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The Astronomical Code of the Rigveda and Archaeoastronomy

  The following text is a brief description of breakthrough work Dr. Subhash Kak published in nearly two decades ago. My sincere thanks to Dr. Kak for publishing such revolutionary thought, sometimes challenged by other scholars, however I remain very grateful!   The Astronomical Code of the Rigveda (New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 1994; revised and enlarged edition, New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 2000) claims regularities in the organization of the Rigveda, connecting the structure to certain numbers in the astronomy-based ritual of the five-layered brick altars of the Vedic times. Kak’s archaeoastronomical claims have the effect of significantly extending the Vedic period, postulating the arrival of ethnic Indo-Aryans to the 7th …

Accuracy of Vedic Astrology and Western Astrology

Vedic astrology is one of the oldest forms of astrology. It evolved over 5,000 years ago and is based on a body of knowledge known as the ‘Vedas,’ which translates to ‘knowledge’ or ‘wisdom,’ and is referred to as Jyotish, — the ‘light of the heavenly bodies’. Today, Vedic astrology is acknowledged as one of the most powerful forms of astrology in practice and is followed by millions around the world. While Western astrology is known for its emphasis on the psychological nature and personality of the individual, Vedic astrology’s primary focus is on predicting cycles and events of the future, putting more emphasis on understanding when certain events are …

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Jaisalmer Fort, One of the Largest Forts in the World

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world. Fort Rajwada, Jaisalmer was built with the patronage of Shri Jitendra Singh Rathore and Shri Dileep Singh Rathore. Spread on a land of 6 acres, Fort Rajwada is a magnificent structure standing evidence to its royal past. The interior of this princely house was designed by the gifted and celebrated opera designer Ms. Stephanie Engeln. It was built in 1156AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rao Jaisal, from where it derives it name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and has been the scene of many battles. Its massive …

Agra Fort

Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh

An era marked by invasions and fortifications, where power was symbolized by grand palaces and grander forts………during such time was built THE AGRA FORT. Fortification has always been and still is the prerogative of the mighty; the dividing line between the ruler and the ruled. Agra Fort, is a monument, (Hindi: आगरा का किला, Urdu: آگرہ قلعہ‎) a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The present-day structure was built by the Mughals, though a fort had stood there since at least the 11th century. Agra Fort was originally a brick fort, held by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 …

The River of Hinduism Runs Eternal

Hinduism is not a doctrine but an eternal philosophy of life in perpetuity empowering individual to spiritual realization. Terms such as guru and avatar, ideas as karma and reincarnation, Self-realization and God-realization, such practices as Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, vegetarianism and non-violence, all arise from the spiritual matrix of Hinduism in India. The Western world is experiencing the spiritual side of the culture preserved better in the East, particularly in India, the ancient land of Vedic Sciences. Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas. It originates from the rishis, seers of the Vedas, who were said to have envisioned it originally through the power of the Divine Word “OM”. The Sanskrit …

Karma & Reincarnation in Vedic Hinduism

Reincarnation The twin beliefs of karma and reincarnation are among Hinduism’s many jewels of knowledge. Others include dharma or our pattern of religious/spiritual conduct, and enlightenment through personal realization of our identity in and with God. As per Hinduism, the life on earth is not a discrete one time event. It is just one episode in multiple appearances (births) before the soul finally takes leave from the cycle. The birth is not just limited to being born as human; it also includes the births as the animals and even as the divines who rule the parts of nature! After-all, all these things have a life and the appearance of the …

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Origins of Hinduism

In terms of its religious development there are now two basic theories that attempt to explain how Hinduism first developed within India, and they both draw on the famous ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti verse for their effectiveness. One suggests that at some time towards the end of the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 1700 BCE) a group of nomadic people called the Aryans moved into northern India from the steppes of central Europe or even Asia Minor. This is called the “Indo-Aryan Migration Theory” and it was first posited after the relationship between Sanskrit, Greek and Latin was discovered along with other archeological evidence that emerged in the late 18th …

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Lake Palace Udaipur

It is breathtaking to watch the sun burst through a curtain of crimson, swirling across the drowsy dawn sky above Udaipur’s massive citadel. Four centuries old, it looks exactly as a palace should: immense, impressive, imposing—the very picture of majesty. Yet we hardly suffer in its shadow. In the Lake Palace Hotel you are made to feel like king and queen—appropriate because this 250-year-old palace has always served royalty. Built entirely of marble and filling every inch of Jagniwas Island, the ethereal pearl-white inn is like a cloud floating on the lake’s surface, and makes you feel you are on Cloud Nine. Converted to a hotel in 1961, the Lake …

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The Pushkar Fair

Nothing can be more apt than the phrase “unity in diversity”, when one describes or pictures the Indian subcontinent. Adding its own streak of color to the existing flamboyant and multi-hued tapestry of Indian culture is the festival and one of the highly rated travel experience called Pushkar Camel Fair. The Pushkar Fair, or Pushkar ka Mela, is the annual five-day camel and livestock fair, held in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs, and apart from buying and selling of livestock it has become an important tourist attraction and its highlights have become competitions such as the …

Global Appeal of Bollywood on Exhibition: Ice Dancing on Bollywood Songs

Indian commercial cinema, often referred to as Bollywood, may be considered more than a national cinema because its transnational appeal encompasses a large and diverse audience, it is an undeniable global force. Bollywood’s affective aesthetics and narratives also differ significantly from the presumed ‘universal’ techniques and narratives of Hollywood. Salman Khan’s moves and the music of A.R. Rahman are proud proof that India doesn’t blindly mimic the trends of entertainment in the West. It literally dances to a different drummer. In recent years, many films have exported an image of Indianness that negotiates tensions between homeland and diaspora and underscores India’s cultural authority for its imagined community of viewers. By …