…
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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
Greek Gods, English Words
In the Devanagari script, there is no upper and lowercase. So, the name of God can become a proper noun and a common noun…
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Articles
Flood Myths
Many mythologies around the world have a flood myth. But not all flood myths are the same…
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Articles
Decoding Ganesha’s Parenthood
Ganesha’s arrival, in the latter half of the monsoon, marks the transformation of Shiva, the hermit, into Shankara, the householder. …
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Articles
Hill Fairies Who Abduct Men
The idea of enchanting magical women abducting men is a recurring idea around the world. …
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Articles
Why Stories of Floating Idols Crashing Ships Continues to Endure
The idea of a temple or a deity attracting ships, forcing them to move off course and causing shipwrecks by their magnetic power is also found on the western coast of India…
