Encyclopedia Britannica says, The Recognition of Shakuntala is generally considered to be the greatest Indian literary work of any period. The work tells of the seduction of Shakuntala by King Dushyanta, his rejection of the girl and his child, and their subsequent reunion in heaven. The child that is born is Bharata, the ancestor of the Indian nation.
The Shakuntala-Dushyanta story features in Mahabharata, but as a clinical straightforward story. Shakuntala confronts Dushyanta in open court and forces devatas to confirm the parentage. Kalidasa converts this into a classic. The characters represent a pristine aristocratic ideal: the girl, sentimental, selfless, alive to little but the delicacies of nature. The king is the first servant of the dharma, resolute hero, yet tender and suffering agonies over his lost love. Like all of Kalidasa’s works, the beauty of nature is captured through metaphors.
The Wikimedia image is of a Raja Ravi Varma painting showing Shakuntala lost in thought.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Abhijnanashakuntala

Two of Kalidasa’s works are recognized as ‘mahakavyas.’ He is the only Sanskrit poet with this achievement. ‘Raghuvamsa,’ (Raghu’s Dynasty) meets more attributes of Mahakavya than any other work. Thirty-three commentaries have been written on it – only the epics were more popular. Raghuvamsa describes 29 kings in the solar dynasty of Sri Rama. Five kings are described in detail – Dilip, Raghu, Aja, Dashratha, and Rama. Kalidasa primarily uses Valmiki as the source but also the Vishnu and Vayu Puranas. The book ends on a tragic note. The last king Kalidasa describes is Agnivarna. He was a womanizer who left the kingdom in disarray. After his death, his pregnant widow had to pick up the pieces. How the mighty can fall, the poet seems to suggest.
The Wikimedia image by Sntshkumar750 is of the statue of the book Raghuvansham at the campus of Kalidas Dih in Madhubani, Bihar.
Source: GC Jhal, ‘Kalidasa – A Study’

The Mahabharata and Vishnu Purana mention that Krishna defeated Naraka after a fierce battle. The Bhagavatam says Krishna killed Naraka with the Sudarshan Chakra, mentioning Satyabhama’s presence but not her role. In the Harivamsa, an injured Krishna faints and Satyabhama engages Naraka in a duel until Krishna recovers. A 15th-century Andhra text describes Satyabhama killing Narakasura herself when Krishna faints, since Naraka had a boon that only his mother could kill him. Satyabhama, as a consort of Krishna, represents Bhumi-devi (Naraka’s mother), consort of Varaha.
Popular culture echoes this theme of a mother killing her wayward son, as seen in films like Mother India and Deewar. Puranas are aptly described as ‘pura api navam iti Puranam’—old in history, yet new in teachings. The Wikimedia image shows a 16th-century Mughal painting of Satyabhama and Krishna on Garuda slaying Naraka.
Source: Indiafacts.org

Ku means “a little,” Ushma means “warmth” or “energy,” and Anda means “cosmic egg.” When the universe was non-existent and darkness prevailed everywhere, Maa Kushmanda produced the Cosmic egg with her smile, bringing light to the universe. Her luminosity gives the Sun its brightness. Kushmanda also means “pumpkin” in Sanskrit. From the small seed, it becomes a huge fruit, and from the huge fruit, it comes back into a seed. She represents the divine energy (prana) that pervades all creation, big and small.
Her hymn brings out the contrasts in the world, “Suraa sampurna kalasam rudhiraplutameva cha, Dadhana hastapadmabhyam Kushmandaa subhadastu mae” i.e. “With a pitcher filled with the divine nectar, and another pitcher filled with blood. Holding them with her lotus-like hands, O Goddess Kushmanda, please do good to me.” She is represented with eight arms, riding a lion.

Picture Credit: Pattachitra by Rabi Behera

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic and philosophical concept that values simplicity, imperfection, and impermanence. It grew out of Zen Buddhism and deeply influenced art, design, gardens, poetry, and the tea ceremony. Zen priest Murata Juko elevated tea drinking into an art form, blending Zen philosophy and ritual to create the earliest version of the tea ceremony. The cultural principle of wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection and simplicity) explains why tea masters valued locally made bowls with imperfections over ornate Chinese imports.
Source: Tea Trivia, History and Recipes, Emily Kearns
The sketch is by Ananda Munshi – a folk rhyme which introduces tea within Bengali tradition.

Rani ki Vav is in Patan, near Mehsana in Gujarat. It is also known for the famous Patan sarees. The stepwell was built by Udayamati in the 11th century in memory of her husband Bhima. It was silted and unknown till 1940s. It is a UNESCO heritage site.
The stepwell is in the shape of an inverted temple and has seven levels. The stairs at each level lead to a circular well at the far end. The stepwell has 500 major sculptures and over a thousand minor sculptures. It has 212 pillars. It also features in our 100 Rs currency note.
Picture Credit: S. R. Ramanujam

India has always recognized gallantry. In ancient Indian culture, a place of eminence was given to the soldiers who displayed bravery and courage on the battlefield. Reference to these have been found in Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Varahmihir’s Brihatsamhita and Raghuvamsa( Gupta Period).

Early Virakals are common in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The earliest Virakal (or Nadukal) has been found in Theni district in Tamil Nadu. It is either from 4th Century BCE or 2nd Century BCE. It is an irregular stone with Tamil inscription. This was in memory of a brave man who died in a battle to retrieve stolen cattle. Battles to steal and to retrieve cattle were common. There are even two separate terms to describe the battle to steal cattle and the battle to retrieve stolen cattle.

Source- Nadukarkal, Bulletin of the Department of Museums, Chennai

Puri is not part of the Saptha Puris or the seven cities that bestow Moksha. The seven Puris are Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Dwarka, Varanasi, Kanchi and Ujjain. Puri, however, is an ancient city. That is why the generic name for a city, “Pur,” is used for Puri. It is referenced in Mahabharata. There are also claims that Puri is referenced in Rig Veda, but it is disputed. There are several puranic references to Puri from the 7th century AD onwards.

Puri is one of the four Dhams which also include Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram. Each of the Dhams represent a Yuga and Puri is believed to represent Kali Yuga. Adi Shankara established a matha in each of the four Dhams.

Puri is also a Shakti Peetha. The temple for Goddess Vimala is within the Puri Jagannath temple. It is believed to be part of Tantric history of the temple. Goat sacrifice is done for the Vimala deity during Durga Puja, even though the temple is a strict Vaishnavite temple.

Puri is also a Shaiva Kshetra, though it is not a Jyotirlinga. The temple of Loknath is about two kms away from Jagannath temple and is very famous. The Shiva Linga of Loknath is perpetually under water. The water is drained once in a year on the day of Shivaratri for devotees to have darshan.
The picture is of Puri Jagannath temple by William Henry Cornish around 1868

J.H. Dave, Immortal India, 1957

The Buddhist Jatakas name Taxila & Kashi as the two great centres of learning in ancient India. They name Atreya as a teacher of medicine branch (which follows Charaka Samhita) at Taxila. One of Sushruta’s teacher (Surgery branch of Ayurveda) is named Kasiraja. These point to the association of ancient universities with Ayurveda. Charaka is more philosophical, stressing on an integrated view on wellness involving mind, body & soul. Surgery or shalya tantra was more associated with the science of war. It then got integrated into the science of wellness later. Tradition suggests that Indra taught medicine to Atreya & surgery to Dhanvantari who in turn taught their disciplines to their disciples. The Wikimedia image by Dr Jayan.D shows Sushruta’s statue at Varanasi.

Source: P Kutumbiah, “Ancient Indian Medicine”

Bhaktiyar Khilji was born in Hemland in Afghanistan. He came to Ghazni and Delhi for employment. Eventually the commander of Benaras allowed him to oversee Mirzapur. Bhaktiyar is known for his barbaric invasions of Bihar and Bengal and for the destruction of Nalanda. He wanted to invade Tibet to loot the riches of the Buddhist monasteries. He achieved some initial success but was repulsed by Tibetans and suffered heavy losses.

The shamed and retreating Khalji army had to cross Kamrup (around Guwahati) and the river Brahmaputra. Raja Prithu was ruling Kamrup at that time. He destroyed the arches of bridges that the Khalji army had to cross. Raja Prithu mobilized his army and laid a siege on the stranded and tired Khalji army. The Khalji army decided to escape and swam across the Brahmaputra river which had swollen by then. Almost his entire army perished in the river and the rest were cut down by the army of Raja Prithu. Bhaktiyar survived but was exhausted and assassinated by his own clan soon after.
Source: Chandi Sengupta. Hindu Heroes of Medieval Bharat

At Hanuman Garhi, Hanuman Ji serves as Ayodhya’s protector, a duty entrusted by Lord Rama before his departure from earth. Fittingly, the deity, though small, sits atop a throne. The temple, a fortified structure with bastions at each corner, lies near the Ram Janmabhoomi site on Ramkot’s hilly terrain.

Source: Footsteps of Rama, Vikrant Pande and Neelesh Kulkarni

Picture is Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya

Sage Mrikandu and his wife Maruthavathi were blessed with a Son by Shiva. But there was a condition. The son would be bad and live long (or) he would be brilliant with only 16 years of life. They preferred a brilliant Son and Shiva fulfilled their desire. Markandeya was born to them.

Markandeya grew up as a wise Son and became a votary of Shiva. As he reached 16 years of age, he wished to worship Shiva in a temple. His parents agreed. As Markandeya was praying, Yama threw his noose around his neck. Markandeya hugged the Shiva Linga but Yama would not let go. He claimed Markandeya’s life as he had already lived the 16 years he was destined for. At this instant, Shiva emerged from the Linga as Kalasamharamurti. Shiva knocked down Yama. The life of Markandeya was saved.

Tirukadaiyur in Tamil Nadu has the famous deity of Kalasamharamurti. Markandeya is believed to have visited Tirukadaiyur. The fiery third eye is well marked in the deity here.

This is Kalasamharamurti in Nanjangud, Karnataka.

Picture Credit: Ugra Twitter