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Chapter 2 the Epic in Ancient Greece and in Ancient India
CHAPTER 2 THE EPIC IN ANCIENT GREECE AND IN ANCIENT INDIA Though the main focus of the present study is going to be characterization, it nnust be borne in mind that characterization in an epic narrative will not have the same complexion as characterization, say, in a novel or a play. It will be appropriate, therefore, to focus in this chapter on the nature of the epics under study. Greece and India are blessed by the epic muse for they are the only ones who produced full-length oral epics that reflect the throbbing heart and soul of the people of ancient times. Other countries like England, France, Germany, Norway and Finland have their epics of the medieval age such as Beowulf. Le Chanson de Roland. Nibelunaenlied. the Edda and the Saga, and Kalevala respectively. Epics belong to the 'heroic age' and their heroes fight bravely for fame and/or to save their people from some demon or other dangers. Physical strength and valour are of supreme importance to these epics as they deal with warfare. The epics of Greece and India possess all these characteristics but they are different from the medieval epics because they go far beyond this and reveal nobility of character portrayal and a tragic awareness of life. The Iliad, the Odvssev. the Vaimiki Ramavana. and the Mahabharata are in a class of their own owing to these rare qualities. Lascelles Abercrombie rightly says in his The Epic that the reading of The Faerie Queene or Divina Commedia is not in the least like the experience of reading of Paradise lost or the Iliad. -
Hymns to the Mystic Fire
16 Hymns to the Mystic Fire VOLUME 16 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 2013 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry PRINTED IN INDIA Hymns To The Mystic Fire Publisher’s Note The present volume comprises Sri Aurobindo’s translations of and commentaries on hymns to Agni in the Rig Veda. It is divided into three parts: Hymns to the Mystic Fire: The entire contents of a book of this name that was published by Sri Aurobindo in 1946, consisting of selected hymns to Agni with a Fore- word and extracts from the essay “The Doctrine of the Mystics”. Other Hymns to Agni: Translations of hymns to Agni that Sri Aurobindo did not include in the edition of Hymns to the Mystic Fire published during his lifetime. An appendix to this part contains his complete transla- tions of the first hymn of the Rig Veda, showing how his approach to translating the Veda changed over the years. Commentaries and Annotated Translations: Pieces from Sri Aurobindo’s manuscripts in which he commented on hymns to Agni or provided annotated translations of them. Some translations of hymns addressed to Agni are included in The Secret of the Veda, volume 15 of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO. That volume consists of all Sri Aurobindo’s essays on and translations of Vedic hymns that appeared first in the monthly review Arya between 1914 and 1920. His writings on the Veda that do not deal primarily with Agni and that were not published in the Arya are collected in Vedic and Philological Studies, volume 14 of THE COMPLETE WORKS. -
SWASTIKA the Pattern and Ideogram of Ideogram and Pattern The
Principal Investigators Exploring Prof. V. N. Giri the pattern and ideogram of Prof. Suhita Chopra Chatterjee Prof. Pallab Dasgupta Prof. Narayan C. Nayak Prof. Priyadarshi Patnaik pattern and ideogram of Prof. Aurobindo Routray SWASTIKA Prof. Arindam Basu Prof. William K. Mohanty Prof. Probal Sengupta Exploring the A universal principle Prof. Abhijit Mukherjee & of sustainability Prof. Joy Sen SWASTIKA of sustainability A universal principle SandHI INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR The Science & Heritage Initiative www.iitkgpsandhi.org INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR Exploring the pattern and ideogram of SWASTIKA A universal principle of sustainability SandHI The Science & Heritage Initiative INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR ii iii Advisor Prof. Partha P. Chakrabarti Director, IIT Kharagpur Monitoring Cell Prof. Sunando DasGupta Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Kharagpur Prof. Pallab Dasgupta Associate Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Kharagpur Principal Investigator (overall) Prof. Joy Sen Department of Architecture & Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur Vide order no. F. NO. 4-26/2013-TS-1, Dt. 19-11-2013 (36 months w.e.f 15-1-2014 and 1 additional year for outreach programs) Professor-in-Charge, Documentation and Dissemination Prof. Priyadarshi Patnaik Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur Research Scholars Group (Coordinators) Sunny Bansal, Vidhu Pandey, Tanima Bhattacharya, Shreyas P. Bharule, Shivangi S. Parmar, Mouli Majumdar, Arpan Paul, Deepanjan Saha, Suparna Dasgupta, Prerna Mandal Key Graphics Support Tanima Bhattacharya, Research Scholar, IIT Kharagpur Exploring ISBN: 978-93-80813-42-4 the pattern and ideogram of © SandHI A Science and Heritage Initiative, IIT Kharagpur Sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India Published in July 2016 SWASTIKA www.iitkgpsandhi.org A universal principle Design & Printed by Cygnus Advertising (India) Pvt. -
Vedic and Upanishadic Aesthetics
Dr. Shakuntala Gawde Department of Sanskrit University of Mumbai www.shakuntalagawde.com [email protected] Vedic Literature Vedas / Shrutis- revealed knowledge Four Vedas- different divisions Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda Samhita Brahmana Aranyaka Upanishad Rigveda Different hymns to deities Divided into ten Mandalas Collection of Suktas Indra, Ushas, Agni, Maruts, Ashvina, Parjanya Different schools of interpretation Indra Warrior and conqueror Macdonell- National god of Vedic Indians Thunder god / Sun god (destroyer of demons of drought and darkness) / warrior god Vrtrahan- Killed Vrtrasura, releases cows and waters Killed Shambara, Vala who live on mountain Anthropomorphism- With body, hands and arms (RV II.16.2) Suhipra (fair-liped) Tawny haired and tawny bearded (RV X.23.4) His arms as wielding the thunderbolt, golden armed, iron-like Whole appearance as tawny, ruddy, golden (RV VII.34.4) Agni 200 hymns Sacrificial fire is personified Butter backed, flame-haired, tawny haired, tawny beard Sharp or burning jaws, golden teeth Compared to many animals Calf when born and roaring bull when grows (RV X.8.1) Looks like god-carrying horse (RV III.27.14) Divine bird (RV I.164.52) Son of ten mothers (RV I.95.2) Ushas Beautiful young damsel Like a dancer she comes (RV I.92.4) Like a maiden decked by her mother she shows her beautified form (RV I.123.11) Clothed with light, she appears in the east (RV.I.124.3) वलश्ललाया, चित्रभघा, भघोनी, नेत्री, हशयण्मलर्ाा देलाना車 िषु: वुबगा लशन्ती -
Vedic Values
VEDIC VALUES Dr. Hema K. Kshirsagar Published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati. 2018 ii FOREWORD VEDIC VALUES Indian culture is one of the richest and most diverse of its kind in the world as it has stimulated the growth and development of several philosophical systems and religious Dr. Hema K. Kshirsagar thoughts. This culture has exercised considerable influence over the spiritual life of the people all over the world. The oldest literature available with us are the Vedas. It T.T.D. Religious Publications Series No. 1288 was in the form of a lump before it's division. Bhagavan ©All Rights Reserved Vedavyasa has divided the lump of knowledge into four parts, i.e., Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas. The division was made with an intention as to make the Vedas to be understood by the readers and be followed by the readers and common First Edition - 2018 public to make their lives a fruitful one by following the path of Dharma. Vedic values written by Dr. Hema. K. Kshirsagar, is a Copies : 4000 wonderer treatise which carries good information about the values that are found in Vedas. The author has exemplified many values in brief but they are really good to be read by both elderly and children too. Published by Sri Anil Kumar Singhal, I.A.S., Hope this book will reach the coffee tables of all the Executive Officer, readers. Let our Ancient Culture reach the new generation, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, and make a pathway for their colourful future. Tirupati. D.T.P: In the Service of Lord Venkateswara Publications Division T.T.D, Tirupati. -
Four Illusions: Candrakirti's Advice to Travelers on the Bodhisattva Path
1. Travelers on the Buddhaʹs Path Stories of Gautama Buddhaʹs life say that he left behind his home and family in search of an answer to the question of why people suffer. Neither his experience of sensual pleasures as a rich manʹs son nor his experience of harsh austerities as a homeless wanderer brought relief. After he found the answer to his question, he chose the active life of teaching over a quiet life of meditative silence. When asked to teach, he responded with compassionate concern for the well‐being of others.1 He sought out his former companions and told them about a middle path that avoided both self‐ indulgence and self‐torture. In this first discourse (S V 421), the Buddha identified the demands of desire as the basic cause of human suffering: “And this, O monks, is the truth of the arising of suffering. It is this desire, which leads to repeated existence, which is associated with pleasure and passion, and which finds pleasure everywhere.” He prescribed a course of treatment to alleviate the pain and restore sufferers to health. The recommended treatment is concerned with alleviating not just physical pain. Equally important is treatment of the mental pain that comes from wanting what is unattainable (immortality) or transient (happiness, beauty, power). The Buddha prescribed a path of action based on ethical conduct, on meditation, and on insight into erroneous beliefs. Erroneous beliefs about gods and heavens perpetuate the illusion of immortality. Erroneous beliefs about acquiring endless quantities of food, drink, sex, and wealth perpetuate the illusion that happiness or beauty or temporal power can endure. -
The Many Careers of D.D
The Many Careers of D.D. KOSAMBI The Many Careers of D.D. KOSAMBI Critical Essays Edited by D.N. Jha First published in October 2011. LeftWord Books 12 Rajendra Prasad Road New Delhi 110001 INDIA www.leftword.com LeftWord Books is a division of Naya Rasta Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Individual essays © 2011, respective authors This collection © 2011, LeftWord Books ISBN 978-93-80118-06-2 Printed at Progressive Printers A 21 Jhilmil Industrial Area Shahdara Delhi 110095 Contents Preface 6 A Scholar Extraordinaire D.N. JHA 7 What Kosambi has Given Us IRFAN HABIB 28 Kosambi and the Frontiers of Historical Materialism PRABHAT PATNAIK 39 Some Observations on Kosambi’s Medieval India EUGENIA VANINA 54 Appendix: A Talk with a Friend I.D. SEREBRYAKOV 77 Kosambi and the Religious Histories of India KRISHNA MOHAN SHRIMALI 86 Kosambi on Caste SUVIRA JAISWAL 130 Kosambi on Sanskrit KESAVAN VELUTHAT 151 Kosambi the Mathematician C.K. RAJU 164 Contributors 203 Preface The birth centenary of Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi was celebrated in 2007 by several universities and other academic institutions in India. In the following year the Economic and Political Weekly brought out a special issue containing articles by scholars who attempted to asses Kosambi’s work in different areas of Indology. But some of the assessments, far from being impartial and objective, were unduly critical and one of them bordered on vitriol and vituperation. The present volume, however, brings together articles by scholars who are neither allergic to nor adulatory about the work of Kosambi but seek to present a balanced and critical appraisal. -
The Predicament of Women in Ancient India Klaus Bruhn § 1. Introduction
The Predicament of Women in Ancient India Klaus Bruhn § 1. Introduction. -- § 2. The Deterioration of the Position of Women. -- § 3. Eight Forms of Marriage and Other Chains. -- § 4. The Son and the Beyond. -- § 5. Early Marriage of Girls. -- § 6. Avoiding a Lack of Sons. -- § 7. Marriage. -- § 8. Daily Life (of Women, Wives). -- § 9. Specific Events (Affecting Women, Wives). -- § 10. Varia. -- 11. The Women in the Epics. -- § 12. Widowhood and suttee. -- § 13. Woman in Hinduism (Varia). -- § 14. Widow Burning in Bali. -- § 15. Glossary. -- 16. General Bibliography. -- § 17. Special Bibliography. -- § 18. Table of Contents. § 1. Introduction The present paper has a complex background. For the interested reader we present here (§ 1) a preview which is mainly methodological: sections I-III et alia. (I) Systematic research. The root of the article is the drive towards completeness; the drive to study 'a subject in toto and from all aspects,' as we would say. This is a question of theory. We have impressive literature on our subject (women), but we have no survey of all its constituent parts. Starting from our title ("Predicament ...") two movements are possible and necessary. On the one hand internal systematization: the relevant items -- our table of contents -- are to be listed and studied from all aspects. On the other hand gradual extension of the subject is desirable. This second movement would proceed from "predicament of women in ancient India" to ancient Indian women in general or to ancient Indian culture in general. Subjects would be varna and caste, life-cycle rituals (rites of passage), magical practices, festivals, dresses and ornaments, arts and crafts, architecture and town-planning, food and drink, entertainments, prostitution. -
Valmiki Baala Ramayana
ESSENCE OF VALMIKI BAALA RAMAYANA Translated and interpreted byV.D.N.Rao, former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organization, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, now at Chennai 1 2 Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers -Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu - Dharma Bindu - Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana-Essence of Paraashara Smriti- Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ -Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad; Essence of Maitri Upanishad Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata- Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Essence of Knowledge of Numbers for students Essence of -
In Search of the Cradle of Civilization
IN SEARCH OF THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION Georg Feuerstein, »ubhash Kak & David Frawle IN SEARCH OF THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION IN SEARCH OF THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION NEW LIGHT . ON ANCIENT INDIA GEORG FEUERSTEIN, SUBHASH AND DAVID FHA^UEY Quest Books Theosophical Publishing House Ihm ton, lllnu'i? ♦ ^ liennai (Macira~), India Copyright © 1995, 200 1 by Georg Feuerstein, Subhash Kak. and David Frawley Second Edition, 200 I Second Printing, 2011 All rights reserved. No part o f this book may be reproduced in any manner without written pennission except for quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For additional infonnation write to Quest Books Theosophical Publishing House P. 0 . B o x 2 7 0 Wheaton, Illinois 60187-0270 www.questbooks.net Copyright acknowledgment for illustrations: S. P. Gupta: Figs. 7 -1 1 , 1 4 -1 6 ,1 8 -2 0 , 23 -2 4 , 29; Hinduism Today: Figs. 3, 5, 32, 48; Foundation for Cultural Preservation: Fig. 17; Jan Fairservis: all illustrations used for chapter openings; Matthew Greenblatt: Figs. 36, 47; Jean-Fran^is Jarrige: Fig. 33; Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center: Fig. 35; Rosemary Clark: Fig. I; Georg Feuerstein: all maps and other illustrations. Every effort has been made to secure pennission to reproduce the images in this book. Any additional copyright holders are invited to contact the publisher so that proper credit can be given in future editions. The Library of Congress has catalogued the Quest hardcover edition as follows: Feuerstein, Georg. In search o f the cradle o f civilization: new light on ancient India I Gcorg Feuerstein, Subhash Kak, and David Frawley. -
M.A. Sanskrit I Year Syllabus
Savitribai Phule Pune University Dept. of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages Syllabus 2019 onward st M. A. Sanskrit - 1 Year Sanskrit - Semester I I.1 - Introduction toVedic Literature - 4 Credits A. Rgveda -1.1-Agni, 1.25-Varuna, 2.12-Indra, 2.33-Rudra, 3.61-Ushas, 5.75-Ashwinau, 7.95-Saraswati, 9.80-Soma, 10.34-Kitava, 10.108-Sarama-Pani B. Atharvaveda - 1.29-Rashtrabhivardhanam, 12.1.1 – 10-Prithivi, 19.53-Kalasukta. C. Aitareya Brahmana - 7.13-15 Shunahshepa-katha D. i) General Introduction to Vedic Literature ii) Content and arrangement of Rgveda iii) a. History of Vedic interpretation - Traditional b. History of Vedic interpretation - Modern iv) Vedic Culture v) Themes of the Atharvaveda vi) Myths and legends in the Brahmanas vii) A general introduction to Aranyakas I.2 – Arsha Mahakavya - (Selected Portion) 4 Credits A. Ramayana - Sundar Kand - Sarga - 2- 5 (Lanka Varnana) B. Mahabharata - Shanti-Parva - Sarga 56 - 59 (Rajadharma) I.3 - Group Papers - 4 Credits A - Veda - A. Rgveda–Hymns 2-6 from Vishvamitra Mandala and Selected hymns from Vamadeva Mandala (4.26 – Shyena, 4.30 – Indra-Ushas, 4.33 – Rubhu, 4.50 – Brhaspati, 4.54 - Savita) B. Atharvaveda–1.32 Mahadbrahma, 3.30 Sammanasya, 4.2 Atmavidya, 5.4 Kushtha,6.20 Yakshmanashanam, 7.12 Sabhajaya,11.5.1-10Brahmacari, 15.1 Vratya, 19.49 Ratri, 20.127 Kuntapa. C. i) Vishwamitra and Vamadeva’s contribution to Rgveda and Rgvedic Culture ii) Themes of the Atharvaveda iii) Names and arrangements of the Atharvaveda iv) Ritual Hymns of the Atharvaveda v) Kuntapa Hymns B - Vedanta - Brahmasutra-Shankara-bhashya - selected portion A. -
Hymns to the Mystic Fire
VOLUME NO.11 Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library. Special Edition of One Hundred Sets on Handmade Paper. © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1972. Published by Sri Aurobindo Memorial Fund Society, Pondicherry. Printed by Offset at All India Press Pondicherry, India. Hymns to the Mystic Fire SRI AUROBINDO Foreword IN ANCIENT times the Veda was revered as a sacred book of wisdom, a great mass of inspired poetry, the work of Rishis, seers and sages, who received in their illumined minds rather than mentally constructed a great universal, eter- nal and impersonal Truth which they embodied in Mantras, re- vealed verses of power, not of an ordinary but of a divine inspi- ration and source. The name given to these sages was Kavi, which afterwards came to mean any poet, but at the time had the sense of a seer of truth, the Veda itself describes them as kavayaÕ satyasrutah, seers who are hearers of the Truth and the Veda itself was called, sruti, a word which came to mean revealed Scripture. The seers of the Upanishad had the same idea about the Veda and frequently appealed to its authority for the truths they themselves announced and these too afterwards came to be regarded as Sruti, revealed Scripture, and were included in the sacred Canon. This tradition persevered in the Brahmanas and continued to maintain itself in spite of the efforts of the ritualistic com- mentators, Yajnikas, to explain everything as myth and rite and the division made by the Pandits distinguishing the section of works, Karmakanda, and the section of Knowledge, Jnanakanda, identifying the former with the hymns and the latter with the Upanishads.