Category BackStory

A person holding salt as a prized commodity in their hands

How salt defined one’s worth in ancient times

Did you know the expression “worth one’s salt” means to be competent, good enough to justify one’s earnings or position? The phrase originates from ancient times when salt was a highly prized commodity due to its flavor-enhancing properties and its…

Ramnagar Fort: the living heritage of Varanasi

The Ramnagar Fort lies on the eastern bank of the Ganga River, opposite Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi. It was built in 1750 by Kashi Naresh Maharaja Balwant Singh, who established it as the royal seat of the rulers of Banaras. Constructed primarily from creamy Chunar sandstone, the…

The scholar who composed the “Suprabhatam”

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam is a Sanskrit hymn traditionally recited early in the morning to awaken Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh. The word Suprabhatam means “auspicious morning,” and the hymn is a poetic invocation seeking divine blessings…