Avatara, Amsha, and Avesha in the Mahabharata
This article attempts to identify these Avataras, Amshas, and Aveshas in the Mahabharata.
August 28, 2020 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Namakarana Samskara – The Rite of Naming a Newborn
Introduction In an earlier series of articles we had looked at the concept of samskaras in Sanatana Dharma, their significance and enumerated them. We had also looked at the Upanayana…
March 16, 2020 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Bhāṣā Viveka: Comprehending the intricacies of Interpreting Sanskrit -2
Having set the theoretical background, the article explains the intricacies of interpreting Sanskrit compositions with multiple examples from canonical and literary texts.
November 29, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Bhāṣā Viveka: Comprehending the Intricacies of Interpreting Sanskrit (Part 1)
Sanskrit is a literary language as well as the language of shastras. Sanskrit literature is in harmony with shastras and knowledge of shastras is sometimes necessary to interpret literary Sanskrit. This article aims to assist in comprehending the intricacies of Sanskrit.
November 26, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Upakarma and Utsarjana Samskaras
In an earlier article, we had seen how our ancestors pursued every activity of life within a Dharmic framework, and how each activity was marked with a ‘samskara’. Every phase…
September 6, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Upanayana Samskara
Among the sixteen prominent samskaras that a dharmika is mandated to undergo, there are three samskaras that are in vogue even today, and relatively well practiced. The namakarana samskara where…
July 1, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Shodasha Samskaras – The Sixteen Rites To Mark The Passage Of Life
Introduction The word ‘Samskara’ is used in different contexts in Indian languages. In North India, the word ‘sanskari’ is often used for a refined and cultured person or for refined…
June 24, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Flight Of Deities: A Tale Of Dharmic Resistance
प्रतिष्ठायां सुराणां तु देवतार्चानुकीर्तनं | देवयज्ञोत्सवं चापि बन्धनाद्येन मुच्यते || One must know the true nature and power of divine murthys while consecrating them; By worshipping such images through utsavas…
April 1, 2019 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
Dharmashastras and Customs As Valid Sources For Modern Law
The sacred temple of Swami Ayyappa at Sabarimala is under the danger of defilement due to the over-eagerness of a ‘secular’ State to impose its ‘Constitutional Morality’. The fundamental rights…
October 19, 2018 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
A Fulfilling Journey To Kailash Manasarovar
दानतीर्थतपोयज्ञपूर्वाः सर्वेऽपि सर्वदा | अङ्गानिहरिसेवायां भक्तिस्त्वेका विमुक्तये || Daana, teerthayatra, tapas and yajna are all instruments to perform constant service of sri hari; (They lead to bhakti) Bhakti is the…
September 26, 2018 Hariprasad Nellitheertha
