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Friday, November 28, 2025
TopicThinking Medieval

Topic: Thinking Medieval

Shaivite rivals were not Vaishnavites, but tantric Buddhists in medieval era

The Pallava dynasty was turning toward Shaivism. Buddhists took immediate note and strung up a narrative where Shiva is immature and Trailokyavijaya emerges supreme.

How exactly did Ganesha arrive in Indonesia & Cambodia? Quite abruptly

In Tibet and China, he would take on altogether darker tantric forms, whereas in Japan, he evolved into a unique ‘twin’ form with a male and female aspect.

Kamakhya Temple is one way Assam shaped Sanskritic mainstream in medieval India

The history of the Kamakhya Temple encapsulates the history of Northeast India — and challenges the way we imagine the spread of Hinduism.

Mahabharata war to Dasaratha sacrifices—Tripura’s Manikya dynasty used religion as a force

In Tripura, the Sanskritic culture served as a veneer over a vibrant, cosmopolitan Northeastern world that we are often too quick to dismiss today as 'tribal' or 'violent'.

Medieval Indian engineers in the 7th century built robots. Powered by water and clockwork

Using hydraulics and clockwork, engineers could make wondrous devices that are now lost. These were more credible than claims about pre-modern Indian technology such as UFOs and genetic engineering.

This is how Shiva became Asia’s most popular god – innovation, assimilation, conquest

In a diverse religious environment, the Shaiva recipe for success was rather crafty.

The Great monastery of Ratnagiri – this is how Buddhism thrived in medieval Odisha

Female musicians played as the Buddha was offered ‘flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, and all other treasures’ at the Ratnagiri monastery.

South Asia’s greatest stupa isn’t in India but Bangladesh. This is its story

The decline and fall of Indian Buddhism was as complex a process as its rise. But all that remains of this dramatic history are silent ruins of brick.

How medieval Kashmir became centre of the world — Vaishnavism, Puranas, and war

The Pancharatrins and the Karkotas of Kashmir seized the subcontinent’s centre stage, religion supporting the State, State supporting religion.

Yogi Adityanath isn’t the first. Shaivite monks have been in politics for 1,000 years

Like their Buddhist and Jain predecessors, medieval Shaivite monasteries used their royal connections to defeat rivals and accumulate followers.

On Camera

Indian Muslims deserve better than Arshad Madani’s recycled helplessness

From science to sports, cinema to bureaucracy, the armed forces to the courts, the community has been stitched into every important field of national life.

Karnataka startups feel the chill as global funding winter sets in. Fintech emerges as sole bright spot

The state raises just $2.7 billion in first nine months of 2025 compared to $4.5 billion last year, with late-stage investments hit hardest.

Airbus & Embraer in the mix, IAF plans revamp of military transport fleet with MTA as new workhorse

Once acquired by IAF, the medium transport aircraft (MTA) will replace both AN-32s and IL-76s, it is learnt. The idea behind the revamp is to meet modern operational needs.

A tribute to Tejas. India’s delay culture is the real enemy in the skies

It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.