[Article Published in Dilip Aug-October 2025 Issue] Introduction The beginning of the Valmiki Ramayana is well-known for its opening dialogue where Maharshi Valmiki asks Devarshi Narada: “Who in this world now possesses all the noble qualities?” (कः नु अस्मिन् साम्प्रतं Continue Reading …
(Appeared in Dilip Jan-Mar 2025) The magazine “Dilip” and the Sudakshina Trust, both draw inspiration from Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsam. The Sudakshina Trust was established in 1973 with the guidance of Mahaperiyava, and has Vedarakshanam, or the preservation of the Vedas, as Continue Reading …
(Appeared in Dilip Magazine July – Sep 2024) Shankarabhyudayam is an epic poem (kavya) narrating the life story of Shankaracarya in eight chapters (sargas). It was penned by Rajacudamani Dikshita, the youngest son of Shrinivasa Ratnakheta Dikshita, who was a Continue Reading …
(This article appeared in the issue of Dilip magazine January 2024) Shri Vancheshvara Kavi (known as Kutti Kavi) was the son of the granddaughter of Shri Govinda Dikshita. This lineage has produced several Jagadgurus of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Mulamnaya Sarvajna Continue Reading …
(This article appeared in July -Sep 2023 issue of Dilip magazine) Jagadguru Paramashivendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal was the 57th Acharya of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Mulamnaya Sarvajna Pitham. Born near the banks of Tungabhadra riverin Pampa saras, Karnataka, He was given Continue Reading …
Introduction & Evolution: A churnika is a prose work (gadyam) in Samskrtam while a shloka is a verse or poem (padyam) set in a metre. Shri Venkatamakhi in the Prabandhadhyaya of Chaturdandiprakashika clearly states that gadya is that which is devoid Continue Reading …
[Published in Dilip Magazine April-June 2023 Issue] The place of dharma in itihaasa The central theme of the Valmiki Ramayana is dharma. Our itihasas feature situations full ofhuman lessons. The characters uphold their dharma, face the consequences of abandoningdharma and Continue Reading …
[Article published in Dilip Magazine, Jan-March 2023 Issue] Time according to Bhaṛtṛhari – An Overview The notion of time and its nature has preoccupied thinkers, philosophers and sages from time immemorial. Some Greek thinkers like Xeno argued that time is Continue Reading …
ते ‘अहरहस्सन्ध्यामुपासीत’ इत्यादि विधिवचनानि पीडयन्ति। कर्मभ्रष्टान् परानन्ददूरांश्चैतान् नराधमान् ।स दृष्ट्वा नारदश्शीघ्रमाप ब्रह्मपदान्तिकम् ॥ भो धातः ! नूतनमभूज्जगदेतदर्वाक्वाचित्रयुक्तिपरिकल्पितकर्मशीलम् ।कालादिजात! निगमार्थपरम्परा स्याद् व्यर्था तदा यदि भवन्मतमप्रमाणम् ॥ भवद्भिः पूर्वमिदमुक्तम् – ‘सदेव सौम्येदमग्र आसीत् ‘ [छा. उ. ६-२-१], ‘ब्रह्म वा इदमग्र आसीत् ‘ Continue Reading …
॥ गुरोरवतारकथा ॥ तत्र भगवांश्चतुर्मुखः स्वमुखबाहूरुपादेभ्यः किल ब्रह्मक्षत्रवैश्यशूद्रान्निर्माय संसारचक्राधिदेवः शिवविष्णुब्रह्मगणपत्युपासकान् कृत्वा जातिधर्मपरिपालनं तपोविधिना कल्पपर्यन्तमाचकार। ततः प्रवृत्तेषु कृतादिषु युगेषु ब्राह्मणादयः सत्यधर्मतपोयज्ञविद्यादिपरिशोभितशीलाः “सर्वदेवमयः स्वजातिदेवः” इति सम्यग्विचारसंपन्नाः स्वेशैक्यधीनिर्जितभिदाद्यन्तरायाः सदा श्रुत्यर्थपर्यालोचनतत्परा बभूवुः । पूज्येषु सेवका नीचाः पुण्यमार्गक्रमानुगाः । तत्तद्देवपदं प्रापुर्यथाजातिकुलस्थितिः ॥ विप्राणां दैवतं शम्भुः Continue Reading …