Indian Mythology and Philosophy: The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Kama Sutra… And How They Fit Together (Ancient Wisdom)

A cultural and intellectual history of Ancient India Sitting down with the Bhagavad Gita at the age of sixteen opened many new channels in my mind. Ever since, for the best part of thirty years, I have been searching for a book on Indian thought that ties it all up, coherently and succinctly. Write the book you want to read, they say—and this, here, is it. While covering all the important areas (see contents list below), you will learn: How the Vedic gods are related to the Greek and Roman ones. The secret of the self that even the gods were desperate to learn. How to stop suffering, according to the Buddha. How to achieve enlightenment, according to the Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. How the swastika came to be appropriated by the Nazis. How Gandhi’s non-violence is rooted in Indian philosophy. Why the Kama Sutra is about a lot more than sex. What yoga’s actually about—not even my yoga teacher knew this. How the Gupta Golden Age led to the invention of zero, chess, and nose jobs. And much, much more. Never before has the history and substance of Indian thought been laid out as clearly and succinctly, and completely, as in Burton’s book. —Prof Nicolas Martin, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zürich Impeccably crafted… a monumental achievement. —Rich Follett for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★ The parallels between Indian and Greek philosophy amazed me… This book will hold your interest until the last page. —Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers’ Favorite ★★★★★ Burton shines a fascinating light on one of the world’s most ancient, and still thriving, cultures. —The US Review of Books (Recommended) Insightful and thorough … Having practised yoga for years, learning about its background and significance offered me a new perspective. —The International Review of Books Contents list Preface Introduction: A Picture of India 1. The Indus Valley Civilization 2. The Aryans and their Vedas 3. Vedic Gods: Indra, Agni, Soma, and the Rest 4. Sanskrit and the Grammar of Panini 5. The Upanishads 6. Brahman and Brahma 7. Atman, or the Self 8. Karma, Samsara, Moksha, Yoga 9. Life of the Buddha 10. Buddhist Philosophy 11. The Jataka Tales 12. The Panchatantra 13. Jainism, Ahimsa, and Gandhi’s Satyagraha 14. The Mauryas: Chandragupta and Ashoka 15. Greek India 16. Dharma, the Laws of Manu, and the Caste System 17. The Arthashastra of Kautilya 18. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana 19. The Ramayana of Valmiki 20. The Mahabharata of Vyasa 21. The Bhagavad Gita, or Song of God 22. The Puranas: Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi 23. The Guptas: The Golden Age of India 24. The Six Darshanas: Samkhya-Yoga 25. The Six Darshanas: Nyaya-Vaisheshika 26. The Six Darshanas: Mimamsa-Vedanta Final words ◆ Grab your copy now and become an expert in one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. – ASIN: 1913260488 | ISBN13: 9781913260484 | ISBN-13: 978-1913260484