My Journey with Natyashastra (Part 2): Philosophy Beyond Performance
Natyashastra is not merely a handbook or manual for the art of Theatre; it is a philosophy that speaks of Purushartha (the four aims of human life) wi...
A Living Archive of Inquiry
Thoughtful perspectives on culture, philosophy, inner freedom, and daily life preserved for contemplative reading.
Natyashastra is not merely a handbook or manual for the art of Theatre; it is a philosophy that speaks of Purushartha (the four aims of human life) wi...
Without further preamble, let us now consider the chapters and topics of the Natya Shastra. For until we know exactly which aspects are being discusse...
No matter how much Sri Krishna directs towards Brahmajnana in the Gita and advises against desiring the fruits of one’s actions, if Arjuna did not f...
Insight from the Corpus
“মহাবতার বাবাজী প্রতিশ্রুতি দিয়েছেন, তিনি সমগ্র মানবজাতির মুক্তির জন্য কখনও দেহত্যাগ করবেন না”
The final bell echoes through the book fair, and silence settles like dust. An artist alone in a hotel room after the curtain falls, packing costumes ...
The word Deśa is an equivalent of the sky. The hr̥day, a parallel to the sky. I quite enjoy these linguistic games. In this way, the word “book”...
Lately, I find myself surprisingly content—perhaps even fortunate. I experienced the great stillness, that strange gift of witnessing how Brahma mig...
Reader's Pause
“Krishna is also used in the sense of "karshate iti Krishna"—meaning one who attracts. In Yoga philosophy, he is the presiding deity of the Ajna chakra. He attracts and pulls up Arjuna, who is stuck in the Manipura chakra. This is the essence of the Gita in Yoga philosophy.”
Read EssayThe way we react to news—do we ever bow down to the events in our own lives with the same intensity? Take the #DepressionKills wave that gripped us ...
I haven’t been able to write even ten sentences together for nearly a year. The only thing I managed to write during this time was a letter to my co...
The cold winds of Kashmir carry whispers of an ancient time when its valleys were alive with philosophy, art, and the mystical teachings of Śaivism. ...
Archaeological Below my pillow, tram lines run their course,And beside them, a new crematorium burns el...
69 th Independence DayIs it the mural of Ajanta or India’s map? We debatedwhich held greater artistic m...
Insight from the Corpus
“Airavata served as Indra's mount, helping the sky-god release rain by shattering clouds with thunderbolts. In agricultural societies dependent on monsoons, elephants naturally symbolized fertility and abundance. Only well-watered, vegetation-rich lands could sustain these massive creatures. By receiving Airavata's head, Ganesha inherited this rain-bringing power.”
Crosswalks aren’t the only thingsWith stripes—Your body bears its ownPatchwork of stainsThat leap to lifeAt every green light.Traffic police,Thus,...