Hinduism and Its Sources

Devi Mahatmya: The Crystallization of the Goddes Tradition

Both worshippers and academics of the Indian Great Goddess know the Devi-Mahatmya. It’s the earliest Sanskrit narrative of the Goddess and remains fundamental to the Goddess (Sakta) tradition. Like much in that tradition, the book eluded historical examination until today.

The central task here is to explore how an anonymous Sanskrit text

articulates a view of ultimate reality as feminine when there is virtually

no precedent in the Sanskrit tradition for such a view. To accomplish this

task, an appropriate method of scriptural analysis is developed. This

involves an examination of Hindu understanding of the Puranas in general,

and of the Devi Mahatmya in particular, along with consideration of several recent scholarly discussions, in india and elsewhere. Subsequently, a comprehensive inquiry into the Goddess’s epithets in this text is undertaken, followed by examination of the earlier history of the myths that the Devi-Mahatmya associates with her. The study culminates in

translations of the text’s hymns, which are annotated so as to indicate the

synthesis that is here being accomplished. The resulting illumination of

Sanskritized form of Goddess worship is what Daniel H.H. Ingalls calls in

his Foreword “a notable scholarly achievement”

Authored by

Thomas B. Coburn

About the author

Thomas B. Coburn is currently serving as the Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies and has accumulated a significant number of scholarly works.

Vallabhacarya on the Love Games of Krsna

Vallabhacarya on the Love Games of Krsna this book provides a translation of a classic commentary on the six chapters of Book 10 of the Bhagavata Purana that chronicle Krsna’s love games with the Gopis. The original commentary was written in Sanskrit, and this book includes a translation of the Sanskrit text. The commentary is known as the Subodhini of Saint Vallabhacarya, who was the originator of the tradition. It begins with an explanation of Vallabhacarya’s essential viewpoints on the love games, which can be found in the introduction.

About the Author(s)

James D. Redington

The Religion of the Hindus

The Religion of the Hindus concepts of samsara, which refer to the never-ending cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and karma are central to the Hindu worldview (the universal law of cause and effect). “Atman,” which translates to “soul,” is one of the most fundamental concepts in Hinduism. According to this school of thought, all living things possess a soul, and together, these souls make up the one, ultimate soul. The term “Hindu” is really an exonym, and despite the fact that Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion in the world, many Hindu adherents refer to their faith as “Santana Dharma.” A Hindu classic reprinted. Essays about Hinduism and ritual by ardent Hindus. An intro.

Authored by

Kenneth W. Morgan

About the Author(s)

KENNETH W. MORGAN lived in Ramakrishna Mission Ashrams in India. He served

as Director of Chapel House and of the Found for the study of World

Religions. He became Professor of Religion, Emeritus, at Colgate University

in 1974.

Pingal Devayan (Vol. 3): Brahma Kalpa (Vol. 3)

The Vijnanavadins have always been understood to have the belief that there is an Absolute. Pingal Devayan (Vol. 3): Brahma Kalpa (Vol. 3) thomas Wood conducts an investigation to determine the accuracy of the characterisation to what degree it applies. Dr. Wood reveals that the philosophical ideas of the Vijnanavadins were in reality equivocal, and in some instances even inconsistent, by conducting an in-depth investigation of several of the Vijnanavadins’ most important literature. This monograph is targeted primarily toward scholars of Indian philosophy and religion who have an interest in the schools of Mahayana Buddhism and in its doctrinal relation to Vedanta. However, due to its treatment of philosophical topics of universal interest, such as idealism, solipsism, and the nature of the inference to other minds, it is also of interest to Western and comparative scholars.

Author

Dr. Hazari

Pingal Devayan (Vol. 4): Vishnu Kalpa (Vol. 1)

The Milinda Panha is a notable piece of Buddhist literature that was most likely produced in the first century before the common era. There is solid explanation for this. It offers Buddhist philosophy in a style that is exceedingly appealing and easy to remember in the form of a conversation between a Bactrian Greek monarch named Milinda, who plays the role of the “Devil’s Advocate,” and a Buddhist teacher named Nagasena. The majority of the issues that are often posed by Westerners are addressed, such as “If there is no soul, what is it that is reborn?” and “If there is no soul, who is talking to you now?” The themes that are discussed encompass most of these concerns. This masterwork of Buddhist literature is presented in a manner more suitable for modern readers thanks to this abridgement. The introduction provides a summary of the historical context in which the discussions took place, highlighting the collision of two significant cultures: that of ancient Greece, on the one hand, and the Buddhism of the Indus valley, which was a legacy left by the great Emperor Asoka, on the other. It is intended that the readers would be encouraged to read more from the translations of the Pali texts by the inclusion of suitable references, a glossary, an index, and a list of Pali quotes.

Author

Dr. Hazari

The Sanskrit Epics Representation of Vedic Myths

As the name of this research project, “The Sanskrit Epics’ Representation of Vedic Myths,” suggests, my objective is to investigate the manner in which certain myths that are first presented (as far as India is concerned) in the Vedas, and more specifically in the Rgveda, are retold in the Sanskrit Epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and to investigate the manner in which the Epics re-use the mythological material Before we go any further, I will first provide a concise synopsis of the type, contents, and dates of the documents that were discussed earlier in this paragraph. The various passages ‘holy speech’ is what the phrase’mantra’ or ‘brahman’ meant when it was first used, and the name ‘Veda’ referred to the earliest layer of literature in the Sanskrit language. According to later Indian tradition — in particular, according to the Mimamsa, which is a school of Vedic exegesis — the Veda is eternal and authorless, and it was a’revea1d’ to the Vedic rsis or seers. Other names for the Veda include the sruti, which can be translated as “that which has been heard,” or the “revelation.” The Veda is composed of many layers of writings; the earliest of these are known as the Samhitas, which literally translate to “collections.” There are four different Samhitas. The Rgveda Samhita, also known as the “collection of poems,” is the earliest of the four. It was written between 1500 and 1000 BCE and is organised into ten mandalas, also known as books. The tenth mandala is often believed to be a more recent addition to the collection in comparison to the other nine mandalas.

Author

DANIELLE FELLER