Itihasas, Puranas, Dharma and Other Sastras (The Cultural Heritage of India Volume II)

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Item Code: IDI084
Author: C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar
Publisher: Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture
Edition: 2016
ISBN: 9788185843032
Pages: 766
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 7.3"X 9.61"
Weight 1.57 kg
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Book Description
Introduction

The Cultural Heritage of India, sponsored by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, is at once a symbol of the renaissance of Hindu thought and ideals and a treasure-house of ancient lore. The whole range of Indian civilization and the variegated products of Hindu culture have been reviewed in its several volumes dealing with the religions, philosophies, literature, and the arts and sciences of India from the twilight past to the present day.

The admitted achievements of India in the directions of assimilation, adaptation, and synthesis of diverse, and even conflicting, points of view, will be illustrated by the movements recorded in these volumes. The religious, artistic, and philosophical developments in India demonstrate India's consistent striving towards samavaya, that is reconciliation and concord. Cultural patterns have, of course, been modified from time to time, but different environments, diversified racial contributions, and innumerable local and historical traditions have not basically affected the continuity of Indian culture during six thousand years or more.

Volume II of this literary lour-de-force comprises studies in the Itihasas, Puranas, Dharma and other Sastras. This volume will be specially significant in the light of present-day Indian conditions and would be invaluable for a proper solution of the problem of national integration, which is now exercising the minds of Indian leaders. The conviction of the immanence of the Supreme Being in every all mate entity, leading to a realization of the dignity of each individual is the message taught by this volume and should be of crucial importance for creating those bonds of love and service, which are indispensable for today and tomorrow. From another point of view, the contributions contained in this volume would be of import, as they would put in proper perspective the values emphasized in modern civilization. India, while not disparaging economic advancement or social utility, has always stressed the importance of human personality against all challenges to it. Neither stark individualism nor collectivization can solve the problems confronting humanity today, and this lesson is specially conveyed by the Itihasas and the Puranas.

The Amarakosa, describing the main characteristics of the Puranas, specially points out that the commands of the Vedas are like those of a master (Prabhu Samhita) whereas the teachings of the Itihasas and Puranas may be compared with the advice and counsel of friends ( Suhrt Samhita).

The Epic Age during which the Ramayana and the Mahabharata received their final shape was a period of racial and ideological conflict; and, historically speaking, this period produced the two great Epics as well as the Manu Dharma-Sastra, the Codes of Yajnavalkya, Narada, and Parasara and the earlier Puranas.

Back of the Book

The first historic work of the combined intelligence of all India giving a complete and connected story of her culture and civilization. It is a monument of Indian co-operative research in history, philosophy, religion, fine arts, exact sciences, economics, politics literature, and sociology.

 

SOME OPINIONS

This is the first and it Present the only systematic, and so far as it goes, authoritative encyclopaedia of Indian culture. The printing and the get-up are simply superb.- The Philosophical Quarterly, India.

One of the most notable enterprises of its kind yet attempted in any Asiatic country reached fruition in India recently with the publication of three volumes in which a survey is made of the whole field of Indian religion, history, and culture.- The Straits Times, Singapore, S.S.

The cultural Heritage of India is a monumental compendium of the treasures of Indian thought of centuries.- Romain Rolland.

The volumes are a contribution of the highest value to all students of Indian thought.- Professor A.B. Keith, Edinburgh.

I feel positive that the publication of these volumes will prove to be of great service not only to India, but also to the rest of the world, where ignorance of India and Indian culture has been a very great obstacle to the due appreciation of the part played by India and Indians in the civilization and progress of the world.- General J.B.M. Hertzog, sometime Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.

A work that is encyclopaedic in scope…. The vigour with which India is asserting her individuality and cultural importance points towards a renaissance that will enrich not only India, but the rest of the world as well.- The New York Times, New York.

We get from this encyclopaedic book the impression of a people who at their best display the most exquisite refinement of feeling, the subtlest grace, the nicest delicacy…. And it may happen that it will be to India, as well as to Palestine, that we shall have to look for the spirit which will unite men in building a Kingdom of God Upon earth.- The Times Literary Supplement, London.

From the Jacket

This volume, devoted to the study of the Itihasas, the Puranas, and the Dharma and other Sastras, in of particular significance to modern India. One of the major problems facing the country today is the need to resuscitate and reinterpret those national ideals which, for the most part lying dormant, may even now be clearly discerned as the life - force which, through countless centuries, has maintained the continuity of India's culture.

Those Ideals are treasured in the books dealt with in this volume. The two great epics, the Bhagavad-Gita , the Puranas, and the Dharma and other Sastras all speak to us of the divine nature of man, and of the interdependence in one great spiritual unity of everything that exists. Here these great ideas come to us not, for the most part, in narrative, or exemplified in characters portrayed in moving drama.

It is hoped that this volume will play some part in the realization of the present- day need to grasp afresh those ancient national ideals, that they may once more become the basis of India's social life and foundation of national unity. As India takes her stand upon her own national ideals and her sense of nationality is thus established, those same ideals they are universal truths, will also become a guiding light to the whole world in its complex journey through the maze of modern civilization>

 

Contents
  Publisher's Note vii
  Introduction xxi
  Dr. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar  
 
PART I
 
 
THE TWO GREAT EPICS
 
1 Classical Sanskrit as a vehicle of Indian culture 3
  K. K. Handique, M.A. (Cal. Et. Oxon) Vice- Chancellor, Gauhati University  
2 The Ramayana: Its History and Character 14
  A.D. Pusalker, M.A., LL. B., PH.D. Formerly Assistant Director, and Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay  
3 The Culture of the Ramayana 32
  Swami Nihsreyasananda Ramakrishna Mission  
4 The Mahabharata: Its history and character 51
I P. L. Vaidya, M.A., PH.D.Mayurbhanj Professor of Sanskrit and Pali, Hindu University, Banaras  
II A.D. Pusalker, M.A., LL. B., PH.D.  
5 The Mahabharata: Some aspects of its culture 71
  Hemchandra Raychaudhuri, M.A., PH.D., F.R.A.S.B.Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Calcutta University  
6 Religion and Philosophy of the Epics 80
  A. P. Karmarkar, M.A., LL.B., PH.D. Professor of Indian History and Ancient Indian Culture, Ramnarain College, Bombay; University Teacher, Bombay University  
7 The Influence of the Indian life and literature 95
  Nilmadhav Sen, M.A., D.Litt. Deccan School of Linguistics, Poona  
8 The Ramayana and the Mahabharata in south- East Asia 119
  Bijan Raj Chatterjee, PH.D., (Lond), D.Litt. (Punjab) Principal, Meerut College, U. P.  
 
PART II
 
 
THE GITA LITERATURE
 
9 The Bhagavad-Gita: A General Review of its History and character 135
  S. K. Belvalkar, M.A., PH.D. (Harvard) Professor of Sanskrit (Emeritus), Deccan College, Poona, and Banaras Hindu University  
10 The teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita 158
  Swami Suddhananda Formerly President, Ramakrishna Mission  
11 The Religion of The Bhagavad-Gita 166
  Swami Tapasyananda President, Ramakrishna Ashrama, Trivandram, Kerala  
12 The Bhagavad-Gita: Its synthetic Character 180
  Swami Viresyananda General Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission  
13 The Bhagavad-Gita: Its Early Commentaries 195
  Mahendra Nath Sarkar, M.A., PH.D.Formerly Professor of Philosophy, Presidency College, Calcutta  
14 Imitations of the Bhagavad-Gita and later Gita Literature 204
  Parameswara Aiyar, B.L. Retired Sub-judge  
 
PART III
 
 
THE PURANAS
 
15 Indian Mythology 223
  R.N. Dandekar, M.A., PH.D. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona  
16 The Puranas 240
  Rajendra Chandra Hazra, M.A., PH.D., D. Litt. Associate Professor of Smrti and Puranas (Research Departmental, Sanskrit College), Calcutta  
17 The Upapuranas 271
  Rajendra Chandra Hazra, M.A., PH.D., D. Litt.  
18 The Ethics of the Puranas 287
  C.S. Venkateswaran, M.A., PH.D. Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Annamalai University  
 
PART IV
 
 
THE DHARMASASTRAS
 
19 The Dharma-sutras and the Dharma sastras 301
  V. A. Ramaswami Sastri, M.A. Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Annamalai University  
20 The Smartis: their outlook and character 312
  T. R. Venkatarama Sastri, C.I.E. Formerly Advocate-General, Madras  
21 The Manu samhita 335
  V. Raghavan, M.A., PH.D. Professor of Sanskrit, Madras University  
22 The Nibandhas 364
  Dinesh Chandra Bhattachrya, M.A. Formerly Professor, Mohsin College, Hooghly  
23 Penances and vows 381
  Dinesh Chandra Bhattachrya, M.A.  
24 The Hindu Sacraments (Samskaras) 390
  Principal, Banaras Hindu University  
25 The Historical Background and theoretic basis of Hindu law 414
  P. B. Gajendragadkar Judge, Spureme Court of India  
26 The Hindu Judicial system 434
  P. B. Mukharji Judge, Calcutta High Court  
 
PART V
 
 
ARTHA-SASTRA, NITI-SASTRA, AND OTHER SOURCES OF POLITICAL AND ORGANIZATION
 
27 A general survey of the literature of Artha- Sastra and Niti -Sastra 451
I U.N. Ghoshal, M.A. PH.D. Formerly Professor of History, Presidency College, Calcutta  
II V. Radhagovinda Basak, M.A., PH.D. Formerly Professor, Presidency College, Calcutta  
28 Political Organization: The Monarchical States 465
  U.N. Ghoshal, M.A., PH.D.  
29 Political Organization: Republics and mixed constitutions 480
  U.N. Ghoshal, M.A., Ph.D.  
30 The state in relation to religion in ancient India 485
  K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, M.A. Formerly Professor of Indian History, Madras University  
31 Some Aspects of social and Political evolution in India 493
  C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, B.A., B.L., LL.D., D.Litt. Formerly Vice- Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University  
32 Some basic ideas of Political Thinking in ancient India 509
  Benoy Kumar Sircar, M.A., Dr. H. C. Formerly Professor, Calcutta University  
33 The Tiru-K- Kural 530
  C. Rajagopachari, Bharat Ratna, B.A., B.L. Formerly Governor General of India  
34 The Indian organization: An anthropological study 536
  Dr. (Mrs.) Iravati Karve Deccan College, Poona  
35 Some of social life in ancient India 557
  H. C. Chakladar, M.A. Formerly Head of Anthropology, Calcutta University  
36 Monasticism in India 582
  Sukumar Datta, M.A., PH.D. Formerly Reader in English, Delhi University  
37 Some Aspects of the Position of Women in ancient India 594
  D.C. Ganguly, M.A., D.Phil. Curator, Victoria Memorial, Calcutta  
38 Some reflections on the ideals of Indian Womanhood 601
  Roma Chaudhury, M.A., D.Phil. Principal, Lady Brourne College, Calcutta  
39 Foreign elements in India population 610
  Mrs. Debala Mitra, M.A. Assistant Superintendent of Archaeology, Indian Museum, Calcutta  
40 Some Experiments in Social reform in mediaeval India 627
  P. N. Chopra, M.A., PH.D.,Member, Board of Editors, 'History of freedom Movement of India'  
41 Ancient Indian Education 640
I Radha Kumud Mookerji, M.A., PH.D., Formerly Vice- Chancellor, Emeritus Professor of History, Lucknow University  
II- III U.N. Ghoshal, M.A., PH.D.  
42 Economic Ideas of the Hindus 655
  A.D. Pusalker, M.A., LL.B., PH.D.  
43 Guilds and other corporate bodies 670
  U.N. Ghoshal, M.A., PH.D.  
  Bibliography 681
  Index 695

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