Cultural Glory of Ancient India

ISBN: 9788124601372
Year Of Publication: 2000
Edition: 1st
Pages : xiv, 546
Bibliographic Details : Glossary; Bibliography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23 cm.
Weight: 850 gm.

India is a land of communities, and Kashmiri Pandits are one of them. Though they are the original inhabitants of the Kashmir valley famous the world over for its beauty and learning, they are living in their own country as refugees since 1989 due to religious persecution, ethnic cleansing and terrorism — their only fault lay in their religion, Hinduism. This book describes basically the life and times of the half-a-million people of this community living in peace and harmony with nature. It also delves into the march of the people from medieval times into the modern age and the impact of transport and communication technologies that opened a window for information flow into the valley cocooned for so long due to the high mountains all around. Customs and traditions are described in a changing scenario brought about by the introduction of the English language in the late 19th century.

Preface
Chronological Table
1. Vedic Literature
Rigveda – Yajurveda – Samaveda – Atharvaveda – Brahmanas – Aranyakas And Upanishads – Vedangas
2. Epics
The Ramayana – The Mahabharata
3. Classical Sanskrit Literature: Poetry, Prose and Drama
Creative Period – Period of Development – Period of Decadence
4. Vyakarana (Grammar)
Ashtadhyayi – Mugdhabodha – Katantra – Samkshiptasara – Chandra Vyakarana – Sarasvata – Supadma – Shabdanushasana – Sectarian Grammars – Pali and Prakrit Grammars
5. Puranas
What are the Puranas? – Contents of the Puranas – Number of Puranas – Classification of Puranas – Authorship – Date – Importance of the Puranas
6. Tantra
What is Tantra? – Classification of Tantras – Antiquity of Tantra – Original Home of Tantra – Contents of Tantras – Importance of the Human Body – Bhakti in Tantra – Guru, Shishya, Diksha – Kali in Tantra – Tantra vis-a-vis Dharmashastra – Tantra Beyond India – Importance of Tantra – Degeneration of Tantra
7. Darshana-shastra (Philosophy)
Introductory Remarks – Works on Orthodox Systems of Philosophy – Contents Of Orthodox Philosophical Systems – Epistemology – Conception of God – Ethics – Bondage and Liberation – Creation and Evolution – Other Systems of Theistic Philosophy – South Indian Shaiva Philosophy – Nakulisha Pashupata System – Vaishnava Philosophy of Bengal – Heterodox Philosophical Systems – Bondage and Liberation
8. Arthashastra: (Politics and Statecraft)
Ministers – Morality and Politics – System of Espionage – Prositution – System of Taxation
9. Smriti or Dharmashastra: (Religious and Civil Law)
Origin – Dharmashastras — Forms and Number – Commentaries – Mitakshara and Dayabhaga – Contents of Dharmashastras and Schools of Smriti – Manu-Smriti – Rajamandala – Yajnavalkya-smriti – Shudras – Slavery
10. Kama-shastra (Erotics)
11. Alamkara-shastra (Poetics)
General Remarks – Alamkara School – Riti School – Rasa School – Dhvani School – Agni Purana – Causes of Kavya – Purpose of Necessity of Kavya – Kavya-Lakshana – Kavi-Shiksha
12. Natya-shastra (Dramaturgy)
Dasharupaka – Abhinaya-Darpana – Nataka-Lakshana-Ratna-Kosha – Natyadarpana – Nataka-Paribhasha – Rasarnava-Sudhakara – Ekavali – Sahityadarpana – Nataka-Candrika – Main Topics of Dramaturgy – Rupaka, Abhinaya – Types of Rupakas (Major Dramas) – Plot of Nataka — Analysis
13. Chandah-shastra (Metrics)
Works on Metre
14. Samgita-shastra: (Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Dance)
Vocal Music – Instrumental Music – Dance
15. Vastuvidya (Architecture)
16. Ashva-shastra (Horselore)
17. Gaja-shastra (Elephantlore)
18. Krishi-shastra (Agriculture)
19. Ganita-shastra (Mathematics)
20. Ayurveda (Medical Science)
Origin of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Works – Influence of Ayurveda – Veterinary Science
21. Jyotisha (Astronomy)
Origin and Works – India’s Relationship with Foreign Countries vis-a-vis Astronomy
22. Udbhid-vidya (Botany)
Origin and Works – Morphology – Plant Physiology – Taxanomy – Ecology – Arthashastra and Ethnobotany
23. Popular Beliefs and Practices
Evil Spirits in General – Personified Evil Forces with Grotesque Features – Bad Dreams – Magic and Miracle – Miscellaneous Superstitions Beliefs and Practices – Omens and Portents
24. Yuddha (War)
Weapons – Military Array (Vyuha) – Defensive Weapons – Ethics in War – Fort
Glossary
Bibliography
Index