Tag: iconography

Nataraja: Interpretations and Modern Day Application

Shiva, the major deity of the Tridev in the Hindu religion which is considered to have been manifested in many forms over the centuries, is mainly associated with the destruction or end of the cycle of the universe. A major manifestation of the deity is considered to be of Nataraja that is the Lord of […]

Nageshwar Temple of Khireshwar : An unusual temple in the Deccan

Nestled inside the western ghats , at the foot of the great fort of Harishchandragad , on the banks of the Kalu river is the temple dedicated to Shiva known as Nageshwar in the village of Khireshwar. The relatively unknown temple is visited only by villagers or the enthusiastic trekkers going to harishchandragad. What makes […]

Guardians of the Locals: A look into Hindu Folk Deities

The phrase folk religion or folk deity is very commonly heard in terms of culture. Every state and region in India have a set of folk deities. After the release of movie Kantara, there was wide discussion about the folk deities represented in the movie. So I thought, let’s try to answer the question : […]

The Sacred Wheels of Energy: Understanding Chakra in Ancient Indian Texts

The life and death is a complete cyclical process. One takes birth, lives life, dies and again takes birth. And this cycle is perfectly represented by a wheel or Chakra in Hinduism. But that is not the only thing that is represented by a Chkara. Chakra also tells us about time as Kalchakra. The events […]

Beyond the Legends: The story and significance of Narakasura’s killing by Krishna

The festival of Narak Chatudashi is part of Diwali and is celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh on the day before Lakshmi Poojan. Sometimes the two festivals coincide, depending on the lunar cycle. The festival gives a very important message. Narkasur; the son of Vishnu as Varaha and Lakshmi as […]

Exploring the Past, Crafting the Future: My WHV Camp Experience

World Heritage Volunteer (WHV) Program is an initiative that was launched by UNESCO, in 2008. This program aims to educate the youth about the significance of heritage, culture, and its preservation. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the WHV program at Ramappa Temple, organized by the Kakatiya Heritage Trust. I learned about this […]