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Book The Dice Game of Shiva

    Book Details:
  • Author : Richard Smoley
  • Publisher : New World Library
  • Release : 2010-10-05
  • ISBN : 1577319176
  • Pages : 242 pages

Download or read book The Dice Game of Shiva written by Richard Smoley and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2010-10-05 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this fascinating book, Richard Smoley examines the roles God has played for us and reconciles them with what we today know through science and reason. In the process, he shows that consciousness is the underlying reality beneath everything in the universe. In one of Hinduism’s great myths, Shiva plays a dice game with his consort, Parvati, and loses consistently. If he is the greatest god, why does he lose? Through this story, Richard Smoley explores the interplay between consciousness, represented by Shiva, and experience, exemplified by Parvati. He draws on numerous disciplines to offer an illuminating exploration of mind and matter and a provocative understanding of consciousness, the self, and the world.

Book God Inside Out

    Book Details:
  • Author : Don Handelman
  • Publisher : Oxford University Press
  • Release : 1997-06-19
  • ISBN : 0195355288
  • Pages : 232 pages

Download or read book God Inside Out written by Don Handelman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1997-06-19 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a new exploration of the mythology of the Hindu god Siva, who spends his time playing dice with his wife, to whom he habitually loses. The result of the game is our world, which turns the god inside-out and changes his internal composition. Hindus maintain that Siva is perpetually absorbed in this game, which is recreated in innumerable stories, poems, paintings, and sculptural carvings. This notion of the god at play, arguee Handelman and Shulman, is one of the most central and expressive veins in the metaphysics elaborated through the centuries, in many idioms and modes, around the god. The book comprises three interlocking essays; the first presents the dice-game proper, in the light of the texts and visual depictions the authors have collected. The second and third chapters take up two mythic "sequels" to the game. Based on their analysis of these sequels, the authors argue that notions of "asceticism" so frequently associated with Siva, with Yoga, and with Hindu religion are, in fact, foreign to Hinduism's inherent logic as reflected in Siva's game of dice. They suggest an alternative reading of this set of practices and ideas, providing startling new insights into Hindu mythology and the major poetic texts from the classical Sanskrit tradition.

Book God Inside Out

    Book Details:
  • Author : Don Handelman
  • Publisher : Oxford University Press on Demand
  • Release : 1997
  • ISBN : 9780195108446
  • Pages : 219 pages

Download or read book God Inside Out written by Don Handelman and published by Oxford University Press on Demand. This book was released on 1997 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a new exploration of the mythology of the Hindu god Siva, who spends his time playing dice with his wife, to whom he habitually loses. The result of the game is our world, which turns the god inside-out and changes his internal composition. Hindus maintain that Siva is perpetually absorbed in this game, which is recreated in innumerable stories, poems, paintings, and sculptural carvings. This notion of the god at play, arguee Handelman and Shulman, is one of the most central and expressive veins in the metaphysics elaborated through the centuries, in many idioms and modes, around the god. The book comprises three interlocking essays; the first presents the dice-game proper, in the light of the texts and visual depictions the authors have collected. The second and third chapters take up two mythic "sequels" to the game. Based on their analysis of these sequels, the authors argue that notions of "asceticism" so frequently associated with Siva, with Yoga, and with Hindu religion are, in fact, foreign to Hinduism's inherent logic as reflected in Siva's game of dice. They suggest an alternative reading of this set of practices and ideas, providing startling new insights into Hindu mythology and the major poetic texts from the classical Sanskrit tradition.

Book God Inside Out

    Book Details:
  • Author : Don Handelman
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2023
  • ISBN : 9780197739334
  • Pages : 0 pages

Download or read book God Inside Out written by Don Handelman and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book The Vedic Core of Human History

Download or read book The Vedic Core of Human History written by M. K. Agarwal and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2013-12-23 with total page 549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The origin of world civilization can be traced to the Indus Valley cradle, where brilliant and original thinkers made groundbreaking discoveries. The history of these discoveries is recorded in the vast Sanskrit literature. In this study, author M. K. Agarwal explores the cultural and historical significance of the region. He explores Indus Valley culture, which encouraged creative thoughtas opposed to the Abrahamic faiths, which herded followers into dogmatic thinking. He holds that these religions prospered because of their unfettered hatred of the Vedic-Hindu-Buddhist peoples, who were demonized as pagans to be murdered, tortured, raped, enslaved, and robbed. He also considers the achievements of that culture, such as the creation of the most affluent, most scientifically advanced, and most spiritual of all societies, with archeological moorings that can be traced back to 8000 BC. No other region can even come close to transforming people and culture like the Indus Valley, but the worlds Vedic roots have been ignored, shunned, and covered up. Uncover the history that has been lost and develop a deeper appreciation for the true cradle of human civilization with The Vedic Core of Human History.

Book Digitalization of Culture Through Technology

Download or read book Digitalization of Culture Through Technology written by Deepanjali Mishra and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-09-21 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the era of digitalization, the world has shrunk and has succeeded in bringing people closer than expected. It has provided a social platform which enables people to interact with an individual, group of users anywhere irrespective of time. It has assisted in various academic, non academic as well as social activities which has made lives more easier. Various researches have been conducted that explored the versatile use of the Internet by the language communities and there has been growing research with various strands based on the possibilities of new technologies for the revitalization as well as for the documentation and preservation of cultures. Digitalization could indeed be the best possible methodology to revive the indigenous culture and folk traditions and practices all over the world and would be useful to demonstrate innovative technologies and prototypes, including digital repositories, digital archives, virtual museums and digital libraries, which result from established practices and achievements in the field. This volume brings out the contributions of renowned researchers, academicians and folklorists across the globe. It will be a resource to all researchers, linguistics and learners in the field of Digitalization of Cultural Studies.

Book From Bharata to India

    Book Details:
  • Author : M. K. Agarwal
  • Publisher : iUniverse
  • Release : 2012-05-22
  • ISBN : 9781475907667
  • Pages : 582 pages

Download or read book From Bharata to India written by M. K. Agarwal and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2012-05-22 with total page 582 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The origin of world civilization can be traced to the Sindhu and Sarasvati river valleys (located in present-day Pakistan) as early as 8,000 BC. Here, innovation and originality in every aspect of human endeavor, from mathematics and science to art and sports, flourished. Yet the importance of this civilization, known as the Vedic period, has been deliberately downplayed. Thoroughly researched and including an extensive bibliography, From Bharata to India rectifies this mistake in the perspective of world history and seeks to offer a comprehensive reference source. Author M. K. Agarwal shows how this early culture, where ideation by enlightened philosopher Brahmin kings, brought material and spiritual wealth that was to remain unchallenged until the colonial era. This Vedic-Hindu-Buddhist legacy subsequently influenced peoples and paradigms around the globe, ushering in an era of peace and plenty thousands of years before the Europeans. By using original sources in Sanskirt as well as regional literature, Agarwal compares corresponding situations in other civilizations within the context of their own literary traditions and records to prove that Bharata forms the basis of world civilization. This is in direct contrast to the Greek or Arab miracle hypothesis put forth by numerous scholars. The first of two volumes in this series, From Bharata to India offers a fascinating, in-depth glimpse into ancient Indias contribution to the modern world.

Book Ayana

    Book Details:
  • Author : Mekala S Rao
  • Publisher : MEKALA S RAO
  • Release :
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : pages

Download or read book Ayana written by Mekala S Rao and published by MEKALA S RAO. This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: i have run an experiment, where i could see the god in different human beings and i identified which Hindu gods/goddesses did i meet everyday. - Sai Baba

Book Arjuna in the Mahabharata

    Book Details:
  • Author : Ruth Cecily Katz
  • Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass
  • Release : 1990-01-01
  • ISBN : 8120807448
  • Pages : 374 pages

Download or read book Arjuna in the Mahabharata written by Ruth Cecily Katz and published by Motilal Banarsidass. This book was released on 1990-01-01 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is a work of unusual breadth and depth that will attract readers in religious studies, comparative literature, Sanskrit, Asian studies and humanities in general. The book is a thorough study of the great Indian hero, the Achilles of India, Arjuna, as portrayed in the epic poem Mahabharata, including its world-famous subsection, the Bhagavadgita. Different aspects of Arjuna's Character has been discussed.

Book Performance Studies

Download or read book Performance Studies written by Richard Schechner and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this second edition, the author opens with a discussion of important developments in the discipline. His closing chapter, 'Global and Intercultural Performance', is completely rewritten in light of the post-9/11 world. Fully revised chapters with new examples, biographies and source material provide a lively, easily accessible overview of the full range of performance for undergraduates at all levels in performance studies, theatre, performing arts and cultural studies. Among the topics discussed are the performing arts and popular entertainments, rituals, play and games as well as the performances of everyday life. Supporting examples and ideas are drawn from the social sciences, performing arts, post-structuralism, ritual theory, ethology, philosophy and aesthetics. User-friendly, with a special text design, Performance Studies: An Introduction also includes the following features: numerous extracts from primary sources giving alternative voices and viewpoints biographies of key thinkers student activities to stimulate fieldwork, classroom exercises and discussion key reading lists for each chapter twenty line drawings and 202 photographs drawn from private and public collections around the world.

Book Festivals and Dalits

    Book Details:
  • Author : B.T. GopalaKrishna
  • Publisher : Lulu.com
  • Release : 2013-02-01
  • ISBN : 1300682620
  • Pages : 125 pages

Download or read book Festivals and Dalits written by B.T. GopalaKrishna and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2013-02-01 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The books brings out survey of Hindu festivals, explanation on birth of Hindu Festivals, relevance to Hindu practice of Untouchability. The belief and Reality between the two are highlighted. For Astrology enthusiasts the book explains the different terminologies and signs that are often committed to subterfuge in the course of writing.

Book Shiva

    Book Details:
  • Author : Vanamali
  • Publisher : Simon and Schuster
  • Release : 2013-10-04
  • ISBN : 1620552493
  • Pages : 272 pages

Download or read book Shiva written by Vanamali and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-10-04 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The traditional understanding of Shiva told through stories and teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana • Explains Shiva’s contradictory forms, such as destroyer or benefactor, and how his form depends on the needs of the devotee • Reveals how Shiva’s teachings allow one to see through the illusions at the root of all grief and alienation in human life • Explores Shiva’s relationships with Durga, Shakti, Sati, and Parvati and with his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya Shiva, the most ancient and complex deity of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many contrasting lights: destroyer and benefactor, ascetic and householder, wild demon slayer and calm yogi atop Mount Kailash. Drawing from the Hindu sacred text the Shiva Mahapurana--said to be written by Shiva himself--Vanamali selects the essential stories of Shiva, both those from his dark wild side and those from his benevolent peaceful side. Vanamali discusses Shiva’s many avatars such as Shambunatha and Bhola, as well as Dakshinamurti who taught the shastras and tantras to the rishis. She explores Shiva’s relationships with Durga, Shakti, Sati, and Parvati and with his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya. Examining Shiva’s acceptance of outsiders, Vanamali explains why ghosts and ghouls are his attendants and why his greatest devotees are demon kings, like Ravana. She includes famous Shiva stories such as the Descent of the River Ganga and Churning the Milky Ocean as well as those that reveal the origin of the festival of lights, Diwali; his creation of the cosmic couple, or hierogamos; and how Shiva and Parvati taught the world the secrets of Kundalini Shakti. The author also draws upon Shaivite teachings to illustrate the differences between Western science and Vedic science and their explanations for the origins of consciousness. Integrating Shiva’s two sides, the fierce and the peaceful, Vanamali reveals that Shiva’s form depends on the needs of the devotee. Understanding his teachings allows one to see through the illusions at the root of all grief and alienation in human life, for Shiva is the wielder of maya who does not fall under its spell. While Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles, Shiva is the remover of tears.

Book Creating Places of Power

Download or read book Creating Places of Power written by Nigel Pennick and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2022-11-29 with total page 478 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exploration of the traditional rites of auspicious building and crafting • Explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations not only for sacred buildings like temples but also for homes and barns • Examines the principles and ceremonies of electional astrology and details how to compute natural time, as opposed to clock time • Shares examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the Renaissance and include secret societies When we make things--whether a building, a sacred space, or a magical object--there is a precise moment when the artifact comes into being as a separate entity. That moment in time possesses its own unique quality, and because of this, there is a right time to do something and a wrong time. And, as Nigel Pennick reveals, we have the power to select favorable moments for our creations, just as our ancestors did. Illustrating ancient principles of divination, chronomancy, and electional astrology, Pennick examines all the factors behind the ancestral art of geomancy: the auspicious creation and alignment of sacred buildings as places of power. Sharing examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the modern day, including secret societies like the Rosicrucians and the Freemasons, he explains how many cities were constructed on specially selected sites and founded ritually at precise, predetermined moments. Looking at the traditional rites of creating places of power, Pennick explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations as well as the use of sacrifice in the building of many notable structures. Examining the role of sacred geometry in geomancy, Pennick explains the Hermetic meaning assigned to each direction in traditional European cultures as well as the principles of natural measures and the science of understanding lucky and unlucky days. Revealing how geomantic principles are rooted in the structure of the world and the cosmic patterns of space and time, the author shows how they transcend the ages and are just as meaningful today as they were to our ancestors.

Book Guests at God s Wedding

    Book Details:
  • Author : Tracy Pintchman
  • Publisher : SUNY Press
  • Release : 2005-08-25
  • ISBN : 9780791465950
  • Pages : 262 pages

Download or read book Guests at God s Wedding written by Tracy Pintchman and published by SUNY Press. This book was released on 2005-08-25 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating look at women’s rituals honoring the god Krishna.

Book The Pocket Guide to Dice   Dice Games

Download or read book The Pocket Guide to Dice Dice Games written by Keith Souter and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-01-28 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dice games have been played for centuries and are a staple of the playground, board games, and casinos alike. This pocket guide spans the history of dice and offers clear explanations of popular dice games, including farkle (played since the Middle Ages), Gluckhaus (a German game of fortune, played since the medieval era), craps, and Jacks! This guide also includes tips on winning and how to avoid being tricked by loaded or “crooked” dice. Famous dice players, such as the Roman emperors Augustus and Caligula, lost money playing dice and quickly stole other people’s to continue their gaming sprees. In the early nineteenth century, fortunes could be won and lost at the roll of a die and it was not only money which was gambled away, but estates and even marriages. Full of fascinating facts and useful tips, this is a must-read book for everyone interested in family fun, games, gambling, or social history. Did you know? • Dice derives from the Latin datum, meaning “ought to be played” • The black marks showing the numbers are called pips • Dice were first played in India around 3000 bc • Dice were originally made from bones, including knuckle and ankle bones • Traditionally cubed, dice also come in other geometric shapes, incuding the zocchihedron, the 100-sided die, and the deltoidal icositetrahedron, where each side is shaped like a kite

Book Contemporary Hinduism

    Book Details:
  • Author : Robin Rinehart
  • Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
  • Release : 2004-07-21
  • ISBN : 1576079066
  • Pages : 464 pages

Download or read book Contemporary Hinduism written by Robin Rinehart and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2004-07-21 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An examination of the contemporary practices, beliefs, and issues of one of the world's oldest and most enduring religions, both within its Indian homeland and throughout the world. Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice illuminates the modern-day ritual, range, and reach of this ancient and diverse religion. A brief historical overview is followed by discussions of the oral and written origins of Hinduism that give context for the main emphasis—contemporary thought, practice, and key issues. Unique to this work is the consistent attention given to the practice of Hinduism for both men and women. What roles do caste and gender play in modern Hinduism? How are issues like ethics and the environment approached? What are the differences between urban and rural Hinduism, fundamental and secular Hinduism? To what countries has this religion spread, and how do the beliefs and practices of their people compare and contrast? Essays written by Indian and Western scholars answer these and other intriguing questions, introducing readers to the whole world of "living Hinduism" rather than the perspectives and traditions of a small elite.

Book Seven Games of Life

Download or read book Seven Games of Life written by Richard Smoley and published by Gildan Media LLC aka G&D Media. This book was released on 2023-05-16 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An eclectic, spicy smorgasbord of philosophical food for thought.- KIRKUS REVIEWS Life can seem to be a serious business. We could also look at it as a game—or a series of games. They include survival, love, power, pleasure, courage, creativity, and the Master Game! In this insightful book, Richard Smoley gives a lively but pro­found account of these games. He talks about how we play them, the mistakes we make, and how we can play them best. The culmination is the Master Game. Richard explores prac­tices from the great spiritual traditions to show how to reach this mastery. If you play this game, you will reach new heights of wisdom, courage, kindness, and performance. Richard, the author of thirteen books including G&D’s Intro­duction to the Occult, interweaves ideas from great thinkers and traditions with his own dry and irreverent wisdom, gleaned from forty years of study and practice, to show how to play the most important game of all. “There is only one question: what are we to make of this life? Most books that aim to help with that central question fail, because they amount to lists: eat this, pray to that, think about the other thing, follow one truth, carry this thingamabob. Richard Smoley offers something better. It is like a conversation with a wise friend who trusts you, talking about this reality so you’re better able to relate to the ones beyond. – Quentin Hardy, Head of Editorial, Google Cloud