Books. If there is one thing that defines me as a person, it is my love for reading. And along with this love for reading comes my love for books. Ever since I was a child, reading trumped any other activity I could possibly engage in – by a mile. I recall passing my summer …
Anyone who has been through a toddler knows the importance of bubbles in their lives. They demand it at will, and the popping of these temporary spheres of soap becomes the primary focus of the moment, or moments, until it’s ‘bye bye’ bubbles. Rohāmrta is no exception. It is for him that I found a …
A few days back, I was listening to Lata Mangeshkar’s playlist on Apple Music – they come up with different names – eternal Lata, Lata essentials etc, but they are all small compilations drawn from the ocean of music that was Lataji. I recall what I wrote when she died – To think of it, …
Arjuna was the most prominent warrior in the Mahabharata. The best archer in the world, with the avatar of Sri Vishnu as a guide, and the establishment of Dharma as the objective, on the biggest stage that humanity had ever seen. It is only natural that the tools available to him had to be exceptional. …
The Tamil word ‘anbu’ doesn’t translate well into English. Love is a small word for a feeling that describes the melting of a heart in the presence of the one you love – can be your spouse, your lover, your parents, your children, even nature, or as in Bhakti Yoga – in the presence of God. Love …
विभूति: (vibhutih)- mighty, powerful, great power आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् ।मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥ २१ ॥ ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇurjyotiṣāṁ ravir aṁśumānmarīcir marutām asminakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī Of the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marīci, and among the stars I am the moon. वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासव: ।इन्द्रियाणां …
Today, let me tell you a story. The great emperor Kṛṣṇadevarāya (Krishnadevaraya) had a lot of wise ministers in his court. The wisest of them was Tenali Ramakrishna. One day, a merchant came to the king’s court from a foreign kingdom. He saluted the king and then said, “Your Majesty, I have heard from many people that …
On the banks of the river Yamunā, lies a place named Brahmasthala (the abode of Brahmins). There lived a Brahmin named Agnisvāmin (the lord of Agni), and he had spent his whole life mastering the Vedas. He had a beautiful daughter named Mandāravatī. They say that when she was born, Brahma himself felt that the apsaras in swarga were nothing …
आहार शुद्धौ सत्त्व शुद्धिः सत्त्व शुद्धौ ध्रुवा स्मृतिः स्मृति लम्भे सर्व ग्रन्थीनांविप्र मोक्षः || āhāra-śuddhau sattva-śuddhiḥ sattva-śuddhau dhruvāsmṛtiḥ smṛtilambhe sarva-granthīnām vipramokṣaḥ If one eats pure food, one’s mind becomes pure. If the mind is pure, one’s memory becomes strong and steady. If the memory is good, one becomes free from all bondages. Chandogya …
Yesterday, saw Tom Cruise battle Hollywood’s interpretation of AI. The movies always speak of grandiose plans to take over the world. Which, however remote, is a true (and terrifying) possibility. But a lot of us are unaware of the smaller impacts of AI on our lives, potentially as hazardous given the personal odds involved. We …
