Indian mythological stories that evoke a wide range of emotions, one of which is karuna rasa or feelings of compassion and sorrow Mantras that deepen their compassion, generate empathy. It brings it into the space of meaning. This flavor is especially prevalent in the Mahabharata epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, where the characters experience […]Read More
The Agni Purana continues to be one of the important texts among the eighteen Mahapuranas of Hindu literature. It is the text attributed to and named after Agni, the Hindu God of Fire. On reading one finds the text to be dealing with topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and subjects of cosmology, philosophy, and […]Read More
Amidst all the historical archaeological evidences comprising monuments, sculptures, inscriptions, coins, pillars, literature, manuscripts etc, Cave art and paintings outshine the most while revealing the unravelled forlorn stories and instances which are ages old, yet are lively of eternal ritual of art. One among many such historical caves, is the strikingly breathtaking Lascaux Caves, also […]Read More
Among the Upapuranas, the Narasimha Purana is a critically placed text and forms a highly regarded scripture in the Hindu literary tradition. This mythological text was written thousands of years ago and gives a vast amount of knowledge about cosmology, along with genealogy myths and aspects of devotional practices; it is specifically filled with tales […]Read More
In the rich tapestry of Indian history, few stories captivate as much as those of the maharajas and maharanis whose opulent lifestyles and exquisite tastes left an indelible mark on the world. Among these luminaries, Maharani Yashoda Devi of Patiala stands out not only for her grace and charm but also for her legendary collection […]Read More
Adivasi literature, have you ever heard that before? The chances are rare, but it is such an important part of our society and definitely should be added to our discourse. To delve deeper into this and understanding the literature, we first have to know what actually is Adivasi literature? Adivasi literature is often referred to […]Read More
Vishakhadatta, an illustrious figure in the tapestry of ancient Indian literature, remains shrouded in mystery, with only faint glimpses of his life found in the verses of his surviving works, Mudrārākṣasa and Devichandraguptam. Despite the scarcity of biographical details, scholars have attempted to place him in the chronicles of Indian history, sparking debates about his […]Read More
In the intricate tapestry of ancient Indian scholarship, Pāṇini is celebrated as a legendary figure, revered for his profound contributions to linguistics. Hailed as the father of Sanskrit and linguistics, he emerges from the mist of ancient India, mentioned in fables and texts, with even the Panchatantra weaving tales of his demise at the jaws […]Read More
The story of the jackal that jumped into the vat of blue dye is not new to us. Nor is the tale of the crocodile trying to trick a monkey into wilfully surrendering itself as prey. These are the famous Panchatantra tales, an integral part of any Indian’s childhood. While these stories are meticulously crafted […]Read More