The Vedic Lore
Book Specification
Item Code: | IHK084 |
Author: | Akhilesh Jha |
Publisher: | Publications Division, Government of India |
Language: | English |
Edition: | 2008 |
ISBN: | 8123014260 |
Pages: | 186 (17 B/W Illustrations) |
Cover: | Paperback |
Other Details | 9.5 inch X 7.3 inch |
Weight | 230 gm |
Book Description
In the 21st Century, we are giving the children everything except time, culture and right direction. The fast pace of life is taking us away from our family, culture and roots. This distance has amplified so much that the Indians are now almost ignorant about the Vedas. Probably, the future generations may not be able to recall even the names of four Vedas. This is an unfortunate scenario.
This purpose of writing this book is to arouse readers’ interest in studying the Vedas. Another purpose of this effort is to debunk the myth that the Vedas are merely religious scriptures. In fact, the Vedas are the stories of most ancient accomplishments of the human beings. They are the most potent testimony of India’s position as the intellectual leader of the world. The Vedas are the testimonial scriptures of the scientific temperament, peacefulness, advanced philosophy of life, the tradition of the high quality of governance, and the constant desire of the Indians for the well being of the world. The Vedas are also literature of very high quality-the way poetic style of the Vedic rishis has unfolded in the verses is comparable to the best of literature created in any period. Sanskrit the language of the Vedas, glorifies India as the place of origin of the first organized and grammatically compliant language of the world. Facts and principles described in these scriptures guide all the worldwide streams of thoughts from origin of the earth to philosophy of materialism.
Today it is imperative that all the Indians should internalize this heritage without any delay and once again try enthusiastically to be the world leaders and show the right path to the mankind. The world, struggling with problems such as terrorism, turmoil, extreme materialism, cultural degradation, etc., is looking at India with a lot of hope.
The Publications Division had requested the author to write ‘The Vedic Lore’ keeping children as readers in mind. I have made an effort to write the book in such a manner that the children develop curiosity to study the Vedas after reading it and their inquisitiveness inspire their parents as well. I hope, even the students of History will be able to improvise their knowledge about the Vedic period. However, many aspects of the Vedas remain untouched in the book. A second volume of the book is being planned. I will try to incorporate all those aspects in the second volume of the book.
I am one of the few fortunate persons who obtained the preliminary Vedic knowledge at their homes during childhood. After that I studied the Vedas under the proficient guidance of Pandit Jagdanand Jha which further augmented my devotion and curiosity in these scriptures. While writing this book, my indulgence with the Vedas at a young age came very handy. I express my heartfelt gratitude towards all the young readers of ‘Bal Bharati’ who appreciated my serialized articles on the Vedas and gave their suggestions without any inhibition thus helping me in preparing the framework for this book.
I hope, ‘The Vedic Lord’ would succeed in stimulating the readers’ interest in the Vedic and the future generations of India would present a model inspired by the Vedic knowledge to the world.
Back of the Book
A time when people of other civilizations had not even learnt to calculate, vedic people were well versed in all sorts of calculations. In the vedic period, thousands of years ago we had been using our calendar while European countries could organize their calendar merely 500 years ago. In Vedas we find interesting account of twin gods Ashwini Kumaras, surgeons who were credited with leg replacement. Atharva Veda is the foundation of Ayurveda now recognized the world over. Vedic contain a wealth of information on the aspects of family, society, agriculture, science and technology, music etc. of those times. These interesting facts will be enjoyed by children and inculcate the spirit of enquiry in them.
The author is know for his deep interest in ancient Indian culture and religion.
Stories of the four Vedas | 3 |
Extent of the Vedas | 9 |
Vedic Sages | 15 |
Vedic Gods | 21 |
Science Story of the Rig Veda I | 29 |
Science Story of the Rig Veda II | 35 |
Medical Science of the Atharva Veda | 41 |
Medicines of the Atharva Veda | 47 |
Science in the Yajur Veda | 53 |
Agricultural Lore of the Rig Veda | 59 |
Agricultural Lore of the Yajur Veda | 65 |
Agricultural Lore of the Atharva Veda | 71 |
Administration in the Vedic Age | 77 |
Division of Labour in the Vedic Period | 85 |
Importance of Knowledge in the Vedas | 91 |
Houses in the Vedic Period | 97 |
Message of Peace in the Vedas | 103 |