In this book the author has presented a view of ancient Indian Culture and Civilisation as seen in some of their best representatives. It gives a reality and concreteness to what may appear to be the somewhat shadowy and abstract ideals of Indian thought.The history of Hindu India is very well represented in five characters brought to gether here. Each of them presents as aspect of India thought and life.yajnavalkya is the typical and most historical example of Vedic thought the foundation-head and perhaps the high water-mark, too of the entire stream of Indian thought.

The fifteen essays collected in this book deal with various aspects of Vedic and Brahmanic ritual. The author attempts to explore the implications of the classical Hindu definition of man: of all the animals fitted to be sacrificial victims, only man can perform sacrifices.

This Book Has Gleaned Various Cosmetic Formulations Contained In A Wide Body Of Literature On Subjects As Diverse As Dharma (Religion), The Art Of Love And Health Sciences. Condition Good.

“A lucid, thorough and fresh exploration of the material. This is an exceedingly helpful study and may be the best single textbook on the subject. Previously, there was little of note in between inadequate introductions to Hindu thought and the more specialized primary or secondary materials. Organ is a competent philosopher and presents the ‘Hindu quest’ in a scholarly and readable form…it is a key book for undergraduate libraries and would be an invaluable asset in a course which dealt seriously and at any length with the Hindu tradition. Excellent bibliography.” —Choice “This is not just another book on Hinduism, but a source of systematic information…” —Bibliography of Philosophy “This scholarly and perceptive account makes Hindu beliefs and practices intelligible by showing how the contradictions which have puzzled Westerners are rooted in Human Diversity.” —The Review of Metaphysics

First published in 1965, The Culture and Civilisation of Ancient India in Historical Outline is a strikingly original work, the first real cultural history of India. The main features of the Indian character are traced back into remote antiquity as the natural outgrowth of historical process. Did the change from food gathering and the pastoral life to agriculture make new religions necessary? Why did the Indian cities vanish with hardly a trace and leave no memory? Who were the Aryans – if any? Why should Buddhism, Jainism, and so many other sects of the same type come into being at one time and in the same region? How could Buddhism spread over so large a part of Asia while dying out completely in the land of its origin? What caused the rise and collapse of the Magadhan empire; was the Gupta empire fundamentally different from its great predecessor, or just one more ‘oriental despotism’? These are some of the many questions handled with great insight, yet in the simplest terms, in this stimulating work. This book will be of interest to students of history, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, cultural studies, South Asian studies and ethnic studies.