The collection of scholarly articles presented in the volume explores various aspects of Vedic traditions, especially relating to global harmony and peace, in the present-day context. The Proceedings of the Sixth World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES) Conference emphasise Vedic traditions as not confined to the Indian subcontinent today but as having spread to different parts of the globe. They deal with the essence of Vedanta, the contribution of the epic literature, history relating to the Rigvedic Aryans, Vedic sciences, and socio-economic and political aspects of Vedic life. Offering fresh ideas, they highlight the significance of the Vedic system for ensuring global peace and harmony, and satisfaction in the present. They study the concept of harmony and peace, and emphasise on the co-existence in the Upanishads, the Hindu concept of universalism, the importance of the Ayurveda and the Bhagavad-Gita in maintaining mental health, and on the global unity and syncretism in the education provided in ancient India. Attempts are made to cull out management ideas from the Mahabharata, and throw light on the relevance of the Arthashastra in modern-day geo-politics and the special relevance of Sanatana Dharma in the modern world. In the process, the scholars reveal the fictional aspects that have been linked to the Indian traditions and the related social evils.
The volume will interest a range of scholars of Indology and general readers as it explores the ancient Indian tradition, especially the Vedic tradition, in a comprehensive manner.