Hindu Literature

The Vedas are a large body of religious literature that dates back to ancient India. Written in Vedic Sanskrit, the writings form the earliest stratum of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda are the four main Vedas. This book guides and offers the reader with a grasp of the theological place, purpose, and spiritual essence of the Vedas as well as other additional texts that constitute a whole.

The Mahabharata and the Ramayana, two of India's greatest epics and foundational texts for modern Hinduism, both center on the supreme deity Vishnu and his two most adored incarnations, Krishna and Rama. These Epic books include a richness of philosophy and religion, as well as instructions for living a moral and upright life, all of which are woven throughout the tales that make up its heart. This book provides the reader with an understanding of the main events that shape the narratives, and further analyzes the characters, messages, and lessons that may be inferred.

Prithvi, a twenty-one-year-old, is searching for a mysterious middle-aged aghori (Shiva devotee), Om Shastri, who was traced more than 200 years ago before he was captured and transported to a high-tech facility on an isolated Indian island. When the aghori was drugged and hypnotized for interrogation by a team of specialists, he claimed to have witnessed all four yugas (the epochs in Hinduism) and even participated in both Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The first battle is lost. The book of Mritsanjeevani is in the wrong hands but Nagendra's plans are not limited only to immortality. What seemed to be the end of all wars was just the beginning of an incredible journey in search of a hidden verse. Om is still incomplete without the knowledge of his past, but he is not alone anymore. Two of the mightiest warriors of all time stand by his side. Two mysterious warriors stand unconditionally with Nagendra too or is there a hidden agendas behind all the allies? Who are LSD and Parimal in real and who is Om?

Karna, the King of Anga, is distraught after the recent demise of a closed one. And to achieve salvation, he seeks to hurt the ones who are closest to him. Satyasena, the firstborn son to Karna, holds no mantle to his popular father but he strives for it. To become better, he’s ready to lose everything. Shanaya, the queen of Anga, takes care of the throne during her husband’s absence, but recent moral duties have begun to confront her past and probably betray the present.

Adopted by Brahma Corp's Assassin Guild and raised as one of their own, Malina Hayes is about to make her 50th kill. After bringing down 49 of London's worst criminals, this latest job shouldn't be a big deal. But if Malina is successful, she'll receive her first milestone mark. Ascension in the ranks, better pay, and a swanky flat in Soho all sound like very good reasons to make this kill count. But fate and destiny have different plans for Malina. Seconds away from receiving the coveted milestone mark, Malina is torn away from the world she knows.

Locked in the stories, symbols and rituals of Vishnu is the wisdom of the ancestors, transmitted over hundreds of years. This book attempts to unlock seven secrets that are relevant even in modern times.

Shiva, 'the destroyer' among the Hindu trinity (of gods), is depicted in many contradictory manners. The author, Devdutt Pattanaik, introduces listeners to these varied aspects and representations, and then sets about interpreting them. He explains the different anomalies and conflicts in beliefs, as well as the symbolism, rituals and reasons behind Hindu worship.

The Upanishads are all composed in Sanskrit and every word in Sanskrit has multiple meanings and translators and commentators have interpreted the words and terms differently. One can read and study the Upanishads for many reasons. It could be to complete one’s understanding of Vedic literature from a historical or intellectual standpoint, or to understand Brahman and gain liberation. Which Upanishad should one begin with, or should one proceed directly to the Brahma Sutra and their innumerable commentaries? Here, we introduce the reader to several compilations of the Upanishads, many of ...

Uncover the fascinating world of the Ramayana, one of the world's largest ancient epics, and discover the defining aspects of the Gods, deities, and characters that populate its pages. The Ramayana is a timeless tale of good versus evil, love versus loss, and the triumph of righteousness over adversity. This book explores the complex and nuanced personalities of the Ramayana's cast of characters, from the noble Rama and Sita to the villainous Ravana. If you are interested in Hindu religion, Vedic literature, Sanskrit language, Indian culture, mythology, or simply want to learn more about ...

With this collection of classic tales from India, you will learn about the playful, loyal, strong, loving, and wise gods, goddesses, and heroes of India. You will discover how the deity Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, got his elephant head; how the goddess Parvati won the heart of the great god Shiva; and how the goddess Ganga came to Earth from Heaven in the form of the holy Ganges River. You will discover how Krishna’s childhood as superhero and mischievous boy prepared him to fulfill his destiny as an avatar of the god Vishnu.

Taken literally, stories, symbols and rituals of Hindu mythology have much to say about gender relationships. Taken symbolically, they reveal many more things about humanity and nature. Which is the correct reading? The third title in the bestselling Hindu Trinity series focuses on the goddess, and respected mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik tries to unravel the secrets locked within her stories, symbols and rituals.

The fundamental sense of the Goddess is behind all the major mantras of the Vedic seers. The mantras are her changes that bring the Gods to life. Her rhythms are mystical mantras and chants that unveil the names and natures of the Divine. She dances, and the Gods appear, as the narrative of her dance evolves. She is their hidden power, the actual inner force that operates without external display or personal attribution. This tribute to the Goddess is the foundation of all creative growth. In this book, we summon the seeds of Her infinite knowledge like the first rays of Dawn which ...

Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she lock the front door? Is there a terrible reason her mom is late? Recently her anxiety has been getting out of control, but one thing that has always soothed her is drawing. Kiki's sketchbook is full of fanciful doodles of the rich Indian myths and legends her mother has told her over the years. One day, her sketchbook's calming effect is broken when her mythological characters begin springing to life right out of its pages and Kiki ends up falling into the mystical world she drew.

We briefly examine the theological conceptions of Father, Mother, son, and daughter in the Vedas. We expand upon the translations of select Rig Vedic verses. These showcase the anthropomorphic relation and reverence for divinity within the conceived context of ancient Vedic civilization. Beyond the bounds of time, these Hymns call out to remind us of the ultimate purpose of existence and Human existence.

We think of love stories as those that end in happily-ever-after. But thousands of years ago, in ancient India, love was understood in a different way—as one of the four aims of life, as a means for spiritual growth, as a celebration of the play of the Divine. As something profound, beautiful, and sometimes elusive.

Unveiling Saraswati: The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Art & Wisdom Uncover the transformative journey of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. This comprehensive guide explores her evolution from a powerful Vedic river to a central deity in Hinduism's rich mythology. Dive into Saraswati's Ancient Origins: Explore her roots in the Vedas, where she personified purifying waters and transformed into the very essence of knowledge. Discover Saraswati's Diverse Aspects: Delve into her multifaceted roles as the goddess of cosmic order, speech, the feminine ...

Much of today's uncertainty over mantras stems from the debate about their intrinsic meaningfulness or meaninglessness. The source of the issue is our prevalent modern conception of language. Language is regarded to be really and most completely experienced in its oral form in Indian tradition, but the modern approach tends to limit language to the recorded word and then examine it for a one-to-one connection with objective reality. In this book, we review instances of ancient Hindu philosophy of language that was used to investigate the nature of ceremonial utterances against the backdrop ...

Chanakya Niti or Cāṇakya Nīti (IAST) (चाणक्य नीति) is a compilation of Sanskrit (संस्कृत) verses, known as aphorisms by Chanakya (आचार्य चाणक्य: 375–283 BCE). He was a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist and a royal advisor. He authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashāstra (अर्थशास्त्र). He is considered the pioneer in the field of political science and economics in India. Around 321 BCE, Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor, Chandragupta, in his rise to ...

The God Agni, the holy Fire, is the primary expression of consciousness. He is the ultimate, unchanging, and inextinguishable consciousness that endures through and beyond all changes, the flame that never dies, even in the deepest darkness; he is the force that moves everything, the fundamental light and energy that lies behind all transformations. In this book we introduce the reader to the spiritual and theological significance of Agni, and examine select verses from the Rig Veda dedicated to him.