Insight

Yoga Of Cosmic Form

T he eleventh chapter of the Geeta named as VishwaRupa - Darshana Yoga or the Yoga of Cosmic Form has attracted the attention of great scientists and western thinkers. Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, Thoreau, Carl Jung, Aldous Huxley, etc were great admirers of the concepts of the Ultimate Reality and the interconnectedness of things propounded by the Geeta. The oft quoted statement of Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb that now I am the death is taken from the eleventh chapter of the Geeta. ..

Yoga for divine opulence

 By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA : T he tenth chapter of the Geeta is titled as the Vibhuti Yoga or the Yoga of opulence and glories. Continuing his dialogue with Arjuna, Lord Krishna propounds that even the highly evolved persons do not know abou..

Yoga of royal secret path

A s the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna progresses, it becomes subtle from gross, spiritual from material, royal from ordinary and secret from open. The ninth chapter of the Geeta is named as RajavidyaRajaguhya - Yoga or the Yoga of the royal path which is secret. The path which Lord Krishna is talking about is royal because it frees the practitioners from all sorrows and suffering and it is highly secret as it is not known to many. The path is eternal and is attainable by all. This is the ..

Signatureof India’sSovereignty

  By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR : When a ‘Gentleman State’ is pitted against a ‘Rogue State’, the result is always the same -- the victory of the gentleman and the defeat of the rogue. This is what human history has shown, and..

Yoga of Imperishable Supreme Reality

T he present article is based upon the theme of the eighth chapter of the Geeta titled Akshara Brahma Yoga or the Yoga of the Imperishable Supreme Reality. The Geeta is a text of selfdiscovery and self-evolution. Its initial purpose is to integrate the lower nature with the higher one and ensure a tranquil and harmonious personality. Through meditation and devotion, the human mind becomes steadfast and merges into the cosmic consciousness. The individual consciousness is nothing, but an integral part ..

The Helping Hand

  By SOWMYA MANI : New mothers across India seek support in virtual communities, navigating challenges with peer advice, sisterhood, and solidarity. Covering everything from solid food to sleep training, here’s how these online groups..

For those who have no one...

   Despite receiving death threats, Israeli-origin Dr Michelle Harrison dedicated her life to providing safe space and a future to orphaned girls. With continued bomb blasts and strikes leading to loss of life, property and basic resou..

Yoga of knowledge& wisdom

   Yoga of knowledge& wisdom In the scheme of the Geeta, the first set of six chapters deals with the path of action, the second set of middle six chapters enunciates the path of knowledge and the last set of six chapters advocates..

Yoga of self-restraint

T he sixth chapter of the Geeta has been named as Atma Sanyama Yoga or the Yoga of self-control. While introducing the subject, Lord Krishna emphasises the significance of mental attitude of detachment from the fruits of actions for being a Sanyasi or a renunciate. In the Vedic scheme of things, renunciation is fundamentally a way of life without craving, attachment and mental agitations. Equipoise and equanimity are the hallmarks of renunciation. Just by donning the saffron robes, nobody can become ..

Making sustainability a simple choice

  Making sustainability a simple choice Every day at Sonika Bhasin’s Mumbai home unfolds with a rhythmic routine. On the kitchen countertop sits a large container, ready to collect the peels and ends of vegetables — remnants of..

De-addiction is a slow process’

   By RITA AGGARWAL  EMOTIONS  ‘De-addiction is a slow process’ Q. 1. I have a 15- year- old son who has been spending increasing hours on his phone and in front of screen, often staying up late at night desp..

Path Of Renunciation

    Path Of Renunciation :    Fifth in the series, the present article is an exploration into the deeper dimensions of the path of renunciation. The Geeta is a text of self discovery based upon the gradual self evolution sta..

Knowledge,the purifier

T he grief of Arjuna in the first chapter of the Geeta is addressed by Lord Krishna through counselling in the second chapter and he suggests acquiring equipoise by performing actions without attachment. As the counselling advances, it takes the form of serious philosophical and self evolutionary discourse in the succeeding chapters. The third chapter deals with the Yoga of action and Lord Krishna highlights that even though the ultimate purpose is to attain knowledge of consciousness, actions are ..

‘Face the new challenges of life’

 By RITA AGGARWAL (Consulting Psychologist) : Q. I am a 24-year-old student from Raipur. I have recently moved away from home for the first time for work. Although I am excited about starting this new chapter in my life, I feel lonely and discon..

The 100-Year Journey - III RashtriyaSwayamsevakSanghTheApril 13, 2025Hitavada Insigh MELANGE I LIFESTYLE I NATUREt■ Mail us your feedback at [email protected] story oflofty -but practical -ideals

“So, finally Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surrender before the RSS leadership at Nagpur. The RSS is unhappy with the BJP and Narendra Modi must now placate the RSS antagonism. For the past ten years, he did not care to visit the RSS Headquarters. But now, the situation calls for his surrender”. - The gist of media and political speculation doing the rounds in the country..

Amazing Stories Behind GI - Tagged Sweets You Must Try

  By KRYSTELLE DSOUZA  The mithaiwala at the curb on my street is viewed as nothing less than God by his patrons who are regulars at his 100-square-foot shop. While the space behind the glass boasts a certain few sweets — pedhas, barf..

Nature’s Refuge Feathered VisitorsR Liquid

  By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR A lone bird appears up in the sky and steadies to a standstill for what seems to be a long time. He then lowers his head -- as if searching for a landing ground in the sprawling lake below. He then begins a slow, delib..

8Great Spiritual Riddles Of Vedanta

  8Great Spiritual Riddles Of Vedanta   By RAJU S CHIDAMBARAM Vedanta is nothing if not revolutionary in the way it upends many of our commonly held notions. That is the reason why we cannot readily comprehend some statements..

Psychological Confusion Of Arjuna

   Psychological Confusion Of Arjuna The first chapter of the Geeta deals with the grief of Arjuna. Consequent upon that, Lord Krishna counsels him to follow the righteous path. During his course of counseling, Lord Krishna imparts the..

Can AI-generated Ghibli Art be called true art?

 By ABHIJEET BAHADURE : An artist’s perspective  T he rise of AI-generated artwork in the style of Studio Ghibli has sparked an intense debate. As an artist, I firmly believe that AI-generated versions of Ghibli’s work - or..

The 100-Year Journey - II Unparalleled participation in public discourse Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Unparalleled participation in public discourse

“So, you finally saw to it that the Bharatiya Janata Party rose to power,” said a very senior leader of the Congress party in a private conversation with a senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, some time in the winter of 2014 as Mr Narendra Modi launched his prime ministership with a vigour the like of which the nation had not seen before. The RSS senior functionary responded in a calm but firm tone,“Look, that was never our aim, and it will never be our aim”. “But yours is certainly ..

Breaking Stereotypes

  By LEKSHMI GOPALAKRISHNAN Wearing a close-fitting black T-shirt and jeans, she walked confidently before superstar Mohanlal, clearing the path for him by efficiently managing the crowd. Her tough looks and commanding gestures made her sta..

A peek into Dr Hedgewar’s philosophy of cultural nationalism

  cultural nationalism On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a book on its founder, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, is all set to reveal hitherto unexplored aspects of his life and political journey...

Anti-dote of counselling to neurotic mind

    By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA   In the first chapter of the Geeta we have seen the neurotic tendencies demonstrated by Arjuna. Lord Krishna has devised the techniques of one to one counselling to Arjuna in order to r..

Nervous breakdown of Arjuna

  By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA : Divided into eighteen chapters, the Bhagavadgeeta starts with grief and ends with enlightenment and liberation. The first chapter is named as the Arjuna- Vishada- Yoga or the chapter dealing with the grief..

The 100-Year Journey - I Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh The unmatched story of voluntaryism

The core value of the Sangh is moulding of individual person -- through whom the nation-building would be achieved ultimately. For the impatient, this journey may appear to be too long a haul. For the Sangh, that is the only way to achieve the goal of nation-building -- Rashtra-nirman. This task is to be achieved through patience, persistence, perseverance -- and prayer, the Sangh believes...

The Practical Adda

    By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR It is not possible not to agree with the observation by Sachin Marya in his Foreword that Agency Adda; The Ultimate Agency Blueprint “isn’t your typical business book”. The book truly is a..

GITA Acharan

  By SIVA PRASAD The ability to learn throughout life is a human endowment. The fundamental question is how to learn and what to learn. Krishna says, "Know 'that' by prostration, questioning and service, the wise who have realised the Truth..

Boosting Focus

  By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA O nce Swami Vivekananda had remarked that the only difference between an ordinary and extraordinary person is the ability to concentrate. This statement of Swami Vivekananda has found great resonance in the f..

‘Get out of the victim mindset’

Q. I teach in a school. Since the last few months, I have been feeling a lack of confidence in myself, I don't feel good about anything at all. An incident at the workplace might be the reason where I had to face backlash for somebody else's mistake. And with that came insecurities, and feeling low confidence, and so on. I am always in fear of whether I will fail in my work, I will not be able to have the confidence I used to have and it all seems to fall apart I really don’t understand what to do. ..

Concept of public welfare in Indian tradition

Indian civilisation is the oldest surviving civilisation of the world. The vital reason behind its survival is the dynamism, adaptive capabilities, inclusiveness and humanistic approach. These attributes are grounded upon the concept of public and universal welfare and well being. The famous Rig Vedic Mantra Ano Bhadrah Kratayo Yantu Vishwatah- Let the noble thoughts come from all the directions is the first declaration of dynamism. In the Vedic and post Vedic literature, no commandments are given. ..

Embrace life

   By RUPALI SETHI  Life is Beautiful by Dr Urvashi Tandon is a poignant and heartfelt exploration of human spirit, resilience, and pursuit of joy amidst life’s vicissitudes. This powerful narrative stands out as a testament to t..

Vietnam:A tapestry oftraditions,tranquillity &triumph

  By REKHA NARSIKAR  Planning a trip to a booming tourist destination like Vietnam requires thoughtful considerations. To explore such a vibrant and diverse land, we must carefully craft an itinerary that allows us to savour the countryR..

Near Death Experience

  By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA Life after death has been a subject of curiosity and research amongst all the societies of the world since ancient period. All the dominant streams of religions and ancient philosophies believe in life after..

From consciousness to sublimation

How does it feel to be free of the feeling of greed, ambition, power, position, material being, identity? Well, for different people, the answer may be different. But, for crores of people united by faith, it was like liberation from consciousness into the zone of sublimation once they took a dip in the holy waters at the Triveni Sangam of the sacred rivers -- Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati - - at Prayagraj, during the once-in144-years pious occasion of Mahakumbh Mela. “Ho gayee trupti?” (Are you content ..

Dip Into Holy Sangama

The Kumbha is the most vibrant, monumental and largest celebration of the Hindus. It is woven into an intricate tapestry of faith, symbols, traditions, culture, astrology, spirituality and social harmony. It is held at the four places namely Prayagaraja, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar at a gap of twelve years each. It has become an integral part of Indian oral traditions that the nectar splashed at the four places from its pitcher after the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean in the attempt by ..

KASHMIRA VALE OF WISDOMTHE CROWN OF INDIA

   By PROF SHASHIBALA  Kashmir has been the cradle of wisdom, Indian culture, a land of rishis, philosophers, historians, scholars, monks, pilgrims, artists, rhetoricians and story tellers. It is the crown of India not only by vir..

Relaxed Alertness

   By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA  It is a great challenge to cultivate relaxed alertness. Emotions run high in case of challenges and anxiety. As a result, the rational brain does not function optimally and there is a chaotic ment..

‘Look for solutions’

Q. My friend is a top student, always striving for perfection. Lately, she's been having trouble sleeping, her grades have dropped, and she's withdrawn from her friends. Her parents are concerned about her anxiety and potential burnout. Even though we can see she studies well and is trying to manage everything, she is never satisfied and always says, "I've not done my best". This is not letting her be happy and she has become cranky. What can we do to help her?..

Spirit Of Inquiry

The spirit of inquiry is the soul of scientific discoveries and inventions. No society or community will progress without a strong tradition of inquiry and investigation. Spirit of inquiry is based upon open mindedness and curiosity. Evidence based practices are the foundation stone of the spirit of inquiry. ..

GITA Acharan

    By SIVA PRASAD    The question of vikarma (prohibited action) or sin is very intriguing. Arjun is also in this very dilemma and says that sin alone will accrue by killing relations in battle (1.36). In fact, cultures..

Mahavakyas Of IndianTraditions

   By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA T he Vedic tradition which is more ritualistic in nature in the beginning culminates into the superfine discovery, declaration and exploration of consciousness and ultimate reality with the emergence of..

MAHAROGI SEWA SAMITI@75 Empowering the disadvantaged

 By KARTIK LOKHANDE : Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly remembered today as Baba Amte, founded Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS), along with his soulmate Sadhanatai (Indu) and six leprosy patients near Warora in Chandrapur district. The not-for-profit ..

Mahavakyas Of Indian Traditions

T he Vedic tradition which is more ritualistic in nature in the beginning culminates into the superfine discovery, declaration and exploration of consciousness and ultimate reality with the emergence of the Upanishads. The four Mahavakyas or the great declarations are the outcome of the transformative spiritual growth and investigation of the Indian sages, pursued inwardly through self inquiry and self awareness. The first Mahavakya - Prajnanam Brahma is found in the Aitareya Upanishad. The great ..

Preserving Heritage Bharatiya Sanskritik Kendra’s Tribute To Culture & Courage

“Ramayana, is more than just a tale; it is not only an integral part of India’s collective consciousness, it’s a treasure trove of life lessons that has taught generations about responsibility, loyalty, love, ethical conduct and the neverending pursuit of virtue. We have all grown up reading and hearing from our elders stories about Lord Rama, heard praises about Ram Rajya and many a time have sought eternal wisdom from its verses that resonate with astuteness. Transcending time and culture, it is ..

Nuances Of Pranayamas

O ne of the greatest gifts India has given to humanity is Yoga. Yoga has evolved over thousands of years. The word Yoga is generic, involving physical, respiratory, mental ,psychological and spiritual practices. According to Yoga statistics, about 300 million people practise Yoga. Yoga starts from the body and culminates into the refinement of consciousness. So it is as mystic as it is gross. The earlier texts like the Vedas, Upanishads and later Vedic literature have prominently mentioned the practices ..

Alfa Deficit Lifestyle

  By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA The human brain emits different electrical charges during certain periods and activities. This neural oscillation has been broadly grouped into five categories of brain waves. EEG (Electroencephalogram) is th..

Cerebral Integration

C erebral integration is one of the core concepts of neuroscience. It is the state of the brain when the different parts of the brain work optimally with coordination and equilibrium. According to the lateralisation theory of the brain, the brain has two hemispheres, left and right. The left hemisphere is associated with the logical and mathematical abilities of the brain. The right part of the brain is poetic and emotional. The right part of the body is controlled by the left brain and the left part ..

Intuitive Discoveries Of Indian Seers

My thesis of Ph D was on the phonetics of the Mahabhashya by the sage Patanjali. The Mahabhashya is a very comprehensive commentary on the aphorisms of the sage Panini and the grammatical work of the sage Katyayana known as Vartikas. It marks a watershed in the field of linguistics, grammar and philosophy. The philosophy of grammar reached its pinnacle in the Mahabhashya of Patanjali. Patanjali is known for popularising the theory of Sphota. The word Sphota means bursting out. According to this theory, ..

‘Good to be aware of early signs & symptoms’

  By RITA AGGARWAL (Consulting Psychologist) :  Q. My child is beginning to show some signs of poor attention. He is restless and fidgeting most times. He does not stay still and keeps moving here and there in the house. His teacher complai..