Seeking scholarly books on Hinduism and its origin

[Guest guest]

Namaste, my friends! Because of a new job, I

haven't been to the forum in months, but

actually, my new job has brought me back here to

this very knowledgeable group for some help.

 

I am now employed as a American book editor

working on a sixth grade world history textbook

and would love to hear from people their

suggestions for *definitive* or outstanding

scholarly books on the history, origins, and

development of Hinduism.

 

In the chapter on ancient India, we are covering

from the earliest civilization in the Indus

Valley, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara,

through the rule of the Guptas to about 500 AD.

 

In particular, I am looking for good books on

the origins and evolution of Hinduism, from its

early Aryan, Vedic, and Brahmanistic roots to

the flowering of Hinduism during the Guptas. In

terms of literature, students will be introduced

to the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita. The

interaction between Hinduism and Buddhism from

the time of the Buddha through 500 AD is of

particular interest to me, because I feel too

often Western textbooks seem to present Hinduism

as a derivative form of Buddhism! In other

words, students will typically learn about the

Vedas and very early Aryan fire sacrifice, then

jump to the origins of Buddhism, and all of a

sudden, they are presented with a full-blown

Hinduism. This is not to underestimate the huge

influence of the Buddha, but even in a 6th grade

book, I think there can be a clearer, less

simplistic picture than what you typically find.

 

Also, if you'd like to recommend scholarly books

that explain and explore the Aryan invasions

into ancient India and their effect on the

development of Indian culture and religion, this

would be most helpful. If you are, as I am, a

student of this history, you will no doubt know

that there has been a great deal of new research

and theories about the Aryans, about who they

were, and about the significance of the Aryan

migrations into India, so if you would like to

suggest scholars or books in this area, this

would be most helpful.

 

Books we can use as reference need to be fairly

recent, unless a book is considered "definitive"

in its field, in which case, an older book can

be used. The names of outstanding scholars in

any of these areas would also be helpful in

research of scholarly journals and the like.

 

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

 

May you know peace and the causes of peace,

Steve Fair

[Guest guest]

Dear Stevenji

 

Namaskar My Friend

 

The beautiful Books by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami from Hinduism Today

in Hawaii have a wealth of balanced information

 

Specifically his Book Danceing with Siva has the Bharata Kalachakra

Hinduism Timeline on pages 605 to 647

 

This beautiful work also has important comments regarding the English

Occupation timeline where the English and others attempted to rewrite

Indias History for their own agenda of subjugateing the Indian People

 

Thank you and Take Care

 

DharmaDev Arya

 

 

stevenfair <steven.faircs

advaitin <advaitin>

Wednesday, May 01, 2002 7:58 AM

Seeking scholarly books on Hinduism and its origin

 

>Namaste, my friends! Because of a new job, I

>haven't been to the forum in months, but

>actually, my new job has brought me back here to

>this very knowledgeable group for some help.

>

>I am now employed as a American book editor

>working on a sixth grade world history textbook

>and would love to hear from people their

>suggestions for *definitive* or outstanding

>scholarly books on the history, origins, and

>development of Hinduism.

>

>In the chapter on ancient India, we are covering

>from the earliest civilization in the Indus

>Valley, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara,

>through the rule of the Guptas to about 500 AD.

>

>In particular, I am looking for good books on

>the origins and evolution of Hinduism, from its

>early Aryan, Vedic, and Brahmanistic roots to

>the flowering of Hinduism during the Guptas. In

>terms of literature, students will be introduced

>to the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita. The

>interaction between Hinduism and Buddhism from

>the time of the Buddha through 500 AD is of

>particular interest to me, because I feel too

>often Western textbooks seem to present Hinduism

>as a derivative form of Buddhism! In other

>words, students will typically learn about the

>Vedas and very early Aryan fire sacrifice, then

>jump to the origins of Buddhism, and all of a

>sudden, they are presented with a full-blown

>Hinduism. This is not to underestimate the huge

>influence of the Buddha, but even in a 6th grade

>book, I think there can be a clearer, less

>simplistic picture than what you typically find.

>

>Also, if you'd like to recommend scholarly books

>that explain and explore the Aryan invasions

>into ancient India and their effect on the

>development of Indian culture and religion, this

>would be most helpful. If you are, as I am, a

>student of this history, you will no doubt know

>that there has been a great deal of new research

>and theories about the Aryans, about who they

>were, and about the significance of the Aryan

>migrations into India, so if you would like to

>suggest scholars or books in this area, this

>would be most helpful.

>

>Books we can use as reference need to be fairly

>recent, unless a book is considered "definitive"

>in its field, in which case, an older book can

>be used. The names of outstanding scholars in

>any of these areas would also be helpful in

>research of scholarly journals and the like.

>

>Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

>

>May you know peace and the causes of peace,

>Steve Fair

>

>

>

>

>

>Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of

Atman and Brahman.

>Advaitin List Archives available at:

http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/

>To Post a message send an email to : advaitin

>Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages

>

>

>

>Your use of is subject to

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

> I am now employed as a American book editor

> working on a sixth grade world history textbook

> and would love to hear from people their

> suggestions for *definitive* or outstanding

> scholarly books on the history, origins, and

> development of Hinduism.

>

It is good you are undertaking this task. In general the

presentation of Hinduism in the western media leaves much to be

desired with a lot of stereo types such as cow and animal worship

etc etc. Recentl I had a chance to check out research material

Microsoft Encarta on topics such as Gita and was less than impressed.

>

> Also, if you'd like to recommend scholarly books

> that explain and explore the Aryan invasions

> into ancient India and their effect on the

> development of Indian culture and religion, this

> would be most helpful.

 

Well, could the aryan invasion be an example of a biased approach?

Read this article "THE MYTH OF THE ARYAN INVASION OF INDIA - David

Frawley"

http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu_home/1995_Jul_2/msg00087.html

 

and the book

In Search of the Cradle of Civilization :

New Light on Ancient India

Author: Georg Feuerstein, Subhash Kak, David Frawley

ISBN: 0835607410

 

regards

Sundar Rajan

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir,

 

My recent studies indicate that the origins  of Hinduism  go back to a period

earlier than Rig

Veda and that the essence  of Rig Veda itself is a cotinuation of an earlier

Temple centred

Agamic  Hinduism that flourished  in Sumeria. This Agamic Hinduism in being

temple centred

appears to have been  also Yoga oriented and hence a religion very similar to

that practiced in

the Indus Valley. The Gods worshiped include Siva ( sipa, An) VishNu = Tirumaal

( Se-ir-ma-al,

Enlil) Murukar (EnMerukar), Mother ( Inanna) and so forth

 

If you are interested in such matters  and mentaly ready to view the origins of

Hinduism in a

new light, plenty of materials are available at the following websites. You are

most welcome to

use them.

 

http://arutkuraL.tripod.com/sumstudies/sumcampus.html

 

&

 

http://ulagank.tripod.com/vedictamil/vedtamfnt.html

 

Loga

 

stevenfair wrote:

> Namaste, my friends!  Because of a new job, I

> haven't been to the forum in months, but

> actually, my new job has brought me back here to

> this very knowledgeable group for some help.

>

> I am now employed as a American book editor

> working on a sixth grade world history textbook

> and would love to hear from people their

> suggestions for *definitive* or outstanding

> scholarly books on the history, origins, and

> development of Hinduism.

>

> In the chapter on ancient India, we are covering

> from the earliest civilization in the Indus

> Valley, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara,

> through the rule of the Guptas to about 500 AD.

>

> In particular, I am looking for good books on

> the origins and evolution of Hinduism, from its

> early Aryan, Vedic, and Brahmanistic roots to

> the flowering of Hinduism during the Guptas.  In

> terms of literature, students will be introduced

> to the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita.  The

> interaction between Hinduism and Buddhism from

> the time of the Buddha through 500 AD is of

> particular interest to me, because I feel too

> often Western textbooks seem to present Hinduism

> as a derivative form of Buddhism!  In other

> words, students will typically learn about the

> Vedas and very early Aryan fire sacrifice, then

> jump to the origins of Buddhism, and all of a

> sudden, they are presented with a full-blown

> Hinduism.  This is not to underestimate the huge

> influence of the Buddha, but even in a 6th grade

> book, I think there can be a clearer, less

> simplistic picture than what you typically find.

>

> Also, if you'd like to recommend scholarly books

> that explain and explore the Aryan invasions

> into ancient India and their effect on the

> development of Indian culture and religion, this

> would be most helpful.  If you are, as I am, a

> student of this history, you will no doubt know

> that there has been a great deal of new research

> and theories about the Aryans, about who they

> were, and about the significance of the Aryan

> migrations into India, so if you would like to

> suggest scholars or books in this area, this

> would be most helpful.

>

> Books we can use as reference need to be fairly

> recent, unless a book is considered "definitive"

> in its field, in which case, an older book can

> be used.  The names of outstanding scholars in

> any of these areas would also be helpful in

> research of scholarly journals and the like.

>

> Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

>

> May you know peace and the causes of peace,

> Steve Fair

>

>

> Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman

and Brahman.

> Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/

> To Post a message send an email to : advaitin

> Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages

>  

>  

>

> Your use of is subject to

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "ShiningLotus" <shininglotus@c...> wrote:

> Dear Stevenji

>

> Namaskar My Friend

>

<SNIP>

 

Namaskar! And thank you for the suggestions. I will be compiling a list of

possibilities as folks here respond. Do keep in mind I am talking about a

book for 6th graders -- 11 year olds -- and the time span does end with the

Golden Age of the Guptas. Just to cover the material adequately and give

young students a true view of this great civilization, in the limited space we

have is quite a challenge, believe me, but what I do, I want to do with the

greatest love and respect for mother India and the genius of Hinduism.

Personally, I will enjoy looking into the English/Indian material you mention

for my own edification.

 

Thank you for responding.

 

May you know joy and the causes of joy,

Steve

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "avsundarrajan" <avsundarrajan> wrote:

> Namaste.

 

<snip>

> It is good you are undertaking this task. In general the

> presentation of Hinduism in the western media leaves much to be

> desired with a lot of stereo types such as cow and animal worship

> etc etc. Recentl I had a chance to check out research material

> Microsoft Encarta on topics such as Gita and was less than impressed.

 

Yes, I know what you mean..so often the Western media looks for the

"exotic" and presents it as the norm...it would be like showing Christianity

by way of pentacostal snake-handlers and ecstatic talking in "tongues" and

presenting that as "typical" Christianity....

> >

> > Also, if you'd like to recommend scholarly books

> > that explain and explore the Aryan invasions

> > into ancient India and their effect on the

> > development of Indian culture and religion, this

> > would be most helpful.

>

> Well, could the aryan invasion be an example of a biased approach?

> Read this article "THE MYTH OF THE ARYAN INVASION OF INDIA - David

> Frawley"

> http://www.hindunet.org/alt_hindu_home/1995_Jul_2/msg00087.html

>

> and the book

> In Search of the Cradle of Civilization :

> New Light on Ancient India

> Author: Georg Feuerstein, Subhash Kak, David Frawley

> ISBN: 0835607410

>

 

Thank you for these resources. When I made the post, I later thought that

I had not been sensitive enough in my wording. I am somewhat of a

student of this history and am aware of the long-standing controversies

surrounding the meaning of the Aryan "migration" (might be a better term?),

the Dravidian culture and its origin, and so on. But the sources you

mention are exactly the kind of thing I am looking for, because wherever

one stands in this controversial area, the treatment of it has been far too

simplistic and one-sided.

 

Of course, in my case, I am greatly contrained in scope and depth of

discussion by the fact that this is a book for 6th graders, 11 year olds, and

one can't get into the subject as deeply as one might want. But even if

one is doing an world history overview, that overview should not

incorporate falsity or stereotypes or lack of insight and cultural empathy.

So again, I thank you for these resources. Even if the material itself is

beyond the scope of 6th grade world history, the more informed I am

about the relevant issues, the better job I can do in presenting the history

of beloved India with love and light.

 

Thanks so much for your help and support.

May you live in the light of Love,

Steve

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "Dr. K. Loganathan" <subas@p...> wrote:

>

<SNIP>

 

Wow, that is very, very interesting. I am looking forward to investigating

the research you have done. Even in a world history survey, it is very

helpful to know about new research and developments. In our last book

for example, we were able to include some new findings about early

Andean civilizations in South America that was cutting edge and due to

very recent archeaolgical finds. One of the reasons I have posted here is

that so many of the sources available, at least here in America, date back

20 years or more. These works, by Americans, English, and Indians, while

perhaps "definitive" in some ways, don't reflect new developments. And

today, if you look for web resources on "Aryan" you find a flood of stuff

having to do with Hitler and recent white supremacy garbage, and very,

very little on the historical Aryans.

 

So yes, I will read your research with an open mind. Personally, I have no

particular bias toward any one historical school of thought or

interpretation, but feel that truth, and truth alone, insofar as we can

apprehend it, is the only thing that matters. Our quest to be free of

attachment and clinging applies, in my mind, not only to the quest for

self-liberation, but to every and all aspects of life, including academics.

 

Can you tell me, how has your peer review been? Have these ideas been

presented yet to fellow historians or published for academic review?

(Perhaps the answer to this is at the url's you mention.)

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. I'm sure I will find the

web sites you mention edifying and enlightening.

 

The Lord bless and protect you and yours,

 

Steve