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Rahu - Friend or Foe? Solar Eclipses in Hinduism

Rahu - Friend or Foe? Solar Eclipses in Hinduism

Hinduism, the oldest living religion, embodies diversity and eternal truths, fostering unwavering faith and unity amidst life's challenges. Life is characterized by its cycles of good and bad experiences. Don’t blame the Navagraha or 9 planets in Vedic Astrology, have strength, show compassion, live fearlessly!

Sex, Love, Intimacy, & that Book Kama Sutra (Yes it's a religious HINDU scripture)

Sex, Love, Intimacy, & that Book Kama Sutra (Yes it's a religious HINDU scripture)

Ancient Hindu society before the influences of western Faiths, Puritanism, and Colonizations was very free-thinking and progressive. The western world has managed to dumb down ancient texts such as the Kama Sutra to just a “sex position manual”, brand Eastern religions/faiths as vulgar/obscene, and this needs to stop. I had the honor of presenting at the Museum of Sex in NYC about Hinduism, Love, and the Kama Sutra.

activism, activist, art, appreciation, create the change, compassion, change in thinking, classical traditions, education, educate, desi american, cultures, faith, global, global cultures, history, hinduism, hindu temple, hindu, indian american, impact, interfaith, inspiration, love, language, languages, museum, reflections, south asia, religions, religion, prayer, temple, tamil nadu, travel, unity, unityindiversity, unique, world religions, spirituality, spiritual activismsangeetha kowsikJanuary 29, 2023sex, love, intimacy, hindu, hinduism, sexual, museum, museum of sex, poetry, spirtiuality, spiritual, faith, interconnectedness, interfaith, india, indian, southasian, south asia, krishnalove, krishna, radha, radha krishna, andal, vishnu, shiva, parvati, goddess, tantra, shiva parvati, mirabai, sanathana, santhana dharma, sanathanadharma, spanish, spirituality, inspiration, love making, love make, devotion, poem, one love, true love, lgptqi+, queer, puja, pujaqueen, yabyum, compassion, music, dancer, indian classical dance, indian classical music, indian arts, sculpture, arts, art, sanatana dharma, passion, longing, yearning, divine, ganesha, shakti, sati, conversation, educate, education, educateyourself, break stereotypes, change, bethechange, changmaker, changing narratives, changing dialogues, dialogue, playfulness, ras leela, history, art history, archeology, theology, culture, ancient traditions, ancient, ancient cultures, hindu temple, hinduarchitecture, designer, design, designs, religion

A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!

A Muslim Musician wrote a MANTRAM!

A mantram can be repetitive (but doesn’t have to be) and is used for meditation, prayer, and maybe even to set your intentions/goals. For me, Alam Khan’s album Mantram is a true spiritual/religious experience. I LOVE every single track and I am in tears by the end of it, but happy tears because I’ve seen my beloved Lord. It reminds us that no matter how much crap and emotional turmoil we’ve all gone through in life, HOPE & LOVE is what wins at the end.

appreciation, art, california, change in thinking, change, classical traditions, compassion, cross cultures, culture, cultures, education, educate, diversity, design, desi american, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, hindu, hindu temple, hinduism, history, hometown, impact, inspiration, interfaith, inclusion, indian american, islam, love, museum, my story, oneness, nyc, new york, reflections, religion, religions, spirituality, spiritual activism, south asia, tamil, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversitysangeetha kowsikOctober 1, 2022hindu, hindustani, hinduism, music, musician, musicians, islam, mantra, mantram, new music, classical music, indian classical dance, dharma, sanatana dharma, indian arts, india, indian, sarod, composer, community, unity, unique, unityindiversity, south asia, southasia, south indian, southindian, south india, temple, worship, aliakbarkhan, temples, hindu temple, cali, california, mystory, ritual, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, friendship, muslims, muslim, ohm, japa, homam, designer, artist, creative, creatives, crosscultural, faith, belief, hope, love, compassion, shiva, vishnu, practice, prayer, sanskrit, sanathanadharma, sanathana

Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)

Interconnectedness, Hate, Love, & Ahimsa (Non Violence)

As a lifelong practicing Hindu who adheres to the principle of Ahimsa, which means “nonviolence” meaning not to harm any living creature with your words, thoughts, or physically.

it boggles my mind that the 3 great Abrahamic faiths of the world Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived in relative peace and unity, and gave the world beautiful art, architecture, and an interconnected culture before someone drank CUCKOO juice, and decided to fill their minds/hearts/brains/souls with hatred and expelled Jews and Muslims, which led to the bloody Spanish inquisition of 1492!

These are my reflections of the interconnectedness, unity, inspiration, and beauty, I saw through religion, faith, culture, and art.

activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, culture, cultures, design, diversity, distinctive, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, graphic design, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, inclusion, holiday, inspiration, interfaith, islam, language, languages, museum, my story, music, oneness, painting, religion, religions, prayer, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, travel, unique, unity, unityindiversity, travel diaries, reflections, world religions, islamic art, racism, Islamophobia, anti semitism, love, compassion, new york, nycsangeetha kowsikAugust 31, 2022art history, art, design, designs, designer, history, museum, the metropolitan museum of art, truth, hate, love, compassion, islam, islamicarchitecture, architecture, reli, faith, interfaith, islamic, judaism, jew, jewish, christian, christianity, fatima, prophet, spain, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration, portugal, heart, one love, true love, mystory, my truth, jesus, interconnectedness, international, unity, unityindiversity, community, communities, travel, travelling, instatravel, travel blogger, travels, granada, cordoba, castle, seville, allhambra, pilgramage, typography, stereotypes, gratitude, activist, activism, racism, change, bethechange, connected, colonization, culture, crosscultural, cultural diversity, cultures, ancient traditions, tradition, traditions, world, oneness, one world, oneneww, global, global culture, global cultures, antisemitism, phobia, hatred, peace, understanding, educate, education, educateyourself, blog, blogger, non violence, ahimsa, gandhi, india, dharma, sanatana dharma, sanskrit, southasia, southasian, southasianartist, southasianart, south aisa, south asia, south indian, south india, together, unique, ancient cultures, beauty, shrine, prayer, worship, pattern, repeat pattern, islamicart, islamic art, islamic pattern, andorra, iberian, Iberian Penninsula, spanish, sephardicComment

Faith, Fusion, ABCD, Cultural "Norms", it’s time to CHANGE!

Faith, Fusion, ABCD, Cultural "Norms", it’s time to CHANGE!

This is the same issue many children of immigrants face if they don’t have light skin, light eyes, and a “white” name. We always have to prove our “Americaness” or our “Ethnic Identity” over and over again and frankly, it’s just EXHAUSTING.

I HATE the word “ETHNIC” which needs to be removed from the English language! Ethnic literally describes anyone who is not white! HOW RUDE!

I am sick/tired of folks confusing “Indian culture/communities/society” with the FAITH of Hinduism.

I always found solace, peace, and understanding in my faith in Hinduism though I grew up in a chaotic/mishmash often contradicting Indian/Hindu/American culture and society. For example, I never understood why “Brown/Indian” American women were made to feel ashamed to date, go to school dances, date/marry folks of other races, wear tank tops, bikinis, etc.

SOCIETY & COMMUNITIES create stupid rules, divisions, racism, sexism, hate, patriarchy, and bigotry, not FAITH.

activism, activist, appreciation, art, artwork, change, change in thinking, childhood, classical traditions, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, exhibition, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, impact, indian american, inclusion, inspiration, interfaith, language, museum, languages, my story, music, oneness, religion, south asia, spiritual activism, spirituality, religions, tamil, tamil american, tamil nadu, travel, unity, temple, hindu temple, prayer, unique, culture, distinctivesangeetha kowsikJune 1, 2022hindu, hinduism, hindustani, hindu temple, hinduarchitecture, dancer, compassion, indian classical dance, classical, classical music, spiritual, spirituality, interfaith, faith, fashion, ethnic, community, communities, change, break stereotypes, kindness, immigrant, statues, museum, the metropolitan museum of art, art history, artwork, sanatana dharma, truth, one love, heritage, educate, education, educateyourself, racism, temples, temple, story, mystory, my truth, my life, life, love, bethechange, for change, language, society, culture, cultures, tamil, tamil nadu, tamil americna, tamils, tradition, traditions, ancient cultures, crosscultural, identity, american, feelings, desiart, desi artist, desi, design, dharma, designer, friendshp, friendship

"Abrahamizing" Hinduism (NOT about Conversion)

"Abrahamizing" Hinduism (NOT about Conversion)

As the Hindu Chaplain of NYU/Columbia Universities, I find myself explaining my faith in "Abrahamic terms"

Why so many Gods? What's with the half-naked priests? Why don't you have 1 book, the same ways of thinking or the same holidays?

I can’t dip you in water, smack you upside the head with a Veda or Gita and make you a Hindu! (and other thoughts…)

It’s very hard to generalize/compartmentalize/define Hinduism because practices vary dramatically by culture, family, demographics, communities, practices, etc.

It’s what I’ve always found fascinating and interesting about Hinduism, there’s always something new and unique to discover.

LORD AYYAPA - An INLCLUSIVE Hindu Deity who is BELOVED by Hindus, Muslims, Christians & who's prayer came from Buddhism!

LORD AYYAPA - An INLCLUSIVE Hindu Deity who is BELOVED by Hindus, Muslims, Christians & who's prayer came from Buddhism!

A Hindu Deity whose pilgrimage & fast is taken by 40 to 50 million people of all faiths/backgrounds yearly! A deity who unifies Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc., people of all backgrounds/faiths. Showing that the mighty divine is SUPREME and belongs to ALL creation regardless of class, background, faith, gender, etc. The divine deity who symbolizes equal rights for the LGBTQI+ communities.

activism, activist, classical traditions, change, cross cultures, cultures, diversity, faith, education, global, friendship, global cultures, hindu, hinduism, history, inclusion, interfaith, islam, oneness, spiritual activism, spirituality, tamil, south asia, tamil nadu, travel, unityindiversity, unitysangeetha kowsikNovember 16, 2021ayyapan, unityindiversity, unity, communities, islam, lgbtqi, lgptq, equality, hinduism, fast, pilgramage, pooja, puja, uniqu, uniqeu, unique, interconnectedness, spiritual, spirituality, inspiration

Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!

Brooklyn Museum Popup - My Customers are so DIVERSE! Grateful!

The world says “to define my customer base” Well I find that really difficult for me! My customers that day included Japanese Grandmas, Latino Boys, Young African American Gay Men, Hipsters, Hindu folks, Muslim folks, Arab families, Turkish families, and many more! My work appeals to a wide range of races, nationalities, ages, demographics, etc. I believe that art and design are the way to bring together diverse communities.

art, museum, change, activism, activist, appreciation, change in thinking, create the change, cross cultures, cultures, desi american, design, diversity, educate, education, faith, friendship, global cultures, global, graphic design, history, hometown, hindu, hinduism, indian american, inclusion, impact, language, languages, oneness, music, south asia, spirituality, travel, typography, unityindiversity, unitysangeetha kowsikJune 21, 2021interconnectedness, interfaith, museum, art history, history, culture, diversity, inclusiveness, cultures, crosscultural, ancient cultures, for change, fortheculture, together, southasian, southasianartist, southasia, asian, asia, brooklyn, brooklyn museum, the metropolitan museum of art, art, design, designs, designer, nyc, new york, new york city, cultural diversity, global, global cultures, international, community, communities, knowledge, education, educate, educateyourself, connected, connect, open your mind, unityindiversity, unity, no borders

BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth

BLACK MUSLIM EXPERIENCE, UMMAH, EID & ME - Juneteenth

I was the ONLY non-Black, non-Muslim, non-Hijab, non-Nikab wearing person/lady there! Did I feel any different? NO! I was welcomed with so much love and respect into this Ummah! (Community)

Art for the Love of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Tanjore Painting meets Islamic Patterns

Art for the Love of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Tanjore Painting meets Islamic Patterns

For hundreds of years Tamil poets have composed devotional poems adopting the voice of a mother, addressing praises to an extraordinary child. Called pillaittamil ( "Tamil for a child”), major genre of Tamil literature.” Muslim poets used the genre, to praise the Prophet (PBUH), members of his family, and various walis (“friends of God”) who’s tombs are revered in Tamil Nadu.

My design incorporates Tamil script, Tanjore (Traditional Classical style of South Indian (Tamil) painting), traditional Islamic patterns in the background/cradle, & cradle (the poem states “so I can place you in the cradle, and rock you happily, come joyously. Muhammad, who has the truth, come joyously, come”)

cross cultures, unity, unityindiversity, inclusion, cultures, global cultures, appreciation, interfaith, childhood, classical traditions, diversity, friendship, global, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, music, oneness, travel, art, design, graphic design, typography, language, languages, educate, education, museum, religions, spirituality, impact, activism, activist, spiritual activism, create the change, change in thinking, change, faith, religion, hindu, south asia, tamil nadu, tamil, tamil american, indian american, desi americansangeetha kowsikMarch 6, 2021islamicart, islamic, islam, islm, islamicarchitecture, islamic art, islamic pattern, pattern, tanjore, tanjore painting, painting, art, design, crosscultural, culture, ancient cultures, tamil, tamil culture, south india, south indian, southasian, southasia, southasianartist, southindian, tamil nadu, tamilnadu, tamil americna, tamil american, tamilamerican, mix, prophet, saw, muhamad, prophet muhammad, tamizgh, tamizhl, classical painting, ancient traditions, tradition, traditions, cultures, global culture, learn, educate, education, educateyourself, activism, contemporary art

Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi

Arabic Ganesha Chaturthi

EVERYBODY LOVES GANESHA! I have many Muslim/non Hindu friends who love Ganesha. Musicians who travel with a small statue, Arabs girls who find him adorable, Yoga practitioners etc. His image is found across the world (Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, archeological evidence even shows ancient South America!) 🌏

His image is on Indonesian currency (a predominately Muslim nation) ☪️

design, diversity, cross cultures, classical traditions, global, friendship, faith, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, hometown, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unitysangeetha kowsikAugust 27, 2020hindu, ganesha, ganesh, vinayak, vinayaka chaturthi, ganesh chaturthi, ganesha chaturthi, festival, islam, hinduism, culture, unity, unityindiversity, unique, holiday, independence, independence day, freedom, colonization, british, british raj, raj, lokmanya tilak, freedom fighter, fight, change, celebration, indonesia, global, global culture, holy month, holy, faith, pilayar, tamil, ohm, om, yoga, spiritual, spirituality, musician, musicians, bethechange, for change, for the culute, history, politics, politian, bollywood, film star, marriage, love, art, design, devotion, desi, deity, desiart, southasian, southasia, india, arabic calligraphy, arabic, typography, fashion, style, luxe

#blacklivesmatter. One World. Be the Change.

#blacklivesmatter. One World. Be the Change.

All FAITHS (symbols of every major faith). ONE WORLD. WE Together stand against racism!

diversity, design, cross cultures, classical traditions, california, friendship, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, inspiration, oneness, religion, travel, unity, islam, faithsangeetha kowsikJune 2, 2020hindu, hinduism, hindu temple, deity, faith, interconnectedness, interfaith, intense, god, allah, islamicart, islam, sikhism, sikh, zoroastrianism, fire, symbol, meaning, concept, connect, love, understanding, unique, divesity, dialogue, peace, blacklivesmatter, black, darkness, whitesupremacy, racism, fight, justice, change, bethechange, shinto, shintoism, jainism, jain, africa, african, murthi, divine, diversity, shani, yama, krishna, lord, goddess, kali, kalima, one world, world, problem, georgeflyod, southasia, southasian, southasianartist, south asia, southasianart, desiart, desi, design, designs, devotion, deva, designer, mahadev, product design, compassion, passion, anger, angry, protest, protestart, protest art, white, knowledge, know, solidarity, community, family, humanity, engage, engagement, sexism, dark

Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!

Eid Mubarak! Eid Ambarki Ighudan!

Ramadan concludes with morning Eid Prayers outside in Washington Square Park which is so special and absolute magic. Though I’m the Hindu Chaplain for NYU, my brothers have always included me in Eid prayers, I have celebrated with the Islamic Center any times.

classical traditions, cross cultures, design, diversity, faith, friendship, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, inspiration, oneness, islam, religion, travel, unitysangeetha kowsikMay 26, 2020hindu, hindustani, hinduism, archives, islamicarchitecture, hinduarchitecture, oneness, one world, one, interfaith, family, #zakirhussain #culturematters #islam #hinduism #tabla #oneness #tee #unity #understanding #interconnected #subhanallah #tablas #inclusion #muslimfashion #awareness #crossculture #meaningful #muslimwear #music #shoponline #fortheculture #multicultural #storyteller #unisex #arabictee #arabiccalligraphy #artist #apparel #fashion #contemporaryart, morocco, moroccan, amazigh, amazighs, tamazirt, tamazight, arabic calligraphy, arabic, calligrapher, calligraphy, designs, designer, design, devotion, divine, diversity, dharma, drawn, illustration, tamil, peacock, yali, lion, animal, figure, figurine, nyu, university, purple, higher enducation, college, true love, love, ramadan, ramadan mubarak, festival, peacock feather, together, corvid, corvid virus, corona, moon, islamicart, islamic, islamic art, ishwar, ihsan, ishan, unityindiversity, unity, understanding, dialogue, compassion, talk, conversation, conceptualart, concept, allah, gold

Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic

Maha Shivaratri : Lord Shiva & Arabic

God Sees all, even if you can't see him, he sees you!

diversity, classical traditions, cross cultures, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, history, holiday, inspiration, islam, music, oneness, religion, travel, unity, childhoodsangeetha kowsikMay 4, 2020shiva, shakti, ohm, om, hindu, hinduism, faith, india, indian, southasia, southasianart, southasianartist, south asia, intense, sanatana dharma, love, temple, bhakti, devotion, design, designs, designer, art, artwork, artist, earth, heart, fortheculture, interconnectedness, connected, connect, crosscultural, culture, ancient cultures, global culture, global, spiritual, spirituality, god, ishwar, parameshwara, king, abhishekam, hindu temple, dancer, cosmic dancer, yoga, veda, scripture, flower, flowers, true love, bhajan, bhajans, music, lord, beauty, beautiful, healer, doctor, teacher, guru, master, compassion, knowledge, learn, educate, cycle, break stereotypes, oneness, fight, happine, holiday, holy month, phase, moon, chandra, puja, pooja, poojas, mighty, mankind, savior, one, one world, concept, conceptualart, conceptual, corvid, covid virus, virus, corona, corona virus, neelakanta, neel, blue, favorite, ishta devam, deva, devam, ruler, ruling, ruler of my heart, my everything, everything, jai, hara, hara har, mahadev, shankar, shankara, shiva rathri, rathri, night, shivas night, shiva night, bhang, sufi, sufi islam, islam, islamicart, history, islamic art, unique, my story, story, bhagavan, hadith, prophet, ihsan, ishan

Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages

Ramadan Mubarak! : in 5 Languages

Here is my Ramadan Artwork/Design! Written in 5 Different languages : Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit (language of my faith Hinduism), Tamil (language I speak with my family) & Tamazight (language of the Amazigh people of North Africa)

design, diversity, cross cultures, friendship, faith, global, global cultures, inspiration, holiday, history, islam, oneness, religion, travel, music, unitysangeetha kowsikApril 27, 2020#ramadan #ramadanmubarak #diversity #persian #tamazight #sanskrit #islam #hinduism #poem #oneness #unity #understanding #tamil #mosque #hindu#southasianartist #muslim #global #ilustration #mystory #love #meaningful #interfaith #artistsoninstagram #multicultural #storyteller #arabiccalligraphy #temple #artist #contemporaryart, #zakirhussain #culturematters #islam #hinduism #tabla #oneness #tee #unity #understanding #interconnected #subhanallah #tablas #inclusion #muslimfashion #awareness #crossculture #meaningful #muslimwear #music #shoponline #fortheculture #multicultural #storyteller #unisex #arabictee #arabiccalligraphy #artist #apparel #fashion #contemporaryart, art, designs, desert, design, divine, diversity, concept, culture, calligrapher, calligraphy, casablanca, crosscultural, creative, world, global, global culture, one world, earth, interconnectedness, one, oneness, connected, language, languages, color, ramadan, ramadan mubarak, holy, holy month, month, mosque, temple, hinduism, hindu, morocco, unityindiversity, india, indian, persian, tamil

Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language

Ram Navami (Hindu Holiday) : in Arabic Language

Rama in Sanskrit means "one who gives joy to others/divinely blissful / the noble one"
Karim in Arabic means "generous/noble, one of the 99 names of Allah"

design, cross cultures, diversity, childhood, faith, global, global cultures, hinduism, islam, inspiration, religion, travel, unity, oneness, history, holidaysangeetha kowsikApril 11, 2020hindu, hinduism, rama, ramanavami, ram navami, kabir, kabir das, allah, 99 names, karim, compassion, mankind, corvid, corvid virus, virus, heart, arrow, arabic, arabic calligraphy, race, nationality, india, ramayana, lord rama, vishnu, king, righteousness, right, dharma, islam, islamic art, islamic, sikh, guru, guru granth sahib, sikhism, bhajans, bhajan, song, sanskrit, sanatana dharma, blue, gradient, light, noor, world, global, global culture, culture, creative, crosscultural, ancient, ancient cultures, history, hari, god, divine, planet, love, nobel, noble, blissful, generous, kindness, designs, designer, artwork, artist, southasian, southasia, south asia, southasianart, endless, prayer, dua, puja, pooja

Nowruz/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! : Persian New Year

Nowruz/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! : Persian New Year

NOWRUZ/Norooz/Nowrooz Mubarak! Inspired by pop art, fashion, and "modern" Persian calligraphers

A Moroccan Love Story : Amazigh Culture & Tamazight Language

A Moroccan Love Story : Amazigh Culture & Tamazight Language

I discovered/fell in love with the Amazigh people, culture, language (Tamazight). Please don’t call them Berbers!

travel, design, inspirationsangeetha kowsikJanuary 14, 2020morocco, moroccan, maroc, berber, amazigh, tamazight, travel, tamazirt, design, scarf, geometric, designs, textile, textiles, islam, islamic, islamic art, simplymorocco, moroccotrip, casablanca, desert, sahara, culture, toursim, tourist, adventure, rabat, agadir, fez, travelling, moroccanmarrakesh, love, instatravel, artist, art, concept, marrakechdesign, travelmorocco, visitmorocco, amazighs, history, fortheculture, diversity, unityindiversity, tamil, indian, desiart, southasianartist, southasianart, southasia, india, tamaghra, aitatta, creative, conceptual, conceptualart, mosque, islm, islamicart, islamicarchitecture