On the occasion of Shankara Jayanti- the birth anniversary of the great master Adi Shankaracharya, a brief look into some of his teachings as imparted in his small composition- Sadhana Panchakam.
Indian tradition promotes gender harmony that recognizes diversity, instead of artificially constructed utopian equality proposed by the West. While equality promotes sameness and wipes diversity out, harmony seeks to harmonize diversity and facilitate each individual to flourish in her own unique way.
The varṇa framework recognizes each individual as a unique person with unique temperaments, capabilities and inner-callings, fulfilling which alone will bring happiness, contentment and spiritual emancipation to that individual.
In Ancient India, Adultery was perceived as a serious breach of trust and an act of cheating that undermined the very institution of marriage, which in turn would lead to social disorder and chaos
There are many interesting accounts about Divine cows and bulls in the Puranas, most notably Sri Krishna’s love for the cattle in Srimad Bhagavatham.
Accounts of origination of the universe and of human beings can be found across various genres of Hindu textual tradition. Sruti, Smriti, Itihasa and Purana.
A correct understanding of Smritis & their function in society, followed by the revival of study, discussion, and interpretative tradition of Dharmashastras will go a long way in resurgence of Hindu civilization
This paper seeks to investigate how Kāma as a Puruṣārtha has been conceptualized in Hindu philosophy.
Dharmic texts do not recognize the modern bifurcation of mere sexual intercourse vs. marriage. Instead, it perceives sexual intercourse, which happens out of love and sexual desire as a form of marriage and calls it Gandharva marriage.
In Part 3 of the series we will try to answer the question central to any discussion on abortion: When does the Jiva enter the fetus?
The second part of the series looks into the importance attached to the human life and why giving birth to a child is considered a very noble activity in the Dharmic tradition.
Sanatana Dharma extensively deals with the issue of abortion. However, to have a proper understanding, it is vital to understand how Dharma perceives life itself and the process of birth.
Conceptual frameworks of Indian civilization can pay the way to effectively negotiate with the challenges of the modern world- ethical or otherwise- that are arising out of the rapid march of technology.
Adi Shankaracharya in his famous introduction to Gita Bhashya, speaks about how Vedas expound two-fold Dharma for people: Pravritti Dharma or the path of action for those with desire and Nivritti Dharma or the path of knowledge and dispassion, for those who have turned away from desire. In other words, Pravritti and Nivritti Dharmas form the two-fold essence of Veda.
Bhakti is not mere faith, it is not mere chanting of bhajans or listening to Satsang. Bhakti in its primary sense refers to the highest love which is of the nature of modification of the melted mind directed continuously and uninterruptedly towards Ishwara.
Nithin Sridhar has a degree in Civil Engineering, and having worked in the construction field, he passionately writes about various issues from development, politics, and social issues, to religion, spirituality, and ecology. He is currently Editor of IndiaFacts- a portal on Indian history and culture; He is editor of Advaita Academy dedicated to the dissemination of Advaita Vedanta. He is a Consulting Editor to Indic Today Magazine. He is based in Mysuru, Karnataka. His first book "Musings On Hinduism" provided an overview of various aspects of Hindu philosophy and society. His latest book 'Samanya Dharma' enunciates upon general tenets of ethics as available in Hindu texts. However, his most widely read book is "Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective" that examines menstruation notions and practices prevalent in different cultures & religions from across the world. He tweets at @nkgrock.
