This book, first published in 1962, is an analysis of the history of the philosophy of a country that has never distinguished philosophy from religion. Indian philosophy is not merely metaphysical speculation, but has its foundation in immediate perception. This insistence upon immediate perception rather than abstract reasoning is what distinguishes the Indian philosophy of religion from philosophy as Western nations know it.

Composed in 1962 by Swami Prabhavananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order, The Spiritual Heritage of India is a comprehensive summary of Indian philosophy and religion. Beginning with the foundational texts of Indian spirituality, the Vedas, Prabhavananda proceeds to a thorough analysis of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and many of the Puranas. After covering the scriptural side of Indian religion, the book then turns to the six major schools of Indian thought, expanding in particular upon the Yoga and Vedanta schools. The author finishes with a discussion of the great monks and teachers of India, comparing the ideas of figures centuries apart, as well as relating them to the challenges of the modern world. What separates The Spiritual Heritage of India from other similar titles is the author's ability to hone in on the finer aspects of Indian spirituality, while also providing the reader with a thorough overview. The long-time student of Indian thought, as well as one approaching it for the first time, will benefit greatly from the breadth and depth of Prabhavananda's writing.

This book is an English translation of 565 songs of one of the greatest musician-saints, Tyagaraja. The text of the compositions is in Sanskrit. The translator of these songs, C. Ramanujachariar, wanted to take the lyrics embodying the trials and yearnings, the religious fervour and devotional experiences of Tyagaraja beyond southern India. The scheme of classification of the songs are given in two charts. The index of the songs is given in Sanskrit and English. Its preface and introductory thesis (two thirds of the book) is authored by V. Raghavan. S. Radhakrishnan, who was then the vice-president of India, has written the foreword. Ramanujachariar was an administrator, actor, musician and primarily a spiritual seeker. He was well known as the Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Students Home, Chennai. V. Raghavan was a Sanskrit scholar and musicologist. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, he has authored over 120 books. The book is a treat to English-knowing readers who wish to familiarise themselves with the immortal songs of Tyagaraja which present lofty truths in simple and appealing language. For students of Carnatic Music, it can be a reference book.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Bhagavad Gita: one of three new editions of the books in Eknath Easwaran's Classics of Indian Spirituality series On this path, effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort towards spiritual awareness will protec...

In India: A Sacred Geography, renowned Harvard scholar Diana Eck offers an extraordinary spiritual journey through the pilgrimage places of the world's most religiously vibrant culture and reveals that it is, in fact, through these sacred pilgrimages that India’s very sense of nation has emerged. No matter where one goes in India, one will find a landscape in which mountains, rivers, forests, and villages are elaborately linked to the stories of the gods and heroes of Indian culture. Every place in this vast landscape has its story, and conversely, every story of Hindu myth and legend has its place. Likewise, these places are inextricably tied to one another—not simply in the past, but in the present—through the local, regional, and transregional practices of pilgrimage. India: A Sacred Geography tells the story of the pilgrim’s India. In these pages, Diana Eck takes the reader on an extraordinary spiritual journey through the living landscape of this fascinating country –its mountains, rivers, and seacoasts, its ancient and powerful temples and shrines. Seeking to fully understand the sacred places of pilgrimage from the ground up, with their stories, connections and layers of meaning, she acutely examines Hindu religious ideas and narratives and shows how they have been deeply inscribed in the land itself. Ultimately, Eck shows us that from these networks of pilgrimage places, India’s very sense of region and nation has emerged. This is the astonishing and fascinating picture of a land linked for centuries not by the power of kings and governments, but by the footsteps of pilgrims. India: A Sacred Geography offers a unique perspective on India, both as a complex religious culture and as a nation. Based on her extensive knowledge and her many decades of wide-ranging travel and research, Eck's piercing insights and a sweeping grasp of history ensure that this work will be in demand for many years to come.