Vāstu-śilpa-kosha


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On Hindu temple architecture and Vastu; based on Sanskrit texts.




Shrouded in symbols


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Have you ever thought why we offer a specific kind of flower to specific Hindu gods? Has your curious mind ever tried to interpret the posture of the Hindu Gods, the significance of their Vahanas or the importance of the weapons in their hands? Hinduism is brimming with symbolism. Most of these symbols are representative of the philosophies, teachings and even the gods and goddesses themselves of the Hindus. Deities and rituals are a huge part of Hinduism and they have great religious significance. Religious practices, puja, offerings, Gods and Goddesses all are a part of life. This book is an exploration to unearth a wonderful world of Hindu symbolism and iconography which spans from vahanas, mudras of Hindu Gods, postures, body language of idols, universal symbols and symbols of offerings




The Vāstu-śilpa-kosha


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Kingdom of Shiva


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The 12 long years research of Vedas and decoding the hidden scientific formulas have been put in a story form in easy understanding of the hard to get facts that benefits the readers. The reader will find the critical and vital difference between some of the Prominent Works on Lord Shiva Goddess Parvati and their children in this work that to demystify the myths. This work lucidly brings out the teachings of Ganesh-Geeta and retold the mythology in an amazing way for the benefit of all. The readers will love to chew and remember for the ages. — Sivkishen, Author It is believed that a mere glance at Sri Chakra gives the result of performing hundred Vedic rituals then what if the goddess is Meditated upon, Praised and Glorified as purest form of Consciousness ? This book does exactly that! Imagine the power of her 'Supreme Brilliance' guiding you through the darkest alleys towards all round Success ... Imagine receiving an ocean of Compassion... I urge the readers to give themselves a chance to carve a fulfilling life under the Divine Mother's Cosmic Direction .. Kudos to Kishenji for being the channel and making that happen." —Karuna Gopal (President, Futuristic Cities) "A must-read for anyone who wants to get on the "way of life", this 'Kingdom of Shiva' provides right orientation and knowledge to face the challenges of life by aligning them of valuable life." - Prof. S P Garg "The one book on authentic Mythological classic epic stories is 'Kingdom of Shiva'. This is Eastern Wisdom a must to have at least one." — Prof. Surendera Kala "In the Epic story of 'Kingdom of Shiva', the great Goddess advocates that 'a beautiful mind and beautiful heart sparks bright ideas. One can't just dream but should believe in the self and face challenges of Life Battles with courage. You have the POWER to ACHIEVE IT.' This is the 'Glow of Hope' and every one must read." -Shanti Singh B.Com. LLB, Director, Vidyadayani Junior and Degree College for Women, Hyderabad India




The Rise of Civilizations Concerning Vedic Knowledge


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Between 3300 and 2900 BC, archaeologists believe that civilization (the rise of Sumeria, the Indus Valley Civilization, and Egypt) marked the beginning of complex cities. The Neolithic Revolution, when agriculture, animal domestication, pottery, and the plow came together, seems not to hold together, as we explored in the final chapter of descending Treta Yuga. There had already been millennia of critical discoveries and developments. Why then the abrupt shift to city living, stratified societies, and overproduction of food and other goods for trade or export? Archaeologists believe that man could finally do these things — that he was using recent inventions to an additional advantage. Our study of the yugas tells us that man suddenly wanted to do these things that he was using innovations known for millennia in new ways to suit his new motivation. Several large cities existed before descending Dwapara Yuga, but a new breed of city sprang up with Dwapara Yuga. These were larger and more complex and built around commerce. Many had shared granaries, artisans' districts, and marketplaces and were typically made on trade routes along rivers and coasts. We also see these cities' first significant division of labor and societal stratification. Artisans, scribes, and traders all became increasingly common occupations. Furthermore, there was, of course, the tax collector. As a result, governments began levying taxes on commerce, as they had already levied tariffs on agriculture. Sumeria and the city of Eridu are credited with being the first of the trend. Urdu is believed to have risen along the banks of the Euphrates River around 3300 BC. The famous city of Ur and dozens of others sprang up in the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys over the next 300–400 years, and Babylon was not far behind.




Decoding the Vedic System of Knoweldge


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One of the oldest libraries of texts in India is the Vedas. Vedic texts are painstakingly corrected by the teacher. Instructors and students still teach them orally today. Virtual classrooms have allowed females to learn the Vedas and how they were changed through technology. Samaveda has a much more intricate connection with Rigveda than the other Vedas. Because all its verses except seventy-five are directly drawn from the Rigveda, it holds great historical significance. The eighth and especially the ninth of the Soma book provide the bulk of its content. It is similar to the Yajurveda in having been composed only for ritual use since the verses are all intended for chanting during the offering ceremonies. Unlike those in the Rigveda, these stanzas appear in the Sama-Veda as if they were to be spoken or recited. Their significance is solely determined by their relevance to particular rites, removed from their context in the Rigveda. The Vedas have been the subject of voluminous literature over the centuries, written in many languages, including English. Due to their symbolic language, the Vedas remain elusive. Despite exploring every ancient Indian sourcebook, Shankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva did not write full commentaries on the Vedas. Vedas are enigmatic and ethereal, and this adds to their mystery. In contrast to the voluminous commentary on Upanishads, Bhagawad Gita, Brahma sutras, and Mahapuranas, Sri Madhva wrote a short Rigbhyasya. Sayana Madhava, also known as Sayanacharya, is the most common source of information on the Vedas. Vedic texts are covered in complete detail in this voluminous work, basically a literal translation of the Vedas. Those who criticize it point out that it ignores the Vedas' symbolism and the Vedic tenets' hidden meanings. It is for this reason that the Vedas remain inadequately illuminated. In addition, Vedic Sanskrit differs from classical Sanskrit, a currently taught, written, and spoken language. A widespread family of languages, the proto-Indo-European languages, is derived from it.




The Secrets of Brahma


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ANCIENT INDIA'S HINDU ORIGIN The reprimand of Lord Shiva by Brahma for harboring sexual feelings for his own daughter, Sandhya, led him to consult Daksha and his other sons about what to do. Due to his high status as a yogi and his lack of knowledge of women and passion, Shiva had little understanding of sexual feelings. Trying to make Shiva suffer from love's pangs, Brahma enlisted the help of Kama and Rati, his wife. The creation will continue to be mediocre unless Shiva indulges in sexual activity. Only Kama's power can triumph over Shiva, who is highly detached." Thus saying, Brahma requested the Kama to try his wiles on Lord Shiva. Vasanta was also created for the Kama to be his constant companion so that he could succeed in his adventures. "Kama, please try to enchant Shiva on behalf of the world. Shoot your arrows at Shiva wherever he goes to entice him to take a wife. Follow him wherever he goes, whether over mountains, through forests, or on peaks. You are the only person who can make this happen. He dislikes women and is in complete control of his own actions." With these words of the Creator in his ears, Kama, accompanied by Vasanta and the gentle breeze of Maharashtra, departed for the harsh mountains, caves, and dales in which Shiva roamed. As the seasons changed, Kama's journey continued. There was no longer a cold wind blowing against the icy peaks of the Himalayas. Instead, it was swept by a gentle Malaya breeze, fragrant with the scent of a thousand flowers. Amid all the blossoming trees, Shiva was immersed in atomic bliss, not beguiled by the beauty. Kama's sugarcane bow sent arrow after arrow flying. Rati and he both tried every trick in the book. Shiva was immune to their charm, but all living things succumbed to theirs. All living things except him were affected. Brahma returned dejectedly to the Kama after his ego had been crushed.




Vaastu


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This book provides insights into design concepts that can help the user to maximize his potential within his/her environment.




Hindu Mysteries of Vedic India


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The Hinduism of today is a vast and diverse religion, but its roots can be traced back thousands of years to the Vedas. The Rig Veda is an ancient text that outlines the beliefs of early Hindus, including their pantheon of deities. There are many different types of gods in the Hindu tradition (more than 330 million). Still, some hold special significance in the ancient texts: Rudra, Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva are just some examples. The word "Hinduism" is derived from Sindhu, which means river. The Indus River flows through Pakistan and the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. The religion is also called Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law) or Bhagavata Dharma (Divine Faith). Hinduism is the world's oldest living major religion. Ancient India's first civilization developed around 2200 B.C., with its roots in Vedic civilization dating back to 1500 B.C. It has no founder, but various sages have written many religious texts over some time, including Vedas (the hymns), Upanishads (philosophical treatises), Puranas(mythology), Ramayana, and Mahabharata epics, as well as treatises on ethics like Manusmriti. The Rigveda is the oldest of the four Vedas and one of India's most important ancient texts. It is a collection of over 10,000 Sanskrit hymns that many different poets wrote. The hymns are dedicated to the gods and goddesses of ancient India, including Indra, Agni (the God of fire), Ushas (Dawn), Sarasvati (Goddess of wisdom), Soma (Moon), and Varuna (God). There are many deities in Hinduism, but they can be broadly categorized into two main groups: Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons). The Devas represent the forces of good, while the Asuras represent the forces of evil; however, there is often an overlap between these two categories. Some well-known Devas include Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), Shiva/Rudra/Pashupati (the Destroyer), Indra/Agni (king of gods who controls rain and thunderstorms), etc. Some well-known Asuras include Vritra ("dragon"), Hiranyaksha ("golden arm"), and Hiranyakashipu ("lord with golden arms"). The names of these deities may vary from region to region depending on which text you reference; for example, Vishnu may also be known as Narayana or Hari among some communities within South India.




Temple Management in the Āgama-S: With Special Reference To Kāmikāgama


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For at least 1500 years, temple design, construction and worship have followed the canon of the āgama-s. Shouldn't temple management also follow the āgama-s? Steeped in a history of more than two millennia, the real bequest of India's ancient temples is that they are still living sacred spaces. The gods that were invoked in these temples more than a thousand years ago, continue to reside in the sanctums and gaze benevolently upon their devotees. The bells ring for morning service as they did a thousand years ago. The ācārya waves the ārati just as another ācārya did a thousand years ago. No other organization in the world can boast of such amazing continuity. The secret to this longevity lies in the āgama-s. Āgama-s are the traditional canon believed to be as old as the Vedas, with detailed manuals on temple-building, consecration and ritual worship. While the world outside the temples - a world of kings and kingdoms - has changed, temples continue to follow the āgama-s in letter and spirit in their everyday religious function, notwithstanding the many changes in administrative formats. By studying the activities of the temple, material and manpower required, qualifications and roles prescribed for the temple professionals, this thesis attempts to reconstruct an āgamic temple management framework, using the Kāmikāgama as primary text with other āgama-s, secondary literature and inscriptional evidence as required.