Bhaga Vad-Gita
THE HISTORICAL GAME-CHANGES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEVOTION AND CASTE AS USED AND MISUSED BY THE BHAGA VAD-GITA BY - ,<" DR. THILAGAVATHI CHANDULAL BA, MBBS (Madras), MRCOG, FRCOG (UK), MDiv. (Can) TOWARDS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MA IN PHILOSOPHY TO THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES BROCK UNIVERSITY ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA, L2S 2Al © 5 JANUARY 2011 11 THREE EPIGRAPHS ON THE ATHLETE OF THE SPffiIT Majority of us are born, eddy around, die only to glut the grave. Some - begin the quest, 'eddy around, but at the first difficulty, getting frightened, regress to the non-quest inertia. A few set out, but a very small number make it to the mountain top. Mathew Arnold, Rugby Chapel Among thousands of men scarcely one strives for perfection, and even among these who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows Me in truth. The Bhagavad-Gita 7. 3 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. St. Paul, First Letter to the Corinthian Church, 9.24-25 111 Acknowledging my goodly, heritage Father, Savarimuthu's world-class expertise in Theology: Christian, Lutheran and Hindu Mother, Annapooranam, who exemplified Christian bhakti and nlJrtured me in it ~ Aunt, Kamalam, who founded Tamil grammar and literature in me in my pre-teen years Daughter, Rachel, who has always been supportive of my education Grandchildren, Charisa and Chara, who love and admire me All my teachers all my years iv CONTENTS Abstract v Preface VI Tables, Lists, Abbreviations IX Introduction to bhakti X Chronological Table XVI Etymology of bhakti (Sanskrit), Grace (English), Anbu (Tamil), Agape (Greek) XVll Origin and Growth of bhakti xx Agape (love) XXI Chapter 1: Game-Changes in bhakti History: 1 Vedic devotion Upanishadic devotion Upanishads and bhakti The Epics and bhakti The Origin of bhakti .
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