Monthly Archives: August 2009

The grahaNa of the fourth hero

Posted on August 26, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

We learned that the amAtya was caught up with completing the devotions to the terrifying vighnarAja. We tried to reach the sachiva, but we could only reach MM. MM informed us that the sachiva had received the intelligence that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Leave a comment

nAstika-s before the tathAgata and the nirgrantha

Posted on August 18, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

An essay by shrI sarvesha tivArI pointed me to some discussions that in turn reminded me of a debate with my parents’ jaina neighbors on a visit to bhArata long ago. He was narrating how vardhamAna was just the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Heathen thought, History | Leave a comment

Asia and geopolitics

Posted on August 16, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

The mettle of any nation or for that matter any individual is tested in war or strife. That is why we are inspired by the image of the soma-drinking thunderer: “AshuH shishAno vR^iShabho na bhImo ghanAghanaH kShobhaNash charShaNInAm| saMkrandano.animiSha ekavIraH … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

balA to kAmeshvarI

Posted on August 14, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

“mAtar-bhaNDa-mahAdaitya-sUnavo yoddhum AgatAH || 77 || Mother, the great daitya bhaNDa’s sons have arrived to give battle. taiH samaM yoddhum ichChAmi kumAritvAt-sakautukA | I wish to battle them due to my youthful enthusiasm. saphurantAviva me bAhU yuddha-kaNDUyayAnayA || 78 || … Continue reading →

Posted in Heathen thought | Leave a comment

nAgArjuna’s head

Posted on August 11, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

Remember nAgArjuna’s head. The prince wanted to cut off nAgArjuna’s head and advanced with a sword. He thought that no one knew of his ways. But when two men speak thinking they are alone rAjan varuNa hears as the third. … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | Leave a comment

nAstika notes: ma~njushrI and the nAma-saMgIti

Posted on August 7, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

The meteoric rise of ma~njushrI in the bauddha realm is not immediately apparently in his hazy beginnings. He appears to have been the focus of the syncretic absorption of several deities which can be seen in course of the evolution … Continue reading →

Posted in Heathen thought, History | Comments Off on nAstika notes: ma~njushrI and the nAma-saMgIti

adhika mantra-s of the nIlarudropaniShat

Posted on August 6, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

The nIlarudropaniShat has some additional mantra-s beyond those included in the nIlarudra sUktaM. These mantra-s are drawn from the raudra gaNa of the paippalAda saMhitA of the AV. The combination of the nIlarudra sUktaM along with the raudra gaNa (AV … Continue reading →

Posted in Heathen thought | Leave a comment

hiraNyavarNAyai namaH

Posted on August 6, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI
Posted in art, Heathen thought | Leave a comment

The accomodation of women and shUdra-s in the pAshupata system

Posted on August 3, 2009 by mAnasa-taraMgiNI

As we noted before the pAshupata tradition was originally strictly restricted to brAhmaNa males who were educated in the veda-s. They were celibate ascetics who kept away from regular social interaction. But by the time of the vAmana purANa we … Continue reading →

Posted in Heathen thought, History | Leave a comment