Decolonizing Validation: Why Indian Art Needs No Oscar
Anjali KanojiaDecolonizing Validation: Why Indian Art Needs No Oscar Recently, social media in India has been buzzing with claims that Akshaye Khanna should win an Oscar. While the praise for his…
Path Dependencies in Bias Against Indian Professionals
Despite the United States being a nation built on native and immigrant sweat and blood, a persistent bias exists toward certain immigrant groups, mainly Indian professionals. Especially those on H-1B…
Degrees of Doubt: Understanding the Decline in Confidence and College Enrollment
In recent years, Americans have grown increasingly skeptical about the value and affordability of higher education. A 2024 Gallup-Lumina Foundation poll found that only 36% of adults express a high…
Stolen Breath: The Rebranding of Yoga in the Rise of Pilates
"I don't like yoga but I like Pilates." Where does one begin to understand such sentiments? Pilates, widely recognized today as a Western system of physical conditioning, is often presented…
Naga Panchami: Serpent Worship Beyond Ritual
The Spiritual Significance of Naga Panchami in Yogic Tradition Naga Panchami holds profound spiritual meaning in the yogic tradition, far beyond its ritualistic aspects. The serpent, or Naga, symbolizes the…
Ghee, Grace, and Generations: Naivedya and Kuladevi Worship in Saurashtra, Gujarat
After completing my second solo book, by Devi's grace, I found myself filled with gratitude and a longing to give back. That is when the thought took root: What better…
Before the Gods: Shiva & Yoga in Ancient Greece
A few days ago, a memory from Kos, Greece, popped up on Facebook. I visited ancient hospital ruins, which were not traditional hospitals as we know them but also temples…
Nada Yoga: Sound & Mantras for Transformation
A 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,…