Samkhya philosophy, one of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, provides a dualistic framework to explain the process of creation. This system postulates that the universe is a result of the interaction between two fundamental and eternal principles: Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha (Spirit or Consciousness) : Purusha represents pure consciousness, the unchanging, eternal, and passive observer. It is devoid of any attributes and activities and does not directly engage in the process of creation. There are many individual purushas, each representing a separate consciousness. Purusha is considered to be the experiencer and enjoys or suffers due to the play of Prakriti but remains uninvolved in the material world. Prakriti (Nature or Matter) : Prakriti, on the other hand, is the principle of matter, which is dynamic, active, and the source of the material world. It is composed of three gunas (qualities or tendencies): Sattva (purity, harmony, balance) Rajas (activity, passion, dy...

An article titled ‘TV swami offers a cure for all ills’ by Randeep Ramesh in The Guardian newspaper refers to Baba Ramdev as the television yoga evangelist. The main aim of the article is to prove that Baba Ramdev is fake but no solid proof is offered. It seems that the author of the article is irked by the millions of followers that Baba Ramdev has around the world. The article revolves around these points The large amount of money collected from patients. India 's Aastha channel is Baba Ramdev’s propaganda arm. The Swami sells himself as a one-person health service and pranayama, the ancient Indian art of breath control, is his main medicine. Swami Ramdev makes ridiculous claims of healing HIV AIDS and Cancer. Baba Ramdev is so powerful that he can overthrow the Indian government and the Indian politicians. If Baba Ramdev is fake, why has the Indian government not taken any action against him? The article author does not answer the question but finds the answer in the wo...

The illustrated version of the epic Ramayana (paperback), titled ‘Ramayana – Love and Valour in India ’s Great Epic’ is from the British Library Publishing. The book is published to coincide with a major exhibition conducted by British Library in London and is also available online for viewing, reading and listening. The book is adapted from the illustrated Ramayana commissioned by Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar in Rajasthan between in the 17 th century. The book contains more than 130 paintings and it helps the reader to follow the story. The epic manuscript was compiled in book format by J.P. Losty, formerly Head of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, at the British Library’s Asia , Pacific and Africa Collections. Published by: British Library Publishing Author: J.P. Losty Published: May 2008 Price: £15.95 The book can be brought from the online shop of British Library. It is also available in select book stores.

An article titled ‘Summer Camps Revive India 's Ancient Sanskrit’ in the Washington Post by Rama Lakshmi tries to explore the controversies, debates and politics behind learning Sanskrit in India . The author in the beginning of the article tries to prove that the learning and teaching of Sanskrit is an attempt made by Hindu nationalists to instill in Hindus religious and cultural pride. Then the author narrates the sad plight of Sanskrit in India . As usual the article ends with glorifying Sanskrit by suggesting that it is very suitable for computing. The author uses Sanskrit Samvad Shala and a two-week course conducted by it to prove her point. The article wrongly gives the feel that Sanskrit Samvad Shala is an all India phenomenon and that all Hindu students attend it. It also ignores and disrespects the large number of Sanskrit Scholars who are secular. Some of the points detailed by the author Summer Sanskrit Camps in India attempts to promote Sanskrit, whic...

The Hindu perspective on the idea that modern humans spend half of their time on worthless pursuits can be understood through its philosophical and spiritual teachings. Hinduism offers a rich tapestry of concepts that explore the nature of life, purpose, and the use of time. Here are some key points from this perspective: 1. Dharma (Duty and Righteousness) Dharma refers to the moral and ethical duties that govern an individual's life. Each person has specific duties based on their role in society, family, and their stage of life (ashrama). From this perspective, engaging in actions that fulfill one's dharma is considered valuable and meaningful. Conversely, activities that do not contribute to fulfilling one's dharma could be seen as wasteful or purposeless. 2. Artha (Wealth and Prosperity) Artha represents the pursuit of material well-being and success. Hinduism recognizes the importance of wealth and resources in leading a stable and comfortable life. However, this pursui...

The Manusmriti, an ancient Indian text, outlines a creation myth that begins with the universe in a state of complete darkness, invisible and unknowable. This primordial state is described as being formless and void, a cosmic darkness from which the Swayambhu, or the self-originated being, emerges. The Swayambhu, driven by a desire to create, first manifests water, the elemental substance. In this primordial water, Swayambhu places his seed, which leads to the formation of a golden egg. This egg is radiant, shining with the brilliance of a thousand suns, symbolizing the birth of immense cosmic potential. From this golden egg, Brahma, the creator god, is born. Brahma represents the individualized form of the Supreme Self, who is otherwise known as Narayana. The term "Narayana" signifies the Supreme Being, as "Nara" refers to water, and thus Narayana is the one who moves in the waters. After the passage of one year from Brahma's perspective, the golden egg spl...

The book ‘Rudra – The Idea of Shiva’ by Nilima Chitgopekar tries to understand Lord Shiva through the eyes of Lord Vishnu, Mata Sati, Daksha, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. An authority on Shaivism, Nilima Chitgopekar delves deep into the classical texts dealing with Shiva and picks up vital information and narrates it through the eyes of Hindu gods associated with Lord Shiva. The views of the different gods in Hindu pantheon about Shiva are presented as first-person accounts. The accounts of the various gods are aided by the author’s scholarly notes and comments. About the book from Penguin flyer Na punyam na papam, Na saukhyam na duhkham Na mantro na tirtham, Na vedam na yajna Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivo’ham Beyond sin and virtue, beyond joy and sorrow, beyond scripture, ritual and pilgrimage, and beyond familiar experience. This is Shiva, in essence. Once feared as the capricious and terrifying Rudra, Shiva, the most ‘un-...

Each year three new chariots are built for the annual Puri Rath Yatra festival held at the famous Jagannath Temple . Big trees are cut annually from the forests of Orissa for the car festival and the woods are never reused. This is slowly eating away the forests of Orissa and inviting an environmental disaster. But luckily some people are trying to avert the ecological disaster by planting new trees. The wood needed for the making of the chariots for Puri Rath Yatra is provided free by the Orissa government. In fact, the temple authorities have been finding it difficult to find the right timber needed for making the huge chariots. The Rath Yatra at the Puri Jagannath Temple has been taking place for centuries. Each year nearly 1000 trees are felled for building the three chariots. The chariot construction requires about 1,135 big logs of about 400 cubic meters. Trees preferred for chariot making are Phasi, Kadamba, Dharua, Devadaru, Simili, Asana, Mahali...

In the context of Hindu philosophy and teachings, the detrimental impact of greed on society is a topic of significant concern. Hinduism, with its vast corpus of scriptures and teachings, offers a profound perspective on how unchecked greed can lead to societal decay, ultimately resulting in anarchy and lawlessness. This perspective is rooted in the concepts of Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation). The Role of Dharma Dharma is a central concept in Hinduism, referring to the ethical and moral principles that govern an individual's behavior and duties. It is the guiding force that ensures social order and harmony. The Manusmriti, an ancient legal text, emphasizes that adherence to Dharma is crucial for the sustenance of society. When individuals prioritize Dharma over personal gain, societal balance is maintained. However, in modern society, the increasing prevalence of greed reflects a departure from these ethical principles. The relentless...

Toonz Animation India, the makers of The Return of Hanuman, is planning an animated television series on Lord Shiva. According to the makers, the animation series on Shiva is in a totally different format and they loosely term it as ‘picture book animation.’ The low-cost series consist of 13 episodes of half hour and Cartoon Network India will in all probably start airing it in about six months. It seems that this experimental animation series based on Shiva will have no animation; instead, there will be sketches or paintings with voice over. The background music si composed by Pandit Ramesh Narayan. ‘ The Return of Hanuman ’ was a disaster both content wise and financially and ‘The adventures of Tenali Raman’, the first animated series from Toonz Animation India, was a pathetic effort and the only saving grace was the animation part. So far the animated contents from Toonz have been neither Indian nor Western. They freely take Hindu Gods and other Indian characters and...