The modern myth of progress and prosperity that is depicted in the life style of Kanthi and Sheetal, is contrasted with the lifestyle of Ravindra’s grandmother. Anoop is contrasted with Raveendra.
महाकविवृष श्रीमन्
गमनं कुत्र तेऽधुना ?
कविलोककुटुम्बस्य
कामधेनो त्वदन्तिके ||
Mythological stories and their function
प्रेक्षा or Prekshaa is a Sanskrit word that means ‘seeing clearly.’ Other meanings include ‘intellect,’ ‘reflection,’ and ‘contemplation.’ The word prekṣā can be explained etymologically as प्रकृष्टतया ईक्षणम् (prakṛṣṭatayā īkṣaṇam) – ‘profound vision’ or ‘well seen.’
अर्थचतुष्टयशिक्षा
साक्षात्कृत-यज्ञ-दान-तपसा॑ दीक्षा ।
वाग्वृत्तित्रयरक्षा
प्रेक्षाऽसौ जयति भारतीपदलाक्षा॥
Even today it is believed that if the ‘śrāddha’ rites for ancestors are performed once in Gaya, they need not be performed again every year thereafter. The ancestors would attain ‘Viṣṇu-pāda’ (Viṣṇu's feet) i.e., salvation through this. These rites may be performed here, not only for one’s parents, but for any of the person’s relatives or friends. Even childless people may perform their own śrāddhas here (page-186 ‘Saartha’). This myth regarding the holiness of Gaya is a continuing myth that has been growing through generations.
अलङ्कारशय्यानिमित्तेन शेषः
पुरारेर्मुरारेर्श्च गात्रानुषङ्गात् ।
त्यजन् सर्पतां भीकरीं सज्जनानां
मनुष्यत्वमानन्ददं संप्रपेदे॥
This is a translation of the article by Dr S. L. Bhyrappa that appeared in a Kannada daily on September 24, 2006.
One of the most characteristic features of almost all medieval Muslim invaders and rulers of India is their religion-fueled zeal for destroying Hindu temples. From Muhammad Ghaznavid to Babur to Malik Kafur to Muhammad Bin Tughlaq to Aurangzeb to Nadir Shah, every single Muslim invader and/or ruler made temple destruction his mandatory religious duty. In this, Tipu Sultan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with these temple destroyers extraordinaire.
Translator’s Note: This is the second and concluding part of the iconic D.V. Gundappa’s series profiling the life and lifestyles of numerous traditional Vedic scholars. The first part translated and published on Prekshaa Journal is available at this link.
'Nele’ and ‘Saakshi’ unveil the myths, rites, rituals, and customs related to death, funerals, the world after death, against the realistic backdrop the life in this world. These two works explore the roots of existence, ethics and emotions and lay bare the inner psyche of man, by fusing our realistic world, which is comprehensible through the senses, with the incomprehensible, surrealistic world of myths and mythological characters and situations.