This essay examines the Dharmic dimensions of gaze, self-presentation, and sensory restraint through the concepts of indriya-nigraha and viveka. Drawing upon the Bhagavad Gītā and the principles of deśa, kāla, and pātra, it distinguishes involuntary perception from deliberate conduct and moral agency. The discussion moves beyond simplistic notions of blame to consider the reciprocal responsibilities of individuals sharing a social space. It argues that Dharma neither denies human impulses nor permits them to govern conduct, but calls for conscious regulation, contextual discernment, and responsibility. Ultimately, the essay proposes that both seeing and being seen carry ethical dimensions within a Dharmic framework.
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The Enigma of Bhakti
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.

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.
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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.
Circle of Yoginis
A Yogini is one who is possessed of magical powers and takes on different divine energies to maintain harmony in the Universe.
Fun in the time of Mahabharatam
Apart from being a profound spiritual and philosophical commentary, the Mahabharatam is deeply humane in its treatment of the ephemeral pleasures of life.
सप्तर्षियों के नामों के अर्थ – स्वयं सप्तर्षियों के अनुसार (भाग २)
सप्तर्षि गूढ भाषा में बोले गए अपने नामों के अर्थ की व्याख्या करते हैं
A Timeline of Ayodhya – Part 1
A chronological order through what several disciplines — archaeology, epigraphy and history in particular — have contributed to our knowledge of the ancient city of Ayodhya.
The Purpose of Defending Dharma
Dharmic principles form the bedrock upon which Indic civilization has thrived and hence need to be propagated as well as defended.
A review summary of Cultures Differ Differently: Selected Essays of S.N. Balagangadhara
In this granular review, Dr Pingali Gopal summarises the key arguments of the anthology containing Dr SN Balagangadhara's arguments.
The Vibrant Murals of Sittannavasal in Tamil Nadu
The Sittannavasal rock-cut Jain caves were excavated in the 7th century CE during the Pandya rule and have some of the most vibrant murals seen anywhere.
Ancient Indian Cosmology – Origins of the Universe
The cosmic conceptualization of the universe by ancient Indian rishis stands true to this day.
On the most iconic picture in Hinduism (Part 1)
A retelling of the Mahabharata war and the events that led to it which solidified Bharatavarsha's dharmic image.
Assumptions in Empirical Inferences and the Case of GDP
Brainstorming needs to happen regarding the ideation of prosperity and wellbeing so that a holistic framework to view life can be developed in getting the right perspective to growth.
Agrāharas – The Building Blocks of Dharmik Economy
Agrahāras have long been associated with the Hindu temple, popularly understood as residential housing schemes for brāhmaṇa families around the main temple. Popular narrative has sought to classify them as elitist brahminical dwellings designed to keep non-brāhmaṇas out. The notion, however, deviates from the reality - the primary right of the king over land is exercised by collecting a portion of produce as a ‘prime’ (agra) tax. When such tax revenue is gifted to a donee resulting in a ‘loss’ (hāra) to the state, it is called agrahāra. The lands gifted to brāhmaṇas are called brahmadéyas. These lands are typically agricultural lands that were already brought to revenue. Gifting of such lands has the effect of transferring the tax revenue therefrom to the donees. The brahmadéyas, are also not exclusively brahminical settlements.
Lakshmi Prasad J explores all this, and the importance and position of agrahāras in the ancient dharmik economy, in the first part of this series.
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Tyaga – The Vitalizing Force of the Indic Civilization
Introduction “If you can’t practice it, don’t cheapen the ideal. Say that you aren’t strong enough” Swami Vivekananda said of...
Effects of Colonization on Indian Thought – Part 2
This Indian genius has now begun to percolate back to the West, where it inspires new approaches, deeper thoughts, though not yet the transforming Shakti. Perhaps the tide of colonialism will be reversed, after all.
Communal Echoes in ‘Secular’ Discourse : Tropes and Themes in Naseeruddin Shah’s ‘Secular’ Rants
In the next essay of the series of articles on minority-progressive celebrities, Sriram Chellapilla dissects Naseeruddin Shah’s polemics to expose a familiar pattern in India’s “secular” discourse: the distortion of arguments, selective outrage, and the reflexive defense of Mughal icons like Aurangzeb. Through close textual analysis and historical context, the essay shows how misrepresentation, straw-manning, and moral asymmetry function as tools of what the author terms the Minority-Progressive Celebrity (MPC) narrative. At its core, the piece interrogates how Hinduphobia is normalized under the guise of liberalism while minority fundamentalism is minimized or denied.
On Moksha – The ultimate freedom
The desire for absolute freedom lies at the bottom of all worldly ambition. Moksha is that freedom.
19th to 25th June
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
Myth as History, or History as Myth? – Analysis of How Ayodhya’s History is Depicted in BBC and NYT
The facts about Ayodhya are often obscured by Western media outlets by suppressing the Hindus' claim to the Ram temple.
Towards mental freedom
A personal and heartfelt account of the need for decolonization of the Indian mind.
Keezhadi – Unearthing a civilisation
The Keezhada excavations have unearthed a plethora of information about the ancient Tamil civilisation.
Ayurveda: Tradition, Science, and Recognition in a Globalised World
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?
Is there a trap in devotion?
An Indic Response to Jason Gregory’s piece on “The Trap of Devotion to God and Guru”.
Creating a new Medina
The creation of Pakistan as the new Medina for Muslims wouldn't have been possible if not for the support of multiple contriving parties.
How Evangelists Invented ‘Dravidian Christianity’
Dravidian Christianity is a myth constructed from the narratives derived from colonial pseudo-scholarship.
