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The Best of Dharma Dispatch: 2025
The top ten, most read articles on The Dharma Dispatch during the year 2025
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AT THE OUTSET, I would like to wish a very happy new year to all readers, subscribers and donors of The Dharma Dispatch although our new year begins on Yugadi. The fact that sending out new year wishes on January 1 of each year only shows how much harder we have to work to achieve full decolonisation.
On that pensive note, let me begin another annual tradition that we follow at The Dharma Dispatch. Of listing the top ten articles that you’ve all loved, shared and popularised in 2025.
Happy reading!
It was pleasantly surprising to learn that this historical essay made it to the top slot of the most-read articles of 2025. It narrates the thrilling story of an inscription found outside the Bhairava Temple at Anantaraja Sagara lake in the Porumamilla village, Kadapa district. The inscription basically tells us the full story of how Prince Bhaskara Bhavadura of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century built the dam that we see there even today.
This is my detailed analysis of the recent Hindi blockbuster, Dhurandhar. It continues its dream run at the box office even as I write this. I argue that Dhurandhar is not just a movie but a phenomenon; it is perhaps the most definitive line separating the degenerate old guard of Bollywood and the emergent Hindi cinema helmed by talented and unapologetic makers like Aditya Dhar.
This article is an episode of my 12-part series exploring the age-old practice of Parāvartana or Ghar-Wapsi and what it signifies today. Parāvartana, the Hindu response to forced conversions by Muslims, was not only practiced since the time of Muhammad bin Qasim’s raid, but renewed vigorously by the efforts of Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Shraddhananda. A lesser-known episode of this history was the mass Ghar Wapsi performed during the rule of Harihara II.
This essay narrates the little-known history of how a Greek artist of the 2nd Century CE had engraved an image of Bharata Mata on a silver dish in Lampsacos, Turkey. Among other things, it reaffirms the well-known truth of India’s extensive imprint in the Middle East and Europe.
This is an adaptation of Gopinath Kaviraj’s compilation of experiences with scores of Sadhus in Varanasi. One such Sadhu was known as Pagal Baba, an accomplished exponent of the Kundalini Yoga. The essay is noteworthy for the wealth of insights that the Baba provides from personal experience.
Today, even veteran leaders of the Congress party are unaware that barely a month after India achieved independence, Pakistan launched an audacious attack to seize Delhi itself. The attack was planned in Pakistan and executed by Indian Muslims in Delhi. Unfortunately for them, Sardar Patel, the iron man of India, crushed it effortlessly.
This is the inspiring but painful story of a heroic Brahmin who openly performed Puja in Delhi under Firuz Shah Tughlaq's bigoted regime and was burnt to death. Till the end, the Brahmin refused to abandon his ancestral Dharma even if it meant giving up his life.
Raja Sitaram Ray was a self-made Hindu king who built a small empire by the dint of his talent, bravery and leadership. He was also the last Hindu king of Bengal, executed by Murshid Quli Khan. Just 80 years ago, Sitaram Ray was a household name in Bengal, celebrated in its folklore. In fact, the legendary Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s last novel was titled Sitaram, in the honour of his sacred memory.
Azerbaijan is home to a site simply known as the Ateshgah of Baku. This was originally a Hindu temple known as the Jvalaji Mandir, recognised as a Shakti Peeta. It had a deep connection with the Jwalamukhi Mandir in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. With changing geopolitics, the temple fell into disuse and was regarded by Zoroastrians as their sacred Fire Temple.
The departure of Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa on September 24, 2025 is perhaps the biggest cultural loss that India suffered in recent times. This is my heartfelt tribute to not just a titan of Indian literature, but a one-man phenomenon that occurs rarely. All I can say now is that at least three generations were fortunate to witness this phenomenon.
That brings us to the close of a rather eventful 2025. As far as The Dharma Dispatch is concerned, our commitment to the Sanatana cultural heritage, history, society and its sacred traditions flows quietly but incessantly like the tranquil stream of Ganga-Mata.
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