| Page 180 | Prekshaa

Author:hari

AR Krishnasastri (popularly written as A R Krishna Shastry) was a scholar by his very birth. His father, Ambale Ramakrishna Shastry was the head professor of Grammar in the Samskṛta Pāṭhaśālā in Mysore. In addition to Sanskrit grammar, he was well versed in Jyotiṣa and Ayurveda too. Scholarship, therefore, flowed in Krishnasastri's veins.

Krishnasastri lost his mother at a young age and this probably was one of the reasons for him to develop a tender heart full of empathy. Krishnasastri lent out a helping hand for many. He always had a soft corner for the needy.

The Last Days of Maharana Pratap

Some historians have expressed a doubt that Maharana Pratap Simha wrote a letter of surrender in his last days. However, this has not been established conclusively. All his life, he lived, fought and died for the sole cause of wresting Chittorgarh back. His son Rana Amar Simha also continued his father’s fight.

Maharana Pratap’s valour was boundless. His name blazes brightly in the annals of warriors.

Hemachandra's Valour; The Sikh Army of Lions

Hemachandra Vikramaditya: The Emperor Deprived of Fame

In the history of India, there have been a few decisive wars. The Battles of Panipat also form a part of that. If the results of the three Battles of Panipat had changed even slightly, the future of India would have been completely different. One of the great heroes who fell in one of these Panipat wars is Hemachandra or Hemu.

The Heart of Vaidika Brahmanas

Kunigal Sri Rama Sastri[i] had once embarked on a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had made all the necessary arrangements for the same. A team of chefs and servants, a palanquin and strongmen to carry it—this entire family accompanied him.

Mahābhārata – Episode 44 – The Enchanted Lake

Upon listening to the story of Sāvitrī, Yudhiṣṭhira experienced a great deal of relief; he did not allow any more worries to plague his heart, and after spending some more time in the Kāmyaka forest he returned to the Dvaita forest along with everyone, where he established residence once again. It was there that their twelve-year forest exile came to an end.

During their stint in the Dvaita forest this time, the Pāṇḍavas fell into grave danger while trying to help out a poor brāhmaṇa –

ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕಿಮುನಿಗಳ ಅಲಂಕಾರಸೌಭಾಗ್ಯ—ಉಪಮಾ (ಅರಣ್ಯಕಾಂಡ)

ಅರಣ್ಯಕಾಂಡದ ಉಪಮಾಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾದುದು. ವಿಶೇಷತಃ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಹೇಮಂತವರ್ಣನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪಮೆಯ ವಿಶ್ವರೂಪವನ್ನು ಕಾಣಬಹುದು.

ಸೂರ್ಯನು ದಕ್ಷಿಣದಿಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ತಿರುಗಿದ ಕಾರಣ ಉತ್ತರದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂತಿ ಕುಂದಿ ಅದು ತಿಲಕವಿಲ್ಲದ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನಂತೆ ಹತಪ್ರಭೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಆದಿಕವಿಗಳ ಮಾತು ಅಡಕವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದೆ:

ವಿಹೀನತಿಲಕೇವ ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ನೋತ್ತರಾ ದಿಕ್ಪ್ರಕಾಶತೇ | (೩.೧೬.೮)

Upanayana – Preparations and Execution

Preparations for the Upanayana[1]

A śālā (canopy, pavilion) was built under which the saṃskāra would be conducted.[2]

On the eve of the upanayana, Purāṇic performances took place. Gaṇeśa was invoked and the various goddesses Śrī, Lakṣmī, Dhṛtī, Medhā, Puṣṭi, Śraddhā, and Sarasvatī were worshipped.[3] Often this is accompanied by the recitation of the udaka-śānti mantras.

Mārga-nṛtya and Sadir-dāsiāṭṭam

Books written and institutions established by Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam for the promotion of Art and National Integration

Gundopanth Road—Abode of Renowned Vidwans

Diwan Gundopanth Road[i] in Bangalore lies to the north of City Market when we traverse from Arcot Srinivasacharlu Road towards Doddapet. The word “Diwan” has been in vogue in the Kannada language for a really long period. I’m unware of the root language from which this was borrowed into Kannada. The word is prevalent even in Marathi and Hindi.

Mahābhārata – Episode 43 – The Story of Sāvitrī (Part 3)

After Yama left, Sāvitrī returned to the place where her husband’s lifeless body lay. She placed his head on her lap once again and Satyavān slowly came back to life. His eyes were filled with deep love as he looked at Sāvitrī again and again, as though he had come back to her after a long voyage. As he looked at her, he said – “Seems like I have slept for too long. Why didn’t you wake me up? Where is that dark-skinned man who pulled me along with him?” Sāvitrī said – “Yes, my dear. You slept for a long time on my lap. Yama, the controller and master of all living beings is now gone.