Aryan Idols

Aryan Idols
Author: Stefan Arvidsson
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 367
Release: 2006-09-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0226028607

Critically examining the discourse of Indo-European scholarship over the past two hundred years, Aryan Idols demonstrates how the interconnected concepts of “Indo-European” and “Aryan” as ethnic categories have been shaped by, and used for, various ideologies. Stefan Arvidsson traces the evolution of the Aryan idea through the nineteenth century—from its roots in Bible-based classifications and William Jones’s discovery of commonalities among Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek to its use by scholars in fields such as archaeology, anthropology, folklore, comparative religion, and history. Along the way, Arvidsson maps out the changing ways in which Aryans were imagined and relates such shifts to social, historical, and political processes. Considering the developments of the twentieth century, Arvidsson focuses on the adoption of Indo-European scholarship (or pseudoscholarship) by the Nazis and by Fascist Catholics. A wide-ranging discussion of the intellectual history of the past two centuries, Aryan Idols links the pervasive idea of the Indo-European people to major scientific, philosophical, and political developments of the times, while raising important questions about the nature of scholarship as well.

The Roots of Hinduism

The Roots of Hinduism
Author: Asko Parpola
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2015-07-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0190226919

Hinduism has two major roots. The more familiar is the religion brought to South Asia in the second millennium BCE by speakers of Aryan or Indo-Iranian languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family. Another, more enigmatic, root is the Indus civilization of the third millennium BCE, which left behind exquisitely carved seals and thousands of short inscriptions in a long-forgotten pictographic script. Discovered in the valley of the Indus River in the early 1920s, the Indus civilization had a population estimated at one million people, in more than 1000 settlements, several of which were cities of some 50,000 inhabitants. With an area of nearly a million square kilometers, the Indus civilization was more extensive than the contemporaneous urban cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Yet, after almost a century of excavation and research the Indus civilization remains little understood. How might we decipher the Indus inscriptions? What language did the Indus people speak? What deities did they worship? Asko Parpola has spent fifty years researching the roots of Hinduism to answer these fundamental questions, which have been debated with increasing animosity since the rise of Hindu nationalist politics in the 1980s. In this pioneering book, he traces the archaeological route of the Indo-Iranian languages from the Aryan homeland north of the Black Sea to Central, West, and South Asia. His new ideas on the formation of the Vedic literature and rites and the great Hindu epics hinge on the profound impact that the invention of the horse-drawn chariot had on Indo-Aryan religion. Parpola's comprehensive assessment of the Indus language and religion is based on all available textual, linguistic and archaeological evidence, including West Asian sources and the Indus script. The results affirm cultural and religious continuity to the present day and, among many other things, shed new light on the prehistory of the key Hindu goddess Durga and her Tantric cult.

The Indo-Aryan Controversy

The Indo-Aryan Controversy
Author: Edwin Francis Bryant
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 546
Release: 2005
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780700714636

The articles in this survey of the Indo-Aryan controversy address questions such as: are the Indo-Aryans insiders or outsiders?

Indo-European Mythology and Religion

Indo-European Mythology and Religion
Author: ALEXANDER. JACOB
Publisher: Manticore Press
Total Pages: 278
Release: 2019-02-18
Genre:
ISBN: 9780648499619

The essays presented in this collection are based on Alexander Jacob's earlier works, Ātman: A Reconstruction of the Solar Cosmology of the Indo-Europeans and Brahman: A Study of the Solar Rituals of the Indo-Europeans. They expand on the cosmological and religious themes in these books with reference to Indic & European spiritual traditions.

Author:
Publisher: Apkallu Press
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2018-11-30
Genre:
ISBN:

The Apocalypse of Enoch and Bhuśunda The Apocalypse of Enoch and Bhuśunda challenges the underlying assumptions of the classical roots of civilization by restoring the original context of creation mythology. In this second volume of A Chronology of the Primeval Gods and the Western Sunrise, ancient myths from multiple geographies are correlated to spikes in cosmic rays over the past 120,000 years – as documented in ice core data. The chronology and content of these myths tell us that the primary forces behind these cataclysms were the most ancient gods - hyper-nova at the Galactic Center associated with Sgr A*(The Dragon), Sgr West (The Beast) and Sgr East (Hiranyâksha and Hiranyakas'ipu), with secondary supernova seen as the birth of new, destructive gods. Ancient myth has documented the cataclysmic destruction of the world on at least twenty occasions with four major geo-polar migrations, which has resulted in a shift of the earth’s equator on at least one occasion. Multiple myths are shown to represent a view of the sky that can only be seen from the Antarctic region. Multiple versions of the myths of Orion are analyzed, showing clear linkages between the Vedic myth of Trisanku, the Book of Genesis, Senmut's Tomb, and the myths of Prajāpati Daksa representing the oldest version of the Orion myth – older than Trishanku and Genesis by 20,000 years! The stunning conclusion explains how the “Watchers” of Enoch were the Vedic descendants of Ila and Iksvaku. These descendants of the seventh Manu had been observing and recording the stars as a source of cataclysm for at least 15,000 years prior to Enoch, thus allowing Enoch to prophesize a ‘new heaven.’ That prophecy became the foundation for St John’s Book of Revelations, which is shown to be a description of a series of cataclysms attributed to Sgr West. The book offers a new theory for explaining geo-polar migration. That theory suggests small shifts in the location of the earth’s center of gravity underlie each migration, but that there are multiple causes for the shifts.

The Arctic Home in the Vedas

The Arctic Home in the Vedas
Author: Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Publisher: Namaskar Book
Total Pages: 556
Release: 2024-02-12
Genre:
ISBN:

Unlock the mysteries of ancient wisdom with "The Arctic Home in the Vedas" by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Join him on a fascinating journey of exploration as he deciphers the enigmatic Vedic texts and ancient legends to reveal the secrets of the Arctic's role in ancient Indian culture. As Tilak's meticulous research unfolds, prepare to be transported to a time of myth and legend, where gods and mortals roamed the frozen landscapes of the Arctic. From celestial chariots to divine battles, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Vedic mythology and discover the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface. But amidst the epic tales and ancient lore, a deeper narrative emerges: What if the Arctic was more than just a distant land in the Vedic imagination? Prepare to explore Tilak's groundbreaking theory that the Arctic was the original home of the ancient Aryans, shaping the cultural and spiritual heritage of India in profound ways. Are you ready to embark on a quest for knowledge and enlightenment? Experience the thrill of discovery as Tilak's insights and revelations challenge conventional wisdom and invite you to see the Vedic texts in a new light. Whether you're a scholar, a seeker of truth, or simply curious about the ancient world, "The Arctic Home in the Vedas" offers a captivating journey of exploration and discovery. Will you dare to delve into the depths of Vedic mythology and uncover the secrets of the Arctic's ancient past? Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Vedic wisdom and ancient legends, where each chapter of Tilak's book offers a new perspective on the mysteries of the past. Whether you're studying the Vedas or simply seeking inspiration from the wisdom of the ancients, prepare to be enlightened and empowered by Tilak's groundbreaking research. Don't miss your chance to decode the secrets of the Vedic texts with Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Let his pioneering work be your guide as you unravel the mysteries of the Arctic's ancient home and unlock the hidden truths that have shaped Indian culture for millennia. Seize the opportunity to own a piece of scholarly exploration. Purchase "The Arctic Home in the Vedas" now and embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment that will expand your mind and enrich your understanding of the ancient world.