indian philosophy
The Vedas have ordained two paths, Pravritti and Nivritti, to guide the active life of people, both as an individual pursuing spiritual goal and as a member in a social set up. Both paths are meant to lead to salvation. Pravritti dharma entails one to follow the worldly path and seek salvation, while Nivritti dharma is rooted in renunciation of the... See more
Pravritti and Nivritti
NEW Genetic Evidence for the Year of Mahabharat war; #Sattology Nilesh oak #Genetic
youtube.comNilesh Oak argues that modern genetic evidence for a dramatic and male-specific bottleneck around 7,500 years ago, centered in India, is best explained by the catastrophic population loss described in the Mahabharata war. He connects genetics, archaeology, and ancient narrative, proposing the Mahabharata war as a scientifically plausible historical event with lasting demographic and genetic effects visible in today's populations.
From the vijnanam to the annam is the aparardha or lower part of existence where Vidya is dominated by Avidya; from the ananda to the sat is the parardha or higher half in which Avidya is dominated by Vidya and there is no ignorance, pain or limitation.
The Incarnate Word
The most important surrender is the surrender of your character, your way of being, so that it may change. If you do not surrender your very own nature, never will this nature change.
Surrender
Trying to understand if surrender and sacrifice mean the same
the duality between Purusha-Prakriti hides an underlying unity which manifests at the physical, vital, mental and higher levels
Reconciling Samkhya, Vedanta and Tantra
Etymology of Agni
The word Agni is derived from the root "ag" meaning "to be," indicating existence in force and excellence.
The addition of "ni" emphasizes the qualities of strength, brightness, and supremacy associated with Agni.
The root "ag" is found in various languages, including Greek (ἀϒαθóς, agathos) and Latin (ago), highlighting the
The Mahabharata: Mythology or Historical Reality? An Exploration of Ancient Narratives and Modern Interpretations
ijhssm.orgThe paper investigates whether the Mahabharata should be seen strictly as mythology, as real history, or as a convergence of both, analyzing archaeological, literary, genetic, and astronomical evidence.
Myth vs. History:
The Mahabharata contains clear mythological elements: divine interventions, supernatural events, and moral allegory.
However, geographic accuracy, cultural details, and certain archaeological findings imply historical foundations beneath the legendary stories.
Prominent personalities (Ranveer Allahbadia, etc.) view the Mahabharata as "metaphorical reality."
2. Archaeological Evidence:
Excavations at sites like Kurukshetra, Hastinapur, and Ahichatra by B.B. Lal uncovered Painted Grey Ware pottery, tying these places to the Mahabharata era.
Marine archaeology at Dwarka (S.R. Rao) revealed submerged city remains and artifacts aligning with the epic's account of flooded Dwarka.
Other pottery findings and city remains reinforce the possibility of historical events underlying specific stories in the Mahabharata.
3. Genetic and Demographic Evidence:
Nilesh Nilkanth Oak and geneticist Monica Karmin argue that the massive male death toll described after the Kurukshetra War led to a genetic "bottleneck."
Modern genetic data (Y-chromosome diversity) shows a sharp reduction in male lineages around 7,500 years ago (matching the proposed war date of 5561 BCE), especially in South Asia. This suggests a real, catastrophic population event that could align with the war narrative.
4. Astronomical Dating:
Studies of references to eclipses and planetary alignments in the Mahabharata (Bijan Kumar Gangopadhyay) date the war to around 3102 BCE, close to other calculations by ancient scholars (Tilak, Aryabhatta).
These findings support the view that the epic encodes actual celestial observations and events.
5. Myth, Science, & Cultural Interpretation:
Some miraculous events (like embryo transfer, flying vimanas) could be early, mythologized references to advanced technologies (surrogacy, aeronautics), hinting at scientific knowledge encoded in myth.
Scholars like Romila Thapar and Wendy Doniger stress the Mahabharata's value as both a cultural mythos and a possible window into real history, with narrative fairy tales used to convey philosophy and dharma (ethics).
6. Conclusion:
The Mahabharata blends mythology, history, and philosophy. Ongoing archaeological, genetic, and astronomical research continues to clarify its foundations. It should be approached as a document recording the social, ethical, and possibly historical evolution of ancient Indian civilization, rather than as pure myth or literal fact. The boundary between fiction and history remains porous, but research increasingly supports the idea that the epic is rooted in substantive historical realities, dramatized and encoded in India's most revered narrative.
Samkhya called it Purusha-Prakriti, Tantra defined the dual Ishwara-Shakti, and Vedanta called it Atman-Maya.
Reconciling Samkhya, Vedanta and Tantra
The three dualistic schools
Karma by itself cannot lead to salvation; but in the process of doing one’s karma one attains chitta suddhi and gains jnana by which he is likely to attain salvation.