Essentials of Rig Veda

Pages : ix + 79

Size : 1/8 Demy

Cover : Paper Back

ISBN : 81-7994-043-8

After the publication of book, “Why Read Rig Veda”, in 1998 there has been persistent requests for a book on Rig Veda summarizing the key ideas in its ten Mandalas. This book is response to such requests.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(i) Note  to the Readers / vi

(ii) Abbreviation / vii

(iii) Transliteration / viii

1. Overviews

1. Vedic Wisdom / 1

2. Overview of Mantra / 1

3. Overview of Rig Veda / 5

4. Rishi / 8

5. Chhandas & Accent Marks / 10

6. Vedic Gods / 12

7. Message of the Rig Veda / 18

8. Seperate Overviews of the Ten Mandalas / 19

2. Cosmic Powers and Their Mantras

9. Agni & the Guidance in Work / 29

10. Indra, the Lord of Divine Mind and Vayu / 30

11. Vayu / 32

12. Divine Sun / 34

13. Savitr and the Gayatri of Rishi Vishvamitra / 35

14. Bhaga: The Distributor of Delight / 37

15. Mitra Varuna / 38

16. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra – Shiva / 39

17. Ganapati, Brahmanaspati and Brhaspati / 43

18. Ashvins, the Lords of Bliss / 44

19. Soma, the Delight of Work / 46

20. Aditi, the Goddess of Infinity / 47

21. Waters and Inner Energies / 48

22. Rbhus, the Divine Artisans / 49

23. Sarasvati and Durga  / 50

24. Pushan / 51

25. Usha / 52

26. Maruts / 53

27. Seven Worlds, Lights and Panchajana / 57

3. Topics and the Associated Mantras

28. Life an Ascent and the Journey / 62

29. Mantras for Piece and Felicities / 62

30. Heart’s Work / 63

31. Divine Doors in the Subtle Body / 64

32. Experience of the Supreme Being by Identity / 65

33. Transcendent Reality / 66

34. Unity and Universal / 67

35. Philosophical Insights / 68

36. One and Many: Do all paths lead to the same goal? / 70

37. Earth / 72

38. Intuition / 72

39. Lotus in the Head / 73

40. Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion) / 74

41. Purusha Sukta / 75

42. Creation Hymns / 76

43. Symbolism of Horse and the Horse-Sacrifice / 77

44. Secret Words and the Deity / 78

45. Marriage of Soma with Surya / 80

46. Urvashi and the Suktas with dialogues / 81

47. Healing Plants and Thoughts / 83

48. Miscellaneous Topics covered Elsewhere / 84

49. Conclusions / 85

Appendix: Women Rishis in the Rig Veda Samhita / 85