ETHICAL VALUES IN VACANA PHILOSOPHY


Book Description

Vacana Philosophy is one of the important branches of Indian Philosophy, with Bhakti and knowledge (Jnana) as its guiding principles. It has flourished, from the earliest times, and its exponents have come from the North as well as from the South. The schools of Saivism current in South India, Saiva Siddhanta that first took shape in Tamil Nadu many centuries ago. It was later considerably influenced by Kashmir and Gauda Saivism. Saiva School and whose vogue is undiminished to this day have been for long current in the Karnataka state. It was probably revived and reformed by a band of inspired Seekers after truth in the 12th century. This Saiva School is known as Veerasaivism, or popularly as the Lingayatism.




Shunya Sampadane


Book Description

Shunya Sampadane means attainment of Shunya, the Absolute State. The term 'Shunya Sampadane' is also used to mean the text of the vachanas compiled in the form of a document or a book with a title of Shunya Sampadane. Vachana is a rhythmic prose. Shunya Sampadane is the main scripture of the Veerashaivas. It is said that the Upanishads are the authorities for the formulation of the religious as well as the philosophical concepts of Veerashaivas. Shunya Sampadane is the quintessence of the Veerashaiva Philosophy. It is composed mainly in the form of discourses between various Veerashaiva Philosophers. The central figure of Shunya Sampadane is Allama Prabhudeva. In the concluding remarks, Shunya Sampadane gives this list of nine statements:1. This is the best guide, the philosophical system of exalted Veerashaiva doctrine.2. This is that which expounds and firmly establishes the Veerashaiva practice.3. This is the crest-jewel of the divine Vedanta.4. This is the chief mirror of all the sciences.5. This is the teaching of the highest Experience to promote the Supreme Knowledge.6. This is a catalogue of those who, endowed with all kinds of religious practice, have attained the Height.7. This is a treasury of the attainment of the great Raja Yoga.8. This is a happy feast of the ambrosial essence of Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, eternal and perfect.9. This is a great conference of Prabhudeva on the attainment of Shunya - an instrument to remove ignorance.




Philosophy in the Fifteen Modern Indian Languages


Book Description

Articles on various regional sects and their philosophy.







Textual Lives of Caste Across the Ages


Book Description

The essays in this volume explore the myriad ways in which caste (varna and jati) has been theorized and critiqued in multiple philosophical, religious, logical and narrative traditions in India. Spanning ancient, medieval and modern times, and in diverse classical and vernacular languages, the chapters show how the social fact of caste, and imaginations of kinship, community and humanity were historically subject to epistemological, spiritual, and existential debate in both elite and popular circles in India. Textual Lives of Caste Across the Ages seeks to bridge the interdisciplinary gap between historians and sociologists by focusing on texts that help us think across the sociological and philosophical, the political and the religious, the epistemological and the aesthetic, and indeed, the elite and the popular. The volume also sets up a conversation between scholars specializing in different regions, archives, and historical periods and demonstrates how caste imaginaries have been deeply diverse and contested in India's past. Reconstructing these diverse traditions of social and existential criticism helps us in our contemporary struggles against caste hierarchy and untouchability and enriches our contemporary critical repertoire.




Hinduism


Book Description

Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions; an amalgam of diverse beliefs and schools, it originates in the Vedas and is rooted in Indian culture. Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide illuminates complex philosophical concepts through lucid definitions, a historical perspective and incisive analyses. It examines various aspects of Hinduism, covering festivals and rituals, gods and goddesses, philosophers, memorials, aesthetics, and sacred plants and animals. The author also explores pivotal ideas, including moksha, karma, dharma and samsara, and details the diverse commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and other important texts. Citing extensively from the regional languages, the book describes Hinduism’s innumerable myths and legends, and looks at the many versions of texts including the Ramayana and Mahabharata, placing each entry in its historical context and tracing its evolution to the present.




Basava Journal


Book Description




Veerashaivism in India


Book Description







Siddhanta Shikhamani: The One Hundred One Sthala Doctrine. a Concise Composition.


Book Description

Siddhanta means doctrine, and Shikhamani means crest-jewel. Siddhanta Shikhamani is said to be the crest-jewel of all the doctrines. It is considered to be one of the scriptures, if not the main scripture, of the Veerashaivas, the main scripture being the Shunya Sampadane. Siddhanta Shikhamani is said to be the foremost authority on the religion and philosophy of Veerashaivism. The primitive traits of Veerashaivism in the Vedas and the Upanishads find a complete and comprehensive exposition in Siddhanta Shikhamani. It is a teaching of the doctrine of 101 sthalas/stages. It harmonizes the concepts of duality and non-duality (oneness). The original was composed in Sanskrit by Shri Shivayogi Shivacharya. It has been edited with introduction, translation and notes in English by Dr. M. Sivakumara Swamy, M. A., Ph. D., and published in 2007 by Shaiva Bharati Shodha Pratisthan, Jangamwadi Math, Varanasi-221 001, India. Almost all of what is in this concise composition of the present book is taken from Dr. Sivakumara Swamy's reference book.