Dushyanth Sridhar
@dushyanthsridar • 54,464 subscribers
Vedic Speaker | Author Rāmāyaṇam (@HarperCollinsIN), Vedānta Deśika (JSJS Trust) | Director Śākuntalam | Yātrās | Nāṭya ballets | BITS Pilani | IISc Fellow
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My views on the #ManuSmriti controversy If, on one side we see women being bramhavadinis, queens, fighters, poets etc. along with festivals that celebrate devatas, and on the other, this verse from Manu Smriti, how do we reconcile between the two? For TIMES NOW with Navika Kumar
Dushyanth Sridhar48,896 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen
I am often asked, "Why can't you stick to delivering discourses? Why should you participate in debates defending #SanatanaDharma?" I will add to it. "Why should I have relinquished my corporate career at a young age and begin delivering discourses?" - Answer is :: "Because I am what I am because of #SanatanaDharma, my Azhwar and Acharyas. I am duty-bound to defend in my own little, decent way in whichever platform. If there will be repercussions, so be it." Regarding the disparaging remarks made by the TN politician on #SanatanaDharma, here are my views: - Politicians should understand the true meaning of these words and then ascend any platform. The more they speak without preparation, the more their ignorance will be exposed - #Dravidian Ideology in the last century has been disgraceful and uncharitable in its views and actions on #Hinduism and #Hindus. There is plenty of print and video proof to this effect in the open forums - Today, #Hindus are an orphaned community in India. No voice of support from any quarter. If #Astikas refuse to acknowledge this and assume that things are rosy, they are living in an utopian land Courtesy: TIMES NOW
Dushyanth Sridhar559,152 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren
While I thought this #SanatanaDharma debate was done & dusted, and had decided to not participate in debates for sometime, this person who made such vicious remarks on the floor of the TN Assembly, coaxed me to. Here are my views that I shared for Padmaja Joshi (NDTV), Rahul Shivshankar (News18) & Arnab Goswami (Republic)::
Dushyanth Sridhar80,980 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
Here is my interview with T.M.Veeraraghav for the NDTV (1) If the reason cited by the Vidvan to 'boycott' the sabhas (including the Madras Music Academy) for the last decade was the brahminical dominance or hegemony in the Carnatic Music circuit, by accepting the very award from the same organization (that he accused), is he agreeing that the brahminical hegemony wasn't there or is he saying that things have changed now (and how)? (2) Is it right to smear the character of an icon like Smt MS Subbulakshmi stating that her voice carried a certain sadness and that she was brahminised to be accepted? (when she hasn't made any such public statements to this effect and most importantly when she isn't around to accept or reject such thoughts)? (3) Whether one likes it or not, Carnatic music owes its existence to the compositions of stalwarts like Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa, Tyagaraja, Dikshitar, Syama Sastri, Oothukadu Kavi, Annamayya, Arunachala Kavi, Muthuthandavar, Ramadasu, Kshetrayya, Tirunal and many more. To make a livelihood from (singing) their compositions and then coming up with arguments like 'one doesn't need to believe in their sentiments', 'it is just music and lyrics has no value', 'bhakti is just an add-on' is simply, moral travesty. (4) If Dravidian ideology believers hail EVR (Periyar), it is their choice. But they will be ridiculed and pulled down by their ilk if they speak or sing glories about Sri Ramachandra. Turn the argument around. If a Carnatic musician sings on Sri Ramachandra, and follows it up with a rendition glorifying EVR (Periyar) who had the most uncharitable words for Hinduism, Rama, Sita, Ramayanam, Tamizh language, Tamizh Bhakti literature and had vowed to destroy temples, how do you expect a Hindu rasika to react? (5) A handful of musicians have simply said, 'I won't perform'. This is a non-violent way to register a protest. As for those who hold the placards of 'democracy in threat' should know that 'refusing to perform' is allowed in a democracy. As a Harikatha practitioner and also an upanyasaka (who was to perform on 01-Jan-2025), I have very respectfully withdrawn from performing. This, in my opinion, is standing in solidarity with the great composers of the Karnataka Sastriya Sangeeta Parampara. Period. With this interview, I conclude my media engagement on this topic/issue. As an upanyasaka/pravachanakarta, I have discourses to deliver, but ofcourse I am not adept enough to change the 'contours' of the bhakti world!
Dushyanth Sridhar326,229 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
INJUSTICE is the word. Context below: (with News18) (1) Thiruparamkudram is an ancient cave temple in Madurai (TN). It has been revered as a Siva temple in the 6th century by Tamizh saints. The same temple houses Skanda/Kartikeya revered as Muruga which has been sung in all poems, famously in the Thiruppugazh. So, it is a Hindu cave temple for millenniums. (2) It is a cave temple whose premises largely has been scooped out of the granite hill. Architecture of the Pandyas, Cholas, Nayaks is evident. So the kings of the past have embellished this temple. It is a very famous Hindu temple. (3) Between 1336 and 1378, Madurai was ruled by the most tyrant rulers called 'Madurai Sultanate'. The last ruler (Akbaruddin Sikandar) was killed by Kampanna, the valiant Vijayanagara king who put an end to the blood thirsty rule. But wonder what, suddenly some Islamic structure comes for the king (who tortured the Tamizh people) atop the cave temple! (4) An age-old Tamizh festival is Thirukkarthigai with multiple literary and inscriptional evidences. As a part of the festival, a lamp is lit above the hill at the Deepa-thoon (the stone pillar). Devotees approach the MHC to assert their right. The court examines and orders that the Hindus can light the lamp. But guess what? The HRnCE goes and says the Hindus won't light citing law & order issues. But the MHC again says, the Hindus can light the lamp, as it is their right. (5) When Hindus gather to light the lamp, they are stopped. Isn't this directly in opposition to the court's order? At the end of the day, Hindus can never assert what they even own. Sad & Bitter, yet the truth.
Dushyanth Sridhar92,539 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Request every Bharatiya & Indian to Repost #Bharat or #India is the debate? * Keeping aside the question on the constitutional validity and political ramifications, I wish to approach these names in the cultural context * Bharata signifies the 'land that nourishes knowledge' (Bha is light which indicates knowledge & rata signifies immersed or involved) * Bharata's geographical extent finds mention in Sri #VishnuPuranam which says that this is the land mass locked between the Himalayan range in the north and the oceans in the south * Four Bharatas have been noted as achievers: - Bharata (s/o Rishabhanatha) who practised bhakti yoga, and born two janmas later as a person who had intellectual discussions with Rahuguna. He was called 'Jada' Bharata and Sri #VishnuPuranam states, this land mass was called Bharata hence - Bharata (s/o Dushyanta) whose governance was highly respected and acclaimed - Bharata (b/o Rama) whose bhakti to Rama and unquestionable service is remembered - Bharata (muni) who blessed us with Natya Sastra literature * Thus Bharata - the etymology, the land mass and personalities who have adorned this name - are all GREAT At the same time, #India - the word is good, if not equally. * Chinese accounts saw this land mass consisting of people blessed by the moon (Indu in Sanskrit is moon). Moon signifies knowledge. The stretch of Himalayas from Kashmir to Arunachal is covered in snow and looks like the Moon too. So they referred to this land as the 'one of Intu (Indu)' which became India eventually. * Persian & Greek accounts saw this land mass as blessed with bounty beyond the Sindhu river (incidentally the river is called Sindhu, and an ocean is also called Sindhu). Eventually Sindhu became Hindu and India. * In either case, in the past, people from far east & west, have called this the land of '(H)indu' which became India. IMHO, #Bharat or #India - both carry their weight. We shouldn't be spending more energy on this!
Dushyanth Sridhar256,527 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren
'Nail biting' is prohibited in the sastras. But this truly was a nail bitingcontest! Watch this clip of 25 participants (who cleared round 1) participating in round 2 of Swami Vedanta Desika's 'raghuvEragadyAvadhAnam' ❤️ What is so special about this round? This was Round 5 in the contest, the toughest of all. Eg: The jury member will utter a word from the middle of any passage (chUrnikA) say पुण्डरीक. The contestant can take a maximum of 7 seconds to think. He/She must NOT answer like this: चण्ड-कर किरण-मण्डल बोधित पुण्डरीक वन रुचि लुण्टाक लोचन RATHER this way: चण्डकर (1) लोचन (8) किरण (2) लुण्टाक (7) मण्डल (3) वनरुचि (6) बोधित (4) पुण्डरीक(5). So the contestant has to run the words L->R & R->L in turns. And guess what? MANY answered this round too! This is the biggest gift to Swami Vedanta Desika from the students! This contest was about memory, retention and delivery! Well, there was a tie-breaker quiz too! Parents & Grandparents must watch this ENTIRE video on my Youtube channel!
Dushyanth Sridhar33,863 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
Read Friends & Followers. Kindly read this post & listen to the video, to understand what a world we live in! The newly elected legislator from Madurai (TN) says, *I support the call to eradicate Sanatana Dharma. I follow the teachings of Periyar & Ambedkar* 1. There are 200+ references in the Hindu Scriptures that say 'Speaking the truth is Sanatana Dharma' (eternal virtue), 'Respecting one's mother, father is Sanatana Dharma' etc. Now, they wish to eradicate this which is far from impossible. Let us keep this aside. 2. Madurai is the place where Tamizh as a language was cherished, nourished & celebrated. On the other hand, Periyar called Tamizh an uncivilized language, & had called the greats like Thiruvalluvar, Kamban etc. fraud. He was AGAINST Tamizh. The legislator from Madurai supports Periyar. So, he wants to destroy Tamizh right? 3. Ambedkar supported Sanskrit for the national language. He followed Buddhism that says, 'Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā, esa *dhammo sanantano* (Truth indeed is deathless speech; this is the eternal law). He also made extremely critical remarks on Islam. This Muslim legislator from Madurai supports Ambedkar. So is he pro-sanskrit, pro-sanatana dharma and anti-islam like Ambedkar? Sri Rama was born in Ayodhya. His life was replete with challenges. Ayodhya too had its fair share of problems. Why? Sri Rama was 'dharma' himself. Truth will always suffer, though it will triumph in the end. The same applies to Tamizh & Tamizh Nadu. Bhakti was born in this land, which houses the greatest temples. But it has been suffering for 60+ yrs and continues to do so. I hope one day, this land & its language will triumph. News18 Republic
Dushyanth Sridhar28,660 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
In the midst of #Chennai (in TN), 800+ astikas who are #Tamizh speaking, with pure love for Sri Hanuman recite #HanumanChalisa, a work in Awadhi (from UP). Nothing can unite the Bharatiyas like what stotras do! Courtesy - An astika seated on the left side of the stage, recorded and sent this. Thanks to him.
Dushyanth Sridhar36,413 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
Need your support for Sanskrit Cinema. Kindly RT & watch the movie ( Know more about the movie here ( The Indian Movie industry is HUGE. It has followers all over the world & we are proud of this fact. Hindi, Tamizh, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada movies & more have the space to showcase their movies. 'Sanskrit Cinema' is too small compared to these giants. I am sure our vibrant Bharatiya population will appreciate movies in Samskritam too. Here is an excerpt from our Sakuntalam movie (with English subtitles). I am aware there is nothing in it that can make it go viral or create a certain 'buzz' but for our ONLY love for this civilization!
Dushyanth Sridhar131,934 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren
Tamil Nadu’s biggest assets are Azhwars & Nayanmars. Their works called the #NalayiraDivyaPrabandham & #PanniruThirumurai are the pillars of #Vaishnavism & #Saivism. In this very state, a sitting minister makes nasty remarks on these ancient paths! A matter of shame for the all of us to live through such times! 😡
Dushyanth Sridhar69,036 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Imagine a Siva temple at #Thiruchendurai in TN; sung by #Thirugnanasambandar, a bhakti-poet in the 7th century CE.; being renovated by Parantaka Chola around 9-10th century CE., today being called as a temple on a 'waqf land'! This is just not atrocious but also alarming! Sai Deepak J Anand Ranganathan GAURAV C SAWANT 𑀓𑀺𑀭𑀼𑀱𑁆𑀡𑀷𑁆 🇮🇳
Dushyanth Sridhar89,465 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
What a blessed day it was! On a ‘Guru’ day (Thursday), I had the darshan of the veena used by ‘Guru Guha’ Sri Muthusvami Dikshitar (born 250 yrs ago). Yes, the SAME VEENA (preserved with lot of care by his family successors). The last one year especially, multiple platforms were given to me, to elucidate the greatness of his musical works (especially the sahitya). Many musicians of the highest order & calibre have appreciated his musical genius. Who am I in front of those stalwarts 🙏🏽?! As I darshan of the divya vigrahas propitiated by him, I saw this veena, and sang a few lines from his Sri Kantimatim kriti ❤️
Dushyanth Sridhar22,339 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten