Devdutt Pattanaik

The concept of Dvija must be understood in political, economic, and spiritual terms — it was a strategic move to reassert Brahmin supremacy in a changing world. Read more ... Is a Dvija the same as a Savarna? via @DeccanHerald deccanherald.com/opinion/is-a-d…

In many cases, saints were considered embodiments of God himself. Greater value was placed on bhakti saints and various gurus, more than the gods enshrined in temples. Temples could be broken, not songs composed by the guru. Read more at: deccanherald.com/opinion/how-di…

How is knowledge transmitted? mid-day.com/news/opinion/a…

Every Indian is born into a caste and a religion. But you cannot leave caste. You can only leave religion. This makes the doctrine of caste an antagonist of the doctrine of conversion. Read more at: Caste as the opposite of conversion deccanherald.com/opinion/caste-… via @deccanherald

Sanatan dharma is not bound to history or culture. It is the realisation that nothing is permanent. Seasons change. People die. Cultures rise and fall. Even death is not permanent. Hence, rebirth is integral to sanatan dharma. Read more ... newindianexpress.com/opinions/colum…

Very often historians are not aware of their prejudices, but it can be decoded from the tone, tilt and repetitive arguments of their narrations. Many also carry the burden of using history to right a historical wrong. Read More ... Historian’s myth mid-day.com/news/opinion/a…

समाधि: मन को उस स्थिति तक ले जाना, जहां कोई गांठ नहीं होती dainik.bhaskar.com/pDmyRiSzAUb

Everybody who polices meat eaters needs to read this…

Escape the Bakasura Trap : Let Contentment Fuel Your Growth Now available on Amazon and bookstores near you amzn.in/d/eh6GTZR

Victims hate being told they can be victimisers too. If descendants of Holocaust victims are now being accused of being villains in the genocide in Gaza, we must accept that those who seek refuge today can also deny refuge to others tomorrow. Read more... toi.in/-jFnCa/a24gk

Shiva’s wisdom is made relevant by the goddess. It emerges as answers to her questions. Without a student, a teacher’s knowledge is useless Read more ... Shiva the teacher thehindu.com/society/column…

Everyone is locked in a war room, strategizing to crush the competition & emerge triumphant. But the siege of the losers never ends. This ecosystem of inequality, anxiety, pollution & violence is the Bakasura Trap. Now available on @amazonIN amzn.in/d/eh6GTZR

China became familiar with India indirectly around 200 BC and then directly by 200 AD. This was in the time of the Han emperors, when China had been unified. Buddhism was welcomed, as it brought solace at a time of great turmoil of civil wars. Read more ecoti.in/V_ZXya76

The ‘business’ body is constituted by everything we have, seek, grab, hoard, exchange, give & receive. We need to appreciate how success in modern society is about chasing Lakshmi & Durga & reducing Saraswati to wealth & power-generating hacks Order now: amzn.in/d/gcRSStO

दक्षिण भारत की ‘कावडी’ का कार्तिकेय से क्या है संबंध? dainik.bhaskar.com/olQwkKM1LUb

The Mahabharata is the first Indian epic that draws attention to the heaven of householders, distinguishing it from paradise & hell. This is best understood through the story of Bhima, killer of Bakasura, who encounters Hanuman in the forest. Order now: amzn.in/d/gcRSStO

Elephants have been a symbol of wealth & power since ancient times. But how did the symbolic meanings of elephants evolve across Vedic, Hindu, Buddhist & Jain traditions? Why were they more culturally significant in India than China? Read more ... indianexpress.com/article/upsc-c…

Along the Makran coast, sindoor is known as Hingula and was offered to Hinglaj Mata, whose oldest shrine is located in Balochistan. Even today, people travel from India to Balochistan to make offerings to her. Read more… Sindoor Goddesses of India: m.economictimes.com/.../articlesho…

#UPSC Art & Culture in a conversation with @ManasSri01 from @IndianExpress Why Horses Matter in India’s Cultural Story youtu.be/d_o2OS831aY?si…

When people speak of how Buddhism was driven out of India, they often overlook the possibility that it could have simply moved out to lands of receptive kings Read more ... Universe: Buddhism was pushed out, or pulled out? tribuneindia.com/news/comment/u…