This book is a first-hand easy-to-read narration of separate group tours to Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram, two of India’s great sacred places. The author of the travelogue, Swami Atmashraddhananda, a former editor of the Vedanta Kesari, first wrote about the pilgrimage through articles in the magazine. Written in a conversational tone and replete with pictures, the book highlights the legends, religious and historical significance of the two places and their association with the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Both the sections of the book begin by explaining the purpose and motivation behind the pilgrimage. This book can be an inspiration to young and old readers all over the world to journey to Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram. Even those who have already been there can look at the places with new eyes.

A first hand account of two of India’s great sacred shrines on the sea shore with details of their legends and religious and historical significance particularly in relation with Swami Vivekananda Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.

Swami Vivekananda in india: A Corrective Biography attempts to inform the reader accurately about his life both before and after his historic visits to the West. Much material has been translated anew from original Bengali books. At the same time it challenges current popular and pious notions held about this humanitarian-monk. The four major chapters in this book are about his meetings with Sri Ramakrishna, his travels in India during 1886-1893, media waves about him in India, and his triumphant return from the West in 1897. Analysis of original eyewitness reports in both India and Western newspapers and periodicals forms an integral part of this biography.

Swami Vivekananda believed that eternal spiritual values alone can hold the ship of human society firmly and give stability to it and, in the process, bring meaning to the varied human activities and endeavours. This book in 9 volumes comprising the speeches and writings of the Revered Swami Ranganathananda, the 13th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, posit the 'Eternal Spiritual Values' as an answer to the many fundamental social, political, economic, and spiritual problems that beset the modern age. Swami Ranganathananda travelled across the world and enthralled people with his magnificent exposition of India's ageless culture. He gave due place to the role of science and technology in human affairs, while remaining firmly rooted in the Indian scriptures. He beckoned to the past only to illumine the present; he held up the spiritual goals of the Vedas and the Upanishads but didn't decry the material benefits of modern science and technology. His exposition of Indian spiritual and social values is as much derived from an intensive study of ancient and modern books as from his own authentic experience as a Sannyasin. Published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, volumes 1 and 2 deal with ‘Philosophy and Spirituality’, volumes 3 and 4 with ‘Great Spiritual Teachers’, volumes 5 and 6 with ‘Education for Human Excellence’, and volumes 7, 8 and 9 with ‘Democracy for Total Human Development’. This is volume 4 of the nine-volume series.

Hindu Diasporas presents the histories and religious traditions of Hindus with a South Asian ancestral background living outside of South Asia. Hinduism is a global religion with a significant presence in many countries throughout the world. The most important cause of this global expansion is migration. This book presents and analyses the most important of the geographies, migration histories, religious traditions and developments, rituals, places, institutions, and representations of Hinduism in the diasporas, capturing some of the great plurality of Hindu religious traditions. The first part of the book concentrates on the major regions in the world in which Hindu diasporas are found. The main focus is the modern period, but the book discusses also the possibility of premodern Hindu diasporas in Southeast Asia. The second part focuses on specific central themes such as Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta traditions in diasporas, temples, and traditions of sacred sites and pilgrimage outside of South Asia, Hindutva organizations and the diaspora, as well as relations between Hindu diasporas and new followers of Hindu traditions. The chapters in this book show some of the global presence of the Hindu diasporas and some of the dynamic developments in multiple geographical spaces. Analysing specific spaces and themes, the chapters of the book offer a foundation for understanding the Hindu traditions in its most important global diasporic contexts and the dynamic developments around the world.

This Conference Proceedings of the National Seminar entitled “Multidisciplinary Research and Practice” compiled by Dr. M. Kanika Priya records various research papers written by eminent scholars, professors and students. The articles range from English literature to Tamil literature, Arts, Humanities, Social Science, Education, Performing Arts, Information and Communication Technology, Engineering, Technology and Science, Medicine and Pharmaceutical Research, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Business, Management, Commerce and Accounting, Teacher Education, Higher Education, Primary and Secondary Education, Law, Science (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany), Agriculture and Computer Science. Researchers and faculty members from various disciplines have contributed their research papers. This book contains articles in Three languages, namely: English, Tamil and Hindi. As a editor Dr. M. Kanika Priya has taken up the tedious job of checking the validity and correctness of the research work in bringing out this conference proceedings in a beautiful manner. In its present shape and size, this anthology will, hopefully, find a place on the library shelves and enlighten the academics all round the world.

This book examines spirituality in Singapore, showing how important the city state is for understanding contemporary global configurations of urban space, religion, and spirituality. Joanne Punzo Waghorne highlights how the formal religious spaces-temples, churches, and mosques-have been confined to allotted sites on the map of Singapore, whereas various “spiritual” organizations, particularly of Hindu origins and headed by a guru, still continue to operate as “societies” classified by the government with other “clubs.” These unconventional religiosities are not confined but ironically make their own places, meeting in ostensive secular venues: high-rise flats, malls, businesses, and community centers, thus existing in the overall space of religion, commerce, and the state. The book argues that State of Singapore also operates between the secular and the religious, constructing an overarching spatial regime that both accommodates and yet rivals the alternate spheres that spiritual movements construct under its umbrella. Both spatial configurations challenge the presumed relationships between myth and reality, religion and commerce, the ethereal and the concrete, the sacred and the secular, on the levels of self, community, and polity. Singapore, now deemed a model for urban development in Asia, also offers an understanding of a new post-secularity and perhaps reveals where the urbanized world is headed.

Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R.Tolkien India is a never ending saga and story. This ancient civilisation has amazing stories to narrate. Each tale is steeped in rich culture, history and a tapestry which resonates with those delving to discover India. The country is a cradle of several cultures, religions, art, architecture, spirituality and sciences. Several dynasties and kingdoms have attempted to be suzerains of this fabled land. But the free-willed, enterprising people have braved several storms and woven extraordinary tales. This book is segemented into four parts, Wanderlust-Discovering India by Train, Wondrous India- Discovering the lesser-known trails, Well-known Personalities, lesser-known People and lastly Wavering Mind, Wandering Thoughts. Indian history has been fashioned and shaped by both known and lesser- known people, all blessed with a robust mind. Eminent philosophers like Adi Shankara and Buddha, in quest of harmony and the Indian ethos were on a voyage. May readers too discover the spirit of India through this book. Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah -Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions. - Rig Veda