In India, Astrology Is Not Merely A Method Of Divination, But An Integral Part Of Its Religious And Cultural Traditions. The Book Explores The Interrelatedness Of Astrology, Art And Religion. In The Beginning It Deals With The Foundations Of Hindu Astrology And Its Rich Symbolism. It Then Goes On To Describe The Various Representations Of Astral Symbols In The Traditional Arts Of Sculpture And Painting. Finally, The Book Shows How Artistic Representations Of Astral Deities Such As Planets And Stars Are Used In Ritual And Worship.
The Great Ones Is That Rare Book, Wherein The Artistic And Literary Skill Of The Famous Author Artist V. K. Subramanian Are Applied To An Ennobling Theme: The Life And Work Of The Great Ones, Who Have Contributed To The Advancement Of Human Civilization And Culture.This Book Is The First Volume In A Ten-Volume Series, Each Volume Dealing With 100 Great Ones (Ten Each Category)It Will Be An Ideal Presentation To Every School And College Student, Enabling Them To Learn About The Great Ones Who Have Made A Difference To Life On This Planet By Their Lifework, And Adopt Their Own Role-Models To Emulate.
Provides over 1,000 accessible, informative and authoritative entries that answer any major question about Hinduism, it's mythology, practices, customs and laws India is so vast that each of its regions is a land in its own right, with diverse languages, customs, and cultural traditions. Yet shared social systems, firmly grounded in religious beliefs, provide the cohesive force that unites over a billion people of different backgrounds. Hinduism is the main religion of India, and this new dictionary provides an unrivaled insight to all aspects of Hindu life, past and present. Some thousand illustrated entries elucidate the history of Hinduism, its mythology, art, architecture, religion, laws, and folklore. The development of Hinduism is presented from its ancient manifestations in local cults and epic poems to modern-day festivals and customs worldwide. The complex relationship between the multitude of gods, goddesses, and semi-divine beings is brought to light in the articles on religion and mythology, while its rich imagery is revealed in the entries on architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, and theater, including works of art illustrated here for the first time. Food and etiquette, the caste system, Ayurvedic medicine, love and marriage, and contemporary practices are just a few of the topics explored. Maps and entries on the major cities and places of pilgrimage in India, as well as a concise chronology and a list of principal dynasties, provide a clear overview of the geography, history, languages, and vibrant religious and cultural traditions of Hinduism. This volume will serve as a lively and indispensable guide for those preparing a visit to India, for Indians living in the West, for students, or for anyone interested in the subcontinent. 275 b/w illustrations.
Astrologers play an important role in Indian society, but there are very few studies on their social identity and professional practices. Based on extensive fieldwork carried out in the city of Banaras, Words of Destiny shows how the Brahmanical scholarly tradition of astral sciences (jyotiḥśāstra) described in Sanskrit literature and taught at universities has been adapted and reformulated to meet the needs and questions of educated middle and upper classes in urban India: How to get a career promotion? How to choose the most suitable field of study for children? When is the best moment to move into a new house? The study of astrology challenges ready-made assumptions about the boundaries between "science" and "superstition," "rationality" and "magic." Rather than judging the validity of astrology as a knowledge system, Caterina Guenzi explores astrological counseling as a social practice and how it "works from within" for both astrologers and their clients. She examines the points of view of those who use astrology either as a way of earning their living or as a means through which to solve problems and make decisions, concluding that, because astrology combines mathematical calculations and astronomical observations with ritual practices, it provides educated urban families with an idiom through which modern science and devotional Hinduism can be subsumed.
The Great Ones- Vol. IiiLike Its Predecessor Volumes, One And Two, The Great Ones, Volume Three Continues To Deal With The Life And Work Of The Great Ones Who Have Contributed To The Advancement Of Human Civilization And Culture. As In The Earlier Volumes, The Great Ones Dealt With Fall Into Tan Categories:1. The Great Ones In Art (Painting, Sculpture & Architecture).2. The Great Ones In Literature (Poetry, Drama & Fiction).3. The Great Ones In Science.4. The Great Ones In Medicine And Biology.5. The Great Ones In Exploration (Scientists And Voyageurs).6. The Great Ones In Philosophy.7. The Great Ones In Public Life.8. The Great Ones In Social Reform.9. The Great Ones In Business (Technology, Economics & Management).10. The Great Ones In Entertainment (Music, Movies, Theatre & Sports).As In The Earlier Volumes, The Artistic And Literary Skill Of The Famous Author-Artist Combine To Make The Volume Pleasant To Peruse And Rewarding To Read.This Volume, The Third In A Ten-Volume Series, Would Be An Ideal Presentation To All School And Collage Students, Enabling Them To Learn About The Achievements Of The Great Ones In Diverse Fields Of Human Endeavour And Encouraging Them To Adopt Their Own Role Models To Emulate And Spurring Them On The Discovery, Achievement And Success.
Night and day, month after month, year after year, our ancestors dutifully recorded the passage of time on clay tablets, watching the heavens from stage towers and pyramids and from megalithic monuments whose incredible size and precise architecture boggle the mind. . . . Who were the builders of these mysterious structures? What was their purpose? Whose signature is indelibly written on these timeless stones, and who was the Divine Architect? Why was Stonehenge and its likes built by ancient civilizations at the very same time--4,100 years ago? What is their message for our time? With these questions in mind, Zecharia Sitchin, renowned researcher of past ages, takes us on a journey through the records of time in this, the fifth book of his Earth Chronicles series. Drawing deeply on Sumerian and Egyptian writings, millenia-old artifacts, and sacred architecture ranging from ancient Mesopotamia to pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas, this bestselling scholar provides astounding insights into the origins of the calendar, astronomy, and astrology. He takes readers to the climax circa 2100 b.c. when Marduk, the Babylonian national god, attained supremacy on Earth and proclaimed the New Age of Aries--after which society, religion, science, and the status of women were never the same.
In this ground-breaking study the traditional Indian science of architecture and house-building,Vastu Vidya, is explored in terms of its secular uses, at the levels of both theory and contemporary practice. Vastu Vidya is treated as constituting a coherent and complete architectural programme, still of great relevance today. Chakrabarti draws on an impressive amount of textual material, much of it only available in Sanskrit, and presents several extremely valuable illustrations in support of the theories expounded. Each chapter deals with one architectural aspect, and chapters are divided into three sections. For each aspect, the first section explains the prescriptions of the traditional texts; the second section deals with the rather arbitrary use of that aspect by contemporary Indian architects trained in the western manner but striving to relate to Indian roots; while the last section in each chapter explores the selected use of that particular aspect by contemporary Vastu pundits, with their disregard for architectural idiom.
An authoritative primer to Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, this book draws on the author's extensive study of the tradition. Andrew Mason explains in detail the practical applications of Jyotish, introduces the planets, signs and houses, as well as the many rich and highly entertaining mythologies of the system with an explanation of how to interpret them. He also covers Vedic Astrology's sister science, Ayurveda, and describes how they interact to provide insight into celestial timing, sustained health and general wellbeing. With sample charts that show the applications throughout, the book provides a complete an accessible resource on Jyotish for students of Indian astrology and Ayurveda practitioners. It will also be of interest to anyone with a passion for astrology.
Named "Christian" to avoid hassles (some things never change), this is the most famous, the most celebrated astrology book in the English language. It has been prized by students ever since its first publication in 1647. The Horary Astrology in these pages, in the hands of a master, is no mere parlour game. It is demanding and precise, combining science and art. Properly used, it will give answer to any well-defined question. William Lilly, famous throughout England for his almanacs & forecasts (he predicted London's Great Fire of 1666), lived during the English Civil War & was a minor historical figure in it. Into his studio came the rich and poor, nobles and commoners, with problems great and small. This new edition restores Lilly's original page layouts, with marginalia. Modern spelling throughout, this edition includes Lilly's bibliography, his original index & a new glossary. Also includes his original woodblock charts, and their modern versions. This is Lilly's great work as he himself knew it. In this volume: Book 1, An Introduction to Astrology, containing the use of an ephemeris; the erecting of a scheme of heaven; nature of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, of the planets; with a most easy introduction to the whole art of astrology. Book 2, The Resolution of All Manner of Questions, by a most methodical way, instructs the student how to judge or resolve all manner of questions contingent unto man, viz, of health, sickness, riches, marriage, preferment, journeys, etc. Some 35 questions inserted and judged.
