Mythologist | Author | Speaker | Illustrator
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Articles
Ram and the Rooster
In Odisha, there have been many local versions of the Ramayana with subplots that are unique to the region. One of these subplots involves a rooster…
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Even the Gods played sport
We can safely say that sport in India began in both agricultural communities as well as martial communities…
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Is Hinduism feminist or patriarchal?
In Hinduism, God is not a judge and so feminism is not about judging men…
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Bridging the many interpretations of the Ramayana across Southeast Asia and India
From the Ramakien in Thailand to the Ramaker in Cambodia, the eclectic interpretations of the story in Asean countries are worth recounting…
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Epics about Women
In the Tamil epics, we see three kinds of women: the woman who has relationships with many men, the woman who has a relationship with one man, and the woman who has relationships with no man…
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Who is a guru?
Different people in different contexts use the word guru differently to refer to different kinds of people…
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Does Hinduism have anything to say about mind, perception and cognition?
The word “spirituality”, which is about self-discovery leans towards the former, and the word “religion”, which is about social engineering leans towards the latter…
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Who is a Hindu? Karma, caste and free will.
Is Hinduism fatalistic? The answer depends on the context…
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Brahmins who rejected Ram
In the epic, Ram kills Ravana, who is son of a brahmin named Vaishrava, of the Paulatsya clan, descending from Brahma himself…
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Is divorce permitted in Hinduism?
In many cultures, marriage is a contract. Divorce is the breaking of the contract. Some, like the Catholic Church, believe that the contract of marriage is sacred and hence, must never be broken. Others disagree…
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Why do Hindus prefer birth anniversaries to death anniversaries?
In Hinduism, memory of death prevents progress, wisdom and liberation…
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Exploring Hanuman Chalisa
Do people reading it understand what they are reading? Or does the gentle poetic rhythm calm the nervous heart, as it prepares to face the day? Or is it simply a ritual exercise, where the point is to do, not think or feel?…
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Why Hanuman Chalisa is the most powerful expression of personal Hinduism
Devdutt Pattanaik demystifies the ancient hymn for the contemporary reader…
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What is Tamil Veda?
Depending on who you ask, you will find one of three books identified as the Tamil Veda, locally known as Dravida Veda or Tamil Marai…
