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July 28 - September 13, 2019
Vishpala is mentioned in the Rig Vedic hymns (Rig Veda 1.112, 1.116, 1.117, 1.118 and 10.39). The information we get from the text is that she lost her leg in Khela’s war (her leg was cut off like a wild bird’s pinion as mentioned in 1.116) and was granted a metal leg by the twin deities so that she can move/fight when the war starts again. The next hymn 1.117 mentions the great Rishi Agastya, implying that they graced her upon being invoked by him.
Sayanacharya, the 14th century scholar, in his exhaustive commentary on Rig Veda, put together the pieces of information scattered across these precious few hymns. It the commentary, he mentions Vishpala as a relative (Sambandhini) of King Khela and mentions Agastya as the purohita of Khela.
The institutions like Vivaha (marriage) and Varna (conveniently misinterpreted as caste) were nascent or non-existent.
A union does build on dissimilar characteristics, but only when they complement each other. Not when the couple consider each as an affront to the other.”
It is intriguing, how a person’s virtues are suddenly realized when he or she departs. The same virtues go almost unrecognized and without being acknowledged all life.
“Civilization is not a challenge to the nature, but the better and a collective use of the faculties that the nature bestowed on us, for the betterment of mankind.”
Expecting fair treatment in a battle is practically throwing yourself under the mercy of the opponent.”
“You were brought by this mystic, a half mad traveller who was an old disciple of Grandfather Vahni and a friend of father. I remember him leaving without leaving us much detail.”
“Desperation is often an opportunity. Frantic soldiers can win a losing battle if they are desperate enough.”
Why does disease exist in this world at all? It is but a consequence of an imbalance, be it of a body composition or that of a society, caused either by negligence, greed or by mala fide intentions. Medicine is but one face of the much-needed counter balancing. Don’t you agree?”
“Those with large hearts take risks for others, not because they see others deserving it. But because they see it as right.”
“When Dharma beckons, emotional indulgence becomes an unaffordable luxury.
References Books A Study of deities of Rig Veda (with the help of Science) by Shanti Swarup Gupta Ashwini Rahasya - The Yogic and Ayurvedic Secrets of the Ashwin Gods by Rodney Lingham Gods, Kings and Sages by David Frawley History of Dharma Shastras – Volume 2 by Pandurang Vaman Kane Rgveda Samhita with the commentary of Sayanacharya The Lost River – On the trail of Saraswati by Michel Danino
Articles and Blogs Prosthetics through the ages: From myth to practice http://www.ipfh.org/media-press/features/prosthetics-through-the-ages-from-myth-to-practice A Short essay on the salient features of the Vedic polity - http://www.preservearticles.com/2011101915739/short-essay-on-the-salient-features-of-the-vedic-polity.html Democracy in Ancient India - http://www.pragyata.com/mag/democracy-in-ancient-india-295 Brief history of Hindu Marriage - http://kalchiron.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/brief-history-of-hindu-marriage-1.html Oxygen isotope in archaeological bioapatites from India:
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Other Useful Resources www.sacred-texts.com/ http://bl.ocks.org/lilboox/raw/5212657476c183a5e8bd/ Ancientvoice.wikidot.com https://archive.org/
