Ancient Indian Tradition And Mythology Volume 41

In order to understand the philosophical background of these Yogas, the reader is advised to go through the introductory portion of the author`s Pratyabhijnahrdayam or the Siva-sutras.

This work in comparative philosophy uses the concept of Titanism to critique certain trends in both Eastern and Western philosophy. Titanism is an extreme form of humanism in which human beings take on divine attributes and prerogatives. The author finds the most explicit forms of spiritual Titanism in the Jaina, Samkhya, and Yoga traditions, where yogis claim powers and knowledge that in the West are only attributed to God. These philosophies are also radically dualistic, and liberation involves a complete transcendence of the body, society, and nature. Five types of spiritual Titanism are identified; and, in addition to this typology, a heuristic based on Nietzsche's three metamorphoses of camel, lion, and child is offered. The book determines that answers to spiritual Titanism begin not only with the Hindu Goddess religion, but also are found in Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism, especially Zen Buddhism and Confucianism.

This book is the first critical edition of a comprehensive Sanskrit version of the Nasiketa myth, with a full translation into English. The text is composed of several manuscripts belonging to the same branch of the story development, and is compared to the printed Sanskrit versions and to some others, still in manuscript form. The introduction presents a short analysis of the religious-philosophic ideas conveyed by the Nasiketa story throughout the generations, based on the author's Ph.D. dissertation. It divides the Nasiketa story corpus into three patterns, and leaves extensive scope for further research-literary, religious, philosophic, etc.

Sanskrit narrative is the lifeblood of Indian culture, encapsulating and perpetuating insights and values central to Indian thought and practice. This volume brings together eighteen of the foremost scholars across the globe, who, in an unprecedented collaboration, accord these texts the integrity and dignity they deserve. The last time this was attempted, on a much smaller scale, was a generation ago, with Purāṇa Perennis (1993). The pre-eminent contributors to this landmark collection use novel methods and theory to meaningfully engage Sanskrit narrative texts, showcasing the state of contemporary scholarship on the Sanskrit epics and purāṇas.

Hindu mythological text.