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The articles trace the genesis of the concept of dharma in the Rgvedic concept of cosmic order or rta and relate other aspects of socio-cultural-religious life to the construction of order and its underlying vision. Comparing notions of order in Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese and Islamic speculative thought, they explain the relevance of understanding the concept of rta in the present day.
In the Rig Veda there is a remarkable insight on the notion of Rita or Cosmic Order, the inflexible law of universal order and harmony whereby all disorders and chaos is restored to equilibrium. Rita is, in essence, the ordering principle of nature which gives to everything from the vast galaxies, down to the nucleus of an atom, their nature and course. In the Vedic vision, this law of cosmic order is conceived to be manifesting at three levels: on the cosmic plane Rita governs the course of nature; on the socio-ethical level, Rita imparts justice; and on the religio-spiritual level, Rita mirrored the ritual performances of the sacrificial ritual (yajna). Rita contributes to the maintenance of balance between the micro and macro levels of existence. The articles, presentations at a seminar, trace the genesis of the concept of dharma in rita and relate other aspects of socio-cultural-religious life like food and eating customs, cultural communication and religious narratives to the construction of order and its underlying vision. They importantly examine the elements and relationships that create the cognition of order in temporal and spatial expressions of the arts. In this book, a panel of distinguished Indian and foreign scholars interpret this multifaceted theme of Rita from a wide range of perspectives. Comparing notions of order in Hindu, Buddhist, Chinese and Islamic speculative thought and with references to ancient Indian Hindu writings and modern science. Combining sound scholarship with a penetrating insight, these essays are a fine example of integrated studies. They give alternative viewpoints on the unity underlying this ancient concept as well as, its relevance in the modern age.
The papers study aspects of Shamanic cosmology as found diffused in Eurasion environments, inquiring into Shamanic trance/ecstatic experience, the cosmos as viewed by the Shaman and his mysterious power among the spirits.
Is shaman a magical operator? Or could he be a psychic, an exorcist, a bio-energo- therapeutist, a fortune teller, an intermediary between the world of spirits and a human collectivity, a cultural hero, or just a mysterious, nameless person? Notwithstanding decades of extensive researches into the bewildering shamanic practices, we are still looking for a precise, acceptable description of this thaumaturge, called shaman leave alone a valid explanation of the baffling shamanic phenomena and, yet beyond, of its cosmology. What, then, is the shaman-linked ism: shamanism? Is it an infra-religion, a spirit- possession cult, or a religion in its own right? Or, how far is the shamanic cosmos directly involved in a religious cult? Addressing afresh these and other related questions, a group of eminent scholars from different European countries here tries to capture some of the highly gripping aspects of shamanic cosmology, diffused in varying Eurasian environments. This book is essentially the outcome of an International Symposium: October 1996, Venice, Italy. lncluding new investigative studies of both the traditional authentic shamanism and neo- shamanism, in diverse local situations: ranging from the frozen plains of Siberia to the jungles of Orissa, from the Himalayan valleys to the islands of Indonesia, the authors describe shamanic trance/flights/ecstatic experience; how a shaman envisions the true nature of the cosmos, beyond its trivial appearance; and how, through his mysterious power, he can move among the dead men, spirits and gods. An unbiased inquiry into the intriguing, yet heart-stirring, shamanic phenomena, it is certainly a work of absorbing interest to ethnologists, social/cultural anthropologists, shamanologists, historians of religion, and general readers alike.
The book elucidates scientifically and philosophically the evolutionary universe (brahmāṇḍa) and the self-conscious human being (piṇḍa). This universe came into form about 14-13.7 billion years ago and has undergone perpetual changes including life on earth some 3.9 billion years ago. Man’s self-conscious evolution is driven by his intellectual growth and philosophical wisdom.
The book elucidates scientifically and philosophically the beginning of the evolutionary universe (brahmāṇḍa) and the intellectual growth of self-conscious human being (piṇḍa), the former is “out” there and the latter is “out” here. Without the latter, the former is difficult to be perceived or known. Going by the scientific cosmology, this universe came into form about 14-13.7 billion years ago as a result of Big Bang, and has undergone perpetual changes including life on earth some 3.9 billion years ago. Man’s self-conscious evolution is driven by his intellectual growth and philosophical wisdom. It has been studied both from the Indian and Western philosophic perspectives.
The philosophical wisdom in this regard is in sync with many modern scientific concepts. The Sāṁkhya–Yoga philosophy is embodied with the concepts of sattva, rajas and tamas. These three are in a sense comparable to the proton, the electron and the neutron of modern science. The proton provides the coalescence or the form of the atom; the electron gives us energy and proton provides the mass. Some other Indian philosophical systems like Vaiśeṣika, Advaita Vedānta and Bauddha are replete with similar scientific approaches. So also are the studies of Western philosophers like Immanuel Kant, David Hume, Niels Bohr and David Bohm. All the things are happening within the time and space.
This volume explains the mysteries of Creation from the Vedic standpoint by an eminent scholar Pandit Motilal Shastri, a devout disciple of the much acclaimed Vedic guru, Paṇḍit Madhusūdan Ojhā. It consists of five scholarly discourses presented before an august audience of well-known scholars and ācāryas of Vedaśāstra, at Rashtrapati Bhawan during 14-18 December 1956. These discourses – Science of Agni-soma; the Science of Five Divisional Universe; Vedic Concept of Man: An Exposition; Science of Aśvattha: An Outline; and Integrated Relationship of Vedaśāstra and Purāṇaśāstra – illuminate new insights into the mysteries of Creation, offering new definitions to well-known Vedic terms. The volume in hand is an English translation of these five discourses by Rishi Kumar Mishra, a well-known author, writer and editor, and a disciple of Pandit Motilal Shastri. It enables the new generation of scholars and intellectuals to understand and grasp the mysteries of Creation. It is an inimitable storehouse of Vedic wisdom.
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