In Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient IndiaFor decades, schoolbooks have taught that Sumer was the cradle of civilization. Conventional scholarship has also held that Aryan civilization came to India by way of invasions from the north. But in this ground-breaking book, three renowned scholars show that there was no "Aryan invasion," and that India, not Sumer, was the cradle of civilized humanity. Through exploring the rich symbols, metaphors, and myths of the Vedas, this book also examines the wealth of India's spirituality and its relevance for today's world. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 77
Page xi
... Traditional Hindu representation of a cow , held sacred since ancient times 149 Fig . 35 : Swami Vivekananda ( 1863-1902 ) 166 Fig . 36 : A contemporary sadhu ( virtuous one ) 168 Fig . 37 : Sculpture of God Krishna and Goddess Radha ...
... Traditional Hindu representation of a cow , held sacred since ancient times 149 Fig . 35 : Swami Vivekananda ( 1863-1902 ) 166 Fig . 36 : A contemporary sadhu ( virtuous one ) 168 Fig . 37 : Sculpture of God Krishna and Goddess Radha ...
Page xiv
... traditions of West Asia preserve a remembrance of their Indic past . Thus Indic thought transformed not only China and Southeast Asia through the export of Hindu and Buddhist teachings , but it also provided key impulses to Western ...
... traditions of West Asia preserve a remembrance of their Indic past . Thus Indic thought transformed not only China and Southeast Asia through the export of Hindu and Buddhist teachings , but it also provided key impulses to Western ...
Page xv
... changed greatly in the last few years due to truly revolutionary discoveries in archaeology . The main archaeo- logical periods are : Rock Art Period Indus - Sarasvati Tradition Early Harappan Period INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION XV.
... changed greatly in the last few years due to truly revolutionary discoveries in archaeology . The main archaeo- logical periods are : Rock Art Period Indus - Sarasvati Tradition Early Harappan Period INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION XV.
Page xvi
... Tradition Early Harappan Period Mature Harappan Period - 40,000 B.C. onwards to historical times 8000 B.C. to 1300 B.C. - 3300 B.C. to 2600 B.C. 2600 B.C. to 1900 B.C. 1900 B.C. to 1300 B.C. 1300 B.C. to 800 B.C. Northern Black Polished ...
... Tradition Early Harappan Period Mature Harappan Period - 40,000 B.C. onwards to historical times 8000 B.C. to 1300 B.C. - 3300 B.C. to 2600 B.C. 2600 B.C. to 1900 B.C. 1900 B.C. to 1300 B.C. 1300 B.C. to 800 B.C. Northern Black Polished ...
Page xvii
... traditions , which once seemed fantastic , have become more plausible , and Western scholars are beginning to re- vise their historical reconstructions . Since the first edition of the present book , considerable new evi- dence has come ...
... traditions , which once seemed fantastic , have become more plausible , and Western scholars are beginning to re- vise their historical reconstructions . Since the first edition of the present book , considerable new evi- dence has come ...
Contents
Revisioning the Past Envisioning the Future | 3 |
The Vedas Pyramids of the Spirit | 13 |
The Aryans Exploding a Scientific Myth | 45 |
An Archaeological Surprise The Cities of the Indus Valley | 61 |
The Great Catastrophe and the Reconstruction of the Early Indic Civilization | 77 |
The Vedic Peoples in the Land of the Seven Rivers The Literary Perspective | 101 |
Deciphering the IndusSarasvati Script | 127 |
The Dawn of the Indic Civilization The Neolithic Town of Mehrgarh | 143 |
The Spiritual Heritage of Ancient India | 165 |
The Birth of Science in Ritual | 195 |
Vedic Myths and Their Astronomical Basis | 229 |
India and the West | 249 |
The Vedas and Perennial Wisdom | 269 |
287 | |
305 | |
313 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Agni ancient India archaeological archaeologists artifacts Aryan invasion theory astronomical Atharva-Veda Brahmanas Brahmi called century Chapter cities constellations cosmic culture Dilmun divine Dravidian earlier early Indic civilization Earth East Egypt Egyptian equinoxes Europe European evidence fact fire altar Goddess Gods Greek Harappan Hindu Hinduism human hymnodies ideas Indo-European Indra Indus Indus River Indus-Sarasvati civilization knowledge language later linguistic mantra Maya meaning meditation Mehrgarh millennium B.C. mind modern Mohenjo-Daro Müller myth Neolithic original period philosophy planets priests Proto-Indo-European Puranas reality references religion religious Rig-Veda sacred sacrifice sages Sama-Veda Sanskrit Sarasvati River scholarly scholars scientific script scriptures seals seers Shiva soma spiritual Sri Aurobindo stars Sumerians symbolic temple texts thought thousand tion towns tradition truth University Upanishads urban Vedas Vedic Aryans Vedic deities Vedic fire altar Vedic hymns Vedic literature Vedic ritual West Western wisdom word Yajur-Veda Yoga yogic