By Promod Puri Ram and Ravan are the most known mythical rivals in the Hindu scriptural narratives. Ram is addressed as Lord by his being an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, “the preserver” in the Trinity divination. The rest two are Brahma, “the Creator,” and Mahesh, “the Destroyer.” Contrary to Ram, the status of Ravan is…

Originally posted on Unstoppable After Seventy:
Picture courtesy ANI news agency DASARA FESTIVE SEASON is here. The Indian populace is in the grip of a devotional frenzy. The Ganesha festival season has just ended and idols of the elephant-headed God, costig of millions of rupees, have been just immersed in rivers, tanks and sea, throwing…

Besides the devotional practices at dedicated places like temples, home or public shrines, a striking and environmental sensitive and gratifying feature of Hindu worshipping practices and reverence is the deification of natural landmarks like rivers, lakes, and mountains. There is divinity in all elements of nature as well as in plants and animals. The belief…

Human beings are “the most beautiful, intelligent and favorite creation of God.” Perhaps cats, dogs, donkeys, etc., and that bird in the sky think the same. Who knows! And for that matter plants and flowers have the same pride. Who knows! Perhaps, He knows, maybe not. -Promod Puri

Essentially, religion is a code of conduct for a civil society. It all started from here. With society’s progression, the code of conduct also evolved resulting in its expansion and formalization. As civilization started taking roots management of the society began.Origin of religion can be traced as part of human evolution. Ancient religious orders basically…

The word Rita is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘rta.’ In contemporary Hindi, the vocalic ‘r’ of Sanskrit is changed into ‘ri.’ Hence the word Rita, which has been a popular female name in India. Rita is a concept according to the Vedas, the ancient sacred scriptures of Hinduism. It is a physical order of…

Anthropocene is a term for the present geological epoch after the industrial revolution onwards, during which humanity has begun to have a significant impact on the environment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is garlanded after winning the elections. AP Photo/Manish Swarup Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University Almost immediately after winning a second term in office on May 23, India’s Prime Minister Modi gave a speech making light of parties and individuals who had espoused secularism over the past five years. During the five…