April 2018
If some amount of inertia has crept into the framework of Sanatana Dharma in our age, the responsibility for reinvigorating it falls squarely on our shoulders. If we wish to reject something, we need to first think about providing a better alternative. If we wish to decry Valentine’s Day, we need to provide an alternative by reviving either the Madanotsava or the Vasantotsava [typically celebrated during the Holi festival] from the annals of our...
'The study of philosophy is more essential to a king than to common people’, says Musonius. He explains this to one of the kings of Syria who came to him. His idea that a king should study philosophy seems to have its origin in Plato’s concept of philosopher-kings. (Rajarshis). Musonius says that it is the job of the philosopher to diagnoise good and evil, useful and useless, helpful and harmful. A king must study philosophy, otherwise, it will...
Musonius Rufus! A totally unfamiliar name, until I came across the “Discourses ” by Epictetus.
When my young friend Arjun Bharadwaj who has learnt Greek and German and holds Masters degrees in Sanskrit and Engineering gave me some writings regarding the life and lectures of Gaius Musonius Rufus, I was quite amazed to read his views that were so liberal, free from bias, so relevant to all ages. He has covered a wide range of topics, such as...
[The following sub-stories appear in the Ādi Parva of the Mahābhārata, Adhyāyas 158–74] The brave Pāṇḍavas travelled day and night and arrived at a holy place called Somaśravāyaṇam. Arjuna, the bravest among them all, carried a fire-stick to light their path and also as a means of protection. In an isolated corner of the Gaṅgā, the king of the Gandharvas was engaged in water-sports with several women. He heard the Pāṇḍavas approaching and was...
तिर्यग्जन्तुभिः सह मानवः कतिपयांशेषु साम्यमावहति। आहार-निद्रा-भय-मैथुनानीत्येतानि सर्वजन्तुसाधारणानि; यानि मूलभूतचोदनानीति कथ्यन्ते। प्रथमं तावदेतेषां स्वरूपं परिशीलयामः।
आहार-मैथुनयोः प्राप्तिर्भयनिवृत्तिश्च विनापवादमन्याश्रिते। आहारो नामास्मद्भिन्नः पदार्थविशेषः। तदवलम्बनेन हि बुभुक्षातृप्तिः। एवञ्च नैकेषु सन्दर्भेषु बुभुक्षापूरणाय पाचकाः पाकसाधनसामग्र्यश्च खल्वनिवार्याः। तस्मादाहारोऽयमन्याश्रितः। मैथुनमप्यन्यावलम्बीति तच्छब्दार्थ एव बोधयति।...
To analyse and explore the roots of life, the nature of truth and evil and to probe into human relations, Dr. SL Bhyrappa makes use of myths, legends, rituals and rites in his novels. This gives him ample scope to comprehend contemporary life against the backdrop of the past, and to interpret the past from the contemporary view point. Myths related to natural phenomena such as rain, the spring season, rivers, floods, mountains, cataracts and...
I vividly remember the opening ceremony of the abalāśrama[1]. It must have been in 1909 or 1910. That day of celebration started with the traditional nāgasvaram[2]. The weather was pleasant with sunshine; it was neither too warm nor too cold. Many important people of the city were present. The most prominent amongst them were – Retired Sub-Judge S. Varadaraja Iyengar, the Headmaster of London Mission High School K. Ramachandra Rao, Advocate...
Several historical evidences including some coins attest that Ramagupta assumed power after the demise of Samudragupta. We also have a play titled Devichandragupta authored by Vishakhadatta. However, the complete play is unavailable today. The extant version is available in the form of fragments of about five or six acts. The towering scholar, Dr. V Raghavan has compiled all of this in the appendix of his work, Bhojashrungaraprakasha.
According...
In the meantime, the other Pāṇḍavas returned home after their daily round of seeking alms. Looking at Bhīma’s face, Yudhiṣṭhira guessed that there must be something amiss and asked his mother, Kuntī, “What is it Mother? What does Bhīma want to do? Has he told you about it and got your approval?” She narrated the day’s events and said, “Bhīma has embarked upon this task only on my advice. He is going to help the brāhmaṇa’s family and also...
ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಆಟವೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೇ ಮೀಸಲಾಗಿಸುವುದುಂಟು. ದೊಡ್ಡವರು ಆಟವಾಡಬಾರದೆಂದೇನೂ ನಿಯಮವಿಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ದೊಡ್ಡವರ “ಆಟ”ಗಳೂ ಬಲುಬಗೆಯಾಗಿರುತ್ತವೆಂಬುದು ಬೇರೆಯ ಮಾತು! ಸದ್ಯಕ್ಕದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ, ಅಸ್ತುತವೂ ಹೌದು. ಏನೇ ಆಗಲಿ, “ಬಾಲಸ್ತಾವತ್ ಕ್ರೀಡಾಸಕ್ತಃ” ಎಂದು ಚರ್ಪಟಪಂಜರಿಕಾಸ್ತೋತ್ರವು ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ ಬಾಲ್ಯವನ್ನು ಬಗೆಬಗೆಯ ಖೇಲನವಿನೋದಗಳಿಂದಲೇ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಿಸುವುದು ಸಹಜ, ಯುಕ್ತ.
ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯೂ ತನ್ನದೇ ಆದ ಕ್ರೀಡಾಕೌಶಲವನ್ನೂ ಕೇಳೀಸಮಯವನ್ನೂ (Sports Conventions) ಬೆಳೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಬಲುಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಆಟವೆಲ್ಲ...