The Vedic texts of India provide some of the highest levels of spiritual knowledge known to man. But it is not just one book, it is a complete library that offers explanations of many aspects of spiritual development, and of the Absolute Truth, or God. These also describe the processes by which a person can directly perceive and attain the Supreme and enter the spiritual realm. This book shows how these many texts fit together, their divisions, the supplements, what information they contain, and their philosophical conclusions. The contents of this book include: Understanding the Spiritual Truths in Vedic Literature; If You are New to the Study of Vedic Culture; The Four Primary Vedas; The Brahmanas and Aranyakas; The Upanishads; The Upa-Vedas and Vedangas; The Sutras and Supplements; The Smritis; The Vedanta and Vedanta-Sutras; The Itihasas; A Review of the Puranas; The Srimad-Bhagavatam; The Preeminent Nature of the Srimad-Bhagavatam; Different Paths in the Vedic literature; The Ultimate Path to the Absolute.

This is a definitive and easy to understand guide to the essential as well as devotional heart of the Vedic/Hindu philosophy. Using numerous references, it gives you access to the most important knowledge presented in the Vedic texts regarding your real potential and spiritual identity. Thus, it is especially good for anyone who lacks the time to research the many topics that are contained within the library of Vedic manuscripts and to see their insights and wisdom. Some of the topics you will find include: A complete review of all the Vedic texts and the wide range of topics they contain, and their philosophical conclusion. The uniqueness and freedom in the Vedic system of self-discovery. A description of the main yoga processes and their effectiveness, and the real purpose of yoga. A review of the main Vedic Divinities, such as Krishna, Radharani, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva, Durga, Ganesh and others. All the essential teachings of Lord Krishna. The most effective spiritual process for this modern age and what it can do for you, with practical instructions for deep realizations, and much more. This book provides you with a complete process for advancing on the spiritual path, making way for individual empowerment, freedom, and spiritual illumination.

Deep in lost history, did high civilizations and advanced knowledge thrive? The ancient Vedic literatures of India describe a worldwide civilization that flourished at a time when modern historians insist that humans like us existed simply as hunter-gatherers. This Vedic civilization, centered in India, employed technologies based on a scientific under­standing of the physical elements and forces we know today, as well as more subtle conscious elements. Devamrita Swami, who has spent a lifetime in his own search for Vedic India, takes us on a journey of intellectual discovery through the history of the remarkable Vedic civilization and its knowledge, locked in the ancient literatures of India. His wit and wisdom combine to make our search for Vedic India not only illuminating but entertaining. He tells us not only the truths of Vedic India, but how they are again coming to be. Searching for Vedic India thus takes us not only into the past, but into the future.

The book critically examines and assesses the literary evidence available through Vedic and allied literature portraying the nature of Vedic polity, the functionalities of its various institutions, and the various social and religious practices. The book is not a narrative but critically examines the nature of changes in a host of these areas that occurred at each stage of Vedic polity from early Vedic period to post Ṛig-Vedic period. It outlines in historical perspective the various stages involved in the development of Vedic polity and Vedic canon and how the two processes have gone along together. It contains extensive discussions on political system and institutions, religious and social practices as they obtained during the Rig-Vedic and post Rig-Vedic periods. It provides a fresh approach to the cult of sacrifice and fire rituals practiced by Vedic Aryans along with an in-depth analysis of the Vedic view of Nationalism, Sovereignty and State as discernible from Vedic texts .The book also features an extensive discussion on the institution of kingship, administrative machinery, role of various entities in the polity including the Purohita, the Sabha and the Samiti, position of women, Varna system and features of tribal kingdoms, such as the Kuru-Panchalas and Kosala-Videhas. Isolating political and social aspects from the essentially religious character of Vedic literature, an attempt has been made to show with due corroboration that the tribal polity was not deficient in political content contrary to the stance of some scholars to depict Vedic Aryans as apolitical and inward looking. The present book partakes both the current and previous scholarship on the subject but breaks a new path with its exclusive focus on the Rig-Vedic and Post Rig-Vedic polity, together with a balanced and objective assessment of their features. It brings all the relevant and connected issues on to one platform, and deals with them in a holistic manner. Its unique features include: • The “Vedic Grid”: a graphical representation and tabulations of the characteristics of each of the about 50 Vedic tribes, including information on the location of their habitat, their time line, the names of their chieftains and their linkage with priestly clans. • A special focus on the Second Urbanization taking place in the Gangetic valley between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. It explains how towards the end of the later Vedic period, the polity underwent a change in political, social and economic spheres which blossomed later during the period of Mauryas. • Two appendices dealing with the theories of Aryan migration and the relationship of the Vedic Aryans with the Harappa culture and what can be ascertained by Vedic literature.