Hinduism

New Bonus Materials added to this edition include: · The last chapter that Yogananda wrote covering the years 1946-1951 that was not available in the original edition. · The eulogy that Yogananda wrote for Gandhi. · A new afterword by Swami Kriyananda, one of Yogananda's closest disciples. · Named One of the Top 100 Spiritual Books of Last Century This is not an ordinary book. It is a spiritual treasure. To read its message of hope to all truthseekers is to begin a great adventure. Paramhansa Yogananda was the first yoga master of India whose mission it was to permanently live and teach in the West. In the 1920's, as he criss-crossed the United States on what he called his "spiritual campaigns," his enthusiastic audiences filled the largest halls of America. His initial impact was truly impressive. But his lasting influence is greater still. This book, first published in 1946, helped launch, and continues to inspire, a spiritual revolution in the West. Only rarely does a sage of Paramhansa Yogananda's stature write a firsthand account of his life experiences. Followers of many religious traditions have come to recognize AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI as a masterpiece of spiritual literature. Yet, for all its depth, it is full of gentle humor, lively stories, and practical common sense. This is a verbatim reprinting of the original 1946 edition. Although subsequent reprintings, reflecting revisions made after the author's death in 1952, have sold over a million copies and have been translated into more than 19 languages, the few thousand of the original have long since disappeared into the hands of collectors. Now, with this reprint, the 1946 edition is again available, with all its inherent power, just as the great master of yoga first presented it.

Hinduism is practised by nearly eighty per cent of India's population, and by some seventy million people outside India. In this Very Short Introduction, Kim Knott offers a succinct and authoritative overview of this major religion, and analyses the challenges facing it in the twenty-first century. She discusses key preoccupations of Hinduism such as the centrality of the Veda as religious texts, the role of Brahmins, gurus, and storytellers in the transmission of divine truths, and the cultural and moral importance of epics such as the Ramayana. In this second edition Knott considers the impact of changes in technology and the flourishing of social media on Hinduism, and looks at the presence of Hinduism in popular culture, considering pieces such as Sita Sings the Blues. She also analyses recent developments in India, and the impact issues such as Hindu nationalism and the politicization of Hinduism have on Hindus worldwide.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of the Lord," is probably the best known of all the Indian scriptures, and Easwaran's clear, accessible translation is the best-selling edition. The Gita opens dramatically, with prince Arjuna collapsing in anguish on the brink of a war that he doesn't want to fight. Arjuna has lost his way on the battlefield of life, and turns to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, the Lord himself. Krishna replies in 700 verses of sublime instruction on living and dying, loving and working, and the nature of the soul. This book includes an extensive and very readable introduction, which places the Gita in its historical setting, explains the key concepts, and brings out the universality of its teachings. Individual chapter introductions prepare the reader for the main themes, and notes, a Sanskrit glossary, and an index are included. Although the battlefield is a perfect backdrop, for Easwaran the Gita's subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. Arjuna's dilemma is acutely modern, and the Gita's message remains as relevant for us now as it was for ancient India.

Among the oldest of India's spiritual texts, the Upanishads are records of intensive question-and-answer sessions given by illumined sages to their students - in ashrams, at family gatherings, in a royal court, and in the kingdom of Death. The sages share flashes of insight, extraordinary visions, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself. The Upanishads have puzzled and inspired wisdom seekers from Yeats to Schopenhauer. In this best-selling translation, Eknath Easwaran makes these challenging texts more accessible by selecting the passages most relevant to readers seeking timeless truths today. This book includes an overview of the cultural and historical setting, with chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary. But it is Easwaran's understanding of the wisdom of the Upanishads that makes this edition truly outstanding. Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in a different way to the reader's head and heart. For Easwaran, the Upanishads are part of India's precious legacy, not just to Hinduism but to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here.

Upanisadernas många anonyma författare levde under de sju sista århundradena före vår tideräkning en tid av dramatiska förändringar i norra Indien, då nya läror som buddhismen och jainismen uppstod. Deras verk ger oss en fascinerande inblick i människans sökande efter sanningen, ofta i form av dialoger mellan mästare och lärjungar. Här möter vi för första gången i den indiska idéhistorien begrepp som karma och yoga, föreställningar om återfödelse och om andlig frigörelse genom självinsikt. Denna bok innehåller de tolv äldsta och mest välkända upanishaderna, som nu för första gången föreligger i direktöversättning från sanskrit till svenska. Den texttrogna översättningen grundar sig på den senaste forskningen, men riktar sig till en bred publik. Detta är ett av hinduismens mest kända verk vid sidan om Bhavadgita (utgavs av Norstedts i översättning av Martin Gansten).

‘Crucial and timely' – VEX KINGSHORTLISTED FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARDS 2025 – BEST WELLBEING BOOKGOLD AWARD WINNER AT THE LIVING NOW AWARDS 2025 - EXERCISE, FITNESS AND YOGA BOOKLearn how to incorporate traditional yoga into your modern practice – and feel the benefits.Yoga in its authentic form is focused on inclusivity, inner work and peace. But the yoga that is practised in the Western world has got a little lost along the way…Join Nikita Desai on her mission to help us understand yoga beyond the physical poses and pricey outfits that we’re so familiar with today. Drawing on research and teachings from ancient sources, Desai helps us navigate this complex practice as we learn how to:- Unpick the problems in modern yoga- Understand the fundamentals of what yoga is in its truest form- Explore key yogic texts and gurus to support our learning- Add in practical elements of traditional yoga to our current practice, both on and off the mat.A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga is the essential companion for anyone who wants to practise yoga respectfully and fully.-- What readers are saying: ‘This was exactly what I never knew I needed to assess my foundation of knowledge’ ‘An outstanding book for yoga lovers and learners everywhere’‘If you are new to yoga practices and you are looking to gain some insight and deepen your connection, jump in, practise, read this book and enjoy the journey’

The Upanishads, the earliest of which were composed in Sanskrit between 800 and 400 bce by sages and poets, form part of the Vedas - the sacred and ancient scriptures that are the basis of the Hindu religion. Each Upanishad, or lesson, takes up a theme ranging from the attainment of spiritual bliss to karma and rebirth, and collectively they are meditations on life, death and immortality. The essence of their teachings is that truth can by reached by faith rather than by thought, and that the spirit of God is within each of us - we need not fear death as we carry within us the promise of eternal life.

Enlighten yourself in 2019 with the simple but powerful teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi - one of India's most revered spiritual masters. 'Our own Self-realization is the greatest service we can render the world'_________Be As You Are is the definitive guide to his knowledge, edited by the former librarian from Sri Maharshi's ashram, which can be found flourishing at the foot of the holy mountain of Arunchala. The book collects conversations with the many seekers who came to him for guidance, answering the questions sought on the road to enlightenment.Through this book, we can discover the essence of Sri Ramana's teaching: that self-realisation is the vital quest we must all pursue, before we can attempt to understand the world.Reissue of the classic spiritual work, updated with a new cover.

'I have heard the supreme mystery, yoga, from Krishna, from the lord of yoga himself.'Thus ends the Bhagavad Gita, the most famous episode from the great Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. In its eighteen short chapters Krishna's teaching leads the warrior Arjuna from perplexity to understanding and correct action, in the process raising and developing many key themes from the history of Indian religions.The Bhagavad Gita is the best known and most widely read Hindu religious text in the Western world. It considers social and religious duty, the nature of sacrifice, the nature of action, the means to liberation, and the relationship of human beings to God. It culminates in an awe-inspiring vision of Krishna as God omnipotent, disposer and destroyer of the universe.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

BKS Iyengar’s translation and commentary on these ancient yoga sutras has been described as the “bible” of yoga.This new edition of the classic text contains a new introduction by BKS Iyengar, as well as a foreword by Godfrey Devereux, author of Dynamic Yoga.Patanjali wrote this collection of yoga wisdom over 2,000 years ago. They are amongst the world’s most revered and ancient teachings and are the earliest, most holy yoga reference.The Sutras are short and to the point – each being only a line or two long. BKS Iyengar has translated each one, and provided his own insightful commentary and explanation for modern readers.The Sutras show the reader how we can transform ourselves through the practice of yoga, gradually developing the mind, body and emotions, so we can become spiritually evolved.The Sutras are also a wonderful introduction to the spiritual philosophy that is the foundation of yoga practise.The book is thoroughly cross-referenced, and indexed, resulting in an accessible and helpful book that is of immense value both to students of Indian philosophy and practitioners of yoga.

World-renowned philosopher and spiritual teacher Ram Dass--author of the groundbreaking classic Be Here Now--presents the contemporary Western audience with a lively, accessible guide to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the classic Hindu text that has been called the ultimate instruction manual for living a spiritual life.

Discover the traditional stories and wisdom behind your favourite yoga poses in this stunningly illustrated book of Indian mythology for yogis of all levels.A beautifully written introduction to Indian mythology, join storyteller, scholar and teacher, Dr Raj Balkaran, and explore the unforgettable tales behind 50 key yoga poses, such as: Vīrabhadrāsana II, the original warrior poseTāḍāsana, mountain poseBhujaṅgāsana, cobra poseGaruḍāsana, eagle posePadmāsana, lotus poseVīrāsana, hero poseŚavāsana, corpse pose Meet iconic Gods and Goddesses, from Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, to Śiva, Lord of Yogis, and Kali, goddess of mind, body, soul and death. Explore the rivalry between the sages Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, and their cosmic feud over a wish-fulfilling cow.Plunge into the depths of one of the richest myths in Hinduism: the battle between the demons and the gods who churn the cosmic oceans in search for the elixir of immortality. And learn how Śiva got his blue throat!  Learn, through the mythology of the poses, more about the roots of this ancient practice and how you can use their teachings to better appreciate and respect yoga’s true origins.  Enhance your practice by reading one story before or at the end of class, and incorporating the poses and their teaching into your life, as well as your yoga practice, and transform the way you view and practice this timeless art.

The earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any Indo-European language, the Rig Veda (c. 1200-900 BC) is a collection of over 1,000 individual Sanskrit hymns. A work of intricate beauty, it provides a unique insight into early Indian mythology, religion and culture. This selection of 108 of the hymns, chosen for their eloquence and wisdom, focuses on the enduring themes of creation, sacrifice, death, women, the sacred plant soma and the gods. Inspirational and profound, it provides a fascinating introduction to one of the founding texts of Hindu scripture - an awesome and venerable ancient work of Vedic ritual, prayer, philosophy, legend and faith.

A richly illustrated tapestry of interwoven studies spanning some six thousand years of history, Daemons Are Forever is at once a record of archaic contacts and transactions between humans and protean spirit beings--daemons--and an account of exchanges, among human populations, of the science of spirit beings: daemon-ology. Since the time of the Indo-European migrations, and especially following the opening of the Silk Road, a common daemonological vernacular has been shared among populations ranging from East and South Asia to Northern Europe. In this virtuoso work of historical sleuthing, David Gordon White recovers the trajectories of both the "inner demons" cohabiting the bodies of their human hosts and the "outer daemons" that those same humans recognized each time they encountered them in their enchanted haunts: sylvan pools, sites of geothermal eruptions, and dark forest groves. Along the way, he invites his readers to reconsider the potential and promise of the historical method in religious studies, suggesting that a "connected histories" approach to Eurasian daemonology may serve as a model for restoring history to its proper place, at the heart of the history of religions discipline.

The Bhagavad Gita is the best known of all the Indian scriptures, and Eknath Easwaran’s best-selling translation is reliable, readable, and profound.Easwaran's 55-page introduction places the Bhagavad Gita in its historical setting, and brings out the universality and timelessness of its teachings. Chapter introductions clarify key concepts, and notes and a glossary explain Sanskrit terms.Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition in India, and learned Sanskrit from a young age. He was a professor of English literature before coming to the West on a Fulbright scholarship. A gifted teacher, he is recognized as an authority on the Indian classics and world mysticism.The Bhagavad Gita opens, dramatically, on a battlefield, as the warrior Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life. Yet, as Easwaran points out, the Gita is not what it seems – it’s not a dialogue between two mythical figures at the dawn of Indian history. “The battlefield is a perfect backdrop, but the Gita’s subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious.”Arjuna’s struggle in the Bhagavad Gita is acutely modern. He has lost his way on the battlefield of life and turns to find the path again by asking direct, uncompromising questions of his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, the Lord himself. Krishna replies in 700 verses of sublime instruction on living and dying, loving and working, and the nature of the soul.Easwaran shows the Gita’s relevance to us today as we strive, like Arjuna, to do what is right.“No one in modern times is more qualified – no, make that ‘as qualified’ – to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.”  – Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions.

A clear and comprehensive guide to understanding Tantra and unlocking its power with the practice of meditation.

ÄNTLIGEN NYUTGÅVA PÅ SVENSKA! Bhagavad-Gita, Herrens sång, är en av världens mest älskade böcker. Genom århundraden har Krishnas ord till den förtvivlade Arjuna väglett villrådiga sökare med sin tidlösa visdom. Bhagavad-Gita visar vägen till ljuset, bevittnandet och glädjen. Den inspirerar och stillar sinnet. Den hjälper dig att öppna ditt hjärta. ”När tvivlen jagar mig...och jag inte kan se en enda stråle av hopp vid horisonten...då vänder jag mig till Bhagavad-Gita...och då börjar jag omedelbart att le trots att jag är överväldigad av sorg.” Mahatma Gandhi ”Gitan är...den eviga kärlekens ljus, som förtar fruktan, min största fiende.” Dan Andersson

Adi Shankaras klassiska Sutras nu äntligen på svenska! Översättning och kommentarer av Jan Fahleman. Atma Bodha, Aparokshanbhuti och Bhaja Govindam är författade av Sri Adi Shankara, troligen i början av 800-talet. Texterna består av verser på rad/tråd – Sutras och beskriver den ickedualistiska filosofin Advaita Vedanta. Sri Shankaras filosofi är baserad på den fullständiga identiteten mellan Atman och Brahman. Allt är Brahman, Gudomens och tillvarons enhet samt Atmans (Själens) gudomlighet. Texten är tillägnad hans lärjunge Padmapada. Den ingår i Prakarana Grantha som är en mängd skrifter eller Upanishader skrivna av lärare eller andliga mästare, som skall bidra till att öka förståelsen för Vedanta. Under resor i Indien med sina lärjungar gav han sig ofta in i filosofoska diskussioner med företrädare för andra filosofier. Det var ett sätt för honom att kunna framhålla Advaita Vedanta. Jan Fahleman

För en västerländsk publik kommenterar Paul Brunton centrala delar av Bhagavadgita, den österländska heliga skriften.Prins Arjuna, en människa med höga andliga ideal, drar ut i striden med bågar, spjut och slamrande sköldar. I denna högdramatiska omgivning får han undervisning av Krishna, den gudomlige läraren. Det ger Arjuna frid i sinnet och kraft och mod att handla. Han inser att hans motståndare är evighetsväsen som han själv.Arjunas strid kunde lika gärna ha förts på marknadsplatsen eller var som helst där materialistiska krafter hotar att förkväva den inre människan.Ur innehållet:Inblickar i högre indisk filosofi; Träd med många grenar; Det Gudomliga Jaget; Medvetandet och världen; Självförverkligande; Många yogasystem; Lärarens roll; Kosmologi; Karmas lag

'When the wheel of sexual ecstasy is in full motion, there is no textbook at all, and no order.'The Kamasutra is the oldest extant Hindu textbook of erotic love. It is about the art of living - about finding a partner, maintaining power in a marriage, committing adultery, living as or with a courtesan, using drugs - and also about the positions in sexual intercourse. It was composed in Sanskrit, the literary language of ancient India, sometime in the third century CE. It combines an encyclopaedic coverage of all imaginable aspects of sex with a closely observed sexual psychology and a dramatic, novelistic narrative of seduction, consummation, and disentanglement. Best known in English through the highly mannered, padded, and inaccurate nineteenth-century translation of Sir Richard Burton, the text is presented here in an entirely new translation into clear, vivid, sexually frank English, together with three commentaries: translated excerpts from the earliest and most famous Sanskrit commentary (13th century) and from a twentieth-century Hindi commentary, and explanatory notes by the two translators. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Until 1951 Nepal was closed to the world, landlocked between the strongest Asian powers, India and China. With its exceptional landscape, it touts the highest mountains and the greatest biodiversity on earth. It is best known as the home of Mt. Everest and holds particular fascination for those interested in climbing the Himalayas. Having long maintained its self-imposed isolation, the nation is one of the least developed in the world. Yet it is inhabited by a remarkably diverse population of 125 ethnic groups, 123 languages, and numerous religions, most notably Hinduism and Buddhism.In this book, South Asia expert Axel Michaels covers the history of Nepal from prehistoric times and the period of the Licchavi dynasty through more recent developments, such as the rise of the republic, the first elections challenged by the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006), and the royal massacre in 2001. Chapters discuss the different principalities on the territory, among them the mysterious and legendary Mustang and Sherpa realms. Since the eighteenth century, these domains have been bundled into a contentious national history. Thus, going well beyond the center of power in the Kathmandu Valley, the book examines Nepal's relations with neighboring cultures in India, Tibet, and China, as well as the influence of British colonial power. It particularly focuses on its rich history of arts, architecture, and handicrafts. Although the Buddha was born in Nepal, the country is the world's last Hindu kingdom and is also a stronghold of Tantric traditions, shamanism, and many folk religions whose festivals and rituals mark daily life. Based on a wealth of primary sources in Nepali, Sanskrit, and other indigeneous languages, Nepal offers a comprehensive and updated history of this unique culture and history.