Hinduism

Upanishad Sangrah:(188 Upanishdon ka Sangrah)

The publication gives an exhaustive account of the development of Sanskrit literature in a format that is concise and condensed. It encompasses a broad study of many forms of literature, including the Vedas, Epics, Puranas, Classics, and Philosophy. It gives insight on the life and philosophy of Ancient and Medieval India as reflected in the literary products of those times in India’s history. [Citation needed] It offers knowledge that is not only fascinating but also instructional, and it does so via the short epitome that is provided in the appendix on technical literature, which includes law, science, and the arts. The bibliographical notes and index that are given at the very end contribute to the worth of the work and make it as helpful as possible to the reader. Even in this day and age of highly developed history, when even the exceptional investigations of prominent antiquarians have become obsolete, the usefulness of this relatively short piece of work has not lessened in any way despite the passage of three quarters of a century.

About the Author(s)

Pandit Jagdish Shastri

The Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to Tibet’s Mount Kailas

Mount Kailas-the most sacred mountain in the world. Uncannily symmetrical, this remote and remarkable peak located in the forbidden land of Tibet might have been built by superhuman hands. It stands out of a primordial hands. It stands out of a primordial landscape: a horizontally stratified plinth thousands of feet high, crowned with a perfect cone of pure snow.

To Hindus it is the Throne of the great god Shiva. Buddhists associate it with Chakrasamvara, a powerful Tantric deity, and with the sage Milarepa, who fought a magic duel there with a shaman priest in ancient times. To the Bonpo, the followers of the indigenous religion of Tibet, it is the giant crystal on which their founder, Thonpa Shenrab, descended to earth from the skies.

For more than a millennium, Buddhist, Hindu and Bonpo pilgrims have been visiting this Throne of the Gods and performing pious cirumabulation around it. John Snelling recounts their difficult and dangerous pilgrimages and analyzes the spiritual significance of Kailas-and of sacred mountains in general. He also retells the tales of the handful of Western travellers who reached Kailas between 1715 and 1949-an exclusive club of intrepid explorers, mountaineers, big game hunters and officials. Then in 1984 the Chinese authorities allowed Westerners freer access; so the tales of a new wave of contemporary travellers have in this completely revised and enlarged edition been added to those of their great precursors.

The new edition of this acclaimed travel book is particularly indispensible for all those wishing to visit Mount Kailas, for it contains a comprehensive Guide for Travellers as well as up-to-date maps. For the armchair traveller there is much to absorb and thrill too-not least the lavish array of photographs, many in colour…

The Agamasastra of Gaudapada

Because the author was dissatisfied with the interpretation provided by Sankara and his followers as well as the interpretation provided by some other teachers, he has made an effort in the following pages to present to the readers his own interpretation of the work based on how he has understood it. On the other hand, he makes no claim whatsoever that his interpretation is the interpretation, in other words, the meaning that Gaudapada himself had in mind. The author of the current book has provided a fresh edition of the text of the Agamasastra based on a number of distinct manuscripts and editions, which is then followed by an English translation of the text. His annotation follows immediately after this. Appendices are included at the conclusion of the book and include the text of the Mandukya Upanisad as well as an English translation of it. Additionally, there are many distinct indexes and versions of the MSS that were used to create the edition of the Agamasastra text.

About the Author(s)

Vidhushekhara Bhattacharya

Prolegomena on Metre and Textual History of the Rgveda: Metrische und textgeschichtliche Prolegomena, Berlin, 1888

Oldenberg made a distinction between the “original text” of the Rgveda, which is the form in which the rsis composed and recited their hymns, and the “traditional text,” which has been handed down to us in a fixed form by the oral tradition. The “original text” of the Rgveda is the form in which the rsis composed and recited their hymns. Oldenberg conducted a comprehensive analysis of all parts of the traditional text in order to give the original text to the academic community in the form and arrangement that he had uncovered. This was done so that other researchers may benefit from his findings. Oldenberg always intended for the contents that are now being published in this book to serve as a Preface to his planned edition of the Rgveda. This volume is now being published. They are the product of Oldenberg’s in-depth research on the Vedic metre, the principles that underlie the arrangement of the hymns in the Rgveda Samhita, the variations found in the text of the mantras as found in the Rgveda and the later Samhitas and the Brahmanas, orthoepic diaskeuasis, and the two Sakhas of the Rgveda: Sakala and Baskala. Later on, Oldenberg decided against releasing his ‘critical edition’ of the Rgveda as he had originally intended.

Author

HERMANN OLDENBERG,

TRANSLATED BY: V.G. PARANJAPE & M.A. MEHENDALE

Loving Ganesa – Hinduism’s Endearing Elephant-Faced God: An illustrated resource on Dharma’s Benevolent Deity, remover of obstacles, Patron of art and science, Honored as first among the Celestials

There is no other novel about this well-loved deity who has an elephant’s face that is more emotionally moving. This brilliant work of art will bring the Lord of Dharma to life for you as you experience it. It makes contacting this merciful Lord simple and gives one motivation to do so.

“In this book, Satguru Subramuniyaswami demonstrates his extensive knowledge, as well as his profound intuition and wisdom, as well as his heartfelt devotion and love of Lord Genesa. Lord Genesa is known as the Protector of the Sanatana Dharma, the Remover of Obstacles, the Patron of Arts and Science, and the Mediator and Intercessor between Man and God. He is the God who is on our side, who is our friend and who actually protects and provides for us.

“The Great Genesa is presented to the reader in a language that is exemplary, unambiguous, and refined, using words that are easy to understand and with a sense of humour that is invigorating and subtle. Along with mantras, prayers, and pujas to show homage to the kind elephant-faced God, each and every facet, relation, symbol, and meaning of Lord Genesa has been expertly described and illustrated. Many people have the misconception that Lord Genesa is an obese, arrogant, elephant-headed deity who is connected to the Hindu pantheon in some way, despite the fact that he has never truly gotten to know any of the Hindu deities. In the event that this has been the case for you, then Loving Genesa has arrived at the perfect moment to provide you with the appropriate responses to all of your inquiries and to bring you closer to the magnificent and endearing Ganapati, who is the Keeper of All Knowledge and the Great Ruler of the Universe.

“My deepest gratitude goes out to Satguruji Subramuniyaswami for the gift of this magnificent book, which is a source of an inexhaustible supply of heavenly nectar, enlightenment, and happiness. I pray that all of you who read this may be blessed with pleasure, success, and the heavenly protection of the loving and compassionate Genesa.” (Sri Sri Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, International Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship; Vienna, Austria)

Author

Satguru Sivaya SubramaniyaSwami

The Cult of Jagannatha: Myths and Rituals

Orissan ethnography is presented in a fresh light via the lens of The Cult of Jagannatha: Myths and Rituals. This book gives considerable evidence on the significance of religious orthodoxy, which stands in stark contrast to the mainstream interpretations, which centre on the impacts of tribal groups and the history of aryanization. In Orissa, the shift from the coastal to the interior areas is marked by significant demographic and sociocultural discontinuities. These discontinuities may be seen most clearly while moving from the coastline to the inland regions. These geographical variances are presumably a consequence of aryanization that occurred through time. The historical reconstruction of this process has been the primary pillar on which ethnological narratives have traditionally been built. Traditions that developed in the delta plain are said to have been significantly impacted by the local populations who lived there, particularly those traditions that are connected to the delta plain’s two most important centres: the city of Puri and the temple of Jagannatha. The importance of sacrifice symbolism to Puri’s religious system is shown by a number of myths and rites. In spite of the fact that it is explicitly linked to an initial asvamedha, which refers to the sacrifice of a horse in the Vedic tradition, the construction of the big temple is nevertheless seen as a modification of the brick-fire altar. These relationships are further confirmed by an astonishing network of orthodox representations, both Vedic and Hindu. [Citation needed] [Citation needed] This acknowledgment of orthodoxy brings us back to the alleged differences between regional traditions. How should one understand the “specificity” of Puri’s iconography when it comes to his gods? What kind of respect should be accorded to the Sudras who are in charge of the rituals at the major temple? The current book offers fresh insight into these time-honored inquiries, which are addressed. The “strangeness” of Orissan ethnography is not as baffling as it may seem; rather, it is a specific but exceedingly consistent representation of Indian cultural norms and customs.

Author

Jose Carlos Gomes da Silva