Nada Yoga: Sound & Mantras for Transformation
Anjali KanojiaA mantra is a sacred sound, word, or phrase repeated during meditation or spiritual practice. The word 'mantra' derives from the Sanskrit terms' man,' meaning mind, and 'tra,' meaning vehicle…
From Mahishasura to the Matador: The Bull Across Time and Culture
In March 2025, Mexico City made a move to ban traditional bullfighting practices that involve harming or killing bulls. Instead, the new law allows only bloodless bullfights, where the animals…
Yantras – Sacred Geometry Machines
Yantras are intricate geometric designs with distinct origins, purposes, and symbolic meanings used in spiritual practices in dharmic traditions. In Indian traditions, these geometric diagrams are used for meditation, invoking deities,…
The Wisdom of Ayurveda & the Science of Plant Communication
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian holistic healing system originating over 5,000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent, is one of the world's oldest systems of medicine. The term comes from the…
The Scientific and Spiritual Significance of Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is probably one of the world's largest, most ancient spiritual gatherings, deeply rooted in Hindu science and tradition. Kumbh Mela is a religious festival that occurs every…
From the Vedas to Walden: The Hindu Roots of Transcendentalism
The Transcendentalists were a group of 19th-century American writers, thinkers, and philosophers who emphasized the importance of individual intuition, spirituality, and the connection between humanity and nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson…
Cultural Continuity: The Role of Caste, Gotras, and Kula Devas
Roles in Society and Caste The dharmasastras are fundamental to Indian culture and civilization. The Brahmanic social ideology, or caturvarnasramadharma ("dharma of four varṇas and four stages of life"), shapes…
The Divine Feminine and Indigenous Agriculture in Xochimilco
Xochimilco is a day trip from the center of Mexico City. Away from bustling city traffic and sounds, one gets instantly immersed in Nature, where the Feminine seems to lead…
Shiva, Snakes, & Yogis: Spirituality & Controversy at Gobekli Tepe & Karahan Tepe
Ancient pagan sites in modern-day Turkey, especially Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe, are hailed as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of recent times and have sparked controversy across…
Caste: Society’s First Classroom & its Contemporary Relevance
The caste system often gets a beating, mainly for not being understood or for purposefully misinterpreted. Based on cultural understanding, the caste system in its original form was a functional…