Sons of Brahma


Book Description

Jongom, an unassuming scholar, spends his days in the world of books. Until, to his bewilderment, he is singled out by a dangerous rebel leader, Anjan Phukan, who wants him to write for the separatist cause. They are arrested without warning on their first meeting, and Anjan is shot dead trying to escape. Now Jongom is forced to escape from both the police and the rebels who hold him responsible for their leader’s death. He takes with him his loyal best friend, Pranab, and together they race through the lush Assamese countryside, facing the macabre world of north-east politics and discovering along the way a terrible secret that binds them together in ways they never thought possible. Addictive and gripping, Sons of Brahma is an enthralling Assam novel.







Essential Hinduism


Book Description

As a world religion, Hinduism remains one of the most elusive for many. Its teachings, beliefs, practices, and history are reviewed here by an expert hoping to introduce readers to the world of Hinduism. While there are many forms of Hinduism, and offshoots as well, the complex nature of this faith makes it elusive to many. This straightforward overview, focusing on Vaishnavism-the most common form of Hinduism—is ideal for those who wish to learn more about this ancient tradition.. Beginning with chapters about the foundations of Hinduism, Rosen clearly lays out what is otherwise a complicated history. Providing Hindu terms alongside English translations, he is able to bring the faith alive for readers unacquainted with its varieties and its tenets. Moving on to chapters about practices, including festivals, teachings, chanting, eating habits and more, Rosen brings Hinduism to life in vivid detail.




The Presence of Siva


Book Description

One of the three great gods of Hinduism, Siva is a living god. The most sacred and most ancient book of India, "The Rg Veda," evokes his presence in its hymns; Vedic myths, rituals, and even astronomy testify to his existence from the dawn of time. In a lively meditation on Siva--based on original Sanskrit texts, many translated here for the first time--Stella Kramrisch ponders the metaphysics, ontology, and myths of Siva from the Vedas and the Puranas. Who is Siva? Who is this god whose being comprises and transcends everything? From the dawn of creation, the Wild God, the Great Yogi, the sum of all opposites, has been guardian of the absolute. By retelling and interweaving the many myths that keep Siva alive in India today, Kramrisch reveals the paradoxes in Siva's nature and thus in the nature of consciousness itself.




Siddhartha


Book Description

Herman Hesse's classic novel has delighted, inspired, and influenced generations of readers, writers, and thinkers. In this story of a wealthy Indian Brahmin who casts off a life of privilege to seek spiritual fulfillment. Hesse synthesizes disparate philosophies--Eastern religions, Jungian archetypes, Western individualism--into a unique vision of life as expressed through one man's search for true meaning.




BRAHMA


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Śrĩ Brahma-saṁhitã


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Myth


Book Description

A Decoding Of Hindu Mythology Hindus Have One God. They Also Have 330 Million Gods: Male Gods, Female Gods, Personal Gods, Family Gods, Household Gods, Village Gods, Gods Of Space And Time, Gods For Specific Castes And Particular Professions, Gods Who Reside In Trees, In Animals, In Minerals, In Geometrical Patterns And In Man-Made Objects. Then There Are A Whole Host Of Demons. But No Devil. In This Groundbreaking Book Dr Devdutt Pattanaik, One Of India S Most Popular Mythologists, Seeks An Answer To These Apparent Paradoxes And Unravels An Inherited Truth About Life And Death, Nature And Culture, Perfection And Possibility. He Retells Sacred Hindu Stories And Decodes Hindu Symbols And Rituals, Using A Unique Style Of Commentary, Illustrations And Diagrams. We Discover Why The Villainous Kauravas Went To Heaven And The Virtuous Pandavas (All Except Yudhishtira) Were Sent To Hell; Why Rama Despite Abandoning The Innocent Sita Remains The Model King; Why The Blood-Drinking Kali Is Another Form Of The Milk-Giving Gauri; And Why Shiva Wrenched Off The Fifth Head Of Brahma. Constructed Over Generations, Hindu Myths Serve As Windows To The Soul, And Provide An Understanding Of The World Around Us. The Aim Is Not To Outgrow Myth, But To Be Enriched And Empowered By Its Ancient, Potent And Still Relevant Language.




Jimutavahana's Dayabhaga


Book Description

This is a translation of a 12th-century Sanskrit legal text, with the original text. The Dayabhaga was one of the most important texts in the history of Indian law. The text, fairly late and inspiring little attention, is important because the British elevated it to such prominence in their new colony in the early 19th century. It was known as the authority on inheritance and significant aspects of family law for the eastern Indian region. The case law and scholarship that surround this text have shaped Indian personal law right up to the present day.