During Peshwa’s time, the public festivals of Ganpati, Holi, and Dasara were held on a grand scale as state functions, where Shaniwar Wada, the beautiful mansion of the Peshwas formed the center of importance and […]
One of the important temples of the eastern Chalukyan period is in the village of Biccavolu which lies between Samalkot and Rajahmundry. The village’s name is a corruption of Bikkanavrol, or Birudankavrolu, which was derived […]
Tuljapur, an ancient Shaktipeeth in Maharashtra is the seat of Devi Tuljabhavani, the Kuldevi of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his inspiration who empowered him to build Hindavi Swarajya. The goddess has been the Kuladevi of […]
The story goes that in the Tretayuga, the Yadav’s were ruling the land of Mathura. Among them was a Yadav whose name was Kamsa. He was the child of a rakshasa and a Yadav woman. […]
Sanatana Dharma alone recognizes the life in all sentient forms as Jiva. Contrast this with the desert idea that all beings in the universe were created for human enjoyment, opening the door to their perpetual […]
In the political, social and religious life of the humans, the coronation of King forms an important role. The ‘trusteeship’ (Kingship) announced to the anointed person didn’t form his property or a utilitarian entity but […]
“It was only for the good of his subjects that he collected taxes from them, just as the Sun draws moisture from the Earth to give it back a thousand-fold” — Kalidas in Raghuvansh eulogizing King Dalip. […]
It is common in Indian literature to compare exemplary humans to Mount Meru. Even in current news reports you may see the usage of this word to mean ‘great’, or ‘of a tall order’. Going back […]
There is a famous line about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj, ‘Shivaji Maharaj taught us how to live for the better life of a common man, and Sambhaji Maharaj taught us how to die […]
Avatar is a very Vaishnava idea. It solves too many problems in one go. There are three aspects that are essential to be considered an Avatar. -As the word itself connotes, it is a descent […]
Parashurama was born and brought up in a humble hut, surrounded by immense knowledge in the form of his enlightened father Sage Jamadagni, immense love in the form of his Mother Renuka, and immense abundance, […]
The Holkars The family of Holkars are of the Dhangar or shepherd tribe. Malhar Rao Holkar was the first who obtained any eminence, or indeed rose from the ‘Shepherd-Boy’ to the ‘Subhedar’. Holkar, or more […]
In Shake Shaliwahan, in the year 1551, in Shukla Paksha, during the Uttarayan (when sun travels in the northern hemisphere), on the third day of waning moon, in the season of Shishir, on the star […]
Hanuman, a central figure in Ramayana, is worshipped by millions. Despite adoring him, we often take the path of blind ritualistic worship or reduce him to a caricature as done by sickular Hindus, thus not […]
How is colonial mentality hindering India’s success? Colony is a term derived from Latin word “Colonia” meaning settlement or a farm. It is the settlement of people non-native to the land occupied by them in […]
It is well known that the term Hindu originates from the Iranian version of Sanskrit term Sindhu, referring to water bodies such as rivers or specifically to the modern Indus river which is called Sindhu […]
There was a time when I thought everything that appeared in a newspaper or a periodical was well researched and authentic. It might have been true, considering there were many scholars among those who wrote […]
In the state of Andhra Pradesh, on the seven hills, lies the abode of lord Vishnu on earth, popularly known as Venkateshwara Balaji. Balaji’s story is that of a domestic dispute between Vishnu and his […]
While we all pride ourselves by knowing just a sliver of Indian history, notably of the brave Jhansi ki Rani, most are mistaken and are quick to coin her as the first queen to revolt […]
There is no greater shame today than Indians burying their long history of women being the earliest freedom fighters in this civilization. Her name is Rani Abbakka Chowta– the name that sent shivers through the […]
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