Book of Avatars and Divinities

Book of Avatars and Divinities PDF

Author: Penguin India

Publisher: Penguin Enterprise

Published: 2018-11

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9780143446880

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In the Hindu universe, gods and goddesses play freely among human beings to help them, nudge them towards the right action and mete out justice. They may appear to us as avatars in human form or manifest themselves as forces of nature. The many myths of Hinduism become colourful and entertaining when Shiva, Vishnu and Devi take different forms to enact their rivalries, destroy demons and teach devotees with superpowers a lesson in humility. This first-of-its-kind book brings together the major deities of the Hindu pantheon, describing the different manifestations by which they are recognized, celebrated and worshipped-from Durga to Sita to Kali, and from Narasimha to Parashurama to Krishna. The contributions by Bulbul Sharma, Namita Gokhale, Nanditha Krishna, Parvez Dewan, Royina Grewal and Seema Mohanty offer enchanting stories about our favourite divinities.

The Book of Avatars and Divinities

The Book of Avatars and Divinities PDF

Author:

Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited

Published: 2018-11-21

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9353053625

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In the Hindu universe, gods and goddesses play freely among human beings to help them, nudge them towards the right action and mete out justice. They may appear to us as avatars in human form or manifest themselves as forces of nature. The many myths of Hinduism become colourful and entertaining when Shiva, Vishnu and Devi take different forms to enact their rivalries, destroy demons and teach devotees with superpowers a lesson in humility. This first-of-its-kind book brings together the major deities of the Hindu pantheon, describing the different manifestations by which they are recognized, celebrated and worshipped-from Durga to Sita to Kali, and from Narasimha to Parashurama to Krishna. The contributions by Bulbul Sharma, Namita Gokhale, Nanditha Krishna, Parvez Dewan, Royina Grewal and Seema Mohanty offer enchanting stories about our favourite divinities.

Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya

Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya PDF

Author: Janmajit Roy

Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Dist

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9788126901692

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The Present Book Is A Comprehensive And Comparative Study Of The Origin And Development Of The Concept Of Avatèra In The Theological And Biographical Literature Of India: Vedic, Sanskrit, Pali And Bengali. It Seeks To Understand The Incarnated Divinity Of Chaitanya (1486Å1533) And The Socio-Religious And Psychological Factors Responsible For His Apotheosis During His Life-Time. The Study Also Shows How The Concept Of Avatèra, Though Un-Vedic In Origin, Has Absorbed Many Vedic Elements Of Solar Myth And Natural Allegory, Has Synthesized Various Elements From The Epico-Purè!Ic Tradition And Has Ultimately Blossomed Forth As An Eclectic Theory In The Bengal School Of Vai !Avism. It Further Shows That Both Vai !Avism And The Concept Of Avatèra Owe Their Origin To K !A Vèsudeva, The Great Synthesizer Of The Aryan And Non-Aryan Cultures In Ancient India And Ascribes The Theoretical Development Of The Concept Of Avatèra In The Medieval Period To Various Attempts Of Interpreting Chaitanya S Life And Personality. In This Study, Avatèravèda Does Not Merely Remain To Be A Theological Doctrine, But Turns Out, On In-Depth Scrutiny, To Be Also A Method Of Analysis And Interpretation Of Both History And Its Maker With Stress On Synthesis And Syncretism.The Study Dwells Upon Many Relevant Topics Like Relationship Between Avatèravèda And Vyêhavèda, Psychosomatic Symptoms Of Avatèrahood, Zoomorphism And Mythic Elements In The Stories Of The Ten Incarnations Of Vi !U, Historical Significance Of The Episode Of Kalki And Chronology Of The Mytho-Historic Avatèras With The Help Of The Purè!Ic Calendar Of The Four Ages.

Rama and the Early Avatars of Vishnu

Rama and the Early Avatars of Vishnu PDF

Author: Swami Achuthananda

Publisher: Relianz Communications Pty Ltd

Published: 2019-08-03

Total Pages: 171

ISBN-13: 0975788345

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Full-blown trade wars, nuclear threats, attacks on nation's sovereignty...are we dangerously at the crossroads of a world war that may even threaten entire humanity? Maybe we are, but fear not. Hindus believe that whenever cosmic balance is threatened, Vishnu descends into the world as an avatar of change. "I am born age after age," says Krishna (Vishnu) in the Bhagavad Gita. Vishnu has many avatars, but his top ten avatars are special and known as the Dashavataras. In this volume, we enter the most exciting part of Hindu mythology--the Dashavataras--and discuss the early avatars of Vishnu. The avatar saga begins with a wicked demon stealing the Vedas while Brahma is sleeping. Vishnu takes the form of a giant fish and not only saves the Vedas but rescues mankind from a great deluge. As we progress through the avatars, you will come across Prahlada, whose story offers a shining example of the extent to which Vishnu would go to protect his devotees. In another incarnation of Vishnu, a generous king called Bali is dispatched to the netherworld for being too ambitious. While ambition is a virtue, not vice, this may seem unfair to the people of Kerala who hold Bali in high esteem. But Vishnu makes amends by bestowing the gift of longevity on Bali. Next, the axe-wielding Parashurama, a Brahmin by birth, embarks on a mission to exterminate the warrior caste from the face of Earth--and largely succeeds until he bumps into another avatar of Vishnu. The highlight of this volume undoubtedly is Rama, the hero of the Ramayana and a name that is synonymous with dharma (religious duty). About half the book is dedicated to Rama as we dissect Ramayana in detail, particularly the controversies. Although Rama is famous for defeating the ten-headed demon king of Lanka, it seems he waged a bigger battle with the dictates of dharma--and lost. We meet the monkey-faced Hanuman for the first time in this book. He is closely associated with Rama and highly revered among Hindus. Also in the Ramayana, we encounter one of the ultimate villains of Hindu mythology--the mighty Ravana. Even though Ravana abducted Rama's beloved wife, Sita, you will be surprised to know that not everyone regards Ravana as an antihero. In fact, at the end of the Ramayana, we are left with many bitter, thought-provoking questions that are debated even today.

The Book of Hindu Imagery

The Book of Hindu Imagery PDF

Author: Eva Rudy Jansen

Publisher: Binkey Kok

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 9789074597074

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Hinduism is more than a religion; it is a way of life. Its rich and multicoloured history has made the structure of its mythical and philosophical principles into a highly differentiated maze, of which total knowledge is a practical impossibility. This volume cannot offer a complete survey of the meaning of Hinduism. It is an extensive compilation of important deities and their divine manifestations, so that modern students can understand the significance of the Hindu pantheon.

The Myths of Narasimha and Vamana

The Myths of Narasimha and Vamana PDF

Author: Deborah A. Soifer

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 1991-01-01

Total Pages: 340

ISBN-13: 9780791407998

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The Sanskrit Puranas and epics are replete with stories of the avatars, incarnations of the god Visnu in various forms to rid the universe of malevolent forces and to restore the proper cosmic balance. As Narasimha, half-man half-lion, Visnu finds a loophole in the pact of invulnerability the demon Hiranaipu has received from god Brahma, and rends the demon apart with his claws. As the brahmin dwarf, Vamana, Visnu deceives the demon Bali with his diminutive appearance and thwarts Bali's attempt to gain universal sovereignty. After carefully analyzing the myths of Vamana and Narasimha, Deborah Soifer grounds her study in the textual history of each avatar and its myth, in their religious contexts, and in the intricate cosmology of the classical period of Hinduism. Contrasting the bestial persona of Narasimha with Vamana's priestly appearance and his associations with early cosmologic themes, she finds complementarity and significance in this pair as they are viewed in the larger context of periodic cosmic destructions and recreations. While focusing primarily on these two mythological figures, Soifer's work explores the relationship between dharma and the 'devious' acts of gods; the interplay between cosmic and 'sociocosmic' levels of reality; and the relationship between cosmology, theology, and soteriology in a religious worldview.

Avatars, Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture

Avatars, Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Culture PDF

Author: Stephen Knapp

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2010-06-18

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 9781453613764

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Understanding the assorted Divinities or gods and goddesses of the Vedic or Hindu pantheon is not so difficult as some people may think when it is presented simply and effectively. And that is what you will find in this book. This will open you to many of the possibilities and potentials of the Vedic tradition, and show how it has been able to cater to and fulfill the spiritual needs and development of so many people since time immemorial. Here you will find there is something for everyone. This takes you into the heart of the deep, Vedic spiritual knowledge of how to perceive the Absolute Truth, the Supreme and the various powers and agents of the universal creation. This explains the characteristics and nature of the Vedic Divinities and their purposes, powers, and the ways they influence and affect the natural energies of the universe. It also shows how they can assist us and that blessings from them can help our own spiritual and material development and potentialities, depending on what we need. Some of the Vedic Divinities that will be explained include Lord Krishna, Vishnu, Their main avatars and expansions, along with Brahma, Shiva, Ganesh, Murugan, Surya, Hanuman, as well as the goddesses of Sri Radha, Durga, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and others. This also presents explanations of their names, attributes, dress, weapons, instruments, the meaning of the Shiva lingam, and some of the legends and stories that are connected with them. This will certainly give you a new insight into the expansive nature of the Vedic tradition.

Hindu Gods & Goddesses

Hindu Gods & Goddesses PDF

Author: Stephen Knapp

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 8184953666

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UNDERSTANDING VEDIC HINDU DIVINITIES Understanding the assorted divinities or gods and goddesses of the Vedic or Hindu pantheon is not so difficult when it is presented simply and effectively. And that is what you will find in this book. This will open you to many of the possibilities and potentials of the Vedic tradition, and show how it has been able to cater and fulfill the spiritual needs and development of so many people since time immemorial. This book explains the nature of the Vedic divinities, their purposes and powers, and the ways they influence and affect the natural energies of the universe. It also shows how they can assist us and that blessings from them can help our own spiritual and material development and potentialities, depending on what we need. The divinities include Lord Krishna, Vishnu, their main avatars and expansions, along with Brahma, Shiva, Ganesh, Murugan, Surya, Hanuman, as well as the goddesses including Radha, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi. We find explanations of their names, attributes, dress, weapons, instruments, the meaning of the Shiva lingam, and some of the legends and stories connected with them.

Krishna Deities And Their Miracles

Krishna Deities And Their Miracles PDF

Author: Stephen Knapp

Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan

Published: 2021-01-01

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 8184305052

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Donald J. Trump is an icon: the very definition of the American success story. Republican Presidential candidate, reality-television star, and developer of some of the planet's most prestigious real estate, he's also become one of the world's wealthiest men. Trump is a living example of how thinking BIG and knowing when to back up your opinions aggressively—regardless of what your critics or opponents might say—can help you maximize your personal and professional achievements. In his first political campaign, Trump defeated his opponents by rallying voters nationwide to "Make America Great Again."

Book of Ganesha

Book of Ganesha PDF

Author: Royina Grewal

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2009-07-20

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13: 9351180913

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Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is easily the most recognizable and loveable of Hindu deities. But pinpointing his various attributes is not quite so simple. He is at once the portly, merry, childlike god and the sage, complex philosopher. He is the presiding deity of material wealth and the lord of spirituality. He removes all impediments for his devotees but creates all manner of difficulties for the transgressors, man or god. And associated with every aspect of Ganesha-be it his extraordinary birth, his elephant head, his broken tusk, his vehicle (the mouse), his appetite, his anger-are scores of myths, each more colourful than the other. In this thoroughly researched and delightfully narrated book, Royina Grewal gives us the many stories of Ganesha, exploring their significance and how they reflect the times and the cultures during which they originated.