Dr. Bhawana Badhe and Sushrut Badhe share with us the unique focus and pedagogy of Krishna’s Butter project, which introduces children and youth to the practical wisdom of Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna’s Butter: Taking Wisdom of Bhagavad Gita to Children and Youth (Video) Read More »
Though outwardly the festival of Durga Puja symbolizes the victory of Truth over falsehood, this 3-part essay explores the festival’s deeper, inner significance concerning the process of individual and cosmic evolution.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 1) Read More »
The author outlines how the nine forms of the goddess form an ascending hierarchy of shakti or energy rising from the mulādhara, traveling upwards gaining strength and force and momentum with each upward gust and impulsion until it reaches the crown and passing beyond unites with its Lord.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 2) Read More »
The author, in this part, cites some significant descriptions given by the Mother of her realisations. These passages speak of how Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga takes a giant leap over tradition wherein he is not content with the slaying of a demon or many demons but by their conversion or dissolution for good. But for this not only man but even the gods must collaborate.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 3) Read More »
A wider view of Indian cultural forms suggests that Rām-kathā continues to thrive as an important influence despite the outer hybridity in Indian popular cultural landscape.
Rām-kathā, a Living Tradition of India Read More »
The featured excerpt is taken from a monograph edited by Shri Kireet Joshi and written by G. C. Nayak, titled “Selected Episodes from Kalidasa’s Raghuvamśam of Kālidāsa” (2010). This monograph is part of a series on Value-oriented Education centered on three values : Illumination, Heroism and Harmony.
Sītā’s Banishment by Rāma in Kālidāsa’s Raghuvamśam Read More »
Mr. Madhu Jagdhish is a heritage photography enthusiast, with special interest in documenting the rich Indian heritage of temple sculptures. A thoughtful exposure to our culture’s artistic heritage and an overall development of aesthetic sensibility and artistic appreciation are important parts of any meaningful education. In the age of smartphones with photography becoming available at fingertips, it is important that youngsters interested in exploring photography as an art-form and a possible vocation are shown this possibility that photography can also become a great medium to go deeper into one’s cultural roots and in the process discover and reveal (for oneself and for others) the rich artistic and aesthetic traditions that we have inherited. In this regard, Mr. Jagdhish’s work makes a significant contribution.
The Art of Heritage Photography – A Conversation with Madhu Jagdhish (Video) Read More »
Selected excerpts from Maithilisharan Gupt’s most famous work, Bharat Bharati, which stirred deep nationalist emotions among Indians when it was first published in 1912.
Bhārat-Bhārati – Excerpts from Rashtrakavi’s Famous Kāvya Read More »
Exploring the theme of sincerity in history, we feature excerpts from a couple of introductory chapters from a book authored by Prof. Kittu Reddy, a long-time resident of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and teacher of Indian History and Culture at Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education. The author suggests that when examining Indian history from a subjective point of view, external events gain greater importance in the light of the inner psychological vision and deeper forces behind them.
Book Excerpts – ‘History and Culture of India: A New Approach’ Read More »
In the third article of the series, the author wonderfully explains with the help of a story, the interconnection between the five sensory organs and the five elements, and their impact an impact on our well-being.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness – 3 Read More »
We explore two inter-related themes. One is Choice and Wisdom, related to which is the faculty of viveka, the intuitive discriminating reason which is developed by a purification of the organs of thought and knowledge. But all this is possible only by the grace of the Guru, which is our second theme for this issue.
Choose Wisely, Grow in Knowledge, Surrender to the Guru Read More »
We present four brief passages from Sri Aurobindo’s writings done in early 1910. The immense significance of these passages for today’s India can’t be missed.
On Ācāra, Vicāra, Viveka, Jñāna Read More »
In this second part of the series, the author speaks of the great value and emphasis our ancestors placed on protecting the plant kingdom given its role in keeping the whole cycle of life robust and strong. Several religious and social rituals were put in place to encourage the protection of plants and trees.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness – 2 Read More »
In this series, the author, a qualified specialist in Alternative Medicine who has conducted extensive research among rural and tribal communities of our country learning about diverse customs and practices related to health and well-being, advocates living in harmony with Nature for a life of wellness and also strives to evoke and enhance the inherent divinity within.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness -1 Read More »
India has had a long history of physical education. The heroes that India gave to herself represent not only great qualities of courage and valour but also of physical strength and excellence. In ancient India, there was an emphasis on the pursuit of an integral aim of life, which determined the discipline of integral education. Both the material and spiritual poles of the being had their place in this system.
Education of the Body in Ancient India – Book Excerpts Read More »
The author gives examples of women characters from various Indian literary creations which continue to show women the path to truly becoming strong and powerful making their choices.
Epic Heroines Who Live Amongst Us Read More »
This book by Bharat Gupt presents a novel way of understanding contemporary Indian society and its challenges by applying an Indian sociological framework. Selected excerpts from the book are presented along with a brief review.
“India – A Cultural Decline or Revival?” Read More »
Highlights of an interview with Aravindan Neelakandan, where he speaks about the inner unity of India, the meaning of India as a Shakti, and the need to develop a good knowledge of our languages and heritage as the most effective way to counter the ‘Breaking India’ forces.
On Making India: An Interview with Aravindan Neelakandan Read More »
Part 2 of a free-flowing conversation with Maria Wirth — about her new book, her love for India, the sure signs of an emerging Indian cultural renaissance, the ways to nurture and strengthen this reawakening and the factors that could possibly impede this resurgence.
Of Love and Turmeric Latte: A Conversation with Maria Wirth (Part 2) Read More »
Part 1 of a free-flowing conversation with Maria Wirth — about her new book, her love for India, the sure signs of an emerging Indian cultural renaissance, the ways to nurture and strengthen this reawakening and the factors that could possibly impede this resurgence.
Of Indian Wisdom and Cultural Reawakening: A Conversation with Maria Wirth (Part 1) Read More »