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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Religions of Indic & Oriental origin > Hinduism
Born in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on January the 5th, 1893, Sri Sri
Paramahansa Yogananda devoted his life to helping people of all
races and creeds to realize and express more fully in their lives
the beauty, nobility and true divinity of the human spirit. After
graduating from Calcutta University in 1915, Sri Yogananda was
initiated into "sannyas" by his guru Sri Sri Swami Sri Yukteswar
Giri. Sri Yukteswar had foretold that his life's mission was to
spread throughout the world India's ancient meditation technique of
"Kriya Yoga". Sri Yogananda accepted an invitation in 1920 to serve
as India's delegate to an International Congress of Religious
Liberals in Boston, USA. Paramahansa Yoganda founded Yogoda
Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship as the
channel for the dissemination of his teachings. Through his
writings and extensive lecture tours in India, America and Europe
he introduced thousands of truth-seekers to the ancient science and
philosophy of yoga and its universally applicable methods of
meditation. Paramahansaji entered "mahasamadhi" on March the 7th,
1952 in Los Angeles. This autobiography offers a look at the
ultimate mysteries of human existence and a portrait of one of the
great spiritual figures of the 20th century.
An ancient conversation for a modern audience - anyone who has ever
asked 'what is the purpose of life? or 'who am I?' will find
something in this book. The Bhagavad Gita has been around a long
time, but remains little known outside India. This edition sets out
to change that. The ancient Gita is a world text dealing with the
mysteries of life. At its heart is a conversation between the soul
and God. Ranchor Prime's version adopts a non-sectarian approach,
making the Gita relevant to those of all religions or none, and
emphasising the link between religion and self-development. It is
distinguished by its easy accessibility. His section-by-section
commentary opens the text to the spiritual seeker. He never loses
sight of the audience for his book, and that he wants his readers
to understand the Gita in a personal way.
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The Ramayana
(Paperback)
Sunita Shah, Rishi Handa; Illustrated by James Ballance
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R484
Discovery Miles 4 840
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Kali Ma
(Paperback)
Sunita Shah; Illustrated by James Ballance
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R211
Discovery Miles 2 110
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Discover the traditional stories and wisdom behind your favourite
yoga poses in this stunningly illustrated book of Indian mythology
for yogis of all levels. A beautifully written introduction to
Indian mythology, join storyteller, scholar and teacher, Dr Raj
Balkaran, and explore the unforgettable tales behind 50 key yoga
poses, such as: Virabhadrasana II, the original warrior pose
Tadasana, mountain pose Bhujangasana, cobra pose Garudasana, eagle
pose Padmasana, lotus pose Virasana, hero pose Savasana, corpse
pose Meet iconic Gods and Goddesses, from Ganesa, the
elephant-headed god of wisdom, to Siva, Lord of Yogis, and Kali,
goddess of mind, body, soul and death. Explore the rivalry between
the sages Vasistha and Visvamitra, and their cosmic feud over a
wish-fulfilling cow. Plunge into the depths of one of the richest
myths in Hinduism: the battle between the demons and the gods who
churn the cosmic oceans in search for the elixir of immortality.
And learn how Siva got his blue throat! Learn, through the
mythology of the poses, more about the roots of this ancient
practice and how you can use their teachings to better appreciate
and respect yoga's true origins. Enhance your practice by reading
one story before or at the end of class, and incorporating the
poses and their teaching into your life, as well as your yoga
practice, and transform the way you view and practice this timeless
art.
An ancient conversation for a modern audience - anyone who has ever
asked 'what is the purpose of life? or 'who am I?' will find
something in this book. The Bhagavad Gita has been around a long
time, but remains little known outside India. This edition sets out
to change that. The ancient Gita is a world text dealing with the
mysteries of life. At its heart is a conversation between the soul
and God. Ranchor Prime's version adopts a non-sectarian approach,
making the Gita relevant to those of all religions or none, and
emphasising the link between religion and self-development. It is
distinguished by its easy accessibility. His section-by-section
commentary opens the text to the spiritual seeker. He never loses
sight of the audience for his book, and that he wants his readers
to understand the Gita in a personal way.
The way people encounter ideas of Hinduism online is often shaped
by global discourses of religion, pervasive Orientalism and
(post)colonial scholarship. This book addresses a gap in the
scholarly debate around defining Hinduism by demonstrating the role
of online discourses in generating and projecting images of Hindu
religion and culture. This study surveys a wide range of
propaganda, websites and social media in which definitions of
Hinduism are debated. In particular, it focuses on the role of
Hindu nationalism in the presentation and management of Hinduism in
the electronic public sphere. Hindu nationalist parties and
individuals are highly invested in discussions and presentations of
Hinduism online, and actively shape discourses through a variety of
strategies. Analysing Hindu nationalist propaganda, cyber activist
movements and social media presence, as well as exploring
methodological strategies that are useful to the field of religion
and media in general, the book concludes by showing how these
discourses function in the wider Hindu diaspora. Building on
religion and media research by highlighting mechanical and
hermeneutic issues of the Internet and how it affects how we
encounter Hinduism online, this book will be of significant
interest to scholars of religious studies, Hindu studies and
digital media.
In the twenty-first century, there has been a seismic shift in
Indian political, religious and social life. The country's guiding
spirit was formerly a fusion of the anti-caste worldview of B.R.
Ambedkar; the inclusive Hinduism of Mahatma Gandhi; and the
agnostic secularism of Jawaharlal Nehru. Today, that fusion has
given way to Hindutva. This now-dominant version of Hinduism blends
the militant nationalism of V.D. Savarkar; the Brahmanical
anti-minorityism of M.S. Golwalkar; and the global Islamophobia of
India's ruling regime. It requires deep cultural analysis and
historical understanding, as only the sharpest and most profoundly
informed historian can provide. For two decades, Tanika Sarkar has
forged a path through the alleys and byways of Hindutva. She has
trawled through the writing and iconography of its organisations
and institutions, including RSS schools and VHP temples. She has
visited the offices and homes of Hindutva's votaries, interviewing
men and women who believe fervently in their mission of Hinduising
India. And she has contextualised this new ferment on the ground
with her formidable archival knowledge of Hindutva's origins and
development over 150 years, from Bankimchandra to the Babri mosque
and beyond. This riveting book connects Hindu religious nationalism
with the cultural politics of everyday India.
Deepak Chopra considers the mystery of our existence and its
significance in our eternal quest for happiness. Who am I? Where
did I come from? Where do I go when I die? "Chopra draws upon the
ancient philosophy of Vedanta and the findings of modern science to
help us understand and experience our true nature, which is a field
of pure consciousness. When we understand our true nature, we begin
to live from the source of true happiness, which is not mere
happiness for this or that reason, but true inner joy. When we know
who we are, we allow the universe to flow through us with
effortless ease, and our lives are infused with power, freedom, and
grace.
Sarasvati assumes different roles, a physical river and a river
goddess, then as a goddess of speech and finally that of a goddess
of learning, knowledge, arts and music. References to Sarasvati in
the Vedas and the Brahmanas, the Mahabharata and the Puranas and
her marked presence in other religious orders, such as Buddhism,
Jainism and the Japanese religion, form the basis of discussion as
regards her various attributes and manifestations. In Jainism, her
counter-part is Sutra-devi, in Buddhism it is Manjusri and
Prajnaparamita and in the Japanese religion, Benten is the
representative goddess. The physical presence of Sarasvati in
various iconic forms is seen in Nepal, Tibet and Japan. Tantrism
associated with Sarasvati also finds reflection in these religious
traditions. Sculptors and art historians take delight in
interpreting various symbols her iconic forms represent. The book
examines Sarasvati's origin, the course of her flow and the place
of her disappearance in a holistic manner. Based on a close
analysis of texts from the early Rig-Veda to the Brahmanas and the
Puranas, it discusses different view-points in a balanced
perspective and attempts to drive the discussions towards the
emergence of a consensus view. The author delineates the various
phases of Sarasvati's evolution to establish her unique status and
emphasise her continued relevance in the Hindu tradition. The book
argues that the practice of pilgrimage further evolved after its
association with the river Sarasvati who was perceived as divinity
personified in Hindu tradition. This, in turn, led to the emergence
of numerous pilgrimage sites on or near her banks which attracted a
large number of pilgrims. A multifaceted and interdisciplinary
analysis of a Hindu goddess, this book will be of interest to
academics researching South Asian Religion, Hinduism and Indian
Philosophy as also the general readers.
The Indian sage Ramana Maharshi (1879- 1950) is perhaps the most
widely known Indian spiritual figure of the last century, second
only to Gandhi. This new book offers a fresh introduction to the
Maharshi's life and teachings, intending to situate him within the
non-dualistic traditions of Hinduism. It also delves into themes
and questions particularly relevant to the spiritual crisis and
search for meaning that have characterised, in various ways, both
the modern and postmodern outlooks. While the Maharshi's background
and frames of reference were traditional, the spiritual resonance
of his teachings in today's world must also be recognised. The
sage's message lies at the intersection of the contemporary search
for Self-knowledge, and today's critical reflections on the
foundations and limits of religion. Thus, the book comprises seven
chapters that touch upon such central issues as the role of
religion in Self-inquiry; the relationship between devotion and
knowledge; the role and limitations of traditional forms; and the
implications in our postmodern era of both the Maharshi's emphasis
on surrender, and his basic question: 'Who am I?' Published in
collaboration with GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Center for International
and Regional Studies, School of Foreign Service in Qatar.
Sri Aurobindo was an Indian nationalist, philosopher, yogi, guru,
and poet. This book is an enquiry into the integral philosophy of
Aurobindo and its contemporary relevance. It offers a reading of
Aurobindo's key texts by bringing them into conversation with
religious studies and the hermeneutical traditions. The central
argument is that Aurobindo's integral philosophy is best understood
as a hermeneutical philosophy of religion. Such an understanding of
Aurobindo's philosophy, offering both substantive and
methodological insights for the academic study of religion,
subdivides into three interrelated aims. The first is to
demonstrate that the power of the Aurobindonian vision lies in its
self-conception as a traditionary-hermeneutical enquiry into
religion; the second, to draw substantive insights from Aurobindo's
enquiry to envision a way beyond the impasse within the current
religious-secular debate in the academic study of religion. Working
out of the condition of secularism, the dominant secularists demand
the abandonment of the category 'religion' and the dismantling of
the academic discipline of religious studies. Aurobindo's integral
work on 'religion', arising out of the Vedanta tradition, critiques
the condition of secularity that undergirds the religious-secular
debate. Finally, informed by the hermeneutical tradition and
building on the methodological insights from Aurobindo's integral
method, the book explores a hermeneutical approach for the study of
religion which is dialogical in nature. This book will be of
interest to academics studying Religious Studies, Philosophy of
Religion, Continental Hermeneutics, Modern India, Modern Hinduism
as well as South Asian Studies.
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious
traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its
origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores
everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to
caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and
relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy,
Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist,
nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He
argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of
Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a
plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian
democracy itself is in peril.
Hinduism comprises perhaps the major cluster of religio-cultural
traditions of India, and it can play a valuable role in helping us
understand the nature of religion and human responses to life.
Hindu image-worship lies at the core of what counts for Hinduism -
up-front and subject to much curiosity and misunderstanding, yet it
is a defining feature of this phenomenon. This book focuses on
Hindu images and their worship with special reference to
Vaisnavism, a major strand of Hinduism. Concentrating largely, but
not exclusively, on Sanskritic source material, the author shows in
the course of the book that Hindu image-worship may be understood
via three levels of interpretation: the metaphysical/theological,
the narratival or mythic, and the performative or ritual. Analysing
the chief philosophical paradigm underlying Hindu image-worship and
its implications, the book exemplifies its widespread application
and tackles, among other topics such as the origins of
image-worship in Hinduism, the transition from Vedic to image
worship, a distinguishing feature of Hindu images: their multiple
heads and limbs. Finally, with a view to laying the grounds for a
more positive dialogic relationship between Hinduism and the
"Abrahamic" faiths, which tend to condemn Hindu image-worship as
"idolatry", the author examines the theological explanation and
justification for embodiment of the Deity in Hinduism and discusses
how Hinduism might justify itself against such a charge. Rich in
Indological detail, and with an impressive grasp of the
philosophical and theological issues underlying Hindu material
culture, and image-worship, this book will be of interest to
academics and others studying theology, Indian philosophy and
Hinduism.
The Ramayana tells the tale of Rama and his beloved Sita, but its
narratives and intent, as with all great literature, point to the
grand themes of life, death and righteousness. Originally written
in ancient Sanskrit, the elegant, epic work is a key part of the
canon of both Hinduism and Buddhism. It continues to inspire art,
theatre, poetry and temple architecture, dominating the spiritual
landscape of the vast Indian sub-continent and the diaspora
throughout the rest of the world. This deluxe new edition revives
Ralph T. H. Griffith's evocative verse translation and abridges it
for the modern reader - bringing the gripping narrative to the
forefront. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic
Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore
and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense,
supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in
Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as
a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.
This is a Comprehensive Survey of the Bhakti Movement as it sprang
in South India to spread across the subcontinent in independent and
multifarious manifestations yet marked with amazing commonalities.
Spanning a period of 11 centuries starting from the 6th CE, the
movement encompassed in its sweep a vast range of dimensions;
Social, political, economic, religious, cultural, linguistic,
ethical and philosophical. Among the multifarious movements which
contributed to the formation of India and its Culture, the Bhakti
was undoubtedly the most pervasive and persistent, says the author.
Besides its sweep and depth, what proved most remarkable about the
movement was that it arose almost everywhere from the masses who
belonged to the lowest class and castes. Though spirituality was
its leitmotif, Bhakti proved to be a stirring song of the subaltern
in their varied expressions of resistance and revolt. A seemingly
conservative phenomenon became a potent weapon against entrenched
hierarchies of orthodoxy and oppression, in a wonderful dialectical
expression. This qualifies Bhakti movement to be reckoned on a par
with European renaissance as it marked a massive upsurge in the
societal value system to directly impact a range of fields like
arts, politics, culture or religion. Even as he takes note of the
elements of reactionary revivalism that also marked the Bhakti
movement, the author convincingly argues that those of renaissance
and progress far outweighed the former.
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