Ved Nta Philosophy

Advaita Vedanta is the most pervasive and enduring Indian perspective, and continues to be the most challenging and provocative philosophic position the world over. This study undertakes an analysis of the epistemological issues inherent in the Advaita Vedanta theory of the knowing and the known.

Through a detailed analysis of the available cultural and chronological data, this book overturns traditional ideas about the cultural history of India and proposes a different picture instead. The idea of a unilinear development out of Brahmanism, in particular, is challenged.

Towards the end of the eighteenth century, a lone pilgrim reached Gujarat and joined a small ashram in Loj. In time, his followers not only accepted him as the leader of the ashram but also as the manifestation of deity and called him Swaminarayan. His followers increased rapidly and today Swaminarayan Hinduism is a transnational religious movement with major centers in India, East Africa, UK, USA, and Australasia. In a first multidisciplinary study of the movement, this volume provides new and vital information about its history, theology, as well as its transnational development, and brings forth current academic research from fields as diverse as the arts, architecture, sociology, and migration studies, among others. It analyses the philosophy, conduct, and principles that guide Swaminarayan Hindus and provides a case study of the historical and social processes of adapting religious traditions to shape new identities in response to evolving social, economic, and political changes.

In Hindu Dharma: Introduction to Scriptures and Theology briefly the essentials of the scriptures of the Hindu Dharma such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Smriti Shstras like the Purnas, the Tantras, the epics (Rmyana and Mahbhrata) and the Bhagavad Git have been described and discussed. Also, the concepts of Brahman and tman, the goal of Hindu life (Purushrthas) and other doctrines like 'Varnshrama', 'Samskras' of the Dharma have been briefly discussed. Further what 'Puj'(worship) is and how it is performed is described. Finally, a few well-known prayer (Mantras hymns) are provided. The objective has been to describe the difficult ideas of the Hindu Dharma in a simple way so readers will get a broad idea about the contents of the various scriptures and the theology and philosophy of the Hindu Dharma.

This book provides an account of the organisation, practices and history of the Daśanāmī-Saṃnyāsīs, one of the largest sects of sādhu-s (‘holy men’) in South Asia, founded, according to tradtion, by the legendary philosopher Śaṅkarācārya.

Shri Krsna and Bhgavat Dharma by Shri Jagadish Chandra Ghose written in Bengali discusses the teachings of Shri Krsna with quotes from various books of Shstras. Shri Krsna and Bhgavat Dharma discusses mainly four subjects: First the book considers Shri Krsna as Brahman, Ishvara or Bhagavn as is meant by "Ishvarah paramah Krsnah sacchidnandavigrahah" meaning "Krsna is Ishvara; He is Sat-Cit-nanda"; this has been supported by quotations from the Vednta, Purnas and Vaishnava Shstras. Second, the discussion is on Shri Krsna's divine love plays (Lil). Through these divine love plays the Bliss or nanda aspect of Shri Krsna, the Sat-Cit-nanda is expressed. These expressions are explained with quotes from the Purnas. Third, there is discussion about the main objectives of human life. Finally, the book explains what Shri Krsna taught His disciples Arjuna and Uddhava about His doctrines and Dharma using quotes extensively from Bhagavad Git and the Bhgavat. This English translation Bhagavn Shri Krsna and Bhgavat Dharma follows the format as closely as possible to the original Bengali book.