Devdutt Pattanaik
@devduttmyth
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Vi-vaad is a toolkit for the ego. Sama-vaad is a toolkit for the soul. Silence is a toolkit for sanity. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Mumbai
Joined January 2010
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Ram, the King Without Ambition
In the epic Ramayana, Ram encounters a peculiar demon in the forest. His name is Kabandha. Kabandha stretches his two long arms and grabs Ram and his brother and then draws them close to his mouth. That is when Ram notices that the demon has no…
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Brahmins who rejected Ram
One of the codes for feminism in India is to decry Ram, hero of the Ramayana, for abandoning his pregnant wife in the forest. Likewise, one of the codes for atheism, secularism and liberalism is to decry the same Ram for beheading Shambuka, the ‘low’…
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Raghunathji of Jammu
Raghunathji of Kullu
Ram of Bhadrachalam
Kala Ram of Nashik
(never alone, never lonely, always with family)
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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Why 14 Years of Exile?
There are two big mysteries in Hindu mythology. One, why does Kaikai ask Ram to be exiled only for 14 years? Two, why does Duryodhan demand that the Pandavas be exiled only for 13 years? Why did Kaikai not ask for Ram’s permanent exile? Or why did…
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The Ganga river basin contains 50 per cent of India’s electorate. So the only Ramayana that really matters to Hindutva politicians is the 16th century Ramcharitmanas of Goswami Tulsidas written in Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi. There are, however, several hundred Ramayanas beyond…
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Why is there tension between Raja and Acharya over Mandir?
A thought....
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Why did Ram go into exile?
According to the Jain Ramayana
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Indians have always privileged the guru's testimony over the scientific method. Today, this has been amplified - as saffron-clad monks are being given greater value by the media than a data-driven peer-reviewed scholar. Even courts are stepping in to block the voices of people…
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How the Aryan Invasion idea is twisted by people who wish to deny it....... they mock the first, ignore the second, and deny the third.
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The story of Sudama
Once upon a time, there were two friends in a school. They were the best of friends and they promised to share everything with each other. After they graduated, one became rich and one remained poor. The poor friend went to the rich…
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😆
Rahul Kanwal had declared that Pattanaik’s comments were pre-recorded, but the show’s format made it seem like a live debate......As Sanyal spoke, Pattanaik’s visuals remained on the screen next to Kanwal, creating an illusion of his presence.
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'My mother always gave me money to buy books': Author Devdutt Pattanaik
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We are constantly told that Hinduism’s original text is the Veda. That it forms the foundation of Hindu thought. However, much of Hindu practices have roots outside Vedic customs. We often overlook contributions of people who lived outside the Ganga river basin, who were not…
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The non-violent Ram: Stories from the Jain tradition – and how they differ from the Hindu canon
Followers of Hindutva believe that Jainism is just a branch of Hinduism, despite the fact that it is deemed a minority religion in India’s Constitution. They often use the phrase…
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The earliest Ramayana retellings do not refer to the Lakshman rekha. The earliest Mahabharata retellings do not refer to Draupadi’s vastra-haran. Both these ideas come from later versions of the epics. Does that make the oldest versions, composed in Sanskrit, the authentic…
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Science envy in God / Veda / Quran /Bible lovers......
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How Ramayana imagery changed over time... from 500 AD till today ... from happy images to angry images.
People mostly talk about the oral and textual stories of the Ramayana tradition, but we do not talk about its sculpture, imagery and art traditions as much.
In this exclusive video I talk about the changes in the art and imagery of Ramayana over centuries
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People mostly talk about the oral and textual stories of the Ramayana tradition, but we do not talk about its sculpture, imagery and art traditions as much.
In this exclusive video I talk about the changes in the art and imagery of Ramayana over centuries
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Which Bharat are we referring to as Santani Hindutva shies away from its Sindhu (Hindu/India) heritage?
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Tibetan Ramayana
In the early 20th century, six incomplete manuscripts containing excerpts of the Ramayana were found in the Mogao caves of Dunhuang, an archaeological site at the eastern end of the Silk Road in Xinjiang province of China. Written in an early Tibetan language,…
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Why is Shiva-ratri one of the few Hindu festivals to be celebrated in the not-so-auspicious dark half of the lunar cycle? Why is it celebrated just as winter draws to a close? These are questions to which “real” answers may never be known. However, one can always speculate.…
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What is Ram's ambition, I ask.
Answers reveal so many assumptions about the epic.
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Many Hindutva intellectuals think Santa Claus is the Christian God... he is not... do read if knowledge interests you ....
The story goes that an American visited a Japanese shopping mall and discovered to his horror that a Santa Claus effigy was on a cross! He thought this was…
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Almost all Hindu temples, built before Muslims, tell stories of that one "impure" devotee not allowed to enter the temple by Brahmins.
Was that based on varna or jati or caste or "Vedic science"?
Someone please explain it to confused vegetarians.
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Why is Holi celebrated more in north India than south India?
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A Sanskrit Scholar who thinks he is better than others is Ravan.
A Sanskrit Scholar who feels no need to show-off is Hanuman.
We meet mostly flashy Ravanas, claiming Brahmin roots, flying in "jets".
Hanuman is happy eating bananas in his plantain forest, remembering Ram.
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Was in Varanasi, Kashi for a conference.
Noticed these two beautiful women carrying pots. Then realised they are riding a turtle and a dolphin. In other words, these are images of Yamuna and Ganga.
If you look at images carefully, they reveal so much more.
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1200 AD = Jain temples broken by Turkish warlords in Delhi
1700 AD = Jain temples built in Delhi funded by Mughal kings
Power of Ahimsa and Anekantavada.
History no one will tell you.
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The idea of Krishna holding the flute also comes to us from South India. If you look at the early Krishna artworks from Mathura in the Kushan period, they show him as a warrior boy killing the horse, the donkey, the elephant, the snake, uprooting trees, raising mountains,…
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In Buddhist and Jain mythology, there is no concept of one all-powerful god; there are multiple small gods who will eventually bow to the Tirthankara or the Buddha, who speak not of power to control the world, but the power to overpower desire, hunger, jealousy, anger, pride.…
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A mythological perspective..... about God, state, institutiions and the circle of kings.
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On the Internet, one finds a lot of quotations claiming scientific truths within the Vedas.
This affliction is not unique to India, or Hindus.
There are people who claim that the Bible has all information about later scientific discoveries.
We are told that the Quran contains…
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Waiting for Ram
After a long crawl through a narrow cave in the hills of Jammu, you finally see Vaishno-devi embodied as three outcroppings of rock, draped with red cloth with gold tassels, flowers, with umbrellas hanging from above. The three rocks represent Maha-Lakshmi,…
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In Hindu mythology, gods sing, dance and make music and this is what makes Hinduism stand out from most other religions.
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So many mothers, and tongues
The devas were threatened, as usual, by the rise of yet another asura. This time it was Taraka, and he was exceptionally powerful. He had declared that only a six-day-old child could kill him. The devas wondered who could father such a powerful child…
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Veda is 3,000 years old and is made up of poetry (mantra) and prose (brahmana). Within the prose we find stories (itihasa) about conflicts over resources between humans, between gods and sometimes between humans and gods. It makes us realise Vedic people had issues similar to…
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Food in India, as in other parts of the world, is a marker of tribal identity. Jews have Kosher food. Muslims have Halal food. No argument is possible against these foods as they claim to be following Godʼs law. In India, food laws, traceable to Bhagavad Gita, refer to a…
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Human beings across the world are the same, and we react to sacred narratives in the same way. The scientific way of thinking enables us to decode these mythological stories and find out the metaphors expressed through them, what they could possibly represent or mean. However,…
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I delete old tweets.
Old ideas are like dead bodies.
To be created, consumed, and discarded.
As we move through time.
I let "pure" vegetarians scavenge them, store them, rant over time.... for they know their lies do not work anymore.
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Sati Savitri and other FEMINIST tales they don't tell you ....now in all bookshops....There is no Eve or Pandora in Hindu or Jain or Buddhist mythology.... why?
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Images of Buddha are popular in modern homes and health spas. It evokes peace, tranquillity and freedom from stress. It is the kind of artwork patronised by privileged people who are not very generous, but are forever in a state of gratitude. But the Buddha image evoked many…
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Ramayana describes Ravana as a Vedic Brahmin, author of many books related to medicine and astrology and engineering. But he does not respect humans. He strives to be dominating and territorial. He drives his brother out of the house and claims his property. He demands complete…
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"Justice is not a fact, it's a belief," said
@devduttmyth
in an exclusive interview with India Today | Watch:
#NewsToday
#AajTakAkhandCoverage
#RamDarshanOnAajTak
#RamMandirPranPrathistha
|
@sardesairajdeep
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The "guru" is not an "eternal" Hindu concept.
How gurus destroyed, and continue to destroy, India's scientific spirit.
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How some Sri Lankans have responded to the Ravana lore in modern times........
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DEEPER understanding of Harappan (Indus Valley) SCRIPT.... published by an INDIAN, in a peer-reviewed journal (so to be taken seriously)...the scripts / seals were used as stamps, licenses, permits to regulate logistics/trade by this mercantile community.
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Is Goddess Saraswati Connected to Love and Longing?
Valentine’s Day upsets Hindutva, that valorises men over women, celibacy over sensuality, politics over arts, and lets saffron eclipse the rainbow. They want to save India’s culture but this does not include the vast tradition…
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At the famous Tirupati Balaji temple in Seemandhra, as one walks the many steps to the temple, one finds the concrete image of Mala Dassari on the ground prostrating towards Tirupati. He was a leather worker who would make footwear for the travellers, and guard pilgrim footwear…
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Its embarrassing when "pure" vegetarians justify untouchability.
Please don't let your ego pollute Hinduism.
🙏🙏🙏
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The story goes that when Brahma was sleeping, the Veda slipped out of his mouth and was stolen by a demon. Vishnu appeared either as a fish or a horse-headed being, Hayagriva, overpowered the demon and rescued the Veda. The demon had hidden in a conch-shell, under the sea. Vishnu…
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Do watch....
"If you follow the rules you go to heaven, if don't follow the rules you go to hell, is a very middle-eastern, western idea," said
@devduttmyth
|
#Exclusive
:
#NewsToday
#AajTakAkhandCoverage
#RamDarshanOnAajTak
|
@sardesairajdeep
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The introduction to this one god is made by a goddess in the Kena Upanishad, which was composed around 100 BC. The devas thought their victory was because of them. But a being appeared and challenged Agni, the fire-god to burn a straw. Agni failed. He then challenged Vayu, the…
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Did Krishna's wives commit sati?
Did Madri commit sati? Why is she cremated again then?
Are these interpolations added by later Brahmin keepers of the epics to justify the act of burning widows?
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Gurus in India feel women are pollution and so promote celibacy, even within marriage. This makes men pure we are told. But Hindu gods get married - Shiva, Vishnu, Ram, Krishna....even though modern "dharmic" posters rarely if at all show wives (or even mothers)
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Imaginary tales create real genocide.
Sorry rationalists.
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@urvish2020
Many people who value science have said this.
1. Lanka had Sala trees, found only in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Not South India.
2. Sugriva describes Kishkinda as west of Mahanadi and North of Vindhya.
But "faith" is not same as text.
Faith changes with history.
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It is important to make note Buddhism was patronised by kings who knew the importance of power. This power was gathered through violence. Therefore, we find Buddha or Buddha-like images holding weapons in royal Buddhist art.|
Read More ...
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Ram in shown Green in many parts of South and East India because green is colour of beauty.... shringara rasa...to know more watch.... Ramayana in Art ...
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There are those who prefer an angry face.....
But there is a nice face, a wise face, a kind face, a joyful face, a tranquil face, a stoic face.....
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Science Values Doubt Over Faith
Someone who talks about semen rising up the spine with yogic techniques is likely to be more venerated today by the establishment than a scientist who disproves this fantasy. Indians have always privileged the guru’s testimony over the scientific…
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The name of the famous Madeira wine from Portugal, available since the 15th century, has its roots in mada, a Sanskrit word for intoxication, which is linked to the Indo-European word 'mead' or an intoxicating brew that gods loved to drink.
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Egypt turned Christian and had cancelled its old gods, having condemned them as false and pagan. One formless god prevailed. The true god, as per his followers. This true god’s son was born of a virgin and artists depicted him in her arms. This art was much like the ancient…
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Shiva, who sits atop Mount Kailasa, located in the Himalayas, once gave a discourse on Veda and Tantra. Seven sages rushed to hear it, causing the earth to tilt northwards. To balance the world, Shiva told Agastya to move to the south. As Agastya went south, Shivaʼs consort…
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How storytelling became a Vedic tool?
Animals do not tell each other stories. Humans do — for entertainment, for propaganda, for memory and history transmission, and, most importantly, for meaning. Stories transmitted over generations serve as the glue of a community.…
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Ramayana is a curiously modern book, because it deals with CONSENT. Both male and female.
Shurpanakha, a 'demon' woman, wants to have intimacy with Ram, against his consent, but she is shoved away by violence.
Ravan, Shurpankha’s brother, wants to have intimacy with Sita against…
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Oppenheimer’s Gita - by Devdutt Pattanaik ()
First published August 6, 2023 in Mid-day
Many Indians get excited when White People read Indian religious texts. WhatsApp groups proudly shared how Oppenheimer, Father of Atomic Bomb, quoted lines from the…
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The Kama Sutra draws attention to the tension between the monogamous housewife and the polygamous courtesan. The former has access to status, power, dignity and nobility while the latter has freedom, agency and enterprise. The two belong to very different worlds. This was part of…
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गरुड़ पुराण अट्ठारह महापुराणों में एक है जिसका उद्देश्य व्यक्ति को जीवन में सही रास्ते पर चलने की प्रेरणा देना है। ऐसी मान्यता है कि जो गरुड़ पुराण की शिक्षाओं को अपने जीवन में पालन कर लेता है उसे मृत्यु के बाद ईश्वर के चरणों में स्थान मिल जाता है। इस कारण हिन्दू धर्म में गरुड़…
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“The Ramayana has never been a tale of Ram’s life. It is a tale of how Ram lived for others. By retelling his tale, storytellers hope to inspire themselves and others
to live as Ram did.”
— Devdutt Pattanaik in “The Book of Ram”
To Read this, and Devdutts other books about…
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How devotion marks space and creates societies..... (things we do not notice in temples)
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Everyone told me how Hindus appropriated Buddha as 9th avatar of Vishnu.
No one told me how Vishnu was appropriated by Buddhists to become guardian god of Sri Lanka.
Brahmin and Buddhist experts do not tell you everything as they don't know everything.
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Along the coasts of India and islands of Southeast Asia we find festivals linked to monsoon winds. Before the monsoon, after the new moon, Deccan trade routes celebrate Ugadi. After the monsoon, on full moon, fisher folk of Konkan celebrate Narali Poornima. Tamil Nadu celebrates…
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The world of balance sheets is in fact the world of karma: the world of debt and equities, of debit and credit, of snakes and ladders. Taking loans drags us to Naraka, hell. Investing in others lifts us to Swarga, paradise. Liberation happened when you repaid loans who owed…
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Veda do not refer to the story of Samudra-Manthan (Churning of the ocean ).
There are more churning of ocean images in Southeast Asia (e.g. Bangkok airport) than in India....
ever wonder why?
Read this column ...
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Yagna is the primal ritual of the Veda. Mistranslated as sacrifice, it is a ritual of exchange and reciprocity. To appreciate its philosophy, we need to hear stories.
Read More ...
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Western leadership models are military in nature. Command and control. It's about tracking tasks and achieving targets. Indian leadership models were about people - reminding them that the purpose of life is not to eat, but to feed. To feed is dharma. He who enables feeding is…
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What was the THIRD Aryan INVASION?
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In India, we have many mother tongues: one from our mother, several from the mother land: some connect us with our roots, some help build relations with neighbours, some get us good international jobs. All mothers are good and wonderful and delightful.
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Mythology और Mithya में क्या है फर्क? | Devdutt Pattanaik | Sahitya Aaj ...
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नवदुर्गा: जीवन के नौ चरणों का प्रतीक, शिवजी को बनाया ��ंपूर्ण
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The story of Nala privileges talent which grows with time, over physical beauty and even fortune, which wanes with time. More importantly, the story talks about the love of a wife who stands by her husband even through bad times and values him for his talents not his looks.|…
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We would like to believe that saints are above mundane rivalries, and have conquered the ego, which means they have no urge to compete or conquer. But the same is not true of their followers who write hagiographies (exaggerated biographies) and fill it with miraculous events and…
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ज़रथूस्ट्राई विश्व का सबसे प्राचीन एकेश्वरवादी धर्म, भारत में पारसी कहलाया
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There is a queer positive line in the famous 16th century Awadhi masterpiece Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas. In the final chapter (7.87A), Rama tells the crow, Bhusundi, ‘Purush napunsaka nari va jiva charachara koi, sarva bhaav bhaja kapat taji mohi param priya soi’ (men, queers,…
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The four yugas of Hindu mythology (Krita, Treta, Dvapara, Kali) are based on the numbers on traditional four-sided dice: four, three, two, one. They refer to the four legs of the bull of dharma. In the ideal age, the bull stands on four legs, in the age of Ram it has only three,…
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