A young boy faces the dominions of evil as he responds to a divine invitation that will inevitably require him to accept a great responsibility. Illustrated children's book.

Meru is referred to, talked about, heard of, compared to, and discussed about without exception in all books and discourses of religions in Bharat. Meru is regarded as the tallest and most pious mountain, having abodes of all Gods and Semi-Gods of all faiths. Unfortunately, nobody can confidently pinpoint the place of Meru in spite of indicative addresses available in scriptures. Generally, Hindus believe it to be beyond Himalayas; Buddhists say it is in Tibet; Jains say it exists, but it cannot be seen. This is because of unsatisfactory solutions to its conflicting descriptions. For example, the Sun never sets on Meru but does set at the base of it. In this book, satisfactory solutions have been explained with convincing reasons. Establishing Meru on the equator at "Bhugol Madhye," the author ventures to replace Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with Meru Mean Time (MMT) for the reasons based on his findings. Also, the myth of fourteen Ratnas (Gems) coming out during ‘Samudra Manthan’– churning of the ocean has been explained in a lucid manner. Meru no longer remains a matter of miracle, myth or mystery but a history.

The real history of man is the history of religion. The truth of the famous dictum of Max Muller, the father of the History of Religions, is nowhere so obvious as in Tibet. Western students have observed that religion and magic pervade not only the forms of Tibetan art, politics, and society but also every detail of ordinary human existence. And what is the all-pervading religion of Tibet? Buddhism of that country has been described to us, of course, but that does not mean the question has been answered. The unique importance of Stephan BeyerÍs work is that it presents the vital material ignored or slighted by others: the living ritual of Tibetan Buddhists. The reader is made a witness to cultic proceedings through which the author guides him carefully. He does not force one to accept easy explanations nor does he direct one's attention only to aspects that can be counted on to please. He leads one step by step, without omitting anything, through entire rituals, and interprets whenever necessary without being unduly obtrusive. Oftentimes, as in the case of the many hymns to the goddess Tara, the superb translations speak directly to the reader, and it is indeed as if the reader himself were present at the ritual.

General study of Malaysia - covers historical and geographical aspects, the demographic aspects and social structures, living conditions, education, cultural factors, religion, the government, political leadership, the economic structure, the industrial structure, agriculture, labour relations, national income and budget, trade, international relations, banking, the administration of justice, the armed forces, etc. Bibliography pp. 583 to 614, map and references.

"The real history of man is the history of religion." The truth of the famous dictum of Max Muller, the father of the History of Religions, is nowhere so obvious as in Tibet. Western students have observed that religion and magic pervade not only the forms of Tibetan art, politics, and society, but also every detail of ordinary human existence. And what is the all-pervading religion of Tibet? The Buddhism of that country has been described to us, of course, but that does not mean the question has been answered. The unique importance of Stephan Beyerís work is that it presents the vital material ignored or slighted by others: the living ritual of Tibetan Buddhists. The reader is made a witness to cultic proceedings through which the author guides him carefully. He does not force one to accept easy explanations nor does he direct one's attention only to aspects that can be counted on to please. He leads one step by step, without omitting anything, through entire rituals, and interprets whenever necessary without being unduly obtrusive. Oftentimes, as in the case of the many hymns to the goddess Tara, the superb translations speak directly to the reader, and it is indeed as if the reader himself were present at the ritual.

The snake is one of humankind's most powerful and ambiguous symbols: it has at various times represented immortality and death, male and female, deity and demon, circle and line, killer and healer, the highest wisdom and the deepest subconscious. By virtue of its mysterious movement, potent poison, fearful grip, unblinking gaze and lightning quick strike, the power and image of the snake has wound its way into every culture. Whether snakes are worshipped as gods, feared as devils, or handled in religious ceremonies to test faith, snakes have played a critical role in the human heritage. This book explores the cult of the snake in world history, religion, and folklore. Fascination with snakes has been around since the dawn of time. Even today, images of snakes attract attention, fear, disgust, or admiration. Morgan examines that obsession with this mysterious creature, covering in vivid details such topics as mythical snakes like the Plumed Serpent, serpent iconography, tall tales, as well as the psychological symbolism that has attached itself to snakes. Cultures as diverse as pre-Columbian America, India, Egypt, China, sub-Saharan Africa, Celtic Europe, and the United States have all accorded the serpent a special place in their culture—apparently regardless of whether or not real snakes play an important part in the life of the people. Here, the mysterious nature of the snake unfolds, enchanting readers with a colorful and lively discussion of its place in our history, stories, religions, and cultures.