India is the land of religion. Max Weber described the everyday life of the Indian masses as taking place within an “enchanted garden of life” formed by charismatic gurus, characterized by the unbroken belief in magical powers of irrational efficacy, and devoid of an escape to a rational, this-worldly way of life (see Continue reading

This happened in Madgaon; South Goa’s cultural centre and educational capital. The hair of the idol in the Viththal Mandir turned grey. The idol appeared to have grown old overnight. The bad omen was promptly connected with the recent accidental death of the temple priest. The rumor spread like wild fire. Everybody, Continue reading

Like any child born into a middle class, upper caste family in India I was also part of the traditional ways of thinking and living, but with a touch of liberalism. I was initiated to be a dwija (twice born) at a very young age as it happens in the case of most Continue reading

The Supreme Court’s order to assess and document the artifacts of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram is a move towards democratization of knowledge of the treasure.

Equally significant is the Court’s appointment of an expert committee headed by the director general of the National Museum for evolving measures to preserve Continue reading

Nadi Jothishyam is the name of an ‘exact science’ by which all details about a person can be told by consulting palm-leaf inscriptions attributed to Agastya Muni, a very famous ancient sage from the South. There is, supposedly, one palm-leaf inscription for every human on this earth, past present and future! Taking into Continue reading