This poem by Pornima Rajkarne traces the relationship shared by the author with Bhakti, one of the important paths of Adhyatma. She weaves together her personal experiences, fieldwork insights, and the academic discourse of Bhakti in this piece.
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Why Are We This Way? A Guide to Rediscovering Hindu Shastras
Why do Hindus think differently about knowledge, duty, worship, time and existence? Why Are We This Way: A Guide to Hindu Shastras approaches these questions through the vast knowledge traditions of Sanatana Dharma. Rather than treating Hinduism as a collection of rituals or beliefs, the book introduces readers to the interconnected Shastric ecosystem underlying them. Its accessible treatment of complex traditions makes it particularly relevant to a generation increasingly disconnected from its scriptural inheritance. This review examines the book as a roadmap towards recovering that intellectual and civilizational memory.

Decolonizing IKS (“Indian Knowledge Systems”)
Delivered by Prof. Prakash Shah on behalf of Prof. Vamsee Juluri at the panel "Decolonisation, Public Discourse and IKS" during the IKSHA Conference at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, this thought-provoking talk argues that decolonisation cannot be reduced to merely replacing Western knowledge with Indian knowledge. It challenges the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) movement to examine its own assumptions and recover the spiritual foundations of Bharatiya knowledge. The talk ultimately asks whether true decolonisation is possible if Bhagawan is removed from the centre of the civilizational worldview.

Scholarship and Sacred Truth
Can a civilization survive if all its sacred truths are judged solely by external academic standards? This essay argues that while historical inquiry has its place, Hindu Dharma must remain rooted in its own sacred framework of shraddha, sampradaya, and parampara. A living tradition cannot endure if its foundational beliefs are endlessly relativized. History may study a civilization from the outside, but only its sacred truths sustain it from within.

Rāmo Vigrahavān Dharmaḥ: The Sixteen Lakṣaṇas as a Complete Condition-Set of Dharma
What does it truly mean to call Rāma "Vigrahavān Dharmaḥ" - the embodiment of Dharma? Drawing on the opening verses of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, this essay argues that the sixteen lakṣaṇas are not merely admirable virtues but a complete and indispensable condition-set for the embodiment of Dharma. Through a rigorous śāstric analysis of pramāṇa, lakṣaṇa, and embodiment, it presents a compelling philosophical framework that reveals why Rāma is not simply a follower of Dharma, but its fullest living manifestation.
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Kashmir: An Overview of the Seven Exoduses of Hindus (Part 3)
The final exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from their homeland was complete, centuries after Islam put the holy land in its crosshairs.
Garuda and the State of Flow
When we combine the legend of Garuda from the Puranas with modern scientific perspectives, we can better understand the science of living in the now.
Let’s have some faith
India's laws are still stuck in the colonial era where natives were not considered good enough to manage their own institutions.
Non-ignorable ideas of a non-ignorable man
Examining the broad ideas in Tufail Ahmed's recent book, Jihadist Threat To India: The Case for Islamic Reformation by an Indian Muslim.
The Unity of India
The concept of India and its unity comes up time and again without satisfactorily analysing the evidence at hand.
Mahadev Shambhu – The Story of a Gram-Devata
This story by Rati Hegde, about Mahadev Shambhu, a Gram-Devata, captures the the reality of many such deities and their temples in India. It traces the socio-economic and cultural shifts that have shaped the ecosystem of these temples through the decades. The author paints a poignant picture of how duty and devotion have given way to reluctant obligation even as these deities continue to remain central to the Hindu faith.
Sung by God: V (The Way of Renouncing Action)
Renouncing fruits of actions, the yogi attains to supreme peace.
On the meaning of the Mahabharata – Early Rebuttal to German Indology (Part 2)
A lack of cultural grounding and humility has led to serious comprehension issues for most western reviewers of the Mahabharata.
Abolition of (Major Parts of) Section 377: A few observations and a rider
Though historically India has always had a place for homosexuals notwithstanding the view of the rest of the world, how does the political climate dictate the manner in which their presence is acknowledged?
The Trap of Devotion to God and Guru
Understanding the difference between one's innate behaviour and the practice to conform to a particular culture is essential when following a guru.
Lachit Borphukan – The Hero of Assam
A quick look at the life and times of Lachit Borphukan and his glorious contribution to the Ahom Kingdom of Assam
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That! Who or What is Worth Worshipping?
In post-Christian Europe, many no longer subscribe to traditional theology or atheism, instead calling themselves “Something-ists” or “spiritual but not religious.” This vague belief in “Something” echoes ancient Indian thought, where the Vedic word Tad—“That”—points to the Absolute beyond description. Found in the Ṛg-Veda, Upaniṣads, and Bhagavad Gītā, Tad represents the witness-consciousness, the essence beyond qualities. The clearest enunciation of Tad, at once one of the profoundest Vedic phrases is the assurance Tat tvam asi, “that thou art” in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad. Thus, what seems modern is rooted in one of humanity’s oldest insights into the ultimate reality.
The true essence of individual freedom
A casual glance at the subversive output from most media outlets today will make you feel that there is a...
Down with Birthdays!
Birthdays may be celebrated but not necessarily at the expense of tradition. Now that the grand Bhumi-pujan at Ayodhya is behind us, perhaps it can be stated without dampening the spirit of celebration that the choice of the date was an avoidable controversy.
The experience of the Source
Connecting with a higher power requires intense dedication to practice Yoga throughout one's life, and not left for a specific period when one is free from life's many chores.
Maryada Purushottam
Bhagwan Rama's stance of supposedly abandoning Sita is often questioned due to a perspective which is blinkered and one which does not understand the nature of upholding Dharma.
Religious Liberty, Secularism and 'Constitutional Morality'
The concept of secularism with the backing of the constitution has curbed the freedom of religious institutions by interfering constantly.
Mahabharata War Date: Rebuttal to claim of 5561 BCE
A final rejoinder to make the case for the date of the Mahabharata war.
Mithila Art: A living tradition since the Ramayana
Madhubani Art has a rich history which is steeped in stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata which till very recently was not known to most Indians.
Thillai Nataraja – The Regenerative Force of Life
The boundless Shakti present in Chidambaram helps our consciousness to come out of its slumber and start the regeneration process.
Power of a story
A journey into the Himalayas is a life-altering experience for many as we realise our place in this existence.
Bharat’s Festivals: A Celebration of Timeless Devotion
The last few days have seen a wave of videos celebrating Chhath Puja emerge, showcasing a devotion that transcends the ordinary. As an exiled Kashmiri Pandit longing for an authentic experience of her traditions, this prompted Shradha Dhar to reconnect with her roots. As she explores the diverse traditions of Bharat from Thaipusam of Tamilnadu to the Tulmulla festival of Kashmir, she emphasizes the importance of preserving these rituals and traditions that form the core of our identity and connect us to the divine.
Sufi Syed Ali Hamadani in Kashmir
A heavy price was paid by the indigenous people and culture with the advent of Sufi Syed Ali Hamadani who is ironically honoured as the “Apostle of Kashmir”.
