Category: <span>COMMENTARY</span>

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Bharat’s Festivals: A Celebration of Timeless Devotion
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November 12, 2024November 12, 2024COMMENTARY

Bharat’s Festivals: A Celebration of Timeless Devotion

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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.

Prasad Defilement in Tirupati: Hindu Sentiments and Public Response
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October 24, 2024October 24, 2024COMMENTARY

Prasad Defilement in Tirupati: Hindu Sentiments and Public Response

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The alleged defilement of prasad at the Tirupati temple has sent shockwaves through the Hindu community, striking at the heart of religious sentiments and sacred traditions. The use of impure substances in the prasad violates the spiritual and cultural sanctity of one of Hinduism’s most revered pilgrimage sites. Such an act challenges the very principles of purity and Dharma that define Hindu worship. Restoring the sanctity of the temple and ensuring accountability is now of paramount importance.

Finding the Divine in Challenging Times – The Story of Devi Abhirami and Her Bhakta
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August 30, 2024August 30, 2024COMMENTARY

Finding the Divine in Challenging Times – The Story of Devi Abhirami and Her Bhakta

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This true story from Tamil Nadu's Tirukadaiyur temple recounts the the story of Shri Subramania Bhattar, a priest who, despite facing severe trials, remained steadfast in his devotion towards Devi Abhirami. His Bhakti was rewarded when the goddess herself transformed a new moon night into a full moon, silencing his doubters. This tale serves as a powerful reminder that, even in our darkest times, unwavering faith and surrender to the divine can help us find light.

When Scientism Overshadows Science: An Orthodox Critique of the Sophistry of Evolutionism
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March 4, 2024August 27, 2024COMMENTARY, ESSAY

When Scientism Overshadows Science: An Orthodox Critique of the Sophistry of Evolutionism

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"It is a modern tendency within religious factions to seek a synthesis and synchronization between the domains of Religion and Science. This inclination manifests in the attempts of forceful amalgamation of both domains, with the rejection of traditional interpretations of Religion and deliberate efforts to reformulate it to seamlessly align with the framework of Science."

How long did the demolition of the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple take?
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February 28, 2024August 23, 2024COMMENTARY, HISTORY, Temple

How long did the demolition of the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple take?

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In this paper, D Shrinivas uses the Maasir-i-Alamgiri of Saqi Mustad Khan to determine the dates on which the order for the destruction was given and the time it took for the destruction to actually be carried out. Based upon the above he hypothesizes about the resistance that Aurangzeb’s military likely faced from the local Hindu populace while carrying out the orders to destroy this Hindu temple.

Ayurveda: Tradition, Science, and Recognition in a Globalised World
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January 30, 2024August 23, 2024COMMENTARY

Ayurveda: Tradition, Science, and Recognition in a Globalised World

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Ayurveda, despite being a system as ancient as, and deeper and more effective than, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), does not yet enjoy the same reverential status accorded to TCM. Does the cause lie in its inability to fit into the modern lifestyle, or with us for failing to find and project pride in our own cultural heritage and treasures?

Ambedkarism: A Malediction Upon Indian Society — A Critical Evaluation of the Ideals of Equality, Affirmative Action, and the Pursuit of Social Justice
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January 2, 2024August 27, 2024CASTE IN STONE, COMMENTARY, POLITICS

Ambedkarism: A Malediction Upon Indian Society — A Critical Evaluation of the Ideals of Equality, Affirmative Action, and the Pursuit of Social Justice

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The elusive dream of ‘Equality’, whether in the form of ‘Opportunity’ or ‘Outcomes’, tantalises many, yet evaporates like a mirage in the real drama of human society. Do social justice, equality, and reforms reign supreme as transcendent values? Do religion, culture, tradition, and civilization solely encompass oppression and backwardness, or do they extend beyond the horizons of the contemporary cultural Marxist worldview we’ve embraced?
Harsh Sharma explores the effects of Ambedkarism on the above in the Indian context.