Most Comprehensive book on Nakshatras
921477
Possibly the best, or at least most complete, description of the nakshatras in English. The author has some opinions about some of the nakshatras which unfortunately get in the way of his analysis. His negative comments have to be taken with a grain (fistful?) of salt. You may be put off by the illustrations done by the author's ex-girlfriend, which are fanciful, and a bit overdone. Nonetheless, this is a very useful, helpful book. I am a professional Vedic astrologer, and I refer to this book regularly.
4509620
The Universe of Hindu spiritual thought covers a vast expanse ranging from gripping mythological tales to sublime metaphysical truths. Prof VKs book is a wonderful attempt to pick an assortment of gems from this veritable Ocean.
In the beginning was the word - giving rise to name and form - and the book too begins with an exploration of name - as even the lofty ideals of vedanta preach to the Supreme being beyond name and beyong form, yet in and through the entire breadth of the Vedas and Puranas there exists a littany of names each with wonderfully colorful stories of how their names origin and what they signifiy both in a literal and even more importantly in a esoteric sense. He begins with an exploration of Lord Ganesha, as all auspicious projects in Hinduism commence. He touches upon some related topics in this section including the significance and importance what is popularly misconceived to be idol worship, the power of mantra and japa among others. The author seamlessly alternates between a prose style with multiple interludes of a question and answer style, which takes a initiate some getting used to, but is quickly seen to enhance the ability of the reader to comprehend the subject by means of a logical sequential thought process. The section dealing with Aum, and Narayana are particularly illluminating. While a detailed discussion on the entire texts of the 2 popular sahasranamas - Vishnu Sahasranama and Lalita Sahasranama - are clearly beyond the scope of this broadbased book, the author does a splendid job of providing a detailed analysis of a few key verses and names, thus greatly stimulating the most casual reader into an independent study of both these works.
The second chapter deals with common quesions about the constituents of any spiritual path, and systematically examines the polemic positons and counterarguments amongst different actors - a rationalist, a simple devotee, a theologist, a philosopher, and an advaitin-  and once again enables a simplistic but effective understanding of their broad positions. A similar exercises helps articulate the different positions about determinism and free will. While the authors leanings are of course transparent he nicely allows all the protagonists cogent lines of thought. The author deviates in this section to also provide a synopsis of the significance of the Gayatri Mantra and also elaborates about the Divine Dance form of Nataraja.
Chapter 3 provides a detailed overview of the different Hind scriptures ranging from the Holy Vedas to the Puranic tales, the Agamas and the six darshanas. A wonderfully detailed example of ghanapatha is provided. The HIndu Cosmology is introduced along with aspects of its time cycle.
In Chapter 4 he takes upon the unenviably arduous topic of the Impersonal Absolute, the subject matter of the extremely terse Upanishads. To his credit he is able to convey some extremely subtle metaphysical truths in a easy-to-grasp fashion that enables a educated overview for the lay reader. Examples from various principal Upanishads are provided as well as a brief explanation of the mahavakyas - the goal is clearly to enthuse the lay person to seek for himself the lofty heights of these sublime truths.
Prof BK concludes this beautiful book with a indepth essay of that - without which no book on Hindu philosophic thought can ever be considered complete - yes - the Holy Gita. All the key aspects of the Gita - karma yoga, Maya, devotion, etc are very well summarized - the section I particularly found the author in fine form was in his breathtaking analysis of "who is the knower? who is the doer?" - easily the highlight of this entire book in my opinion, as it covers a number of topics related to the Gita and more importantly has tremendous utility to practical living which the author himself succinctly summarizes towards the end of this chapter.
All in all - an excellent read - constitutes spiritual food for the intellect mind and soul. Many thanks and kudos to the revered Prof for this wondrous work.
3552537
There is not a better book written on this subject.  Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa is the grandmother of Kundalini Yoga and it is obvious by reading this book.  I am a Kundalini Yoga teacher and I refer to this book on a regular basis for any "?" I might have on Kundalini Yoga.  Do yourself a favor and select this book for your yoga collection.

blessings
Kulbir Kaur
3252003
The best book by far hands down on the Yoga Sutras. Taimni goes the distance in expounding upon the scientific wisdom of Yoga without getting lost in the superstitious nonsense of the Vedas. The only one who does that, and well. DEFINITELY recommended to the spiritual seeker
396996
This book, p. xxi: "represents the advanced doctrine and practice as understood and realized by the Kagyupa Order of Tibetan Buddhism."  It is a translation of the 16th century "Moonlight: An Excellent Elucidation of the Meditational Stages of the Ultimate Great Seal" abbreviated as Moonlight of Mahamudra (source text for Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary, "Essentials of Mahamudra").  "This extraordinary treatise provides not only a wealth of knowledge but also methods for realizing enlightenment."  The translator provides an extensive Introduction including a brief synopsis of the book.  The author, Tashi Namgyal (1512-87) was a member of the Takpo Kagyu meditational order or lineage.  This book includes tons of quotes from Sutras, Tantras, & Masters, noting conflicting opinions & with explanations thereof, presenting an -"exhaustive elucidation of the metaphysics and the meditation of Mahamudra."  His (p. 413) "excellent treatise" and "elegant literary composition" does just that; it explains The 9 Stages of Tranquility (frontispiece)-(I obtained this diagram in Lhasa) & explores existence, dependent arising, relation to Madhyamaka philosophy, types of meditation, Sakya Pandita's criticisms,, condensed & elaborate explanations of Mahamudra (MM) meditation, relation of karma to MM (p. 287), "elevating the mind to the path," the 12 levels of the 4 MM Yogas in the greatest detail I've seen including their relation to Tantric grounds/paths/(bhumis), post-absorption, & non-conceptualization.  He calls his approach "The Mahamudra of Ultimate Certainty."

More specifically, Namgyal explains the nature of intrinsic reality such that (p. xlviii): "The deities and mandalas are not external entities but a kind of psychological geograph of our mind" & (p. 218): "Alas, the 6 levels of sentient beings are Emanations of deluded minds" and describes the interrelationship of Mahamudra & Vajrayana/Tantric methods: while Gampopa (Milarepa's #1 disciple & 1st Karmapa's master), p. 112: "considers Mahamudra to be a separate path and independent of the sutras and tantras" & p. 123: "did not make the esoteric empowerment a prerequisite for receiving the Mahamudra teachings," (p. 124): "Lately the followers of this meditative order adapted Mahamudra to the practice of Tantric mysticism...Since these Mahamudra meditations incorporated Tantric elements, practitioners are required at the outset to receive ...initiation."

He provides the best description I've seen (p. 350) of the 3 groups of meditators (and their realizations): great (instantaneous), average (evanescent), and ordinary (gradual) and states that (pp. 123 & 144): "A great medicine for gradual seekers Becomes a poison for instantaneous seekers.  A great medicine for instantaneous illumination Becomes a poison for gradual illumination."

He provides excellent descriptions of techniques: (p. 280): Mindfulness "is done in the same way an experienced cowherd watches his cattle.  Without rounding them up or following every animal, he keeps them all under his observation, letting them graze freely, even though some may wander,"(pp. 334-5): the 5 practices of self-transformation to sublimate adverse conditions: "To behave--like a wounded deer" (shun companions); "a lion" (not fear internal/external obstacles); "the wind blowing through space" (let thoughts flow freely/openly without any attachment); "space" (unfocussed meditation without any support); "a crazy person" (without objective direction, attachment to anything, or value judgments), and (p. 335): bringing dualistic thoughts to the illuminating path, and even mentions ch [chd].
4106677
This Book is to my knowledge  the most beautiful text on the Mahavidyas ever published in the English language. The Author, Shankaranarayanan, was a great Sanskrit scholar, but it is not just scholarship which really characterizes this Book and makes it superior, in my opinion, to any academic investigation of the Ten Goddesses of Knowledge. Shankara narayanan was a great initiate of the S'ri Vidya Tradition and was able
to infuse in this book Knowledge that is beyond words. This Book, I believe, has the strange power to convey powerful images to the reader, images that linger in one's meditation, or in dreams, or in daily life.
As pointed out in the Introduction, Shankaranarayanan's made the gift of
his deep `scholarship, insight and occult knowledge' in depicting the
Ten Goddesses, their essence, their purpose, their connections.

The Book is organized as follows: an Introduction states the fundamental role of the Mahavidyas, as Goddess connected with the Cosmic Godhead,
and such capable of granting the Supreme Knowledge needed for liberation.
Then one chapter on each Mahavidya is presented, and each Goddess is
portrayed in Her most remarkable attributes: Kali, the might of the
ceaseless flow of Time; Tara, the unpronounced Perceiving Word; TripuraSundari, the Unmanifest, Unconceivable Beauty cause of Desire; Bhuwaneshwari, the Space that makes possible the manifestation of name
and form; Tripura Bhairavi, the Energy of Creation, transforming Word
into Action; Dhumavati, the dark Silence of the Unmanifest that is before
Creation and that follows the collapse of the material Universe;
Chinnamasta, the striking force of the Divine arising from the
combination of Light and Sound; Bagalamukhi, the paralyzing Power that arrests the flow of action; Matangi, the Sacred Word expressed as
uttered Sound; Kamala, the manifested cosmic Beauty revealed in all its glory.
Each description of the Goddess is enriched by quotes from the Vedas,
and frequent passages from Aurobindo bring profound insight.

The description of all individual Goddesses
is followed by a very significant chapter pointing at the profound
correspondence between the Mahavidyas and Vedic and Upanisadic
concepts.  Relationships between the Avatars of the Vaishnava  tradition
and the Mahavidyas are also presented.

The entire purpose of the book is to lead the reader towards
Sadhana, the spiritual practice conducive to higher level of consciousness, as clearly stated in the final pages.

There is an immense amount of teaching condensed in this incredibly
small and compact Book. I am not an initiate, nor a scholar of Hinduism.
Neither am I a particularly gifted meditator, and I cannot claim to have grasped more than a minimal part of the Teachings layered in this Book.
Yet, I felt augmented by this reading in a incomprehensible way.
I have read many books on Hinduism, for about 30 years, and very
rarely I have felt, so far, the incredible feeling of  an open
gate, leading to a Path that may allow, in due time,
to progress towards the knowledge of the Great Goddess of the Hindu tradition.
Even if only one sentence of  this magnificent Book persisted in one's memory, I believe that it would be worth the  effort of reading it.

I cannot but recommend this wonderful Book to any interested in the Shaktism of either tradition (either Sri Vidya or Kaula) and most generally in the esoteric understanding of Hinduism.
1347063
Brilliantly written and well-organized.  Guru Rattana makes seemingly complex subject matter much easier to understand and use.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who practices Kundalini Yoga.
2857181
In a nutshell, there is a branch of Yoga that derives from Samkhya (one of the most important pshilosophical schools of India).

Many years later that Yoga was about to disappear, until Patanjali took upon himself the task of gathering all te pieces together and reformulate it again, in a way as similar as possible to the original Samkhya Yoga.

He wrote his work down in the book called Yoga Sutras, which have become eversice the "manual" of yoga throughout the world.

The Yoga presented in the Yoga Sutras is called Raja Yoga (i.e., The King of the Yogas) or Ashtanga Yoga (i.e., The Yoga of The Eight Branches).

However valuable (it is indeed a masterpiece) is almost impossible to undesrtand, since the Sutras were practical manulas written in a brief manner, codifyied so as only the initiates could understand it.

Thus the need for commentaries made by people who not only know a lot of yoga, but who have experienced its practices themselves, since many of them cannot be understood no matter who plainly explained the might be, the must have been experienced and lived.

Out of the moder commentaries, i would say that this one, by Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati, and the one entitled "Raja Yoga" by Swami Vivekananda are the best approach to this fascinating yet difficul subject: indeed, Raja Yoga is not meant for begginers inasmuch as it is an advanced practice or sadhana.

Yet Satyananda's commentary is extraordinary since it presents:

1) The original sanscrit.
2) The transliteration of that phrase.
3) A translation word for word.
4) A complete english translation
5) A lenghty commetary on tne meaaning of the phrase.

As another Swamiji put it, in the introduction, this is a Manual that every psychologist and psychiatrist should have on their desks, since it brings forth a new (yet old) psychology far deeper and far more effective than  anything we have had so far.

I really do reccommed this one book, as all those of the Yoga Publications Trust.

It is my belief that the three best collection on Yoga are:

1) Yoga Publications Trust
2) The Complete Works of Swami Sivananda Saraswati
3) The Complete Work of Swami Vivekananda

Enjoy!
2358521
Being a longstanding friend of the author, dr. P. Karthigayan from Chennai it is a special pleasure and privilege to offer a short review of his book. It is right away clear that the author invested years of effort and time to write the "History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu". The book tries to cover as many aspects of the Tamil Siddha tradition as possible. Of particular interest are the chapters concerning alchemy, rejuvenation and immortality. What is most impressive are the copious quotations from the original texts of the Tamil Siddhas  most of them being translated into English for the first time. Equally invaluable is the detailed bibliography of the mentioned texts at the very end of the book. I believe that the work of dr. P. Karthigayan will be a valuable addition to the library of all those interested in the tradition of the Tamil Siddhas. Whoever wishes to get a quick overiew of the book should read chapter 13 (A Bird's Eye View  Conclusions of Siddhas) first.
4475680
I have cooked Indian food for 4 decades and collected 40 or more books on the subject. This is the ONE! It's clearly written, comprehensive--including lotsa South Indian recipes, which is extremely important--and right on the money. A thousand great recipes and a thorough grounding in cookin' Indian. No pictures, it's true. But a thousand recipes!
856857
The great 19th century scholar-adept Jamgon Kongtrul in this volume (part of the 8th volume of his Treasury of Knowledge) lays  out in some detail the theory and practice of the Eight Chariots of Vajrayana. To begin with, the Vajrayana is the "Adamantine Vehicle" of Buddhadharma, and is itself a refinement of the Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle"). But where Mahayana generally is based in Sutra, Vajrayana is based in both Sutra and Tantra. The great tantras Hevajra, Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamja, Yamntaka, Mahmy, Kalacakra, and so on, in turn are the basis of anuttarayoga, i.e. Highest Yoga Tantra, which is the culmination of the praxis of the Eight Chariots (practice lineages) of Tibetan tantric Buddhism, listed historically as Nyingma, Kadampa, Marpa Kagyu, Shangpa Kagyu, Sakya, Chod, Jodruk, and Nyendrub. Vajrayana praxis itself is generally bifurcated into Method and Wisdom, with "Method" the container for the Six Yogas of Naropa and Niguma, and "Wisdom" the container for Mahamudra and Dzogchen. All of this is only part of the prerequisite to making sense of Sarah Harding's wonderful annotated translation of this monumental work. It is for serious students of Tibetan Buddhism only, and develops much of the material that has until recently been available only to scholars and advanced practitioners. And as has been often pointed out, these texts can never be fully understood without the oral instructions of a fully-qualified guru who is part of a chain of transmission that has been unbroken and uncompromised for a thousand years or more. But this book is certainly one of the best, and most comprehensive, presentations of Tantric Buddhism I have ever come across.
2086100
This hefty book includes a brief history of the Hindi language, a 746 page transliterated dictionary (including phrases and 7000 technical terms), an Anglo-Indian glossary, a Mogul glossary and even a substantial glossary of Hindu mythology. Having no prior knowledge of Hindi, I still found it easy to use. A must have resource for any student of Hindu literature.
3218853
Depsite all the history with Swami, this is THE yoga Nidra book and it trumps all others. If you're interested in Nidra, this needs to be in your bookcase. It's a prized possession now. It digs into the basics, history, science, and applications of nidra with a few great scripts you can record (or use in class if you're an instructor).
1672098
I can't believe this book is out of print, to be perfectly honest.  This is Shankaracharya's most readable work, and I would call it a must-read for anyone remotely interested in Advaita Vedanta or, indeed, in Hindu philosophy in general.
The Upadesha Sahasri (or this edition of it, at any rate) is divided into two parts: prose (78 pages, three chapters, consisting of sometimes-lengthy dialogues) and verse (231 pages, 19 chapters, consisting of of shorter, compact teachings).  The fact that I have a short attention span means that part two is more dog-eared than part one, and I think most readers will find themselves in a similar condition -- and that's all right, because this book reads very much like an anthology.  It doesn't necessarily progress in a linear manner, from postulate one to postulate two to postulate three and so on; it more closely resembles a series of verbal teachings collected over a long period of time.
The English translation remains true to the Sanskrit to the point where it is sometimes very hard to follow (sample passage: "People do not receive Self-knowledge on account of the fear that their duties (according to their castes and orders of life) would be destroyed like Udanka who did not accept genuine nectar which, he thought, was urine."); a shrewd writer really should come along and provide a popular translation or paraphrase of this very important work.  Until one does, Swami Jagadananda's rendering is certainly very clear and should meet the needs of most serious readers.
3212806
Beautifully written and well organized.  One of the best versions of the Devi Gita out there.  I highly recommend this book.
1734527
A great compilation of the best hindu mystic texts. A highly enjoyable book. Anyone interested in ancient cultures and ancient religion will have a thrill with these texts.
941488
I appreciate that this book on Vastu has more explanation of the reasons behind the recommendations, than other books on the subject, yet there is still a lot left unexplained, and I need to understand the reasons in order to connect with the validity.  I am grateful for the greater detail than other books, and for the info on Yantras and Mantras, and alters, which  I also find to be more thorough and additional info than I have found in other books on Vastu.

The section on the personal experiences of one of the authors, leading to her deepening into gratitude, was valuable to me both in terms of being able to connect with the experiences of the author and the depth from which the info they are offering comes from.  The fact that they make mantras and yantras available free on their website also adds to my sense that these are good people offering help to others, rather than superficial, make-a-quick-buck schemes that seem too prevalent.

Thank you.