Literature

The scriptures unanimously and emphatically mandate the necessity of a living, physically present Guru for receiving *dīkṣā* (initiation) and spiritual instruction. The concept of receiving initiation from a previous, non-physical *ācārya* is not supported; in fact, it is directly contradicted by the principles and procedures outlined across various traditions. **The Necessity of a Living Teacher for *Dīkṣā*** The texts are unequivocal that mantras and spiritual knowledge must be received through *dīkṣā* from a living Guru. The *Sāṅkhyāyanatantra* warns that one who chants mantras taken from a book without proper initiation becomes a *cāṇḍāla* in this life and is reborn as a dog [^1]. It explicitly states that *dīkṣā* must be received from the mouth (`mukhāt`) of a *kulaguru* [^1]. The relationship is a personal, interactive one, where both Guru and disciple must examine each other (`परीक्ष्य परस्परम्`), and failure to do so results in both attaining the state of a *piśāca* [^1]. **The...

The Puranas are presented as being primordial, with their essence remembered by Brahma even before the Vedas. Several Puranas, including the Vayu, Matsya, and Skanda, state that the Purana was the first of all scriptures remembered by Brahma, after which the Vedas issued from his mouths [^3, ^5, ^7, ^9]. Vayu Purana (as quoted in The Purana Index)    Prathmam sarvaśāstrānām puranam brahmană smṛtam |  Anantaram cha vaktrebhyo vedāstasya vinissṛtāh || [^9]  ( Translation : It was Brahma who first remembered the Purana, the first of all shastras. And then the Vedas issued out of his mouths .) This concept is further elaborated by explaining that originally, in a previous Kalpa, there was only one Purana, a vast and meritorious text of a hundred crore verses that was the means for achieving the three aims of life (`trivarga-sādhana`) [^2, ^3, ^7]. At the time of cosmic dissolution (`pralaya`), the Lord, sometimes in the form of a horse (`vājirūpa`) or a fish (`matsyarūpa...

  The Two Smiles: A Lesson in Perception   In the grand court of a mighty king, ministers, nobles, and scholars gathered in their regal finery. Discussions of power, wealth, and philosophy echoed through the magnificent hall. On this particular day, a woman of unparalleled beauty entered the court. Her presence was like a gust of fragrant wind, drawing the eyes of all present toward her. The courtiers, warriors, and ministers—men of great stature—could not resist her allure. Their gazes followed her every movement, their minds lost in admiration. Their lips curled into smiles—smiles of desire, of longing, of fascination with her flawless form. Amidst these men sat a monk, a renunciate who had chosen the path of realization over worldly pleasures. He too smiled, but for a different reason. He observed the men around him, their expressions betraying their thoughts, their desires written plainly upon their faces. His smile was not one of attraction but of understanding. He sa...

1. Although the two areas were united under the motto of religion, their differences in the religious interpretation of Islam and very distinct cultures were what subsequently separated them Western Pakistanis viewed the Bengali Muslims’ reading of the Quran as inferior and impure and harboured an intention of turning them into ‘exemplary Muslims’ through alienating them from their Hindu background. Pakistan’s governmental headquarters were established in the Western Wing and were dominated by elite groups in West Pakistan, mainly the Punjabis. 2. The Bengali population, despite forming the biggest ethnic population in the country did not have significant representation in the Government.  control over State-owned organizations, governmental mechanisms and the armed forces were in the hands of the dominant Punjabis  3. Although, the number of Bengali speakers (56%) was higher than the number of Urdu speakers (7%), Urdu was considered the language of the elite. Despit...

  The practice of Marriage   Long story short now Pandu kills a sage and his wife when they are in private and gets cursed that if Pandu touches his wife’s he will die Pandu gets married to Kunti and Madri but he can’t get a child because of the curse One day he calls Kunti and says go meet another man and get a child to which she says she is not willing to do so because she is married to him Pandu explains different ways to get a son 1st - the son begotten by one's own self upon his wedded wife; 2nd - the son begotten upon one's wife by an accomplished person from motives of kindness 3rd - the son begotten upon one's wife by a person for pecuniary consideration(for money) 4th - the son begotten upon the wife after the husband's death 5th - the maiden-born son, that is if the lady had a son before the marriage 6th - the son born of an unchaste wife 7th - the son given 8th - the son bought for a consideration(money) 9th - 10th - the son received with a pregnant bride...

    Ashoka Edict - Part 2 Continuing on Ashokas edicts  Is it Damma Lipi? My argument is Damma lipi is the religious text/instructions that were getting written on the edicts and not the name of the script used to write. Reason 1 This word lipi/dipi can be found outside India too example in the  Achaemenid inscriptions,  this word  m u s t   b e c o n n e c t e d   w i t h   t h e   A n c i e n t  P e r s i an   n i - p i s h (to write)  In the inscription(found at  Behistan)  of Darius the third ruler of the Achaemenid Persian Empire -    " [tu] v a m  k a h y a  a p a r am  i mam di p i m va i n a h y  t y am ada n t n i y a p i [ s h a ] m " which means  " O  t h ou  wh o  s h a l t  s ee  th i s  i ns c ri p t i on  i n  t h e  f u t u r e  wh i c h  I  h a v e  wr i t t e n " the word dipi/lipi here means...