DOCSLIB.ORG

The Viṣṇu Purāṇa ANCIENT ANNALS of the GOD with LOTUS EYES

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Viṣṇu Purāṇa ANCIENT ANNALS of the GOD with LOTUS EYES The Viṣṇu Purāṇa ANCIENT ANNALS OF THE GOD WITH LOTUS EYES The Viṣṇu Purāṇa ANCIENT ANNALS OF THE GOD WITH LOTUS EYES Translated from the Sanskrit by McComas Taylor For my grandchildren Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] Available to download for free at press.anu.edu.au ISBN (print): 9781760464400 ISBN (online): 9781760464417 WorldCat (print): 1247155624 WorldCat (online): 1247154847 DOI: 10.22459/VP.2021 This title is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode Cover design and layout by ANU Press Cover image: Vishnu Reclining on Ananta. From Sage Markandeya’s Ashram and the Milky Ocean, c. 1780–1790. Mehrangarh Museum Trust. This edition © 2021 ANU Press Contents Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Glossary xv Introduction 1 The purāṇas 1 The Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3 Problems with dating 4 Authorship 6 The audience 6 Relationship to other texts 7 The nature of Viṣṇu 10 Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa 12 The other avatāras 13 The purāṇic thought-world 14 Divine and semi-divine beings 18 Elements of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa 21 The six books 25 The Sanskrit text 32 Other translations 33 About this translation 34 References 38 Book One: Creation 43 1. Maitreya asks Parāśara about the world 43 2. Parāśara praises Viṣṇu; Creation 45 3. The divisions of time 50 4. Brahmā creates the world anew 52 5. Brahmā creates living beings 57 6. Human society 62 7. The first patriarchs 65 8. The eight forms of Rudra 68 9. The sage Durvāsas curses Indra; Churning of the ocean 71 10. Descendants of the first patriarchs and Dakṣa’s daughters 82 11. The birth of Dhruva 83 12. The trials of Dhruva 88 13. Dhruva’s descendants 96 14. Pṛthu’s descendants 103 15. The Pracetases, Māriṣā, the Ādityas and Prahlāda 107 16. Maitreya asks about Prahlāda 119 17. Prahlāda instructs the Daitya boys 120 18. Prahlāda instructs his gurus 128 19. Prahlāda’s torments continue 131 20. Prahlāda achieves liberation 138 21. Kaśyapa’s descendants and the origin of the Maruts 141 22. Brahmā appoints sovereigns; Nature of the Absolute 144 Book Two: The World 151 1. Priyavrata distributes the continents 151 2. Jambūdvīpa, ‘Land of the Rose-Apple Tree’ 154 3. The land of Bhārata 158 4. Plakṣadvīpa and the other continents 160 5. The lower realms; The serpent Śeṣa 167 6. The hell realms 169 7. The upper spheres; The power of Viṣṇu 173 8. The movement of the sun; Time; The heavenly paths 176 9. The source of rain 185 10. The carriage of the sun 187 11. The sun’s energy 188 12. The moon and planets 190 13. ‘Foolish’ Bharata 194 14. Bharata teaches the highest goal 201 15. Ṛbhu’s discourse on the highest truth 203 16. Ṛbhu’s discourse continues 206 Book Three: Society 209 1. The past and present Manvantaras 209 2. The future Manvantaras 212 3. The Vyāsas arrange the Vedas; The syllable Oṃ 216 4. The origin of the four Vedas 218 5. The branches of the Yajur Veda 220 6. The branches of the Sāma and Atharva Vedas; The purāṇas 223 7. How to escape death: Yama’s song 225 8. The four communities 229 9. The four stages of life 232 10. Birth and marriage 234 11. Rituals of the householder 236 12. The conduct of the wise 246 13. Rituals relating to birth and death 250 14. The śrāddha ritual for the ancestral spirits 253 15. Conducting a śrāddha 255 16. Śrāddha offerings 260 17. The protection afforded by the Vedas; Viṣṇu’s phantom 262 18. The phantom confounds the demigods 265 Book Four: The Royal Dynasties 275 1. The Solar Dynasty: The lineage of Manu 275 2. Manu’s sons Dhṛṣta, Nābhāga and Ikṣvāku 279 3. The descendants of Ambarīṣa 287 4. Sagara’s sons excavate the ocean; The story of Rāma 289 5. The legend of Nimi: Why we blink 294 6. The Lunar Dynasty 296 7. King Jahnu drinks the Gaṅgā dry 300 8. The descendants of Purūravas’s son Āyus 302 9. Āyus’s son Raji usurps Indra 303 10. Āyus’s grandson Yayāti exchanges old age for youth 304 11. Yayāti’s son Yadu 306 12. Yadu’s descendant Jyāmagha rescues a princess 307 13. Kṛṣṇa and the Syamantaka jewel 309 14. The ancestry of Kṛṣṇa’s father, Vasudeva, and his nemesis, Śiśupāla 317 15. Hiraṇyakaśipu, Rāvaṇa and Śiśupāla 319 16. Yayāti’s son Turvasu 321 17. Yayāti’s son Druhyu 322 18. Yayāti’s son Anu 322 19. Yayāti’s son Puru 323 20. The lineages of the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas 325 21. The future descendants of Parīkṣit 327 22. The future descendants of Bṛhadbala 328 23. The future descendants of Bṛhadratha 329 24. Future kings; The age of Kali 329 Book Five: Kṛṣṇa 337 1. The union of Vasudeva and Devakī 337 2. The deities praise Devakī 344 3. The advent of Kṛṣṇa 345 4. Kaṃsa plots to kill Kṛṣṇa 348 5. Kṛṣṇa slays Pūtanā 349 6. Kṛṣna’s childhood 351 7. Kṛṣṇa subdues the serpent Kāliya 354 8. Balarāma defeats Dhenuka the Donkey-Demon 361 9. Balarāma destroys Pralamba the Cowherd-Demon 362 10. Autumn in the cattle camp 365 11. Kṛṣṇa raises Mount Govardhana 368 12. Indra praises Kṛṣṇa 370 13. Kṛṣṇa delights the herding women 372 14. Kṛṣṇa slays Ariṣṭa the Bull-Demon 376 15. Kaṃsa sends Akrūra to the cattle camp 377 16. Kṛṣṇa slays Keśin the Horse-Demon 379 17. Akrūra arrives at the cattle camp 381 18. Kṛṣṇa sets out for Mathurā 384 19. Kṛṣṇa slays the washerman and blesses the garland-maker 388 20. Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā; The wrestling bout; Kaṃsa’s demise 390 21. Ugrasena is reinstated 397 22. Kṛṣṇa battles Jarāsandha 399 23. Kṛṣṇa leads the Yādavas to Dvārakā 401 24. Balarāma returns to the cattle camp 404 25. Balarāma diverts the Yamunā River 406 26. Kṛṣṇa abducts Rukmiṇī 407 27. Kṛṣṇa’s son Pradyumna is taken by a demon 408 28. Pradyumna’s son Aniruddha; Balarāma slays Rukmin 411 29. Kṛṣṇa slays the demon Naraka and retrieves Aditi’s earrings 413 30. Aditi praises Kṛṣṇa 415 31. Kṛṣṇa plants the Pārijāta tree in Dvārakā 421 32. Uṣā dreams of Aniruddha 422 33. Aniruddha is bound by Bāṇa and freed by Kṛṣṇa 424 34. Kṛṣṇa burns Vārāṇasī 428 35. Balarāma threatens Hastināpura 431 36. Balarāma defeats the giant monkey Dvivida 434 37. The destruction of the Yādavas 436 38. Arjuna leads the women from Dvārakā 441 Book Six: Dissolution 449 1. The decline of virtue in the age of Kali 449 2. Vyāsa reveals the single virtue of the Kali age 453 3. The causal dissolution at the end of every aeon 456 4. The elemental dissolution 459 5. The final dissolution and the nature of suffering 463 6. Khāṇḍikya and his cousin Keśidhvaja 469 7. Keśidhvaja instructs Khāṇḍikya in yoga 473 8. The benefits of listening to theViṣṇu Purāṇa 481 Appendix 487 Selective index 491 Preface Viṣṇu is a central deity in the Hindu pantheon, especially in his manifestation as the seductive cattleherding youth, Kṛṣṇa. The purāṇas are a genre of sacred texts, which, as the Sanskrit name implies, are collections of narratives from ‘long ago’. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa is thus an ancient account of the universe and a guide to life, which places Viṣṇu–Kṛṣṇa at the centre of creation, theology and reality itself. This text, composed about 1,500 years ago, provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the most important themes and narratives that constitute the Hindu imagination: the cyclical creation and destruction of the universe, the origin of gods and mortals, the peopling of the world and the structure and conduct of ideal brahminical society. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa describes the trials of exemplary devotees, the existential struggles between gods and demons and the exploits of legendary cultural heroes. It also contains many ecstatic songs of praise for the deity. The ever- popular accounts of Kṛṣṇa’s love games with the cattle-herding girls of Vṛṇdāvana—which have proliferated in literature, dance, song and visual arts over the millennia—are found here in authoritative form. This introduction provides background information to help non-specialist readers understand, appreciate and, most importantly, enjoy the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. It begins by describing the purāṇas as a genre, noting the difficulty of assigning specific dates and authors to individual texts. This is followed by an outline of the relationship between the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and other master texts of the Sanskritic archive. I then outline the theology of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, describing the place of the deity in the Hindu pantheon, along with his avatāras—his physical manifestations who have ‘crossed down’ into the world—including Kṛṣṇa. xi THe VIṣṇU PurāṇA To assist readers in navigating the purāṇic thought-world, the various classes of divine, semi-divine and mortal beings that inhabit these accounts are described. I will briefly discuss the different elements that make up the text, beginning with the overall framing narrative, the verse and prose sections, the embedded subnarratives, the extensive genealogical lists and the all-important songs of praise. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa is divided into six parts (aṃśa) or books, which I have labelled for convenience: ‘Creation’, ‘The World’, ‘Society’, ‘The Dynasties’, ‘Kṛṣṇa’ and ‘Dissolution’. each book is summarised to provide the reader with a convenient overview of the entire work. I conclude this introduction with a few notes on the various Sanskrit versions of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, earlier translations and an explanation of how I approached some of the dilemmas faced by every translator, especially those working with Sanskrit texts.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • On Word-Numerals in Nāgavarma's Canarese Prosody | IJJS
    International Journal of Jaina Studies (Online) Vol. 15, No. 3 (2019) 1-21 ON WORD-NUMERALS IN NĀGAVARMA’S CANARESE PROSODY Dipak Jadhav 1. Introduction In India, three major systems, based on alphabets of Devanāgari script or words of a particular Indian language such as Sanskrit or Prakrit or Canarese, were developed for expressing numbers. The two are the kaṭapayādi system1 and Āryabhaṭa I’s alphabetical notation2 and the other one is word-numerals (bhūta-saṃkhyā). These systems excluding Āryabhaṭa I’s alphabetical notation have been widespread in India in various disciplines of learning including not only mathematics but also prosody. The purpose of these systems was two-fold. One was to preserve important results.3 The other was to compose the verses using these systems in accordance with the requirements of their metres.4 In the system of word-numerals, numbers were expressed by means of significant words often arranged as in the decimal place-value notation. For example, 4 is represented by kṛta5 as it is a special term, meaning cater, employed in India for the dice or the side of a dice with four dots.6 The word-numerals are found to have been used in India long before the commencement of the Christian era. The earliest instance of a word being used to denote a whole number is found in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa. The word used therein is kṛta denoting 4. The same word for the same purpose was also used in the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa. The word gāyatrī (Vedic metre or metre of 24 syllables) denoting 24 is found to have been used in the Kātyāyana Śrauta Sūtra.
    [Show full text]
  • 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]
  • Dr. Devala Rao Garikapati C.V CURRICULUM-VITAE Dr. Devala
    Dr. Devala Rao Garikapati C.V CURRICULUM-VITAE Dr. Devala Rao Garikapati M.Pharm, Ph.D., F.I.C. FABAP Professor& Principal H.No. 2-99/1, Kottevari St., 3rd Cross, Ramavarappadu – 521 108 Vijayawada Rural,Amaravati Krishna (Dist), Andhra Pradesh, India Professor of Pharmaceutical Analysis Principal K.V.S.R. Siddhartha college of Pharmaceutical Sciences Siddhartha Nagar, Pinnamaneni Polyclinic Road, [email protected] Vijayawada – 520 010 Fourth February 1964 A.P., India Phone (D) : 0866-2479775, 2493347 Mobile : 098488-27872 Education _____________________________________________________________ Degree Institution & University Division Year _____________________________________________________________ Ph.D Gandhigram Rural -- 2003 Institute – DU, Gandhigram, TN. _____________________________________________________________ M.Pharm Department of Pharmaceutical First and 1989 Sciences, Winner of Andhra University Prof. Viswanadham’s Visakhapatnam Gold medal _____________________________________________________________ B.Pharm Department of First and 1987 Pharmaceutical Sciences AU 2nd Visakhapatnam Rank Holder _____________________________________________________________ F.I.C. Institute of Chemists (India), -- 2005 Kolkata _____________________________________________________________ FABAP Association of Biotechnology -- 2007 And Pharmacy, ANU _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Academic Experience: December 2004 to till date Professor & Principal,
    [Show full text]
  • Study of Caste
    H STUDY OF CASTE BY P. LAKSHMI NARASU Author of "The Essence of Buddhism' MADRAS K. V. RAGHAVULU, PUBLISHER, 367, Mint Street. Printed by V. RAMASWAMY SASTRULU & SONS at the " VAVILLA " PRESS, MADRAS—1932. f All Rights Reservtd by th* Author. To SIR PITTI THY AG A ROY A as an expression of friendship and gratitude. FOREWORD. This book is based on arfcioles origiDally contributed to a weekly of Madras devoted to social reform. At the time of their appearance a wish was expressed that they might be given a more permanent form by elaboration into a book. In fulfilment of this wish I have revised those articles and enlarged them with much additional matter. The book makes no pretentions either to erudition or to originality. Though I have not given references, I have laid under contribution much of the literature bearing on the subject of caste. The book is addressed not to savants, but solely to such mea of common sense as have been drawn to consider the ques­ tion of caste. He who fights social intolerance, slavery and injustice need offer neither substitute nor constructive theory. Caste is a crippli^jg disease. The physicians duty is to guard against diseasb or destroy it. Yet no one considers the work of the physician as negative. The attainment of liberty and justice has always been a negative process. With­ out rebelling against social institutions and destroying custom there can never be the tree exercise of liberty and justice. A physician can, however, be of no use where there is no vita­ lity.
    [Show full text]
  • Upanishad Vahinis
    Glossary This glossary contains Sanskrit words, people, places, and literature that appear in Upanishad Vahini. Some Sanskrit words have made their way into English and appear in English dictionaries. A few of them are used without definition in the text, but they are defined in this glossary. Among them areAtma , dharma, guru, karma, yogas, and yogi. The text uses standard spellings for Sanskrit, and this glossary provides the same spellings. But some of the Sanskrit compounds have been hyphenated between their constituent words to aid those who want to analyze the meanings of individual words. When compound words are broken, individual words are given. Aagama. That which has come or originated. The primeval source of knowledge. A name for Vedas. aapo-jyoti. Splendour of water. abhasa. Appearance, superimposition of false over real. a-bhaya. Fearlessness. a-chetana. Non-intelligent, unconscious, inert, senseless. a-dharma. Evil, unjustice. adhyasa. Superimposition. adi-atma. Pertaining to the individual soul, spirit, or manifestation of supreme Brahman. adi-atmic. Pertaining to adi-atma. adi-bhauthika. Pertaining to the physical or material world; the fine spiritual aspect of material objects. adi-daivika. Pertaining to divinity or fate, e.g. natural disasters. aditya. Sun. Aditya. Son of Aditi; there were twelve of them, one of them being Surya, the sun, so Surya is sometimes called Aditya. a-dwaitha. Nondualism or monism, the Vedantic doctrine that everything is God. a-dwaithic. Of or pertaining to a-dwaitha. agni. Fire element. Agni. God of fire. Agni-Brahmana. Another word for the Section on horse sacrifice. agnihotra. Ritual of offering oblations in the holy fireplace.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ultimate Origin of the World, Or the Mula Muh, and Other Mon Beliefs*
    THE ULTIMATE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD, OR THE MULA MUH, AND OTHER MON BELIEFS* EMMANUEL GUILLON FORMER CHARGE DE CONFERENCE ECOLE PRATIQUE DES HAUTES ETUDES SECTION DES SCIENCES RELIGEUSES PARIS Can we credit the Mons with possessing a world view, a The first things that came into being were the seasons, hot mental universe, a landscape of feelings and emotions, which and cold. They both appeared at once and were followed by we can deduce from their myths, beliefs and rites, and which a wind that never ceased blowing. The air expanded until it thus is uniquely their own? Since we are by no means deal­ became an enormous mass. Then the water appeared and ex­ ing with a human isolate (if indeed such a thing has ever panded also. A mist began to rise up from the water and existed), we will inevitably encounter a network of foreign then fell as rain. The dry season evaporated the water and influences. But such influences often are modified by the the land appeared. The land was able to produce stones and genius of a language and a people. Does there still survive, minerals, and silver, gold, iron, tin and copper soon appeared then, some explanation of the world that can be considered as well as the various precious stones. Then the first kinds of uniquely characteristic of the Mons? vegetation appeared on the gold ore as a kind of moss, fol­ lowed by grass and all the other plants of the vegetable Mula Muh kingdom. There,does exist, in fact, a cosmology of which we have "The four elements had the propensity to produce living beings.
    [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]
  • Proquest Dissertations
    Daoxuan's vision of Jetavana: Imagining a utopian monastery in early Tang Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Tan, Ai-Choo Zhi-Hui Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 25/09/2021 09:09:41 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/280212 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are In typewriter face, while others may be from any type of connputer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 DAOXUAN'S VISION OF JETAVANA: IMAGINING A UTOPIAN MONASTERY IN EARLY TANG by Zhihui Tan Copyright © Zhihui Tan 2002 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2002 UMI Number: 3073263 Copyright 2002 by Tan, Zhihui Ai-Choo All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Kamandakiya Nitisara; Or, the Elements of Polity, in English;
    ^-v^lf - CAMANDAKIYA NITISARA OR THE ELEMENTS OF POLITY (IN ENGLISH.) -»r—8 6 £::^»» ^sjfl • EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY MANMATHA NATH DUTT, M.A., M.R.A.S. Rector, Keshub Academy ; ulhor of the English Translations of the Ramayana, S^rtniadbhagct' vatam, Vishnupuranam, Mahabharata, Bhagavai-Gita and other ivorks. > i . 1 J ,',''' U 3© I 3 t > « t , ^ -I > J J J I > ) > 3 ) ) 11 CA LCUTTA: Printed by H. C. Dass, Elysium Press, 65/2 Beadon Streei. 180O, CARPENTIER • • • • •« • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • I .« « _• t . • • • « • • «! C < C < C I < C ( t ( I < 4 • • • . INTRODUCTION. -:o:- ^HE superiority of the ancient Hindus in metaphysical and theological disquisitions has been established beyond all doubts. Our literature abounds in trca- Polity: its The science Of ^ ^^^^^^ for philosophical discus- sions, sound reasonings and subtle inferences regarding many momentous problems of existence, have not been beaten down by the modern age of culture and enlighten- ment. The world has all along been considered by the ancient Hindu writers as a flood-gate of miseries of existence, and the summum bonum of human existence is, in their view, the unification of the humanity with the divinity. The chief aim of all the ancient writers of India has been to solve the mighty problem, namely, the cessation of miseries of existence and the attainment of the God-head. Admitting their exalted superiority in matters of philosophical and theological speculation, some people of the present generation boldly launch the theory that our literature lacks in works which may serve as a guidance of practical life. To disabuse the popular mind of this perilous misconception, we might safely assert that Hindu writers paid no less attention to practical morals and politics.
    [Show full text]
  • The Krishna Temple Complex, Hampi: an Exploration of Its Identity As a Medieval Temple in the Contemporary Context
    THE KRISHNA TEMPLE COMPLEX, HAMPI: AN EXPLORATION OF ITS IDENTITY AS A MEDIEVAL TEMPLE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Ashima Krishna January, 2009 © 2009 Ashima Krishna ABSTRACT Hindu temples in India have been in abundance for centuries. However, many have lost their use over time. They lie vacant and unused on vast tracts of land across the Indian subcontinent, in a time when financial resources for the provision of amenities to serve the local community are hard to come by. In the case of Hampi, this strain is felt not only by the community inhabiting the area, but the tourism sector as well. Hampi’s immense significance as a unique Medieval-city in the Indian subcontinent has increased tourist influx into the region, and added pressure on authorities to provide for amenities and facilities that can sustain the tourism industry. The site comprises near-intact Medieval structures, ruins in stone and archaeologically sensitive open land, making provision of tourist facilities extremely difficult. This raises the possibility of reusing one of the abundant temple structures to cater to some of these needs, akin to the Virupaksha Temple Complex and the Hampi Bazaar. But can it be done? There is a significant absence of research on possibilities of reusing a Hindu Temple. A major reason for this gap in scholarship has been due to the nature of the religion of Hinduism and its adherents. Communal and political forces over time have consistently viewed all Hindu temples as cultural patrimony of the people, despite legal ownership resting with the Government of India.
    [Show full text]
  • Hanuman Burns Lanka
    “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Sundara Kanda – Chapter 54 Hanuman Burns Lanka Summary Hanuma, with his blazing tail comes out and flits over the horses in Lanka, making up his mind to set fire to the city of Lanka which is the only work let for him to do. Hanuma burns the entire city, barring the abode of Vibhishana. All the demons were frightened o seeing the blazing fire, consuming their city with its trees, houses and a host of living beings. Surprised to see the city burning, the celestials and musicians (Gandharvas) gain a great delight. Chapter [Sarga] 54 in Detail viikshamaanah tato lankaam kapih krita mano rathah | vardhamaana samutsaahah kaarya shesham acintayat || 5-54-1 Then, after fulfilling his heart's wish, Hanuma, looking over Lanka, thought about the remaining act to be done, with an augmented energy. kim nu khalv avishishtam me kartavyam iha saampratam | yat eshaam rakshasaam bhuuyah samtaapa jananam bhavet || 5-54-2 "Which act indeed is remaining now to be done by me here that may further create anguish to these demons?" vanam taavat pramathitam prakrishtaa raakshasaa hataah | bala eka deshah kshapitah shesham durga vinaashanam || 5-54-3 "I have demolished the garden. I have killed excellent demons. I destroyed a portion of the army. The demolition of the fort is still remaining." durge vinaashite karma bhavet sukha parishramam | alpa yatnena kaarye asmin mama syaat saphalah shramah || 5-54-4 "When the fort gets destroyed, the task (of Rama's battle) will be devoid of fatigue. Even with a small
    [Show full text]
  • Bhoga-Bhaagya-Yogyata Lakshmi
    BHOGA-BHAAGYA-YOGYATA LAKSHMI ( FULFILLMENT AS ONE DESERVES) Edited, compiled, and translated by VDN Rao, Retd. General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organization, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, currently at Chennai 1 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 Essence of Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana Essence of Paraashara Smtiti Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Dharma Bindu 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’ (Quintessence of Upanishads) Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Also Essence of Knowledge of Numbers Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika-Essence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities- Essence of Manu Smriti*- Quintessence of Manu Smriti* - *Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskara- Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad*-Essence of Vidya-Vigjnaana-Vaak Devi* Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www.
    [Show full text]