Author: Annie Besant
Bhagavan Das/
Publisher: Theosophical Publishing
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 300
ISBN/UPC (if available): 81-7059-284-4
Description
This brilliant work was the first ever serious attempt at drawing from the vast, nebulous, scattered sources, the principles of Sanatana Dharma and codifying them.
The wisdom of inspired Seers is recorded in various Samhitas, Sutras, Smrtis and other fragments. The corpus of all these is Sanatana Dharma, Eternal Order of Dharma. Through millennia, Hindu society was moulded by it. Though necessarily Indian in garb, its principles have a timeless relevance to any society, anywhere, any time.
It is striking that the first ever serious attempt at drawing from the vast, nebulous, scattered sources the principles of Sanatana Dharma and codifying them was left to Annie Besant, foreign by birth, but more truly Indian than an Indian could be. In compiling this brilliant work, she was ably assisted by a team of eminent Sanskrit scholars headed by no less a savant than Bharata Ratna, Dr Bhagavan Das.
A reading of this book is in itself a liberal education.
Contents
Foreword
List of Abbreviations used
Introduction
PART I : BASIC HINDU RELIGIOUS IDEAS
1. The One Existence
2. The Many
3. Rebirth
4. Karma
5. Sacrifice
6. The World: Visible and Invisible
PART II : GENERAL HINDU RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS AND RITES
1. The Samskaras
2. Sraddha
3. Sauca
4. The Five Daily Sacrifices
5. Worship
6. The four Asramas
7. The Four Castes
8. The Four Purusarthas
PART III : ETHICAL TEACHINGS
1. Ethical Science, What It Is
2. The foundation of Ethics, as given by Religion
3. Right and Wrong
4. The Standard of Ethics
5. Virtues and their Foundation
6. Bliss and Emotions
7. ‘Self-Regarding’ Virtues
8. Virtues and Vices vis-à-vis Superiors
9. Virtues and Vices vis-à-vis Equals
10. Virtues and Vices vis-à-vis Inferiors
11. The Reaction of Virtues and Vices on Each Other
Subject Index
Book Quoted and Mentioned