This Volume, The First To Appear In The Ten Volume Series Published By The Sahitya Akademi, Deals With A Fascinating Period, Conspicuous By The Growing Complexities Of Multilingualism, Changes In The Modes Of Literary Transmission And In The Readership And Also By The Dominance Of The English Language As An Instrument Of Power In Indian Society.
"In the middle of India lies a vast land peopled with one of the country's largest tribal populations. Considered as the original inhabitants of this land, with a culture that traces back to pre-Aryan days, the tribals of Madhya Pradesh are as varied as they are vital. Living side by side with their Hindu and Muslim neighbours they have simultaneously managed to enrich and keep separate their cultural identity from theirs." "This book brings to you, for the first time, the exciting world of Madhya Pradesh's many tribes. Interwoven with their myths and legends, and illustrated with stunning colour visuals and with line drawings, here are the textiles and the tattoos, the stonework and the carvings, the totems and the ritual terracottas of the many tribes explained by scholars whose work has led them to spend half a life time with these people."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Crafts express a community’s true cultural identity. Traditional craft works often depict the social and aesthetic character of a society, and have been sustained over time not only because of their rich symbolic content, but also because of their contribution to the socio-economic growth of the region. The rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh is evident from the variety of traditional arts and crafts produced in the state - from textiles to woodwork, jewellery to leather products, and toys to bamboo products and tribal arts, Madhya Pradesh is a cornucopia of artisanal excellence. Its erstwhile royal rulers were enthusiastic patrons of the arts, commissioning exquisite sculptures, paintings, embroidered textiles and jewellery. This book attempts to bring out the strong socio-economic and cultural factors that have been the inspiration for the evolution of the rich tradition of arts and crafts in Madhya Pradesh. Keeping the historical and cultural perspective in mind, Timeless Traditions; Contemporary Forms looks at how these arts and crafts have developed over time, what their status is today and what the future holds for these aesthetic creations.
Kundalini Yoga is the path to freedom. Swami Radha has translated the esoteric teachings of Kundalini into a practical guide for self-investigation. This classic yogic text is a resource for personal development, with the tools for discovering our true source of knowledge and inspiration. Using reflection exercises, meditations and breathing techniques, Swami Radha takes us step by step, chakra by chakra, through an exploration of consciousness. Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? In the practice of Kundalini Yoga, you ask yourself many questions and must always be willing to investigate your answers. As you become stronger at looking for possibilities, you may accept the challenge of discovering the mystery deep within yourself, the innate power that is called Kundalini. "Kundalini Yoga for the West is one of the few books on Kundalni Yoga written by a Westerner that strikes me as being authentic. I always admired Swami Radha for being very faithful to the tradition, yet finding ways to translate that wisdom into Western terms using psychology and imagery that we are familiar with. There are not many teachers who have that capability. Kundalini Yoga for the West is an outstanding accomplishment. I love referring to it, and I always recommend it to people." - Georg Feurstein, Yoga Research and Education Center "The importance of Swami Radha's work is becoming more apparent with every passing year. This book, a wonderful achievement, is a gift to all seekers. It is significant, relevant, and timeless." - Gene Kieffer, Founder/Director of the Kundalini Research Foundation
