Very interesting thread. Some observations.

a. The verse conceptualization of 'Dharmic Modernity' is misnomer. Dharma is that which perpetual, but also eternal. It emphasis continuity. Modernity by conception is a complete breakaway from the past. 1/n

https://twitter.com/SaamaanyaJ/status/1688385206049492992

b. Even by keeping aside the conceptual issues associated with the phrase Dharmic Modernity, there is nothing really 'Dharmic' about the category 'Dharmic Modernists', many of whom are atheists or agnostics, have zero shraddha to Devata or Shastra, and often reject + 2/n

1. One of the biggest threat to Hindu practices in contemporary times is the so called 'Scientific Temper' which by its very definition and its ideological underpinnings is deeply problematic. 2. There is a big fad among contemporary Hindu society to tout Hinduism as being Scientific and this they believe is what differentiates Hindu dharma from Abrahamics.

Of course, it goes without saying this is a gullible position & will only end in dismantling of Hindu practice.

1. It gladdens my heart to know that 1947 was not merely a secular transition of power, but it had a ritualistic element in the form of #Sengol or Dharma-Danda given to the new head of Indian State accompanied by ritualistic performances. 2. For me this ritual establishment of Dharma-Danda (#Sengol) is more important than the establishment of independent, but secular state. However, the subsequent sidelining of it by putting in some museum under the heading of 'Golden Stick' though unfortunate is not surprising.

1. I had previously mentioned how while Smritis enunciate 'What' of Dharma, Bhagavad Gita enunciates among 'How' of Dharma.
Here are some verses that clearly bring out the same. 2. [A] On What Dharma to be performed:
Manusmriti 1.2: May Thou, O blessed One, explain to us, in due form and in proper order, the duties of all Varnas and intermediate ones.

1. One of the reasons why Smriti guidelines are misunderstood is because we forget that those stipulations and prohibitions are from the standpoint of Dharma. However, on the ground, we have to take into consideration Artha and Kama as well. 2. Take for example, the Smriti position that the foremost Dharma for women that could lead to their overall wellbeing is Pativrata-Dharma, so much so that it is sometimes conflated with Streedharma.

1. Why should one practice Dharma as revealed by Sruti and Smriti? Why should one live a Dharmika live?

Manusmriti gives an interesting answer to this in Chapter 4. 2. Without causing pain to any beings, he shall, for purpose of obtaining a companion in other world, accumulate Dharma, slowly; just as the white ants accumulate the ant-hill.—(Manu 4.238)

Gita vs Smritis

1. One argument one often hears from Hindus is, when we have Bhagavad Gita which also teaches Dharma, why do we need Smritis? 2. This question is not only a result of ignorance about what Gita says [16.24: scriptures (Veda, Smriti, etc.) are basis that determines what actions be performed & what be avoided] but also result of ignorance about core difference between Dharma Upadesha in Gita & in Smritis.

1. Adi Shankaracharya at one place writes "asampradayavit murkhavat upekshaniya"- those who are not learned in the teaching tradition are to be ignored as fools. 2. 'Sampradaya' here refers to 'teaching tradition' or the 'Guru-Shishya mode of transmission of knowledge'. This could be understood as an advice about how to approach and study Shastras. But that is not the only dimension here.

1. Abortion remains Adharma irrespective of context because it involves preventing a Jiva who was about to take birth from doing so. However, how it practically plays out is complicated. Some thoughts on this in this tweet thread.

https://twitter.com/ritsritu/status/1522409627710676992

2. When abortion is carried to save the life of the mother, then even though there is Papam involved in such abortion, in a larger scheme that was the Dharmic choice as the saving of the mother's life takes precedence.

@ramas_cal @RajivMessage 1. Only a Rishi who has direct knowledge of Veda can create Smriti. Smriti for Kaliyuga is already there (Parashara Smriti). No need for new Smriti. What is needed is the contextualization of Dharmic teachings to today's needs and solving contemporary problems+ @ramas_cal @RajivMessage 2. Essential principles of Dharma are eternal, only application part is time-context specific.Smritis speak of Drishtarthas(perceived by senses),Adrishtarthas (imperceptible) & Drishta-Adrisharthas. Only subjects of Drishtarthas are purely this worldly & context specific+

In this thread, I will be sharing my fleeting thoughts & reflections on random topics related to life, family, spirituality, etc. I will be using the hashtag #MyRandomReflections for this. Ahimsa as a personal virtue is almost impossible to practice without some degree of Titiksha. #MyRandomReflections

1. Are there historical elements in the Veda? If yes, how to reconcile this with Veda being Nitya and Apaurusheya? 2. My response: According to Mimamsa, Veda contains five kinds of statements: 1. Vidhi/Injunction 2. Nishedha/Prohibition 3. Mantra 4. Namadheya/names of rituals etc 5. Arthavada or sentences which amplify the message of Vidhi or Nishedha by praising them or denouncing them.

1. The problem with this tweet is multi-layered. While Pratyaksha is indeed considered as 'Jyeshta Pramana'- the Eldest of all Pramanas in tradition and hence is central to Hindu Dharma, below tweet can be described at best as a misrepresentation of what Pratyaksha Pramana is. 2. Pratyaksha refers to knowledge that is gained from the Manas-Indriyas-mind & senses. Contrary to modern theories of perception, Hindu Darshanas posit that Indriyas themselves go to objects and make the perception happen. Hence,Pratyaksha is Pramana- valid source of knowledge.

1. Upholding the authenticity of Gita or rejecting the authenticity of a text like Manusmriti based on how many Hindus have or do not have the text in their homes is an Abrahamic attitude. Why is it so? 2. It is among the Christians (perhaps more so among Protestants?) that the study of Bible (specifically new testament) by each and every person of the community is considered a fundamental religious action as well as an act that keeps the community together.

1. This High court judgment is problematic at so many levels, and clearly illustrates how divorced are our legal system from religion, culture, & philosophy, in short divorced from Dharma of this country.
opindia.com/2021/03/gujara… #menstruation 2. First, it presumes that the scientific paradigm alone is authentic knowledge and the rest- the religio-cultural knowledge- are branded as superstitions & myths. This itself is problematic as it cancels the rich religious & cultural knowledge traditions of India.

Sati is perhaps the biggest humbug used to beat Hinduism. Very conveniently employed in different modes to discredit Hindu practices.

If they want to compare a Hindu practice with something and say look it is as evil as that, there is Sati. 1/n If they want to show how Hinduism is progressive and undergoes reform by getting rid of evil religious practices, there is Sati. 2/n

1. It's been two years since I finished writing 'The #Sabarimala Confusion- #Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective'. It has been one of the most satisfying projects to me personally. #BookBoost 2. What started as a series of articles under the title 'Hindu views on Menstruation' in 2016 grew into a full-fledged book by 2018 having 350+ pages with references alone forming 50+ pages. The book published by @Vitastapublish is currently in 2nd reprint. #BookBoost

1. A few years back I had taken a vow I would not visit #Ayodhya until there is a grand temple housing Ram Lalla. For me to step into Ayodhya which did not give Ram Lalla His rightful place was a painful reminder of collective failure of Hindu civilization. #AyodhyaBhoomipoojan 2. Some time ago, I had written that the only reason Hindus have been unable to build a temple in Ayodhya was that Hindus have removed Bhagavan Rama from their hearts. #Ayodhya #AyodhyaBhoomipoojan

1. While Varna in the Shastric sense of birth-based ritualistic classification have limited (but impt) utility today- viz. preservation of Veda mantra & Vaidika Karmas (both important in themselves & core to Hinduism, but its utility limited to few families) 2. Varna as a conceptual framework, especially its elements of Guna & Karma have wider applications and is relevant as a foundational block of Hindu worldview.

1. Post-independence, Indians have been made to believe that war is bad and Indians (read Indian kings) only fought battles in defense, never in offense (whatever that means). #indiachinastandoff 2. Further, 'resilience' rather than strong response to provocation, be it in form of terrorism or incursions, have been upheld as the ideal. [Remember the Mumbai's so called resilience in the face of 26/11 attacks?] #indiachinastandoff

ईश्वरो गुरुरात्मेति मूर्तिभेदविभागिने ।
व्योमवद्व्याप्तदेहाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः || (Manasollasa 1.30)
Salutation to Dakshinamurthy, who is all-pervading like space/ether, & who is manifest in different forms as Ishwara (God), Guru (teacher), & as Atman (the Self). #GuruPurnima Indic Today @indictoday has republished my old essay on Sri Dakshinamurthy on the sacred occasion on #GuruPurnima2020. It explores importance of #Guru and who Dakshinamurthy is and what it means to consider Dakshinamurthy as the first Guru- indictoday.com/long-reads/shr…
#GuruPurnima