The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism’s Sacred TextsYour essential guide to the Vedas When were the Vedas written, and why? Who were the people who composed them? Where did they come from, how did they live? Questions, conjectures and debates go hand in hand with the Vedas, the sacred keystone texts of Hinduism. Now, noted historian Roshen Dalal sifts through centuries of information and research to present, in a straightforward and succinct manner, an account of the Vedas that is authoritative yet accessible, thus appealing to both scholars and lay readers. In this book, key insights into the Vedas are complemented by a celebration of the poetry that lies within the texts. Using socio-economic data and archaeological and linguistic research, the author introduces us to the Vedic era, enabling us to understand the culture and philosophy that produced these ancient and sublime texts. • Based on original research and numerous authoritative sources, including auxiliary texts and early commentaries • Appendices featuring selected hymns from all four Vedas, and listing all the hymns that make up the Rig Veda • Conveniently cross-referenced with a wealth of information |
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Thank you for the book ! Vrajendra Vyas.
Contents
The Iranian Connection | |
The IndoIranian Homeland | |
The Rig Veda | |
The Tribes and Clans | |
The Archaeological Setting | |
Religion | |
Ritual and Sacrifice | |
The Beginnings of Medicine | |
Two Spiritual Interpretations | |
Conclusion | |
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Common terms and phrases
According Adhyaya Adityas Afghanistan Agni ancient Angirasa animals apsaras Aranyaka ashvamedha Ashvins asuras Atharva Veda Atreya Bharadvaja Brihaspati cattle chariot composed cows culture deities devas disease divine earth fire Gathas goat goddess gods Grihya Harappan heaven homeland horse hymns identified India indicate Indo-Aryan Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indra Indra Indra Indus Iran Iranian Kanda Kanva king known languages later texts Later Vedic linguist Mahabharata Mandala Manu Maruts mentioned metres Mitra Mitra-Varuna offered passage plants pottery praise Prajapati Prapathaka prayers priests Prithivi Puranas Purusha Pushan R.T.H. Griffith referred region Rig Veda Rig Vedic rishi rituals river Rudra Sama Veda Sanskrit Sarasvati Savitr scholars shakhas Shatapatha Brahmana Shrauta Soma Soma sacrifice Soma Soma Soma suktas Surya Sutras term theory Upanishad Vajasaneyi Samhita Vamadeva Gautama various Varuna Vasishtha Vasishtha Maitravaruni Vayu Vedic Samhitas verses Vishnu Vishvamitra Vishvedevas Yajur Veda yakshma Yama Yamuna Yasht Younger Avestan Zarathushtra