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Index
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgments
PREFACE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Part One
THE ROOTS OF THE TRADITION
( The Age of the Vedas and the Upanishads, c . 1500-550 B.C. )
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I The Ordering of the Universe
The Ancient Gods
Varuna
Usha, the Dawn
Indra
Agni
Soma .
The Origin of the Universe
Time as Creator
Sacrifice as Creator
The One as Creator .
The Meaning of Sacrifice. Death.
CHAPTER II The Social Order
The Duty of Charity.
War.
Charms and Spells for a Good Life
Against Jaundice
Against Serpents
To Compel a Woman’s Love
For Success in Trading .
In Praise of the Cow.
The Place of the Brāhman.
The Crowning of a King
King of Kings
The Chosen One
The Enduring Ruler .
Earth as Motherland.
CHAPTER III The Crown of the Vedic Age: The Upanishads
The New Meaning of Sacrifice.
Brahman: The Search for the Ground of the Universe.
Ātman: The Real Self.
The Identity of Brahman and Ātman.
Karma and Transmigration.
Emancipation from Karma.
Part Two
THE GROWTH OF THE TRADITION
(550 B.C. –300 A.D. )
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER IV The Exposition of Life’s Duties
The Class Structure
The Statement of the Ideal
Mutual Dependence of the Classes .
The Four Stages of Life
The Student
The Householder and Family Life
The Hermit
The Homeless Wanderer .
The Recognition of Life’s Limitations.
The Possibility of Growth and Change.
Life as Sacrament.
A Widow’s Act of Devotion.
CHAPTER V The Maintenance of the Social Fabric
Kingship as a Remedy for an Evil Society.
The Danger of Anarchy.
War and Peace.
Ashoka’s Vision of True Conquest.
CHAPTER VI The Search for Salvation
Man’s True Nature
The Way of Salvation: Duty
The Way of Salvation: Knowledge
The Way of Salvation: Devotion .
Incarnation: The Response to Human Need.
Adoration of Shiva.
The Great Heresies of the Tradition
Buddha’s First Sermon
The Jain Vision of Life .
CHAPTER VII The Universe of the Great Epics
The Mahābhārata: The Founding of the Royal Line.
The Rāmāyana: The Defence of Dharma.
Part Three
THE FLOWERING OF THE TRADITION
(300-1200 A.D. )
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER VIII The Literary Reflection
The Pleasure of Love
The Pain of Love
The Perils of Love .
A Wife’s Devotion.
Divine and Human Love.
The Celebration of a Prince’s Birth.
The Science of Pleasure.
Caution and Commonsense.
CHAPTER IX The Philosophic Statement of the Tradition
The Basis of Logical Thinking: Nyāya
The Atomic Nature of Reality: Vaisheshika
Proof of the Sacred Texts: Mīmāmsā
The Dualism of Matter and Spirit: Sānkhya
The Way of Discipline: Yoga
Non-Dualism: The Vedānta of Shankara
Qualified Non-Dualism: The Vedānta of Rāmānuja .
CHAPTER X Sacred History
A Story of Origins: The Churning of the Ocean.
The Price of Devotion: The Triumph of Prahlāda.
The Lineage of Kings.
Sacred Geography.
The Nature of History.
Part Four
THE TRADITION AND THE PEOPLE’S FAITH
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER XI In Praise of Shiva
A Description of Shiva.
Appar
Consecration to Shiva
Triumph Through Shiva .
Sambandar
Shiva’s Glory
The Lord is Everything .
Mānikkaavāchakar
A Song to Awaken Shiva .
Sundaramūrthi
Shiva’s Dwelling Places .
Rāmaprasād
Shiva’s Consort, Kali .
Lallā
The Indwelling Lord .
CHAPTER XII In Praise of Vishnu as Krishna and Rāma
Purandaradāsa
Stomach Austerity .
Jnānadeva
A Prayer for Grace .
Tukārām
The Burden of the Past .
Mīrābāī
Krishna’s Bride .
Sūrdās.
Chaitanya.
Tulasīdās.
CHAPTER XIII The Meeting of Hindu and Muslim Devotion
Kabīr.
Nānak
Morning Prayer .
Dādū.
Part Five
THE TRADITION AND THE MODERN WORLD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER XIV Acceptance and Reform
Rāmmohan Roy: Rationalist Prophet
Original Hinduism
A Defence of Hinduism .
Debendranāth Tagore: Mysticism and Reform.
Keshub Chunder Sen: Christ and India.
M. G. Rānade: The Need for Social Reform.
CHAPTER XV Rejection and Revival
Dayānanda Saraswatī: Aggressive Reformer
God and the Veda
Against Christianity
Against Islam .
B. G. Tilak: The Call to Action.
Srī Rāmakrishna: Sainthood and the Modern World.
Vivekīnanda: Hindu Prophet to the Western World.
Mrs. Annie Besant: Theosophy’s Interpretation of Hinduism.
CHAPTER XVI Four Twentieth Century Statements
Rabīndranāth Tagore: A Vision of India
Nationalism .
Sri Aurobindo: A Vision of Spiritual Evolution.
Mahātma Gāndhi: A Vision of the Good Life.
Sarvepalli Rādhakrishnan: A Vision of Hinduism.
SOURCES OF ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTIONS
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