Full Description
A study of the concept and philosophy of mantras which were used by the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains alike for their daily meditation and ritualistic purposes. It explains from a non-Eurocentric perspective, but and from an Indic perspective though written by a European, since Westerners considered mantras as 'obscure', 'meaningless', and 'quite superstitious' and grotesque in nature.
This book is a collection of essays compiled on Mantra ??stra, which is part of Tantra ??stra. It contains chapters on the doctrines of sabda philosophy and mantras like Om and Gayatri Mantra, which are the most important mantras for Hindu ascetics and layman alike in their pursuit of the Almighty. Some of the chapters in this book were published in journals associated with oriental studies, such as Vedanta Kesari and East and West. This book is recommended for those interested in the study of Hindu soteriology and the assessment of shruti worship and other traditions.
Contents
Chapter I
Vak or the Word 1
Chapter II
Artha, Pratyaya and Shabda 11
Chapter III
Ashabda and Parashabda 21
Chapter IV
Parashabda, Causal Shabda 31
Chapter V
Shakti as Stress 41
Chapter VI
Eternality of Shabda 49
Chapter VII
Shabda as Language 57
Chapter VIII
Natural Name 67
Chapter IX
Vaidika Shabda 79
Chapter X
The Tattvas 91
Chapter XI
Shakti-Potency to Create 103
Chapter XII
Nada-The Frist Produced Movement 113
Chapter XIII
Bindu or Shakti-Ready to Create 127
Chapter XIV
Maya Tattva 141
Chapter XV
The Kanchukas 153
Chapter XVI
Hangsa 163
Chapter XVII
Kamakala 173
Chapter XVIII
The Gross Tattvas and their Lords
Chapter XIX
Causal Shaktis of the Pranava 193
Chapter XX
The Kalas 201
Chapter XXI
The Garland of Letters or Varnamala 211
Chapter XXII
Om 225
Chapter XXIII
The Necklace of Kali 231
Chapter XXIV
Dhvani 239
Chapter XXV
Sun Moon and Fire 249
Chapter XXVI
Bija Mantra 253
Chapter XXVII
Shadadhvas 263
Chapter XXVIII
Mantra-Sadhana 273
Chapter XXIX
The Gayatri Mantra 281
Chapter XXX
The Gayatri Mantra 285
Chapter XXXI
Atma Sadhana
