India Books

This book makes a significant intervention in the historiography of India in ways more than one. It furthers a major debate in south Indian historiography. Ever since its discovery, the nature of political order in the Cola state has been a subject over which historians have debated with considerable enthusiasm. Rejecting two of the major formulations, one by Nilakanta Sastri and the other by Burton Stein, Veluthat proposes to examine the validity of the thesis of Indian feudalism in the context of south India.

In so doing, Veluthat also participates in the now famous debate on Indian feudalism. Thus the book is important in two important ways: for the light it sheds on south Indian history as well as for the participation in the debate on feudalism. A hitherto neglected area in south Indian history, namely Kerala, is also brought into limelight in the book. Veluthat uses most sophisticated tools of research and places his data within a sturdy theoretical framework.

This book makes a thorough analysis of the political structure of South India in the period of the rule of the Pallavas, Pandyas, Ceras and Colas. It surveys the historiography of the period, identifying the major points of departure at different stages. It rejects the notion of a centralised empire proposed by Nilakantha Sastri as well as that of a segmentary state suggested by Burton Stein to explain the political structure obtaining in South India in this period. By making a systematic analysis of the epigraphical data, bringing to bear on it a statistical method, the author tries to test the validity of the feudal model for this region. An added attraction of the book is fresh data on Kerala which is not hitherto available in print.

this book is gr8 for boosting positive thoughts and thinking . I strongly recomend this book if your feeling down.

Universal laws work for or against any one of us. A wise person becomes aware of these laws and makes them work favorably. That's the framework Dr. Peale establishes in the first chapter. He follows up in the next chapter by discussing how the plus factor can be linked with creative dreaming to make one's life more focused.
He tells how his own life has been positively changed by applying the principles contained in this book. He adds the stories of other people also.
Buy this book! It is full of practical applications that will improve the quality of your life.

We have been using offshore (both captive and outsourced) capacity for over six years. I wish I had stumbled across this gem of a guide six years ago! The author knows what he is talking about, and has obviously been-there and done-that. The knowledge is shared in simple, usable nuggets of wisdom. This is just a great, great read.

If you or your company is thinking about outsourcing, this is a down to earth, straightforward guide on what you should do. Includes useful tools to make outsourcing more productive and less expensive too!

The potential buyer/reader needs to know that "Prakruti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" is the first edition. The significantly revised second edition is titled "Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution" (Prakriti with two i's, not Prakruti with a u). While it is instructional for the scholar to read and note the differences between the two editions, I recommend the second edition to the first time buyer/reader.

This book got me started on eating appropriately for my body type. My energy level began to increase once I stopped "poisoning" myself. I also gained insights into why I/my body acts the way it does. Thanks, Dr. Svoboda!

Stella Kramrisch has done a brilliant job bringing Shiva to life. I have many other books which contain the stories of Shiva and Parvati; but no other does justice to his fantastic, immense, amazing, mind-blowing qualities. Shiva even has the power to kill with his 'lingam' which can be used as a weapon to annihilate his enemies. For those of you are interested in tantra and Kundalini, you will be delighted to understand that snakes form Shiva's ambience and that this ascetic is also master of the erotic and dance. Stella's translations will stir you imgination back to a more auspicious time. The stories make the conquests of today's corporate rulers seem pathetic.

Stella Kramrisch is transporting us in another world where we have to put aside our Western conditioned mind and to fully open our heart to grasp the complex world of the hindus Gods and particularly of Shiva, the Great God. But more than unveiling the secret stories of Shiva, this book is actually highlighting the "real presence" of Shiva in our current turmoiled World. A premonitory book !

This is a first of its kind book and Samskrita Bharati should be congratulated for taking the initiative for publishing this much needed preview of scientific advances in Vedic India. The book is the proverbial last nail in "Max Mullerian theory" coffin about Indian History and civilizatin. While no single book can do justice to the Scientific advances in Vedic India, "Pride of India" succeeds brilliantly by providing tantalaizing glimpses in areas as diverse as, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, surgery etc. This is long due excellent quality first book in this area. A must reference and general review book.

I have always known that vedas contained not only the highest philosophical thoughts,but also a lot of facts related to science. I read several articles over many years that talked about the science facts from the vedas, whether it be Mathematics,Metallurgy,etc. But when confronted with a question, "can you point me to the source", I have always been at a loss. Now thanks to Samskrita Bharati for bringing out this book, I am not only able to confidently point to the source but also can give an approximate timeframe when the source was compiled. And it is amazing to know that so much progress was made in Science so looooooong ago. Hopefully Samskrita Bharati will bring more of these kinds of publications to help us and educate us all.

In many ways, this mature work resembles his "BEN-HUR": it covers
a period of many years, and its plot is built by putting together
historical and geographical facts, and by weaving in a thread of
romance. The "boat race" introduced in this story suggests the
famous "chariot race" in "BEN-HUR". This property has value in
awakening interest in a fascinating period of history, and fixing
in the mind of the audience many historic events and customs,
while its treatment of the religious questions involved is both
broad and comprehensive. (Helen Rex Keller)

This novel recounts events leading to the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453. The legendary "wandering jew", in guise of a "Prince of India" aids in bringing about the downfall of the city and its empire by aiding and advising the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II.

The viewpoints of both the Greek and Turkish sides are shown in detail, with sympathy for both. Added to this are many vivid descriptions of the city and the important characters of the day. All in all, an interesting read.

The central character of the Jew/Prince is a fascinating portrait. I found it much more effective than the other 19th century treatment of the legend by Eugene Sue, "Le Juif Errant."

I have read many books about the Royal lives from various parts of the world. This book by "Gayatri Devi" is exquisite and her narration simply makes the book premier of them all. The details and the wonderful experiences amazed me. Her life has so much vitality and enthusiasm. Its a book by someone with bright spirit and great soul.

I have always been interested in the history of Princely India because I find the lives and times of the great Maharajas of India very fascinating. I found the first edition of this great book at an Indian book store in New Jersey. I was very ecstatic about my discovery since one can hardly find books about the history of Princely India in the States. This is the perfect way to find out what it was like during the time when the Maharajas ruled India. Her Royal Highness, the Maharani Gayatri Devi has done a superb job in writing this book. Her writing makes it seem as if we are there in Jaipur when they welcomed Her at the Rambhagh Palace, and we feel the emotions she might have felt when Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi imprisoned her on false charges. This book is easy to follow and flows very nicely from one chapter to the next, and from one situation to the other. The English used in this book is not too complex either, and has many great pictures so that one can feel as if they are right there when She wins the elections and welcomes Jackie Kennedy at the City Palace. This book is a must read for all people who are interested in Princely India, or interested in famous influential women. It is a must read for people who like to read a romantic story, but it is a must read for people who like to read and gain new knowledge.

I have brought this book to the attention of several friends who are interested in the essential insights of the Upanishads and none of them have been disappointed.

The Classical Upanishads are some of the earliest and most important mystical teachings to come out of the Hindu religious tradition, dating back to around 800 BCE. Many of the key teachings of karma, about our interconnecteness with all, about blindess of our true spiritual nature, about the world of change and unsatifactoriness (samsara) and finding freedom through meditational and mystical experiences are to be found within these teachings.

Alan Jacobs' translation of the principal and historically most important Upanishads breaths new and inspiring life into them. His renderings of them into free-verse must be the most accessible and fluid translation in English there is. This translation and of India's early mystic seers' insights is about as good as it gets.

`Upanishads breathe throughout the sacred spirit of the Vedas!' wrote Arthur Schopenhauer, `How every line is full of sure, definite and harmonizing significance! How out of every page confront us deep, original, elevated thoughts, while a higher and highly sacred earnestness vibrates through the whole!'

Alan Jacobs has produced yet another literary masterpiece in his transcreation of the 'Principal Upanishads', which together with his 'Bhagavad Gita', aim to convey the nondualist teaching (Advaita Vedanta) of the ancient Indian scriptures as well as explore the author's own poetic expression.

There are over 200 Upanishads or `secret teachings' in existence however 12 of them have become universally acknowledged as the primary vehicles of the Divine revelation leading to Self-Realisation. And the 'Isa Upanishad' is traditionally placed at the beginning of the sequence, setting the tone and establishing the essential Truth that ultimately everything is as is should be:

All is perfect, so perfectly perfect!
Whatever being lives, moves
And breathes on Earth
At every level from atom
To galaxy is absolutely perfect in its place
Precise and choreographed,
Because `That' flows from the Glory of God,
The Lord,
The Self,
Consciousness . . .

Each Upanishad is supplemented with the author's own commentary, drawing on nondualist cross references to other writers and beliefs - Homer and Plato, Aurobindo and Schopenhauer, the teachings of Jesus and Ramana Maharshi.

The message of Advaita Vedanta has been gently flourishing in the West - Alan Jacob's 'Principal Upanishads' will only serve to illuminate further this blessed Truth:

That all there is is `That',
The I am-ness
Of consciousness, Reality, Love,
Self, Awareness,
I am `That'
`That' all there is is Brahman, God.
Sat, Chit, Ananda.

J. Krishnamurti in dialogue with Jonas Salk, David Bohm, Iris Murdoch, Renee Weber, Eugene Schallert, Bernard Levin and others. This is an interesting book.

Perhaps one of the most accessible books on Krishnamurti (for more information check Stuart Holroyd's Krishnamurti - The Man, The Mystery & The Message -- also available on Amazon.com). The interviews give the reader access to Krishnamurti himself allowing him to speak unfiltered, raw. For the student wishing to get a better understanding of the message of Krishnamurti, I highly, highly recommend this book.

Miguel Llora