Mysticism in India

Mysticism in India PDF Author: Ramchandra Dattatraya Ranade
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780873956697
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 540

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Book Description
Mysticism in India is a complete and informative description of the teachings, works, and lives of the great poet-saints of Maharashtra written by a scholar and professor who was also a mystic. Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Tukaram, Eknath, Ramdas, and the other saints discussed belonged to the great devotional religious movement that spread through medieval India. With the exception of Ramdas, they all belonged to the tradition of the Varkaris, the most popular sect in contemporary Maharashtra. Their compositions exemplify the universality of their faith and practice, and are recognized as literary treasures. Ranade was primarily interested in the poet-saints as mystics--teachers of the perennial philosophy--whose experiences have general metaphysical and religious implications. At the heart of his classic is a comprehensive, objective presentation of the thought of these saints, augmented by a deep appreciation of their value and relevance to present-day scholars and seekers. Mysticism in India is the only major study in English of medieval Indian religious literature. The book's enduring value has been enhanced by the addition of a foreword by a scholar currently working in Marathi literature, and a preface by a present-day poet-saint of Maharashtra.

Mysticism in India

Mysticism in India PDF Author: Ramchandra Dattatraya Ranade
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780873956697
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 540

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Book Description
Mysticism in India is a complete and informative description of the teachings, works, and lives of the great poet-saints of Maharashtra written by a scholar and professor who was also a mystic. Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Tukaram, Eknath, Ramdas, and the other saints discussed belonged to the great devotional religious movement that spread through medieval India. With the exception of Ramdas, they all belonged to the tradition of the Varkaris, the most popular sect in contemporary Maharashtra. Their compositions exemplify the universality of their faith and practice, and are recognized as literary treasures. Ranade was primarily interested in the poet-saints as mystics--teachers of the perennial philosophy--whose experiences have general metaphysical and religious implications. At the heart of his classic is a comprehensive, objective presentation of the thought of these saints, augmented by a deep appreciation of their value and relevance to present-day scholars and seekers. Mysticism in India is the only major study in English of medieval Indian religious literature. The book's enduring value has been enhanced by the addition of a foreword by a scholar currently working in Marathi literature, and a preface by a present-day poet-saint of Maharashtra.

Medieval Mysticism Of India

Medieval Mysticism Of India PDF Author: Kshitimohan Sen
Publisher: Hassell Street Press
ISBN: 9781013834073
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Alchemical Body

The Alchemical Body PDF Author: David Gordon White
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022614934X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 616

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Book Description
“[A] brilliant disquisition on . . . mostly unpublished texts for three allied systems of tantric thought and praxis (sexual, alchemical, and hatha yogic).” —The Journal of Asian Studies The Alchemical Body excavates and centers within its Indian context the lost tradition of the medieval Siddhas. Working from previously unexplored alchemical sources, David Gordon White demonstrates for the first time that the medieval disciplines of Hindu alchemy and hatha yoga were practiced by one and the same people, and that they can be understood only when viewed together. White opens the way to a new and more comprehensive understanding of medieval Indian mysticism, within the broader context of south Asian Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam. “White proves a skillful guide in disentangling historical and theoretical complexities that have thus far bedeviled the study of these influential aspects of medieval Indian culture.” —Yoga World “Anyone seriously interested in finding out more about authentic tantra, original hatha yoga, embodied liberation . . . sacred sexuality, paranormal abilities, healing, and of course alchemy will find White’s extraordinary book as fascinating as any Tom Clancy thriller.” —Georg Feuerstein, Yoga Journal “Remarkable . . . a study of the language of mystic experience and expression—the multitudinous symbols, rituals, and doctrines of the medieval siddhis, yogis, and alchemists.” —Skeptic Meditations

Mysticism in Medieval India

Mysticism in Medieval India PDF Author: Shankar Gopal Tulpule
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Devotional literature, Hindi
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description


Women Saints and Mystics in Medieval India

Women Saints and Mystics in Medieval India PDF Author: John Paul
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781542433433
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 84

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Book Description
Bhakti to God is found in every religion and is considered to be a way to attain God realization. From ancient times onwards Bhakti is considered as a way of God- realization along with good actions and knowledge. The life and work of women saint and mystics was shrouded in mystery unlike that of men saint. This is partly due to the fact that none of them established Guru Parampara , where there disciples might have preserved the composition of the saints. There were few exceptions like Lal Ded, Mira bai, who constituted a minor following. Even lesser number of women saints received recognition for their spiritual greatness during their lifetime. They were scolded by their contemporaries as mad and shameless. Akka Devi were greatly revered in south India. infact Akka Devi was the leading member of a council of saints.Akka Mahadevi was a medieval Kannada poet, mystic and saint in the 12th century Karnataka and was a prominent figure of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement. Her greatest contribution to Kannada Bhakti literature was her Vachanas which were in the form of didactic poetry meaning which were informative and educative having moral instruction as the ulterior motive. She is said to have been the first woman in Kannada literature to write Vachanas.The Historical facts passed on from generation to generation that a legendary personality one who is named as Lal Ded lived in 14th century was a great, acknowledged and renounced women saint and mystic from Kashmir. History bears witness to the fact that Lal Ded was a controversial figure right from the beginning, because everyone has different interpretations regarding different aspects of her personality. Contribution of Lal Ded to transcendental mysticism which was unique as it cut across all the barriers of time and space and particular religious structure, caste and creed. Therefore leading up to the universalism in religion.Mirabai was a great saint and devotee of Sri Krishna. Despite facing criticism and hostility from her own family, she lived an exemplary saintly life and composed many devotional bhajans. Historical information about the life of Mirabai is a matter of some scholarly debate.

Mysticism in Maharashtra

Mysticism in Maharashtra PDF Author: R. D. Ranade
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
ISBN: 9788120805767
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 564

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Book Description
"This book analyses and evaluates the mystical trends observable in the writings of mystics in Medieval India with particular emphasis on the mystics of Maharashtra. We get a fair idea of the spiritual heaven introduced into Indian thought by the writers such as Ramananda, Kabir, Gauranga, Jnanesvara, Namadeva, Ekanatha, Tukarama, Ramadasa and others. The list exhausts all types of mysticism that are known to exist. The book is rather a study of comparative mysticism and it draws striking parallelism between the mystics of Maharashtra and the Western mystics like Plotinus, Eckhart, Dante and others."

The Sufis of Bijapur, 1300-1700

The Sufis of Bijapur, 1300-1700 PDF Author: Richard Maxwell Eaton
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400868157
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description
The Sufis were heirs to a tradition of Islamic mysticism, and they have generally been viewed as standing more or less apart from the social order. Professor Eaton contends to the contrary that the Sufis were an integral part of their society, and that an understanding of their interaction with it is essential to an understanding of the Sufis themselves. In investigating the Sufis of Bijapur in South India, (he author identifies three fundamental questions. What was the relationship, he asks, between the Sufis and Bijapur's 'ulama, the upholders of Islamic orthodoxy? Second, how did the Sufis relate to the Bijapur court? Finally, how did they interact with the non-Muslim population surrounding them, and how did they translate highly developed mystical traditions into terms meaningful to that population? In answering these questions, the author advances our knowledge of an important but little-studied city-state in medieval India. Originally published in 1978. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness

Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness PDF Author: Robert K. C. Forman
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 143840302X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 228

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Book Description
In an exploration of mystical texts from ancient India and China to medieval Europe and modern day America, Robert K. C. Forman, one of the leading voices in the study of mystical experiences, argues that the various levels of mysticism may not be shaped by culture, language, and background knowledge, but rather are a direct encounter with our very conscious core itself. Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness focuses on first-hand accounts of two distinct types of mystical experiences. Through examination of texts, recorded interviews, and courageous autobiographical experiences, the author describes not only the well-known "pure consciousness event" but also a new, hitherto uncharted "dualistic mystical state." He provides a thorough and readable depiction of just what mysticism feels like. These accounts, and the experiences to which they give voice, arise from the heart of living practices and have substance and detail far beyond virtually any others in the literature. The book also reexamines the philosophical issues that swirl around mysticism. In addition to examining modern day constructivist views, Forman argues that the doctrines of Kant, Husserl, and Brentano cannot be applied to mysticism. Instead he offers new philosophical insights, based on the work of Chinese philosopher of mind Paramartha. The book concludes with an examination of mind and consciousness, which shows that mysticism has a great deal to tell us about human experience and the nature of human knowledge far beyond mysticism itself.

Mysticism in India

Mysticism in India PDF Author: R. D. Ranade
Publisher: State University of New York Press
ISBN: 1438416865
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 540

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Book Description
Mysticism in India is a complete and informative description of the teachings, works, and lives of the great poet-saints of Maharashtra written by a scholar and professor who was also a mystic. Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Tukaram, Eknath, Ramdas, and the other saints discussed belonged to the great devotional religious movement that spread through medieval India. With the exception of Ramdas, they all belonged to the tradition of the Varkaris, the most popular sect in contemporary Maharashtra. Their compositions exemplify the universality of their faith and practice, and are recognized as literary treasures. Ranade was primarily interested in the poet-saints as mystics—teachers of the perennial philosophy—whose experiences have general metaphysical and religious implications. At the heart of his classic is a comprehensive, objective presentation of the thought of these saints, augmented by a deep appreciation of their value and relevance to present-day scholars and seekers. Mysticism in India is the only major study in English of medieval Indian religious literature. The book's enduring value has been enhanced by the addition of a foreword by a scholar currently working in Marathi literature, and a preface by a present-day poet-saint of Maharashtra.

Promised Bodies

Promised Bodies PDF Author: Patricia Dailey
Publisher: Columbia University Press
ISBN: 023153552X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 277

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Book Description
In the Christian tradition, especially in the works of Paul, Augustine, and the exegetes of the Middle Ages, the body is a twofold entity consisting of inner and outer persons that promises to find its true materiality in a time to come. A potentially transformative vehicle, it is a dynamic mirror that can reflect the work of the divine within and substantially alter its own materiality if receptive to divine grace. The writings of Hadewijch of Brabant, a thirteenth-century beguine, engage with this tradition in sophisticated ways both singular to her mysticism and indicative of the theological milieu of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Crossing linguistic and historical boundaries, Patricia Dailey connects the embodied poetics of Hadewijch's visions, writings, and letters to the work of Julian of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite of Oingt, and other mystics and visionaries. She establishes new criteria to more consistently understand and assess the singularity of women's mystical texts and, by underscoring the similarities between men's and women's writings of the time, collapses traditional conceptions of gender as they relate to differences in style, language, interpretative practices, forms of literacy, and uses of textuality.