PinnedAsian America needs to “grow its soul”.This past weekend, I spoke on Politically Asian, a podcast trying to rally Asian Americans to be more concerned about political issues. I was able to go on because the hosts, Aaron and Gerrie, put out a request for guests speaking on various topics, including the intersection of religion and…Asian American8 min readAsian American8 min read
Apr 30Celebrating a Promise for ProgressOn March 30, the nine days of Chaitra Navaratri culminated in the celebration of Rama Navami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Rama. During this celebration, many episodes from Rama’s life are recounted with great devotion and wonder by Hindus around the world, focusing especially on his childhood. Passages from…Hinduism9 min readHinduism9 min read
Nov 25, 2021Member-onlyThe Dharma of Love in the Time of InjusticeAs Americans gather for Thanksgiving in the wake of the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse and the vindication of Ahmaud Arbery, many are considering the complicated and often violent legacy that is the American story. In that light, I find myself reflecting on the Rāmāyaṇa and its message about justice, itself…Hinduism9 min readHinduism9 min read
Nov 2, 2021Member-onlyReflections on the Sītā Upaniṣad: Sītā as VīralakṣmīThis past weekend, the week after Navarātrī, my young adults’ committee held a satsangh on women’s leadership in Hindu spaces. The speaker for this event was Hindu chaplain and good friend of mine, Sangeetha Kowsik (@ihsanishandesign). I first met Sangeetha as the Hindu chaplain at New York University, where she…Equality8 min readEquality8 min read
Jul 14, 2021Member-onlyA Hindu theology of pluralism: relation and revelationAbout two years ago, I wrote a piece on the topic of pluralism and the Asian-American community, and Hindu theology may conceive of its value as a spiritual and justice-oriented practice. I discussed the Rudrahṛdaya Upaniṣad and how its teaching might inform a constructive theology of pluralism that holds space…Pluralism7 min readPluralism7 min read
Jun 25, 2021Member-onlyThe Chromatic Praise of GujaṅgarājaIn the 9th century, Rāṣtrakūṭa king Amoghavarṣa I, also known as Nṛpatuṅga (r. 815–877), along with one of his court poets, Śrīvijaya, composed a text known as the Kavirājamārga. The work was a manual for writing courtly poetry in Kannada, which famously condemned the use of Kannada-Sanskrit compound words: ತಱಿಸಂದು…Devotional7 min readDevotional7 min read
Apr 3, 2021Member-onlyPoetic justice, prophetic theology and HinduismSomething I’ve been pondering recently is the idea of “prophetic vision” or “prophetic imagination”. A concept from the Christian traditions, the idea refers to the perspective with which charismatic leaders throughout Biblical history bear witness to the societies of their day and envision an alternative path from the depths of…Liberation Theology6 min readLiberation Theology6 min read
Mar 17, 2021A condemnation of anti-Asian racism and call for solidarityToday was the most horrific episode in the spate of anti-Asian violence since the pandemic began: eight people were murdered in attacks at massage parlors in Atlanta, six of whom were Asian women. As a Hindu of South Asian descent, this matters to me as a member of the greater…Anti Asian Racism3 min readAnti Asian Racism3 min read
Mar 2, 2021Member-onlyRemembering Nacharamma for Women’s History MonthTW: mention of death, persecution, suicide and attempted assault Edit: added a paragraph discussing caste privilege. As Women’s History month begins, I take the time to remember the woman who was singularly responsible in the formation of my community. While I always have her memory at the back of my…Womens History Month9 min readWomens History Month9 min read
Dec 31, 2020Member-onlyEmbodying grace in the world: A Hindu theology of self-care and universal compassionAs the new year approaches, I want to reflect on importance of inner strength in times of crisis. Many have brought up the need for tending to our mental health, especially as the pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities of many kinds in our societies. This is especially true in our religious…New Year7 min readNew Year7 min read
