"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism" by Linda Johnsen (2002)
I got this book as a gift from my brother. Many of the Hindus, are unaware about the religion. This book by Linda Johnsen brought me to light by answering many of my questions I had for many years. I realized that “Hinduism” is “Philosophy” one of the oldest philosophy in the world. It is a must for a Hindu and a suggestion for non-Hindus to read this book to acquire knowledge on Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).
"Mahabharata" by Kamala Subramaniam (1965)
Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two great epics, written thousands of years ago. When I was a kid, I used to watch these stories on television as mega serials. It was just a story to me.
Kamala Subramaniam has taken the task of condensing the whole epic into a single volume. She has done an excellent job. I got involved in every chapter. Her writing was so powerful which took me to awesome imagination of each scene. It is a mix of adventure, thrill, comedy, romance, spiritual and philosophy.
I was touched emotionally several times. I sobbed when the 16yr old Abhimanyu got stuck in the Chakravayuha and killed by the Kauravas in an injustice manner. And of course, the part of Radheya (Karna) brought me tears. The best philosophical part are the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna , Lord Dharma and Yudhisthira , Lord Indra and Karna, Great Bheesma and Yudhisthira , Vidura and Dhritarashtra , Rishi Sanatsujata and Dhritarashtra.
"The one thousand names of the Divine Mother-Sri Lalita Sahasranama" by Dr.M.N.Namboodiri (1996)
Sri Lalitha Sahasranama is an ancient hymn containing 1000 Sanskrit mantras. These 1000 mantras are dedicated to the feminine aspect of God or the Divine mother-Sri Lalitha or Shakti or Devi. Each mantra praises the qualities of the Divine mother. The meaning of each mantra is explained by T.V.Narayan Menon an is beautifully translated in English by Dr.M.N.Namboodiri. The beauty of describing the feminine aspect is here in the Lalitha Sahasranama. It is believed that the chanting of these mantras is the best way to attain spiritual and material upliftment.
"Amma-Healing the heart of the world" by Judith Cornell (2001)
Dr. Judith Cornell, researcher of arts and psychology is a professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She first met Amma or Ammachi in 1987 and later outcome of her research is this book on biography of Amma. People who are unaware about Amma-an Indian woman/saint/philosopher/humanity server, should read this great biography.
To know more about Amma , visit my blog "Bhakti.
"Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse (1951)
"Siddhartha" was originally published by Hesse in German in 1922.This story is about a man called Siddhartha who feels spiritually down, searches the meanings of self and life, in other words searches for identity and truth. Finally Siddhartha finds the truth - unity of all life.
Hermann Hesse's trip to India in 1911 and his great research on eastern philosophy, especially on Hinduism resulted in “Siddhartha”. He narrates, “Brightly, Vasudeva's smile was shining, floating radiantly over all the wrinkles of his old face, as the Om was floating in the air over all the voices of the river.”
Siddhartha says to Govinda,
“In deep meditation, there is the possibility to put time out of existence, to see all life which was, is, and will be as if it was simultaneous, and there everything is good, everything is perfect, everything is Brahman.”
"Love, oh Govinda, seems to me to be the most important thing of all. To thoroughly understand the world, to explain it, to despise it, may be the thing great thinkers do. But I'm only interested in being able to love the world, not to despise it, not to hate it and me, to be able to look upon it and me and all beings with love and admiration and great respect.”
Govinda says to himself,
“Never again, after our exalted Gotama has become one with the Nirvana, never since then have I met a person of whom I felt: this is a holy man! Only him, this Siddhartha...”
At the end, Siddhartha asks Govinda to kiss his forehead.Govinda lost in time, saw miraculous vision-a ll the earthly things on Siddhartha's face. This is similar to child Krishna showing his mouth to Yashoda, Yashoda lost in time saw miraculous vision -whole universe in Krishna's mouth.
This is a very good book. But what I don't understand is, people who read this book appreciate the imaginary character Siddhartha but does not appreciate the real human or saints who had similar quest for life but found the same truth-Love and Unity of life.
As far as I know, people who read this book, give more importance to the path which led Siddhartha realize the truth than giving the importance to the truth itself!
I got this book as a gift from my brother. Many of the Hindus, are unaware about the religion. This book by Linda Johnsen brought me to light by answering many of my questions I had for many years. I realized that “Hinduism” is “Philosophy” one of the oldest philosophy in the world. It is a must for a Hindu and a suggestion for non-Hindus to read this book to acquire knowledge on Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism).
"Mahabharata" by Kamala Subramaniam (1965)
Ramayana and Mahabharata are the two great epics, written thousands of years ago. When I was a kid, I used to watch these stories on television as mega serials. It was just a story to me.
Kamala Subramaniam has taken the task of condensing the whole epic into a single volume. She has done an excellent job. I got involved in every chapter. Her writing was so powerful which took me to awesome imagination of each scene. It is a mix of adventure, thrill, comedy, romance, spiritual and philosophy.
I was touched emotionally several times. I sobbed when the 16yr old Abhimanyu got stuck in the Chakravayuha and killed by the Kauravas in an injustice manner. And of course, the part of Radheya (Karna) brought me tears. The best philosophical part are the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna , Lord Dharma and Yudhisthira , Lord Indra and Karna, Great Bheesma and Yudhisthira , Vidura and Dhritarashtra , Rishi Sanatsujata and Dhritarashtra.
"The one thousand names of the Divine Mother-Sri Lalita Sahasranama" by Dr.M.N.Namboodiri (1996)
Sri Lalitha Sahasranama is an ancient hymn containing 1000 Sanskrit mantras. These 1000 mantras are dedicated to the feminine aspect of God or the Divine mother-Sri Lalitha or Shakti or Devi. Each mantra praises the qualities of the Divine mother. The meaning of each mantra is explained by T.V.Narayan Menon an is beautifully translated in English by Dr.M.N.Namboodiri. The beauty of describing the feminine aspect is here in the Lalitha Sahasranama. It is believed that the chanting of these mantras is the best way to attain spiritual and material upliftment.
"Amma-Healing the heart of the world" by Judith Cornell (2001)
Dr. Judith Cornell, researcher of arts and psychology is a professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She first met Amma or Ammachi in 1987 and later outcome of her research is this book on biography of Amma. People who are unaware about Amma-an Indian woman/saint/philosopher/humanity server, should read this great biography.
To know more about Amma , visit my blog "Bhakti.
"Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse (1951)
"Siddhartha" was originally published by Hesse in German in 1922.This story is about a man called Siddhartha who feels spiritually down, searches the meanings of self and life, in other words searches for identity and truth. Finally Siddhartha finds the truth - unity of all life.
Hermann Hesse's trip to India in 1911 and his great research on eastern philosophy, especially on Hinduism resulted in “Siddhartha”. He narrates, “Brightly, Vasudeva's smile was shining, floating radiantly over all the wrinkles of his old face, as the Om was floating in the air over all the voices of the river.”
Siddhartha says to Govinda,
“In deep meditation, there is the possibility to put time out of existence, to see all life which was, is, and will be as if it was simultaneous, and there everything is good, everything is perfect, everything is Brahman.”
"Love, oh Govinda, seems to me to be the most important thing of all. To thoroughly understand the world, to explain it, to despise it, may be the thing great thinkers do. But I'm only interested in being able to love the world, not to despise it, not to hate it and me, to be able to look upon it and me and all beings with love and admiration and great respect.”
Govinda says to himself,
“Never again, after our exalted Gotama has become one with the Nirvana, never since then have I met a person of whom I felt: this is a holy man! Only him, this Siddhartha...”
At the end, Siddhartha asks Govinda to kiss his forehead.Govinda lost in time, saw miraculous vision-a ll the earthly things on Siddhartha's face. This is similar to child Krishna showing his mouth to Yashoda, Yashoda lost in time saw miraculous vision -whole universe in Krishna's mouth.
This is a very good book. But what I don't understand is, people who read this book appreciate the imaginary character Siddhartha but does not appreciate the real human or saints who had similar quest for life but found the same truth-Love and Unity of life.
As far as I know, people who read this book, give more importance to the path which led Siddhartha realize the truth than giving the importance to the truth itself!
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