May 2018
Nivrutti Tippa Bhatta
Sri Venkatarama Bhatta’s wife, the Revered Mother Akkayyamma hailed from Mudiyanoor, an Agrahara[i] populated by the Vaidika Brahmanas of the Mulukanadu sect. It appears that at some point in history, it was filled with Vidwans and scholars of a high standard. The surnames and family names of people from that Agrahara testifies to this: “Sridharam,” “Naishadham,” “Puranam,” “Paaraayanam,” “Nivrutti,” and so on.[ii]
Srimati...
அயோத்தியா காண்டத்தில் ராமனுக்கும் அந்நாட்டு மக்களுக்குமான பரஸ்பர அன்பு நன்றாய் புலப்படுகிறது. அவன் அவர்களை சந்தித்து அவர்களது சுக துக்கங்களில் பங்கெடுத்துக் கொள்வான். அவர் சிரித்தால் தான் அகமகிழ்ந்தும், அவர் துக்கப்பட்டால் தான் துயர்வுற்றும் இருந்தான். ஒரு நாள்கூட அவர்களில் எவரையேனும் காணாமல் இருந்தால், அவர்களைக் காணவில்லையே என ஏங்குவான். அவர்களும் ராமனை ஒரு தினமேனும் சந்திக்காதிருந்தால் எதையோ இழந்துவிட்டதாகவே எண்ணுவார்கள். மொத்தத்தில் ராமன் தன்...
कविः कालिदासः
सोऽयमत्र विहितः कविकुलगुरोः कालिदासस्य काव्यसौन्दर्यसौविध्याविष्कारात्मकः प्रकल्पः। एष पुनरखण्डानन्दप्रदानपटुं खण्डकाव्यप्रवेकं मेघदूतं विषयीकृत्य कल्पितः। सत्यमेव; कालिदासवाङ्मयस्य नूतनविमर्शः प्रायेण वितथः प्रयासः। तथापि महाकवेरस्य वचोविच्छित्तिर्मां निजास्वादप्रकटीकरणाय मुखरीकुरुते। स्पष्टमेव मन्ये चापल्यचोदितमिदं कर्मेति। कुतोऽस्य पिपठिषाऽपेक्षिता वाचकानाम्? इति प्रश्नः समुदियत्। इदमस्तु कालिदासमुखेनैव समाधानम्—
“प्रणयिषु वा...
Kumaragupta
Some of the so-called historians in an attempt to tarnish the Gupta Empire have made ridiculous attempts claiming “Kumaragupta had absolutely no qualifications. He revolted against his own father,” and spinning such yarns. However the coins that he issued are in themselves the best evidence that show his capability and competence in administration. Indeed the coins of Mohammed bin Tughlaq are the best illustration of how currency...
Vidura said, “Dear king! Friends must indeed say only that which brings welfare; words that are disagreeable don’t fall on your ears; Bhīṣma and Droṇa have spoken words that are beneficial to you.[1] You don’t have any close friends who are more intelligent than them; they are old and wise; they see you and the Pāṇḍavas with the same eyes; they are firm adherents on the path of dharma and men of high integrity; they have never wished for...
If there’s anything good in my life, Sri Vedamurti Venkatarama Bhatta is one of the people responsible for it. He is akin to my grandfather.
Sri Annambhatta and his son Sri Venkatarama Bhatta were not only the Purohitas for the three generations in my family—my great grandfather, grandfather, and father—they were also our Gurus; they were akin to family. I have been named after my great grandfather. That noble man was born in the Devanahalli...
Once my craze for English came under control, the craze for Kannada began. During those days [i.e. the early 20th century], for people of my age, a prominent name amongst living legends was Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920). “Tilak is singularly brave; everyone else falls short in comparison with him; Tilak is the only man-lion!” – these were our thoughts during that time. It appears those words were true. I was aware that Tilak started the public...
ರಸಪಾರಮ್ಯ
ರಸವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತನ ಒಳನೋಟಗಳು ಅಪಾರ, ಅಮೋಘ. ಈ ಬಗೆಗೆ ಸುವಿಪುಲವಾದ ಚರ್ಚೆ-ಸಂಶೋಧನೆಗಳೂ ಕಳೆದ ನೂರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ಸಾಗಿವೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ನಾವಿಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ವಿಸ್ತರವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ರಸದ ಮಹತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಅದೆಷ್ಟೆಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತನು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವಾದರೂ ಮನಗಾಣದಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತಲೇಖನವೇ ಅಪ್ರಸ್ತುತವಾದೀತೆಂಬ ಅಂಜಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಕೇವಲ “ರಸಾಧ್ಯಾಯ”ದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೆ ಅಭಿನವಭಾರತಿಯ ಆದ್ಯಂತ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ರಸಮಾಹಾತ್ಮ್ಯವನ್ನು ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತನು...
An entire galaxy of eminences in Astronomy such as Brahmagupta, Varahamihira, Aryabhata and Bhaskara I belonged to the Gupta Era. A major benefit that ensued as a result of the advancement in Astronomy was the ease in and flourishing of maritime trade and commerce. Predicting rain and harvest became more accurate. It was an era when the Mariner’s Compass had not yet been invented. It was perhaps the invention of the Chinese. When Marco Polo...
A Tragic Episode
At the time of my grandfather’s death, Sri Venkatarama Bhatta was among the four or five other people—including my father and younger grandfather—who wept intensely. Although he was eminently qualified as a Purohita to carry out the post-death ceremonies, he refused. He said that it was simply impossible for him, that he was incapable of repeating the words, “Chechanna is dead,” as part the ceremonial rites. Accordingly, he...