Author: David Kinsley
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520917723
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 328
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Book Description
The Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of whom are strongly associated with sexuality and violence. What is one to make of a goddess who cuts her own head off, or one who prefers sex with a corpse? The Mahavidyas embody habits, attributes, or identities usually considered repulsive or socially subversive and can be viewed as "antimodels" for women. Yet it is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as "awakeners"—symbols which help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Drawing on a broad range of Sanskrit and vernacular texts as well as extensive research in India, including written and oral interpretations of contemporary Hindu practitioners, Kinsley describes the unusual qualities of each of the Mahavidyas and traces the parallels between their underlying themes. Especially valuable are the many rare and fascinating images he presents—each important to grasping the significance of the goddesses. Written in an accessible, engaging style, Kinsley's book provides a comprehensive understanding of the Mahavidyas and is also an overview of Hindu tantric practice.
Author: David Frawley
Publisher: Lotus Press
ISBN: 0940676508
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 280
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Book Description
This extraordinary new book shows us how to connect with the Devatas, the Divine powers of the universe to develop our deeper Yoga practice. It features special chapters on the Shiva Linga, meditations on Shakti in nature and in the human body, Shakti in the practice of Yoga, special knowledge of the chakras (including the spiritual heart and the crown chakra), the four internal energy centers of Fire (Agni), Sun (Surya), Moon (Soma) and Lightning (Vidyut), the practice of Drishti Yoga (Yoga of perception), Shambhavi Mudra, and important mantras to Shiva, Kali, Bhairavi and Sundari. It contains a wealth of deep yogic knowledge not easily available today and based upon traditional Sanskrit sources.
Author: Sarah Tomlinson
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 1611804957
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 98
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Book Description
A sophisticated and unique adult coloring book featuring 24 Yantras--sacred Indian geometric symbols--that can be used for meditation, contemplation, healing, and personal growth Bring meditative, healing, and creative power into your life with this coloring book of 24 sacred geometric symbols known as Yantras. Yantras are often associated with Indian deities, and each one contains its own specific energetic power--like protection, healing, wealth, and success. Sarah Tomlinson, a Yantrika (Yantra teacher and practitioner), yoga teacher, and artist offers these intricate Yantra archetypes to color for mindfulness, centering, stress-relief, empowerment, and for the joy of it. She briefly unpacks each Yantra--explaining the archetype, how it should be used, what energy it offers, what colors are associated with it, and where the mandala should be displayed for maximum power. She also offers a mantra or intention for each archetype.
Author: Shivani Gaura Pant
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 8194646456
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 146
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Book Description
A still, dense, ancient forest. A dark cave deep within. And in it a woman-child whose beauty can move the most pious to sin. Who is she and why did she jump from a moving train to land in the biggest cremation ground teeming with Aghori Sadhus? In this story spanning generations and redolent with Gothic imagery, Shivani urf Gaura Pant tells the story of a woman's life, her moral and mental strength and her resilience. She also examines the choices women have in her beautiful, descriptive prose. With an erudite foreword by her daughter and scholar, Mrinal Pande, and a preface by the translator, this book is Shivani for the 21st-century reader.
Author: Peter Lavezzoli
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 9780826418159
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 488
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Book Description
Peter Lavezzoli, Buddhist and musician, has a rare ability to articulate the personal feeling of music, and simultaneously narrate a history. In his discussion on Indian music theory, he demystifies musical structures, foreign instruments, terminology, an
Author: Narasingha Prosad Sil
Publisher: Susquehanna University Press
ISBN: 9781575910734
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 172
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Book Description
Although not seeking to debunk the Hindu hagiography that has grown up around her and her ascetic husband Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sil (history, Western Oregon U.) seeks to rescue the human figure of Saradamani Chattopadhyay, a simple but industrious woman who had been a victim of her God-man h
Author: Ambikā Prasāda Varmā Divya
Publisher: Mittal Publications
ISBN: 9788170994565
Category : Erotic art
Languages : en
Pages : 198
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Book Description
Author: Jaideva Singh
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780791410738
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 224
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Book Description
This book offers 112 dhāraṇās -- 112 meditations or techniques -- for experiencing the extraordinary and paradoxical reality of unbounded consciousness called Bhairava. In her initial question to Bhairava, the Goddess asks him to reveal his own essential nature to her. Bhairava praises her question as pertaining to the very essence of the Tantra, and he praises the transcendent aspect of the Supreme. The Goddess then beseeches Bhairava to teach her the method by which she may gain an understanding of this blissful, nondual reality. The methods offered here hint at a profound secret: only a subtle shift of attention is required in order to bring this astonishing reality into view. The shift will open a chink in the apparently impregnable smoothness of the ordinary world. Here are 112 secret gestures of attention that will reveal infinity. True to its tantric provenance, the Vijñāna-bhairava discovers Supreme Reality in unexpected and bizarre places. As one scans the great variety of methods it offers, one is struck by the contrast in tone between this text and the classical expositions of Yoga. While equally serious, the Vijñāna-bhairava has a playful approach anchored in the confidence that one can really never stray from the reality of Shiva. Because it is grounded in the tantric realization, the text has a freedom to explore meditational domains puritanically disdained by classical Yoga. All things, all experiences, all moments are bathed in the unassailable purity of the absolute consciousness. Only a shift of attention, a subtle refocusing, is required for that extraordinary reality to come into view. The Vijñāna-bhairava contains no sustained philosophical position. Rather, it is an instructional guide that continuously invites the practitioner to look more deeply and more subtly at her own experience. The blissful and shattering realizations that she will undergo as a result of its method serves as the only form of proof or justification. This is an initiatory manual that instructs in the intricacies of the advanced sport of Shiva.
Author: David Frawley
Publisher: Lotus Press
ISBN: 0910261393
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 293
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Book Description
This book provides an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism, discussing all the major concepts and correcting many existing misconceptions.
Author: V. Ravi
Publisher: MANBLUNDER
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 117
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Book Description
Vijnanabhairava is a Trika and tantra Scripture, wherein Shiva teaches His Consort Shakti, one hundred and twelve methods of contemplations to realize Him. As far as Trika Philosophy is concerned, it uses many complicated Sanskrit words and unless one understands the meaning of technical Sanskrit words in detail, it could be difficult to understand the full glory of this great Scripture. A sincere attempt has been made in this book to avoid all complicated words and make the teachings of Shiva as simple as possible. The main idea of this book is to discuss about one hundred and twelve contemplations in very simple terms, without loosing sight on the focus of this sacred Scripture. All these contemplations can be easily practiced at home. The entire text is in the form of divine conversation between Shiva and Shakti. Shakti asks Her Lord Shiva and gets clarifications on some of Her doubts and that is how this ancient Scripture has come into existence. The text has one hundred and sixty three aphorisms. Mind is the only factor in God realization. When a practitioner is able to dissolve his mind into the supreme consciousness of Bhairava, he becomes Bhairava himself. Tantra is based on the principle of accepting one as himself. In yoga one has to dissolve himself into That. The aim of both tantra and yoga are the same, realising the Self within, but the path taken by both are different. For practicing tantra, one need not have extensive knowledge. Understanding certain technical terms are necessary to achieve rapid progress. In yoga one has to fight against the principles of nature but in tantra one continues to remain with the nature. However, practice is important in both.As far as possible, Sanskrit alphabets have been avoided and are used only in a very few places. However, IAST (International Alphabet for Sanskrit Transliteration) format is used through out the book, so that original glory of Sanskrit pronunciation is not lost. The basic idea of the book is to explain the teachings of Shiva in simplest terms possible and the book does not dwell at length about Trika Philosophy.
