Indian Culture

Today, 2nd May 2025, is the 1008th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya, one of the greatest saints gurus born in this great land of India. What makes the late Karunanidhi the atheist and rationalist ex-CM of Tamil Nadu, who does not believe in God, write lyrics for a Tamil TV series on the saint Bhagavad Ramanujacharya? Why does PM Modi open a 216 feet statue for Ramanujacharya in Hyderabad? Why is a Muslim princess from Delhi Sultanate who was a devotee of Lord Narayana worshipped inside the holiest and biggest functioning Hindu temple of Sri Rangam in Tamil Nadu (Bibi Nachiyar)?  When were Dalits first admitted inside the sanctum of major Hindu temples? Today is the 1008th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya, one of the greatest saints gurus born in this great land of India. He's considered one of the three most influential Vedantic philosophers of the last two millennium, along with Madhvāchārya and Ādi Shankara. He was born in Sriperambudur (Near Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu...

On a long motorcycle ride again. This time to closely observe a beautiful temple, read on. The Keshava Temple at Somanathapura, near Mysore, is an UNESCO world heritage monument along with Belur and Halibedu as the Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas. The Keshava temple, was consecrated in 1258 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala King Narasimha III. The Kesava temple is one of some 1,500 Hindu and Jain temples built by the Hoysala Empire kings in different parts of their kingdom. The other well studied Hoysala temples include those at Belur and Halebidu. In my view, it's among the best examples of Hoysala Architecture. It's the high noon of Kannada culture. The Inscriptions are in Hale (old) classical Kannada. The sculptures here are one of a kind.  Sadly this was destroyed, plundered and looted by the Islamic barbarian invader of Malik Kafur. The first attack was by Malik Kafur, Alauddin Khilji's general in 1311 and in 1326 Muhammad Bin Tughlaq destroyed the rem...

T Narsipura Sangam and Shivanasamudra falls Was happy to go on a motorcycle ride to two lovely destinations on the Kaveri River recently. 1. T Narsipura  Tirumakudalu Narasipura, the temple city of Karnataka, where there is Triveni Sangam where the 3 rivers of Kaveri, Kabini and mythical Spatika Sarovara rivers meet. Its also called Dakshina Kashi. A Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival, is held here, coinciding with the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, or Nashik. The name of town comes from a Narasimha temple at the place of Sangam. Had a wonderful darshsn and did Archanai Puja at this temple. Had a boat ride and went to the Sangam where 3 rivers meet and sprinkled the water on my head. See pictures. The present Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and past violin maestro Chowdiah hail from this place. 2. Shivanasamudra falls Shivanasamudra Falls is a cluster of waterfalls in Karnataka, India, ...

Maha Kumbh Snan on Maha Shivaratri at Prayagraj  Date: 26th February 2025, Maha Shivaratri  Place: Maha Kumbh mela, Prayagraj, India  World's oldest, world's biggest spiritual event, Worlds largest peaceful gathering of people in one location. 460 million people come in 45 days. That's over 10 million a day! To put this in perspective, other largest single location peaceful gatherings are Mecca is 19m in one year, Vatican is 20m in a year, Tirupati temple is 25m in a year , Arba'een Pilgrimage of Shia Muslims (to Karbala Iraq) 30m in one year. Maha Kumbh is one phrase is "A Maha Experience of a life time".   Its the grandest spectacle I have witnessed ever in my life. Nothing on this scale exists anywhere in the world.  Crowds, Colors, Confluence and Chaos on the outside. Serenity, Spirituality, Science and Silence on the inside.  Before I write about kumbh mela, let me explain a miracle which happened in my life, 3 weeks back, on 5th February 2025. You wi...