The Wisdom of Vasistha: A Study on Laghu Yoga Vasistha from a Seeker’s point of view

Yogavasistha or Yogavasistha Maharamayana has been a guide book to earnest Sadhakas, all over the country. The popularity of this book appears to be due to the fact, that it is a happy combination of terse Upanisadic thought clothed in the story form. The Wisdom of Vasistha: A Study on Laghu Yoga Vasistha from a Seeker’s point of view A scripture becomes relevant, when it gives the truths of the Upanisads, using a common man’s language with illustrative stories, helps a beginner as well as an advanced seeker. It is believed by some that Sage Valmiki wrote the Ramayana for the purification of mind and to create a mood of seeking in the society. It is well known, that the story of Sri Rama, gives an exemplary ethical and moral behaviour in an individual, and a glimpse into the ideal culture, through the description of Ayodhya. For only on a strong ethical and moral foundation can one hope to build the super-structure of spirituality. Attempt has been made to cover all the stories in six Prakaranas. This book is a study by a seeker, and an attempt to present the philosophy, and practical hints contained in the book, to fellow seekers who are not very familiar with Sanskrit. It is essentially meant for inspiring the seekers to take up the study of the original text, which is a mine of practical wisdom. The essays contained herein, are glimpses into the meditations on the golden verses and their connection and relevance in our day-to-day life. Consequently, the interpretation and the perspective is not really meant for scholastic pursuits.

Author

Raghunandan

Epic Mythology

The study of the Indian epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata is given a fresh perspective with the publication of this collection. In it, for the very first time, mythology is separated from the overarching themes that run throughout both of the epic books. Within a few hundred years of the start of the Christian era, the people who lived in Northern India along the Ganges believed the mythology that is described in India’s two epics to be representative of their general worldview. The time period covered by the Mahabharata is from 300 B.C. to 400 A.D. In its entirety, the Mahabharata was written much later than the Ramayana, which is both more technically accomplished in its metre and the product of a single author. The more brutal epic style of the Mahabharata depicts a life that is more civilised than the one seen in the Ramayana. It is also the product of the combined efforts of many people over a long period of time.

Epic mythology is, however, is fairly consistent. There is no great discrepancy between the character of any one god in the Mahabharata and that of the same god in Ramayana. Nor is the character of gods very different in different parts of the Mahabharata, save for the sectarian tendency to invert the positions of the three highest gods in favour of the sect.

Author

Edward Washburn Hopkins

Shri Ramacharitamanasa: The Holy Lake Of The Acts Of Rama

The SHRI RAMACHARITAMANASA by Tulasidasa is the single most popular book among Hindus. This book has a huge appeal to the affluent and the poor, the learned and the uneducated, the elderly and the young, as well as the scholar and the ordinary man. It has been around for more than four centuries.

Its popularity is neither exclusive to India, nor is it just read by Hindus, neither of which is true. Because it reaffirms man’s trust in the robustness of moral order that sustains the world, the message of the RAMACHARITAMANASA is more pertinent than ever in today’s world. Dark and wicked powers may and will sometimes pose a danger to disturb that order, but eventually, divine intervention will chasten and subjugate those forces and bring them under control.

This one-of-a-kind version of the RAMACHARITAMANASA has been developed with a verse-by-verse Hindi and English translation, in addition to Tulasidasa’s original text, bearing in mind the ever-increasing interest that people have shown in epic literature. The fundamental richness of the original has been preserved in the translation that was produced by an expert scholar. It has been constructed with the intention of being of assistance to Indian brothers and sisters who are now residing outside of India and for whom the dialect used in Tulasidasa’s original may be rather difficult to understand. The enormous Indian diaspora living in other countries has, for a very long time, voiced their desire for a standard and genuine copy of the RAMACHARITAMANASA. The current version was developed to fulfil their request by using the most cutting-edge printing and processing methods available in order to produce a product that conforms to international standards.

This version is distinguished in particular by the incorporation of Lavakushakanda, Shri Hanumanchalisa, and Shri Ramashalaka Prashnavali. The manner in which it is to be recited is detailed in a separate appendix. The significant portion that includes Indian, European, and American scholars’ critiques of Tulasidasa’s RAMACHARITAMANASA is another facet that contributes to the book’s one-of-a-kind character. The last section includes a dictionary that defines significant proper nouns as well as epithets.

Dr. R.C. Prasad translated SHRI RAMACHARITAMANASA into simple and lucid English and Hindi. He was a University Professor of English in Patna University where he taught for about three decades. He was an eminent author, translator and editor. He had a good number of books to his credit.

Shri Ramacharitamanasa of Tulasidasa: The Holy Lake of the Acts of Rama

This one-of-a-kind version of the Ramacharitamanasa, which includes Tulsidasa’s original text in addition to verse-by-verse translations in Hindi and English, was created with the goal of satisfying the ever-increasing interest that people have in epic literature. The translation that was done by a skilled academic does the original work justice in terms of its inherent depth and complexity. The Indian brothers who are now residing outside of India, for whom the regional accent of Tulsidasa’s original may be somewhat difficult to understand, have been the focus of particular attention in the process of making this resource helpful. A regular and genuine copy of the Ramacharitamanasa has been in high demand among the enormous Indian population that has relocated outside of India for a significant amount of time. The current edition, which has been produced to fulfil their need by using the most up-to-date printing and processing processes, has been created to conform to the worldwide standard for works of literature.

The addition of Lavakushakanda, Shri Hanumanchalisa, and Shri Ramashalaka Prashnavali is a noteworthy aspect of this edition. The manner in which it is to be recited is detailed in an appendix that is presented on its own. The inclusion of an essential portion that contains Indian, European, and American scholar’s critiques of Tulsidasa’s Ramacharitamanasa is another factor that contributes to its one-of-a-kind quality. At the conclusion, you will get a dictionary that defines significant proper nouns as well as epithets.

Author

DR. R. C. PRASAD

Dancing with Siva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Catechism

A question-and-answer formatted reference on Indian spirituality that is vividly illustrated throughout. Topics covered include how to know the Divine, respect all creation, and recognise God everywhere and in everyone.

The Complete Master Course Series This book contains some information that has never been published before, and all of it is pertinent to your own awakening on the road to union with God. You will learn the deepest truths and insights of Indian spirituality inside this book. Dancing with Shiva is the first book of an unique trilogy that is collectively referred to as The Master Course. It represents the culmination of fifty years of yogic realisations and the sharing of the Hindu mystical teachings with aspirants. The trilogy is a comprehensive overview of astanga yoga, which is also known as raja yoga. Astanga yoga is comprised of eight distinct stages, each of which is reliant upon the step that came before it. These eight processes are known as yama (restraint), niyama (surveillance), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyabhara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi. yama means restriction, niyama means observance, and asana means posture (contemplation).

The trilogy elucidates, in clear and concise words, why one must start at the beginning, with a solid foundation consisting of philosophical coherence and moral excellence, and then progress from there. The book “Dancing with Siva” explains the philosophical and Vedic-Agamic ideas, attitudes, and expectations that are central to the Saivite school of Hinduism.

The second book in the trilogy, titled Living with Siva, delves into the Saivite way of life, as well as its culture, family dynamics, the process of developing one’s personality, and the triumph over negative patterns of behaviour. It emphasises on yama, niyama and, in a lesser manner, asana and pranayama (hatha yoga).

Author

SATGURU SIVAYA SUBRAMUNIYASWAMI

Mimamsa Sutras of Jaimini

One of the most important ancient Hindi philosophical writings is Jaimin’s Purva Mimamsa Sutras. Indian philosophy is based on Mimamsa, the first of the six orthodox (Dars’anas) schools. The complete work is divided into twelve adhydyces (chapters) which are further divided into sixtypadas (sections). Besides presenting conceptual explanations for the performance of Vedic rituals, the literature explains the meaning and significance of these practises in order to help readers achieve liberation, or Moksha.

According to Jaimini’s Mimamsa Sutra, all of reality is made up of material activity and the effects it produces. In the Karma-mimamsa school of thought, he and later adherents believe that there is no end to the cycle of rebirth, and that there is no freedom. Higher rebirth in the Deva realm is all that can be hoped for by Mimathsas in the endless circle of karma. It is because of this, they say, that the Vedas exist in the first place, that the primary task of a mature soul is to understand and carry out the sacrifice directives contained in the Vedas.

Author

PANDIT GANGANATHA JHA