(CHAKRA) There are many examples of symbolism and descriptions of weapons in Hinduism scriptures. Here is a list of the weapons/astras that are mentioned in various hindu texts and epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A few of these weapons in modern day are just used for religious symbols, but some have evolved and […]

Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are two world famous Buddhist centers and both are located within the borders of Andhra Pradesh, which is known for its deep roots in the rich Buddhist culture. These are only two sites of 150, which have been identified and located in the state. Out of all the states in India, Andhra […]

By Professor Vaidyanathan Normally reticent and mild mannered Manmohan Singh in an interview to Science magazine during February mentioned that American NGO’s are funding the protests against Kudankulam nuclear plant. He also blamed protests against genetically modified crops on groups which were funded from the US and Scandinavian countries. He said that “they are not […]

By Devi Rohtagi (CHAKRA) “Don’t eat meat on Tuesday!” “Consuming meat on Friday is forbidden!” “If you’re Hindu you should fast once a week”. Comments of this nature are not generally heard among the Hindu population although there are many individuals who abstain from meat or even fast on any given day of the week […]

Mr.Malhotra, what are your views on gurus, acharyas, swamis and other leaders of Sampradayic traditions?  How do you see their role in the modern world? When you represent Hinduism at various public fora, are you presuming to replace these individuals and institutions with a new mould of spokesperson? RM: Can anyone presume to “replace” them, […]

(CHAKRA) In the book Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism, Indo-American thinker and philosopher Rajiv Malhotra addresses the challenge of a direct and honest engagement on differences, by reversing the gaze, repositioning India from being the observed to the observer and looking at the West from the dharmic point of view. In doing […]

The real issue is the state and morale of the defense forces, not the leaked letter or petty politics. Fifty years ago, demoralization and neglect of the armed forces by Nehru and Krishna Menon led to national humiliation in the 1962 China war. Navaratna Rajaram “History does not repeat itself,” it is famously said, “but […]

(CHAKRA) The Bhagavad Geeta is one of the highly revered and most read scriptures in the Hindu community with great consecration. It is the essence of all the Vedas in concise where the Lord Krishna delivered this hymn in the battle field to Arjuna when he peevishly declined to fight the battle in the Kurukshetra.  […]

(CHAKRA) Varna is one of the most misunderstood and misused concepts in Hinduism, and as a result it has a lot of stigma attached to it. “Caste System” is a very poor, if not an incorrect translation for varNa-vyavasthA. This article aims to explain varNa in detail. Most of what is said here is based on […]

By Jai Rustgi (CHAKRA) Jhatka meat is unheard of by majority of the Hindu/Sikh population in the western world. When an individual is heard asking, “Is your meat jhatka?” at a restaurant, house gathering or any other public setting, he/she is met with a blank stare followed by a question, “What is that?” Jhatka meat […]