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Curated Collection

Texts & Stotrams

Vedic chronology, sacred stotrams, epigraphy, and classical scriptural commentary.

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Curated Essays (529)

🏆 Gold Winner2026-07-05

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUBTLE BODY

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUBTLE BODY A Biophysical Unification of Glympho-Vasomotor Fields, Bone Mechanotransduction, Eastern Energetics, and Ajātavāda Advaita Vedānta INTRODUCTION For decades, we've been told that our...

By Dwai Lahiri🎙️ Audio Podcast
🏆 Gold Winner2026-07-01

The four Faces of Sri Rama

P. Desikan In the fourth sarga of Balakanda of Sri Valmiki Ramayana, an account is given of Sage Valmiki teaching young Lava and Kusha to recite the Kavya he had just composed and the youngsters turning out to do a...

By P. Desikan🎙️ Audio Podcast
💎 Hidden Gem2026-06-14

Cit-Pratibimba-Sūtram (चित्प्रतिबिम्बसूत्रम्)

॥ चित्प्रतिबिम्बसूत्रम् ॥ Cit-Pratibimba-Sūtram The Aphorisms on the Reflections of Consciousness --- मङ्गलाचरणम् (Opening Invocation) नमः शिवायै चित्यै प्रकाशविमर्शरूपिण्यै ॥ namaḥ śivāyai cityai...

By Dwai Lahiri
💎 Hidden Gem2025-07-09

Shiva Thandava Stotram (in tamil)

Ravana's shiva thandava stotram describes the dance of Shiva at the times of primordial Universe and how His 'will' and 'desire' leads to the creation and evolution of Universe.

By The Big Thinkg
💎 Hidden Gem2024-11-27

Unsung verses of bhaja govindam - Part 1

Moha mudgaram has 33 slokas while 11 or 12 are mostly sung. This is an attempt to get the unsung verses to be sung with modern music. Our attachments are never lost irrespective of age, health and wealth.

By The Big Thinkg
2024-09-12

Vedic Mantras in saMskrt and tamil (part 1)

Here is a collection of 10 vedic mantras in samskrt and tamil which teach us how to approach our life and we have to recite daily. In this collection 1.

By The Big Thinkg
2024-04-30

The Philosophical Convergence of Daoism and Vedanta

The Philosophical Convergence of Daoism and Vedanta Daoist and Vedantic philosophies, despite their distinct origins, share remarkable similarities in their views on reality, the nature of the self, and how to live in...

By Dwai Lahiri🎙️ Audio Podcast
2024-03-01

Anandamrta Karshini... - The rain song..

Shree is the opulence of Universe, which is all its existences including living and non-living. The nourisher of all existences is mA bhavani, the goddess of existences.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-12-23

bhaja govindam (moha mudgaram)

Moha mudgaram is a set of 33 stanzas, out of which 12 are said to be from Adi Shankara, the rest by others. Mudgara means hammer.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-08-14

Vishnu Stuti

Ganapati dyAnam sloka Vishnu, who is dark in color, holds/bears the white speckled Universe's expanse.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-06-03

Vedasya thathvam (dedication to mahaperiyava)

mahAperiyava says "Vedic tattvam is more clearly communicated in tamil. Vedas are called 'marai', which means hidden. They are called 'ezhuthaa kilavi' which means 'unwritten verses'.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-03-22

Shiva mrtyunjaya stotram

When Yama is near, markandeya clings on to Lord Shiva. That action of clinging on to Lord Shiva, provides him liberation.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-03-14

Aum - The seed of Universe

Science says Big Bang created the energy of Universe, which was followed by 'Inflation/Expansion' of spacetime, in which spacetime expanded hugely. This is called 'Cosmic Inflation'.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-02-02

Varaha roopam

Whenever 'golden eyed' asuras assault Mother Earth, hide her under their 'rasatala', varAha descends liberating Mother Earth and destroying those Asuras. Vara-Aha means 'pre-eminent or superior'.

By The Big Thinkg
2023-01-06

Nasadiya Suktam

Rgveda 10.129, nasadiya suktam talks about what could exists beyond the Universe and all its manifestations.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-12-16

Rudrashtakam

Submit to that one with no attributes, unmoving, omnipresent, formless, behind all matter forms (as energy), behind all life forms (as consciousness), gracious to drink the poison to sustain Universe, blissful faced,...

By The Big Thinkg
2022-11-15

Lalita pancharatnam

Lalita pancharatnam asks us to submit to Goddess Lalita at the dawn. The whole Universe that is 'seen', all the biological forms that 'see' are manifestations of 'Shakti'.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-09-23

Sri Raja Rajeswari Stotram

The play of Lalita may appear random to us, but she is playing it at her 'will', thus ruling as 'Raja Rajeswari'.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-08-14

Sam Gachatvam - 75th Independence anniversary

In any 'organization', the 'values' that people cherish and use to improve their daily ordinary lives acts as a glue aligning people together. A national flag represents such values for a nation.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-07-16

Classification of Vedic texts..

Classification of vedic texts The vedic scriptures are seen through classification of saMhita, brAhmaNa, Aranyaka and UpaniSat. There are various ideas about what and how these classifications are meant for.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-07-13

guru pAduka Stotram

Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava nRsimha bhArati, the 33rd pItathipati of Sringeri mutt, a treasure of learning, who composed several slokas, ever immersed in Atma niStA, travelled all over India along with this guru...

By The Big Thinkg
2022-06-20

Rgveda 10.191 - Team working

Background Rgveda 10.191 is set in the background of a sacrifice (Yajna) by assembly of priests, in which Agni which is the messenger that takes the oblations to devas, is addressed.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-06-03

How does consciousness arise..?

I believe in this Universe, there is a 'design pattern' followed for matter evolution and biological evolution. In the last post, I had talked about whatever we call as 'energy' (whatever that is seen).

By The Big Thinkg
2022-05-19

How did the Universe form..?

If I mix my understanding of vedic scriptures with science with a little bit of imagination, this is how universe/multi-verses keep getting formed. A scalar field is a distribution of a particular scalar quantity.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-05-12

Ganga Stotram

Shiva is energy, known only through its effects. A sAksi. This energy manifests in various forms, one of which is motion or mechanical energy symbolized by River Ganga.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-04-14

Tri-gunas - The design principle

dharma are simply laws. Laws of Universe (across all domains), laws of social groups of biological beings, laws made by human beings for their societal evolution.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-04-07

Radhe Radhe Mukunda Murari (Sant Eknath abhang)

Sant Eknath lived in later part of 1500s, wrote his version of bhagavata purana, ramayana etc apart from various abhangs emphasizing bhakti as the way to jnana. Sant Eknath was from varkari tradition, a Krishna devotee.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-03-16

govinda damodara madhaveti..

nAma japA by mind or by speech helps us to devote our mind, develop bhakti and lead us in the path of jnAnA says mahAperiyavA.

By The Big Thinkg
2022-01-13

sUrya Mandala stotram - What is Pongal festival..?

Carl sagan says “Ancient tamil festival of Pongal is not just celebration of harvest (unlike other festivals), as it marks return of Sun (Uttarayana), leading to earth’s seasonal cycles.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-12-30

Marriage mantras in grhya sutras

Agnihotram rAmAnuja tattacharyar's book 'Hindu matham enge pogirathu' was discussed in U2Brutus channel.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-12-26

Ganapati thAlam

Shiva is the ‘white’ (from which all colors diverge). In Universe, Shiva is Energy from which all matter & beings diverge. But we do not perceive energy directly. We perceive Energy through ‘Momentum’, the Shakti.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-12-15

kanaka dhArA stotram

Analogous to science concepts of today, in matter domain, Shiva is Energy. Vishnu is the property of ‘mass’.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-11-23

Obscenity in Apastamba sUtras..??

I happened to see this in U2 Brutus channel. At the outset, U2 Brutus is 'opposite' of vedabhasya channel.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-11-09

A mathematics/physics view of siddhis and realization..

What are siddhis..? what is realization..? There are 'patterns' lurking behind in every aspect of universe.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-10-26

Harivarasanam

sAstha means ‘conservator’ or ‘chastiser’ one who punishes to conserve dharma. Village deities like Aiyanar (karuppu, muni) punish to ensure people conserve/follow dharma. They are the sAsthAs.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-10-20

Punnaagavanam

Punnaagavanam P. Desikan Punnai, Punnaagam or Pungam, the Indian laurel tree, known in Sri Lanka as Indian doomba oil tree and in Southeast Asia and Oceania as bintangur, bitaog, tamanu, or kamani, has the binomial...

By P. Desikan
2021-10-05

mahAvIra vaibhavam - raghuvIra gadyam

Vedanta desika, while explaining isavasya upanishad talks about how a person consuming one morsel more than what is needed for sustenance is a thief.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-09-16

Life, Death, Fractal patterns and spirals, simplicity and complexity

Was on a walk today and noticed the leaves turning yellow as fall sets in. I closely inspected a leaf and noticed that the green in the leaf was gradually shrinking in a fractal pattern much the same as a plant grows in...

By Dwai Lahiri
2021-09-03

Adi Shankara's Brahma jnAna vali mAla

mahAperiyavA says, Brahma vidya is the biggest of the vidyas, which is realizing that all matter/beings are same. It’s not just knowing it intellectually, but realizing it from our ‘self’.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-08-29

Krishnashtakam (in tamil, essence in english)

Happy Gokulashtami.. A translation of Adi Shankaras 'Vasudeva sutam devam..', sung in tamil, essence in english..

By The Big Thinkg
2021-08-01

dakSinAmUrti stotram translation

Background Shiva is Energy. Shakti is Momentum. Shiva-Shakti is the Energy-Momentum (EM) couple. Shakti, the Momentum is what is seen outward.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-07-27

Design pattern in our scriptures

Background This post is a summary of understanding of my analysis of scriptures, surfing across them at a top-level. I had made a detailed poston understanding of matter domain, in depth earlier.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-07-16

Does Rgveda indicate speed of light..?

Background There are a lot of internet 'stories' and 'posters' talking about Rg veda indicating the speed of light. Here is my analysis of it. Rk Veda sloka 1.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-07-14

True essence of Rig Veda

Sri Sanjiv Sanyal has given an illuminating lecture on the Rig Veda. One realizes after listening to the lecture what Hindus have missed for depending blindly on western scholars to understand the Rig Veda.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2021-05-25

Vishnu Shatpadi stotram

Adi Shankara describes six characteristics of Vishnu in Vishnu Shatpadi stotram. The six characteristics of Vishnu described are 1. Vishnu eliminates pride by being our controlling manas that removes mirages we see. 2.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-05-21

The Reason For Being - Svadharma

There's a term in Japanese - "Ikigai", which roughly translates to "reason for being" which resonates very strongly with me.

By Dwai Lahiri
2021-04-20

Sivashtakam in tamil

zaM’ means welfare, happiness, prosperity. zaM-kara is one who makes this welfare, happiness, prosperity. zaM-bhu is that exists as welfare, happiness and prosperity.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-03-30

mAdhava panchakam

Madhu is anything that does not ‘expire’ or ‘go bad’ or ‘die’ easily. Hence it indicates honey, liquor or the demon madhu who dies only when he wishes or ‘weak’ force that decays matter slowly.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-02-14

manisha panchakam

Manisha panchakam is a set of 5 stanzas that record Adi Shankaracharya's realization of jnana.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-02-04

Annapoorneswari Stotram

Shiva is Energy. Uma is quiet potential energy and durgA is ‘impassable’ kinetic energy of matter forms. Easwari is the sum of these two, the internal energy of matter forms.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-01-25

kAsi panchakam

kAsi is a place of learning wisdom and self-realization. Universe is kAsi, our body is kAsi says Adi shankaracharya. Why is kAsi yAtra part of marriage ceremony in many communities.? Watch the melodious song https://www.

By The Big Thinkg
2021-01-14

Ranganatha panchakam

Oothukadu venkata kavi was a genius personified whose compositions are used by singers, dancers, harikatha exponents et al.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-12-29

kAla bhairava ashtakam

Shiva is Energy in matter domain. Universe evolves on energy through eight evolutionary processes that are time-irreversible. Time-irreversible means there is no way of realistically reversing these processes.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-12-17

Guru Ashtakam

When something is incomplete and we don't understand it fully, we ask 'What's (use of) that..?" (tatah kim..?) Guru ashtakam says, without attaching our 'manas' to the feet of 'Guru', nothing is complete.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-11-08

Break the Barriers - Another perspective of mahisasura mardhini.

In vedic traditions, all divinities are based on some existing natural force (that's why the multiplicity) and the idea is to invoke those forces in us through bhakti, learn from these forces, to help facilitate evolve.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-10-26

mahiSasura mardhini stotram

Shiva is the property of Energy. Uma is quiet, potential energy. durgA is impassable the kinetic energy which cannot be made zero (absolute zero impossible). Universe matter forms evolve on the matted hair of Shiva.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-10-17

Subrahmanya Bhujangam

Adi Shankaracharya' highlights the characteristics of Subrahmanya or Kanda in bhujangam style, which is like a snake moving on the sides. Subrahmanya means one who is auspicious for brahman, the evolution.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-10-10

sAdhana panchakam

Universe's evolution is driven by a design pattern of an external observer driving the evolution, just by observation. We call this observer, the Atman and the evolution as Brahman.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-09-05

MahaGanesha Pancharatnam - Translation

[embed]https://youtu.be/LwmxtKjzLbo[/embed] Vinayaga (in matter forms) is 'Work' or 'Action' or 'வினை' in tamil. It is the 'Work' in science parlance as well.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-08-11

Ashtalakshmi Stotram and Science

[embed]https://youtu.be/XPAt0E6zvDY[/embed] Ashtalakshmi stotram tranlsation in Tamil and essence in English. Ashta-Lakshmis are the eight attributes of matter forms and biological forms. In matter forms.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-08-01

kAla Bhairava Ashtakam - Translation

The forward only moving ‘Arrow of Time’ or ‘kAla’ is the most frightful divinity in our Universe. ‘kAlA’ is synonymous to ‘death’ because arrow of time and death cannot be reversed.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-07-21

Lakshmi nRsimha Karavalambam - Translation

Adi Shankara's Lakshmi nRsimha Karavalambam translated to tamil and essence explained in english. [embed]https://youtu.be/5lEWUDN-yoM[/embed]

By The Big Thinkg
2020-07-07

Shiva Thandava Stotram - Translation

Shiva Thandava Stotram's essence explained in English, while song translated in tamil.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-06-24

A lookback at the understanding till now..

Background As I travel through the Vedas and Upanishads, here is a look-back or gist of my understanding, as it stands now. This is a summary of my understanding spread over many blog posts and few of my books.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-05-09

A video seminar at Jain University, Bangalore on Vedic Irina and the Rann of Kutch

A video seminar at Jain University, Bangalore on Vedic Irina and the Rann of Kutch P .

By P. Desikan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2020-04-18

Caraka Samhita - Sutra sthAna - dIrghanjIvitIya adhyAyA - Sutras upto 53

In my last post on Ayurveda (1), I had talked about Ayurveda being a framework to analyse a biological body and in particular human beings. Any human body can be seen as a matrix of 1.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-04-11

Ayurved - A different perspective

Background I am not an ayurved 'doctor' or 'specialist'. I am describing the foundational principles of Ayurved as I understand it. Ayur-ved simply means knowledge of life.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-03-30

Top-level Summary of Hari,iSa,Asvins

Here is my link to blog on Asvins the electromagnetic field based on Rg veda Mandala 1 Hymn 180 and Hari, iSa and Asvins based on Rg Veda Mandala 1 Hymn 181.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-03-23

Hari, iSa, Asvins

Background In the past few chapters, we went through 1. Force-fields (Scalar Higgs/Vishnu, Vector/Chakra, Spinor/Conch) (1) 2.

By The Big Thinkg
2020-03-17

From fundamentals to the boundless: Analysis from Aurobindo,Vivekananda and Tagore

(Episode of Bhakta Prahlada being tortured in many ways Kedareshwara temple, Halebidu, Karnataka) The key thinking of the Upanishads is to find the unity behind the diversity and changes in this apparent life- the...

By Rajabhishek Dey🎙️ Audio Podcast
2019-12-29

Indra's net ...

What is the mystical Indra's net..? How do I become a node in that net..? A birthday poem for wife's birthday..

By The Big Thinkg
2019-12-14

Inspiring Palita Perspectives - My new ebook

Hey, my new book (e-books and paperback edition) is out. The subject of the book is, Is there a 'design pattern' in the evolution of Universe..

By The Big Thinkg
2019-11-30

How does the prana-prathistha ritual convert a lifeless idol into a living murthi?

Many of the world’s popular religions condemn Idol worship. Hindus counter this by saying that Hindus worship God in a murthi only after the prana-pratistha ritual converts a life-less idol into a living murthi.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-11-24

Difference between caste and Varnashram Dharma

The last name based caste system is a jati (community) system and is not Varna based system (Varnashram dharma) discussed in foundational Hindu scripture. There is no mention of caste in the Vedas.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-11-18

Gita's interpretation of varnashramdharma according to Swami Vivekananda

Bhagavad Gita speaks about Varna and not caste. I give below Gita’s Varna interpreted according to Swami Vivekananda’s psychological theory of Varna and as explained by Swami Tapasyananda.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-10-27

Deepavali - A different perspective

What is Diwali or Deepavali..? Diwali or Deepavali is a festival of lights that heralds a new dawn. In some places it marks the 'birth of Lakshmi (wealth of matter).

By The Big Thinkg
2019-10-14

Ashtavakra Gita - Sloka 2.1 to 2.7

Background Summary of Chapter 1 'I' or 'You' or 'Self' is just our 'thoughts' and not the physical bodies. Make these thoughts as observers of what's happening around.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-10-10

Flipped Classrooms and a More Meaningful Education

Introduction: What is Education? We are born with the instinct to survive. Birth, consuming food, reproduction, sleep and death are the cycles which we all live through just as all other creatures do.

By Riverine🎙️ Audio Podcast
2019-09-10

Unchanging Observer drives evolution

Unchanging observer drives the evolution Sa-akSi means 'that eye'. It is the 'witnessing' eye, the eye of 'third party' that is witnessing, but not interacting with what's happening or not changing due to the...

By The Big Thinkg
2019-08-25

Description of the various Lokas in Hindu scripture

That Hindu scriptures talk about many lokas is well known. What is not so well known is that there is also some description of these Lokas. I am giving below Vyasa’s commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 3.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-08-14

How do we overcome mAyA..?

The meaning of cakSusa satyata As Brhadharanyaka Upanishad says 'cakSusa satyata'. Observation is Satyata/Existence. The satyata/existence is reality for the observer.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-08-09

The world is like a city seen in a mirror

Adi Shankaracharya, in the Dakshinamurthy Stotram, says -- विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया । यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै...

By Dwai Lahiri
2019-08-02

Inspired Fellowship

Sunnie D. Kidd and Jim Kidd, Ph.D. This presentation will utilize the Continental Philosophies of Existential Phenomenology and Dialogal Existentialism to uncover and elucidate Inspired Fellowship.

By James W. Kidd
2019-07-31

Letting go - The Ashtāvakra way

When I was 3-4 years into my Tai chi journey, my first teacher's recommendation of "letting go" became very real for me.

By Dwai Lahiri
2019-06-13

Rsis of the Vedas - Part 3

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-06-05

Rsis of the Vedas - Part 2

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-06-01

Just believe Chapter 5

Chapter 5. Believe in being a Conduit rather than a Storage Vessel The reputed Sanskrit grammarian and poet of 5th century CE, Bhartrhari came out in his Shatakatraya poems with his observations and admonitions about...

By P. Desikan
2019-05-30

Children of Immortal Bliss

Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? Have you ever pondered why we are here? This world of struggle seems extremely painful where pleasures and suffering go hand in hand What have we done to deserve such...

By Dwai Lahiri🎙️ Audio Podcast
2019-05-20

Rsis of the Vedas - Part 1

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-05-16

Why did an advaitavadi like Adi Shankaracharya compose hymns to Saguna Brahman?

Sri Sankaracharya strongly recommended Jnana Yoga. He considered Nirguna Brahman to be the only Reality and Saguna Brahman is not ultimately real. Yet he wrote stirring hymns to different forms of God..

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-05-01

maruts- Quanta of force-fields

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-04-28

dakSa's sons and daughters - Part 1

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-04-23

Should we not conflate the paramārthika (absolute) with the vyavahārika (relative)?

The dual and the non-dual...should the twain never intersect? I find many non-dualist sādhakas admonish ordinary folks such as myself that the non-dual absolute (paramārthika) should never be brought into a dualistic...

By Dwai Lahiri
2019-04-03

Why is Sanskrit considered a Divine language?

Matrika Chakra (from wikimedia commons) Sanskrit is considered a divine language by Hindus. I will give a step by step explanation of the reason why Sanskrit is considered as important in Hinduism.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay🎙️ Audio Podcast
2019-04-01

Do Mantras work?

Japa is repetition of mantra. Mantra (man + tra) means liberating the mind. There are hidden powers in the human mind. These powers are located in Chakras that are present in seed form in every human mind.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2019-03-29

The 51 letters of saMskRt and Universe - shakti pIta

Background During the Cosmic inflation epoch, the dark energy scalar field expanded, creating 'space' with vacuum inside it.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-03-24

Daksha Yajna - Cosmic Inflation and Re-heating

Background The Universe is 'inside' a womb of 'dark energy'. This womb is the Hiranya Garbha. The dark energy is distributed in a dark energy scalar field. This dark energy is the 'Shiva'.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-03-15

The speed of prANa/light - From upanishads and arthasAstra

Background The Universe is 'inside' a womb of 'dark energy'. The dark energy is distributed in a dark energy scalar field. This dark energy is the 'Shiva'. The scalar field is the 'Atmanas' or 'Manas'.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-03-05

Dark Energy Scalar field - From Brhadharanyaka Upanishad

Background Stri is the vacuum energy that fills the empty space or AkAsa. Rudra are the quantum force-fields that manifest in the vacuum energy. Rudra are the 'rupA' or 'form' of Stri.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-02-28

Directions - From Brhadharanyaka Upanishad

Background Rudra are the quantum force-fields. prANa are the energy in these force-fields. This energy moves in vacuum of spacetime, without a medium in the force-fields.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-02-19

Wavefunction Collapse - From Brhadharanyaka Upanishad

Background In the previous blog posts I had talked about vAk a four-fold design pattern in the evolution of Universe. 1.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-01-27

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad -Sloka 1.4.16 and 17

Background The Sloka 1.4 of Brhadharanyaka Upanishad traces the evolution (ati-sRsti) from Atma's ichha to split Purusha to the evolution of manuSya.

By The Big Thinkg
2019-01-20

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.15 and 16

Background Atman establishes Purusha and Stri. The empty space is filled with Stri. Stri are background oscillations of energy that fill the vacuum. Purusha is the 'dark' component (dark energy).

By The Big Thinkg
2019-01-13

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.11 to 1.4.14

Background Atman establishes Purusha and Stri. The empty space is filled with Stri. Stri are background oscillations of energy that fill the vacuum. Purusha is the 'dark' component (dark energy).

By The Big Thinkg
2019-01-09

Intolerance, Sabarimalai and Social Change: A Study

Sabarimala - attributed to Saisumanth532 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons A. Background A.1. Sabarimalai.

By Deshika🎙️ Audio Podcast
2019-01-08

Non-dual awareness is without attributes. But what about love?

There seems to be an entrenched view among certain groups of spiritual practitioners, that “love” is a “four-lettered word” that needs to be discarded.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-12-31

Vigneswara - The disruptor

Something new is said to be born When existing symmetry is broken or torn Small perturbations break the symmetries Create Universe’s evolutionary opportunities Vigna means perturbation; Cause of disruption Vigneswara...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-12-29

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.9 to 10

Background The desire (preyas) for Atman that is deep inside in every being is spoken externally, spills out as love (priyam) of other beings also, and thus this desire/love gets 'banked', binding all the matter/beings...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-12-26

An analysis of sabda and vAk - Part 10 - Finale

Background Starting from Brhthari's vAkyapadiya, Sabda and vAk have the same meaning as in other texts like Rg Veda, Brhadharanyaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad and saMkhya kArika, irrespective of their timelines,...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-12-23

An analysis of sabda and vAk - Part 9

Background Human beings and Universe have a similar design pattern (1). This design pattern is talked about across all our scriptures from Upanishads to saMkhya kArika. This design pattern is the 'four-fold' vAk.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-12-20

When SrI ANDAL wrote her tiruppAvai

Srimati Praveena Anand, a learned scholar of SrIvaishNava lore was on Face Book on December 16, which coincided this year as it does most years with the first day of the Tamil mArgazhi month (mArgasIrsha, dhanus).

By P. Desikan
2018-12-13

Did Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda say that all religions are same?

Some people claim that Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda say that all religions are same.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-12-13

The sacred Fire of Zarathustra

One day I saw a shining tower In my inner space In that tower was a blazing fire There I saw Zarathustra's face. He asked me to step right in And I did, without a second thought.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-12-08

Atman and Brahman..

Background The concepts of Atman and Brahman is referred to in the Vedic texts, but are elaborated more in Upanishads. The attempt to Understanding of Upanishads lead to several vedantic philosophies.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-12-01

An analysis of Sabda and vAk - Part 7

Background vAk - The design pattern Like speech is expression of beings, Universe is the expression of Atman. vAk is that expression. It is four-fold.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-29

Free Will - does it exist? What does Vedanta say?

Our body-mind complex can not and does not have free will. Yet if there is no free will then there will be no way to distinguish between morally good or bad karma.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-11-25

Learning physics through Vedas and puranas - 3

Background In the last 2 posts on Learning physics through vedas and puranas, here and here, I had talked about concepts of energy, entropy and heat.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-20

Learning Physics from Vedas and Puranas -2

Background I had explained here, thermodynamic concepts of Energy, Entropy and Second law of thermodynamics using the Shiva, Ganapati and Skanda story.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-17

Is modern Hindu dharma in agreement with the teachings of the Rig Veda?

The Rig Veda is supposedly a source text of Hindu Dharma. Yet given the archaic nature of the Rig Vedic Sanskrit and the complete absence of ancient commentaries there is confusion about what exactly the Rig Veda says.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-11-17

Learning Physics through Vedas and Puranas - 1

Background Energy and Entropy are two key thermodynamic concepts. Let me explain them and the second law of thermodynamics with reference to Shiva/Ganapati/Skanda and their 'jnAna-pazham' story here.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-14

prAna prathisthA - A summary

Background This was my post on prAna prathisthA. Here is a summary of it. idol to mUrti mUrti' is not just an idol. mUrta is that which has settled into a form or shape.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-11

iSopanishad - An executive summary

I had written down here my translation of iSa upanishad. This is a brief summary of the main points here. iSa resides in all matter and beings which are born and/or moving in the Universe.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-09

Is religion too dangerous for the modern world? Should it be abandoned?

Religion certainly seems very dangerous in the modern world. The problem with religion is the way it is taught to people.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-11-04

Isopanishad - Translation and Analysis

Isa Upanishad iSa Upanishad also called iSAvAsya Upanishad has 18 verses. It is part of Shukla Yajur Veda.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-11-01

Why does Advaita call the waking state as dream like and can any aspirant become a Jivanmukta?

There is much confusion about concepts like Maya, the illusory nature of our waking experience. There are many who reject the Advaita claim about the illusory nature of the universe and the waking state.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-10-28

Avidya - A vAkyapadiya analysis

Background "andham tamah pravisanti ye avidyam upasate tato bhuya iva te tamah ya u vidyayam ratah" - says Isa upanishad. One who is situated/worships/serves avidya enters the blind tamas.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-10-26

How is the process of rebirth described in the Upanishads?

Chandogya Upanishad discusses the process of rebirth of a Jiva. The whole process of taking birth is very difficult as the following shlokas show: > Residing in that (region of the moon) till they have exhausted (the...

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay🎙️ Audio Podcast
2018-10-24

Just believe. Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Believe in the Need for Us to think and become a benevolent Link in the Future of Evolution Many if not all living beings are able to seek out light, which benefits them in one or more ways.

By P. Desikan
2018-10-16

An analysis of sabda and vAk - Part 6

Background Like speech is the expression of beings, this Universe is the expression of that Atman. Rg Veda Mandala 1 Hymn 164 talk of four-fold vAk, which is the four-fold expression of Universe.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-10-15

'We' are the Veda..

Dedicated to Dwai for triggering this In the million years earth has held sway So many beings have come and gone away Like the train of thoughts in your brain Matter and Beings appear, vanish in vain Does a thought try...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-10-11

Close encounters of the Fourth kind

Indic traditions have long held that waking, dreaming and deep sleep are three conditions that appear and disappear in pure consciousness.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-10-08

Conceptual difference between the Vedantic and the Semetic God and the reason for the difference

Swami Tapasyananda discusses the conceptual difference between Vedantic diety and the monothesitic deity of Abrahamic faiths.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-10-02

An analysis of Sabda and vak - Part 5

Background Rg Veda Mandala 1 Hymn 164, Upanishad and vAkyapaidya talk of four-fold vAk. Rg Veda Mandala1 Hymn 164 says what is being talked about as Indra, Agni, vAyu are all those in the fourth stage only.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-29

An analysis of sabda and vAk - Part 4

Background Like speech is the expression of beings, this Universe is the expression of that Atman. Like speech carries the 'knowledge', the Universe carries the 'matter' forms.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-22

The Unbroken Samādhī underlying thoughts

In course of many years of meandering in the world of spiritual practices and beliefs, I eventually found a home that made perfect sense and confirmed the intuitive understandings and knowledge that arose from time to...

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-09-19

An analysis of sabda and vak - Part 3

Background Sabda are simply oscillations. Sabda at first is para. Sabda exists in AkAsa. In Universe's expression AkAsa is the cosmic space, the vacuum. In Human expression, AkAsa is the sky filled with atmosphere/air.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-16

An analysis of sabda and vAk - Part 2

Background In the last part, my analysis was focused on vakypadiya(4). Reference to sabda and vAk are present in Vedas, Upanishads and Vedanta.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-15

Just believe. Chapter 3. Believe in your Biological Clock and its Circadian Rhythm

Chapter 3. Believe in your Biological Clock and its Circadian Rhythm When a machine in use develops a malfunction, which prevents its use or makes such use less than efficient, we stop its use and have a knowledgeable...

By P. Desikan
2018-09-13

An analysis of zabda and vAk - Part 1

Background The Universe’s expression (call it the expression of the Atman) and human expression (of Speech) follow the same pattern.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-05

zrAddha - A new perspective..

I have dealt with pancha mahA yajnAs here I am addressing the question on funeral rites in that background. Evolution of manuSya The Universe is a ‘Yajna’ a sacrifice performed by Atma, sacrificing a Purusha.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-09-04

Education Revamp in Bharata: 1. INTRODUCTION

This series is a humble attempt to create a solid framework that has been worked upon by me towards a better and more effective education system.

By Riverine
2018-09-03

Medhatithi and his refutation of the Sati Pratha

Hindus are attacked for the prevalence of Sati pratha among Hindus.As far as I know there is no Hindu philosophy that supports Sati Pratha.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-09-02

The Vedas Revisited: Paurusheya/ Apaurusheya, Anitya/Nitya??

A. Introduction: A.1. Recently I came across this article by Dr. Nicholas Kazanas, in which he ‘proves’ that nityatva/ apaurusheyatva (‘eternality/universality’ and ‘non-humanness’) exist in all languages and thus all...

By Deshika🎙️ Audio Podcast
2018-09-01

The pancha mahA yajnA..

Background Yajna means a sacrifice. Sacrifice is not just an act of giving up ownership, but dedicating that giving up of ownership to a larger purpose.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-08-25

Asramas and Physical Development..

Background The term Varna Asrama Dharma invokes a picture of backward, regressive social system in which some people enjoyed a higher social status due to their birth while many were enslaved.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-08-25

Just believe

Chapter 2. Believe in Nature and align with it to the extent possible. A new born baby learns very soon to look for and find comfort in the loving gaze and warm touch of its mother and the nourishment she offers it...

By P. Desikan
2018-08-17

Asramas in dharmasutras and manu smrti

Srautasutras, Grhyasutras and Dharmasutras Sutras are short expositions of a basic truth. Each sutra connects to the previous and following thereby forming a chain of truths.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-08-15

Just Believe: Foreword and Chapter 1

Just Believe P. Desikan Foreword Every man believes that whatever he believes in is either true, or should be true, because otherwise he would not be believing in it.

By P. Desikan
2018-08-14

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.8

Background - Sloka 1.4.1 to 1.4.7 Atma existed before any kinds of Purusa. Atma is the ‘manas’ as it ‘sees itself. It was all alone. It is also the ‘aham’ that exists before any expression.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-08-14

What Happened? Nothing!

This is a complex topic to consider for sure. Why complex? Because it posits a paralyzingly simple possibility.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-08-11

Realizing Atma - Part 2 - Br Up 4.4.23

Background The Atma that the pravrAjina/brAhmana desire to realize, for which they wander/perform Yajna/dAna/destructive tapas or learn verses, is not capturable, not perceivable, not attachable, not interactive, not...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-08-05

Realizing Atma - Part 1 - Br Up 4.4.22

Background Asrama is a dharma, the law of the Universe. Whether one wishes or not they get subjected to this dharma. To be happy, it is better we understand this dharma and align our living to this dharma.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-30

Aitareya Upanishad - Sloka 5 - prajnAnAm Brahma

The series of 'jnA' - the 'to know' 1. jnA is knowing 2. pra-jnA means before knowing or the 'first' of knowing, the 'prominent' knowing etc. 1. prajnA is awareness. It is the stage before 'knowing'. 2.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-29

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.7

Background Atma tore apart Stri, established the 'Svah' (the heavens) which was just AkAsa (empty space or vacuum) and fills the AkAsa wtih Stri. On Stri, all production occurs in pairs.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-24

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.6

Summary till now Atma tore apart Purusha and Stri. It establishes the Sva (the heavens) which was Akasa the empty space or vaccum, so swiftly, like a pea split into half. Stri becomes filled in vacuum or empty space.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-23

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.5

Summary till now Atma tore apart Purusha and Stri due to 'desire' or 'iccha' to enjoy (rame) and not due to fear. Of these purusha does not have desire to manifest. Stri becomes filled in vacuum or empty space.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-19

Tai Chi as a practical tool for Self realization

I was traveling with two friends over the weekend to and from our Master's home in Wisconsin. The drive was long and my friend Juan was riding next to me as I drove the car.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-07-18

Some difficult questions answered about Brahman and Advaita

down vote[Some say, Brahman is everything. Does this mean, even non living objects like rocks, mountains, rivers, chairs, cars, are they all Brahman?][Some say, Brahman is everything.

By Editor Medhajournal🎙️ Audio Podcast
2018-07-17

Most people misunderstand what Atman means

Now you might accuse me of flogging an already dead horse, but I'd like to suggest that "this" is not the same as the "horse" that is considered already dead.

By Dwai Lahiri🎙️ Audio Podcast
2018-07-15

Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.4

Summary till now Atma existed before any kinds of Purusa. Atma is the ‘manas’ as it ‘sees itself. It was all alone. It is also the ‘aham’ that exists before any expression.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-08

Brhadharanya Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.2 and Sloka 1.4.3

Sloka 1.4.2 sa abibhet tasmād ekākī bibheti; sa ha ayam īkṣāṃ cakre, yat mad anyan nāsti, kaṣma annu bibhema īti, tata evāsya bhayaṃ vīyāya, kasma addhyabheṣyat dvitīyādvai bhayaṃ bhavati Translation That (sa) became...

By The Big Thinkg
2018-07-07

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.1

Background This is my translation and understanding of Sloka 1.4.1 to 1.4.17 of Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad. The sloka 1.4.10 of this Upanishad has the mahAvAkya 'Aham brahma asmi'.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-06-19

tat tvam asi - What does it mean..?

Question Refer the mahAvAkya 'tat tvam asi'. If everything is Atman/Brahman then who is surrendering to whom..? What is the need for surrender..? My thoughts Let's analyse in what context it is said.

By The Big Thinkg
2018-06-16

Kalisantaranopanishad

Kalisantaranopanishad Partha Desikan This is a sweet little upanishad containing about twenty sentences. Its name means, the upanishad for crossing Kali with.

By P. Desikan
2018-06-15

The Tai Chi Field

With time and increasing sung (relaxation) and ting (sensitivity), we can start to feel the energies outside our body limits. We begin to feel like we are inside a sphere of energy that spans several feet around us.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-06-14

Sri Rama Rama Rama

Question Why does Isvara tell pArvati 'Sri rAma rAma rAma iti rame rAme manorame sahasra nAma tatulyam rAma nAma varAnane".

By The Big Thinkg
2018-06-12

The process of rebirth

The whole process of taking birth is very difficult as the following shlokas show: > Residing in that (region of the moon) till they have exhausted (the results of action) [1] they then return [2] again [3] the same way...

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-06-06

How different is Buddha's teaching from Vedanta on the after world, gods and the Ultimate Reality?

Buddha clearly said that there are gods. > When this was said, the brahmin student Sangarava said to the Blessed One: “Master Gotama’s striving was unfaltering.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-06-01

Shiva lingam and its meaning

Why is Shiva worshipped as a Lingam? The answer is that the Saivites use the linga form to signify nameless and formless aspects of the deity. > Sages said:- 8. Everywhere the deities are worshipped only in their image.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-05-26

Sometimes we need the spiritual milestones and the signposts

It is said that one should not fixate on experiences in the spiritual path. The seeking for spiritual succor, which is in essence a quest for ending of suffering, is not an easy path for those of us who are caught up in...

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-05-22

Hindu attitude towards scripture

Hindus regard their scripture merely as a spoon and not the food that is eaten with the spoon. So the food can still be eaten even if the spoon is defective.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-05-20

Description of Brahman in our scriptures and according to great spiritual figures

The word god does not quite represent the Hindu concept of the Divine. It is better to think in terms of the Ultimate Reality which is called Brahman.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay🎙️ Audio Podcast
2018-05-17

Paramam yo Mahat

Parthasarathy Desikan Kim japan muchyate jantu: janmasamsaarabandhanaat? wonders Yudhishthira and asks Bhishma this question which has haunted many many minds before him and would continue to so haunt for millennia...

By P. Desikan
2018-05-15

The illusory universe and its purpose

Jnana Yoga talks of the illusory nature of the world. What does this mean? This world is projected by Maya Shakti of Brahman.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-05-14

The Good, the Bad and The Self-Aware

We often hear the terms "Absolute Good" or "Absolute Evil" being used in context of some historical figure or another. When we are based on a dualistic world view, yes there well might be such absolute dualities.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-05-10

What happens after death?

Nothing happens to the Atman which is merely a witness. It is the subtle body that is affected by death.Check Gita 2.17-2.22 for the answer to your question. For example, Gita 2.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-05-07

The Heart heals the Head

As human beings, we have a unique ability that seems to be missing from the rest of the animal kingdom, on Earth.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-05-04

The problem of evil in Hindu thought

Hinduism does not invoke a Satan to account for evil. Both good and bad are properties of a dualistic world. They are anthropomorphic ideas and do not apply to the Divine.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-05-01

The absurd Truth, hiding in plain sight

Let me attempt to document the journey of a spiritual seeker in brief. Chasing Pleasure 1. Individual experiences pains and pleasures in life. 2.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-04-26

Is it possible for an ordinary person to become enlightened without raising Kundalini?

The answer is no. > 'Thus the rousing of the Kundalini is the one and only wayto attaining Divine Wisdom, superconscious perception, realisation of the spirit.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-25

Who is right, Sankaracharya or Ramanuja?

Vedanta, the most popular school in Hinduism, has many schools. The principal two schools are Advaita Vedanta of Sankaracharya and Vishishtadvaita of Ramanujacharya. Their interpretations are significantly different.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-23

Dao and Brahman - They are Non-Different

The Chinese original spiritual tradition is Daoism. It is old. Perhaps not as old as the Vedas, but there are Daoist texts from as early as 2500 BCE. Most people don’t understand what Daoism entails.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-04-19

The Authority of Brahmasutra

Parthasarathy Desikan In the XIII chapter of the Gita, Sri Krishna talks to Arjuna about the knowledge that the wise have about the human body. Kshetrajnas know the human body to be a very special field, the Kshetra.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-17

Role of reason in Hindu dharma

Should we believe blindly anything written in Hindus scripture? Does reason play any role in interpreting Hindu scripture? This is what Swami Vivekananda has written about Hindu dharma.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-16

You are never not That

How else can it be? The infinitude of everything rises from a big reservoir of no-thingness. The infinite everything is like while light, containing in itself all the colors.

By Dwai Lahiri
2018-04-15

Gita on sameness of god

I am writing this to supplement the post 'Is the truth one? So what if the wise call it by different names?' In that article Rig Veda 1.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-09

The via negativa path to moksha

The via negativa path is the neti neti (not this, not this) path of Jnana Marga. > No one can say with finality that God is only 'this' and nothing else. He is formless and again He has forms.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2018-04-06

The power of Good company

In spiritual traditions we often hear the term "Satsang" being used. It is considered highly needed for seekers in the spiritual path.

By Dwai Lahiri
2013-12-09

Ramo madhurah Sita madhuraa

Ramo madhurah, Sita madhuraa Partha Desikan In his very widely read Shri Sai Satcharita, Shri Hemadpant highlights a small but graphic discourse by the Shirdi saint, in which the latter extols the path of devotion as...

By P. Desikan
2013-10-18

Aditya Hrdayam Again - Part 2

ropebond Background Vedas, in my view and study are a more in-depth literature that unites science, history and our day-to-day life.

By The Big Thinkg
2013-09-23

Vivekananda's 150 year Legacy, and where are the Hindus?

Introduction One of the worlds most towering spiritual figures for the past few centuries celebrates his 150th anniversary this year. Swami Vivekananda needs no introduction to most readers.

By Karigar
2013-08-31

Aditya Hrdayam Again - Part 1

Background I had written about Aditya Hrdayam in a similar but not exactly same fashion few years back.

By The Big Thinkg
2013-08-28

Swami Vivekananda’s relevance to Contemporary Economic Problems

When I was asked to speak at a forum to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Swami Vivekananda I began to wonder what I, as a hard core practitioner of the dismal science of economics, could say about Swami...

By Prof. Raghbendra Jha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2013-03-03

Aspects of Hinduism-Origin, Development, and Comparison with Abrahamic Traditions

{ Medha Editor's Note: Below is the Paper based on which Dr Puligandla gave his recent talk - 20th Feb 2013 - at the annual East-West Lecture Series at the University OF Toledo.

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla
2013-01-29

Vivekananda-s-Ideas-Two-revolutions-in-Western-Thought

Editor's note: Below is an important article Rajiv wrote on Swami Vivekananda that shows his not-so-well known influence and his importance to western philosophy today.

By Rajiv Malhotra
2012-11-03

The Eleventh Dimension..

I could sense that I was moving very fast. I looked all around. I could identify many people. Am I in a train...? I couldn't decide.. Am I in some kind of spaceship..? Probably.. I tried to figure out where I am.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-10-05

The Puranic Ganapati..

The Puranic Ganapati Sloka The Puranic Ganapati derived its form and shape from the Rg Veda Ganapati. Probably people depicted the form and shape of Ganapati from the descriptions of Ganapati.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-10-02

The Rg Veda Ganapati

Introduction Ganapati is the 'Brain' of us. This was my explanation for the stotra starting 'Suklam Bhartram Vishnum'.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-09-06

Tirukkural, Puzzles and Solutions- A psychological viewpoint- A Book Review

Tirukkural, Puzzles and Solutions- A psychological viewpoint (TirukkuraL, PuthirgaLum TheervugaLum- Or uLaviyal paarvai) A book in Tamil by Prof. R. Venkatachalam.

By P. Desikan
2012-08-25

Eleven names of Rudra - Neelakhanta

Introduction Several of our puranas, in my view, are actually cosmic events that have been put in the form of an ‘understandable’ story to a target audience.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-08-09

Vedanta Desika-Sri Garudadandakam

Introduction by Senior Medhavi Dr Partha Desikan Sri Vedanta Desika (Swami Desika, Swami Vedanta Desika, Thoopul Nigamaanta Desika) (1269–1370) was a Sri Vaishnava Gurushreshtha.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2012-08-05

Eleven names of Rudra - Trikagni Kala

Introduction The eleven names of Rudra correspond to eleven forces that are in nature and those that make up the cosmic space as we perceive it.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-08-04

Eleven names of Rudra - Tripurantaka

In the Rudram Namakam, the Eleven Rudras are praised as follows with Eleven names.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-07-21

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 23

Background In the Vedic literature, Devas are explicitly expressed forces that carry the evolution, while asuras are hidden forces .

By The Big Thinkg
2012-07-17

Advaita, Buddhism Revisited

I've not blogged in a long time...so here is a very short post with a link to a forum discussion that follows several year's prior discussion both on The Medhajournal and The Tao Bums regarding Advaita Vedanta and...

By Rudra
2012-07-06

Hey, Higgs is in Vedas..

Eleven Forces that evolve from Atma In 2008, I wrote an explanation for Aitareya Upanishad, which talks about the evolution of Universe from Atman. Refer my blog here. http://thebigthinkg.sulekha.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-06-30

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 22

Background Let’s go through the Rig vedic references to Varna names which will give us a sense of how these Varna names came about. That would set clear the real meaning behind the Varna name.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-06-26

'star queen' part one

coyote jack's um i think one of the things to keep in mind is um ya know how we got started on our path and ya know where we were at before if we keep in mind where we were before if we were in a different town or city...

By Jim Clark
2012-06-20

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 21

Background All through the Rig veda the references to Aryas and Sudasas depict Aryas as givers and Sudasas as receivers.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-06-02

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 20

Background What does Arya mean..? In this series I am arguing that Arya is not a race, but a civilizational identity based on various scriptures.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-05-22

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 17

Background Varna Asrama Dharma is a law of societies at all times. If we understand a law we will make better use of it. Same is the case with Varna Asrama Dharma.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-05-20

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 16

Background Interpretations often come up based on personal perceptions. It is very hard to interpret a data without an element of ‘bias’ going into it. The data as it exists is ‘fact’. It has no properties or attributes.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-04-14

Kulasekhara’s Garland for Mukunda

Introduction by Senior Medhavi Dr Partha Desikan Sri Garudadwajan on Kulasekhara’s Garland for Mukunda Partha Desikan In January 2009, in my blog in these pages on Parashurama Kshetra (Part 4), I was able to talk about...

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2012-04-08

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 15

Background In the Vedic approach, everything evolved out of the Atma that existed before everything.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-03-25

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 14

Background In the process of evolution of intelligence, convergence and divergence are the tools. Our thoughts, value systems, philosophies converge and diverge all the time, giving rise to new mosaic of systems ever.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-02-26

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 13

Background Logic is a function of time. What was logical at one time becomes illogical at another time and vice-versa, as knowledge keeps evolving.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-02-13

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 12

Background Culture is institutionalized learning. We transfer our learning and experiences as culture to the next generation. Hence culture is highly susceptible to change.

By The Big Thinkg
2012-02-05

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 11

Background As I have been writing, the four Varnas (Knowledge Providers, Service Providers, Material Providers and Labor) are present in any societal structure.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-12-30

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 9

Background I had talked about Varna and Asrama in detail in the previous chapters. These are stark truths that do not require much evidences in general.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-12-01

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 7

Background Before I move on to Aryan society evolution, I thought I would share some modern data on innovators and also some thoughts on real Sanyasa Asrama.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-11-20

Words of MahaManas

“Becoming fully developed human being –is the aim of our life and it is the chief object of 'MahaDharma' –the way of real life.

By Dwai Lahiri
2011-11-15

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 4

Background The Varna system in which social beings either drive the A) evolution/knowledge levels of society or B) Provide service to society or C) Provide goods to society by exploiting natural resources was derived...

By The Big Thinkg
2011-11-13

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 3

Background The Varnas or professional types are a manifestation of the Gunas. The entire Universe can be seen as an interplay of purusha, prakrti and gunas.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-11-11

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 2

Background People know about Varna Asrama Dharma through the Caste System. The Caste System as it was practiced in India went from social aggregation to segregation and outright discrimination based on one’s birth.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-11-07

The Eternal Varna Asrama Dharma - Part 1

Background I had presented a paper during the WAVES 2011 Conference on Varna, Jati and Kula. I plan to elaborate it with lot more explanations as a series of blogs.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-10-31

Sarva Jana Sandhya Vandanam - For everyone

Background Life on this planet becomes more complex as intelligence evolves. This poses a challenge to the evolution of intelligence itself, as mind aspires far beyond the capabilities of our body and the environment.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-10-28

Laghu Sandhya Vandanam (LSV) -The Concise TSV

Background Life on this planet becomes more complex as intelligence evolves. This poses a challenge to the evolution of intelligence itself, as mind aspires far beyond the capabilities of our body and the environment.

By The Big Thinkg🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-10-26

Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya

Wishing all medhavis a very happy and prosperous Deepawali ! May we all move steadily towards light. asato ma sadgamaya tamaso ma jyotirgamaya mrtyorma amrtam gamaya Lead me from the asat to the sat.

By Naren Somu🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-10-22

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Samarpana and Raksha

Background In the last blog on Surya Narayana Mantra, I had talked about Namaskara and Samarpana. We perform Namaskara to Elders from whom we learn.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-10-15

New Book:Being Different

'I am simply using the dharmic perspective to reverse the analytical gaze which normally goes from West to East and unconsciously privileges the former.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-10-14

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Surya Narayana Vandanam

Background Sandhya Vandanam is a procedure that provides big and balanced thinking. Big and Balanced thinking is required for learning and evolution.

By The Big Thinkg🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-10-09

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Harihara Vandanam

Background Anna Hazare, had talked about five important goals to be like ‘Anna’. They are ‘Shudh Vichaar’ (Clean thoughts), ‘Shudh Aachar’ (Clean deeds), ‘Nishkalank Jivan” (Impeccable Integrity), ‘Tyag’ (Sacrifice) and...

By The Big Thinkg
2011-10-07

sunbeams

subtle bite of morning they are the puddles of water in the road that send his car nervous warnings startled merge of consciousness yet as he traverses and settles on his bearing the tires throw out a surge of water...

By Devaguraji
2011-10-07

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Yama Vandanam

Background We visited the abode of Atma, saluted the characteristics of that Atma (Change, Self-drive, Nuetral/Creation, Fast movement/Knowledge). Then we saluted all the forces that emanated from Atma.

By The Big Thinkg🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-09-28

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Dik Devatha Vandanam

Background I chose to intersperse my writeup on TSV with mapping of science, some of which may become true or proved otherwise in future.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-09-22

Resolutions-Conference on Caste System

(www.wavesinternational.net) “Na hi Jnanena Sadrsam – There is nothing equivalent to knowledge” The Bhagavad Gita – IV.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-09-03

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Surya Upasthanam

Background In the TSV procedure, four ‘devi’s are addressed. I had already explained that Devas are forces that express outside and asuras are forces that are hidden.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-08-26

Bhagavan , Bhaktha, and Bhagavatham

Bhagavan , Bhaktha, and Bhagavatham I am posting some nectar of Bhakthi by some extraordinary bhaktas [ devotees].

By Naren Somu
2011-08-17

Press Release-Successful Conference on Caste System

(www.wavesinternational.net) “Na hi Jnanena Sadrsam – There is nothing equivalent to knowledge” The Bhagavad Gita – IV.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-08-15

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Gayatri Nyasam, Japam, Upasthanam

Background The beauty of Vedas actually lie in the fact that they make us learn from science and nature. Our greatest guru lies there in front of our eyes and ears.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-08-02

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Gayatri Avahanam

BackGround TSV is not about language. It is about using our brain, breathing and thoughts to influence our body and keep us synchronized and balanced with the natural flow of events and thereby become part of the...

By The Big Thinkg🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-07-22

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Pranava Japam

Background TSV broadly consists of two parts. One part where we prepare mentally and physically to visit the abode of Atman and another part actually we do it.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-07-21

On Stones and Shells

Of Stones and Shells Partha Desikan The rain, which falls on a mountain and flows as a river on to the sea, carries mementos throughout its course. Boulders and smaller pieces of rock accompany it in the beginning.

By P. Desikan
2011-07-16

The Mantra Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Deva Tarpanam

Deva Tarpanam – Cosmic forces our ancestors Background I suspect many of the puranic lores are actually a way of understanding of particular real events.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-07-02

Indian languages: further questions

Please go through once again, my blog in December 2008 on the Indian languages question https://medhajournal.com/partha-says.../588-the-indian-languages-question.

By P. Desikan
2011-06-30

The Mantra-Tantras of SandhyaVandanam – Finishing the Bath

The Mantra-Tantras of SandhyaVandanam – Finishing the Bath Background TSV is actually very simple to do, if we understand it. Since we did not understand, it becomes mystical and then complex.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-26

The Mantra-Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Punar Marjanam

Background If one wants to cultivate the habit of TSV, it need to be cultivated as a post-bath habit. It is as important as taking bath. Taking Bath cleans our body.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-25

The Mantra-Tantras of SandhyaVandanam – Taking Bath

The Mantra-Tantras of SandhyaVandanam – Taking Bath Background In TSV, one lifts mentally into the abode of Atma (with Achamanam/AngaVandanam), invokes peace from the consciousness inside (with Ganapati Dyanam), tames...

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-19

The Mantra-Tantras of TSV - Breath Control – Pranayama

The Mantra-Tantras of TSV - Breath Control – Pranayama Background Even people who do TSV regularly do not do it sincerely. For eg.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-12

The Mantra-Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Ganapati Dyanam

Ganapati Dyanam - Invoke peace in our actions Background TSV as a wholesome training for body and mind synchronization can be done by any individual of any age and any religion.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-10

The Mantra-Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam - Achamanam/Anga-Vandanam

The Mantra-Tantras of Sandhya Vandanam – Part I Background TSV is generally seen as a religious ritual in which one prays to different gods of Hindu pantheon. In particular it is seen as a ‘worshipping’ of Sun God.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-06-09

Trikala Sandhya Vandhanam (TSV) series - Introduction

Let me state first that I am neither a Yoga selling Baba nor Spiritualism selling Swamiji.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-05-29

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 5 (Part-1) Karma Sannyaasa Yogah: Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Preamble Arjuna doubts which of the two ways - whether renunciation of action or participation in action - is the nobler and the greater.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-29

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 5 (Part-2) Karma Sannyaasa Yogah: Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Preamble Sri Krishna explains the spirit of renunciation and the state of Supreme Being in more details.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-29

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6 (Part-1) Dhyaana Yogah:Yoga of Meditation

Preamble The Gita has been described as an elaborate commentary on the mahavakya of the Chhandogya Upanishad, 'tat tvam asi - that thou art'.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-05-29

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6 (Part-2) Dhyaana Yogah:Yoga of Meditation

Preamble We have seen Sri Bhgavan describing the process of meditation. He continues the discussion in the following verses pointing out that the controlled mind remains peaceful and explaining the process by which the...

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-22

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 (Part-1) Jnaana Karma Sanyaasa Yogah : Yoga of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 (Part-1) Jnaana Karma Sanyaasa Yogah : Yoga of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge T.N.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-22

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 (Part-2) Jnaana Karma Sanyaasa Yogah: Yoga of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 (Part-2) Jnaana Karma Sanyaasa Yogah: Yoga of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge T.N.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-22

Siva: His Form and Cosmic Dance

T.N.Sethumadhavan IDENTITY OF THE TRINITY Siva is one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity. He is responsible for the dissolution of the universe.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-05-19

JOY! It’s Love, It’s Bliss, It’s Eternal

JOY! It’s Love, It’s Bliss, It’s Eternal Look, see, feel, sense, enjoy It’s there Inside, outside, everywhere It’s love, it’s inspiration, it’s the divine bliss Emanating it is, from our hearts It’s been there all...

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-04-11

japa notes

note one dialog of Visal das talking about how he got into teaching Prabhupada once said to be a teacher you have to be a student first.

By Devaguraji🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-04-08

The Inverted Banyan tree (A Sequel to my Upanayanam Blog)

In my blog on ‘Upanayanam Explained’, I had illustrated the inverted banyan tree and the ‘Urdhva Mulam” sloka in Bhagavad Gita in the context of nAndi ceremony. Many people couldn’t connect the two.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-04-04

Upanayanam Explained..

We are preparing for our Son's Upanayanam (Sacred thread wearing ceremony). Though Upanayanam has become a 'Lougiga' festival these days with lot of style and no substance, it is indeed a 'knowledege' ceremony, which...

By The Big Thinkg
2011-03-18

Call For Papers-Conference on Caste System

(www.wavesinternational.net) “Na hi Jnanena Sadrsam – There is nothing equivalent to knowledge” The Bhagavad Gita – IV.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-03-09

The Quantum Activist

Professor Amit Goswami continues to bridge a mighty gap spanning quantum physics on the one side and the most cherished spiritual ideas from his early training in India on the other. This film takes you on his journey.

By Rudra
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 (Part 1)

Saankhya Yogah: Yoga of Knowledge Preamble In the 1st Chapter we have seen that Arjuna asked Krishna to place the chariot in the midst of the two armies.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 (Part 2)

Saankhya Yogah: The Yoga of Knowledge Preamble We have seen the dejection of Arjuna and his determination not to wage the war.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 (Part 3)

Saankhya Yogah : Yoga of Knowledge Preamble Last time we studied up to verse 2.22 dealing with Krishna’s exposition about the permanent nature of the Soul and the impermanent nature of the physical body wherein the Lord...

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 (Part- 4)

Saankhya Yogah : Yoga Of Knowledge T.N.Sethumadhavan Preamble Up to the verse 2.38 we have seen the Lord establishing the propriety of Arjuna engaging in the war from the point of view of Sankhya Yoga or the Yoga of...

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 (Part-5)

Saankhya Yogah : Yoga Of Knowledge T.N.Sethumadhavan Preamble The Lord told Arjuna that when his mind would have crossed the mire of delusion and would develop indifference towards the enjoyment of this world and the...

By T. N. Sethumadhavan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-02-27

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3 (Part-1)

Karma Yogah : Yoga Of Action T.N.Sethumadhavan Preamble This Chapter analyses from various points of view and establishes the fact that the performance of prescribed duties is obligatory for everyone.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2011-02-18

The unkown 96 % of the universe

20th century Astronomers have made 2 great discoveries that have changed the scientific view of the universe. Some new, unknown sort of matter usually called dark matter seems to make up 23% of the universe.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2011-02-15

A Page From Dr. Frawley's Book " Yoga and the Sacred Fire"

I am glad to post here an excerpt from Pandit Vamadeva Shastri's [ Dr. David Frawley] book "Yoga and the Sacred Fire" with the permission of the site the link below leads to.

By Naren Somu
2011-02-15

Vastu Sastra Redefined - Part II

Background In the previous blog, I had written about the basic concept of Mandalas. Here I look into every Mandala in some more detail. Refer to my previuos blog here.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-02-13

Vastu Sastra Redefined - Part I

From Aditya Hrdyam something made me to move to Vastu Sastra. I had been reading about it for several months now. What I present here are my understandings and in some case mappings of my understandings.

By The Big Thinkg
2011-02-07

positive bliss

In Upanisads Moksa is viewed as a state of absorption into the universal nature of Brahman where the individual merges into the universal spirit...

By Jim Clark
2011-02-05

Aditi Banerjee's Critique of HAF Report

Editor's Note: This critique was issued in the form of an open letter (to Mihir Meghani, HAF President) in the immediate aftermath of the report that was published late Dec 2010 --- Dear Mihir, I’m sure that by now...

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-02-05

Kamlesh Kapur's Critique of HAF Report

Editor's Note: This critique was issued in the form of emails to HAF in the immediate aftermath of the report that was published late Dec 2010, and some later re-iterations, all compiled here by the author.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-02-05

Rakesh Bahadur's Analysis of HAF Report

Editor's Note: This critique was issued in the form of open letters to HAF leadership in a series of emails in the aftermath of the report that was published late Dec 2010.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-02-05

Ram Sidhaye's Critique of HAF Report

Editor's Note: This critique was issued in the form of an email to HAF in the immediate aftermath of the report that was published late Dec 2010 --- Friends: I have carefully read HAF’s recent report on CASTE.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-02-05

When Caste was not a bad word

Re-published courtesy: http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/When-caste-was-not-a-bad-word-1.aspx --- Were caste equations always as bad as they are today? Not quite.

By Sanjeev Nayyar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-01-30

The Story of india

Review If you like the idea of watching a really good National Geographic article brought to life, with the lush photography, fascinating facts, sense of discovery and slight superficiality that implies, you ll love THE...

By Rudra
2011-01-24

Does the Soul Matter?

For some time I had been quite enthusiastic about researching the evidence on reincarnation and paranormal claims because I considered it to be of great consequence to how I would live my daily life.

By axlhoma🎙️ Audio Podcast
2011-01-19

Kalavai denounces Hindu American Foundation Report

Tuesday, January 25, 2011 An ardent Hindu denounces the HAF report on caste You are by now familiar with the ill-conceived report on caste by HAF.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-01-19

Letters: Sri Nagendra1

Sri Nagendra's response to the esteemed Swami Vigyananand ji; Jt. General Secretary; Vishva Hindu Parishad Head – International Coordination...

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2011-01-14

Paavai Nonbu, Sri Andal and the Importance of Margazhi

It is not yet dawn. But soon it will be. Periyazhwar [ Vishnu Siddhar] walks on, immersed as he is in Narayana . He is collecting flowers and tulsi from his nandavanam for his Lord.

By Naren Somu
2011-01-07

On the Possibility of Free Will

We seek here to investigate by means a priori whether free will can be reasonably held to be true in the sphere of ordinary human endeavour or not.

By axlhoma🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-12-06

Kavadi Bells - 5

19 It is not once but many a time that pride, Blind to life's lessons harsh, must falter and fall, Ere in its final painful overthrow It crashes in the whirl of slaughter and storm: True Nandi's curse, all knew, would...

By Riverine
2010-11-19

Kavadi Bells

Skanda Puranam, the greatest of the Eighteen Mahapuranas, is as sacred to the Shaivites as the Srimad Bhagavatam is to the Vaishnavites.

By Riverine
2010-10-26

Another Sequel to Sri Matsya Narayana: Nepali Homage in Malmas

Another Sequel to Sri Matsya Narayana: Nepali Homage in Malmas Partha Desikan I had the pleasure of interaction with our friends on the Sri Matsya Narayana avatara through two blogs posted earlier this year.

By P. Desikan
2010-10-24

Science of Surya Mantra and Aditya Hrdayam

Science of Surya Mantra and Aditya Hrdayam Preface There is a great consistency in the meanings I find across slokas of Nasaidya Suktam, Purusha Suktam, Aitareya Upanishad, Rudram Chamakam, Rudram Namakam, Surya Mantra,...

By The Big Thinkg
2010-10-22

Buzz, learn and lead- Chapter 3

Buzz, learn and lead! A story in four chapters presenting the potential for a fast-forward in evolution through a guided tour Chapter 3 Innate Immunity “We have a lot in common, bees and humans, I mean.

By P. Desikan
2010-10-22

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam : A Wake-Up Plea to Tirupati Balaji

(First published in esamskriti.com) Origins of the Temple THE temple of Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) at Tirumala, Tiupati in Andhra Pradesh is perhaps the most popular of all the Hindu temples in our country.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-10-07

Seeing Mother Durga In Agni

Let me wish all my medhavi friends a glorious Navarathri, filled with the joy of the Grace of Ma Shakti in all her manifestations and with fresh opportunities to deal effectively with obstacles in their paths with her...

By P. Desikan
2010-10-03

Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam)

INTRODUCTION The worship of Shakti dates back to the Rig Veda where she is praised as ‘the supporter of the earth living in heaven’.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-09-24

Vedanta Jyoti: Author’s Telescopic View

I am deeply indebted to Shri Partha Desikanji and Shri Rudraji for locating me in the maze of Websites and encouraging me to become a part of the Medhavi community - a medhavi in Sanskrit means an intellectual, a man of...

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2010-09-11

Ganapati Atharvasirsha

Lord Ganapati is the most popular Deity among the Hindus. No Pooja or religious rites or for that matter no daily activity in any Hindu household commences without first worshipping Ganapati.

By T. N. Sethumadhavan
2010-09-01

That night, in Nanda’s humble home

We knew this day was coming. We ‘d discussed this earlier and we had been waiting…for what had seemed like an eternity. Still, I find it hard to believe that the dark skinned baby is in my arms.

By Naren Somu
2010-08-11

Healing Energy

I came across this incredible video on an internet forum a few days ago. Watching it gave me goosebumps (the good kind). I thought our Medhavis would like to see it too...

By Rudra
2010-08-11

Radha Madhava

Traveling around the Miami area using mass transit has been an adventure in and of its own.

By Devaguraji
2010-08-07

SEA OF COLD

Sea Of Cold devaguraji waterdroplet What is it that makes plants grow? We know that plants are rooted in the earth. It is the rain that provides nourishment. Plants grow towards the sunlight or the source.

By Devaguraji🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-07-25

Buddhism and the concept of self

Introduction I have been recently reading Digha Nikaya and Samyutta Niyaka, the Buddhist Pali scriptures.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2010-07-19

Primacy of Consciousness

I was at a BBQ pool party last evening and somehow managed to discuss meditation and consciousness with a friend.

By Rudra
2010-05-30

Rudram Chamakam - An original explanation

The Rudram Chamakam Background This work is a culmination of my last six months or so of my effort. As usual I am not sure on how I landed into Rudra or Chamakam.

By The Big Thinkg🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-05-24

Professor Sethuramiah’s haiku, Avani and Ishaan

Professor Sethuramiah’s haiku, Avani and Ishaan Partha Desikan Our friends will remember Susumu Takiguchi’s Keynote Address at the World Haiku Festival, Bangalore 2008, and my blog highlighting its focus on Tagore and...

By P. Desikan
2010-05-14

Who does Yoga belong to?

My friend Evgeny and I go to learn Yoga from a Tamil Siddha Yogi and also learn Taiji Chuan from a student from an authentic Taoist Lineage.

By Rudra
2010-05-03

Nyagrodha-Udumbara-Ashvattha, the three gentle giants

Nyagrodha-Udumbara-Ashvattha, the three gentle giants Partha Desikan Prologue: The very large span in seven of the eight aishvaryas (as different from corresponding siddhis which men attain through sadhana) that...

By P. Desikan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-05-01

A CASE OF MISTAKEN ENMITY

We inhabit an age of unprecedented access to information. We get news about anyone anywhere in the world moments after an elapsed event. We watch closely, and are watched in return.

By Chitra Raman🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-04-15

Consciousness, Kundalini Yoga & Body Development

Medha Editor's Note: With the public hooked onto scandals where sexuality vis a vis spirituality became a central focus of public discourse, it is fitting that we take a look at the deeper philosophical side of the...

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2010-04-15

Sattvic

in a talk about Srila Prabhupada one night someone claimed the words or his writings or purports were unarguable the bhagavad gita is unarguable in plain translation i guess the feedback i had on the outlook or...

By Devaguraji
2010-04-12

Nataraja - Depicting the Spatial Dimensions

Space like time can be seen in just one dimension if we lineraize it. For eg a spiral can enumerate a three dimensional space in just one dimension (linearize it) as a continuous set of numbers.

By The Big Thinkg
2010-04-08

Rudra -The Eleven dimensional force field - The Eleven dimensional Space

Background Aitareya Upanishad says Purusha was drawn out and spread to protect the Universe, from the same essence/soul from which Amba came.

By The Big Thinkg
2010-04-01

Logic

Logic tells us that there must be a creator for the universe to exist. St. Thomas calls God the first mover. In Shorter Summa, the existence of God is the first topic St. Thomas explains that God is eternal.

By Devaguraji
2010-04-01

Swamiji

Revisions of Srila Prabhupada quotes out of the writings of Satsvarupa dasa Gosvami about his travels...

By Devaguraji
2010-04-01

The Spring of Shiva

The Image of Shiva was found in the ruins of the Indus River civilization. The parallel of worship of Shiva is the worship of shakti or the power of the active forces of the universe.

By Devaguraji
2010-03-23

Eight Islands

Brahma is the source of the cosmic explosion at the beginning of the universe…his energies were first.

By Devaguraji
2010-03-14

Gems from Vivekananda

All religions are true You must remember that humanity travels not from error to truth, but from truth to truth; it may be, if you like it better, from lower truth to higher truth, but never from error to truth.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2010-03-10

Ashta Vasus - Biological Basics - Science of Sankhya Part II

Introduction and Background In my previous article on Sankhya Philosophy, I had stated about the interplay of purusha, prakrti and Gunas in every dimension of this universe.

By The Big Thinkg
2010-03-04

Random Reflections on Mommyhood

My childhood does not seem that far away. Not since I have become a Mom myself. As I sing my son to sleep I remember snatches of long-forgotten lullabies that Grandma used to sing to us about a sister trying to awaken...

By Soumi Basu
2010-02-28

Hinduism through History - Appendix

Worship of ancestors While taking the journey with Hinduism through History, it was seen that one of the most rudimentary - yet profound - ways of worship is by venerating the dead.

By Riverine🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-02-14

Happy Belly Happy Soul

When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need. --From the Charaka Samhita, one of the most ancient and venerated Ayurvedic textbooks.

By Rudra
2010-02-13

At The Feet Of My Cosmic Beloved!

At The Feet Of My Cosmic Beloved! Craving much for I’m to enter Your hallowed chamber, Deep within me, but hidden away! It is a dream that I wait on to realize, all thro’ my life That of present and the past; You are my...

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha
2010-02-08

Come, Share My Dream World

Come, Share My Dream World “From the unicellular green algae in the depth of the primordial soup, we traversed to the peak, but, ……….

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha
2010-01-28

I, You & the Cosmic I

I, You & the Cosmic I A Personal Voyage As I offer You a flower, Ma, I come to You as the very flower! As I smell and savor the beguiling scent, I become the scent, the flower & the space between! As I collect the...

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-01-13

Consciousness, Cosmology, and Science: An Advaitic Analysis

Consciousness, Cosmology, and Science: An Advaitic1 Analysis The purpose of this brief essay is twofold: (1) To clarify what it is to study anything scientifically and show that consciousness cannot, in principle, be...

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-01-13

Mistranslations of Central Upanishadic Terms

Comments on Serious Mistranslations of The Central Upanishadic Terms Ramakrishna Puligandla I am provoked to write this brief essay on my having seen so many articles and books, ancient, modern, and contemporary, the...

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla
2010-01-13

Nagarjuna and Samkara: Some Comparative Reflections

The main purpose of this brief essay is to show that, contrary to the widespread view of many scholars of Madhyamaka and Advaita-Vedanta, the Sunya-vada of Nagarjuna and the non-dualism of Samkara are non-different, one...

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla🎙️ Audio Podcast
2010-01-08

A sequel to Shri Matsya Narayana

A sequel to Shri Matsya Narayana Partha Desikan If we have read the story of the saving of the Vedas by the direct intervention of the Infinite in the Matsya form and are informed that there could be slightly different...

By P. Desikan
2010-01-06

Shri Matsya Narayana

Shri Matsya Narayana Partha Desikan Gururgurutamo dhaama satyah satyaparaakramah | Nimisho (a)nimishah sragvee vaachaspatir udaaradheeh || Agraneer graamaneeh shreemaan nyaayo netaa sameeranah | The above three lines...

By P. Desikan
2010-01-05

The Cosmic Mist

INTO THE DARKNESS THEN OUT OF THE LIGHT THE FIRE OF THE SUN THE ECHO OF THE WORLDS THE LIFEBREATH OF THE MIND THE CORE OF THE EARTH THE CENTER OF THE SOUL ONE WHO CONQUERS THE WORLDS THE MAKER OF EVIL THE SPRING OF THE...

By Devaguraji
2009-12-30

Chakras and Endocrine Glands

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHAKRAS The word, Chakra, literally means wheel, circle, vortex, or whirlpool.

By Dr. Rita Khanna🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-12-30

NADIS OR THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

NADIS The Sanskrit word, “Nadi,” derives from the root, Nad, which means flow, motion, vibration. These nadis are creative energies of the subtle body.

By Dr. Rita Khanna🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-12-01

About the Verbs in the Mahavakyas

About the verbs in the Mahavakyas Partha Desikan All the Vedantacharyas, in particular the founders of the Advaita , Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita doctrines, namely Sri Sankara, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Madhva relied totally...

By P. Desikan
2009-11-27

Having to do with Jayanth Kaikini's Ondu Jilebi

Having to do with Jayanth Kaikini's Ondu Jilebi Partha Desikan An inspiring contemporary young Kannada poet has recently published a collection of his poems and there was a formal release in Bangalore.

By P. Desikan
2009-11-21

Humanism, Vaishnavite style

Humanism, Vaishnavite style Partha Desikan I would like to state at the outset that Vaishnavism is as much a product of Hindu/Vedantic genius as Advaita is and that the two belong to different sets and should not be...

By P. Desikan
2009-11-17

INBETWEENNESS: A SPIRITUAL VISION BEYOND RELIGION  AND SCIENCE   

> We can now ask whether it is ever possible to distinguish experience from the interpretation of it. If not, it is unclear how any experience can be said to be self-assuring.

By Omar Alattas🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-11-10

Year-end Yin

As we come to the end of the year and the days grow shorter, the temperatures lower, it is time to change the focus of your practice.

By George Bolger🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-11-09

Hindu Temple Architecture -V

Site Selection The previous four parts of this series can be found below. Part I Part II Part III Part IV In this part, I continue with the topic of site selection of Hindu temples.

By Naren Somu
2009-11-09

Hindu Tradition, Modern Science and the intellectually colonised mind

Introduction The impact of colonial rule by large empires on the colonised is a well known phenomenon.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-11-09

The Rift between Dualistic Vaishnavism and Advaita

NOTE: I have posted this as a thread on Medhaam Dehi (our forum) but NS suggested I post it as a blog entry. So here goes... I've been sucked into this debate (I should say I inadvertently stumbled into it) on Facebook.

By Dwai Lahiri
2009-11-08

INBETWEENNESS: THE INDIVISIBLE WHOLE

Sunnie D. Kidd and James W. Kidd If we consider consciousness as undivided the distinction between the knower and the known disappears. Experience is complete in itself and is self-assuring.

By James W. Kidd
2009-10-30

I am That

This is a pdf circulating among some Dharmic-types on the Internet. I thought I'd share it with the Medhavis.

By Rudra
2009-10-23

Schrödinger’s cat or shut up and calculate!

I have been recently reading through Meera Nanda’s article, “Intellectual Treason”. I have prepared a general reply to that article which will be posted eventually in TMJ.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-10-09

Fragile Ecosystem, Vedic Solution?

I recently posted a review of a book by Daniel Quinn titled "Ishmael". The book is a semi-fiction/philosophical dialog between Daniel Quinn and an old Gorilla called Ishmael (of course Ishmael is the archetype of a wise...

By Rudra
2009-09-29

The Science of Sankhya..

The Sankhya Philosophy Purusha In Sankhya Philosophy, evolution happens in three dimensions. The dimensions are Purusha, Prakrti and the Gunas.

By The Big Thinkg
2009-09-21

Greatness of acquiring a Human form

Greatness of acquiring a Human form Human being crowns the top most hierarchy of living beings.

By sharmila🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-09-19

Hinduism – Religion or Dharma?

Growing up in Bharat (India), I have heard people proclaiming time and again that “All Religions are the same and they teach the same thing”.

By Sunil Kumar Tuppale🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-09-06

The Mother's Divine Dance

The Mother's Divine Dance Partha Desikan Rabindranath Tagore met Sree Narayana Guru in 1922 and was deeply impressed both by the spiritual heights of his thoughts and by his enduring commitment to fight caste based...

By P. Desikan
2009-09-04

Raja Yoga

INTRODUCTION There are many paths of yoga for attaining clarity of mind. Raja Yoga is one of the paths that focuses on meditation and contemplation. Raja means king, and king is always in a state of enlightenment.

By Dr. Rita Khanna
2009-08-24

How should one interpret Hindu scripture?

Introduction One of the signs of the present age is the attitude towards the interpretation of scripture. "Anything goes" pretty much sums up the modern attitude.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-08-21

THE STORY AND WISDOM OF YAGNAVALKYA.

When the purpose of sAdhanA and the final destination of the soul is understood, there remain no more doubts in the sadhaka’s mind as regards the imperativeness of yoga sAdhanA.

By Sri Bimal Mohanty🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Aitareya Upanishad i

{To Read Author's General Note click here } Aitareya Upanishad i: This Upanishad is part of the Rg Veda.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Aitareya Upanishad ii

{To Read Author's General Note click here } For Part I, click here In part I it was said that the universe with all its constituents is the creation of Brahman. This part deals with creation in more detail.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian
2009-08-16

Brahmopanishad I

{To Read Author's General Note click here } There are two recensions of this Upanishad with minor variation. Swami Madhavaananda had dealt with both in a combined form. We shall follow him.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian
2009-08-16

Brahmopanishad II

{To Read Author's General Note click here } (Contd... from Part I) - There are four seats of consciousness in the Purusha. These are the navel, the heart, the throat and the head.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Brahmopanishad III- The poetry part

{To Read Author's General Note click here } (Contd... from Part II) In the first part of the Upanishad the origin of life is dealt with. Praana or aerobic life is considered an important evolutionary state.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian
2009-08-16

Brahmopanishad IV

{To Read Author's General Note click here } (Contd... fromPart III) There are four unrelated parts in this Upanishad. The Upanishad itself is not divided. The division is by me.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian
2009-08-16

Mundaka Upanishad I & II

{To Read Author's General Note click here } Mundaka Upanishad ‘U’ is pronounced short as in ‘full’. ‘n’ is pronounced as Venu; d as in dog. The Upanishad is meant for study by monks or sannyasis.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Mundaka Upanishad III & IV

{To Read Author's General Note click here } (Contd. from Part I & II) ...Mundaka Upanishad Mundaka Upanishad III 1.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Mundaka Upanishad V & VI

{To Read Author's General Note click here } (Contd. from Part III & IV) ...Mundaka Upanishad Mundaka Upanishad V In part I it was said that Brahman is omniscient. The universe is his creation. Life evolves from his will.

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-08-16

Sanskrit: From Pooja rooms to Science Labs..

Samskrita Bharati organized a 10 day Spoken Sanskrit programme in several parts of the City during last week. The concept of ‘Spoken Sanskrit’ attracted me and I made it a point to attend their classes most of the days.

By The Big Thinkg
2009-08-16

YOGA REGIMEN FOR THE MONSOON

Everybody enjoys monsoon season because we love the rain, pleasant weather, and everything associated with it.

By Dr. Rita Khanna
2009-08-15

UPANISHADS - A Series Begins

Medha Editor's Note: We are pleased to offer to Medhavis a new series on Upanishads, the creme-de-la-creme of Indic Philosophy, which has influenced the thought & living in India & other influenced cultures for...

By Dr. S. K. Balasubramanian
2009-08-13

Everything you wanted to know about Brahmajnana but were afraid to ask!

Goal of human life The goal of human life according to Advaita Vedanta is Brahmajnana (knowledge of Brahman).

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-08-02

New Book: Hindu Majority Bad, Non-Hindu Minority Good, Yawn. . .

This is an excerpt from a brief Znet interview with Angana Chatterji about her new book Violent Gods, which according to her is "an exploration of Hindu nationalism in India today.

By Krishna Kirti Das🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-07-30

The Anti-Development Content of the Global Emissions Trading Scheme

One of the principal items on the agenda of the US Secretary of the State’s visit to India was facilitating a transition in India’s position on climate change to accepting a global emissions trading scheme (ETS).

By Prof. Raghbendra Jha
2009-07-28

The Preceptor Paramount

It appears that Dr Giridhar Madras of the University of California @ Davis submitted to the site , on Guru poornima day in 1996, an article entitled Dakshinamurti Stotra.

By P. Desikan
2009-07-19

Ongoing Adharma in Christianity in India?

From Swami Devananda- "Christianity is a parasitical religion, which attaches itself to a host culture and feeds off it, absorbing its spirit and lifeblood into itself until the host culture dies and become Christian.

By Karigar
2009-07-01

Global Warming (Junior ID-12)

Global Warming Participant ID - 12 Medhajunior, Grade, Unknown, India Global warming is the most biggest disease of today.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2009-07-01

How to save the planet!? (ID26)

How to save the Planet!? Participant ID -26 MedhaJournal, Australia Mmmmmmm, a good question that seeks an answer yes? Humans are a funny breed, we are dominated by Need, Greed, and Want….those are our Gods.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2009-06-23

Primer on Global Warming and Climate Change – Part III (Mitigation and Adaptation)

Faced with the imminent dangers of climate change and global warming, we have three options: 1.

By Mita Das🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-06-18

Eight Verses to the Giver of Life

Na taato, na maata, na bandur na daataa, Na putro, na putri, na bhratyo, na bhartaa, Na jayaa na Vidyaa, na Vrithir mamaiva, Gatistvam, Gatistvam Tvam ekaa Bhavani.

By Dwai Lahiri
2009-06-18

The persian Sufi poet Hafiz

The 13th century Persian Sufi poet Hafiz has been one of my favorite poets. Hafiz was a moulana in a mosque in Iran. His extreme liberality drew him the ire of the Islamic establishment of his time.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-06-10

Secularism redux

Introduction As I realize the sociological implications of the social engineering going on in the name of Secularism, I am filled with a deep sense of nausea and revulsion for the concept of Secularism as it is...

By Kosla Vepa🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-06-02

Occidental difficulty with other civilizations

Indic studies Foundation www.indicstudies.us Acceptance of Ancient and medieval Indic Epistemes in the sciences of antiquity by the occident or “why does the Occidental have such a great difficulty in recognizing the...

By Kosla Vepa
2009-06-01

Tharoor: Hindu Fundamentals Under Attack

To, Dear Friends I came across this article written by Shashi Tharoor. I though it is well written but that the contents are open to different interpretations.

By Deshika🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-05-13

Sustainable Communities (ID-23)

Sustainable Communities MedhaJournal - Participant ID23 Being a person acutely conscious of the environment, one was struck by the topic given to write an essay about.

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2009-05-12

Planet X

SWEETSWORD 34 [ Ne Science Na Laynn ] By Poga Humayun Dundiwala BISMILLAH ALLAH said to brother of Aaron Moses to take his shoe off And Baratha brother of Lakkan placed the shoe on the Rama's throne Shaitan said i have...

By poga humayun dundiwala
2009-05-07

An Insider's View of Dhammapada

This article is based on the views of the venerable Bhikku Bodhi of Forest Hermitage, Kandy, Sri Lanka, as expressed in his Introduction to a special edition of Dhammapada.

By P. Desikan
2009-05-02

Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta -- Are they really that different?

I sometimes visit a website dedicated to my other passion, Taoism and Tai Chi, called "Tao Bums -- http://www.thetaobums.com".

By Dwai Lahiri🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-04-28

Divine Love in the Hills

Divine Love in the Hills. Partha Desikan The apparently still, permanently snow clad Himalayan peaks seem to signify the ultimate in silence and peace.

By P. Desikan
2009-04-22

Problems in philosophy of Science - (Vedanta to Vijnanta)

When I was an undergraduate student of mathematics in the late 1970s I always wondered why am I learning what has been taught to me. Simply because I was good in Mathematics did not mean that I understood it.

By Surin Usgaonkar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-04-18

Aitareya Upanishad - From Plasma to Particles..

I have been going through Aitareya Upanishad for sometime. In particular, I have been going through original Sanskrit verses and translations as offered by Sitarama Sastri and Swami Muni Narayana Prasad.

By The Big Thinkg
2009-04-04

Opening the Dragon Gate: The Making of a Modern Taoist Wizard

This text presents a biograpy of Wang Liping, the 18th generation transmitter of Dragon Gate Taoism, heir to a tradition of esoteric knowledge and practice accumulated and refined over 11 centuries.

By Dwai Lahiri
2009-03-18

True Spiritualism and True Religion

At the beginning, Religion came into existence by the designers against mankind. It had taken place to deceive the mankind, to oppress -to exploit the mankind skillfully catching in their trap, to misappropriate human...

By Dr. S. Ray🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-03-16

Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra (Immortally Mortal)

Introduction After Nasadiya Suktam, I was looking at materials for Hiranyagarbha suktam, Ratri suktam etc, but could not devote enough time.

By The Big Thinkg
2009-03-02

Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern India

From Library Journal Is India's caste system the remnant of ancient India's social practices or the result of the historical relationship between India and British colonial rule? Dirks (history and anthropology,...

By Dwai Lahiri
2009-02-13

Crisis in modern Physics

Physics is currently going through a crisis. It is of course true that Physics has faced crisis even in earlier times.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2009-02-13

Hindu Temple Architecture-IV

Hindu Temple Architecture-IV Site Selection & Analysis [continued from the previous post - Hindu Temple Architecture III ] The Previous article at this link discusses site analysis in the modern sense and compares that...

By Naren Somu
2009-01-31

Parashurama Kshetra - A Miscellany and the Epilogue.

Parashurama Kshetra - A Miscellany and the Epilogue Partha Desikan I can hear plain sighs of relief after a look at the title.

By P. Desikan
2009-01-23

Parashurama Kshetra Part 5

Live and let live, Kerala Style Lord Parashurama may or may not have intended, when he threw his legendary axe and created India's Arabian Sea-coast west of the Sahyadri Mountains, that his Kshetra would forever be open...

By P. Desikan
2009-01-11

Women and the Vedas

Much has been written recently about the plight of women in India. It is certainly true that on the scale of most economic and social indicators, women are lagging behind men.

By Prof. Raghbendra Jha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2009-01-05

Parashurama Kshetra Part 3

Why refer to legends at all? Before proceeding to our next topic, the Chozha and the Pandya connections of Keralite kings, I wish to answer the question, ‘Why should we refer at all to legends, when it is historic...

By P. Desikan
2009-01-04

On Corruption and Karma

"The great seers of ancient India saw so far ahead of their time that the world has to wait centuries yet to appreciate their wisdom, and it is this very inability on the part of their own descendants to appreciate the...

By Prof. Raghbendra Jha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-12-27

The Indian Languages Question

{xtypo\dropcap}S{/xtypo\dropcap}ome more on Indian languages... Indian languages can be called Indian for two reasons.

By P. Desikan
2008-12-23

Mind the cows, mind the horses

{xtypo\dropcap}O{/xtypo\dropcap}ne of the dhyaana slokas of Srimad Bhagavad Gita goes like this: > sarvopanishado gAvo dogdhA gopAlanandana: | > > pArtho vatsa: sudhIr bhoktA dugdham gItAmrtam mahat || All the...

By P. Desikan
2008-12-15

Primer on Climate Change and Global Warming - Part II (Impact)

{xtypo\dropcap}T{/xtypo\dropcap}he effects of climate change are already being felt by natural systems in many places.

By Mita Das
2008-12-14

Parashurama Kshetra - A possible Prehistory of Kerala-Konkana on India's West Coast

{xtypo\dropcap}S{/xtypo\dropcap}hri Govindrao Raghunath Dabholkar, more popularly known as Hemadpant (1856-1929), wrote his famous Shri Sai Satcharita in the Ovi metric style of Marathi blank verse and his work is read...

By P. Desikan
2008-12-07

Interview: Dr Ramakrishna Puligandla -Part I

Editor's Note: Below is a transcript of the interview with our new Medha Gold personality, our Resident Philosopher. We will also make available the audio of this interview, which has more details on each conversation.

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-12-07

Interview: Dr Ramakrishna Puligandla -Part II

Editor's Note: Following is the second part of our interview with our new Medha Gold personality, our Resident Philosopher.

By Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla
2008-12-06

Nasadiya Suktam - Before the BigBang..

Introduction {xtypo\dropcap}A{/xtypo\dropcap}fter my work on Purusha Suktam, frankly I don't know what drove me to Nasadiya Suktam.

By The Big Thinkg
2008-11-26

Religious Reflection without a mirror

{xtypo\dropcap}O{/xtypo\dropcap}ctober 27th 1893: It was late afternoon, slightly after four, as Richard Shandok slowly trudged up the snaking bridle path that led to the large mud house on top of the hill.

By Arjun Bhagat🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-11-26

The secular-saffron squeeze: and its challenge to Indic Revival

{xtypo\dropcap}A{/xtypo\dropcap}s we look at India at the dawn of the 21st century, we find it confronted by some confounding challenges, as it tries to break out of its colonial shackles and assert its own – organic...

By Arjun Bhagat🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-11-17

ARYANS VERSUS MONKEYS - THE SEQUEL

The following is the series of exchanges that took place with Dr. Karen Carr - whose website was found to have a highly distorted version of The Ramayana - and several eminent personalities and practising Hindus.

By Riverine
2008-11-10

One Man, One Cow, One Planet

“The Law of Attraction” simply says that one naturally attracts into one's life whatever one think about deeply. One's dominant thoughts will always find a way to manifest themselves.

By Barbara Sumner Burstyn🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-11-09

The Maya and Karma Conundrum

As has become a norm (or so it seems) these days, my Sunday mornings are spent driving up to my Tai Chi teacher's home with my friend Evgeny for semi-private lessons.

By Rudra🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-10-09

The Nature of Brahman

Unknowability of Brahman Reason is strongly stressed in Hindu dharma. Hindu dharma admits, however, that Brahman is beyond reason. For example, the Upanishads say poetically, 1.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-10-05

Act of God

One of my friends is a busy RJ. She lives in music. Still, she writes to me often.

By Neeraj Bhushan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-10-04

HINDUISM THROUGH HISTORY - III

Hinduism through History (Part - 3) Heartfelt thanks for help and support: Shri S. Sreenivasa Rao & Karigar This part of the paper focuses on the history of Temples.

By Riverine
2008-10-02

The zUdras of Purusha Suktam

I had blogged about Purusha Suktam and my interpretation in this blog here. I had blogged a commentary on it in this blog here.

By The Big Thinkg
2008-10-01

Samith and Seven black holes (Commentary on Purusha Suktam)

I had written about Purusha Suktam and my interpretation of it in this blog, here.

By The Big Thinkg
2008-09-23

For the Love of God - Why Love God?

Everybody says God is love and love is God. But i love my partner, my children and all the expensive things i own.

By Anand Rao🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-09-22

Purusha Suktam - New Revelations..

Introduction I have been reading Purusha Suktham for some time trying to map what the sages were trying to say.

By The Big Thinkg
2008-09-13

Thai Ramayana lights up desert sky in Rajasthan

Thai Ramayana lights up desert sky in Rajasthan Partha Desikan An article on the above subject was published by the Indo-Asian News Service on Thursday, February 28, 2008.

By P. Desikan
2008-09-10

Hindu Temple Architecture-III

Site selection and Analysis-part I This is the third part of the series but the first part of the articles titled "Site selection". Fellow medhavis can be forewarned that this topic may be posted in three or more parts.

By Naren Somu
2008-09-05

Testimonials

By Dr Partha Desikan (R&D and technical management, Scholar, engagement in academia, translated Sanskrit and Tamil classics, research into classics, study of Vedanta, Indian culture and miscellaneous freelance writing)...

By Medha Journal Editorial Board
2008-09-03

Eka Dantham Upasmahe

Greetings dear chubby elephant, I thought of staying at home today as it is your special day but you probably wanted to tell me Karma Yoga is very important Thanks a lot for sending me to work today.

By Naren Somu
2008-08-24

The twelve-name shield/cage

The twelve-name shield/cage Partha Desikan A stotra (prayer) of eight slokas, known as Dvadasa Nama Panjaram, namely the protective cage of twelve names of Bhagavan Hari, is recited along with an invocation to...

By P. Desikan
2008-08-22

The iQUBE

The iQUBE Do you remember the Rubik's Cube? Do you have fond memories of those hours spent twisting its creeking faces? Can you still picture where you were when you finally solved it the first time? Here is your next...

By Nicolas Mayoraz🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-08-20

Mother

Book Three: The Book of the Divine Mother Canto Two: The Adoration of the Divine Mother A stillness absolute, incommunicable, Meets the sheer self-discovery of the soul; A wall of stillness shuts it from the world, A...

By Géhin🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-08-15

Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu

CAN GURU-SHISHYA PARAMPARA BE ALLOWED TO CAVE IN? Sant Shri Asaramji, endearingly called ‘Bapu', gave me some of his precious moments the other day at the Rajokri Ashram in Delhi, just ahead of a pious dissertation...

By Neeraj Bhushan🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-08-07

A reappraisal of the book, 'Neo-Vedanta and Modernity'

This is a reappraisal of the book, 'Neo-Vedanta and Modernity' by Prof Bithika Mukherji (BM). Previously I had criticized her book assuming that she means Sri Ramakrishna when she talks of neo-vedanta.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-08-05

A critique of the excerpts of Neo-Vedanta and Modernity

Introduction Nineteenth century was a century of ferment in India. New ideas from the western world poured into India through the medium of British presence in India.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-08-04

Jurisprudence of Hindu marriage Part II : Probing Deeper

Part I of this can be readhere This is a sequel to the part I which was published here last month. The following essay explains Vedic sanction to laws regarding marriage and meaning of Vivaha.

By Surin Usgaonkar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-07-28

An Upakatha in Valmiki Ramayana: The Rshyasrnga Anecdote

An Upakatha in Valmiki Ramayana: The Rshyasrnga Anecdote Partha Desikan Of the two great epics of India, the Mahabharata is really filled with anecdotal side stories or upakathas, which take up nearly seventy-five...

By P. Desikan
2008-07-28

Western Culture – A Concise Religio-Philosophical History for the Non Westerner

Western Culture – A Concise Religio-Philosophical History for the Non Westerner The following are excerpts from the Book Neo-Vedanta and Modernity: Toward an Understanding Of The Ontology of Bliss in the Context of...

By Karigar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-07-24

Hindu Temple Architecture-II

Hindu Temple Architecture-II Prelude at this link https://medhajournal.com/content/view/468/76/ Part I I In this part, we will briefly discuss about the pre- design analysis that forms the basis of any design before...

By Naren Somu
2008-07-18

Hindu for the next generation

A short essay on Essentials of Bhakti: An advanced lesson for the faithful Bhakti means intense devotion.

By Monomohon Mukherjee🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-07-15

Hinduism through History (Part -2B)

Back to Part - 2 Section - B: The Invalidity of the ARYAN INVASION THEORY Geographic mentions in the Rig Veda - the first among the surviving Vedas - refer to almost the same regions of the Sarasvati-Sindhu belt as the...

By Riverine🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-07-03

Hindu Temple Architecture-I

Hindu Temple Architecture-I This is a prelude to a series of articles on the evolution of Hindu temple architecture, from not just my background as an architect, but also from my other background, as that of a person...

By Naren Somu🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-07-02

Religion & US Constitution -PART II

For part I, see: [Religion & US Constitution ] For most people, including new Americans, the topic is quite bewildering until a few facts & principles emerge, giving clarity to the picture.

By Karigar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-06-30

Curry Leaves

Curry Leaves Partha Desikan Which among you Medhavis has never tasted curry leaves? There could be some who would have just enjoyed the flavour transferred from curry leaves to the main dish.

By P. Desikan
2008-06-26

Hinduism through History

Abstract This paper aims at bringing out, through archaeological evidences and references, the history of the evolution of Hinduism.

By Riverine🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-06-24

Prithivi, our Mother

Prithivi, our Mother Partha Desikan From the Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], Book XII , Hymn I, namely Prithvi Sukta, which I have extracted from sacred-texts.

By P. Desikan
2008-06-20

Higher Criticism of the Bible: Comparing the Four Canonical Gospels

Introduction I have posted two articles giving examples of lower criticism of the Bible. Lower criticism is textual criticism, weeding out scribal errors and textual corruptions.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-06-17

Religion & US Constitution-PART I

It is always fascinating how the US constitution, both in the way it was written down, and is practised, takes us back to the was I imagine some of our shastras may have been fashioned.

By Karigar
2008-05-30

Prana (Energy) and it's healing technology

I've written about this subject many times in previous articles, but this my first attempt at putting together a little report on the Technology of Healing that is implicitly enabled by it. I give you [[Prana]]...

By Rudra
2008-05-30

The Other "versions"of the Ramayan

The other ‘versions’ of the Ramayana In this article,I am trying to look at the use of the words “translation” [ as in AKR ‘s translation of Sangam literature] , “version”, “adaptation”, and the telling “tellings”.

By Naren Somu
2008-05-28

Discussion-Three hundred Ramayans

The topic is Three hundred Ramayans, The epic story's spectacular journey through the ages: An extract from The Collected Essays of AK Ramanujan This is an attempt to start a discussion on the above paper.

By Karigar
2008-05-26

Eye of the Fish - A Swayamvar's tale - Epic Poem (Archer's Tale III)

Based on an Episode in Mahabharat (Mythology) The Swayamvar The Swayamvar\ was set The condition but one By bow and arrow to be decided The target, a fish’s eye hit Set on a pole a cubit high In between was a wheel Ever...

By Avi Das🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-05-24

Happiness

Then a layman, who had sat distant conscious of his tattered clothes, came forth and said, "Speak to us of Happines." And he answered, saying: Happiness is an essence, permeates you when you are aware.

By Avi Das
2008-05-16

Prayer and meditation

Prayer, in Hindu tradition, is one of the gateways to liberation. Of the four available methods, puja, prayer, japa and dhyana, prayer is considered the second slowest method to cleanse the mind.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-05-15

Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo represents “the completest synthesis that has been realized to this day of the genius of Asia and the genius of Europe...” —Romain Rolland, French Vedantist and Nobel laureate.

By Shrikanth🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-05-03

Generosity of a Rich Nation

I was reading the NY Times yesterday (May 2nd, 2008) and a statement made by President Bush caught my eye. He said, “The American people are generous people, and they’re compassionate people.

By Mita Das
2008-05-01

Tagore and Haiku

Tagore and Haiku Partha Desikan Susumu Takiguchi is Chairman, The World Haiku Club.

By P. Desikan
2008-04-30

Bhishmasamprokshana

Bhishmasamprokshana Partha Desikan Some historians believe that the Mahabharata was composed in three stages.

By P. Desikan
2008-04-28

Vivekanandar Illam

Vivekanandar illam 6 th February 1897. He was coming ! The man who travelled to distant America from his occupied motherland , the man who conquered hearts and minds there, the man who represented the aspirations of a...

By Naren Somu
2008-04-25

Of Sita We Sing

My interest in Sita's story began with Ramanand Sagar's Doordarshan serial Ramayana that began on January 1987 and continued for a year and a half. The whole country fell victim to this Ramayana fever and 9:30 A.M.

By Soumi Basu
2008-04-12

Dislocations 2

This piece is a continuation of my previous article on the same subject. The aim of this article is to overcome some of the shortcomings of the previous articles in terms of the lack of illustrations (which we all know...

By Adhish Majumdar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-04-11

Drug Industries to cure or treat?

I am bitter from past few days!! The company that I worked for almost wrapped up its business. I worked for a biotechnology industry that did research for cancer therapy.

By Sreeparna
2008-04-07

Interesting shlokas from Mahabharata

Some years ago I read a portion of Mahabharata (up to Gita) and made some notes for myself. I have given below some interesting shlokas.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-03-28

Women and Hindu scriptures

Introduction Hindu scriptures have lately in popular press been subject of bashing for their treatment of women.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-03-07

Emphasis, old style

Do look at these sikshaavali quotes from Taittireeya upanishad, given by me in pairs. The first pair occurs separately in the original. satyam vada; satyaanna pramaditavyam.

By P. Desikan
2008-03-07

Short notes on the Ascetic Motivation

I attempt to guess/intuit the motivation of the ascetics, who most willingly practise self-denial according to the scriptural recommendations.

By Akshay Peshwe🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-03-04

Books on Buddhism

BOOKS ON BUDDHISM FROM INDIA (To Buy Online Visit Us at Online India Bookshop ) [1]. A History of Indian Buddhism : From Sakyamuni to Early Mahayana by Hirakawa Akira, (Tr. & Ed. Paul Groner ) 1998, 23 cm., pp.

By Shailesh🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-02-27

Buddha and the Upanishads

Did Buddha accept any Ultimate Reality? It is usually claimed that Buddha did not accept (or remained silent about) he concept of an Ultimate Reality unlike the Upanishads which claim that here exists an Ultimate...

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-02-23

Nasadiya

THEN was not non-existent nor existent: there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it.

By Rudra
2008-02-07

Love's Like That

Palash The JEE results would be out today and destiny decided for millions. For some it will be a life-changing day, for some it will be life-threatening.

By Soumi Basu🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-02-06

Inner Dialog

I was going through an article on Evolution by Subhash Kak on Sulekha.com -- (A Most Subversive Idea - 26th June, 2002), when I came across the section where he writes about the analogy between the processes in living...

By Rudra🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-02-06

Swami Ramdev and His Cure for Cancer

Swami Ramdev, Brinda Karat and Health Minister Ramdoss I was browsing the timesofindia.

By Rudra
2008-02-06

The Artist and the Muse

Art How can one define Art? A quick search on my online dictionary yielded sixteen results. The one that caught my eye the most was this: Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties...

By Rudra
2008-02-06

The Mechanism of Maya

According to the English dictionary (I refer to the online dictionary, Dictionary.com) Maya translates something like this: 1) The power of a god or demon to transform a concept into an element of the sensible world.

By Rudra
2008-02-06

Us and Them

Why is it always 'Us and Them' for human beings? What pleasure does one derive from creating barriers, groups, and all sorts of differences? Don't we realize that life is too short to spend squabbling, discriminating...

By Rudra
2008-01-31

Funsense in Nonsense

Hey diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun, And the dish ran away with the spoon.

By Mita
2008-01-31

Soumya

Mercury is in the news once again. The Messenger photographs featuring the spider-like wrinkle-pattern on a possible crater have excited NASA scientists and Academic planet watchers alike, and confirmation of earlier...

By P. Desikan
2008-01-27

Records From India Then and “Records” From India Now.

Records From India Then and “Records” From India Now. Our’s is a land of stories. The nation seems to be full of them and in ancient times, most of the “stories” were transmitted orally .

By Naren Somu
2008-01-23

12 Simple Rules for a Happy Life

I have a group of friends and every year we exchange our New Year's resolution amongst us.

By Mita Das
2008-01-23

Fancy dress shows-being a little God[ dess]

Fancy dress shows-being a little God[ dess] Whenever I can ,I watch the program “Malarum Mottum” [ Flower and blossom] in Sun TV.telecast on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm .

By Naren Somu
2008-01-23

Model or Reality?

Introduction Man's investigation of nature (science) or his own nature (adhyatma vidya) raises a fundamental question.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2008-01-18

TROUSSEAU

A Russian short story by: Anton P Chekov Abridged and translated by: Subodh Das In my lifetime I have seen many houses, big and small, stone houses and wooden houses. I particularly remember one house.

By Mita Das
2008-01-11

Health Tips for winter

Ayurveda (The Science of Life) is a 5000 year old science which originated in India.

By Dr. Rashana Rauniar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2008-01-04

India's Conjured Caste Conundrum- by Raghbendra Jha

Below is a well written article on 'Casht Sishtum"... For kicks, see my sulekha blogs:[Casht Sishtum-Bhoil Da Bhoot explains – Part 1 ; Casht Sishtum-Bhoil Da Bhoot explains – Part 2 (other than some minor quibbles I...

By Karigar
2007-12-28

Not Killing

Not killing ParthaDesikan This saintly, wise poet lived in the Tamil speaking region of our country, approximately two thousand years ago. His profession was weaving, but his chief preoccupation was thoughtful writing.

By P. Desikan
2007-11-27

Milk from the Water-buffalo

Milk from the Water buffalo ParthaDesikan > Long ago, roughly when Kennedy and Krushchaev faced each other eyeball to eyeball and nearly precipitated a world war with Cuba as first base, and perhaps a few months after...

By P. Desikan
2007-11-12

The Previous Avtar Of Lord Muruga/Kartikeya

The Previous Avtar Of Lord Muruga/Kartikeya Who is Lord Muruga? I am translating from memory what I read in the book “Deivathin Kural”[ Voice Of the Divine] a collection of lectures by Sri Chandra Shekarendra Saraswathi...

By Naren Somu🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-10-31

Yogic 'Thinking'- A Fantasy

The rishis, who were gifted yogis too, wanted to see viraat-purusha. They closed their eyes and waited.

By P. Desikan
2007-10-24

Rama-Siva-Rama-Siva

Rama Siva Rama Siva ParthaDesikan All puranas, in any case the eighteen main ones, are believed to have been written by Vedavyasa.

By P. Desikan
2007-10-22

Importance of Nothing

The universe is not so much strange as brimming with lovely paradox. At least, that is what seems like as one strolls through the long and winding road of twentieth century Physics.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-10-13

So, I Do Say, World Is Anthropocentric!

So, I Do Say, World Is Anthropocentric! Would I be here, if the Sun were a little bigger? No! Says the Science, as the Sun would have eaten himself by now!1 Would I be here, if the Sun were slightly smaller? Science...

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-10-10

ITS Issues-Ferrous Oxide And Flights Of Fancy

ITS Issues-Ferrous Oxide And Flights Of Fancy Five years ago, I had taken a group of architecture students from a private college, to a village near Chennai, India , for a case study.

By Naren Somu
2007-10-02

Sri Sri's compact article on Spirituality

. (with ref to M Teresa's recently exposed inner torments.. Could Indian spirituality have helped Mother Teresa? By IANS Monday September 17, 07:50 AM Mother Teresa has done unparalleled service to India.

By Karigar
2007-09-27

Making Vedanta relevant to today's children

One doesn't have to ignore Vedanta until one reaches a certain age, or level of experience. The attempt here is to present a case study of practically implementing the education of basic Vedantic concepts to children.

By Karigar
2007-09-19

Gita and the Indian secular press

Introduction I came across a Kolkata Telegraph editorial on the Gita. The editorial criticizes Judge Srivastava for his suggestion that the Gita should be made a national text.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-09-11

An Invocation to Truth

An Invocation to Truth ParthaDesikan You are parama, way beyond all possible thought and description. You are that indeed. Tat Tvamasi.

By P. Desikan
2007-09-02

The knight rides his math assignment

In the ancient ashtapada form of the Indian chess game, Professor Rangachar Vasantha of Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur sees a manifestation of cosmological order determined by the play of numbers and spaces.

By P. Desikan
2007-08-31

Gunas and Prana

Introduction I came across an interesting article on Sulekha recently that tried to draw parallels between the three Gunas of Indic philosophy with Western Psycho-analytic concepts of Id/Ego/Super-Ego and the general...

By Rudra🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-08-24

Bhaja Govindam

What follows was in fact intended to be an add-on to the string of scholarly comments received in March 2007 to Dr.

By P. Desikan
2007-08-20

I am central

A fourteen page document dated 1922 on the subject of the biology of a particular species of lotus borer has apparently been missing for all this while and Amazon.

By P. Desikan
2007-08-16

Fibonacci's Fountain

Fibonacci’s name is known to almost every high-school kid today. However, he was not very well known in his day. In the 15th century A.D.

By Adhish Majumdar
2007-08-16

Science and religion in Indic traditions don't Conflict

Introduction Conflict between science and religion is a popular topic in the west. Hard line fundamentalist Christians go out of their way to challenge scientific findings that are not in agreement with the Bible.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-08-05

Faith is NOT Positive Thinking

Are faith and positive thinking synonymous..? Or is faith the basis of positive thinking..

By The Big Thinkg
2007-08-04

World this, is merely a big Idea in our mind!

World this, is merely a big Idea in our mind! Great minds treat the world as illusory.

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-08-03

Quantum Healing

Quantum Healing -- Any takers?? I met a very interesting person last weekend in Carmel, California which has become the seat of new-age healers.

By Mita Das🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-08-02

Reviewing a review - Invading the Sacred

I was on the book's website (http://www.invadingthesacred.com) and then decided to google search it.

By Rudra
2007-07-20

Speculations regarding Jyotish

Introduction Jyotish is a controversial subject in Indian English language press. On the one hand, it is usually denounced as bogus by self appointed secularists.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-07-17

Mantras , Jai Hind and Vande Mataram

Mantras,,Jai Hind and Vande Mataram I was watching the Hindi movie "1942-ALove Story" for the umpteenth time , the other day and was surprised that I felt the same way I felt when I watched the movie for the first...

By Naren Somu
2007-07-12

The Big National Problem Vande Maataram

This is a repost of an old article I'd written on Sulekha.com. I am in the process of restoring select articles from my old site (http://rudra.sulekha.com) to The Medha Journal.

By Rudra
2007-05-28

Hinduism, Nation-State and Immigration

Introduction As an immigrant to America, a voter of a nation-state and as a practicing Hindu, I observe no contradiction in these three identities.

By MoorNam🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-05-13

The Battle between Science and Yoga

Introduction In my various trysts at engaging so-called Scientific people via various media, I have often run into a brick wall when trying to discuss any phenomena or topics that delve slightly off the proverbial...

By Rudra
2007-05-11

Ecstasy

ECSTASY An article in Newsweek states that scientists have long known that epileptics often feel spiritual ecstasy during seizures.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-05-01

Bell's Theorem and Quantum Mechanics

Introduction In 1968 an Irish Physicist, Bell, working in CERN worked out a theorem which gave us an insight into the nature of deep reality.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-04-25

Destiny and Free Will

Destiny & Free Will -- Are we mere puppets in the God’s hands? Synopsis The article reviews and reasons why no philosophical concept in the history of mankind has received as much acceptability as the concept of...

By Surin Usgaonkar🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-04-23

A Different Take on Marriage

Introduction Ever since the internet became popular, starting with newsgroups, followed by managed websites and to the current day of bloggers, if there's one desi topic that's generated a large number of opinions,...

By MoorNam🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-04-23

Neurobiology and Yoga: From the gods of the amygdala to the God of the Heart

New discoveries in perceptual psychology, brain-chemistry, brain evolution, brain development, ethology, cultural anthropology, the more recent work of MacLean on the structure of the brains and the discovery by...

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-04-21

Sapta Chakras

Introduction In my previous article on Gayatri, I had discussed about how Gayatri Mantra explains the Big Bang and the expansion of Universe. Refer https://medhajournal.com/columns/philosophy/gayatri----the-big-bang.

By The Big Thinkg
2007-04-11

Nishkama Karma; A Cosmic View

Freeeeze! Hmmmm, But How? The story goes like this; when Lord Hanuman was born, the first sight that grabbed the attention of his mischief-seeking eyes was the Sun rising with all his morning splendour.

By Dr. P. E. S. Kartha🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-04-10

Gayatri -- The Big Bang

Introduction I had already written an article on AUM from a scientific perspective, mapping AUM to Universe through particle physics and states of matter. This article is about Gayatri Mantra.

By The Big Thinkg
2007-04-10

Yogic experience and the relevance of the brain

Introduction I have always wondered as to the relevance of the brain in yogic experience. What role does the brain play in yogic visions and experiences? I will discuss this question.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-04-04

AUM - An Analysis

An analysis of Madukya Upanishad in a modern perspective. So much of knowledge our ancestors accumulated, expressed in upanishads, have not been carried across times.

By The Big Thinkg
2007-04-04

Radioactive Rants...

I generally infer that laws are similar across multiple domains. An undercurrent of law of nature in physics is applicable in chemistry or biology or even to our general life.

By The Big Thinkg
2007-04-04

The Biocultural Paradigm: The Neural Connection Between Science And Mysticism

by Antonio T. de Nicolas, PhD Published in Experimental Gerontology, Volume 33, Nos.1/2,000-000, 1997Copyright 1997 Elsevier Science Inc. Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-03-30

An outline of Hindu dharma

Hindu dharma is a diverse system. However, there are some basic concepts accepted by the vast majority of (astika) Hindus. These are: 1.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-03-26

Religion: The Last Weapon of Discrimination - II

THE BIOCULTURAL CORRECTIVE This part of the paper is the follow up on the previous paper entitled: Religion: The last weapon of discrimination.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-03-20

Is it possible to have multiple soul mates ?

writeQuickTime({src:'https://medhajournal.com/images/stories/my\wish\comes\true\kisna.

By Indira
2007-03-19

The return of the Sacred: A Common Ground

by Antonio T. de Nicolas, PhD How and where can East and West meet? Can the West talk to the East, and if the East talks to the West how, and where does the dialogue begin? This paper is an effort to find the common...

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-03-13

Vedas are open to all

Introduction The story of Janasruti in Chandogya Upanishad (Ch. U.) is largely unknown to the vast majority of Hindus.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-03-12

The Problem of the Self-Body in the Bhagavadgita: The Problem of Meaning

by Antonio T. de Nicolas, PhD The completely irreligious mind is, it seems to me, the unreal mind, the tense, void, abstracted mind that does not even see the things that grow out of the earth or feel glad about them:...

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-03-05

Audial and Literary Cultures: The Bhagavad Gita as a Case Study

by Antonio T. de Nicolas, PhD I am arguing in this paper that in order to study cultures we must first be able to identify the models by which a culture forms itself. I distinguish.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-03-03

The Six Verses to Liberation

Introduction Posting a response to a question on the Nature of Consciousness, my fingers automatically started typing what is to follow next.

By Rudra
2007-03-01

A brief meditation on Khyati

Introduction Khyati (Epistemology or sources of knowledge) has been a fierce subject of debate in India for many centuries.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-02-22

The Rig Veda: Religious Experience and Religious Languages

By Antonio T. De Nicolas, PhD Oh God, make me realize that the only way to reach you is by getting rid of you.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-02-19

Transmitting Traditions-informally

Transmitting Traditions-informally OR Ajji vandane-a tribute to the actual "Argumentative Indian" INTRODUCTION My grandma was an argumentative woman (she used the correct kannada word for it "Nyaya-adoodu" i.e.

By Karigar
2007-02-15

The Unity and Indivisibility of the Self (Brahman)

by Antonio T. de Nicolas, PhD The goal of all inquiry is experience, (anubhava) Brahma Sutra Bhashya. I. 1.2.

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas
2007-02-13

The problem of evil in the presence of a loving God

INTRODUCTION It is a pet theme of western athiests and westernised Hindus to point out that the presence of evil in this world is not compatible with a loving creator.

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay
2007-02-11

Epistemological challenges: language from Global Strategies Project

Epistemological challenges: language from Global Strategies Project – Notes and commentaries by Anthony Judge Commentaries from Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential Editor's Note: This is an introduction...

By Dr. Antonio T. de Nicolas🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-02-08

Too Busy for Prayers?

Introduction It is said that the "Great Indian Middle-class" is on a roll, with India's burgeoning Economy, and an ever-growing Middle-class, India is finally Happening! But there are several dark counter-reactions...

By Rudra
2007-01-27

Tai Chi -- A Path to Samadhi

Samadhi Translated literally, SamAdhi means “To get integrated”. Samadhi is often defined as the state of complete immersion into a cosmic consciousness that is beyond the realm of ordinary consciousness (as we...

By Rudra
2007-01-23

Lord Krishna -The Universal Teacher !

| | | | --- | --- | | | People strive in vain during their entire lifetime chasing shadows and in the end the result that stares them in their face is a big zero.

By Indira🎙️ Audio Podcast
2007-01-19

OM and its significance

INTRODUCTION When I was young, I used to see the OM symbol in Hindu temples. I used to wonder at its meaning. It is only later that I learnt that OM is clearly explained in Mandukya Upanishad (MU).

By Dr. Pradip Gangopadhyay