When most people hear the word “Hindu,” they imagine a singular, unified religion. Yet anyone familiar with India knows this is far from reality. North Indian and South Indian Hindus are culturally, ritually, and traditionally worlds apart. Attempting to unite them under one common pantheon is not just difficult—it is almost impossible. Take rituals, forContinue reading “North and South Indian Hinduism: Two Worlds Apart”
Author Archives: askenni
Why Cricket, Mr. Shah?
From Gujarat Cricket Association to ICC Chairman — Jay Shah’s rise reveals how political power and sporting influence increasingly overlap. By Kennedi Gopalan When Jay Shah began his career in 2013 as joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), few outside Gujarat’s political circles took notice. Ten years later, he sits at the pinnacleContinue reading “Why Cricket, Mr. Shah?”
Why I Never Relied on Social Media to Get Clients
Depending on the keywords you use, social media algorithms decide who sees your content. That single factor determines how viral your post goes, how many followers you gain, or how fast your subscriber count grows. In short, it’s not always about the quality of your content — it’s about how the system categorizes and pushesContinue reading “Why I Never Relied on Social Media to Get Clients”
When God Became Governance: The Namboodiris and the Politics of Divinity
Did you know the Namboodiris are not the original inhabitants of Kerala? Historical and linguistic evidence suggests they migrated from North India — from the regions around the Sarasvati or Narmada valleys — somewhere around 2000–1500 BCE, or a little later, during or after the Vedic period. They brought with them the sophisticated Vedic rituals,Continue reading “When God Became Governance: The Namboodiris and the Politics of Divinity”
I’ve made my share of mistakes
I’ve made my share of mistakes. This one happened during my early days as a professional Vedic Astrologer — a time when I was still eager to prove myself to the world. Back then, people would often ask for a free reading just to “test” my ability. And I would happily oblige, thinking, Not today, but someday they’llContinue reading “I’ve made my share of mistakes”
The Forgotten Custodians: How the Sambavars Lost Their Gods
There once was a community in the southern lands of India — the Sambavars. They were not outsiders. They were not untouchables. They were Shaivites, deeply rooted in temple life and responsible for carrying out sacred rituals in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For centuries, the Sambavars were the humble custodians of Shiva worship. They maintained theContinue reading “The Forgotten Custodians: How the Sambavars Lost Their Gods”
What If I Hadn’t Quit My 9–5 Job?
Most of my colleagues and juniors who stayed in their 9–5 IT jobs are now VPs, CEOs, or have settled in first-world countries with impressive titles and comfortable lives. Every now and then, I catch myself wondering — what if I had chosen the same path? What if I had never quit my IT jobContinue reading “What If I Hadn’t Quit My 9–5 Job?”
When Ritual Became Realisation: The Journey from the Vedas to the Upanishads
The spiritual evolution of India can be traced through two monumental phases of thought — the Vedas and the Upanishads. While both are pillars of Hindu philosophy, they stand on two different banks of the same river — one chanting to the gods above, the other seeking the god within. The Vedas, composed between 1500 and 1000 BCE,Continue reading “When Ritual Became Realisation: The Journey from the Vedas to the Upanishads”
The Universal Symbol of Life: Masculinity and Male Genitalia Across Ancient Civilizations
Throughout human history, the male genitalia have transcended cultural and religious boundaries, serving as potent symbols of life force, fertility, and creation. Their depiction in ancient art and architecture reflects a shared human recognition of the generative power inherent in masculinity, independent of any singular religious tradition. In ancient Egypt, the god Min epitomized fertilityContinue reading “The Universal Symbol of Life: Masculinity and Male Genitalia Across Ancient Civilizations”
The Forgotten Dharma: What Gen Z Must Learn About Hinduism
The mighty responsibility of the older generation today is to help Gen Z understand what Hinduism truly is — and what dharma and adharma really mean. If we fail, they’ll grow up believing that the RSS and BJP are the founders of Hinduism, and that hatred towards a particular community is the only form of dharma they must uphold. Hinduism, atContinue reading “The Forgotten Dharma: What Gen Z Must Learn About Hinduism”