Arya Samaj

Shishya

Book Review: Searching for Vedic India

Namaste,

I am currently reading the book Searching for Vedic India by Devamrita Swami (2002: ca. 600 pp.) for the second time. It is packed with interesting information surrounding cultural anthropology, archeology, the history of indology and related topics. On the whole, I would recommend the book to others. The only drawback in my eyes is that the author is convinced of the high value of pauranic literature and only rarely makes the necessary distinction between 'Vedic' and 'Pauranic' - often referring to the two as though they were one. Despite this, however, the book remains a very good attempt at presenting an alternative understanding to Vedic Culture and how it should be perceived in modern times.

Has anyone here also read the book? I would be interested in discussing some of the author's views with others.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Varun25 · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:20 pm Post subject:

I read that book once and it's agreed that the author holds the Puranas in high authourity and infers that it's equal in status to the Vedas.

Another book I read Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence by Stephen Knapp, similar to Devamrita's book but more quantitaitve in historical and lingusitical examples, Devamrita has a more lucid writing style.
Stephen Knapp is Vaishnavite and thus in his book he places the Puranas in high authourity.

A book which I bought but yet to read is In Search of the Cradle of Civilization which is co-authored with D Subhash Kak who tends to write about the scientific ascpect of the Vedas

Shishya · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject:

Namaste Varun,

Interesting! I also have Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence by Stephen Knapp. However, I found some of his work to be a bit far-fetched - especially from the linguistic side of things. However, it is a very interesting read.

What did you make of Devamrita's frequent mentioning of extraterrestrials? I know that Swamiji said that life certainly exists on other planets. But do you think Devamrita mentioned it so often in an attempt to attract a part of the modern book market or because it actualy plays an important role in the literature?
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shyena · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject:

Namaste,
Generally I see three kinds of western devotees to hinduism:
1)Who are fervent devotees after critical analysis through logic; or have visions of gods while meditating
2)Who are fans of billy meier - the guy who says that hindu stuff are real; and that devaas and angels are actually aliens who are spiritually advanced. These are independent from the 'creation' which is the spirit of the entire universe from which we emerged and will merge into; along with belief in reincarnation.
3)Hare Krsna people who think puraanas are equal to or greater than vedas.
_________________

Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Varun25 · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:47 am Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:34 am Post subject:

Namaste Varun,

Prabhat · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:48 am Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject:

Namaste Prabhat,

Since the extraterrestrial issue is a topic all unto itself, I'll start a new thread on it. Wink

As for this book, it's really worth getting a copy. Below is the table of contents with a short summary of each chapter:

1. Beginning the Vedic Venture: The notion of 'modern progress' is brought into question and the possibility that, instead of progressing, we are actually regressing, is brought forth, supported by several important examples.

2. Wholeness and the Vedic Experience: The Vedas are summarily presented along with some of the typical (mis-)conceptions regarding them. Subsections: (1) What are the Vedas?; (2) Coping with the Immensity; (3) The Vedas and Western Scholarship.

3. Into the Unknown: Tracing the Vedas: Discusses ancient Indic/Aryan civilization, along with the many theories surrounding their origins. Subsections: (1) History and the Vedas; (2) The Dating Game; (3) Linguistic Analysis; (4) Baking the PIE [Proto-Indo-Europeans]; (5) Into India, Out from India, Or Both?; (6) Archeological Research; (7) Dissension: Archeology versus Linguistics; (8) Writing When?; (9) As Seen from Space: Vedic India.

4. Vedic Selfhood: Discusses Vedic conceptions of the Soul. Subsections: (1) Consciousness, the Missing Link; (2) The Unknown Knower; (3) Soul Search.

5. Making and Changing History: Discusses difficulties with the modern view of human history and examines cases of conscious subversion and misreporting of Indian history by western scholars. Subsections: (1) Hidden Human History; (2) Maps to an Unknown Intelligence; (3) "A Civilization that Vanished"; (4) The European Quest for India; (5) Exterminating versus Discrediting; (6) Now and Then: Any Difference?;

6. Life and Death: The Wheel of Samsara: Discusses the relative frequency of reports of out of body and near-death experiences in the west and their Vedic explanation. Also discusses the processes of karma and reincarnation. Subsections: (1) Out of the Body: Worldwide Acceptance; (2) Near-Death Experiences: A Routine Affair; (3) Temporary Tree - Eternal Fruits; (4) Death on a Wedding Day.

7. Missing Humans and Aryan Consciousness: Discusses modern and Vedic accounts of the origins of Vedic Wisdom. Also explores the origins of the western misconception surrounding an 'Aryan Race'. Subsections: (1) Ancient Myths, Symbols and Vedic Knowledge; (2) Approaching the Vedas: Aryan Only Need Apply?; (3) Breaking the Knowledge Barrier with Sound; (4) Consciousness Determines Bodily Form; (5) Human Rights and the Human Form; (6) The Aryan Myth; Purusing the Vedic Literature; (7) The Classical View of the Vedas; (8) Why Writing?; (9) The Birth of the Vedas: The Modern View.

8. Universal Law and Order: Discusses dharma, karma and Vedic notions of evolution (tri-guna). Subsection: (1) The Web of Karma; (2) Consciousness: Causal and Accountable; (3) The Three Modes of Nature; (4) The Culture of Contamination; (5) State-Specific Knowledge; (6) Grand Theories of Everything.

9. Deep Cosmology: Matter and Beyond: Discusses Vedic/Pauranic conceptions of the consciousness-matter connection and some basic theology. Subsections: (1) Consciousness Makes Things Happen; (2) Brahman and Beyond; (3) Superconsciousness; (4) The Supreme Enjoyer.

10. Vedic Time: Discusses the notion of time, the Yugas and the Dharma that is said to be specific to each one. Subsections: (1) The Four Seasons of the Universe; (2) Yuga Solutions; (3) Dating Kali-Yuga; (4) Vedic Time Scales; (5) Fatalism and the Vedas.

11. Mysteries of the Earth and Sky: Subsections: Discusses other ancient civilizations that possessed accurate astronomical data and the modern revival of Vedic Sciences. (1) The Dogon; (2) Stonehenge; (3) The Egyptians; (4) The Babylonians; (5) The Maya and other Early Americans; (6) Ice Age Star Maps; (7) Portolans: How Did They Do It?; (8) Vedic Science Revival; (9) Astronomy in the Vedas.

12. The Devas: Consciousness Controls Nature: Discusses a more or less Pauranic view of the Vedas and God. The possibility is also presented that the devas might be beings living in material bodies on other planets. Subsections: (1) Dasas and Dasyus: Pre-Vedic Aborigines?; (2) The Devas Reconsidered: A Post -Modern View; (3) Rig Vedas: Polytheism Confusion; (4) Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu; (5) Universal Utilities: Heat, Light, Water, Air; (6) Personality and the Laws of Nature; (7) The Ultimate Information Standard.

13. Vedic Technology and Mystic Power: Discusses mystical powers as describes in Vedic Literature and compares them with attempts in the west to gain similar powers. Subsections: (1) Remote Viewing: Ancient and Modern; (2) Unsolved Ancient Mysteries; (3) The West Gropes for Psychic Powers; (4) Vedic Mastery and the Mystic Arts; (5) High-Tech Vedic Culture; (6) Mantra Weaponry and Warfare; (7) Modern Paranormal Warfare: The New Mental Battlefield.

14. The Puranas: Down to Earth?: Discusses the debate surrounding the validity of Pauranic Literature. (Even Swamiji gets a mention!) Presents the Bhagavata Purana as the best of all Puranas, and even as the conclusion and fulfilment of the Vedas. (!) Goes into great depth regarding aliens, extraterrestrial empires, intergalactic conflicts, etc. which seem to play a big role in the modern interpretation of Pauranic literature. Subsections: (1) Alone in the Universe?; (2) The Purana Problem; (3) Let's Make a Sect; (4) Now Let's Make a Date; (5) The Bhagavata Purana; (6) Lost Beginnings: The Egyptians, Sumerians and Olmecs; (7) Missing in Action: A Brilliant Civilization; (8) The Cosmic Puranas; (9) Why Are They Here? (Why Are We Here?); (10) Star Wars; (11) Pan-Cosmic Fraternity; (12) The Interstellar Assembly.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Varun25 · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject:

Shishya · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject:

Namaste Varun,

Indeed. And, like I said (and I think you agree), my only regret regarding the book is the heavy Pauranic influence. (By the way, after some research, I'm fairly sure Devamrita is a Gaudiya Vaishnava.) However, the first 3/4 of the book remain worth-while. I would very much like to see a book like this (examining the history of western Vedic scholarship, for example) written from a truly Vedic perspective.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Shyena · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject:

Namaste Shishya,
I would like to remind you one important thing - vaishnav books have two important features:
1)They speak of puraanas as vedic
2)They glorify bhagavatam immensely (especially hare krsna's)
_________________

Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam meditate

Namaste

Prabhat · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:38 am Post subject:

Namaste Shis,

thanks yaar. pity the dont have this kind of book translateted in dutch.

wat te doen! Sad

_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat