Conscious Conflict (and what Barbarika saw at Kurukshetra)
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Conscious Conflict (and what Barbarika saw at Kurukshetra)

ByShruti Bakshi

If we really want to learn from the Gita, then we need to understand that it has chosen to put before us that basest of human actions, violence, so that we really get the point about acting in yoga. If we really want to extract from the Gita, a wisdom we don’t ordinarily find in the world, we should ask – how can a war be fought without hatred?

The Ways of Shiva and Krishna – Holi Contemplation
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The Ways of Shiva and Krishna – Holi Contemplation

ByShruti Bakshi

“जरा रंग सांची प्रेम की, और रंग हैं झूठ।”(Jara rang saanchi prem ki, aur rang hain jhooth) The true colour is the colour of Divine Love, all other colours are false. – Kabir das This is a topic I have not written about before although it has been with me for some years now and…

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.

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.

16 Names of Vishnu (Sri Vishnu Shodashnaama Stotram)

16 Names of Vishnu (Sri Vishnu Shodashnaama Stotram)

ByShruti Bakshi

A beautiful rendition of the 16 names of Lord Vishnu, to be recited in the morning. The Stotra describes how Vishnu, the All Pervading One is in every aspect of our lives and how we can integrate His remembrance in daily life or indeed, recognise His already existing Presence in everything we do. Translation and…