All Roads Lead to Jerusalem!

Interpretations

By hipkapi June 6, 2020 Balagangadhara, basics, explication, stories, symbolism

There are multiple kinds of interpretation. For instance, there is interpretation of symbols in a domain like Physics: μ (in elementary optics) is “interpreted” as the refraction index of a substance. We use a…

Why study the Western culture?

By hipkapi March 24, 2014 Balagangadhara, colonial consciousness, Hinduism, puja, symbolism, worship

Two substantial questions have been raised in response to what I wrote: (a) why do we need to study and understand the Western culture in order to access our own…

Vacuity of NRIs and their symbolic interpretations

By hipkapi March 23, 2011 Balagangadhara, normative, NRI, stories, symbolism

1. Vyasa’s argument (to the extent we can speak of an argument in this context) is quite subtle: When Urvasi comes to Arjuna at the behest of his father, and…

Indian culture’s attitude toward sex vs. Christian Morality

By hipkapi March 23, 2011 Balagangadhara, NRI, stories, symbolism

Let us begin with the assumption that our stories about Indra and the Gandharvas are just that: stories, authored by human beings, without truth-content. (That is to say, they are…

Victorian morality of NRI and middle class Hindus: Prostitution, Adultery

By hipkapi March 23, 2011 Balagangadhara, colonial consciousness, normative, NRI, symbolism

1.1. The Indian traditions did not have the same attitude as Christianity towards prostitution or adultery. And the Indians of yesteryears were not defenders of the Victorian (and Christian) morality. Of…

Are stories symbols?

By hipkapi March 23, 2011 Balagangadhara, stories, symbolism

1. Here is one way of looking at what stories are. They are symbols. What are they symbols of? Well, they could symbolize acts; they could also be symbolically interpreted as…

Linga, Puja, Symbolism—S.N.Balagangadhara

By hipkapi March 2, 2011 Balagangadhara, puja, roundabout, stories, symbolism

Symbolic interpretation of lingam from a netizen: “In ancient India, there was a fertility cult; our ancestors knew that it was a fertility cult; Lingam was a symbol for the…