| Page 234 | Prekshaa

Author:Sandeep Balakrishna

Some years ago, a reader wrote to me with an experience that he said vexed him. The relevant portion of his email is produced below:

…during a talk with a liberal friend of mine, regarding the MF Hussain episode…friend talked on the lines of what liberals usually speak i.e. Kamasutra, Khajuraho…But…his explanation that Brahma marrying his creation (daughter) Saraswati amounted to incest which according to him means Hinduism sanctifies such relationships…made me quite uncomfortable and disturbed.

The Need of a Shaastric Framework for Indian Dance - 1

The word ‘Shaastra’ means ‘to rule’ or ‘to govern’ and is derived from the root ‘शासु-अनुशिष्टौ’. ‘To govern’ means to protect like a king, and to keep everything that comes within his purview under control. However, this does not mean that shaastra is dictatorial, rigid and restrictive. Just like a forest protects a lion and the lion in turn protects the forest (popularly known as ‘vana-simha-nyaaya’), the shaastra and all the aspects that come under its purview mutually safeguard each other.

Carnatic or Karnatak or Karnataka Music?

Dr R. Ganesh's scholarly opinion on the oft-discussed topic - Carnatic or Karnatak or Karnataka Music?

A Story for a Verse – Shankaramishra

अधीतमध्यापितमार्जितं यशो
न शोचनीयं किमपीह भूतले ।
अतः परं श्रीभवनाथशर्मणो
मनो मनोहारिणि जाह्नवीतटे ॥

Indian Conception of Values: Subjective and Objective

3

Tour of Madhya Bharata – 5

Khajuraho, Raneh Falls, Madkhera, Deogarh

It was time to head to Khajuraho (from Bheda Ghat).

A Story for a Verse - Shankaramishra

चलितश्चकितश्छन्नः
प्रयाणे तव भूपते ।
सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः
सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात् ॥

Indian Conception of Values: Purusharthas

2

Myth and Reality in ‘Myth and Reality’ – Conclusion

Kosambi finally gives his homemade add-salt-to-taste philosophy of how we should view ancient texts:

Indian Conception of Values: Fact and Value

The following essay (which will be published in five parts) is taken from the introduction to the book Indian Conception of Values by Prof. M Hiriyanna (Mysore: Kavyalaya Publications, 1975).