The Vedas: With Illustrative Extracts

Front Cover
Book Tree, 2003 - 168 pages
This book is a detailed overview of The Vedas, the holy book of the Hindus. The most important Hymns are quoted in full; extracts are also included from the Brahmanas, the part of the Rig Veda that that guides the Brahmans, the highest class of priests, in Vedic ceremonies. This is one of the oldest and most important of the world's holy books. It is primarily composed of hymns, poems, incantations and rituals from ancient India. Not only is this the "bible" of the Hindu religion, it also offers a unique snapshot of normal, everyday life in India as it occurred over four thousand years ago.

From inside the book

Contents

INTRODUCTION
1
PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS OF THE VEDAS
7
THE BRAHMANAS
10
HINDU ACCOUNTS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE VEDAS
13
THE TIME WHEN THE VEDAS WERE COMPOSED
20
THE GODS OF THE VEDAS
29
The Religious Childhood of India 29 Dyaus and Prithivi
38
THE OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES OF THE VEDAS
52
Mandala III
77
85 Mandala VII 87 Mandala VIII 93 Mandala
85
REVIEW
120
APPENDIX
132
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information