Indian Religion

Shiva, 'the destroyer' among the Hindu trinity (of gods), is depicted in many contradictory manners. The author, Devdutt Pattanaik, introduces listeners to these varied aspects and representations, and then sets about interpreting them. He explains the different anomalies and conflicts in beliefs, as well as the symbolism, rituals and reasons behind Hindu worship.

India has a long, rich, and diverse tradition of philosophical thought, spanning some two and a half millennia and encompassing several major religious traditions. In this intriguing introduction to Indian philosophy, the diversity of Indian thought is emphasized. It is structured around six schools of thought that have received classic status.

It is widely acknowledged that Hinduism is one of the world's major religious traditions. Yet, this is only partially true. Although while it is one of the most widespread religions, Hinduism really encompasses a wide range of traditions that all have origins in the Indian sub-continent. Hinduism requires a disclaimer because, although being a single worldwide religion, it is really a conglomeration of several systems that share certain characteristics. These religions also go by the identities Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism among others. This book seeks to re-examine the evolving ...

A sweeping, interdisciplinary history of the world's third-largest river, a potent symbol across South Asia and the Hindu diaspora. Weaving together geography, environmental politics, and religious history, Sen offers a remarkable portrait of one of the world's largest and most densely populated river basins.

Most histories of the Cherokee nation focus on its encounters with Europeans, its conflicts with the U.S. government, and its expulsion from its lands during the Trail of Tears. This work, however, traces the origins of the Cherokee people to the third century B.C.E. and follows their migrations through the Americas to their homeland in the lower Appalachian Mountains.

Nagarjuna stands second only to the Buddha in his importance in Buddhist thought. The concept of “emptiness (shunyata)” became the central ontological concept in Mahayana Buddhism thanks to his effort. Not only did he found the Madhyamaka tradition in India, understanding his philosophy is needed to understand the Zen tradition and the Dalai Lama’s Tibetan tradition. Included here are translations from the Sanskrit of his most important philosophical works into plain English, so that the general educated public interested in Buddhism or philosophy can understand his thought. Also ...

Easwaran's classic manual is a unique source of practical spiritual support for new and experienced meditators, and gives all the instruction needed to establish a vibrant meditation practice and keep it going. In passage meditation, you focus attention on passages, or texts, drawn from all the world's sacred traditions. You choose the passages that appeal to you, so this universal method stays fresh and inspiring, prompting you to live out your highest ideals.

This comprehensive history sets yoga in its global cultural context for the first time. It leads us on a fascinating journey across the world, from arcane religious rituals and medieval body-magic, through muscular Christianity and the British Raj, to the Indian nationalist movement and the arrival of yoga in the 20th-century West. We discover how the practice reached its present-day ubiquity and how it became embedded in powerful social currents shaping the world's future.

Padmasambhava, the Lotus-Born Indian mystic and tantric master, is second only to Skakyamuni as the most famous figure in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In the ninth century, he journeyed across the Himalayan Mountains to establish Buddhism for the people of Tibet. This legendary tale interweaves narration with timeless advice to all spiritual practitioners. Here, in English for the first time, is the complete story of how Buddhism was planted in Tibet.

India has a rich history covering thousands of years, civilizations, the rise of religions and empires, British rule, revolution, independence, and much more. In this book, we explore the magnificent history of India, from its ancient origins to its renaissance and concluding with its independence as a free nation. While there are many books that explore India’s unique history, few are enjoyable. Most books are hopelessly dry, academic, and downright difficult to follow. This concise history will respect your time by getting right to the point and giving you what you came to learn.

श्री रामचरितमानस तुलसीदास द्वारा रचित एक दिव्य महाकाव्य है। यह पवित्र ग्रंथ भगवान श्रीराम के जीवन, उनके आदर्शों, वीरता और धर्म की स्थापना की गाथा को चित्रित करता है। भगवान राम की लीलाएं, उनका आदर्श चरित्र, और धार्मिक संदेश इस ग्रंथ में वर्णित हैं, जो पाठकों को आध्यात्मिक शांति और प्रेरणा प्रदान करते हैं। इस महान ग्रंथ का पाठ आपके जीवन में सकारात्मक परिवर्तन ला सकता है और आपको धार्मिक और नैतिक मूल्य सिखा सकता है।.

Step into the world of Guru Gobind Singh, the revered warrior-saint whose vision and valor transformed Sikhism forever. Guru Gobind Singh is not just a figure in history—he is a beacon of courage, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. His life is a saga of battles fought, not only on the battlefield but also in the hearts and minds of his followers. Guru Gobind Singh for Beginners is your gateway to understanding this extraordinary leader and the timeless principles he stood for. Unveil the story of how a young boy born in Patna rose to become the tenth Sikh Guru, leading his people with ...

For more than one hundred years, E. Stanley Jones has led the way in evangelism by contextualizing Christ in the existing culture, wherever that may be. In The Christ of the Indian Road, he recounts his experiences in India, where he arrived as a young and presumptuous missionary who later matured into a veteran who attempted to contextualize Jesus Christ within the Indian culture. Jones names the mistakes many Christians make in trying to impose their culture on the existing culture.

A vibrant young Hispano woman, Shonnie Medina, inherits a breast-cancer mutation known as BRCA1.185delAG. It is a genetic variant characteristic of Jews. The Medinas knew they were descended from Native Americans and Spanish Catholics, but they did not know that they had Jewish ancestry as well. The mutation most likely sprang from Sephardic Jews hounded by the Spanish Inquisition. The discovery of the gene leads to a fascinating investigation of cultural history and modern genetics by Dr. Harry Ostrer and other experts on the DNA of Jewish populations.

The religious belief that the Aryans brought to India, which formed the foundation of Hinduism, was starkly different from what Hindus practise. Just as the word ‘Hindu’ cannot be found in any of the Aryan scriptures, the gods and goddesses venerated in Hinduism are absent in the religious literature of their ancestors. For instance, Rama and Krishna, the most popular incarnations or avataras of Visnu, widely worshipped by Hindus of the modern age, are missing in the Vedas. The concept of the incarnation of gods cannot be found in the four Vedas. Moreover, Visnu of the Veda is not the ...

मनुष्य ने जब समाज व राष्ट्र के अस्तित्व तथा महत्त्व को मान्यता दी, तब उसके कर्तव्यों और अधिकारों की व्याख्या निर्धारित करने तथा नियमों के अतिक्रमण करने पर दंड-व्यवस्था करने की भी आवश्यकता उत्पन्न हुई। यही कारण है कि विभिन्न युगों में विभिन्न स्मृतियों की रचना हुई, जिनमें मनुस्मृति को विशेष महत्त्व प्राप्त है। मनुस्मृति में बारह अध्याय तथा दो हजार पाँच सौ श्लोक हैं, जिनमें सृष्टि की उत्पत्ति, संस्कार, नित्य और नैमित्तिक कर्म, आश्रमधर्म, वर्णधर्म, राजधर्म, प्रायश्चित्त आदि अनेक विषयों का उल्लेख है।

Discover the profound wisdom of one of the world's oldest living religions in "Hinduism: A Primer for Non-Hindus." Are you curious about the spiritual traditions that have shaped the lives of over a billion people worldwide? Do you want to understand the rich tapestry of beliefs that have influenced philosophy, science, and culture for thousands of years? This comprehensive guide is your key to unlocking the mysteries of Hinduism and gaining a deeper appreciation for its timeless teachings. Look into the core concepts of Hinduism with this expertly crafted primer designed specifically for ...

Locked in the stories, symbols and rituals of Vishnu is the wisdom of the ancestors, transmitted over hundreds of years. This book attempts to unlock seven secrets that are relevant even in modern times.

Nagarjuna initiated the Madhyamaka tradition in Mahayana Buddhism that influenced Zen and the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Over the centuries, this tradition spawned in India two subtraditions and syncretic combinations with another Buddhist tradition. These developments will be traced in two volumes of translations of the basic texts from Sanskrit into easily readable English for the general educated public interested in Buddhism or philosophy. Texts available today in Sanskrit have been translated, and texts no longer extant in Sanskrit but existing in Tibetan or Chinese have been ...

Everyday Osho features 365 short meditations that offer insights into living fully in the here and now. Each brief text is thoughtful and inspiring and the perfect length for starting a daily meditation practice. With topics that range from gratitude to nature to philosophy to love, Everyday Osho contains a full year of meditation and inspiration.