The Upanayana

Upanayana is one of the sixteen samskaras or purificatory rites in which a boy is invested with the sacred thread and thus endowedwith second or spiritual birth and qualified to learn the Veda by heart. In this ceremony the boy goes to an Acarya well-versed in the Vedas with a view to be initiated into Vedic studies or a Guru draws a boy towards himself and initiates him into one of the three twice-born classes. From the day the initiation ceremony takes place the young celibate commits himself to a life of austerity and abstinence; he chooses to lead a life rigorously disciplined by vows and disciplinary rules.

Camille Gardner is trapped in the middle when a unique Southern town collides with the 'outside world' and big oil.A talented negotiator, Camille Gardner agrees to take on one last field assignment for her uncle before she settles down to pursue her real passion---working at an art gallery. But she'd rather be anywhere than Samford, Louisiana, the small southern town where she once spent the worst weeks of her life.To fulfill the obligation she feels to her uncle, Camille needs to entice a group of rural landowners to sell their mineral rights---and allow use of their precious water for the drilling of natural gas. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the local folk art created by those same landowners and attracted to Marsh Cameron, the attorney representing the landowners.The charming residents and the traditions of this small community leave Camille conflicted about her family obligations---and her own plans for the future. Perhaps she needs to give Samford a second chance.'Christie populates her story with a varied cast of Southern small-town characters. Her tendency for unresolved suspense is occasionally unsettling, but, overall, her stories have enough warmth and humor to keep her readers coming back for more.' --- CBA Retailers + Resources

The Hindu Samskaras give expression to aspirations and ideals of the Hindus. They aim at securing the welfare of the performer and developing his personality.

Words and Deeds is a collection of articles on rituals in South Asia with a special focus on their texts and context. The volume presupposes that a comprehensive definition of "ritual" does not exist. Instead, the papers in it avoid essentialist definitions, allowing for a possible polythetic definition of the concept to emerge. Papers in this volume include those on Initiation, Pre-Natal Rites, Religious Processions, Royal Consecration, Rituals which mark the commencement of ritual, Rituals of devotion and Vedic sacrifice as well as contributions which address the broader theoretical issues of engaging in the study of ritual texts and ritual practice, both from the etic and the emic perspective. These studies show that any study of the relationship between the text and the context of rituals must also allow for the possibility that different categories of performers can and do subjectively constitute the relationship between their ritual knowledge and ritual practice, between text and context in differing and nuanced ways.

Join B. R. Ambedkar on a quest to uncover the historical origins of the Shudras and their place in Indo-Aryan society. Who Were The Shudras? How They Came to be The Fourth Varna in The Indo-Aryan Society by B. R. Ambedkar: Enter the world of ancient Indian culture and history with Who Were The Shudras? How They Came to be The Fourth Varna in The Indo-Aryan Society by B. R. Ambedkar. This scholarly work explores the origins and development of the Shudra caste in Hindu society and their struggle for social and political rights. Ambedkar's scholarly analysis and historical insights make this book a cornerstone of South Asian studies. Why This Book? Who Were The Shudras? offers a deep and insightful examination of the caste system in India and its impact on the lives of millions. B. R. Ambedkar's meticulous research and courageous activism make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the social and political issues facing modern India. B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist, politician, and social reformer, is celebrated for his contributions to Indian society and his advocacy for the rights of the oppressed. Who Were The Shudras? is a testament to his legacy and his tireless efforts to create a more just and equitable society.

About the book Bhimrao Rao Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit, political leader, activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropo­logist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and the revivalist of Buddhism in India. He was also the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Born into a poor Untouchable family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna—the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas—and the Indian caste system. Dr. Ambedkar's understanding, the prime factor responsible for the evolution of the system of untouchability was the religious persecution of Buddhists, while other social-psychological factors are secondary. This book is a comprehensive design to offer an in-depth analysis of the major, and rather disturbing, global problems in the human-centered, Ambedkar’s view of Indian caste i.e. Dalit, Harijan and untouchability and peace-oriented framework. Contents Preface .................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction ............................................................................. 7 2. Ambedkar: The Source of His Life and Vision .................... 81 3. ‘Ambedkar’ for the Movement of Dalits ............................. 156 4. ‘Ambedkar’ as a Radical Thinker ........................................ 178 5. Caste and Untouchability .................................................... 215 6. Constitution and Ambedkar ................................................. 268 7. Ambedkar and the Degradation of the Sudras ..................... 283 Bibliography ..................................................................... 301 Index .................................................................................. 303