The Artful Universe: An Introduction to the Vedic Religious ImaginationThe Artful Universe introduces the Vedic religion, a rich and densely textured tradition that has influenced the religious sensibilities of India for 3500 years or more. Engagingly written and based on traditional as well as modern Vedic scholarship, the book introduces Vedic ideas regarding the nature of divinity, the structure of the sacred universe, the process of revelation, the function of ritual as hallowed activity, and the realizations lying behind the practice of meditation. As a way to link these diverse aspects of Vedic religion, Mahony identifies and highlights the important role of the divine and human imagination in the formation, revelation, and reformation of a meaningful world. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Formative Power of the Divine Imagination | 17 |
On the Artistic Order of the Universe | 41 |
The Artistry of the Verbal imagination | 59 |
Universal Drama and the Liturgical Imagination | 104 |
The Liberating Power of the Contemplative Imagination | 152 |
Chapter 6 Religious Functions of the Imagination | 198 |
Notes | 231 |
Bibliography | 285 |
| 307 | |
Other editions - View all
The Artful Universe: An Introduction to the Vedic Religious Imagination William K. Mahony Limited preview - 1997 |
The Artful Universe: An Introduction to the Vedic Religious Imagination William K. Mahony Limited preview - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
Adityas Agni altar Atharvaveda Ātman body Brahman breath Brhadaranyaka Upaniṣad Bṛhaspati brilliant chariot consciousness contemplative cosmic creative creatures darkness deities described Dharma dhyāna Dīrghatamas divine earth eternal example existence expression fire forces gods and goddesses harmony heart heaven hidden human hymn images imagination immortal Indian Indo-European Indra inner insight inspired Katha Upaniṣad light Lord Maruts māyā means meditation mental mind Mundaka mysterious nonbeing noted objects offering one's Pavamāna performance poetic praise Prajāpati Puruşa Rbhus realm refers reflected regarded Rgveda rites ritual sacred sacrifice sang Sanskrit Śatapatha Brāhmaņa Savitr seer sense shining sing soma songs Śrauta Śruti sublime sung Sūtra svādhyāya Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad Taittirīya tapas texts things timeless transcendent translated truly truth unified universe Vāc various Veda Vedic idea Vedic poets Vedic priests Vedic religion Vedic seers Vedic thought Vedic visionaries verbal root verse vision Vrtra whole wise word yajña Yājñavalkya