Society
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Flames of Fidelity
No one knows when the pan-Indian practice of warrior widows burning themselves with (sahagamana) or without (anugamana) the corpse of their husband came to be known as ‘sati’ — a word that means the chaste wife. The inhuman practice was…
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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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The Stench Of Flesh
By eating vegetarian food, one supposedly becomes a kinder person or gains positive karma, which leads to moksha. And yet, in the Mahabharata, there is the Vyadha Gita, or the Butcher’s Gita, where a butcher teaches dharma to a mendicant…
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A Tale of Two Weddings
In India, we find two types of weddings: the lavish and the simple. Lavish weddings are typically seen in those who follow the Shaiva or Vaishnava path of householders. Simple weddings are typically seen in those who follow the Buddhist…
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Are the People of Punjab and Haryana the Original Aryans?
It is only in the Sindh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana region that the ancient Aryan tradition of pastoral communities thrived, giving rise to communities like Rajputs, Jaats (or Jutt) and Gujars.
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Insulting Ravan, Bollywood Style
Bollywood has been trying hard to outdo Valmiki’s genius. However, Valmiki was a great sage who aimed to communicate profound truths through the Ramayana, often referred to as the fifth Veda.
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World Is a Playground, Life Is a Sport
In mythological tales, gods and heroes do play games and sports…Games and sports were invented by human beings for various reasons.
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Nun With Shaved Head
A new-age guru has been establishing a monastic order for women, encouraging them to wear simple clothes, shave their heads, and break all ties with their families, as they seek union with the divine through the guru. This practice has…
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Was Hanuman a Dravidian, a Brahmin, or a Dalit?
Many politicians, during election time in North India, have argued that Hanuman was a Dalit, strong but subservient. The bell was used in mediaeval times to announce the presence of the ‘low’ caste in many villages, so people of ‘high’…
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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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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…
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Tricking Ourselves Into Immortality
Humans have invented a smart way to outsmart death. We have split ourselves: a mortal part (who we are) and an immortal part (what we have). We can die but our possessions can outlive us. Thus through our property, we…
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Magic Is Proof Of Sainthood
The common man seeks protection from negative forces and desires to attract positive ones. He wants prosperity, health, and success. These needs draw him towards holy men, gods, and various spirit deities whose powerful rituals give immediate benefit to material…
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The Golden Closet
No one wants to believe the unhappiness of the rich. The elite are privileged, say activists. They have all the agency in the world they argue, refusing to believe that gays and lesbians in Brahmin household face the same degree…
