The Dharma Dispatch

The Self-Contained Republic of Kelambakam and its Women https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/the-self-contained-republic-of-kelambakam-and-its-women

[EPISODE 2] Viscount Valentia embodies the unapologetic, guilt-free mindset of the early-19th-century British ruling class: empire and slavery were not only profitable but morally ordained by Christian scripture. https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/viscount-valentia-the-unapologetic-exponent-of-colonial-slavery#:~:text=Viscount%20Valentia%20embodies%20the%20unapologetic%2C%20guilt%2Dfree%20mindset%20of%20the%20early%2D19th%2Dcentury%20British%20ruling%20class%3A%20empire%20and%20slavery%20were%20not%20only%20profitable%20but%20morally%20ordained%20by%20Christian%20scripture.

Valentia in Varanasi We begin a brand new exciting series based on Viscount Valentia's three-volume travelogue of his journeys in India. George Viscount Valentia, an Earl in England, embarked on a trip to India in 1802 and stayed here for about two years. Particularly eye-opening are the minute observations of his stay in Varanasi. He simply cannot stand the sight of the Alamgir mosque which he calls an eye-sore of the sacred city. Read the first episode! 🛕🕉🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/valentia-in-varanasi

Karnataka Chaos: A Mess Created by the Congress High Command Karnataka Congress is reaping the consequences of a toothless High Command that can no longer discipline its state chieftains, turning the state into a theatre of factional bloodsport between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shiva Kumar. In a previous era, a Sanjay or Indira Gandhi wouldn’t have blinked before replacing or expelling both Siddaramaiah and Shiva Kumar. Read the full piece! 😡📑😃 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/karnataka-chaos-a-mess-created-by-the-congress-high-command

Pagal Baba’s Profound Discourse on Kundalini This is one of the finest and profoundest expositions on the Yoga of Kundalini. Explained by an unknown Sadhu who was simply called Pagal Baba of Benares. "To rectify and perfect the bhāva-prakṛti (emotional nature), the very first necessity is the construction of the bhāva-kuṇḍalī (the coil or spiral of one’s emotional being). Once the construction of this kuṇḍalī is complete, it transforms into action exactly according to one’s will." Do read this truly extraordinary Pravachan! 🕉🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/pagal-babas-profound-discourse-on-kundalini

The Mad Sadhu’s Expositions on Śūnya, Bhakti and Avatara In this Bhāvākāśa, the vision of pure feeling (bhāva) manifests itself; the activity of creation is subsequent to that. At the root of creation lies Desire (Ichchhā). Why? Because without desire, creation cannot occur. But this desire can be either kāma (lust) or prema (divine love). From kāma arises ordinary creation; from prema arises divine creation — but both fall under the category of creation. -- Read one of the clearest expositions of the fundamentals of Hindu philosophy! 🕉🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/the-mad-sadhus-expositions-on-%C5%9B%C5%ABnya-bhakti-and-avatara

The Pravacana of the Mad Sadhu of Kashi Read this profound philosophical Pravachan delivered by a "Mad Sadhu" of Kashi sometime in the 1920s. This is one of the best discourses I've read and if you are engaged in Sadhana, it will prove immensely rewarding. The insights that this Sadhu gives comes from his direct spiritual experience. Do read and share widely. 🕉🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/the-pravacana-of-the-mad-sadhu-of-kashi

Mohammad Shahbuddin: The Posterboy of Bihar's Jungle Raj With 202 seats, the NDA is unbeatable in the Bihar Assembly. However, the joy of victory must not erase the dark history of Bihar. For about two decades, Mohammad Shahbuddin was the Posterboy of Bihar's Jungle Raj. He ran almost an independent fiefdom in Siwan. Gun-running, extortion, murder, kidnapping, terror...nothing was out of bounds for him. In a particularly gruesome incident, he and his henchmen drenched Girish and Satish Raj in acid before shooting them dead. -- Never forget this dark past! 😡🔥🙏🛕 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/mohammad-shahbuddin-the-posterboy-of-bihars-jungle-raj

This is the painful story of an old Brahmana in Delhi who defied the bigot Firuz Shah Tughlaq by performing Puja openly. When he was caught, he opted to be burnt alive than to live a life of Mlecchahood. 🕉️🙏🛕🪔 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/the-unsung-brahmin-hero-who-defied-firuz-shah-tughlaq

The Story of the Ahalyesvara Mahadeva Temple in Maheshwar The most profound histories often lie hiding in plain sight. This is one such story of an 18th century inscription of Yashwant Rao Holkar who commissioned the building the Ahalyesvara Mahadeva Temple in Maheshwar in the sacred memory of Ahalyabai Holkar. If you stop at the entrance of the temple and look to your right, you see two smooth black stones. Engraved on it is the full story of how this grand temple was built. 🛕🪔🔱🕉 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/culture/the-story-of-the-ahalyesvara-mahadeva-temple-in-maheshwar

A Hushed Hindu Revolt against Dravidianism in Tamil Nadu A silent Hindu pushback against the Asuric Dravidian forces has been occurring in Tamil Nadu over the last 15 years or so. Its tipping point was reached in the grand Atti Varadar festival in 2019, which made global headlines. The Dravidian ecosystem is jittery and it shows. This is perhaps the most underrated story of Hindu resurgence in Tamil Nadu. Read the whole piece! 🛕🪔🔱🔥 https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/a-hushed-hindu-revolt-against-dravidianism-in-tamil-nadu

You follow a straight line for 115 kms west from Jaipur. You reach the Manglana village. It was once the site of great Hindu civilisational glory under the Chahamanas. It is also where you find a lovely step-well built to overcome the thirst of Marwar. https://www.dharmadispatch.in/history/the-magnificent-mangalana-step-well-a-sanatana-oasis-amid-turushka-chaos

A little-known achievement of Sardar Patel is how he frontally foiled Pakistan's plan to invade Delhi in September 1947 - less than a month after Independence. The script was Pakistan's. The execution was by Indian Muzlims. The Sardar gave it the death-blow. https://www.dharmadispatch.in/commentary/the-forgotten-1947-siege-of-delhi-scripted-in-pakistan-executed-by-indian-muslims-and-foiled-by-sardar-patel