Hinduism Books

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad-gita is a guide to self-realization and spiritual wisdom, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. A translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada offers profound insights on consciousness, the self, the universe, and the Supreme without adulteration, providing timely enlightenment.

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad-gita, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, is a guide to self-realization. A translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a renowned Vedic scholar, offers insights into consciousness, the self, and the universe. This edition is presented without adulteration, providing a timely and enlightening message.

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of a Yogi is the life story of Paramahansa Yogananda, detailing his spiritual journey from childhood to becoming a monk and spreading Kriya Yoga teachings in America. It emphasizes self-realization, simple living, and has been a spiritual classic for over 70 years, translated into 40+ languages.

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Book SynopsisThe Upanisads'' is the Hindu equivalent of the Christian New Testament. It is a collection of spiritual treatises written in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 BCE. This title focuses on understanding the inner meaning of the religion.

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide to one of the world''s most diverse and fascinating faiths, with a Foreword by Amartya SenK. M. Sen discusses the evolution of Hinduism''s central systems of belief and codes of conduct, as well as popular cults and sects such as Bhakti, Tantrika and the mystics of North India, and describes the varying incarnations of its supreme deity, Krishna and Rama among them. He recounts its history from the Indus Valley civilization c.2500 BC and the Vedic age nature gods to its relationship with Buddhism and Jainism and the impact of western culture. And he describes the day-to-day practice of Hinduism - customs, festivals and rituals; the caste system; and its philosophies and exponents. The author''s grandson Professor Amartya Sen brings his work right up to date, examining the role of Hinduism in the world today.

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Book SynopsisShe is benevolent and nurturing, yet fierce and terrible, a warrior and a lover. She creates and gives life, is death personified, and the one who grants eternal salvation. She is the ultimate form of reality, the cosmos. The Goddess inspires deep devotion and it is not surprising to see Her being worshipped and revered across homes in India. Shakti delves into this rich tradition of the Divine Feminine as She is represented across India and the subcontinent. In Shakti, encounter the Goddess in all Her glory and numerous forms. Dive deep into Her fascinating mythology and rituals. Unravel the philosophy behind Her worship and Her adaptation within many belief systems. From the origins of the Goddess in the ancient civilization of Harappa to Her evolution and changed character in contemporary times, Shakti tells the complete story of the Goddess in a linear fashion. During the course of its narrative, it brings together the diverse threads from different cultures, regi

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Book SynopsisThe SÄáƒkhyayoga institution of KÄpil Maáh is a religious organisation with a small tradition of followers which emerged in the last decade of the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century in Bengal in India around the renunciant and yogin HariharÄnanda Äraáya. This tradition developed during the same period in which modern yoga was born and forms a chapter in the expansion of yoga traditions in modern Hinduism.The book analyses the yoga teaching of HariharÄnanda Äraáya (1869-1947) and the KÄpil Maáh tradition, its origin, history and contemporary manifestations, and this traditionâs connection to the expansion of yoga and the YogasÅtra in modern Hinduism. The SÄáƒkhyayoga of the KÄpil Maáh tradition is based on the PÄtaÃjalayogaÅÄstra, on a number of texts in Sanskrit and Bengali written by their gurus, and on the lifestyle of the renunciant yogin living isolated in a cave. The book investigates HariharÄnanda Äraáyaâs connection to pre-modern yTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Sāṃkhya, Yoga and Sāṃkhyayoga 2. Encounters with a living Sāṃkhyayoga tradition 3. Kapila as the originator of Yoga 4. The rebirth of Yoga and the emergence of the bhadralok yogin 5. Gurus, book printing and the Sāṃkhyayoga lineage 6. Textual tradition of the Kāpil Math institution 7. Sāṃkhyayoga meditation instructions of the Kāpil Maṭh tradition 8. Monastic life and recitation of Sanskrit stotras 9. The material religion of Sāṃkhyayoga 10. The Kāpil Maṭh tradition and modern scholarship on Yoga Conclusion

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Book SynopsisRichard King provides an introduction to the main schools of Hindu and Buddhist thought, emphasising the living history of interaction and debate between the various traditions.Trade ReviewRichard King has written a clear, modern, up-to-date, wide-ranging and accessible introduction to the principal doctrinal postiions and debates in Indian philosophy. It is a balanced book, free from bias in favour of one school or another. King is an accurate, reliable and well-informed expositor. I would say that it is by some margin the best popular survey of Hindu and Buddhist philosophical doctrines on the market today. Richard King has written a clear, modern, up-to-date, wide-ranging and accessible introduction to the principal doctrinal postiions and debates in Indian philosophy. It is a balanced book, free from bias in favour of one school or another. King is an accurate, reliable and well-informed expositor. I would say that it is by some margin the best popular survey of Hindu and Buddhist philosophical doctrines on the market today.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[Tagore's] lyrics…display in their thought a world I have dreamed of all my life long." -- W.B. Yeats"In common with thousands of his countrymen I owe much to one by his poetic genius and singular purity of life has raised India in the estimation of the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi"The entire Indian civilization spoke through the poetic wisdom of Rabindranath Tagore." -- Deepak Chopra

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Book SynopsisAwaken the transformative energy within you with this beginners guide to tantra, beautifully presented with a gold embossed cover design and gilded page edges.Tantric rituals are used to connect with divine energies and expand our consciousness. Its practices originate from Indian medieval scriptures and informs strands in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist thought. Yoga, meditation and art all formed a part of its rich, historic lineage. In this book we uncover and explain the ideas contained within this complex system of thought and introduce simple exercises to put these ideas into practice. Understanding how to weave together the energies within us leads to a completion of the self that feeds ever-greater health and happiness. This is a prerequisite to a spiritually awakened life and the gift of those who follow tantric teachings.Sections include:• Scripture and experience• Beginning with the breath• Nyasa and the art

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Book SynopsisB.R. Ambedkar's Annihilation of Caste is one of the most important, yet neglected, works of political writing from India. Written in 1936, it is an audacious denunciation of Hinduism and its caste system. It offers a scholarly critique of Hindu scriptures, scriptures that sanction a rigidly hierarchical and iniquitous social system. Arundhati Roy introduces this extensively annotated edition in "The Doctor and the Saint," examining the persistence of caste in modern India, and how the conflict between Ambedkar and Gandhi continues to resonate. Roy breathes new life into Ambedkar's anti-caste utopia, and says that without a Dalit revolution, India will continue to be hobbled by systemic inequality.Trade ReviewAnnihilation of Caste has to be read ... No Hindu who prizes his faith above life itself can afford to underrate the importance of this indictment. -- M.K. GandhiMarvellous writing with conceptual clarity and political understanding - something the world should know about. . . Roy's essay has the sharp political thrust one has come to expect from her * Uma Chakravarti, author of Everyday Lives, Everyday Historie *Arundhati Roy's 'The Doctor and the Saint' works both at an emotive and an argumentative level. She manages to convey an intimate and deeply felt sensitivity to the history that produced Annihilation of Caste... A robust edition of an under-appreciated classic. * Satish Deshpande, Professor of Sociology, Delhi University *This edition is truly a remarkable achievement. * Christophe Jaffrelot, author of Dr Ambedkar and Untouchability: *What the Communist Manifesto is to the capitalist world, Annihilation of Caste is to India. -- Anand Teltumbde, author of The Persistence of Caste

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Book SynopsisFrom jewellery to meditation pillows to tourist retreats, religious traditions – especially those of the East – are being commodified as never before. Imitated and rebranded as ‘New Age’ or ‘spiritual’, they are marketed to secular Westerners as an answer to suffering in the modern world, the ‘mystical’ and ‘exotic’ East promising a path to enlightenment and inner peace. In Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi, Sophia Rose Arjana examines the appropriation and sale of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam in the West today, the role of mysticism and Orientalism in the religious marketplace, and how the commodification of religion impacts people’s lives.Trade Review‘Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi highlights the hidden costs of what would appear to be positive stereotypes about Eastern religiosity. In doing so, Arjana interrogates cultural colonialism, i.e. the borrowing of other people’s cultures and religions without giving credit to actual persons and institutions… With its comprehensive theoretically informed approach and exciting case studies, I would especially recommend this book for use in undergraduate classes.’ * Religion (Liz Wilson, Miami University) *‘an expansive book, covering the intersection of mysticism and capitalism… illuminating… I would recommend this book in undergraduate classrooms learning about Asian religions and especially the last chapter for a media studies class. This type of sweeping project is difficult to pull off, and Arjana certainly does an admirable job.’ * Politics, Religion & Ideology *‘A wide-ranging overview of the ongoing power and cultural significance of long-standing Western Orientalist tropes about “the Mystic East”. This is an important work for anyone working on Asian traditions and their contemporary appropriation, transformation and commodification.’ -- Richard King, Professor of Buddhist and Asian Studies, University of Kent‘A fascinating and wholly engrossing exploration of how “mysticism”, as we know it in the West, circulates as a modern-day product of colonial structures of power.’ -- Sylvia Chan-Malik, Associate Professor, Departments of American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers University‘Both scholarly and readable, Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi deepens our understanding of the way the West appropriates Eastern religion.’ -- Jeffrey H. Mahan, Ralph E. and Norma E. Peck Professor of Religion & Public Communication, Iliff School of Theology‘Tribal events and mystic tourism in Bali are some of the topics entertainingly and critically described and analyzed by Arjana… The book is not only well researched with many fine examples and convincing arguments to underline the theoretical assumptions of the commodification of Eastern religions in the West; it is also well written and a pleasure to read. Furthermore, it raises some important theoretical, methodological and moral questions that could be the center of good discussions with students… The book is very interesting, well written, highly recommendable and useful for critical discussions.’ -- Journal of Religion, Media and Digital CultureTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Histories of Religion and Mysticism 2 Cultural Colonialism, Muddled Orientalism, and the Mystic Poor 3 Mysticism, Incorporated 4 Hindu Hippies and Boulder Buddhists 5 Rumimaniacs 6 Lost, Star Wars, and Mystical Hollywood Postscript Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisHinduism in Five Minutes provides an accessible and lively introduction to common questions about the practices, ideas, and narratives commonly identified as Hindu. Suitable for beginning students and the general reader, the book offers more than 70 brief essays on a wide range of fascinating questions about Hinduism and its study, such as: How did Hinduism begin? How many gods / goddesses do Hindus worship? Which scriptures are important in Hinduism? Why are many Hindus vegetarian? What is the role of women in Hindu rituals? What do Hindus believe? What is caste, and why are some people treated differently because of it? How do Hindus celebrate festivals like Holi? Is yoga Hindu? What makes arranged marriage appealing to some Hindus? Do you have to be Indian to be a Hindu? Each essay is written by a leading authority and offers succinct, insightful answers along with suggestions for further reading, making the book an ideal starting point for classroom use or personal browsing.Table of ContentsPreface Steven Ramey General questions Is Hinduism a religion or something else? Prea Persaud, University of North Carolina What are the primary ideas in Hinduism? Brian K. Pennington, Elon University What is the ultimate purpose or goal of Hinduism? Varun Khanna, Swarthmoe College Beginnings What is the creation story in Hinduism? Gil Ben-Herut, University of South Florida Where and when did Hinduism originate? Thomas B. Ellis, Appalachian State University Where does the name Hinduism come from? Will Sweetman, University of Otago Where did the concept of caste begin? Gil Ben-Herut Development Are there different denominations like Christianity? Vincent Burgess, Cornell University What are the regional differences in Hinduism across India? Bhakti Mamtora, Wooster College How does someone become a guru? Antoinette E. DeNapoli, Texas Christian University Does violent extremism exist in Hinduism? Jimi Wilson, University of North Carolina, Greensboro Texts and Stories How many ‘sacred texts’ does Hinduism have? Steven Ramey What are the Vedas? Varun Khanna What is the Bhagavad Gita? Vincent Burgess Gods and Goddesses How many gods are in Hinduism? Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida Which deities are most popular? Vasudha Narayanan What does each god represent? Thomas B. Ellis Personal practices What are the daily practices that Hindus try to follow? Bhakti Mamtora What does someone have to believe to be a Hindu? Richard S. Weiss, Victoria University of Wellington Do Hindus still have arranged marriages? Susan Prill, Juniata College Why do Hindus not eat beef? Will Sweetman Rituals and Worship Are there any ceremonies that Hindus hold very sacred? Thomas B. Ellis How is caste determined? Maharshi Vyas, University of California What does worship in Hinduism look like? Katherine C. Zubko, University of North Carolina, Asheville Hindus in relation to non-Hindus How do Hindus live in Muslim countries like Pakistan, if any do? Jürgen Schaflechner, Freie Universtät Berlin What is the main difference between Hinduism and the more popular religions in America? Michael J. Altman, University of Alabama What do Hindus think about Christianity? Collin Sibley, University of California Current Issues What are some values taught to children? Varun Khanna Do you have to be Indian to be a Hindu? Collin Sibley How do Hindus respond to environmental issues? Vincent Burgess Do men and women have equality in Hinduism? Antoinette E. DeNapoli What is the Hindu response to people who identify as LGBTQ? Maharshi Vyas Why does Hinduism seem to have spread less around the world than other major religions? Prea Persaud

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, yet entertaining introduction to Advaita, the non-dual philosophy which provides a completely reasonable explanation for who we are and the nature of the universe. There are many self-help approaches promising enlightenment and happiness but most are illogical and lack any proven capability. Advaita has a guru-disciple tradition stretching back for several thousand years and can guarantee the sincere seeker a progressive path to self-realization. A 21st Century treatment of this ancient eastern philosophy, this book addresses all of the issues that are covered by both traditional teachers from the lineage of Shankara and by modern satsang teaching and Direct Path methods stemming from Ramana Maharshi and Krishna Menon. The topics are explained in an accessible and readable manner, using amusing quotations and stories along with an abundance of metaphors from a wide variety of sources.Trade ReviewThis book will greatly contribute to a deeper understanding of this important movement [Advaita], sweeping the West, and which eventually leads to Self Realisation. (Alan Jacobs, Chairman , Ramana Maharshi Foundation UK) There are many places to find advaita teachings - in ancient texts, modern books, in satsang, and on the Internet. Dennis Waite has found them all. He writes as a friendly tour guide, presenting the teachings with simplicity, humor and deep understanding. (Dr. Gregory Goode, PhD (Philosophy), Philosphical Counselor, New York)

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Book SynopsisExplaining the origins, beliefs, scriptures and philosophies of this ancient religion, Klaus K. Klostermaier succeeds in capturing the rich diversity of rituals and gods that comprise Hinduism, while keeping the tone both engaging and informative. Covering contemporary issues such as the relationship between Hinduism and modern Western ideas, and imminent challenges the religion faces, this sweeping exploration of a fascinating and long-lasting belief system is essential reading for students, followers, and interested readers alike.Trade Review"It is immensely readable, works well as an introduction, but will also challenge and intrigue the academic and devotee alike." * World Faiths Encounter *

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Book SynopsisWe live in times where people have extreme views. On the one hand, there are scholars who describe Shiva''s linga literally as a phallus, and see all metaphoric meaning as embarrassed apology of the uneducated. On the other hand, we have puritanical Hindus who want to strip the Shiva linga of all sexual meaning and sanitize Shiva''s lore. In both cases, a symbol is being reduced to a sign. In Shiva to Shankara, Devdutt Pattanaik, India''s leading mythologist, seeks to bridge the gap.

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Book SynopsisThe youngest son of Saptarishi Jamadagni, Ramabhadra has the weight of an immense prophecy on his shoulders. For not only is he the gifted son of a supremely revered rishi and his wife, he is also being quietly trained to fulfil his destiny as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. But the path to divinity is not one without trials. When his father and guru is suddenly snatched away from him, Ramabhadra knows he has to avenge his death, come what may. But before that he must master himself.

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Book SynopsisBhagavad-gita is a guide to self-realization and spiritual wisdom, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. It reveals man's nature, environment, and relationship with God, enlightening Arjuna on life's meaning and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Srila Prabhupada's edition presents Krishna's message unchanged, with transformative power.

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Book SynopsisFilmed over three years with the participation of 30 countries around the world, the documentary examines the world of yoga, modern and ancient, east and west and explores why millions today have turned their attention inwards, bucking the limitations of the material world in pursuit of self-realisation.Archival material from the life of Yogananda (who died in 1952) creates a spine for the narrative, but the film stretches the dimensions of a standard biography. The footage includes stylised interviews, metaphoric imagery and recreations, taking us from holy pilgrimages in India to Harvard''s Divinity School and its cutting-edge physics labs, from the Center for Science and Spirituality at the University of Pennsylvania to the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California. By evoking the journey of the soul as it pushes its way through the oppression of the human ego and delusion of the material world, the film creates an experiential immersion into the unseen realms. AWAKE is ultimately the s

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Book SynopsisThe Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape explores Hinduism as it was practised in temples across the Indian subcontinent throughout history, highlighting the temple’s significance as a marker of cultural identity.The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape illustrates how careful attention to the Hindu temple, its social history, and cultural landscape allows us to better appreciate how Hinduism has been practised and lived throughout history. The Hindu temple was not merely a place of worship or a static indicator of royal generosity but an institution that involved the active participation of the community for its establishment, maintenance, and survival. Rather than studying temples as isolated structures, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape thus suggests that we need to examine them in the context of their social base and the sacred microcosms of which they form a part. Through a combination of textual study, archaeological evidence, and insights from contemporary anthropology, the book explores the diverse ways in which devotees, patrons, and visitors have engaged with temples, shrines, and their wider surroundings. Drawing attention to the vibrancy of the Hindu temple in different locales, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape traces the ways in which Hindu notions of sanctity and sacredness were defined and redefined throughout history through the diversity of temple audiences, deities, and rituals. The book thus allows us to form a more accurate picture of Hindu religious life in the past and the central role the temple has played in consolidating Hindu identity. EXPERT ANALYSIS: Author Himanshu Prabha Ray provides authoritative analysis of the Hindu temple, drawing on her expertise as an award-winning Sanskrit scholar, historian, and archeologist. SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape provides a breadth of educational knowledge as a supplement to both academic coursework and the independent study of Hinduism. With the integration of discussion questions, suggested further reading, a glossary of key terms, and images throughout, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape offers an accessible introduction to studying the history and significance of Hindu temples. EXPLORE THE SERIES: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape expands the collection of academic texts developed by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies Publishing Series offers authoritative yet accessible introductions to a wide range of subjects in Hindu Studies. Each book in the series aims to present its subject matter in a form that is engaging and readily comprehensible to persons of all backgrounds - academic or otherwise - without compromising scholarly rigour. The series thus bridges the divide between academic and popular writing by preserving and utilising the best elements of both. Women in the Hindu World and The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide are also available in the series.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewKarapanagiotis skillfully examines the complex dynamic of a movement that originated in India with the specific mission of spreading throughout North America and Europe that eventually alienated its target converts. . . . This book will clearly be very useful for scholars of new religions, who will make up the majority of those wanting to know what happened with ISKCON after the lawsuits and scandals of the 1970s and 1980s. Students and scholars of religion and marketing in general will also find this book worth reading. However, it will also appeal more widely to a general audience because it is a well written and carefully argued study. -- Susannah Crockford * Nova Religio *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsNote on TransliterationIntroduction1. A Brief History of ISKCON: 1965-present2. Contextualizing the Krishna Branders3. Krishna Gets a New PR Team: Branding ISKCON as a Meditative Social Club4. Branding ISKCON as the Heart of Yoga5. Krishna West: ISKCON Must Be Reinvented, Not (Just) RebrandedConclusionGlossaryBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisOffers a collection of animal fables that are interwoven with human stories, designed to instruct wayward princes. This title also contains the compact version of King Vikrama's Adventures, thirty-two tales about a generous emperor, told by thirty-two statuettes adorning his lion-throne.Trade ReviewPublished in the geek-chic format. * BookForum *The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance. -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes. * New Criterion *Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs. * Tricycle *No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisA well-known Sanskrit drama presented here in a bilingual translation.Trade Review"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive and theory-rich investigation of the history and philosophy of yoga, from its Indian origins to the contemporary context.Clear, accessible, and meticulously annotated, Tracing the Path of Yoga offers a comprehensive survey of the history and philosophy of yoga that will be invaluable to both specialists and to nonspecialists seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. Stuart Ray Sarbacker argues that yoga can be understood first and foremost as a discipline of mind and body that is represented in its narrative and philosophical literature as resulting in both numinous and cessative accomplishments that correspond, respectively, to the attainment of this-worldly power and otherworldly liberation. Sarbacker demonstrates how the yogic quest for perfection as such is situated within the concrete realities of human life, intersecting with issues of politics, economics, class, gender, and sexuality, as well as reflecting larger Indic religious and philosophical ideals.

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Book SynopsisIndia has a long, rich, and diverse tradition of philosophical thought, spanning some two and a half millennia and encompassing several major religious traditions.This Very Short Introduction emphasizes the diversity of Indian thought, and is structured around six schools which have achieved classic status. Sue Hamilton explores how the traditions have attempted to understand the nature of reality in terms of an inner or spiritual quest, and introduces distinctively Indian concepts such as karma and rebirth. She also shows how Indian thinkers have understood issues of reality and knowledge -- issues which are also an important part of the Western philosophical tradition. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewIndian Philosophy by Sue Hamilton, the perfect gift for anyone who wishes to sort out their karma and nirvana * The Independent Weekend Review 02/06/01 *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; 1. The Brahmanical beginnings: Vedic sacrifice and the early Upanisads ; 2. Beyond Brahmanism: the Buddha and other renouncers ; 3. Issues and justifications: language, grammar, and the emerging of polemics ; 4. Nyaya and Vaisesika ; 5. Developments in Buddhist thought: Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogicara ; 6. Yoga and Samkhya ; 7. Grammar again, and the exegetical traditions: Bhartrhari, Mimamsa, and Vedanta ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the organizations and activities of Hindu ascetics and gurus, the author explores the complex interrelations among religion, the political economy of India and global capitalism. The work illustrates the pervasive presence of Hindu imagery in India's burgeoning market economy.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1: Sumptuary Spirituality 2: Hardwar and Rishikesh: Gateway to Gods and Godmen 3: Savarkar: Nationalist Ideologue and Organizer of Hindus 4: Hindu Sangathan after Savarkar: The Vishva Hindu Parishad 5: Swami Satyamitranand: VHP Leader and Founder of Hardwar's Bharat Mata Temple 6: The Bharat Mata Temple: Satyamitranand's Candid Appraisal 7: Sivananda and the Divine Life Society 8: Arenas of Ashram Life 9: Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Gurudev Sivananda 10: Shakti ex Machina Epilogue Appendix 1 The Manav Utthan Seva Samiti Appendix 2 A Brief Account of Hardwar Bibliography Index Gallery follows page 96

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Book SynopsisA provocative study of contemporary Tantra as a dynamic living tradition. Tantra, one of the most important religious currents in South Asia, is often misrepresented as little more than ritualized sex. Through a mixture of ethnography and history, Hugh B. Urban reveals a dynamic living tradition behind the sensationalist stories. Urban shows that Tantric desire goes beyond the erotic, encompassing such quotidian experiences as childbearing and healing. He traces these holistic desires through a series of unique practices: institutional Tantra centered on gurus and esoteric rituals; public Tantra marked by performance and festival; folk Tantra focused on magic and personal well-being; and popular Tantra imagined in fiction, film, and digital media. The result is a provocative new description of Hindu Tantra that challenges us to approach religion as something always entwined with politics and culture, thoroughly entangled with ordinary needs and desires.

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