India Books

Very few books on African music come with their own cd and the viewpoint of an anthropologist as well as a musician, but Rob Flaes' BRASS UNBOUND is a unique ticket exploring both the history of African music's colonial influences and the stature and influence of brass bands on African sounds.

Smita Narula and her associates have done a great job. The most extensive report of abuses against India's untouchables that I have ever seen. Covers South India, Gujarat, and Bihar with careful research, detailed explanations, and moving personal accounts of Dalits themselves. A bit technical for the recreational reader because it serves as a human rights advocacy report which provides recommendations to the government of India and approaches solutions through an academic framework. Still, one can learn a lot of the measures that have been taken to protect Dalits by the government, UN, etc. while at the same time discovering its dismal attempts at enforcing them. Graphic yet necessary photos are included. Very informative and eye opening read.

This book is fascinating! I am inspired by the life and stories of this living Saint and miracle man Swami Sri Kaleshwar. His life serves as a testament that we are all here to remember who we are in such beautiful yet profound ways so we, who are all equal, can serve love to everyone. I feel his presence each time I read it which is awakening my awareness of love. I am so happy this book showed up for me this year. Thank you Monica and Philip for writing this book; Thank you Swami Sri Kaleshwar for being a beautiful example of love and truth.

Ruegg's work is a great synthesis of information derived from primary and secondary sources, and explores the ways in which important themes of Indian Buddhist thought (buddha-nature, conceptions of mind and enlightenment) were interpreted and adapted in the complex cultural matrix of early Buddhist Tibet. A must-read for anyone wanting a deeper take on the cultural history of Tibetan Buddhism, or the history of Tibetan Buddhist philosophical interpretations!

This is a short consice explaination of Buddhism and the origins of Buddhism. I found this to be extremely informative and maybe the most comprehensive guide to Buddhism. I used this book for a research project and was extremely satisfied with the information it provided.

Most of us assume that the history as we learn is the truth. Unfortunately we know so little about the past that we can not have a good idea of what is the truth behind it, at least not using only our intellect. But if we let the book work in ourselves and leave the concepts we been raised with aside for a moment we could find us going in a direction so simple but in the same time so beautiful that we would not doubt for a second what is the truth and what is not.
This book show us how far can a human being go if it really live and learn with every single situation in its life.
Keep an open mind, and let your spirit show you the life of Buddha as you read this book.

Finally! A Life Story of Buddha in simple, elegant story form. Kherdian tells the story of Siddharta's life - from young prince to enlightened Buddha - without the inscrutable mythology found in every other book about the Enlightened One.

If you've ever been curious about Buddha - where he came from and how he came to be - this is the book for you.

This book belongs in every library, and every school in the country.

About the Book :
To meet the demand of regional histories, the Prachi Valley Cultural, Academic and Historical Society, with its head office at Puri in Orissa, came into existence. This book is a commendable result of the project sponsored by this society. The book specifically deals with southeast India, also known as Utkala or Orissa that covers the vast area between the Ganga and Godavari. And, the Prachi river ³ the holiest river of Orissa³that flows in between this land, is the main concern of the present study. An outstanding aspect of the history of Orissa is that it is intimately connected with Buddhism. Thus, the heterodox faiths too, had an equal opportunity of development along with the Hindu religious cults, in the valley.

About the Author :
Shyam Sunder Tripathy, the author of this book, was the Vice-President of Prachi Valley Cultural Academic and Historical Society, Puri (Orissa), who passed away in the early days of the year 1988.

Contents :
Preface
Abbreviations
Description of Plates
Introduction
1. The Prachi River
2. The Early Rulers of the Dated History
3. The Bhaumakara Rulers and the Buddhism in the Prachi Valley
4. The Somavamsi Period
5. The Gangavamsi Rule
6. The Temple and monuments
Bibliography
Index

About the Book :
Orissa has been the Cinderella of Indian archaeological exploration. For historical reasons the decision-makers deterred the spade of the archaeologists. Nonetheless, the occasional foray into the field threw a flood of light on the hitherto hidden historical, religious and artistic traditions of the state. The excavation conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India from 1997 to 2000 at Udayagiri was epoch-making. It unearthed a grand monastery with magnificent shrines and unique architectural features like a true arch which ancient Indian architecture refused to use. The author who headed the excavation has written this book mainly for the edification of the general reader. His mastery of art-history aids him not only in bringing out the aesthetic tradition but also in tracing the varied artistic currents which the great Orissan artists assimilated and transformed.

About the Author :
Dr Bimal Bandyopadhyay (b 1948), alumnus of the University of Calcutta, after a brilliant academic career joined the Archaeological Survey of India and has been the head of the Kolkata Circle. He authored the widely acclaimed books `Metal Sculptures of Eastern India' and `A Survey of Indian Metal Sculptures', apart from many articles, published in scholarly journals. His knowledge of art-history provides a special insight into interpreting the stylistic features of objects unearthed by archaeology.

Contents :
Preface
List of Plates

Chapter I - Background -- Development of Buddhism in Orissa-early references-citing of remains-discoveries from Lalitagiri-dearth of literary and epigraphical references-Bhauma-kara rule-Ratnagiri and its religious significance-rise of Vajrayana and Kalacakrayana schools and philosophy-Ratnagiri as a great centre of Buddhist learning-decay of Buddhism in Orissa.

Chapter II - Previous References -- Location-early notices of sculptures and remains at Lalitagiri and Udayagiri by CS Banerji and J Beames-visit of RP Chanda-exploration of HC Chakladar-remarks of RD Banerji on Udayagiri and Ratnagiri about their antiquarian wealth.

Chapter III - Archaeological Remains at Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri -- Excavation at Ratnagiri-chronological order of the Buddhist centres-Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri-sculptural art at its best at Lalitagiri-findings from excavation at Lalitagiri-the stupa and relic-the apsidal temple and area around the monasteries-ceramic industry-Ratnagiri excavation-Buddhist complex from the 5th century ad-excavated remains at Ratnagiri-the Main stupa-the monasteries-unique sculptural art of Ratnagiri-the varieties of Vajrayana deities-aesthetic appraisal of Ratnagiri sculptures-bronzes-inscriptions-excavation at Udayagiri 1-the stupa and the sculptures-the monastery-excavation at Udayagiri 2-the monastery and its unique architecture-the shrine area and the Avalokitesvara image-the elegant sculptures-antiquities including seals and sealings-bronzes-rock-cut sculptures on a cliff.

Select Bibliography
Index

This is the best reference on this subject in my library. Unfortunately it is out of print. Good luck finding a copy.