Heroic Kṛṣṇa depicts a pre-Hindu superhuman hero who became the divinity Krsna. Drawn from the epic Mahābhārata, Kevin McGrath's account of the warrior-charioteer and his friendship with Arjuna explores cultural continuities from the Bronze Age Vedic world and illustrates the pre-divine life of one of the most popular Indian deities of today.

The first book to cover Krishna’s entire life, from his childhood pranks to his final powerful acts in the Mahabharata war • Draws from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India’s sacred oral tradition • Shows how the stories of Krishna’s life are expressed with such simplicity and humor that they enable anyone--man, woman, or child--to see the wisdom of his teachings • Provides a valuable meditative tool that allows the lessons of these stories to illuminate from within Krishna, one of the most beloved characters of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many lights: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, an exemplary ruler, and the Supreme Being. In The Complete Life of Krishna, Vanamali, a leading Krishna expert from a long line of prominent Krishna devotees, provides the first book in English or Sanskrit to cover the complete range of the avatar’s life. Drawing from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India’s sacred oral tradition, Vanamali shares stories from Krishna’s birth in a dungeon and early days as a merry trickster in Vrindavana, through his time as divine ruler at Dwaraka, to his final powerful acts as the hero Arjuna’s charioteer and guru in the Kurukshetra war. She explains how Krishna became a mahayogi, the greatest of all yogis, and attained complete mastery over himself and nature. By integrating the hero-child with the mahayogi, the playful lover with the divine ruler, Vanamali shows how the stories of Krishna’s life are expressed with such simplicity and humor that they enable anyone--man, woman, or child--to see the wisdom of his teachings. This complete biography of the man who was also a god provides a valuable meditative tool allowing Krishna’s lessons to illuminate from within.

Thapathi’s Tale is a first person account of a woman born within the first decade post-Independence. It chronicles her transformation from a shy little girl in an orthodox south Indian family in Chennai, raised to be a “good home maker”, to a confident professional, eventually transcending the prevailing cultural definitions and expectations. This tale, told without filters, captures with candour the way she keeps pushing her boundaries, finding her own space in the world, to establish her individual identity as a person of her own. But this book is more than just her story- it chronicles the changing values and lifestyles of a generation that experienced transformation and the adaptations needed for coping at every stage . Every era comes alive through the small details, captured with love and humour. “Thapathi” is the affectionate name given to Radha by her grandchildren. While this story was originally written for them, it will resonate with generations that grew up in pre-liberalised India, and experienced the enormous change that took place in the turn of the century. And for the fresh generations to which Thapathi’s grandchildren belong, it will give a glimpse into a warm and cosy world that has vanished from sight but lingers in the minds as stories of a fading generation.

Contains alphabetized entries on deities, concepts, practices, places, and objects related to the mythologies of cultures throughout history, and features color photos and sidebars. This volume covers Ach-Ara.

This volume provides a comparative philosophical investigation into a particular concept from a variety of angles—in this case, the concept of “miracle.” The text covers deeply philosophical questions around the miracle, with a multiplicity of answers. Each chapter brings its own focus to this multifaceted effort. The volume rejects the primarily western focus that typically dominates philosophy of religion and is filled with particular examples of miracle narratives, community responses, and polemical scenarios across widely varying religious contexts and historical periods. Some of these examples defy religious categorization, and some papers challenge the applicability of the concept “miracle,” which is of western and monotheistic origin. By examining miracles thru a wide comparative context, this text presents a range of descriptive content and analysis, with attention to the audience, to the subjective experiences being communicated, and to the flavor of the narratives that come to surround miracles. This book appeals to students and researchers working in philosophy of religion and science, as well those in comparative religion. It represents, in written form, some of the perspectives and dialogue achieved in The Comparison Project’s 2017–2019 lecture series on miracles. The Comparison Project is an enterprise in comparing a variety of religious voices, allowing them to stand in dialogue.

This collection of stories by "Lionel D. Barnett" where he attempts to compile many of his Literature and religion thoughts consolidated in a single draft and offer them at an affordable price so that everyone can read them. some stories are interesting and amazing, while other softly creep up on you and pull you in. Lionel D. Barnett's major work "Hindu Gods and Heroes" is famous for his expertise in Indian literature and history. This book transports readers to the world of Hindu mythology, where divine entities and great heroes come to life. Barnett's intellectual prowess shines through as he delves into the tales, traits, and significance of gods and goddesses such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, and many others. He expertly explains their roles in the Hindu universe, giving light on the deep relationships and symbolism that underpin these celestial figures. Furthermore, "Hindu Gods and Heroes" commemorates the courage and adventures of mythical heroes like Rama and Krishna, who have grabbed the hearts of innumerable worshippers throughout millennia. Barnett's work expertly weaves the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, providing readers with both a rigorous grasp and a deep appreciation for the lively narratives that have influenced Hindu religious and cultural traditions.

With appendices.