Religion : Hinduism

The Bhagavad Gita is often regarded as the Bible of India. With a gripping story and deeply compelling message, it is unquestionably one of the most popular sacred texts of Asia and, along with the Bible and the Qur'an, one of the most important holy scriptures in the world. Part of an ancient Hindu epic poem, the dialogue of the Bhagavad Gita takes place on a battlefield, where a war for the possession of a North Indian kingdom is about to ensue between two noble families related by blood. The epic's hero, young Prince Arjuna, is torn between his duty as a warrior and his revulsion at the thought of his brothers and cousins killing each other over control of the realm. Frozen by this ethical dilemma, he debates the big questions of life and death with the supreme Hindu deity Krishna, cleverly disguised as his charioteer. By the end of the story, Eastern beliefs about mortality and reincarnation, the vision and practice of yoga, the Indian social order and its responsibilities, family loyalty, spiritual knowledge, and the loftiest pursuits of the human heart are explored in depth. Explaining the very purpose of life and existence, this classic has stood the test of twenty-three centuries. It is presented here in a thoroughly accurate, illuminating, and beautiful translation that is sure to become the standard for our day. more...

Price: $19.95

A sweeping tale of abduction, battle, and courtship played out in a universe of deities and demons, The Ramayana is familiar to virtually every Indian. Although the Sanskrit original was composed by Valmiki around the fourth century BC, poets have produced countless versions in different languages. Here, drawing on the work of an eleventh-century poet called Kamban, Narayan employs the skills of a master novelist to re-create the excitement he found in the original. A luminous saga made accessible to new generations of readers, The Ramayana can be enjoyed for its spiritual wisdom, or as a thrilling tale of ancient conflict. more...

Price: $13.00

There is a growing scholarly interest in Hindu religion. Associated with this is the attention to sacred images and their worship. This book extends the discussion on Indian images and their worship, bringing historical and comparative dimensions and considering Krishna worship in the context of modernity, both in India and the West. more...

Price: $110.00

A Conversation With God. One of the 'Five Jewels' of Hindu literature, this epic poem describes a battlefield dialog about the nature of man and the universe between an Indian warrior-prince and the charioteer who reveals himself to be a divine incarnation of Brahma. Preparing to take place in a great battle, Prince Arjuna loses heart and questions his charioteer, Krishna, about his purpose in the world. Krishna, revealing himself as a divine incarnation of Brahma, instructs Arjuna on the nature of humanity, divinity, and the universe in this stirring epic poem dating back to before the Christian era. more...

Price: $4.99

Kabir was an extraodinary oral poet whose works have been recited by millions throughout North India for half a millennium. Thousands of poems are attributed to Kabir, but only a few written collections have survived over the centuries. The Bijak is one of the most important. more...

Price: $41.00