The general content demanded of any form of siddhanta, or ‘philosophical conclusion,’ whether a short poem or longer exposition, is that it should offer nothing less than a cogent, wide-ranging and well-evidenced explanation of Brahman, the ultimate reality, the infinite origin of all things, and the foundational matrix of all existence. The explanation must describe how the observer, the individual,…
In ancient India, in a green mountain valley fed by rushing ice-cold streams, two groups of philosophers sit down to debate in public. Eyeing one another with keenness and memorizing last-minute lines of handwritten text, the pundits wait patiently while hundreds of people gather to watch. Coloured flags curl and snap in the fresh breeze, and the fragrance of incense…
The English Channel has long been a symbol of shared history and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and the continent. However, in recent years, the calm waters have witnessed a surge of small boats carrying asylum seekers from various parts of the world, sparking a heated debate about immigration policies and national security. I feel it is important to…
The year 2023 marks a significant juncture in history as it commemorates the 50th anniversaries of various events, achievements, and cultural milestones that have left an indelible mark on our world. From iconic moments in technology and entertainment to ground-breaking achievements in science and society, these golden milestones serve as a reminder of the progress we’ve made and the legacies…
In the current socio-cultural landscape, the establishment of new norms surrounding transgender identity has emerged as a contentious issue that demands thoughtful consideration and balanced discourse. As society grapples with evolving notions of gender and identity, it is imperative to approach this topic with a discerning eye. What is required is a perspective that seeks to address the problems associated…
Sunrise in England. Hard to catch it, sometimes, but always worth the effort. This week I have been thinking about the Gayatri mantra and how it is chanted at sunrise, noon and sunset. Although the Hare Krishna maha-mantra can be chanted without following any ‘hard and fast rules,’ the Gayatri does have rules attached to it, and they must be…
(This first appeared in the New Statesman magazine January, 2007.) “Could we have a group of Hare Krishnas to appear in The Da Vinci Code?” asks film director Ron Howard in a call to the London Krishna temple one morning. “We want a typical London street scene for the film.” He wanted “a few seconds” of orange-robed Krishna chanters while…
In 1965 an elderly Indian gentleman boarded a steamship in Calcutta. He was a saffron-robed sadhu – a holy man – bound for America, a place he had never visited before, and a place where he had no friends. Almost 70, he had spent the last eight years in the sacred medieval town of Vrindavan, the home of Lord Krishna. In…
A few months ago, I went to India and took my home deity of Nrsimha with me. Wherever I travelled, I would offer lamps and flowers, incense and food each morning. Being India, the offering of flowers part was particularly rewarding. Florists begin their selling in the early hours of the morning, long before sunrise, then right through the day,…
Regular readers will know that, in addition to worshipping God through recitation of His holy names, devotees also worship the form of the Lord manifested in elements such as metal, wood, stone, fire, or a painted image. All religious traditions have such sacred images – of one kind or another – according to the reasoning of their particular theology. Many…
