It is impossible to discuss Hinduism without highlighting the role of AdiShankaracharya. Besides championing the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, herestructured the ancient Sanyasa order. He […]
Katyuri and Chand Dynasties Architectural Marvels
Legacy and Cultural Significance The Katyuri Dynasty is renowned as the foremost rulers in Uttarakhand, credited with establishing the civilization in Katyur, Baijnath. This civilization not only flourished culturally but also showcased remarkable intelligence. The iconic architecture of Baijnath, Jageshwar, Kandolia in Pauri, and Katarmal Sun Temple stand as enduring legacies of Katyuri reign. Despite the presence of other dynasties like Shaks, Pals, and Chands, the Katyuris wielded significant influence in Kumaon. The term “Kurmanchal,” later evolved into Kumaon, originated from the Katyuri Kingdom, underscoring their historical importance. Believed to have ruled Kabul in Afghanistan before expanding into Kashmir, Himachal, and Uttarakhand, the Katyuris left a lasting imprint across these regions. According to Badri Dutt Pandey, a prominent journalist in the 1940s, the Katyuris hailed from Ayodhya and were of Suryavanshi lineage. Evidence suggests a strong connection between the Katyuris and Kabul, Afghanistan, as ruins resembling the architecture of Jageshwar and Baijnath temples can be found in Gandhar (Khandar), Afghanistan.…
TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan Arrested After 55 Days on the Run over Sandeshkhali case
The arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, a prominent figure in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the state. Shahjahan, who had been evading law enforcement for 55 days following the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on January 5, was apprehended by state police late on Wednesday night. His arrest comes amidst a backdrop of mounting allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing leveled against him by local tribal communities. Following Shahjahan's arrest, the TMC swiftly moved to suspend him from the party for a period of six years, as announced by TMC MP Derek O Brien. The state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the investigation into the cases involving Shahjahan, who was brought before the Basirhat court and subsequently transferred to the CID's headquarters in Kolkata. Police revealed that multiple FIRs had been registered against Shahjahan in connection with the January 5 incident, including…
Arun Yogiraj, the Artisan Behind Ram Lalla Idol at Ayodhya’s Historic Pran Pratishtha
Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, belonging to a lineage of five generations of distinguished sculptors in Mysuru, played a pivotal role in crafting the idol of Ram Lalla for the newly constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Arun Yogiraj, who arrived in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony (pran pratishtha), expressed his profound gratitude and considered himself the "luckiest person on the earth now." The idol of Ram Lalla, portraying Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus, was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple last week. Speaking about his journey into sculpting, Arun Yogiraj highlighted the influence of his father, Yogiraj, and grandfather, Basavanna Shilpi, who received patronage from the King of Mysore. Despite briefly pursuing an MBA and working in the corporate sector, Yogiraj's passion for sculpting drew him back into the art form in 2008. Since then, his artistry has flourished, leading him to create iconic sculptures that have gained nationwide recognition. One of Yogiraj's notable…
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Confronts German Vice Chancellor Over China Blocking Tunnel Boring Machine Exports to India
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had a candid exchange with German Vice Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck on Saturday regarding an unexpected trade barrier: China blocking the sale of German-manufactured Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) intended for India. The incident took place on a Delhi Metro train as both ministers were en route to the YashoBhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka for the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations. A video of the conversation, capturing Goyal’s frank comments, has since gone viral on social media. During the metro ride, Goyal informed Habeck that India had been purchasing TBMs from Herrenknecht, a German company that manufactures these machines in China. He explained that China was now blocking Herrenknecht’s sale of these TBMs to India, which was hindering essential infrastructure projects across the country. Projects using Herrenknecht’s TBMs include major metro systems in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as the ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train. A clip of their conversation, shared…
Shankar Idea: India and Dharma
Adi Shankaracharya, regarded as one of the most philosophical and religiousleaders in Santana Dharma and Indian History. Not because the immenseknowledge he had in Vedas and Upanishads but because he made a sheernumber of contributions in a short span of his life of 32 years. Shankaracharyacrisscrossed North to South, East to West about three times almost 1200 yearsago intending to unite India as an entity.Born in a village named Kaladi, Kerala around 788 A.D. he had a keen interestin spiritual knowledge right from childhood. At the age of 8, he attainedSanyasa. At the age of 16, he wrote commentaries on Brahmasutra, BhagwatGeeta and Upanishads. He was a metaphysician with a dynamic personality,amazing grasping power and astounding moral and spiritual force. There is nodenying the fact that he is one of the few individuals who has impactedSanatana Dharma the most. With his enormous capacities, he influenced andorganised people all over the country. At the time when different sects wereemerging, the Vedas…
Mid-Day ‘s Erroneous Report on EVM s and the Subsequent Clarification
On June 16, Mid-Day published a sensational report claiming that a relative of newly elected Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar used a mobile phone to generate an OTP that allegedly unlocked Electronic Voting Machines (EVM s) and the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) at the NESCO Centre during the counting of votes on June 4. The report implied that this unauthorized action might have influenced the election results, suggesting that Shiv Sena’s victory was aided by this tampering. The report caused an uproar, with political figures, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, using it to renew attacks on the integrity of EVMs. Social media saw a resurgence of debates and accusations about the security and reliability of the EVMs used in India's electoral process. The Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly issued a statement debunking Mid-Day's claims. The ECI clarified that EVMs are standalone devices not connected to any network, making remote unlocking via OTPs impossible. The entire process, from…
Adi Shankaracharya’s reflection on Uttarakhand Tourism
A world without Adi Shankaracharya is impossible to imagine. A world without Adi Shankaracharya is the world without the existence of a great civilization of […]