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Hardcover. Zustand: As New. No Jacket. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Soft cover. Zustand: As New. Contents Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Historicity of Rama. 3. Historicity of Krsna. 4. Recapitulation and observation. Select bibliography. This monograph is a research based disquisition on the historicity of Rama and Krsna. Their historicity has been proved on the combined testimony of literature history archaeology and science. The work is largely based on original sources. It deals with all relevant aspects of the subject. It provides new insights into the history of India of the epic age. The author has brought to light many new facts relating to the subject. They will enlighten the inquisitive readers. The work is of immense value not only for the historians and archaeologists but also for those who are genuinely interested to know truth about the subject. 50 pp.

Hardcover. Zustand: New. 2nd Edition. Contents Preface. 1. Crystal gazing Scrying Methods. 2. Telepathy telepathy explained mind thought thought waves telepathic techniques telepaths thought photography stage mind reading. 3. Clairvoyance Explained mind techniques clairvoyants ESP cards. 4. Psychometry explained development astro psychometry Seers. 5. Superstitions explained signification. 6. Dreams discussed function of interpretation. 7. Hypnotism brief history explained principles states of hypnotism art of hypnotism method of hypnotising refractory subjects self hypnosis mass hypnotism applications. 8. Astral Travelling explained aura chakras procedure UFO telekinesis. 9. Paranormal Phenomena extra sensory perception psycho kinesis teleportation Shamanism Ouija the third eye unsolved mysteries psychic micabers. 10. Black Magic explained white magic psychic magic magic and science. 11. A shot in the Dark Mystery of life work energy management managers motivation spirituality conclusions. Bibliography. The book deals with some of the occult sciences that attempt to address the mysteries of the mind and understand the laws of nature and master them. Using perspectives and ideas of researchers and practitioners of these sciences the book with an easy to follow text studies the basis and practice of telepathy clairvoyance psychometry hypnotism paranormal phenomenon astral traveling and dreams. Citing experiments conducted in the past and giving a history of the evolution of the practice of each discipline it discusses the nature of these sciences and the relevance of each in promoting creativity and developing skills and spiritual and mental advancement in general. It goes in detail into what thought is and what specific thoughts dreams and superstitions indicate and use of certain materials like ESP cards mirrors and crystals in the practice of the occult sciences. The volume will prove indispensable to psychologists psychiatrists and neurologists practitioners of these sciences and lay readers interested in the subject. 272 pp.

Hardcover. Zustand: Good. Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. 1. 'Me' and the 'other'. 2. Suffering. 3. Spiritual knowledge and its Pursuit. 4. Enlightenment. 5. Liberation. 6. The Guru. 7. Death and after. 8. What should 'I' do? 9. Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Marga. 10. God. Appendix. "And what exactly, in scientific terms, is the much-talked about spiritual phenomenon called enlightenment? Is it at all scientifically possible for a state devoid of ego to exist? And can a person do his normal duties in life in such a state? "This book answers these and kindred questions convincingly: in a way that should appeal to a scientist, a spiritualist and a lay person alike. Uncommonly combining in him the rationality of a medical scientist and the profundity of his religio-philosophical studies, the author demonstrates how the spiritual phenomena of enlightenment and liberation do have an eminently satisfactory scientific explanation-an explanation which he also reconciles with conventional spiritual teachings. Finally, flitting adroitly from Advaita to Tao, Zen to Sufism, Buddhism to Christianity, Dr. Trasi shows how the teachings of different faiths aren't different in essence, but just constitute intricate parts of the one and the same grand, big picture. "With deep insight, forceful logic and supporting references, Dr. Trasi's book not only dispels many of the myths,mis-conceptions and distortions woven around enlightenment, the liberated state, the Soul and death, but explores the rationale behind wide-ranging traditional beliefs as well. Also set out is a scientific. 320 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. The philosophy: 1. Preliminaries. 2. The What of Vedanta. 3. The How of Vedanta (Methodology). 4. The Why of Vedanta. 5. We prepare ourselves. 6. The search. 7. The individual. 8. Karma. 9. The world. 10. Maya. 11. Atma's self-manifestation as 'The known'. 12. Epistemology. 13. Sat-Cit-Ananda. 14. The science of sciences. II. Application: 15. Ethics. 16. Aesthetics. 17. Casteism. 18. Religion. 19. God, temples, rites. Appendix. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. "Narayana Guru (1854-1928), a much-revered philosopher-saint of South India, revisualised the essential Upanisadic thought with a freshness of perspective. Further, he applied basic aspects of his Upanisadic philosophy successfully to bring about radical social transformations. This book deals with his philosophy as discussed in his major work, Atmopadesa Satakam (One hundred verses of self instruction) but incorporates views and ideas from his other works as well. "The work focuses on Narayana Guru's philosophic thought dealing with the meaning of Vedanta, the way to seek reality, the role of the individual in life, and karma, maya, the atma's self-manifestation and sat-cit-ananda as the definition of the atma or Brahman and as the final goal. The various concepts are explained in relation to one another and from the viewpoint of achieving the final goal in life to present a unified thought construct that forms the core of Narayana Guru's philosophy. It also takes up the application of his Upanisadic philosophy in different disciplines like 155 pp.

Soft cover. Zustand: As New. 5th or later Edition. Contents: Foreword. 1. Introduction. 2. The original text. 3. The text with commentary, Tattvaprakasika. 4. Aditya Pancavimsatyuttarasata Namavalih (reverence to the Sun God with 125 names). Index. "The ancient Indian tradition and literature accords a supreme place to the Sun in the order of divinities, revering and worshipping it as the life-force of the Universe and the highest reality. The commentary by Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati in this volume comes as an attempt to unravel the power and mystique of the Sun as explained in the Aditya Hrdayam, a small canto chapter offering obeisance to the Sun God in the immortal epic, Srimadramayanam of Adikavi Valmiki. "The book presents the original Sanskrit mantras of the 'Aditya Hrdayam' along with their Roman transliteration and lucid English translation. The verses are accompanied by detailed annotations that describe every term, concept and idea with great clarity. The commentary, easy to follow and fluent in flow, explores the secret of the eternal stotra, Aditya Hrdayam conveyed by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama using which the latter emerged victorious over Ravana. Aditya Hrdayam is hailed as one of the greatest tributes to the Sun by our ancient sages that provides insights into the importance of the Sun as the creator and sustainer of the Universe, the ultimate source of all wealth. The commentary involves copious references to Taittiriya Samhita, Taittiriya Aranyaka, Taittiriya Upanisad, Chandogya Upanisad, Srimadbhagavadgita, etc., which make it all the more comprehensive and 77 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Contents: Preface. 1. Peace invocation. 2. Prasna I. 3. Prasna II. 4. Prasna III. 5. Prasna IV. 6. Prasna V. 7. Prasna VI. Glossary. Index. "In Upanisads is articulated not only the quintessence of spiritual wisdom, but also the remarkable philosophical genius of the classical Hindu mind. Owing, however, to their complexity, metaphor, and even obscurity, Upanisadic writings have been endlessly debated, discussed and written upon, more specially since Sankara's time. Swami Narayana Prasad's commentary is yet another valuable addition to the existing literature attempting, as it does, to rationally unlock the metaphysical subtleties of Prasna Upanisad-with the master-key handed down to him in the disciplic succession of Sri Narayana Guru. "Prasna Upanisad offers an enlightened exposition of brahmavidya: knowledge of the absolute/supreme reality. In an aptly thought-out dialectical situation, it offers a threadbare discussion of six questions which, centreing around procreation/origin of beings, prana: the most vital life-sustaining principle, functional states of the self (purusa), significance of meditating on AUM-lead to the finality of Vedantic wisdom: the sublimity of non-dual reality: the Param Purusa of sixteen kalas. "With the English version of the Upanisad, its original Sanskrit text and Roman transliteration, Swami Prasad's interpretation highlights the true import of this metaphysical piece- spelling out its contexts in the light of what the author calls "the metalogic of yogic-buddhi" and all else that is allegorical. 198 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. Contents: Preface. 1. The state (Rajya). 2. The king (Svamin). 3. The ministers (Amatyas). 4. The territory and the people (Janapada/Rastra). 5. The forts/capital (Durgas/Pura). 6. The treasury (Kosha). 7. The army ( Danda/Bala). 8. The allies and the inter-state relations (Mitra tatha Niti). Glossary. Index. "Ancient Indians were a highly organized polity, with a well-established worldview of the Rajya (the state). And also of its seven distinct organs : svamin (the king), amatyas (the ministers), janapada/rastra (the territory and the people), durgas/pura (the forts/ capital), kosha (the treasury), danda/bala (the army), and mitra tatha niti (the allies and inter-state relations). In their togetherness, these components of the state led political ideologues to advance the theory of Saptanga : the 'seven limbs'-each of which admitted varying emphases with ancient scholars, according to the changing political situations or their own predilections. "Besides traditional/semi-historical writings, the Saptanga theory of state finds recurring allusions in Kautilya's Arthasastra which, written sometime about the 4 century BC, remains the oldest surviving treatise of its kind on statecraft. Surprisingly, the Arthasastra itself, claims its author, is a compendium of the writings of as many as eighteen ancient teachers, like Manu, Brhaspati, Usana, Bharadvaja, Visalaksha, Prachetas, and Pisuna. "With bit-by-bit analysis of an astonishing mass of original, indigenous sources: Vedic, puranic, epical, Buddhist, Jaina, and even non-Indian, Professor G.P. Singh. 152 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Reprint. Contents: Preface. Prelude. 1. Vedic references. 2. Artabhaga's doubt and the mystery of Karma. 3. What is Karma and who does it? 4. What is birth and death? 5. The two paths. 6. In the Katha Upanisad. 7. In the Bhagavad Gita. 8. In the Brahma Sutras. 9. Conclusion. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. "The atman (soul), in the eastern belief system, is eternal, immortal. The phenomenon of (physical) death is, thus, nothing but its disembodiment and its 'reincarnation' in a new body. And what determine as atman's choice of a new body is the law of karma-the merits and demerits of one's actions in the present life. "The notions of karma and reincarnation constitute the fundamental tenets of Indian thinking; though these, like many other doctrinal beliefs, are hard to prove/disprove in purely rationalistic or even empirical terms. Swami Muni Narayana Prasad looks afresh at these age-old doctrinal beliefs-from the viewpoint of an Advaitin (non-dualist), developing stimulating insights from his studies of the Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita the Brahma Sutras and, these besides, the works of his mentor: Naryana Guru. Contextually, among other questions,his book also dwells on ultimate reality, birth and death, and the two paths: Devayana (the path of Gods) and Pitryana (the path of manes), which either the souls take to after death." 106 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. New. The Upanisads represent a glorious religious philosophical thinking that is at the core of the Indian tradition. An important Upanisad is the Ganapati Upanisad found in the concluding part of the Atharvaveda which deals with the worship of Isvara and reveals the nature of the ultimate reality in which everything resolves. The book presents the text of the Ganapati Upanisad along with its transliteration in Roman script which is followed by a detailed commentary on its meaning that takes up each line for critical analysis. Beginning with a general discussion on the Upanisads their association with specific Vedas and their main purpose Swami Tattvavidananda examines the nature of the cosmic power and the universe propitiation of God the purpose of living concepts of ananta ananda and others as explained in the Ganapati Upanisad. He explains the derivative roots of many words so that the concepts may be better understood by the readers. The commentary in a language that demystifies esoteric concepts includes many cross references. The book will be extremely useful to scholars of Vedantic thought and Indian religious and philosophical traditions as well as general readers. 94 pp.

Contents Foreword 1 Dialectical methodology 2 Dialectics of the Gods 3 The Dialectics of romance and tragedy 4 Man Woman Dialectics I 5 Man Woman Dialectics II 6 The sacredness of sex 7 The Enigma of the smile of Mona Lisa 8 How Yoga solves social problems Index Dialectics is the implicit method of Upanishadic literature It is also used as a critique for yielding a superior unitive understanding in works like the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Vasishistha In the West dialectical methodology originated around the fifth century bc and has been used in varying ways by classical thinkers later Christian theologians and modern philosophers like Kant Fichte Hegel Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The writings of Nataraja Guru provide an integrated vision of the Eastern and Western traditions of dialectics As such he offers an unitive understanding of philosophy by way of a more comprehensive methodology of dialectics In the book Nataraja Guru explains the basics of dialectical methodology and applies it towards a superior understanding of the relation between man and woman between proto language and meta language bearing reference to Indian iconography and between romance and tragedy as found in literature He also applies dialectics in order to study social problems but in a way that varies from Hegel Marx and Engels He further reveals the significance of the value system found in small primitive communities and upholds the eternal values of coexistence unity and collective security In particular this volume provides a window for examining Nataraja Gurus overall position as a philosopher and his unitive teachings in general In this regard it will be valuable for philosophers and scholars as well as the general reader 140 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. New. The Nectar Words of My Master is a mala of 108 teachings offered by an enlightened Master that can be used as a day to day practical guide for spirituality. It deals with the trials of the human soul when faced with negative emotions such as jealousy anger or pride and proposes a path towards the Light based on divine qualities and spiritual practice. Sri Sri Sadguru Swami Advaitananda Paramahansa always conveys eternal truth through simple speech whenever He is being questioned by sincere seekers. 114 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Preface. 1. The quest for serenity in Hinduism. 2. The quest for serenity in Buddhism. 3. The quest for serenity in Confucianism. 4. The quest for serenity in Taoism. 5. The quest for serenity in Judaism. 6. The quest for serenity in Christianity. 7. The quest for serenity in Islam. 8. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index. Every religion even ideology needs to provide its followers with ways of coping with the vicissitudes of life especially when personal tragedy tears a gaping hole in the fabric of meaning. This book describes the search for serenity as found in what are conventionally referred to as the world religions and identifies a similarity in the pattern which seems to underlie these approaches thereby extending the application of the comparative method to religious psychology. 80 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Reprint. The Mundaka however holds a special place in the writings of the genre not because of its emphasis on sraddha (belief) often in one's guru but primarily for its vehement denunciation of the Vedic ritualism. Which perhaps explains why sannyasins (the renunciate monks) treat this Upanisad as a spiritual authority for the way of life they have chosen to live. Here is a brilliant critical interpretation in contemporary idiom of the Mundaka Upanisad showing how a seeker can cogitate/meditate upon the supreme reality or in other words how one can have the transcendental experience of cosmic consciousness. The book looks afresh at some of the perpetually puzzling questions that Mundaka addresses questions like for instance what is the nature of Brahman the one causal reality. How can a seeker know it. Who can be eligible for its knowledge. Offering an in depth analytical commentary on this time honoured text Swami Muni Narayana Prasad presents at once appropriate metaphors analogies and these besides backgrounds to the varying contexts that not only elucidate various philosophical terms and concepts in all their underlying shades of meanings but also provides rich insights into this Upanisad. Complete with the original Sanskrit text and its Roman transliteration this work is a must for all keen on discovering the essential meaning of the Upanisadic thought and meditating upon wisdom's ineffable core. 142 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Foreword/Vijay Kumar Thakur. Prologue. I. Historical perspective of Theravada Buddhist devotionalism Introduction Buddhist worship and devotional practices in Pali and Avadana Literature 1. Cetiya and Thupa worship. 2. Relic worship. 3. Symbol worship. 4. Image worship. II. Theravada Buddhist devotionalism in Ceylon Burma and Thailand 5. Theravada an organic whole. 6. Buddhist devotionalism in Sri Lanka. 7. Buddhist devotionalism in Burma. 8. Buddhist devotionalism in Thailand. Epilogue. Bibliography. Index i. Buddhist works. ii. Buddhist words and proper names. The monograph consists of two parts of which the first examines the Buddhist devotional practices from the historical and canonical perspectives of the evolution of the worship of caitya stupa relics symbols and images. It provides a multi dimensional account of caitya thupa relic symbol and image worship in Theravada Buddhist tradition in the Sinhalese Vamsa literature and as depicted in the records of the prominent Chinese travellers to India. It throws light on the Buddhist stupa the Buddha's relics viz hair nail tooth and ashes the symbols which pre ceded the Buddha image viz. the bodhi tree wheel bowl staff robe crest turban shadow and the Buddha's foot prints as the objects of devotion and worship and the objectives and benefits of such devotional acts. Part two elucidates the rise and growth of Buddhist devotionalism in Sri Lanka with special reference to its ceremonies rituals pilgrimages as depicted in the devotional literature of Ceylon. Further it provides an account of devotional Buddhism in Burma by tracing it antiquity describes Buddha's relics images and pagodas as the objects of veneration. Similarly it makes a brief survey of Thai Buddhist devotionalism with special reference to wats Thai offerings and prayers to Buddha images and their objectives. The work illuminates the historical and canonical significance of precept and practice of different aspects of Buddhist devotion and how they are demonstrated in the contemporary Buddhist religious life of Ceylon Burma and Thailand. 88 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Preface. 1. Why study Christianity. 2. Who is Jesus Christ. 3. Doctrines of the Church. 4. Forms of Christianity. 5. Christian scriptures. 6. Christianity in India. 7. Must Christianity Proselytize. Bibliography. Index. Christianity is the world's largest religion today about 33.6 per cent of the world's population has Christianity as their religion. It is also a religion that struck roots early in India as early as middle of the first century CE. The book is an account on Christianity that blends aspects of Christian belief and worship with matters like its significance and the urgent need for interfaith understanding in the globalised and pluralistic societies of today. It is meant for non Christians particularly Hindus who are keen to understand the essential aspects of the religion. In simple language the work reveals the essence of the Christian beliefs its spread over history and its prevalence now and its importance as a world religion. It examines doctrines of the church significance of Jesus Christ and historical forms of Christianity like Roman Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. It examines the history of Christianity in India. The interesting work refers to a number of religious works on Christianity and writings of men who commented on Christianity and personified its values like love compassion and sacrifice. It also deals with some controversial features of the religion like its need to proselytize. 110 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. New. Contents 1. Introduction. 2. Is the notion of human rights a western concept/Raimundo Panikkar. 3. A response/Arvind Sharma. 4. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index. Whether the discourse on human rights constitutes an authentically universal discourse or merely western discourse masquerading as such is an issue which has persisted ever since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 and shows no signs of letting up. This book presents an in depth exploration of this issue in a novel format by presenting a celebrated piece on this issue by Raimundo Panikkar with a detailed response to it by Arvind Sharma thereby laying bare several key dimensions of the debate which may otherwise escape notice. 104 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. New. Contents I 1. Introduction. II 2. Discriminating the righteous from the unrighteous. 3. Reflections on oneness of Jati. 4. Reflections on oneness of faith. 5. Reflections on oneness of God. III 6. Dharma in general. 7. Fivefold purities. IV 8. Child birth. 9. Caring for the child. 10. Initiating into formal education. V 11. Duties related to each stage of life. VI 12. Studenthood. VII 13. Being a householder. VIII 14. Five great sacrifices. IX 15. Funeral rites. X 16. Renunciation or Samnyasa. Smrtis in Indian spiritual lore denote the class of canonical texts that teach traditional laws civil or religious as against Srutis that reveal the eternal reality. Such laws as is to be presumed need periodical revision or modification or even total nullifying and replacement. Narayana Guru took up the challenge to write a new Smrti text when he felt that the two thousand years old Manusmrti has become outdated for modern times. Narayana Smrti is an alternative new text fit for current times while being fully in conformity with the traditional wisdom espoused in Indian literature. 86 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Reprint. The Upanisads represent a glorious religious philosophical thinking that is at the core of the Indian tradition. An important Upanisad is the Ganapati Upanisad found in the concluding part of the Atharvaveda which deals with the worship of Isvara and reveals the nature of the ultimate reality in which everything resolves. The book presents the text of the Ganapati Upanisad along with its transliteration in Roman script which is followed by a detailed commentary on its meaning that takes up each line for critical analysis. Beginning with a general discussion on the Upanisads their association with specific Vedas and their main purpose Swami Tattvavidananda examines the nature of the cosmic power and the universe propitiation of God the purpose of living concepts of ananta ananda and others as explained in the Ganapati Upanisad. He explains the derivative roots of many words so that the concepts may be better understood by the readers. The commentary in a language that demystifies esoteric concepts includes many cross references. The book will be extremely useful to scholars of Vedantic thought and Indian religious and philosophical traditions as well as general readers. 94 pp.

Paperback. Zustand: As New. Reprint. Man has always been perplexed with the now and hereafter of his worldly existence. The enigma called life with all its attendant uncertainties and everyday strifes and irritants continues to defy experimental/realistic investigation despite all the exciting advances in science. We still age we still die. We are as mortal as ever. Life remains a mystery. And death remains in Shakespearean phraseology the undiscovered country. A masterpiece among the writings of its genre Katha Upanisad attempts to unravel the mystery of death though in its totality it is an insightful exposition of Brahmavidya knowledge of the absolute/supreme reality. In a well devised dialectical situation the Upanisad shows how a young seeker calling upon Yama none other than the God of death himself insists on knowing the secret of all secrets with specific questions like what is death. Why people fear death when they know it to be inevitable. What happens at death. And what if anything continues to exist after death and how the questions which the deity answers amidst widely ranged wisdom teachings. Swami Muni Narayana Prasad here offers a lucid English version of this time honoured Upanisad together with exhaustive commentary the original Sanskrit text and its Roman transliteration. Written at a time when the profoundly symbolic Vedic Yajnas/rituals had degenerated into crass priestcraft the Katha Upanisad not only has its historical importance but counts among the landmark writings that have shaped India's heritage of spirituality and philosophic thought. 151 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. "Of the monumental literature authored by Sri Sankara, the Sri Daksinamurti Stotram, comprising stotras in praise of the glory of Isvara, holds a significant place. Singing the importance of nirguna nirakara paramesvara, the text elaborates on Lord Sri Daksinamurti as embodiment of atma-dharma and knowledge and describes the essential nature of Brahman. "Here, Swami Tattvavidananda offers his critical, verse-to-verse, detailed commentary on the Daksinamurti Stotram along with its transliteration in Roman script and its English translation. He explains the ultimate truth as presented in that text through a variety of experiences of the false individual caught in the web of samsara. Through original and contemporary yet common examples, he brings out the purport of the Stotram and enumerates various stages of sadhana to understand the ultimate reality and develop an attitude of witness to the inner world of feelings. Themes like creation and nature of universe, process of gaining knowledge, maya, plurality of the world and the supreme reality, the jiva are explained as given in the text. The fluent and easy-to-understand commentary incorporates ancient and modern scientific theories to explain their inadequacies and contentions of various schools of philosophy on different aspects to enable a broader understanding of the text. "The work will interest scholars of ancient Indian philosophy and literature and inspire and motivate general readers keen on acquiring insights into religious and philosophical questions." (jacket)No. 29449 164 pp.

Soft cover. Zustand: New. Contents An opinion. Preface. Key to transliteration. 1. Introduction. 2. The Sutras. 3. Commentary. 4. The self and recursion. 5. Languages of the brain. 6. The fourth way. 7. Afterword. Index. The Prajna Sutra presents a bridge between the cosmologies of Vedic knowledge and modern science. The ideas are presented as 18 sutras on the nature of reality language art mind transformation and freedom on which explanatory commentaries are provided. The sutras tie together common symbols of the Vedic tradition and their deeper intuitions using contemporary vocabulary. The synthesis presented in the Sutras is wide ranging and it not only deals with abstract ideas but also with questions of meaning aesthetics love war and suffering. Although some consider only linguistic problems to be worthy of study linguistic expressions ultimately are about things and they cannot properly address the mystery of consciousness. The Sutras consider issues that go to the core of philosophy namely the nature of reality and the relationship of the experiencing subject to it. They speak of the complementary domains of rationality and paradox that underlie ordinary experience. They explain how the mystery of consciousness relates not only to the individual's cognitive capacity to know but also his ability to transform both himself and his environment. 82 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Beholden to Rudra. 2. Brhaspati graces you. 3. Victory over Maya. 4. The blessed twins. 5. The dance of Siva. 6. The ripple. 7. The immortal nectar. 8. The Ganga. 9. Nirvikalpa Samadhi and the mystic crescent and the golden eye. 10. Silence. 11. Ooragam. 12. Consecrations. 13. The honeyed hymn. 14. The master's voice. 15. Mahasamadhi. 16. The Asrama today. Glossary. India is a land where spiritual masters and mystics have blossomed from time to time sharing their spiritual experience and knowledge for the benefit of all. They have explored a variety of spiritual religious and philosophical dimensions to unravel the meaning of existence and significance of life. This book throws light on a rarely studied aspect of Indian spirituality its women mystics. The work is an account of the life of a master mystic Shiva Yogini Amma a woman who traversed new realms of experience in her spiritual quest. It is a record of her life from her birth to her attaining the Nirvikalpa Samadhi and after and her teachings. It details the process of her spiritual realization a unique experience exploring spiritual states with a foreknowledge and mastery. It explains her understanding of spiritual concepts relating to form and formlessness Maya reality. It deals with her method of using the body and mind to attain the goals of the spirit. Based on one of her first woman disciples Satyananda Yogini's recollections the account elaborates on life in Shiva Yogini Amma's Asrama. It examines her growth as a samnyasin by delving into her daily activities trances interactions with disciples and her teachings particularly Yoga instructions to learners. The book will be useful to all those interested in spirituality or in studying it as a subject. 246 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. Reprint. A modern day Upanishad Narayana Guru's unparalleled hundred verses of self instruction is a complete and intensive course for the intelligent seeker of wisdom. The title neither this nor that but Aum is taken from the conclusive hundredth verse. The one hundred steps embrace the gamut of ancient and modern wisdom synthesizing it into a unitive vision of exceptional power and profundity. Pitfalls of religious faith are avoided and the aspirant's mind is engaged directly and in familiar modern terms. The reader will find simple instructions and practical methods throughout. He or she will be convinced to eagerly effect positive personal transformations both short term and long term. The effect is like sitting at the feet of Narayana Guru himself. As is true with the original Upanishads the work requires a sympathetic commentary of one both knowledgeable in its meaning and also well versed in the language and mental orientation of the reader. Nitya Chaitanya Yati is a grand disciple of the author a poet seer and a psychologically and scientifically astute instructor. His insights shine directly into the heart and mind of the reader to untangle knot after knot of confusion regarding the scope and problems of life. Using everyday examples to clarify the text Nitya has made this brilliant masterwork accessible to all. 221 pp.

Hardcover. Zustand: New. Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. The Pan-Indian Tantric tradition. 2. Tantrism and the Khajuraho temples. 3. The Tantric tradition in Bengal. 4. Chaitanya, Tantrism and Hedonism in Bengal. 5. "Cultural debate" and Tantrism in modern Bengal. 6. Tantrism and the "Hindu renaissance" in Bengal. 7. The Tantric tradition of Assam: cultural implications. 8. The Kamakhya myth and modern Indian values. 9. Tantrism and modern Assamese ideology. 10. Tantrism: a quest for personal autonomy. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. "This is a brilliant cultural-anthropological study exploring those hedonistic aspects of the pan-Indian heritage which, represented by centuries of the non-Vedic, Tantric tradition, affirm that the pleasurable, especially the sexually pleasurable, is natural as a means to achieve the highest mystical experience. Himself a Tantric initiate, Prem Saran offers a compelling, sympathetic analysis of Tantrism, its place in the Bengali and Assamese cultures, and its pervasiveness in pan-Indian thought and ritual generally. Prem Saran\'s is also a cultural critique of modern Indian values and life-ways. In addition, it is an exercise in methodology, employing certain anthropological tools and concepts like "Cultural Debate", "Cultural Criticism," "Hindu Renaissance" and "Pizza-effect" --the last three having been developed by the late Professor Agehananda Bharati whom the author acknowledges as a "constant source of encouragement" during the last decade. Though Tantra is juxtaposed to Vedic traditions as a heterodox, life-affirming tradition, which is both ancient and basic to Hindu interpretations of being, its hedonistic contents have been purposely neglected or suppressed, partly because of the continuing hold of Victorian morality (imbibed from the British missionaries and colonial rulers), and partly because the erotic route to mystical achievement has always been a secret, minority path. Tantra: Hedonism in Indian Culture will, therefore, fill an existing lacuna in the cultural-anthropology of South Asia. The book carries a Foreword by the distinguished anthropologist, Professor Mattison Mines of the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA." (jacket).

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Upanisads. 3. Badarayana. 4. Sankara. 5. Abhinavagupta. 6. Ramanuja. 7. Sri Aurobindo. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. The problem of reconciliation of mutually incompatible Upanisadic statements on some of the basic problems has attracted the attention of almost all the major philosophers of Vedanta. One such problem is about the nature of relationship between Brahman and the world of empirical experience. And in their attempts to reconcile the reality of Brahman with that of the world of empirical experience almost all the philosophers of Vedanta have resorted to reason. They have not only tried to provide rational justification for their positions and views but have also used reason freely in analyzing and criticizing the rival positions and views. In this process several arguments which are subtle and cogent are developed. However some of the Vedantins who have shown critical spirit and acumen in understanding and criticizing the rival arguments and positions are not so critical about their own arguments and positions. Thus the Vedantins who came after Sankara have made his position (advaita) their major purvapaksa without however trying to make their own positions a possible purvapaksa. This is an attempt to trace the philosophical development of Vedanta starting from Badarayana to Sri Aurobindo and to understand and evaluate critically their arguments and positions. 152 pp.

Hardcover. Zustand: New. Zustand des Schutzumschlags: New. 1st Edition. Contents: Preface. 1. Langer's theory of art : some essentials. 2. Of music : Langer and an Indian genre. 3. Imaging time in music : Langer and Hindustani rhythm. 4. Magic in movement : Langer and Kathak dance. Bibliography. Index. "The book is decidedly the very first of its kind. It seeks to weigh some basic facts and concepts of Hindustani sangeet ( music, rhythm, and Kathak dance) against the art theories of Susanne K. Langer, an eminent aesthetician of the recent past; but nowhere without meticulous attention to the text of her writings. "The expression theory of art has for long dominated the history of aesthetics. At the hands of Langer, however, the theory takes a new turn. She conceives of art not as a direct self-expression of the artist's immediate affective state, but as a symbolic expression of his knowledge of what she terms variously as felt life, sentience, or forms of feeling. Drawing freely upon examples from the region of Hindustani sangeet, the present book accepts Langer's protest against the popular view of artistic expression, but contends that there is a good deal in our music and dance which has nothing to do with feeling, and is admired simply because of its sweetness, clarity, shapeliness, and accordance with grammatical norms. "In the chapter on music, while discussing Langer's emphasis on 'commanding form' in a total performance, the author proposes a quite new definition of raga which seeks to integrate the various points in its traditional characterizations.The third chapter too, which deals with Langer's view of rhythm, is not 383 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. The shell silver metaphor and the Adhyasa bhasya of Sankara. 3. The shell silver metaphor in Advaita Vedanta. 4. The complementarity of the shell silver and the rope snake metaphors in Advaita Vedanta. 5. The shell silver metaphor in Sankhya Mimamsa and Bhaskara. 6. The shell silver metaphor some limitations. Conclusion. Bibliography. Author index. Subject index. The question of the relationship between the ultimate reality of the universe and its proximate reality as experienced by us is apt to boggle the mind given the vastness of the dimensions involved. The distinction between it and us is like the difference between an avalanche and a snowflake. Nevertheless the Hindu school of philosophy known as Advaita Vedanta tries to render it comprehensible at the level of the individual by pressing everyday analogies into service. One such analogy is suggested by our experience in life when we momentarily mistake a piece of seashell for a piece of silver. Advaita Vedanta then proceeds to employ this pivotal analogy to explore the various dimensions of the relationship of the individual to the world to the ultimate reality and of the ultimate reality to the world. This book uses this metaphor as a window which opens out into the world of Advaita Vedanta. 110 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. Reprint. Contents Preface. 1. The state (Rajya). 2. The King (Svamin). 3. The ministers (Amatyas). 4. The territory and the people (Janapada/rastra). 5. The forts/capital (Durgas/Pura). 6. The treasury (Kosha). 7. The army (Danda/Bala). 8. The allies and the inter state relations (Mitra tatha Niti). Glossary. Index. Ancient Indians were a highly organized polity with a well established worldview of the Rajya (the state). In their togetherness these components of the state led political ideologues to advance the Theory of Saptanga the seven limbs each of which admitted varying emphases with ancient scholars according to the changing political situations or their own predilections. Besides traditional/semi historical writings the saptanga theory of the state finds recurring allusions in Kautilya's Arthasastra which written sometime about the fourth century BC remains the oldest surviving treatise of its kind on statecraft. Surprisingly the Arthasastra itself claims its author is a compendium of the writings of as many as eighteen ancient teachers like Manu Brhaspati Usana Bharadvaja Visalaksa Prachetas and Pisuna. With bit by bit analysis of an astonishing mass of original indigenous sources Vedic Puranic Epical Buddhist Jaina and even non Indian Professor G.P. Singh tries to crystallize the political thought processes accompanying the evolution of state through the bygone centuries. Bringing fresh insights into the Saptanga theory his study dwells at length on all its seven time honoured components and their variegated roles in lending support to the state. Also underscored here is the relevance of ancient Indian view to modern theories of politics and diplomacy. A thoroughly documented work of equal utility to scholars and students the monograph is supplemented by a comprehensive index and a glossary of non English words/phrases used in the text. 152 pp.

Hardbound. Zustand: As New. New. Contents Preface. Introduction. 1. Knowledge What it is. 2. Knowledge How it is apprehended. 3. Validity How it is ascertained. 4. Knowledge Its different varieties. 5. Perception its nature. 6. Varieties of perception. 7. Erroneous perception. 8. Inference its nature. 9. The threefold characterization of the Probans. 10. Classification of the Probans. 11. Nature of Vyapti. 12. Ascertainment of Vyapti. 13. Antarvyapti A Buddhist perspective. 14. Sadhanabhasa Fallacies of inference. 15. Prasanganumana in the light of the Buddhists. 16. Absence How it is known. 17. Testimony a separate Pramana. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index. The monograph highlights the philosophical arguments offered by Buddhist thinkers on different aspects of knowledge. Various aspects of Buddhist epistemology right from the basic question of what the Buddhists mean by knowledge the varieties of knowledge according to their belief and their explanations of the validity of knowledge are examined. A painstaking work of Prof. Madhumita Chattopadhyay this study deals with different epistemological topics like the nature of knowledge validity of knowledge knowledge of knowledge perception erroneous perception inference and its related issues like ascertainment of vyapti antarvyapti prasanganuman and fallacies of inference. The author has referred to many primary sources which include different Sanskrit texts as well as the latest secondary literature available on these topics and discusses the important role of concept of absence and the theory of apoha or negative nominalism as a substitute for universals in Buddhist metaphysics. An attempt is made to explore whether solutions to modern epistemological problems as found in the Western tradition can be provided from the Buddhist perspective in order to show that Buddhist epistemology has a relevant role to play in the area of epistemology itself. The book would interest scholars and students interested in the epistemological and logical aspects of Buddhist philosophy. 354 pp.