Latest news with #BhagavadGita
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
We bet you haven't seen these vintage pics of Aishwarya Rai from 90s: 'God really was partial to her'
Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai continues to captivate fans with her timeless beauty. Whether gracing international red carpets like Cannes or dazzling at award shows, the actor never fails to leave admirers in awe. Now, a series of her unseen photos from the 90s have surfaced online, sparking a wave of nostalgia and admiration. Fans can't stop gushing over her ethereal looks, calling her 'angelic." (Also Read: Unseen childhood pictures of Aishwarya Rai has Reddit saying: 'Aaradhya really is her mini me') One of the vintage photos captures Aishwarya in a beige two-piece outfit, her hair elegantly tied back in a sleek bun. In another, she sports the same ensemble with her hair flowing freely, exuding effortless charm. Additional pictures show her radiating old Hollywood glamour in a chic black dress paired with a stylish hat. In another shot, she dons a long coat, her striking eyes stealing the spotlight, while one image features her with a bandana wrapped around her head, perfectly blending grace with a touch of retro flair. Fans couldn't get enough of her beauty. One of the comments read, "She is still beautiful." Another wrote, "Angelic." Another fan wrote, "All are wonderful obviously but #6 is so sharp!" Another comment read, "Too gorgeous!! God really was partial towards her." Another called her, "The angelic beauty of the 90s." Aishwarya recently mesmerised everyone with her looks at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. For her first look, she wore Manish Malhotra's intricately designed ivory saree and paired it with a 500-carat ruby necklace. However, what stole the show was the actor wearing sindoor while walking the red carpet. She wore a black off-shoulder gown paired with a white handwoven Banarasi brocade cape, which featured a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. Meanwhile, on the work front, Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam's film Ponniyin Selvan II. The film, which also featured Trisha Krishnan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthik Sivakumar, and Sobhita Dhulipala, proved to be a major box office success, earning ₹344.63 crore worldwide. Aishwarya is yet to announce her next project.
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Keeping the faith
Bad times may come into our lives in one form or another. Sita wailed and said destiny came to her in the form of a deer. Despite Lakshmana tendering a word of caution to Sita, she did not pay heed and traduced him with derogatory remarks. Manas, Chittham and Buddhi are relative terms. If people are fascinated by and drawn to worldly things, it is called Chittham. Suppose we are in a state of wavering; it is known as Manas. A controlled and steady position is named Buddhi. Praying to God will make our minds steadfast and unwavering. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that He grants a 'clean mind' to those who worship Him. Sita says on our behalf that people may go berserk and lose their mental stability in times of adversity. We must be patient, exercise restraint, and be cautious during testing times. When the auspicious time arrives, it will automatically prompt our minds to think of good and noble things. We should not slander others. It is of three types: through the mind, words and physical faculties. It is said that it will ricochet through the same medium that we used to calumniate others. Sri Damodhara Dikshithar stated in a discourse that God reveals good or bad omens to those who have faith. It is a tradition for people to break coconuts in temples as a sign of good fortune. They pray that it should be correctly broken and should not be stale. For dire prognostications, if any, people may light lamps before God or pray to Goddess Durga. Upon Hanuman's arrival, Sita experienced favourable omens at Ashokavana, indicating that good things would happen. Seeds dried up due to the wind and scorching sun would sprout with a spell of rain. Sita was all happy with the signs of good omens. Like the moon emerging from an eclipse with an incredible shine, Sita's dowdy face changed and glowed with all its brightness.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Siddaramaiah meets ‘foe' Hariprasad, says he has asked him to visit Mangaluru
Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Thursday called on BK Hariprasad , AICC general secretary and MLC, at his residence in Bengaluru, a move that raised eyebrows and sparked political speculation since the two have had a frosty relationship. Hariprasad had recently received a show-cause notice from Congress' high command for publicly rebuking Siddaramaiah and backing Congress state president DK Shivakumar . While many believed the meeting to be a signal to Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah insisted it was only work-related and centred on the volatile situation in Dakshina Kannada district. He said he had asked Hariprasad to visit the district. "We had a general discussion on the prevailing situation in Dakshina Kannada," Siddaramaiah later told reporters. "There should be communal harmony in that region. We must ensure harmony there and we had a discussion about it." Dakshina Kannada has been on edge since the murder of Abdul Rahiman, secretary of Koltmajalu Juma Masjid, in Bantwal on Tuesday. Prohibitory orders are in force until Friday. The incident came less than a month after the killing of Hindutva activist and rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty on May 1. Home minister G Parameshwara, who participated in a high-level meeting, said: "One person died, but, as per information received, the plan was to kill more." Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who oversees affairs in Dakshina Kannada, said he would discuss the next steps to restore law and order with the chief minister. Condemning recent communal rhetoric, Rao said, "These are anti-national forces. They aim to instill fear in society." Pointing to remarks made by Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah and Karnataka MLC N Ravi Kumar — both of BJP — he said attempts are being made to paint Muslims as "outsiders". "Such a mindset has polluted the minds of youngsters, and they are being influenced," Rao said. "This is bad and has led to violent incidents. Whoever has committed the crime, whether Hindu or Muslim or Christian, the guilty must be punished. The govt is taking all measures [to bring those responsible to justice]. " Calling Rahiman an innocent man with no criminal history, Rao questioned the humanity of those behind the crime. "Which religion says one should do such things [murder]? Does Hindu religion or Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana say so? An innocent was killed. What does his family have to do?" he asked. He said such incidents are "a challenge for the govt". "Such forces need to be suppressed legally, and peace should be established in society," he said.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Free speech, democracy, and the epidemic of hurt feelings
Muktabhimani mukto hibadho baddhabhimanyapi | Kivdanteeh satyeyamya matih sa gatirbhavet || (Freedom is the function of feeling free; the bondage of feeling bound.) It's rightly proclaimed that you are the product of what you think. Ashtavakra Gita, one of the founding texts of Indian philosophy, underscores the importance of freedom in these lines. Freedom manifests itself only when the subject believes in her ability to be free. Unfortunately, many recent events have negated this foundational idea of human endeavour. Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested for a social media post expressing his thoughts on the duplicitous attitudes surrounding the Operation Sindoor debate. The oral observations of the Supreme Court, while granting him bail, suggested that he indulged in 'politics' through this post, which contained some words that 'have double meaning'. It appears a little incongruent that an author is accused of indulging in politics when governments, past and present, have repeatedly proclaimed that not just indulging in politics but even critiquing and questioning the government is a sign of India's healthy democracy. How has politics suddenly become anathema? Politics, or the relationship between the governing and the governed, is the central point of Indian philosophy — classical to modern. In the realm of metaphysics, it is the negotiation between the nature of truth and those seeking it, of which the Ashtavakra Gita is an example. Politics exists in spiritual and mystical spaces as a dialogue between beliefs and believers. The Bhagavad Gita exemplifies this. In the physical space of the ordinariness of life, there is realpolitik, the interlocution of pragmatism and populism. Politics permeates every aspect of the living and the dead. Politics is the oxygen of academic life, irrespective of the discipline. It is a fallacy, a dangerous one at that, that only the social sciences indulge in politics. From Aryabhatta's exposition of the relativity of motion, which deals with perspective and illusion, to Albert Einstein's dilemma about the destructive potential of science, even the purest apolitical sciences are firmly ensconced in the political framework. The process of seeking and disseminating knowledge is dependent on the intersections of similar and contradictory ideas. An academic operates within and creates a space where multivalent thoughts find expression. The Socratic dialogues of Greece and the Shastraarth tradition of classical Indian pedagogy inform us about the necessity of a thought space where ideas are shared, discussed, and accepted or rejected. Therefore, if an academic will not indulge in politics, a stirring of the spirit of enquiry, who else will? But this is not about Mahmudabad or any one individual. The shutting of spaces that hold a carnival of ideas precedes a crisis of knowledge and progress. The snuffing of the flame of questioning can only herald dark times ahead. In societies where freedom of thought and expression comes with caveats, intellectual growth stunts. Those who take pride in our philosophical roots based on samgacchadhvam, samvadadhvam (coming together for a harmonious exchange of views) ought to feel uncomfortable with the rise in coercive action to silence those we disagree with. The legal aspects of the limits to freedom of speech aside, shouldn't there be a paradigm shift in assessing what speech is harmful enough to be gagged? If politics is dangerous per se, whither democracy? The government expects the youth to be part of India's growth story but is wary of exposing them to definitions of politics that differ from its own. What greatness has evolved in echo chambers? We can only raise prejudiced minds there. Insecure, easily hurt minds that will be unwilling to 'give ground even on unimportant disagreements', in the words of Christopher Hitchens. In the ongoing clash of politics, the epidemic of 'hurt feelings/sentiments' has spread unchecked, often getting a shot in the arm through criminal cases and violent actions against the speaker. Hurt feelings and damaging words should meet each other in civil court, where they can litigate their heart out. This is still in keeping with the tradition of exchanging ideas. Criminalising speech that has, as yet, posed no imminent danger to public order or instigated violence is akin to punishing a thought crime in George Orwell's 1984. Nishtha Gautam is an author and academician. The views expressed are personal. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Two Engineers, Two Paths: One Received Padma Shri, The Other Became 'IIT Baba'
Last Updated: Jonas Masetti's evolution reflects a structured path rooted in rigorous study and humility while Abhay Singh's digital-first strategy seems spontaneous and unstructured. In an age where education and spirituality increasingly intertwine with digital culture, two engineers set out on spiritual paths shaped by old traditions. Yet, their journeys, while starting from similar foundations, led them to dramatically different ends. While one was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, the other became a social media fame. Jonas Masetti from Brazil, now revered as Vedantacharya Vishwanath, was once a mechanical engineer trained at the Military Institute of Engineering in Rio de Janeiro and a former strategist in the stock market. Masetti's early life seemed to promise financial and professional success. But in 2003, drawn by a gnawing sense of spiritual emptiness, he turned toward Vedanta, an ancient philosophy rooted in introspection and inner discipline. Under the guidance of Gloria Arieira and later Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Masetti immersed himself in the guru-shishya tradition, spending four years at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Coimbatore. What began as personal transformation soon became a mission. In 2014, Masetti returned to Brazil and founded the Vishwa Vidya Gurukulam in Petropolis, where he began teaching the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, Sanskrit, and spiritual practices to an ever-growing audience. Today, more than 1,50,000 students have been part of his vision. In 2025, he was awarded with the Padma Shri for his contributions to globalising Indian knowledge systems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in one of his Mann Ki Baat addresses, highlighted Masetti as a living testament to the transformative power of Indian culture. Clad in cotton attire, rudraksha beads, and bare feet – and profound in thought – Masetti exudes humility and conviction when he says, 'Vedanta is not a religion; it's an art of living." Clad in saffron robes with a smartphone in hand, Singh was seen making social media reels at the Kumbh Mela, posing for selfies, and offering knowledge with flair more suited to influencers than saints. His style made him a darling of meme pages and reels, especially among the youth. But with that fame came mockery – his sincerity often dismissed, his attire and the moniker 'IIT Baba' drawing more ridicule than reverence. What separates Singh's journey from Masetti's is perception – the way society gauges depth, presentation, and commitment. This juxtaposition raises a deeper question: What defines true spiritual recognition in today's world? Is it the depth of one's practice, or the way it's presented? Jonas Masetti's evolution reflects a structured path rooted in rigorous study and humility. His approach channels the ancient Vedic traditions through modern means, resonating deeply with both Eastern and Western audiences. In contrast, Abhay Singh's digital-first strategy seems spontaneous and unstructured, often blurring the line between spirituality and performance art. In the end, both figures symbolise different facets of India's cultural outreach. Masetti, the Brazilian Vedantin, reminds the world of the timeless relevance of wisdom. Singh, the viral 'baba', reflects a generation caught between authenticity and attention.
