Hindu History

The Hindu epic poem Mahabharata by itself is 10 times longer than both the Iliad and Odyssey combined. In this volume, you will discover how the storm god Indra defeated the demon Vritrasura, and how Indra came to respect Vritrasura even though he had to kill him; how King Yayati had to choose between honoring his oath to his father-in-law on the one hand and the Dharma on the other, and what consequences came of his decision; and more.

Known as the twice-born - first into the flesh and again when initiated into their vocation - the Brahmins are a caste devoted to sacred learning. But what Taseer finds in Benares, the holy city of death also known as Varanasi, is a window on an India as internally fractured as his own continent-bridging identity.

There are two kinds of Hindu years: solar and lunar. To understand the lunar calendar, we will first explain the solar year, which governs the lunisolar system. Bengal, including Madras' Orissa, Tamil, and Malayalam districts, used solar years for civil purposes. General religious rites and festivals are regulated by the lunar year and the details of private and domestic life, such as choosing auspicious occasions for marriages and journeys, choosing lucky moments for shaving, etc. Almanacs that follow the lunar year contain details about the solar year.

In this five part lecture series Gwilym Beckerlegge discusses the life and legacy of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), the Hindu teacher who was arguably the first "global guru". Vivekananda has been influential in shaping, among other things, Hindu notions of social activism, and what has come to be known as Modern Yoga, which is now practised beyond India. Gwilym covers the influence of Vivekananda's own guru, the widely revered Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda's fascinating journey from India to the United States and Europe at the turn of the 20th century.

Why are Hindus so ritualistic? Why do they worship idols? Are Hindus supposed to be vegetarian? Why is a Hindu prayer different from a Muslim or Christian prayer? Did the arrival of Muslim invaders a thousand years ago destroy Hindu culture? Answering key questions on Hindu philosophy and associated Indian history in simple, lucid, engaging ways, and exploring the often curious customs and beliefs that are an intrinsic part of the Hindu faith, this Hindi translation of Devdutt Pattanaik's bestseller is a treasure house of information on the complex tenets of Hinduism.

Introducing an Asian mythology trilogy from the creator of the Captivating History series. This book includes three captivating books.

A Letter to a Hindu (also known as "A Letter to a Hindoo") was a letter written by Leo Tolstoy to Tarak Nath Das on 14 December 1908. The letter was written in response to two letters sent by Das, seeking support from the Russian author and thinker for India's independence from colonial rule. In A Letter to a Hindu, Tolstoy argued that only through the principle of love could the Indian people gain independence from colonial rule.

Hinduism is the oldest and the third largest religion by population. There are more than a billion Hindus in India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Mauritius, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, and elsewhere in the world who practice the faith. However, many scholars and practitioners believe that Hinduism is not a religion at all - it is a way of life.

This audiobook contains an easily accessible overview of the Hindu religion, with a focus on those coming from the Western religions and cultures. While quite a few of us in the west are familiar with at least some aspects of the religion (karma, for instance), most of us lack any real depth of understanding of the complexities and nuances of one of the world's oldest and most diverse religions. I hope that by listening to this book you can at least begin to scratch the surface of this rich and intricate religion.