From Rig-Veda to Upanishads

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

From Rig-Veda to Upanishads McMASTER UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE AMERICAN LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS. I. Buddhism.—The History and Literature of Bud dhism. By T. W. Rhys-Davids, LL.D., Ph.D. II. Primitive Religions.—The Religions of Primitive Peoples. By D. G. Brinton, A.M., M.D., LL.D., Sc.D. III. Israel.—Jewish Religions. Life after the Exile. By Rev. T. K. Cheyne, M.A., D.D. IV. Israel.—Religion of Israel to the Exile. By Karl Budde, D.D. V. Ancient Egyptians.—The Religion of the Ancient Egyptians. By G. Steindorff, Ph.D. VI. Religion in Japan.—The Development of Re ligion in Japan. By George W. Knox, D.D. VII. The Veda.—The Religion of the Veda. By Maurice Bloomfdjld, Ph.D., LL.D. In activepreparation : VIII. Islam.—The Religion of Islam. By Iguaz Goldziher, Ph.D., Litt.D. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON AMERICAN LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS SERIES— SEVENTH 1906-1907 THE RELIGION OFTHE VEDA THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF INDIA (From Rig-Veda to Upanishads) BY MAURICE BLOOMFIELD, Ph.D., LL.D. Professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Philology in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON Zbe "ftntcfcerbocher press 1908 Copyright, 1008 BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS TEbe lttUcfterbocfter ©re»g, new Jtort PREFACE. THIS volume reproduces with some little ampli fication six lectures on the Religion of the Veda given before various learned institutions of America during the fall and winter of 1906-07. The period of time and the amount of literature embraced in the term Vedic are large ; moreover any discussion of this religion that deserves the name must also include a glance at the prehistoric periods which preceded the religion of the Veda. Con sequently my treatment must be selective. It was not difficult to make the selection. I have not thought it necessary to include a complete account of Vedic mythology and legend ; nor did the details of priestly ritual and religious folk-practices seem to me to call for elaborate exposition at this time and under the circumstances of a popular treatment of Vedic religion. On the other hand, it seemed both interesting and important to bring out as markedly as possible the development of the re ligious thought of the Veda in distinction from iv Preface pages myth and ceremony. The reader of these religion will, I hope, learn to his satisfaction how the of the Veda rests upon a prehistoric foundation which is largely nature myth ; how it continues in the Rig-Veda hymns as hieratic ritual worship of polytheistic gods ; how this religion grew more and more formal and mechanical in the Yajur-Vedas and Brahmanas, until it was practically abandoned ; how and when arose the germs of higher religious thought ; and, finally, how the motives and prin ciples that underlie this entire chain of mental events landed Hindu thought, at a comparatively early period, in the pantheistic and pessimistic re ligion of the Upanishads which it has never again abandoned. Maurice Bloomfield. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, April, 1907. ANNOUNCEMENT. THE American Lectures on the History of Religions are delivered under the auspices of the American Committee for Lectures on the History of Religions. This Committee was organised in 1892, " for the purpose of instituting popular courses in the History of Religions, somewhat after the style of the Hibbert Lectures in England, to be delivered annually by the best scholars of Europe and this country, in various cities, such as Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and others." The terms of association under which the Commit tee exist are as follows : 1. The object of this Association shall be to provide courses of lectures on the history of religions, to be delivered in various cities. 2. The Association shall be composed of delegates from Institutions agreeing to co-operate, or from Local Boards organised where such co-operation is not possible. 3. These delegates—one from each Institution or vi Announcement Local Board — shall constitute themselves a " Council under the name of the American Com Religions." mittee for Lectures on the History of 4. The Council shall elect out of its number a Chair man, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. 5. All matters of local detail shall be left to the In stitutions or Local Boards, under whose auspices the lectures are to be delivered. 6. A course of lectures on some religion, or phase of religion, from an historical point of view, or on a subject germane to the study of religions, shall be delivered annually, or at such intervals as may be found practicable, in the different cities repre sented by this Association. 7. The Council (a) shall be charged with the selec tion of the lecturers, (b) shall have charge of the funds, (c) shall assign the time for the lectures in each city, and perform such other functions as may be necessary. 8. Polemical subjects,as well as polemics in the treat ment of subjects, shall be positively excluded. 9. The lecturer shall be chosen by the Council at least ten months before the date fixed for the course of lectures. 10. The lectures shall be delivered in the various cities between the months of September and June. 1 1. The copyright of the lectures shall be the prop erty of the Association. Announcement vii 12. One-half of the lecturer's compensation shall be paid at the completion of the entire course and the second half upon the publication of the lectures. 13. The compensation to the lecturer shall be fixed in each case by the Council. 14. The lecturer is not to deliver elsewhere any of the lectures for which he is engaged by the Committee, except with the sanction of the Committee. The Committee as now constituted is as follows : Prof. Crawford H. Toy, Chairman, 7 Lowell St., Cambridge, Mass. ; Rev. Dr. John P. Peters, Treas urer, 225 West 99th St., New York; Prof. Morris Jastrow, Jr., Secretary, 248 South 23d St., Philadel phia, Pa. ; Prof. Francis Brown, Union Theological Seminary, New York ; Prof. Richard Gottheil, Col umbia University, New York ; Prof. R. F. Harper, University of Chicago, Chicago, 111. ; Prof. Paul Haupt, 25 1 1 Madison Avenue, Baltimore, Md. ; Prof. F. W. Hooper, Brooklyn Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Prof. E. W. Hopkins, New Haven, Conn. ; Prof. Edward Knox Mitchell, Hartford Theologi cal Seminary, Hartford, Conn. ; Prof. George F. Moore, Cambridge, Mass. ; Rev. F. K. Sanders, Boston, Mass. ; Pres. F. C. Southworth, Meadville Theological Seminary, Meadville, Pa. The lecturers in the course of American Lectures Announcement viii their Religions and the titles of on the History of volumes are as follows : Ph. D.— 1894-1895—Prof. T. W. Rhys-Davids, Buddhism. LL.D.— 897— 1 896-1 Prof. Daniel G. Brinton, M.D., Religion of Primitive Peoples. D.D.—Jewish 1897-1898—Rev. Prof. T. K. Cheyne, Religious Life after the Exile. 899— D.D.—Religion of 1 898-1 Prof. Karl Budde, Israel to the Exile. — 1904-1905— Prof. Georg Steindorff, Ph.D. The Religion of the Ancient Egyptians. 905-1906— Knox,D.D.,LL.D. 1 Prof. George William —The Development of Religion in Japan. The present course of lectures, the seventh in the Professor Maurice series,was delivered by Bloomfield, Ph.D., LL.D., Professor of Sanskrit and Comparative Philology at the Johns Hopkins University, and one of the leading authorities on Vedic Literature. His latest work, a Concordance of the Vedic hymns and prayer formulae, covering 1 100 pages,theembodiment of a life's study, published as Vol. 10 of the Harvard Oriental Series,will ensure Professor Bloomfield a per manent place in the history of Vedic studies. Besides this he has edited from the manuscripts the Vedic ritual book, known as the Kaucika-Sutra ; published a translation of the Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, in cluded in Professor Max Muller's Sacred Books of Announcement ix the East (Oxford, 1897); written a volume on the Lit erature and History of the Atharva-Veda, entitled : " "The Atharva-Veda and the Gopatha-Brahmana (Strassburg, 1889) ; and edited, in collaboration with Professor Richard Garbe of Tubingen,a chromophoto- graphic reproduction of the unique birch-bark manu script of the Kashmirian Atharva-Veda (3 vols., Baltimore, 1901). He has also contributed to the technical journals of this country and Europe num erous papers on linguistic, mythological, and ethno logical topics in general, in addition to a large num ber of contributions on the interpretation, textual restoration, and religion of the Veda in particular. The lectures in this course were delivered before the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Union Theological Seminary, New York; Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, Brooklyn ; Drexel Institute, Philadelphia; Meadville Theological Seminary, Mead ville ; University of Chicago, Chicago ; and Hartford Theological Seminary, Hartford. John P. Peters, j Committee C. H. Toy, I on Morris Jastrow, ) Publication. January, 1908. CONTENTS. LECTURE THE FIRST. INDIA THE LAND OP RELIGIONS.—THE VEDA. Multiplicity of Hindu religions—Brahmanism—Bud dhism—Profound hold of religion upon the Hindu mind—Hindu life dominated by religious institu tions—The four stages of life—The institution of caste—Caste then and now—Symptoms of revulsion against caste—Other pernicious religious institu tions—Continuity of India's religious history—Date order" of the conception of rta. or "cosmic —Close — relationship of the religions of India ,andPersia Slight connection between India and Persia in sec ular history—The Parsis in India—Close relation between Veda and Avesta—The Veda and the Indo- European period—The Veda as a whole—The date of the
Recommended publications
  • The Mahabharata
    ^«/4 •m ^1 m^m^ The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924071123131 ) THE MAHABHARATA OF KlUSHNA-DWAIPAYANA VTASA TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE. Published and distributed, chiefly gratis, BY PROTSP CHANDRA EOY. BHISHMA PARVA. CALCUTTA i BHiRATA PRESS. No, 1, Raja Gooroo Dass' Stbeet, Beadon Square, 1887. ( The righi of trmsMm is resem^. NOTICE. Having completed the Udyoga Parva I enter the Bhishma. The preparations being completed, the battle must begin. But how dan- gerous is the prospect ahead ? How many of those that were counted on the eve of the terrible conflict lived to see the overthrow of the great Knru captain ? To a KsJtatriya warrior, however, the fiercest in- cidents of battle, instead of being appalling, served only as tests of bravery that opened Heaven's gates to him. It was this belief that supported the most insignificant of combatants fighting on foot when they rushed against Bhishma, presenting their breasts to the celestial weapons shot by him, like insects rushing on a blazing fire. I am not a Kshatriya. The prespect of battle, therefore, cannot be unappalling or welcome to me. On the other hand, I frankly own that it is appall- ing. If I receive support, that support may encourage me. I am no Garuda that I would spurn the strength of number* when battling against difficulties. I am no Arjuna conscious of superhuman energy and aided by Kecava himself so that I may eHcounter any odds.
    [Show full text]
  • Rishi and Devtas of Vedic Mantra
    www.ved-yog.com 52 Chapter V Rishis and Devatas of the Mantras The general notion of the ‘Western’ Scholars and their Indian followers is that the Rishis whose names are mentioned on the Mantras are their composers and devatas are the deities to be worshipped. But this is a very erroneous view. By Rishis are meant, according to all ancient Authorities, the seers who made out the secrets of the Vedas and propagated them. Yaskacharya, the well known philologist and author of the Nirukta.says in 1-91. lk{kkRÏr/kekZ.k _"k;ks cHkwoqLrs·lk{kkr~Ïr/keZH; mins'ksu eU=ku~ lEizknq%µ fu#Dr 1-19µ The original seers were men of realisation who saw or perfectly understood’ the Dharma. They taught it to those who themselves had not realised it or were not inspired persons. In Nirukta 2-11 Yaskacharya says – _"k;ks eU=nz"Vkj% _f"knZ'kZukr~Lrkseku~ nn'ksZR;kSieU;o%A ;nsuku~ riL;ekuku~ czã Lo;EHkw vH;ku'kZr~ rn`.kh.kke`f"kRofefr foKkirsµ i.e. The Rishis are seers of the Mantras. The word Rishi means Drashta. Opaomanyava Acharya is of opinion that those who by austerities, realised the Yedic-hymns were called Rishis.” The Taittiriya Aranyak (2-9-1) says similarly - _"k;ks ;r~ ,uku~ riL;ekuku~ czãLo;EHkw vH;ku"kZr~ rs_"k;ks·Hkou~ rn`"k;ks·Hkou~ rn`"kh.kke`f"kRoe~A www.ved-yog.com 53 Those that after tapas or deep meditation realised the secret meaning of the Vedic Mantras, became Rishis by the Grace of the Almighty.
    [Show full text]
  • ADVAITA-SAADHANAA (Kanchi Maha-Swamigal's Discourses)
    ADVAITA-SAADHANAA (Kanchi Maha-Swamigal’s Discourses) Acknowledgement of Source Material: Ra. Ganapthy’s ‘Deivathin Kural’ (Vol.6) in Tamil published by Vanathi Publishers, 4th edn. 1998 URL of Tamil Original: http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/dk6-74.htm to http://www.kamakoti.org/tamil/dk6-141.htm English rendering : V. Krishnamurthy 2006 CONTENTS 1. Essence of the philosophical schools......................................................................... 1 2. Advaita is different from all these. ............................................................................. 2 3. Appears to be easy – but really, difficult .................................................................... 3 4. Moksha is by Grace of God ....................................................................................... 5 5. Takes time but effort has to be started........................................................................ 7 8. ShraddhA (Faith) Necessary..................................................................................... 12 9. Eligibility for Aatma-SAdhanA................................................................................ 14 10. Apex of Saadhanaa is only for the sannyAsi !........................................................ 17 11. Why then tell others,what is suitable only for Sannyaasis?.................................... 21 12. Two different paths for two different aspirants ...................................................... 21 13. Reason for telling every one ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of the Early Vedic Age in Ancient India
    Journal of Arts and Culture ISSN: 0976-9862 & E-ISSN: 0976-9870, Volume 3, Issue 3, 2012, pp.-129-132. Available online at http://www.bioinfo.in/contents.php?id=53. A STUDY OF THE EARLY VEDIC AGE IN ANCIENT INDIA FASALE M.K.* Department of Histroy, Abasaheb Kakade Arts College, Bodhegaon, Shevgaon- 414 502, MS, India *Corresponding Author: Email- [email protected] Received: December 04, 2012; Accepted: December 20, 2012 Abstract- The Vedic period (or Vedic age) was a period in history during which the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, were composed. The time span of the period is uncertain. Philological and linguistic evidence indicates that the Rigveda, the oldest of the Vedas, was com- posed roughly between 1700 and 1100 BCE, also referred to as the early Vedic period. The end of the period is commonly estimated to have occurred about 500 BCE, and 150 BCE has been suggested as a terminus ante quem for all Vedic Sanskrit literature. Transmission of texts in the Vedic period was by oral tradition alone, and a literary tradition set in only in post-Vedic times. Despite the difficulties in dating the period, the Vedas can safely be assumed to be several thousands of years old. The associated culture, sometimes referred to as Vedic civilization, was probably centred early on in the northern and northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, but has now spread and constitutes the basis of contemporary Indian culture. After the end of the Vedic period, the Mahajanapadas period in turn gave way to the Maurya Empire (from ca.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review on - Amlapitta in Kashyapa Samhita
    Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2394-2797.2017.0002 A Review on - Amlapitta in Kashyapa Samhita Nilambari L. Darade1, Yawatkar PC2 1PG Student, Dept. of Samhita, 2HOD, Dept. of Samhita & Siddhantha SVNTH’s Ayurved College, Rahuri Factory, Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra *Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected] Abstract Amlapitta is most common disorders in the society nowadays, due to indulgence in incompatible food habits and activities. In Brihatrayees of Ayurveda, scattered references are only available about Amlapitta. Kashyapa Samhita was the first Samhita which gives a detailed explanation of the disease along with its etiology, signs and symptoms with its treatment protocols. A group of drugs and Pathyas in Amlapitta are explained and shifting of the place is also advised when all the other treatment modalities fail to manage the condition. The present review intended to explore the important aspect of Amlapitta and its management as described in Kashyapa Samhita, which can be helpful to understand the etiopathogenesis of disease with more clarity and ultimately in its management, which is still a challenging task for Ayurveda physician. Keywords: Amlapitta, Dosha, Aushadhi, Drava, Kashyapa Samhita, Agni Introduction Acharya Charaka has not mentioned Amlapitta as a Amlapitta is a disease of Annahava Srotas and is separate disease, but he has given many scattered more common in the present scenario of unhealthy diets references regarding Amlapitta, which are as follow. & regimens. The term Amlapitta is a compound one While explaining the indications of Ashtavidha Ksheera comprising of the words Amla and Pitta out of these, & Kamsa Haritaki, Amlapitta has also been listed and the word Amla is indicative of a property which is Kulattha (Dolichos biflorus Linn.) has been considered organoleptic in nature and identified through the tongue as chief etiological factor of Amlapitta in Agrya while the word Pitta is suggestive of one of the Tridosas Prakarana.
    [Show full text]
  • The Significance of Fire Offering in Hindu Society
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ISSN : 2277-7881; IMPACT FACTOR - 2.735; IC VALUE:5.16 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7(3), JULY 2014 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRE OFFERING IN HINDU THE SIGNIFICANCESOCIETY OF FIRE OFFERING IN HINDU SOCIETY S. Sushrutha H. R. Nagendra Swami Vivekananda Yoga Swami Vivekananda Yoga University University Bangalore, India Bangalore, India R. G. Bhat Swami Vivekananda Yoga University Bangalore, India Introduction Vedas demonstrate three domains of living for betterment of process and they include karma (action), dhyana (meditation) and jnana (knowledge). As long as individuality continues as human being, actions will follow and it will eventually lead to knowledge. According to the Dhatupatha the word yajna derives from yaj* in Sanskrit language that broadly means, [a] worship of GODs (natural forces), [b] synchronisation between various domains of creation and [c] charity.1 The concept of God differs from religion to religion. The ancient Hindu scriptures conceptualises Natural forces as GOD or Devatas (deva that which enlightens [div = light]). Commonly in all ancient civilizations the worship of Natural forces as GODs was prevalent. Therefore any form of manifested (Sun, fire and so on) and or unmanifested (Prana, Manas and so on) form of energy is considered as GOD even in Hindu tradition. Worship conceives the idea of requite to the sources of energy forms from where the energy is drawn for the use of all 260 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ISSN : 2277-7881; IMPACT FACTOR - 2.735; IC VALUE:5.16 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7(3), JULY 2014 life forms. Worshiping the Gods (Upasana) can be in the form of worship of manifest forms, prostration, collection of ingredients or devotees for worship, invocation, study and discourse and meditation.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhakti and Sraddha
    (8) Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies Vol. 41, No. 1, December 1992 Bhakti and Sraddha Norio SEKIDO As Mahayana Buddhism developed, the concept of God, Buddha as God begin to take place. The tradition of worship gradually increased. One critic says that after the demise of Buddha, slowly and slowly his image was adorned by his followers. The major and minor disciples accepted him as the supreme God). Thus devotion or bhakti emerged in Mahayana Buddhism. He was called Amitabha Buddha.2) Vasubandhu prescribed five methods of worship like the Hindu concept of devotion. The repetition of the name of Buddha has been conceived to be essential for the realisation of freedom from suffering in many sects of Mahayana Buddhism. Fa-hien then reached Pataliputra, where he came across a distinguished Brahmana called Radhasvami, who. was a Buddhist by faith. He had clear discernment and deep knowledge. He taught Mahayana doctrines to Fa-hien. He was revered by the king of the country. He was instrumental in popularising Buddhism. Sramanas from other countries came to comprehend the Truth. By the side of the ASoka stupa, there was a Mahayana monastery, grand and beautiful, there was also a Hinayana monastery. The two together had about 600 to 700 monks. Here was another teacher known as Manjusri, who was proficient like Radhasvami. To him flocked Maha- yana students from all countries. Modern scholars of the Bhagavad-Gita have almost unf ormly translated the word Sraddha with the English word faith' or the German word Glaube. In view of the near unanimity of preference for the word faith in translating the word Sraddha, one is apt to think that the word adequately conveys the significance of the original.3 As in Bhakti in Hinduism, the company of sutra is very helpful for the -533- Bhakti and Sraddha (N.
    [Show full text]
  • An Understanding of Maya: the Philosophies of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva
    An understanding of Maya: The philosophies of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva Department of Religion studies Theology University of Pretoria By: John Whitehead 12083802 Supervisor: Dr M Sukdaven 2019 Declaration Declaration of Plagiarism 1. I understand what plagiarism means and I am aware of the university’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that this Dissertation is my own work. 3. I did not make use of another student’s previous work and I submit this as my own words. 4. I did not allow anyone to copy this work with the intention of presenting it as their own work. I, John Derrick Whitehead hereby declare that the following Dissertation is my own work and that I duly recognized and listed all sources for this study. Date: 3 December 2019 Student number: u12083802 __________________________ 2 Foreword I started my MTh and was unsure of a topic to cover. I knew that Hinduism was the religion I was interested in. Dr. Sukdaven suggested that I embark on the study of the concept of Maya. Although this concept provided a challenge for me and my faith, I wish to thank Dr. Sukdaven for giving me the opportunity to cover such a deep philosophical concept in Hinduism. This concept Maya is deeper than one expects and has broaden and enlightened my mind. Even though this was a difficult theme to cover it did however, give me a clearer understanding of how the world is seen in Hinduism. 3 List of Abbreviations AD Anno Domini BC Before Christ BCE Before Common Era BS Brahmasutra Upanishad BSB Brahmasutra Upanishad with commentary of Sankara BU Brhadaranyaka Upanishad with commentary of Sankara CE Common Era EW Emperical World GB Gitabhasya of Shankara GK Gaudapada Karikas Rg Rig Veda SBH Sribhasya of Ramanuja Svet.
    [Show full text]
  • The Aruni (Aruneyi) Upanishad Translated by Swami Madhavananda - Published by Advaita Ashram, Kolkatta
    The Aruni (Aruneyi) Upanishad Translated by Swami Madhavananda - Published by Advaita Ashram, Kolkatta Om ! Let my limbs and speech, Prana, eyes, ears, vitality And all the senses grow in strength. All existence is the Brahman of the Upanishads. May I never deny Brahman, nor Brahman deny me. Let there be no denial at all: Let there be no denial at least from me. May the virtues that are proclaimed in the Upanishads be in me, Who am devoted to the Atman; may they reside in me. Om ! Let there be Peace in me ! Let there be Peace in my environment ! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me ! ’ 1. Om. Aruna s son went to the sphere of Brahma, the Creator, and reaching there “ ” said, Lord, in what way can I relinquish work altogether ? Brahma said to him: You must give up your sons, brothers, friends, and the rest, your hair-tuft and the holy thread, your sacrifices and books regulating them, your scriptures; must give up the (seven upper) spheres entitled Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Jana, Tapas, and Satya, and the (seven nether) spheres, viz., Atala, Patala, Vitala, Sutala, Rasatala, Talatala and Mahatala, together with the (whole) universe; and must take on the staff and the scanty clothing of the Sannyasin; you must renounce everything else, aye, everything else. 2. The householder, or the Brahmachari, or the Vanaprashta should commit the fires that lead to the different spheres to the fire that is in the stomach, and consign the sacred Mantra, Gayatri, to the fire that is in his own speech, should throw the holy ’ thread on the ground or into water.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa SALYA
    The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa SALYA PARVA translated by Kesari Mohan Ganguli In parentheses Publications Sanskrit Series Cambridge, Ontario 2002 Salya Parva Section I Om! Having bowed down unto Narayana and Nara, the most exalted of male beings, and the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered. Janamejaya said, “After Karna had thus been slain in battle by Savyasachin, what did the small (unslaughtered) remnant of the Kauravas do, O regenerate one? Beholding the army of the Pandavas swelling with might and energy, what behaviour did the Kuru prince Suyodhana adopt towards the Pandavas, thinking it suitable to the hour? I desire to hear all this. Tell me, O foremost of regenerate ones, I am never satiated with listening to the grand feats of my ancestors.” Vaisampayana said, “After the fall of Karna, O king, Dhritarashtra’s son Suyodhana was plunged deep into an ocean of grief and saw despair on every side. Indulging in incessant lamentations, saying, ‘Alas, oh Karna! Alas, oh Karna!’ he proceeded with great difficulty to his camp, accompanied by the unslaughtered remnant of the kings on his side. Thinking of the slaughter of the Suta’s son, he could not obtain peace of mind, though comforted by those kings with excellent reasons inculcated by the scriptures. Regarding destiny and necessity to be all- powerful, the Kuru king firmly resolved on battle. Having duly made Salya the generalissimo of his forces, that bull among kings, O monarch, proceeded for battle, accompanied by that unslaughtered remnant of his forces. Then, O chief of Bharata’s race, a terrible battle took place between the troops of the Kurus and those of the Pandavas, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras.
    [Show full text]
  • The Generations of Adam
    The Generations of Adam hat is the purpose of Bible chronology? According to Philip Mauro, in Wonders of Bible Chronology, “its basis is the Bible itself; its plan is the genealogical or life line that Wstretches from the first Adam to the last Adam ... and its purpose is to bring those who follow its progress to revelations of vital truth pertaining to God’s mighty work of redemption.” Genesis 5 reveals the time span between Adam and the worldwide flood of Noah’s time. The following table summarizes this time line: Age at: Anno Hominis Adam created 0 Adam's birth of Seth (130) 130 Seth's birth of Enosh (105) 235 Enosh's birth of Kenan (90) 325 Kenan's birth of Mahalalel (70) 395 Mahalalel's birth of Jared (65) 460 Jared's birth of Enoch (162) 622 Enoch's birth of Methuselah (65) 687 Methuselah's birth of Lamech (187) 874 Lamech's birth of Noah (182) 1056 time of worldwide flood Noah's 1656 (600) Before we analyze Genesis 5 further, a few general points must be made. First, the Bible is the only reliable source book that gives history with an exact chronology for the first 4000 years of the human race. It has been about 6000 years since the creation of man. For the first 3/5ths of this period, there is no chronological information whatever except in the Bible. The histories of other peoples give an account of their beginning vaguely and in the context of myths and fables. In contrast, the Bible is a very accurate historical document.
    [Show full text]
  • Essays and Addresses on the Śākta Tantra-Śāstra
    ŚAKTI AND ŚĀKTA ESSAYS AND ADDRESSES ON THE ŚĀKTA TANTRAŚĀSTRA BY SIR JOHN WOODROFFE THIRD EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED Celephaïs Press Ulthar - Sarkomand - Inquanok – Leeds 2009 First published London: Luzac & co., 1918. Second edition, revised and englarged, London: Luzac and Madras: Ganesh & co., 1919. Third edition, further revised and enlarged, Ganesh / Luzac, 1929; many reprints. This electronic edition issued by Celephaïs Press, somewhere beyond the Tanarian Hills, and mani(n)fested in the waking world in Leeds, England in the year 2009 of the common error. This work is in the public domain. Release 0.95—06.02.2009 May need furthur proof reading. Please report errors to [email protected] citing release number or revision date. PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. HIS edition has been revised and corrected throughout, T and additions have been made to some of the original Chapters. Appendix I of the last edition has been made a new Chapter (VII) in the book, and the former Appendix II has now been attached to Chapter IV. The book has moreover been very considerably enlarged by the addition of eleven new Chapters. New also are the Appendices. The first contains two lectures given by me in French, in 1917, before the Societé Artistique et Literaire Francaise de Calcutta, of which Society Lady Woodroffe was one of the Founders and President. The second represents the sub- stance (published in the French Journal “Le Lotus bleu”) of two lectures I gave in Paris, in the year 1921, before the French Theosophical Society (October 5) and at the Musée Guimet (October 6) at the instance of L’Association Fran- caise des amis de L’Orient.
    [Show full text]