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Bhakti, Bhajans & Boundaries: Reflections on a Recent Judgment

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  Bhakti, Bhajans & Boundaries: Reflections on a Recent Judgment This morning, a post by Shri Cuddalore Gopi Bhagavatar caught my eye. It led me to a news item that left me unsettled: the Madras High Court has ruled that individuals must seek permission from the Collector to perform bhajans in their own homes. Without going into the legal origins of the matter, I can’t help but reflect on the deeper cultural and spiritual implications of such a move. A Difficult Verdict: This judgment feels unfortunate. In Sanatan Dharma, music has always been a sacred bridge to the divine. Singing, dancing, and praying are not merely rituals — they are heartfelt expressions of devotion that elevate the spirit and unite us with Bhagwan. These practices are more than cultural; they are spiritual tools that create an atmosphere of peace, surrender, and love. No One-Size-Fits-All in Devotion: Spirituality in Sanatan Dharma is not rigid. It is deeply personal and wonderfully diverse. Some worship t...
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Tarrifs, Trade & Tensions - Tantrums to Tackle

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  US Imposes 25% Tariff on Indian Imports: Trade Tensions Escalate Amid Geopolitical Crosswinds In a significant development in global trade diplomacy, US President Donald Trump announced on July 30, 2025, a 25% tariff on Indian imports—effective from August 1. The move also comes with a vague but looming "penalty" for India's continued energy and defence ties with Russia, underscoring a sharp escalation in economic pressure and strategic signalling. This marks a continuation of US tariff actions initiated earlier in 2025. A 26% reciprocal tariff on India had been announced in April but was put on hold. The new 25% levy is essentially its implementation—with a marginal reduction. Why the Tariff? Key Reasons Cited by the US : The US justified the decision through a combination of economic and geopolitical concerns: Trade Deficit: The US goods trade deficit with India hit $45.7 billion in 2024, up 5.4% from 2023—prompting claims of imbalance and unfair trade practices Non-T...
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Namaste - Why do we do?

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We, Indians, do greet each other with “Namaste”. Both of our palms are placed together in front of our chest and our head bows down while saying the word, “Namaste”. This greeting is common for all – Elders to younger ones, to people of our own age, to elders, friends, relatives and even strangers. Namaskaaram is one of the five forms of formal traditional greetings mentioned in Sanatan Dharm.  At times, people think that Namaskaaram refers to prostration but it actually refers to paying homage. Namaste could be just a casual or a formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of Worship too.  Namaste, a Sanskrit word is a combination of two words – Namah and Te. This means, I bow to you. My greetings, my salutations or prostration to you. It is also literally intrepretted as Na (not) + Ma (mine) + Astu (aste)(and so it is…). This means “not mine and so it be…” The spiritual meaning of this is to negate or reduce the ego present in the presence of another.  The real mee...
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