Home to one of the ancient civilizations of the world, India is also the birthplace of a dizzying array of gods worshipped by millions of Hindus living in India and across the globe. Over the centuries many of these gods rose to power and became the object of utmost devotion, only to fall from grace and lose their standing. These deities shared a peculiar trait: they were never perfect. In this multivolume series entitled, The Galaxy of Hindu Gods, Sach takes you on an extended journey to meet with the gods and share their tales with you. Among the multitude of deities, the most ancient are the Vedic gods, which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others. Today a minor deity, the Vedic Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon. Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions. If you know little or nothing about Hindu mythology, this is your ideal starting point where you will meet the overwhelming array of Hindu gods and learn about their wonderful stories.

These four Vedas comprise a highly developed religious system - the Rig, Sama, Atharva, and Yajur Vedas. Through the worship of the demigods, or the Vedic gods, these Vedas were primarily intended to encourage the satisfaction of material desires. Thus, the Vedas clearly explain how to perform the required worship and sacrifices or rituals to these devas (demigods) to receive the blessings required to increase one's power and position or reach the heavens in the future or for other purposes. The point is that the devas participate and affect all universal management and activities, including the weather or who is blessed with certain opulence, such as riches, beautiful spouses, large families, good health, etc. A person could worship Agni to gain power, Durgadevi to obtain good fortune, Indra to have a healthy sexual life, or Vasus to earn money. Karma-kanda is the section of the Vedas that many consider the most essential part of Vedic teachings. Thus, people will be able to live a good life and enjoy a decent existence. Of course, various actions, or karmas, are motivated by our aspirations to achieve specific results. Several sections in the Vedas deal with Karma-Kanda. Although this is not the complete understanding of the karma-kanda segment, which provides rituals for purifying our minds and actions in pursuit of our desires, and not limiting ourselves to only acquiring everything that one needs from the demigods. One's habits and thoughts become purified when one has faith and steadiness in the performance of the ritual. As one becomes pure and free of those desires, one gradually acquires one's needs and assuages one's desires. When we purify our consciousness, we can achieve a higher level of spiritual activity. The karma-kanda rituals had this higher purpose. Unless one recognizes this, one misses the point and remains attached to ways to satisfy material desires, which will keep one in earthly existence.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1874 Edition.

This is a book about alchemy, Vedic alchemy. It is an investigation of physical matter, but not an ordinary investigation. With the help of the Vedic scriptures and classical alchemical texts, this book explains how physical matter was created, how it evolved from small atoms, and how it coalesced into the physical objects we see every day. After creating physical matter, the Vedic alchemist takes the reader down a path of personal liberation through the transmutation of base metals to the Philosopher Stone, always with an eye to the Vedas.

In this strikingly illustrated and authoritative volume, readers have an introduction to one of the world's greatest living faiths. 200 color photos, maps & drawings.

This volume is the first installment in a new series on the Rig Veda. This series is an original, idiosyncratic look at the Rg Veda and Vedas as a whole. The purpose of this series, The Secret History of the Vedas, is to unravel and discover the true meaning of the Vedic deities and to reveal the hidden meaning of the Vedas. This book is a line-by-line commentary on the Asyavamasya Sukta in the Rig Veda. There are three great themes in the Vedic dharma—Existence, Bliss, and Consciousness. This volume is an examination of Existence, the first prong in the Vedic Dharma. This book is a broad overview of the major themes that are present in the Vedic dharma. These themes will be explored and expanded in subsequent volumes in this series. That series is The Secret History of the Vedas. This series reveals the hidden meaning of the Rg Veda, reassembled from portions of the Vedas—the Rg Veda SamaVeda, Yajur Veda, and AtharvaVeda—as well as the Brahmanas, Upanishads, shastras, and other Vedic and Hindu writings. This series and this volume provide the key that unlocks the secrets of the Vedas.