Essence of World Religions (Jaina Education Series) Pravin K. Shah (Author)
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Jainism
This book is a simple summary of the world’s 12 major spiritual paths. With its easy readability you can get a good grasp of the essential truths of every major faith practiced today. Information about the founder, major scriptures, sects, beliefs and holidays is given in a concise manner. Comparison between Indian and western religion at the end of the book is very helpful in understanding the concepts clearly.
- Rank: #143008 in eBooks
- Published on: 2006-12-19
- Released on: 2006-12-19
- Format: Kindle eBook
- Number of items: 1
Description #1 by Exotic India Art:
Hindu - From the Jacket
Editor: Prof. Vachaspati Upadhyaya
The Brahmana texts are known for the obscurity of their philosophical expositions. It is not easy to decipher the recondite thoughts enshrined in them but what is heartening is that Prof. Dayanand Bhargava has not only fathomed their depths by delving deep into these primary sources but has also presented his findings in a style which is at once fascinating and illuminating. Many western scholars like Fritof Capra have written copiously on these line but their writings are normally shorn of reference to the primary sources. Viewed from this standpoint Prof. Dayanand Bhargava's work is a significant contribution to the cause of interpreting the Vedic obscurity in a modern idiom which scholars all over the world will find useful and interesting.
Needless to say that this work is very much relevant to the modern times as it propounds a holistic paradigm which is eco-friendly based on concept of sustainable development which combines peace with prosperity for the whole humanity.
I am confident that this work will prove to be a welcome addition to the existing identical literature of the East and the West.
About the Author
o Reader Department of Sanskrit University of Delhi.
o Principal Kendriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth Jammu & Allahabad
o Professor & Head Department of Sanskrit University of Jodhpur
o Dean Faculty of Arts, Education & Social Sciences University of Jodhpure.
o Department of Jainolgy and Comparative Religion & Philosophy Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University) Ladnun
o Chairman Veda Vachaspati Pandit Madusudan Ojha (Veda Vijnana) Peeth Jagadguru Ramananda charya Sanskrit vishvavidyalaya Jaipur.
Editor's Note
Notwithstanding the difference of opinion regarding the date of the Vedas and the entitlement of the Brahmana-texts to the status of the Veda, the Vedas represent the oldest literature of the world and the Brahmana-texts represent the earliest attempt to interpret that literature. Admittedly the interpretation of the Br?hmana-texts is ritual- oriented but the latest researches have shown it beyond doubt that the Vedic rituals have a strong spiritual foundation. The Br?hmana-texts thus form a bridge between the karmakanda of the Vedas and jnanakanda of the Upanisads. This approach of the Brahmana-texts, providing a formidable bridge between the active and the spiritual life, is defined by the term vijnana by the Taittiriya Aranyaka Yajna, which is a Vedic ritual, is amplified by vijnana so as to bring out its hidden spiritual significance. The Brahmanas do it by means of art havada-vakyas, which explain the logic of a vidhi or prescription of the Vedic ritual.
It was on the basis of this vijnana aspect of the Brahmana-texts, that an eminent scholar of Jaipur, Pandit Madhusudan Ojha, wrote about a hundred works in chaste Sanskrit during the last century. Some of his important works, along with some other works written on the same line, have been surveyed in the present work. Not only did traditional stalwarts like Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Giridhar Sharma Chaturvedi, Pandit Motilal Shastri and Sv?mi Suijana Dass expressed their views following this line of approach, but modem scholars like Dr. VS Agrawal also devoted a large part of their scholarly works to the development of this school of thought.
In recent times Shri KC Kulish, the founder-editor of Rajasthan Patrika, a Hindi Daily, did a lot to propagate the above mentioned literature. Professor Dayanand Bhargava, an old friend of mine, came into contact with Shri KC Kulish and felt the need of presenting the essence of the vijn?na aspect of the Brahmana-texts through modern scientific research methodology. The present work embodies the result of his rigorously followed studies of the last two decades.
Dr. Bhargava has also been following the latest researches in the field of science along with his Vedic studies. Only the other day, he was talking about the efficacy of mantra by support of the scientific researches carried by a Japanese scholar, Masaru Emoto who wrote four volumes under the title the Hidden Messages of the water in which it has been shown how water responds to our words of praise and condemnation. If we speak in terms of praise to water it forms beautiful crystals when frozen but it we condemn it, it forms ugly crystals in a haphazard manner. It means that water, air, fire etc., which are profusely addressed in the Vedas are not blind to our prayers. Vedic mantras assume a new significance in the light of such findings.
In the present work such parallels as that of the famous formula with the definition of yajna as the process of inter change of consciousness and matter into each other have been frequently drawn. This and many other finding well documented with about 1000 quotations from the Vedic literature make the present work valuable not only for the orient lists but also the scientists who are interested such problem
Description #2 by Exotic India Art:
Hindu - Foreword
Abhinavagupta's magnum opus 'The Tantraloka' is a great work in the ambience of tantragama treatise. This precept consists of right descriptions of almost all branches of saiva and akta agama. The right will to translate the entire work into English (direct from Samskrta) is reflected in the mind of Mr. Gautam Chatterjee. As the result, the translation work of the fifteen chapters has been completed with illustrious explanatory notes. I pray to Lord Siva, who blesses with his Tris?la of powers ie will, knowledge and action, may accomplish the translations of the entire work. I believe, all the scholars of the tantragama will appreciate this work with their blessings.
Situated on the upper portion of the Trisula of Jmanaguru Lord Samkara, K?si, represents the whole world, so it is quite natural that people from Bengal come here and stay. In such a family, on 1 8th August 1963 (Bhadrapada m?sa), this child was born to enhance the joy of his mother Meera and father Amaresh Chandra Chatterjee, in order to flourish the grace of his lineage as his sun-sign is Leo (simhasthasurya).
'Sisyaprajmeva bodhasya k?ranam guruvakyatah', by such blessings from Pt. Gopinatha Kaviraja and the spiritual mother Rangama blessed and elevated this fortunate. After completing his education in science subjects from Banaras Hindu University, he cultivated his skill in the field of musicology, and drama-art. He is performing his teachings in Banaras Hindu University. His mother Smt. Meera Devi was initiated (consecrated) by the ascetic Rangama and benefited by the teachings of great sages like Anandamayi Ma, MM Gopinath Kaviraja and others.
By the blessings of these great dignities, Gautam's interest arisen in the spirituality. He mastered himself by the grace of great scholars like Swami Laksmana Joo, Sri Govinda Gopala Mukhopahyaya, Th?kur Jaideva Singh and others in the area of literature, music art and Pratyabhijmsastra. He interviewed art stalwarts such as Satyajit Ray, Kumar Gandharva, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Hazari Prasada Dvivedi, Badal Sircar and others and published it with the concerned seminars. He had keen interest in journalism so he enriched the journals Dharmayug, Svatantra Bharat, Rastriya Sahara and The Hindu with his talent, and got great fame.
At present, with Abhinavagupta Academy, busy with the scholarly works regarding Natyasastra and Pratyabhijmasastra, researches and seminars, Mr. Chatterjee is constantly engaged to accomplish his right resolves. I wish for the success of his zeal.
In 2006, he published his own collection of ten plays (as a playwright) 'Dasarupaka' in Hindi. In the preface of this book, he has discussed the ideas of his own and other scholars. Here, the effort is praiseworthy but we cannot approve every idea presented in this preface. Here discussed topics as the Buddhist tantras are inspired by Gautama Buddha, there are effects of Tantras on Natyasastra, the period mentioned here of Guhyasamajatantra, Prapamcasaratantra is the work of Adya Samkaracarya, the use of the word Sandha Bhasa (the twilight or upside down language) are expected to have genuine proofs. We must not forget that the Jaina-s are more harmonious to the nation than the Buddhists.
In the English translation of 'the Tantraloka', Mr. Chatterjee has written valuable notes as required by the help of several works with great pain and hard work. His effeort in this respect is very much appreciable. I stop myself. By saying that this method should be followed in the entire work.
Back of the Book
Tantraloka is a magnum opus in the horizon of Indian philosophy. This great work, created by the well known polymath Acarya Abhinavaguptapada (10th century AD), is a compendium of all Tantrika rituals and essence drawn from the light of all pre-treatises on Indian Tantra till the time of the creator. This text consists of thirty seven chapters. It reflects on Tantra from the background of Kashmir Saivism which is known as the monistic philosophy of Pratyabhijna. Abhinavagupta explains here at length the ways to worship the Supreme Consciousness in order to attain this state of Absolute ecstasy and liberation in one single life of mankind. This work is before the English-speaking world for the first time in a hermeneutic way.
Gautam Chatterjee is an aspirant of Kashmir Saivism through Consciousness studies. An oft-quoted author of various books and President of Abhinavagupta Academy, Prof. Chatterjee has a lineage of Pt. Ishvarchandra Vidyasagar with deep Sanskrit tradition and has been a close associate of Thakur Jaidev Singh. After completing his study on the inter-influence of Indian classical music and Agama, his two books 'Consciousness: Re-cognition of the Actor' and 'Jnanaganja' (English translation of the work by Pt. Gopinath Kaviraj direct from Bengali) are now in press. At present, teaches in Banaras Hindu University.
CONTENTS
1 Foreword 9
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