Mythologist | Author | Speaker | Illustrator
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Articles
Dharma in the forest
Both in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, we are left to wonder which space is more cruel: the forest or the human settlement…
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Articles
How different are the Jain Ramayana and Jain Mahabharata from Hindu narrations?
We see the great epics of India have an altogether different form in Jainism…
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Articles
If not Valentine, then Kama?
Surely, a more powerful ‘nationalist’ act would have been to reclaim or reframe Valentine’s Day and call it Kama’s day…
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Articles
The Curious Case Of Two Valmikis
Published on 27th January, 2017, in The Speaking Tree. Rishi Valmiki is known as Adi Kavi, the first poet, who composed the first mahakavya, epic, the Ramayana, that chronicles the life of Rama, prince of Ayodhya. In the final chapter of the epic, Uttara Kanda, we learn how he teaches the story to Luv and…
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Articles
Do Hindus lose their caste when they travel abroad?
If you value caste, then this thought can be depressing, even terrifying. If you are indifferent, it will not matter…
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Articles
Epics as Novels
Most people in India are not familiar with the Sanskrit Ramayana or Mahabharata. We read popular versions…
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Articles
When did events of Ramayana and Mahabharata actually occur?
It all depends on what answer you are prepared to receive, for the answer is complicated and mired in politics…
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Articles
Reverse devotion
The most peculiar form of devotion is called reverse devotion, or devotion of the enemy. This is viparit-bhakti…
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Articles
A Jain Jatayu
Many Jain scholars have retold the Ramayana epic. Often, there are tales on the past lives of many key characters…
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Articles
What are Vedic values, aka ‘Indian Ethos’ of the Hindus?
We are all in between, hopefully moving towards dharma and atma…
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Articles
Ramayana in OLPS
Do the corruption, cynicism and rage of elders eventually seep into stories we tell our children? Do we now edit stories to make them more politically correct? Is there now a censor board monitoring school plays too?…
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Forest and Field in Dharma Discussion
Dharma is when we function for the benefit of others. It has nothing to do with rules…
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Articles
No laughing in Ram Rajya
In one story, Ram hears a courtier laugh and is reminded of Ravan’s laughter… Annoyed, he banned laughter in Ayodhya…
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Articles
The flower that killed Indumati
This tale, of sudden tragedy and the death of a man who cannot bear separation from his wife, is rare in Indian mythology…
