To Fight or Not to Fight? Krishna’s deeper message in the Bhagavad Gita
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To Fight or Not to Fight? Krishna’s deeper message in the Bhagavad Gita

ByShruti Bakshi

The Gita spends a considerable amount of time – the entire first chapter – ‘setting the scene’. Notably, this is in contrast to other important scriptures of similar gravitas like the Brahma Sutras or the Yoga Sutras which begin with rather abrupt statements announcing that the topic of the text will now be discussed; or the Upanishads which again, don’t consider it important to describe context or background.

In my view, the Gita deliberately takes pains to draw attention to the example and metaphor of battle, to later, show the opposite of it or the transcendence of it and expatiate on the attainment of absolute peace.

Bhagavad Gita and the Essence of Sanatana Dharma
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Bhagavad Gita and the Essence of Sanatana Dharma

ByShruti Bakshi

Sanatana Dharma means the eternal law which is the basis of Existence itself. It is not something conjured up by the mind of a human being, but is the way that the cosmos functions. To be in tune with that movement and functioning is to follow Sanatana Dharma. To achieve this, myriads of methods and paths arose in Bharat and still exist today, reflecting the fact that each individual is unique, the way he seeks is unique and the way he perceives what he finds is also unique.

Krishna & Holi, Light & Colours
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Krishna & Holi, Light & Colours

ByShruti Bakshi

There is something within us that whispers, ‘choose me’. It is the voice of Light that has the potential to burst into a rainbow of colours. As we come upon Holi, the festival of colours, we also usher in the first month of the Hindu new year, Chaitra. The eve of Holi, Holika Dahan, is marked by a large bonfire where we surrender the past within us to the Light, to make way for the new. This is always a conscious choice, just as weeds grow wantonly but a flower needs deliberate planting.

Shakti and the Dance of Discernment
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Shakti and the Dance of Discernment

ByShruti Bakshi

O Mother, as Aruna, the crimson-coloured Goddess,Thou art like the light of morning’s rising sun to the lotus flowers symbolising the minds of gifted poets (helping their poesy to blossom forth).Therefore, those devoted ones who adore Thee become capable of delighting the minds of assemblies of literary connoisseurs with the majestic flow of their words…

Shakti: Bringing Light to the Darkness

Shakti: Bringing Light to the Darkness

ByShruti Bakshi

“Lord Shiva, only becomes ableto do creation in this world along with Shakti.Without her, even an inch he cannot move,and so how can one who does not do good deeds,or one who does not sing your praise,become adequate to worship youO Goddess of mine, who is worshipped by the Trinity”  Soundarya Lahari, 1.1 (believed to have been…