India Books

This book is a refreshing change to a lot of others I have read because it doesnt rely on the gore and shock value of climbing tragedy`s in fact it exposes the true dry witt that that helps keep climbers sain . Although some reference is made to a few but these are totaly in keeping with the rythum of his writing .

It is factual, matter of fact and walks you through the true emotions, trials and tribulations of a close personal and proffesional relationship of these two very talented mountain authors .

The photographs are stunning .

In summary a great account of a low budget two man assalut on Changabang. Five stars from me .

Peter Boardman, (now dead from a subsequent mountaineering accident), in this book relates his successful 1976 two-man climb with Joe Tasker up the west wall of Changabang in the Garhwal Himalaya. The hardships of an Alpine-type assualt on this monster mountain are related, as are the doubts and fears he experiences, along with the disciplined mental state he cultivates to banish them.

The most curiously attractive thing about the book is the young author's thinking: clear, intelligent, and able to remain focused on each task at hand under the most extraordinary circumstances. The reader follows PB through each portion of the ascent and descent as he and Joe Tasker face and eliminate seemingly impossible obstacles one by one. The rhythm of the tale told feels right. It moves forward at a careful and deliberate pace, never puffed up or pedantic.

An emotional epilogue by climber Chris Bonington underscores Boardman's achievements both on the mountain, as a climber, and off, as a gentle human being.

One of the sacred books of Hinduism, "The Shiva Samhita" was composed more than five centuries ago and is considered a fundamental text of Hatha Yoga. Recording beautiful spiritual teachings found nowhere else, "The Shiva Samhita" is translated from the original Sanskrit by James Mallinson providing western readers with a new, accurate, modern translation of this ancient religious text. Featuring photographs of the asanas and mudras described by the text, "The Shiva Samhita" is a strongly recommended, core addition to personal, academic, and community library Hinduism Studies, Yoga Studies, and World Religion Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Also very highly recommended from (...) are two other Hindu Studies titles: James Mallinson's translation of "Gheranda Samhita" and Lars Martin Fosse's translation of "The Bhagavad Gita".

With this work newly translated into English, the people at YogaVidya have completed the publication of three of the most historically important but seldom published works of yoga. The other two are Akers, Brian Dana, trans., Hatha Yoga Pradipika; and Mallinson, James, trans., The Gheranda Samhita. Mallinson, who also did the translation here, is to be commended for the clear, contemporary feel of the book and for a worthy introduction that points to the many problems facing the translator of this frankly strange and certainly corrupt work from the 14th or 15th century of the current era.

Some years ago I read a text with the standard translation by Chandra Vasu from 1914, but put it aside as something strangely jumbled and confused. The problem with the Shiva Samhita (and to a lesser extent with the Gheranda Samhita) is a bastardization of two of the traditional yogas, raja/hatha yoga and tantric yoga. (The other three traditional yogas are bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, and karma yoga.) Tantric yoga is the yoga of the left-handed path in which the practitioner attempts to find liberation from the pair of opposites and enter into samadhi by embracing desire or pleasure. This method is in most respects diametrically opposed to the "yoga of discipline" which is the raja/hatha yoga path associated with the sutras from Patanjali from two thousand years ago and mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.

As he explains in the introduction, Mallinson addressed numerous "variant readings" in an attempt to make as coherent as possible the incongruities of the Shiva Samhita. He writes, "Now it may simply be that we are hearing separate instructions for the two traditional types of Tantric aspirant, namely bubhukshus, those desirous of siddhis, and mumukshus, those desirous of liberation, but the unqualified juxtaposition is jarring, particularly in light of the last verses of the text, wherein the householder is said to be able to obtain siddhis and become liberated by means of the techniques of Yoga--and still have fun!" (p. xiii)

"Siddhas," by the way, are psychic powers, such as levitation and being invisible, etc., which brings us to what may be a problem in Mallinson's translation for the general reader. One of the recurring problems for those who would translate yoga texts from the Sanskrit into modern English is that of deciding which terms to find English (more or less) equivalents for and which to leave untranslated. If you read some of the earliest translations of yogic works into English from say a hundred years ago or so, even the very word "yoga" was rendered by some as "discipline." With such words as "nadis," which are subtle channels in the human body, similar to neurons, but clearly not really neurological in a scientific sense, there is no attempt to find English synonyms because frankly there are none. "Prana" is another word that can be troublesome. It can be translated as "breath" and sometimes this is entirely correct. Most often it is best to just use the term "prana." It appears that Mallinson sometimes translates prana as "wind" as winds in the body. I find this unusual and, not being able to read Sanskrit, am at a loss as to how felicitous his usage might be. (Incidentally, as in the other books published by YogaVidya, the Sanskrit verse appears on the same page along with the English translation.)

On the other hand, Mallinson leaves many Sanskrit words untranslated, and this may also present a problem to the general reader. What do words like "linga," "bhoga," "Maya," "samsara," "nada," etc., mean? In some cases, even though I am relatively familiar with yogic terms, I had to consult a dictionary to get the meaning, and in some cases found none.

The real problem confronting most readers are the contradictions and the exaggerations (!). It is claimed again and again that this practice or that practice cures all disease and even better leads the aspirant to eternal life and power over all and sundry and--in the most ludicrous hyperbole--allows the practitioner to be alive even at the dissolution of the cosmos! Also annoying are the incessant "commercials" for the guru system. Again and again we are told that we have to worship the guru, tend to his lotus feet and treat him as a god on earth (and whatever you do, do NOT sleep with the guru's wife!--that is, unless you have also performed the correct mudra or asana or entered into a sufficient meditation, in which case you are absolved of your sins, all of them).

I think it can be seen by the discerning reader that the Shiva Samhita, for all its historical and literary value, is something close to a parody of the scope and intent of yoga. The gurus for whom it was written clearly were, for the most part, not the spiritually advanced men we would hope for, but profane aspirants themselves, looking for ways to further their individual enterprise as gurus and to establish a kind of shaman-like persona. I might add that some of the practices are dangerous (there is a warning to this effect on the copyright page) and some are well nigh impossible, such as drawing up a woman's reproductive fluids with your linga!

Nonetheless I recommend this fine translation and introduction by Mallinson. The book is splendidly presented and carefully edited and proofread. There is an index and some photos of a graceful and lissome woman named Shipra demonstrating some of the asanas and mudras. What is sorely needed is a glossary.

A book that subtly hints at girls' empowerment is always a good thing in my mind. Combine that with tales set in India, and it gets better.

Shower of Gold features Krishnaswami again showcasing her wonderful storytelling talent. Like her earlier book, Broken Tusk, this one too picks up a niche topic and tells stories about it. All of the stories in Shower of Gold are about courageous women or devis (goddesses) who have to overcome terrible odds to emerge triumphant. The stories also serve as a wonderful study in Indian culture. The dire conditions of some of these women though, may be startling to some little ones. Stories such as Rani of Jhansi are borrowed from history texts, while others such as the story of Savitri or Sita are from mythology.

Adults will especially appreciate the notes at the end of each story that often includes pointers to more exhaustive readings on the subject.

The larger question of course, looms here. "Some people wonder why, when goddesses in Hindu mythology play such magical and powerful roles, Hindu society has not given women more power." The author does hint at reasons but a more potent explanation is not really within the scope of this book. To her credit, Krishnaswami sticks to her agenda and delivers.

Shower of Gold is a fresh look at the clichéd phrase, "girl power". For here are some bold strong girls and women who have effectively shown what it all means.

Our four-year-old daughter has been delighted with these stories since getting this book for Christmas. In our mixed Indian/Texan household, good children's books on Indian cultural topics are hard to come by and prized this book neither requires the extensive knowledge of Indian mythology that many books published in India presume, nor does it distance itself from India as the exotic "other" the way some western books do. The vocabulary is challenging for my four-year old but the stories hold her interest anyway, and the length of each tale is just right for bedtime reading. This is one we'll read and re-read.

The bloody Siege of Krishnapur in 1857 is the pivot around which the action revolves in this Booker Award-winning novel by J. G. Farrell, but Farrell's focus is less on Krishnapur and the siege than it is on the attitudes and beliefs of the English colonizers who made that siege an inevitability. He puts these empire-builders under the microscope, then skewers their arrogant and superior attitudes with the rapier of his wit, subjecting them to satire and juxtaposing them and their narrowly focused lives against the realities of the world around them.

Remarkably, he does this with enough subtlety that we can recognize his characters as individuals, rather than total stereotypes, at the same time that we see their absurdity and recognize the damage they have done in their zeal to spread their "superior" culture.

From the opening pages, Farrell builds suspense as the English colony ignores reports of unrest in Barrackpur, Berhampur, and Meerut. The flirtations of the single women, the amorous attentions of the young men, the boorish and insensitive behavior of the officials, the gossipy whispering of their wives, and the unrelenting efforts to maintain the same society they enjoyed at home--with tea parties, poetry readings, and dances--all attest to their degree of isolation from the world around them.

When violence breaks out in Krishnapur and all the inhabitants take refuge in the colonial Residence, Farrell turns it into a microcosm which illuminates their misplaced values and goals as they interact with each other and face dangers from without--and from within. The siege continues for more than three months, with bloodshed, disease, starvation, lack of water and medicine, and the summer weather taking their toll.

Farrell's dark humor is unparalleled. Using irony, understatement, and a sense of the absurd, he conveys his disapproval of colonialism without resorting to the harshness of polemics. By concentrating exclusively on the English in the Residence and not on India's local population (ironically reflecting the approach of the colonizers themselves), he makes their behavior appear ridiculous in its own right, rather than ridiculous in comparison to other cultures. Mr. Rayne, the Opium Agent, calls the sale of opium, "progress." The Padre cannot understand why the Bible was originally written in an obscure language like Hebrew, rather than English, which is "spoken in every corner of every continent." A dying man offering up his last, heartfelt prayer is told by the Magistrate, "Yes, yes, to be sure, don't worry about it." The heads from a collection of small sculptures of the "great minds of Europe" are used as deadly explosives when shot becomes scarce.

Through his precise imagery, his acute eye for memorable and revealing details, his unerring ear for dialogue, his ability to maintain pace and suspense, and his humor, Farrell creates a historical novel with the enduring qualities which make it as relevant today as it was when published thirty years ago. Mary Whipple

I had never heard of J.G. Farrell or The Siege of Krishnapur until one day I was scanning a list of winner of England's Booker Prize and I noticed that Siege was out-of-print in America. I was so intrigued I sent off to England for it, but it is now also available in the U.S.

The novel narrates the story of the British community at Krishnapur during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, when the entire community holed up in the Residency (like a governor's palace) for months under siege. Farrell's style is highly cinematic, reminiscent of great movie epics about that era, such as "The Man Who Would Be King," - lots of scope, majesty, explosions, and bright-red uniforms, added to the day-to-day domestic squabbles of the community. Farrell's take is not a shallow war novel though; he is witty, ironic, inspired, and sad in turn.

The book features remarkable turns of fortune and engaging details on every page, all of which were dramatically motivated and apt. (Examples: When the besieged run out of ammunition, they create canister shot by stuffing ladies' stockings with silverware. There's a sudden infestation of flying bugs that will make you jump right out of your chair. Two doctors have an argument about the cause of cholera with dramatic consequences. A lucky shot by a Lieutenant....well I won't spoil it for you.)

The main character, the Collector, seems to stand in for all of Britain as he is transformed by his Indian experience: first arrogance and a passion for bringing British `civilization' to the uncivilized, then bravado as he stands up to the initial assaults, then despair as he watches the failure of mere ingenuity to overcome the natives. In a wonderful little coda at the end of the book you can see how he has been utterly transformed by the experience.

A wonderful find, a 'must read'! I'm off to read the rest of Farrell's novels!

breathtaking photographs,wonderful essays, informative travel and historical information about Sikkim. I recommend this book very strongly for anyone visiting/vacationing in Sikkim.

Great photographs, lucid text, all the essential nformation, makes me want to go to Sikkim instantly!!!

Wonderful explanation of the root cause of everyday problems with the use of short stories added with a sense of humor. And more importantly, the appropriate yet practical solutions. Smooth flow and easy to read.

I must have read this book about 15 times, and I keep finding new things in it. If you're a seeker, buy this book.

Sleeping in Caves: A Sixties Himalayan Memoir is the true story of a woman who dropped out of Berkeley in 1965 to travel to India and Nepal with her lover. Their time there becomes a seven year stay in which she expresses herself through painting, and learns the secrets, wonders, and sacred essence of a profoundly spiritual culture. A smattering of black-and-white photographs and essays illustrate the award-winning author's dazzling journey through a rich and rewarding culture, and a brief glossary will prove helpful to readers unfamiliar with Indian, Nepali, and Buddhist terms. A highly recommended window into quiet daily workings of another land as observered and experienced. by Marilyn Stablein.

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend Sleeping in Caves. The writing is beautiful and sensuous, and reveals exactly enough but never too much. I particularly admire the structure of the book, how it is not chronological and yet the reader can follow the progression of the journey. I loved how each chapter begins with an entry from The Pillow Book of Dreams or the writer's journal. The dreams are a complete delight in themselves.

I gave the book to a friend for her 50th birthday and she read it eagerly. She has been studying Islam and grappling with extreme monotheism. She reports that the book gave her a refreshing vacation and a welcome reminder of the abundance and diversity of deity.

Beth Roy's account of how a dispute between two neighboring farmers - cow grazes neighbor's crop - turns into a family conflict, then a village conflict, then a religious-ethnic conflict, then embroils the surrounding villages and finally an entire region. She went there, she spoke with the people most directly involved, and she uncovered the underlying national and international issues here being played out on a village level. It takes great insight and empathy to accomplish what Beth Roy has done. This is such a good book.

This is an academic study of social conflict. The author investigated a previously unreported riot in what is today the country of Bangladesh, though at the time of the riot was East Pakistan. Her methodology was to talk in detail to persons involved to understand what happened, and perhaps more importantly, their interpretation of what happened. Initially, the book is easy and engaging reading as she describes how she learned of the riot, and how the riot reportedly occurred. She then proceeds to explain the conflict in terms of the broader scholarship of social conflict. Roy's analysis of the power relationships in the village, the precipitation of the riot, and the meaning of the riot to Hindus and Muslims provide is a refreshing balance of the perception of common villagers, and academic social conflict theory. For persons interested in the social relationships in South Asia, and social conflict broadly, this is a terrific book.

Well, this is a beautiful book about absolutely "SPECTACULAR INDIA." The book is a compilation of engrossong photographs of majestic architectural and natural treasures of India. India potrays immense beauty (cut the third-world country crap out). Where the ancient survives with the modern, this country if not more, is as unique and fascinating as any on Earth.

I have personally reviewed this book. Most journalists and photographers have exhibited shortsightedness by never being able to see beyond India's status as a third-world country. This has reinforced India's reputation in the Western world more in terms of what it was under British rule rather than the period before or after it. Of course this is not an accurate portrayal of the rich culture, heritage and diversity spanning thousands of years; and modernity of rapidly changing contemporary India.

"Spectacular India" is beautiful collection of 150 color photographs by some of India's finest photographers with accompanying text by prominent Indian experts. It makes an honest and successful attempt of portraying real India and does justice to the country and it's people. It gives a sense of what India was, what India is and where it is heading. Recipedelights.com gives it a "must-buy" rating for Tourists, armchair Indians and Indians away from home. The format and size of this delectable volume make it a perfect coffee-table book.

You have to have a Windows PC to use this CD ROM (no Macintosh support), but other than that, it is quite beautiful. This CD ROM contains hundreds of full color images of Buddhism from Tibet and other parts of Asia. There are literally hundreds of photos of buddhas, goddesses, and other icons and symbols of Tibetan culture. Other sacred symbols from around the world are also included. There are several self-running slide shows, some general background on Tibetan buddhism itself, as well as references in the bibliography. Images are designed for display on a computer screen, and you can save as PC background walpaper images. Not super-high resolution images, but they do look very good on screen. There are some .wav sound clips of Tibetan chanting, bells, singing bowls and other things. I found it great fun to play with actually. A very nice reference CD or meditation tool. I put the slide show on continous play and just let it go...

This is a cd rom, and I can understand why. There are so many beautiful images that you couldn't get them all in one book. It's also nice to be able to take it wherever you go. I use it when I'm in a meditative mood - turn on my favorite zen meditation music,and watch the images. It took me a minute to figure out how to open it, but it was worth it. Great job!