Encyclopaedic work on Hindu temple rituals and architecture.

This volume explores aspects of yoga over a period of about 2500 years. In its first part, it investigates facets of the South Asian and Tibetan traditions of yoga, such as the evolution of posture practice, the relationship between yoga and sex, yoga in the theistic context, the influence of Buddhism on early yoga, and the encounter of Islam with classical yoga. The second part addresses aspects of modern globalised yoga and its historical formation, as for example the emergence of yoga in Viennese occultism, the integration of yoga and nature cure in modern India, the eventisation of yoga in a global setting, and the development of Patañjali’s iconography. In keeping with the current trend in yoga studies, the emphasis of the volume is on the practice of yoga and its theoretical underpinnings.

Encyclopaedic work on Hindu temple rituals and architecture.

Visnuism has given rise to two very important schools of ritual and philosophy, namely Vaikhanasa and Pancaratra. Isvarasamhita is an important text of the Pancaratra school of Visnuism. Whereas Vaikhanasa is relatively archaic in character and leans more upon the Vedic tradition for its repertoire of Mantras used in religious rites and ceremonies, the Pancaratra is more liberal and open in its approach. It has a text tradition going back to some two thousand years- which has also been the main source of the Visistadvaita philosophy of Ramanuja (11th 12th c.). In most of the Vaisnava temples in South India, especially in Tamilnadu, worship is conducted in accordance with the prescription of one of the important Pancaratra Samhitas. Isvarasamhita is an important text of the Pancaratra School and is followed meticulously for conduction of daily Puja ceremony and performances of various religious festivals in the Narayanasvami temple of Melkote. It can safely be dated to 8th-9th Century at least on the basis of its reference in the Agama Pramanya of Shri Yamunacarya. It is supposed to be a simpler and smaller version of the older sattvatasamhita of this school which is the earliest available work of Pancaratra and is considered as one of three ratnas, (Jewels), along with Pauskara- and Jaya Samhitas. In 25 long Adhyayas the Isvarasamhita describes in great details the rites, rituals and ceremonies taking place ( or ought to take place) in a Vaisnava temple. Palm leaf Manuscripts of the Isvarasamhita were procured mainly from the Narayanasvami temple of Melkote for the sake of authenticity. We have also appended to the text the gloss of Alasimha Bhatta (early 19th C.) which shall be helpful in comprehending certain difficult or sectarian expressions. The English translation on the opposite (right) page has been provided for the facility of the modern scholars working on philosophy, Ritual and Iconography of Visnuism. A proper understanding of ritual is obviously indispensable for the study of Art.

Encyclopaedic work on Hindu temple rituals and architecture.

In recent years maṇḍalas have attracted much interest among a wider public. The main focus of such interest has been directed toward Tibetan maṇḍalas, specimens of which have been included in numerous publications. But maṇḍalas are found across a wide spectrum of South Asian religious traditions, including those of the Hindus and Jains. Hindu maṇḍalas and yantras have hardly been researched. This book attempts to fill this gap by clarifying important aspects of maṇḍalas and yantras in specific Hindu traditions through investigations by renowned specialists in the field. Its chapters explore maṇḍalas and yantras in the Smārta, Pāñcarātra, Śaiva and Śākta traditions. An essay on the vāstupuruṣamaṇḍala and its relationship to architecture is also included. With 13 colour plates.

Verse work on quintessence of Dvaita Vedanta and philosophy of Vishnu faith.

’aivism encompasses all aspects of religion: a philosophy, atheology, a conception of the universe, a current of devotion, a worldof myths, elaborate rituals in temples, expressions in plastic arts, inpoetry, music, dance. The sources to understand this subject are theSanskrit texts of Epics, PurÈ!as andAgamas. The present book givesa clear presentation of ’aivism through a survey and an erudite readingof this vast literature. The Agamas are the key to the knowledge oftemple organization and rituals, the description of which is a uniqueand original contribution of this work. This very readable and reliablework contains an amazing quantity of information, carefully referencedat every step, and is likely to be of the greatest utility toresearchers in history of religion, medieval to modern, as well as tothe general reader interested in ’aivism.Pandit N. Ramachandra Bhatt has devoted his whole life toresearch and bring to light ’aivÈgama literature.