Glimpses of Excellence in Ancient India
Book Specification
Item Code: | NAL244 |
Author: | Dr. Suruchi Pande |
Publisher: | Sri Ramkrishna Math |
Language: | English |
Edition: | 2014 |
ISBN: | 9788178835785 |
Pages: | 150 (66 Color Illustrations) |
Cover: | Paperback |
Other Details | 5.5 inch x 8.5 inch |
Weight | 200 gm |
Book Description
While addressing a large gathering at Ramnad in Tamil Nadu in 1897, Swami Vivekananda reminded the Indians of their glorious heritage and magnificent past by saying, Each of you was born with a splendid heritage, which is the whole of the infinite past life of your glorious nation.' Truly, as one of the oldest civilizations still alive and pulsating, the ancient Indian past depicts before the modern man a rich canvas of a highly developed culture and knowledge systems - both fundamental and applied, and an unparalleled degree of excellence in political, economic and social fields. An in-depth and unbiased study of our ancient literature affirm that there was not a single field, secular or spiritual, where our ancients have failed to inquire into. The Vedic and other literature offer adequate proof of the amazing intellectual levels of our ancestors, their insatiable quest for knowledge - be it in the field of internal spirituality or in external arts and science (i.e., both para and apara vidya). The wise men of ancient India have left behind a priceless legacy of astounding understanding that is at once absorbing and awe-inspiring about a host of subjects like animal sciences, ship-building, metallurgy, human health, economics, political sciences, environmental studies, meteorology, astrology, astronomy, iconography, agriculture, seismology, literature, fine arts, yoga, sports, administration, right code of living etc. This book is a modest attempt to portray some glimpses of India's glorious heritage.
Publisher's Note | v | |
Acknowledgements | vii | |
Key to Transliteration and Pronunciation | viii | |
I. | General Introduction | 1 |
II. | Arts | |
1 | Introduction | 2 |
2 | Art of Painting | 3 |
3 | Art of Rangavallee | 6 |
4 | Art of Music | 8 |
5 | Art of Dance | 11 |
6 | Art of Drama | 13 |
7 | Art of Beautification | 16 |
7.1 | Cosmetics | 16 |
7.2 | Gemology and Ornamentation | 17 |
8 | Art of Love | 19 |
III. | Food and Nourishment | |
1 | Introduction | 21 |
2 | Types of Food | 24 |
3 | Purity of Food | 24 |
4 | Varieties of food | 25 |
5 | Charity of Food | 29 |
IV. | Health and Well-Being | |
1 | Introduction | 30 |
2 | Ayurveda | 31 |
2.1 | Human Medicine | 32 |
2.2 | Veterinary Medicine | 37 |
2.3 | Plant Medicine | 41 |
2.4 | Medicinal uses of flowers | 43 |
3 | Yoga | 44 |
V. | Sports and Past-times | |
1 | Introduction | 46 |
2 | During Vedic Age | 46 |
3 | During Epic Age | 47 |
4 | During Buddhist Age | 49 |
5 | References to Other Games | 49 |
VI. | Literature | |
1 | Introduction | 53 |
2 | Lexicography | 53 |
2.1 | Amarakosa | 54 |
2.2 | Kosakalpataru | 55 |
2.3 | Dhaturupakosa | 55 |
3 | Grammar | 56 |
4 | Rhetoric and Poetry | 58 |
VII. | Ethics of Statecraft | |
1 | Introduction | 59 |
2 | In Ramayana | 59 |
3 | In Mahabharata | 60 |
4 | In Kautiliya Artha Sastra | 63 |
5 | Weapons and Warfare | 64 |
VIII. | Sciences | |
1 | Introduction | 68 |
2 | Mathematics | 68 |
3 | Alchemy | 71 |
4 | Detergents | 73 |
5 | Writing Materials | 75 |
6 | Metallurgy | 77 |
7 | Iconography | 79 |
8 | Architecture | 84 |
9 | Naval science | 87 |
10 | Aero Science | 91 |
11 | Astronomy | 92 |
12 | Atmospheric Science | 95 |
13 | Agricultural Science | 97 |
14 | Seismology | 99 |
15 | Environmental Science | 101 |
16 | Ethno-Ornithology | 106 |
16.1 | In Mythology & Religion | 108 |
16.2 | In Sanskrit Literature | 111 |
16.3 | In Art forms | 112 |
Appendix-A | 114 | |
Appendix-B | 116 | |
Appendix-C | 117 | |
Appendix-D | 119 | |
References | 121 | |
Illustrations | 126 | |
Bibliography | 129 |