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Reconstructing Devot...
Reconstructing Devotion
Through Narada Bhakti Sutra by: Alka TyagiThis book, a translation of Sage Narada’s Narada Bhakti Sutra, is didactic and religious in spirit, and is an intellectual attempt to elucidate two approaches to bhakti, one for the intellectually inclined and the other for the emotionally inclined. It has many more facets that relate to personal experience of that Supreme Love by which bhakti is defined.
Year Of Publication: 2019
Edition: 1st
Pages : xv, 134p.
Bibliographic Details : Bibliography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23
Weight: 400
The Narada Bhakti Sutra is didactic and religious in spirit, but this new translation and interpretation by Dr Alka Tyagi is an attempt to elucidate bhakti in all its facets without the need for the religious paraphernalia. The focus of this text is to reveal bhakti as a methodical approach that can lead to an experience of Supreme Love by which it is defined.
There are two streams of thought that go hand in hand in the text. The first line of thought indicates bhakti (the Supreme Love) as a progressive path towards a goal. The second line of thought conveys bhakti as a path which is simultaneously the goal as well. For those who are clearly emotionally inclined, it is easy to choose the second line of thought where bhakti is the goal itself.
Those who are intellectually inclined might find it difficult in the beginning to exercise unconditional love. For them, the first line of thought will work better. They can consciously choose bhakti (the path of love) as a step by step progressive path towards fulfilment and joy in life. For them, the rules of truth, non-violence, non-duality along with the rituals of ekadasadha-bhakti (the elevenfold bhakti) as prescribed by Sage Narada could be helpful techniques.
Bhakti, whether it is adopted as a process or is taken up as a goal, is a means to direct the emotional energy in every human being in a positive direction in order to experience and attain fullness in life.
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I
1. Devotional Love Beyond Religion
2. Contemporary Relevance of Devotion as Selfless Love
3. Nrada Bhakti Sutra : A Reading
Part II
Narada Bhakti Sutra : The Aphorisms
One Definition of Bhakti
Two Effects of Bhakti
Three Characteristics of Bhakti
Four Opinions of Spiritual Masters (Acaryas)
Five Means of Bhakti Propounded by the Spiritual Masters (Acaryas)
Six Qualities of a Supreme Bhakta
Seven Guidelines for Bhaktas
Eight Elevenfold Bhakti
Nine Phalasruti: The Fruit of Devotion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
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The ancient Indian tradition and literature accords a supreme place to the Sun in the order of divinities, revering and worshipping it as the life-force of the Universe and the highest Reality. The commentary by Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati in this volume comes as an attempt to unravel the power and mystique of the Sun as explained in the Aditya Hrdayam, a small canto chapter offering obeisance to the Sun God in the immortal epic, Srimadramayanam of Adikavi Valmiki. The book presents the original Sanskrit mantras of the Aditya Hrdayam along with their Roman transliteration and lucid English translation. The verses are accompanied by detailed annotations that describe every term, concept and idea with great clarity. The commentary, easy to follow and fluent in flow, explores the secret of the eternal stotra, Aditya Hrdayam conveyed by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama using which the latter emerged victorious over Ravana. Aditya Hrdayam is hailed as one of the greatest tributes to the Sun by our ancient sages that provides insights into the importance of the Sun as the creator and sustainer of the Universe, the ultimate source of all wealth. The commentary involves copious references to Taittiriya Samhita, Taittiriya Aranyaka, Taittiriya Upanisad, Chandogya Upanisad, Srimadbhagavadgita, etc. , which make it all the more comprehensive and scholarly.
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The Lilavati, a vithi, is the magnum opus of Ramapanivada, a versatile poet of eighteenth century ce, a resourceful and multitalented writer of almost all the genres of creative compositions, belonged to Kerala, India. The Lilavati is the best of all available specimens of vithi literature in the history of Sanskrit drama. The plot of the Lilavati Vithi is based on the love story between Virapala, the king of Kuntala, and Lilavati, the daughter of the king of Karnata.
The text of the present volume of Lilavati Vithi is carefully edited and presented with a Sanskrit commentary Praci in the light of Sanskrit dramaturgy as well as Indian rhetorics. The commentary Praci treats to critically evaluate various poetical aspects, like figures in speech and metres. The characteristics of vithi with the suitable examples from the Lilavati, the thirteen numbers of vithyangas, the type of amukha or prastavana are explored in the introduction. It also presents an account of the history of the literature of available and non-available vithi type in its introduction.
Present edition of Lilavati Vithi along with the Sanskrit commentary Praci and an extensive introduction in English and appendices will interest scholars and students of Indology who are focused on the study of Sanskrit literature. It will benefit the readers interested in classical Sanskrit literature. It will also be a supporting tool for the researchers of the history of classical Sanskrit literature in general and vithi literature in particular. -
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Vada, meaning debates, dialogues, discussions, was the quintessential of Indian spirit, enabling and promoting the growth of different philosophical and knowledge systems of India. It percolated deep into our mindset and enriched the moral, ethical, religious and sociocultural edifice of anything that was essentially Indian in nature. As continuation of Anvikshiki from the bc era, vada helped thrive Indian traditional knowledge systems. It subsists on diversity and its tradition envisages pluralism.
Most of our Sanskrit works, covering a wide gamut of knowledge systems, are structured in the techniques of debate. This reality applies not only to the philosophical writings, but to Indian medical systems (Ayurveda), Arthashastra of Kautilya and Kamasutra of Vatsyayana as well. Even great epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are no exceptions.
Vada culture involved verbal duals, attacks and even violence of speech, and all major religious systems — old or modern — were parties to it. This book also elucidates how vata was vital and critical for the growth of our socio-political fabrics. It shows how some of the major conflicts in philosophical systems were centred around karma, jnana, choice between violence and non-violence, pravritti and nivritti. It also presents the manifestations of vada on a vast canvas during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Modern spiritual and religious gurus like Ramana Maharshi, J. Krishnamurti and Vinoba Bhave were men of dialogues. Our scholars have applied the varied techniques of vada against the philosophical and scientific systems of the West to prove them correct.
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Sale!Aitareya Upanisad ₹99.00
Yet another masterly piece of Hindu spiritual wisdom, Aitareya essentially reinforces the grand Upanishadic message which is neither a picturesque mythology nor a promise of heaven nor a threat of hell. It is yet another reminder (from the ancient seers) of our cosmic connection showing how this universe, this phenomenal world of ours, and all that is created, whether movable or immovable, are unfolded from one primeval casual Reality: atman, variantly called the Supreme Spirit, Pure Consciousness or Prajnanam Brahma; and how, in turn, atman perceives itself as the one underlying substance of all these phenomena. A distinguished exponent of Vedanta, Swami Muni Narayana Prasad reinterprets this Upanishad, developing refreshing insights into its textual discourse, its meaning, and its message. Also included in this critical commentary are its original Sanskrit text, Romanised transliteration, and verse for verse English translation. Appended to the Rigveda, Aitareya Upanishad comprises three chapters (IV-VI) of the Aitareya-Aranyaka which, in itself, is a continuation of Aitareya Brahmana. And as one of the principal Upanishads is invaluable as much to the discerning readers as to the scholars of Indian philosophy.
