I had written about Sri Ramanujacharya and the philosophy of Vishishtha Advaita in a previous article and also about Adi Shankaracharya’s life and the Advaita philosophy in my travelogue on Kalady. On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima (5th July, 2020), I would like to complete this triumvirate, by including Madhvacharya and the Dvaita philosophy … Continue reading Udupi: Dwaita philosophy, Krishna and beyond ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Spirituality – Essays
Alavandar- The Glory of a King and a Saint ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
During the 10th century A.D, in a town called Viranarayanpura in Tamil Nadu, a learned teacher called Maha Bhashya Bhattar would guide his students on various subjects. A scholar called Akkiyalwan from the king’s court had the arrogance to challenge other intellectuals and also collect money from them. When Maha Bhashya Bhattar received summons to pay … Continue reading Alavandar- The Glory of a King and a Saint ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
#Kochi Diaries: Kalady: The birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
This article is dedicated to the memory of my father Col. K .S. Sachidanand (Corps of Engineers Madras Sappers, Indian Army) who left for his heavenly journey on May 27th, 2020 towards the Lotus Feet of the Paramatma “Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,Punarapi janani jatare sayanam, Iha samsaare bahu dusthare,Krupayaa pare pahi murare.” “Bhaja Govindam; Bhaja … Continue reading #Kochi Diaries: Kalady: The birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Gokarna- A little bit of everything ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Note: Your health and safety come first. Please avoid travel for now. However, we can still indulge in some arm-chair travel and soak in the history! Hope you enjoy this piece. It took us about nine hours to traverse the 485 kilometres to reach Gokarna from Bangalore. Yet there was no fatigue, as the journey … Continue reading Gokarna- A little bit of everything ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Sri Ramanujacharya and the revival of Bhakti ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
( This was first published in 'Speaking Tree' section of the Times of India, 2009; https://www.speakingtree.in/article/the-revival-of-bhakti_21441 . On the 1003th Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya, I share this article here of the incarnation of Adishesha, whose Jayanthi is celebrated during Ardra nakshatra (Thiruvathirai Nakshatra) day of Chitrai month) A guru wondered whether his student was worthy of … Continue reading Sri Ramanujacharya and the revival of Bhakti ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
The Essence Of Surrender ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
(Note: This article was first published in the October, 2006 issue of Life Positive. As we are in midst of a complete lock-down to combat the spread of SARS COV-2, I revisited this article and found it to be relevant to the circumstances) All through life we are confronted with adverse situations that are beyond … Continue reading The Essence Of Surrender ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
The Govardhan Ecovillage – a model for perfect sustainable and spiritual living
Last week, my family and I had the opportunity to visit the Govardhan Ecovillage located in a small hamlet called Galtare that is located on the Manor-Wada highway in Maharashtra. It us about 2.5 hours to traverse the distance of 106 kms from South Mumbai early in the morning. As we entered through the gates … Continue reading The Govardhan Ecovillage – a model for perfect sustainable and spiritual living
Devarayanadurga – In Search of a Divine Break ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
If you are in search of a quick one-day getaway from Bangalore, Devarayanadurga is a destination you may want to consider. Situated in the Tumkur district, Devarayanadurga is 60 kilometres north-west of Bangalore. The drive from Bangalore could take an average of two and half hours depending on your start destination. For us the drive … Continue reading Devarayanadurga – In Search of a Divine Break ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Kalkunte SriRanganathswamy Temple and Agraharam – The Living Past ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
A mere 30-minute drive from the Whitefield suburb of Bangalore brings you to the sleepy hamlet of Kalkunte. As part of the Bangalore Rural district, it has gained popularity for the Sri Ranganathswamy temple, which is visited by several devotees every year, especially during the 13-day Rathotsavam or the chariot festival that is held sometime … Continue reading Kalkunte SriRanganathswamy Temple and Agraharam – The Living Past ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
Following the Krishna route: Stop 2- Dwaraka – the Gateway to Heaven ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
And other temples........................................ 104 kms; 2 hours 7 mins After a half day stay at Porbandar, we left on a 2-hour journey alongside the western coast of the country to reach Krishna’s land – Dwaraka- which literally means ‘Gateway to Heaven’. For the itinerary in Porbandar do click on the following link https://sojournwithsan.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/following-the-krishna-route-stop-1-porbandar/ A Panoramic … Continue reading Following the Krishna route: Stop 2- Dwaraka – the Gateway to Heaven ©Sangeeta Venkatesh
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