From the Jacket: Hinduism is not merely a religion but a way of life. Hinduism, in its traverse of four thousand years, has accumulated many a belief and practice which encompass the whole socio-religio cultural life of a devout. Since the mythological past, Hinduism is studded with varied signs and symptoms which are mystic in character and symbolic in nature, and are also sacred symbols of spiritualism as well. These symbols are the sacred rivers; mystic mantras like 'OM' and Gayatri; the auspicious symbol of Swastika; the shivalinga, salagram shila or sacred stone objects; Tripundra Tilaks or Urdhapundra tilaks - the process of besmearing the body with different marks of sandal pastes; the sacred conch or Sankha and venerated trees which have medicinal value and spiritual ethos like Tulsi, Vata, Rudraksha, etc. All these are part of modern Hinduism but to many devouts and observers these symbols stand enigmatic! Thus this book attempts to explore and unearth the hidden philosophy of these signs and gauge the socio scientific base and tries to find out the real meaning of ritualistic methodologies of these symbols which are the great objects of veneration of the Hindus down the ages.
About the Author:
Gautam Chatterjee ( b.1958) is a New Delhi based research scholar and holds a Ph.D. Degree in History. He has been contributing to various newspapers, journals and periodicals of national repute for long. Topical writings as well as historical writes-up based on archival records are his forte. He has co authored a book Congress Secret Broadcast and storming Railway Tracks during quit India Movement. This book is considered today as a landmark book on Indian Freedom Struggle. Furthermore, he has contributed in 'Cultural Development of India' ( collection of Essays in Honour of Famous Historian Prof. J.N.Sarkar). Moreover, for over a decade he has done extensive research on Hindu Symbolism and got published many articles on this subject in the famous 'The India Magazine.'
Contents
Preface
7
List of Photographs
11
1
Signs and Symptoms of Hinduism
13
2
Sacred Hindu Scriptures: An Overview
15
3
The Hindu Pantheism
19
4
Sacred Animal Symbols
27
5
The Mysticism of Mantra
30
6
The Mystic Mantra 'OM'
33
The Sacred 'Gayatri' Mantra
36
8
The Sacred Swastika
38
9
Symbol of Temple Worship
41
10
The Symbolic Water and Sacred Rivers
44
Namaskar or Pranam: The Sacred Posture of Hindu Salutation
47
12
The Sacred Sikha
49
The Sivalinga
50
14
Tripundra: The Shaivite Tilaks
58
Salagram Shila
63
16
Urdhapundra: The Vaishnavite Tilaks
70
17
Sankha - The Sacred Conch
77
18
The Symbolism of Sacred Trees
81
Rudraksha: The Tears of Shiva
84
20
The Sacred Tulsi
93
21
The Sacred Bilva Tree
98
22
The Sacred Vata Vriksha
100
23
The Sacred Peepal Tree
102
24
The Sacred Kadali Tree
104
25
Mango Tree
106
26
Betel Leaf or Pan
107
Durba Grass
109
28
Soma Plant
110
29
Sacred Karpura
111
Sacred Flowers
112
Select Bibliography
113
Index
116
Of Related Interest:
Om: An Inquiry into its Aesthetics, Mysticism, and Philosophy (Article)
Namaste: The Significance of a Yogic Greeting (Article)
Symbols of Art, Religion and Philosophy (Hardcover Book)
The Golden Germ: An Introduction to Indian Symbolism (Hardcover Book)
Principal Symbols of World Religions (Paperback Book)
Brahama's Hair The Mythology of Indian Plants (Paperback Book)
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Vedas (1279)
Upanishads (477)
Puranas (740)
Ramayana (892)
Mahabharata (329)
Dharmasastras (162)
Goddess (475)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1292)
Gods (1284)
Shiva (334)
Journal (132)
Fiction (46)
Vedanta (324)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist