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Prakrti (Vol. 1)

the Integral Vision by: Kapila Vatsyayan

The First Volume, Primal Elements: The Oral Tradition, focuses attention on the articulation of cohesive communities communicating with the Elements in continuous unceasing dialogue. To them the nature is not a matter of intellection; it is a question of life here and now. This is manifested in their primary myths and rituals which sacralize nature so that man can live as an integral part of the Universe.

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ISBN: 9788124600375
Year Of Publication: 1995
Edition: 1st
Pages : xviii, 190 p.xiv, 153 p.xv, 220 p.xiv, 228 p.xii, 270 p.
Bibliographic Details : Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 29 cm.
Weight: 1200

Overview

PRAKRTI : The Integral Vision explores the concept of the primal Elements (Sky, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, etc.) which has governed and determined the evolution of civilizations and cultures. This 5-volume collection is the outcome of a series of five successive but inter-locked seminars culminating into cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary understanding. The First Volume, Primal Elements: The Oral Tradition, focuses attention on the articulation of cohesive communities communicating with the Elements in continuous unceasing dialogue. To them the nature is not a matter of intellection; it is a question of life here and now. This is manifested in their primary myths and rituals which sacralize nature so that man can live as an integral part of the Universe. The Second Volume, Vedic, Buddhist and Jain Traditions, centres on the texts, probing deep into the Vedic rituals, Upanisadic philosophies and Jyotisa sastra. There is a prodigious consideration of the concept of maha-bhutas in Buddhism and Jainism. It also brings forth the many covergences and divergences of the view-points between and amongst these different streams of Indian thought. The Third Volume, The Agamic Tradition and the Arts, examines systematically the manifestation of the Elements in the Indian arts and their Agamic background. From the different vantage points of the architect, sculptor, painter, musician and dancer, the field is reopened here to discern the structure of the arts at its primal level. Experiences of the transformation of the gross to the subtle and the theories of aesthetics and cultural ecology emerge from such a captivating view-point. The Fourth Volume, The Nature of Matter offers a much-needed critical appraisal of modern scientific concepts with reference to traditional thoughts. It contains invaluable discussion on quantum theory and elementary particles, evolution of living matter, nature and function of matter, scientific philosophy and Buddhist thought, Sankhya theory of matter, ancient and medieval biology, mysticism and modern science, traditional cosmology, matter and medicine, matter and consciousness, etc. The dialogue created between the method of science and the method of speculation is invigorating. The Fifth Volume, Man in Nature, is a coming together of cultures and disciplines. Enchanting in their own way, the international community of scientists, philosophers, anthropologists, ecologists and artists, share in this volume the myths and cosmology of their respective societies and cultures. There emerges a most meaningful dialogue between those who live with the myths of primordial elements and those who have modified the tools of science to investigate the nature of matter. This 5-volume set, first of its kind, produced by the most distinguished specialists in the field, should enjoy a wide readership amongst philosophers of many different persuasions, scientists, theorists of art and culture, particularly ecologists and anthropologists seeking new insights into the phenomena of Nature.

Contents

Volume 1
Primal Elements — The Oral Tradition
Foreword
— Kapila Vatsyayan
Preface
— Kapila Vatsyayan
Introduction
— Baidyanath Saraswati
1. Cosmogonic Myths: In Northeast India : Forces of Nature
— Baidyanath Saraswati
2. Chinese Cosmogony : Man-Nature Synthesis
— Tan Chung
3. The Supernatural in Nature : Sindhi Tradition
— Lachman K. Khubchandani
4. The Order of Nature in Liangmais Myth
— Sujata Miri
5. The Nomads : Man, Animal, Nature
— R.S. Negi
6. Perception of Bhutas in Kedarkhand
— M.M. Dhasmana
7. Perception of Bhutas in Garhwal
— D.R. Purohit
— Poornanand
— Richa Negi
8. The Visvakarma Worldview
— Jan Brouwer
9. The Birhor Universe
— Ashim Kumar Adhikary
10. Bhuiyan Primal Elements
— Pradeep Mohanty
11. Primal Elements in the Santhal Musical Texts
— Onkar Prasad
12. A Santhal Myth : Five Elements
— Kanak Mital
13. Five Elements in Santhal Healing
— N. Patnaik
14. The Angami Fire and Water
— Vibha Joshi
15. Bhutas in Oral Ayurvedic Tradition
— V. Verma
16. Peasant Perception of Bhutas : Uttara Kannada
— M.D.Subash Chandran
17. Danda Ritual : Five Elements
— Ileana Citaristi
18. Kerala Fisherfolk : Ritualistic and Cosmic Elements
— P.R.G. Mathur
List of Contributors
Index

Meet the Author
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Internationally recognized as a leading scholar in the diverse fields of Culture and the Arts, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan’s work is inter-disciplinary and spans a vast geographical area, particularly Asia. Her publications include path-breaking works such as Classical Indian Dance in Literature and the Arts and the Square and the Circle of the Indian Arts as also Indian Classical Dance; Traditions of Indian Folk Dance; Traditional Indian Theatre: Multiple Streams; Dance in Indian Painting; and Bharata: The Natyashastra. She has explored the many dimensions of the poem Gita-Govinda — the literature, manuscripts, the relationship of the text, poetry and the painting: she has published six monographs, besides directing a multimedia presentation. Dr Vatsyayan has been acclaimed as Editor of two major volumes for the IGNCA — The Concepts of Space and The Concepts of Time. Besides, she has been General Editor of seven volumes of IGNCA’s Kalatattvakosha series, an inter-disciplinary exploration of Indian key concepts, as also of the Kalamulashastra series on fundamental texts bearing on Arts. She has edited The Cultural Heritage of India, vol. VII (in two parts) for the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, and co-edited Aesthetic Theories and Forms in Indian Tradition, for the Centre for Studies in Civilizations. Dr Vatsyayan has been Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Arts, a member of the Rajya Sabha; member of the UNESCO Executive Board, and President, India International Centre. She is currently chairperson of IIC-Asia Project. She is a recipient of many honours, including Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India and D.Litt. (honoris causa) from several universities in India and abroad; so also the first Asian woman to be awarded the Thalia Prize by the International Association of Theatre Critics.