Sahajanand Saraswati (1889–1950) was a man of many parts. Monk, scholar, freedom fighter, and leader of the peasant movement, he made an impact in all these spheres. His autobiography, Mera Jeevan Sangharsh (‘The Struggle of My Life’), gives an account of his life and his attempts to reform the ills besetting his country, in religion and in politics. In doing so, it sheds light on a number of significant periods in the history of India. It is, however, the tale of the nation told from the margins, not from the perspective of the English-educated, vilayat-returned nationalist. It is written by a man with humble roots who decided to improve the life of the common masses. This is an especially relevant book in these times, when the aam aadmi has become the pivot on which election campaigns are run and won. The Struggle of My Life chronicles the remarkable life of a man who lived in remarkable times.

In 1965, Swami Shivom Tirth spent some time with his spiritual master Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj (Maharajshri) in Jagannathpuri. During the twenty days in Jagannathpuri, he enjoyed meditation and spiritual conversations with Maharajshri to his heart?s content. As such Maharajshri usually stayed in the divine state, but since there was no one here to disrupt this state, Maharajshri was constantly in a meditative state. Even while conversing, his state of divinity was maintained. This book is a compilation of Maharajshri?s experiences regarding Swami Gangadhar Tirth Maharaj and Kalikishore (Swami Narayan Tirth Dev Maharaj, Baba), which he discussed with the author in Jagannathpuri. Whatever Maharajshri experienced, he narrated it to the author verbatim. There was no mental interference by Maharajshri in these experiences. It was like someone watching the television and narrating it to you. Maharajshri?s inner-eyes were awake and active, hence everything was visible to him.

Outrageous myths have been created and perpetrated about terrorism in general and terrorism by Muslims in particular. There are two reasons for it. One is, of course, genuine ignorance about things Islamic. The other reason is more sinister. Myths are created and perpetuated because that keeps everyone in business. By spinning yarns about the most horrible things the terrorists are capable of doing, the media ensures that they have a never-ending supply of sensational material with which to keep the people hooked it also enables the intelligence agencies and security forces to appear more relevant and expand their turf in the process. The myths must be busted because they tend to settle deep in the collective subconscious and ultimately come to influence policy decisions. The media, for example, would have you believe that we have not been able to eradicate terrorism only because we do not have enough commandos everywhere! The fact is that terrorism would not be finished by killing a few terrorists. Bomb blasts continue to take place in spite of the arrests of the masterminds . As long as we do not address the root cause, there would be many more willing to kill and get killed. Victory against terrorism can be achieved only if you have completely understood the fundamental reasons of terrorism, the motivation of the terrorists, the intrinsic weaknesses of the targets, the innate strength of the way of the terrorist , and the follies of the approach that you have persisted with so far. If a nation has floundered in its war against terrorism , it is because it has never had a serious and honest-to-God analysis of terrorism. Hence this book. Exhaustive yet attractive, informative yet interesting and above all, extremely hard-hitting it is the ultimate encyclopedia of terrorism.

A unique collection of Discourses by Swami Akhandananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj of Vrindavan on the subject of Sanyas/renunciation.

Focuses on the lives of female Hindu ascetics and the significance of gender to the tradition of renunciation. Meena Khandelwal offers an engaging and intimate portrait of extraordinary Hindu women in India who wear "ochre robes," signifying their renunciation of marriage and family for lives of celibacy, asceticism, and spiritual discipline. While the largely male Hindu ascetic tradition of sannyasa renders its initiates ritually "dead" to their previous identities, the women portrayed here are very much alive. They struggle with, and joke about, the tensions and ironies of living in the world while trying not to be of it. Khandelwal juxtaposes the common refrain that "in renunciation there is no male and female" with arguments that underscore the importance of gender. In exploring these apparent contradictions, she brings together worldly and otherworldly values within renunciation and argues that these create tensions that are at once emotional, social, and philosophical. “Women in Ochre Robes is a fascinating travelogue of a pilgrimage into the women-centered ashrams of the hoary pilgrim town of Haridwar Unlike similar academic studies, it locates the researcher squarely in the midst of her subjects. This methodology is refreshing.” — Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute “ a delightful book compelling and revealing.” — Religious Studies Review "This book provides richly detailed accounts of the author's many months living with, observing, and interacting with sannyasinis, their followers, and fellow ascetics. Descriptions of daily life at the ashrams; reports of long conversations; attention to the details of place, dress, food and its preparation; and the descriptions of visitors all help create vivid pictures of the lives of the sannyasinis." — Anne Mackenzie Pearson, author of Because It Gives Me Peace of Mind: Ritual Fasts in the Religious Lives of Hindu Women "This is a delightfully readable, thoroughly original, and wonderfully insightful work. Not only does it offer invaluable new visions of the under-studied topic of female renouncers in Hindu traditions, but it also illuminates South Asian gender constructs in general, as well as the broader relationship between householders and renouncers that has long fascinated observers of Indian society." — Ann Grodzins Gold, author of A Carnival of Parting

In this tell-all autobiography, Sri M writes about his fascinating journey as a young man from the southern coast of India to the mystical Himalayan Mountains. At the age of nineteen and a half, he felt an irresistible urge to go to the Himalayas in quest for his great Master. He finally met his Master at the Vyasa Cave, beyond the Badrinath shrine. After spending three and half years with his Master, wandering freely across the length and breadth of the Himalayan ranges, he was instructed to go back to live in the plains and lead a normal life. He started working for a living, fulfilled his social commitments and prepared himself to teach others all that he had learned and experienced. This book reveals the spiritual journey of a young lad from Kerala, who by his sincerity and dedication evolved into a living yogi. Sri M shares his knowledge of the Upanishads and spiritual insights born out of first hand experiences in his autobiography. Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master will make for an engaging and riveting read for those interested in the life and teachings of Sri M.

“When God gives, He gives all that is required: The Whole Thing — The Real Thing.” When does God give and to whom? This book, about a man who found a way to intelligent self-completeness, a way to live wholly in tune with the WHOLE, may inspire you to do the same. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, world-famous for his technique of Transcendental Meditation and the Science of Creative Intelligence, is one among the many brilliant disciples left behind by Jagadguru Bhagwan Shankaracharya Swami Brahmananda Saraswatiji Maharaj of Jyotirmath, Badrikashram.

Kashmir Has Been A Land Of Saints, Savants And Sages-Some Belonged To The Buddhist Faith-Some Advocated Shaiva Philosophy, Some Were Sufis And Some Were Saint-Poets. The Volumes Gives A Glimpse Of This Tradition Through An Account Of It Selected Sages From Kashmir And Lead Us To Divinity.

By focusing on contemporary popular religious traditions, the book represents a substantial contribution to the study of modern religious practices in Banaras, holy city of India. This book offers in-depth, ethnographic views of many contemporary popular religious practices that have, for the most part, received little attention by scholars. Topics covered include the Ramlila celebrations, devotion to Hanuman, and goddess worship, and the way that Banarsi Boli, the local dialect of Banaras, supports its users in their identification with the sacred city.