Hibis Temple, tucked away in the remote Khargeh Oasis, contains the longest monumental hymns to Amun-Re ever carved in hieroglyphs. These religious texts, inscribed during the reign of Darius I, drew upon a large variety of New Kingdom sources, and later they served as sources for the Graeco-Roman hymns at Esna Temple. As such, the hymns to Amun-Re from Hibis are excellently suited for studying Egyptian theology during the Persian Period, on the eve of the supposed "new theology" created by the Graeco-Roman priesthood. This new study, the first extensive commentary on the five liturgically connected hymns, features new translations with detailed notes. The book also considers dominant theological themes present in the texts, including the concept of "Amun within the Iris."

AN EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND BUT LAYERED INTRODUCTION TO LORD RAM AS A GOD AND AS A MAN The Ramcharitmanas is undoubtedly one of the greatest lyrical compositions in Hindi literature. Writing in the sixteenth century, Tulsidas chose to pen verses in Awadhi rather than Sanskrit, thus breaking with literary tradition and importantly making Lord Ram more relatable to the layperson. Pavan K. Varma, author of the best-selling Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker has selected some of the most evocative stanzas—offering a succinct commentary for each—that capture the very core of the original. While centring the philosophical aspect of the Ramcharitmanas—the immutability of the soul over the merely corporeal; the transience of worldly pleasures; the placing of wisdom above knowledge—The Greatest Ode to Lord Ram describes a devoted son, a loving sibling, a committed lover, an ideal ruler and also a human, almost bereft of divinity. Indeed, Ram is a god and a man; he is comprehensible. Tulsidas’s seminal work employs a unique poetic linguistic tool that unravels even the most profound concepts with utmost simplicity, blending philosophy with breath taking verse. Varma’s compelling new selection and commentary achieves this effect by combining the aesthetics, romance and imagery of the original work with the unadulterated spirituality that sparkles through the conduct of a great god.

Superb, in-depth survey explores animism, totemism, fetishism, creation myths, Egyptian priesthood, numerous deities, alchemy, Egyptian art and magic, other fascinating topics. Includes over 50 photographs and illustrations.

Discover the life and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in this enlightening book by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi. Chaitanya, considered the combined avatar of Radha and Krishna, had a profound impact on Vaishnavism in Bengal with his mode of worship through bhajan-kirtan and dance. He popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, expounding the philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva. His teachings are summarized in ten root principles, including the importance of pure devotion and love for Krishna as the ultimate goal.

The Anacalypsis (a.k.a. An Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Saitic Isis or an Inquiry into the Origin of Languages, Nations and Religions) is a huge treatise written by religious historian Godfrey Higgins. It took him more than twenty years of research to discover that there was once an ancient and universal religion, basically the foundation of all other religions that are known today. His theories about Pandeism are still of enormous interest today.

This book brings together essays by anthropologists, scholars of religion, and art historians on the subject of sacred place and sacred biography in Asia. The chapters span a broad geographical area that includes India, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, and China, and explore issues from the classical and medieval periods to the present. They show how sacred places have a plurality of meanings and how in their construction, secular politics, private religious experience, and sectarian rivalry intersect. Contributors explore the fundamental challenges that religious groups face as they expand from their homeland or confront the demands of modernity. While some chapters deal with well-known religious movements and sites, others discuss little-known groups and help to enrich our understanding of the diversity of religious belief in Asia. The book will be of interest not only to scholars of Asian religion and hagiography, but also to others who seek to understand the ways in which religious groups accommodate the challenges of new environments and new times.