Content List

Essence of Hinduism: Path of the Ancient Wisdom

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  Preface xi
  The Influence of Hindu Philosophy on Thinkers throughout the Ages xv
1. The Cosmic Calendar 1
2. Evolution 3
  Note on “Aryans” 6
3. The Origin of Religion 7
  Some Important Glimpses into the Pre-historic 10
4. Roots of Hinduism in the Ancient Cultures of India 11
  Vedic Knowledge for the Modern Youth 16
5. Ancient Hindu Scriptures: An Ever-Flowing River of Knowledge 17
  The Current Major Sources of Hindu Review 22
6. Vedas: The Foundation of Hinduism 23
7. The Spiritual Teachings of the Vedas 27
8. Essence of the Vedic Philosophy 29
  Other important sources of research on ancient Hindu scriptures 24
9. Vedas through the Passage of Time 35
  The Muktabodha Indological Research Institute 38
10. Upanishads: Culmination of the Vedas 39
  Kashmir Shaivism, also known as the Trika 42
11. Spirituality in Everyday Hindu Life 43
12. The Secret of the Hereafter 45
13. The Code of Conduct 47
14. Consciousness: Cosmic Intelligence of the Divine 49
15 Soul: The Seed of Divinity 51
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: I 54
16. The Divine Path of Virtue 55
17. The Hindu Trinity (Trimurti) 57
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: II 60
18. Shiva: The Mystic Divine of Meditation 61
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: III 64
19. Sri Rama: The Lord of Propriety 65
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: IV 68
20. Victory of Righteousness over Unrighteousness 69
21. Mahabharata: The War Within 71
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: V 74
22. Bhagavad Gita: The Song Celestial 75
23. The Spiritual Teachings of Gita 77
  Spiritual Gems from Tirukural: VI 80
24. Idol Worship: The Plethora of Gods 81
  Spiritual Gems from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa 84
25. Goddesses in Hinduism: The Icons of Female Power 85
  Spiritual Gems from Swami Vivekananda 88
26. Jainism: Renunciation and Nonviolence 89
  Spiritual Gems from Mahavira 92
27. Spiritual Teachings of the Mahavira 93
28. Buddhism Emerges 95
  Spiritual Gems from Buddha 98
29. The Spiritual Teachings of Buddha 99
30. Srimad Bhagavatam: A New Trend in Hinduism 101
31. The Spiritual Teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam 105
32. Hindu Renaissance: An Era of Sri Adi Shankar Acharya 109
33. Era of Bhakti Yoga: The Golden Period of Devotional Faith 113
  Spiritual Gems from Paramahansa Yogananda 118
34. Sikhism: The Youngest Religion in India 119
35. Sikhism: The Spiritual Teachings 123
  Spiritual Gems from Dada J. P. Vaswani 126
36. Hinduism in Modern Era: Spiritual Masters of the Recent Period 127
  The Legacy of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 132
37. Hinduism in Modern Era: Spiritual Masters of the Recent Period (Continued) 133
  Spiritual Gems from Vishnu Purana 140
38. Hinduism and Science 141
39. Meditation 143
40. Yoga: Union with the Divine 147
41. Guru and the Holy Company (Satsanga) 149
  Common types of Meditation as practiced in the U.S. 152
42. Ayurveda: The Most ancient Medical science 153
  Vegetarianism-Extra 156
43. Vegetarianism: The Compassionate Way of Living 157
44. Hindu Society Today: The Dynamic Patterns in Motion 161
45. Hindu Wedding: Nuptials for Eternity 167
46. Hindu Mythology: The World of Sacred Fantasies 171
47. Symbols and Icons in Hinduism 173
  Legacy of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba 176
48. Hindu Customs 177
49. Hindu Festivals 181
50. Hinduism and Interfaith: The Future Trends in our World 185
  Paramahansa Yogananda’s Legacy to World Harmony and Unity 188
51. Hinduism and Fine Arts 1889
  Darshan 192
52 The Evolution of Hindu Temples 193
  Sadhana 196
53. The Abode of God is the Heart of Hinduism 197
  Spiritual Gems from Swami Chinmayananda 200
54. A Pilgrimage through India 201
  Spiritual Gems from Sri Sarda Devi 208
55. Hindu Temples in the United States and Canada 209
56. Hindu Temples in the Rest of the World 215
  Hindu Prayers: The Trail of Divine Unfoldment 219
57. Conclusion: A Legacy for Hindu Youth Diaspora 223
  Bibliography 229
  Glossary 233
  Endnotes 237