Author: H N Verma
Amrit Verma/
Publisher: Blue Jay Books
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 207
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8188575410
Description
According to Joseph Campbell (The Mask of God, Occidental Mythology), the unity of the race of man, not only its biology but also in its spiritual history, has everywhere unfolded in the manner of a single symphony. Nowhere is this more evident than in Hindu civilization and the stories of its gods and goddesses. Both gods and devils have been presumed as supernatural forces either divine or demonic. In ancient times man regarded natural forces as those powers and gave them names. Hindu civilization, an amalgam of races: Dravidian, Aryan and Mongoloid inhabiting the banks of the Sindhu River revolved as a single civilization evoking such gods and goddesses. The country that came to be known as India (or earlier as Indico), after the river Indus and its people also put in place a social system (replete with caste structure), deeply imbibing such mythology.
The book deals with both Hindu and western mythologies and their differing views on the story of Creation. It extends the idea that Truth is one but sages expressed it in different ways. The book projects the commonalties and differences amongst the Hindu, Greek and Roman civilizations and attributes the survival of India civilization (from the early Vedic to Sanatan Dharma) to its assimilative power, its ability to compromise and integrate diversity.
REVIEWS
What Happens to Gods and Demons? The question leads in to discover that men and women of both East and west create broadly similar pantheons to address their basic human concerns, and that in both parts of the world the place of gods and demons follows a similar evolution over time. The scope of the work is immense, including history, archaeology, modern science, and, of course, mythology. The work introduces readers tot eh rich variety of deities in Greek, roman, and Indian civilizations. Greater attention is given to the Indian pantheon, and readers find in it a treasure of information.
The scholarship is first rate. In their previous books Hari and Amrit Verma have established a reputation for careful research and scholarly presentation, while at the same time writing in a style that is clear and engaging. Add to this a wealth of well chosen illustrations, and we have a book that will be greatly enjoyed and valued by all readers interested in this broad subject.
-Patrick Brasnan
Hari and Amrit Verma moved half a world away to spend time with their grandchildren (in USA), but that hasn’t stopped them from being two of Sunnyvale’s most prolific authors.
-Pam Marino
The learned authors have accomplished an impossible task of encompassing different aspects of various religions, cultures, philosophies of the world.
-Jagdish Seth
Contents
INTRODUCTION
BOOK I: CREATION, EVOLUTION
Hindu View
Western View-Greek, Roman, Biblical
As Science Views-Solar System, Evolution of Life
BOOK II: GODS AND GODDNESSES
Brahma
Brahma’s Associates
Vishnu and Associates-Mahabharat, Bhagwat Gita
Shiva and Associates
The Great Mother
Mahadevi
BOOK III: SELECTED WESTERN MYTHS
Greek, Roman
The Trojan War-Greek Gods, Goddesses
BOOK IV: RELIGIONS
Hindu, Jain, Bauddha, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Parsi, Sikh
BOOK V: SELECTED INDIAN MYTHS
Caste System, India That is Bharat
Jantra-Tantra-Mantra, God, Rebirth
Viman and Missiles, Jyotish, God