Sacred Hindu Symbols

From the Jacket: Hinduism is not merely a religion but a way of life. Hinduism, in its traverse of four thousand years, has accumulated many a belief and practice which encompass the whole socio-religio cultural life of a devout. Since the mythological past, Hinduism is studded with varied signs and symptoms which are mystic in character and symbolic in nature, and are also sacred symbols of spiritualism as well. These symbols are the sacred rivers; mystic mantras like 'OM' and Gayatri; the auspicious symbol of Swastika; the shivalinga, salagram shila or sacred stone objects; Tripundra Tilaks or Urdhapundra tilaks - the process of besmearing the body with different marks of sandal pastes; the sacred conch or Sankha and venerated trees which have medicinal value and spiritual ethos like Tulsi, Vata, Rudraksha, etc. All these are part of modern Hinduism but to many devouts and observers these symbols stand enigmatic! Thus this book attempts to explore and unearth the hidden philosophy of these signs and gauge the socio scientific base and tries to find out the real meaning of ritualistic methodologies of these symbols which are the great objects of veneration of the Hindus down the ages.

About the Author:

Gautam Chatterjee ( b.1958) is a New Delhi based research scholar and holds a Ph.D. Degree in History. He has been contributing to various newspapers, journals and periodicals of national repute for long. Topical writings as well as historical writes-up based on archival records are his forte. He has co authored a book Congress Secret Broadcast and storming Railway Tracks during quit India Movement. This book is considered today as a landmark book on Indian Freedom Struggle. Furthermore, he has contributed in 'Cultural Development of India' ( collection of Essays in Honour of Famous Historian Prof. J.N.Sarkar). Moreover, for over a decade he has done extensive research on Hindu Symbolism and got published many articles on this subject in the famous 'The India Magazine.'

Contents:

    Preface
    List of Photographs
1.  Sighns and Symptoms of Hindustan
2.  Sacred Hindu Scripture: An Overview
3.  The Hindu Pantheism
4.  Sacred Animal Symbol
5.  The Mysticism of Mantra
6.  The Mystic Mantra 'OM'
7.  The Sacred 'Gayatri' Mantra
8.  The Sacred Swastika
9.  Symbol of Temple Worship
10. The Symbolic Water and Sacred Rivers
11. Namashkar or Pranam: The Sacred Posture of Hindu Salutation
12. The Sacred Sikha
13. The Sivalinga
14. Tripundra: The Shaivite Tilaks
15. Salagram Shila
16. Urdhapundra: The Vaishnavite Tilaks
17. Sankha-The Sacred Conch
18. The Symbolism of Sacred Trees
19. Rudraksha: The Tears of Shiva
20. The Sacred Tulsi
21. The Sacred Bilva Tree
22. The Sacred Vata Vriksha
23. The Sacred Peepal Tree
24. The Sacred Kadali Tree
25. Mango Tree
26. Betal Leaf or Pan
27. Durba Grass
28. Some Plants
29. Sacred Karpura
30. Sacred Flowers

    Select Bibliography
    Index

Of Related Interest:

Om: An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy (Article)

Namaste: The Significance of a Yogic Greeting (Article)

Symbols of Art, Religion and Philosophy (Hardcover Book)

The Golden Germ: An Introduction to Indian Symbolism (Hardcover Book)

Principal Symbols of World Religions (Paperback Book)

Brahama's Hair The Mythology of Indian Plants (Paperback Book)