Current affairs, spirituality, heritage & lifestyle.
Most of my early knowledge about Hinduism came through a movement called Swadhyaya. Although in the past few years I have ceased to be an active part of the movement, I am extremely grateful for having received an amazing and practical appreciation of my cultural and spiritual heritage. What I learnt at Swadhyaya was mostly […]
In childhood years, many Hindu children nowadays are introduced to Hindu sacred stories through the medium of comic books, such as Amar Chitra Katha. These provide a colourful, entertaining and valuable rendering of ancient stories from texts called the Puranas, and most kids read them with great enthusiasm, forming many people’s introduction to the world […]
On 22 June, 602 Christians reconverted to Hinduism in the Indian state of Odisha. The event was organised by the ‘Hindu Jagran Samukhya,’ and took place in the presence of the Shankaracharya of Puri, who blessed the reconverted persons and delivered a speech on basic principles of the Hindu religion. The reconverted persons included 207 […]
For a long time, ‘tolerance’ was spoken of as a characteristic feature of Hinduism. Even people who otherwise strongly disagreed with Hinduism still managed to praise the fact that Hinduism had a benign, harmless tolerance. But in recent years the image of Hinduism and of Hindu society has changed quite drastically. Media coverage of the […]
Dr Koenraad Elst is a noted Belgian scholar and writer, specialising in coverage of Hindu contemporary issues, Indian history and comparative philosophy. He has authored at least 20 books, including the monumental ‘Decolonising the Hindu Mind’ and ‘Saffron Swastika: the Notion of Hindu Fascism’. What first made you interested in India? Its funny, Muslims never ask people who […]
“I consider everyone a Hindu until they say they are not” Swami Dayananda Saraswati (not to be confused with the 19th century founder of the Arya Samaj) is a well-known Swami of the Advaita-Vedanta tradition. Being highly articulate in several languages, including English, he has been able to reach out to hundreds of thousands of […]
One of the most boring times I can recall from my childhood is when I had to sit through lengthy pujas, ceremonies and kathas. This is not at all to say that I had no faith in my religion. Far from it, I have always been a devout Hindu in my own way. The boredom […]
“The only place in the UK where the hereditary caste system is practiced is Buckingham Palace!” Dilip Lakhani is a well-known figure in the British Hindu community. He is founder of Vivekananda Centre UK and for many years has been on a seemingly tireless mission to promote Hinduism in Britain. His work has included setting […]
The odds were always stacked against me ever knowing anything about my culture. Growing up, I was never sure what it meant to be a Hindu. I grew up in a quiet town where my family ran (surprise, surprise) a newsagent shop. There weren’t any other Hindus my age in the area. In fact I […]
Some from high action through base fear refrain; The path is difficult, the way not plain. Others more noble to begin, are stayed By a few failures. Great spirits undismayed Abandon never what once to do they swore. Baffled beaten back, they spring once more, Buffeted and borne down, rise up again (Nitishatakam of Bhartrihari, […]
No we’re not talking about credit cards, loans and mortgages here, but totally different kinds of debts, of an ethical and spiritual nature. Since ancient times, Hindu thought has recognised various debts (rins) that play an important part in dharmic values. It is said that each person is born with these debts and must repay […]
Visit Hindu Perspective’s HANUMAN SECTION (special feature) Insight into verse 13 Laye sanjivan Lakhan jiyaye Shree Raghubir harashi ur laye You brought the nectarine herb and revived the life of Laksmana. Sri Rama Chandra embraced with deep joy This of course refers to the part of the Ramayana where Lakshmana is fatally wounded by Ravana’s son Indrajeet. […]
We have all seen the image of Kali at a temple or in a Navratri shrine. This article provides a fascinating insight into who Kali really is! Kali is one of the best known, but poorly understood Hindu deities. She is dark destructive and terrible in image. She appears allied to the forces of death […]
The Mahabharata is acknowledged as being the largest of the world epics, and the largest work of literature created before the advent of the printing press. It contains close to 100,000 verses (*1), and a full copy of the Mahabharata is thousands of pages long. Yet it was not always so. The Mahabharata itself claims […]
Atheism, the idea that there is no God or Creator, is a conception of the human mind that occurs at various stages of mental and spiritual development. It may appear in undeveloped minds that cannot perceive a deeper reality than that of the physical world. It may also appear in more developed minds who see […]
Hope India Publication: 2003 ISBN: 8178710056 Available from: http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no27318.htm Maharana Pratap (1540-1597) is one of the great Hindu heroes of medieval India. His valour is still sung in hundreds of songs throughout the land. His life is associated with many legends and heroic tales; which this book aims to elucidate the truth behind. The present […]
Visit Hindu Perspective’s HANUMAN SECTION (special feature) Insight into Verse 9 Vidyavan guni ati chatur Ram kaj karibe ko atur You are possessor of all knowledge, full of virtue and wisdom. You are always prompt and eager to act in the service of Lord Rama. One would initially think that this verse is simply repeating praises of […]
Hindu nationalism The term “nation” is defined differently by various sources. One definition is: “A people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language.” Hindu nationalism can be defined as the tendency of Hindus to define themselves as a nation. It is often said that the late 1980’s and 90’s saw an upsurge of […]
Visit Hindu Perspective’s HANUMAN SECTION (special feature) Insight into Verse 7 Hath Bajra aur dhvaja birajai Kandhe moonj janeu sajai You hold the mace of the thunderbolt and a flag in your hands. The sacred thread of Munja grass adorns your shoulders. In the first line of Verse 7, Tulsidas says that Hanuman’s hand carries the “bajra” […]
Visit Hindu Perspective’s HANUMAN SECTION (special feature) Insight into Verse 5 Mahabir Bikram Bajrangi Kumati nivar sumati ke sangi O Mahaveer, your actions are mighty and terrible, and your body is strong as a thunderbolt. You eliminate the illusions of the mind and give a bright intellect. “O Mahaveer, your actions are might and terrible, and your […]
Hindu Perspective 