Best Hindu Theology Books
Here you will get Best Hindu Theology Books For you.This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
1. The Bhagavad Gita, 2nd Edition
Author: by Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
English
296 pages
The Bhagavad Gita is the best known of all the Indian scriptures, and Eknath Easwaran’s best-selling translation is reliable, readable, and profound. Easwaran’s 55-page introduction places the Bhagavad Gita in its historical setting, and brings out the universality and timelessness of its teachings.
Chapter introductions clarify key concepts, and notes and a glossary explain Sanskrit terms. Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition in India, and learned Sanskrit from a young age. He was a professor of English literature before coming to the West on a Fulbright scholarship.
A gifted teacher, he is recognized as an authority on the Indian classics and world mysticism. The Bhagavad Gita opens, dramatically, on a battlefield, as the warrior Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life.
Yet, as Easwaran points out, the Gita is not what it seems it’s not a dialogue between two mythical figures at the dawn of Indian history. The battlefield is a perfect backdrop, but the Gita’s subject is the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious.
2. Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition
Author: by Alanna Kaivalya
Mandala Publishing
English
224 pages
Enhance your yoga practice with this all-new expanded edition of the ultimate guide to the stories behind the most beloved poses of all time. Many yoga practitioners explore the benefits of yoga through its poses, but did you know that the magic and mystery of yoga lie within the power of yogic mythology?
Myths of the Asanas was the first book to collect and retell the ancient tales of yogic myth to a modern audience, and has since become a beloved resource for yoga practitioners and instructors the world over. This expanded edition contains nine unheard stories about some of the yoga world’s most beloved poses.
The myths behind yoga’s spiritual tradition have the power to help students of all levels realize their full potential. Understanding the subtle whimsy and power of the child while in child’s pose gives us permission to recall forgotten dreams and find the power to manifest them now.
Learning of the disabilities of the great sage Astavakra while attempting his arm-balance pose encourages us to understand how powerful we are when we recognize the strength that lies beyond any perceived limitations. Marveling at the monkey-god Hanuman’s devotion to his best friend, Ram, keeps us in alignment with our integrity during the hanumanasana splits pose as we dig deeply to discover the source of spiritual strength within ourselves.
3. Shakti Rising: Embracing Shadow and Light on the Goddess Path to Wholeness
Author: by Kavitha M. Chinnaiyan MD
English
224 pages
1626259100
Winner of the 2017 Nautilus Gold Book Award! The wisdom of the Mahavidyas, the ten wisdom goddesses who represent the interconnected darkness and light within all of us, has been steeped in esoteric and mystical descriptions that made them seem irrelevant to ordinary life.
But with this book, written by a respected cardiologist who found herself on a spiritual search for the highest truth, you’re invited to explore this ancient knowledge and learn how it can be applied to daily struggles and triumphsand how it can help you find unreserved self-love and acceptance.
The pursuit of contentment is an innate part of the human experience, arising from a fundamental sense of lack or inadequacyall the things we believe to be wrong with us when we compare or judge ourselves. In our search for peace and happiness, we may find ourselves fighting the shadows within us, trying to repress or disown certain qualities, especially our anger, violence, discomfort, craving, and disappointment.
4. Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation
Author: by Stephen Mitchell
B000XUBEOI
Harmony
December 18, 2007
Stephen Mitchell is widely known for his ability to make ancient masterpieces thrillingly new, to step in where many have tried before and create versions that are definitive for our time. His celebrated version of the Tao Te Ching is the most popular edition in print, and his translations of Jesus, Rilke, Genesis, and Job have won the hearts of readers and critics alike.
Stephen Mitchell now brings to the Bhagavad Gita his gift for breathing new life into sacred texts. The Bhagavad Gita is universally acknowledged as one of the world’s literary and spiritual masterpieces. It is the core text of the Hindu tradition and has been treasured by American writers from Emerson and Thoreau to T.S.
Eliot, who called it the greatest philosophical poem after the Divine Comedy. There have been more than two hundred English translations of the Gita, including many competent literal versions, but not one of them is a superlative literary text in its own right.
Now all that has changed. Stephen Mitchell’s Bhagavad Gita sings with the clarity, the vigor, and the intensity of the original Sanskrit. It will, as William Arrowsmith said of Mitchell’s translation of The Sonnets to Orpheus, “instantly make every other rendering obsolete.”
5. Tantra: Path of Ecstasy (SHAMBHALA)
Author: by Georg Feuerstein
157062304X
Shambhala (July 1, 1998)
English
[A] sound and well-rounded introduction to the Hindu Tantric heritageRecommended reading for all students of Hinduism, Yoga, and spirituality in general.”Professor Subhash Kak, Ph.D., author of India at Century’s End and coauthor of In Search of the Cradle of CivilizationTantraoften associated with Kundalini Yogais a fundamental dimension of Hinduism, emphasizing the cultivation of “divine power” (shakti) as a path to infinite bliss.
Tantra has been widely misunderstood in the West, however, where its practices are often confused with eroticism and licentious morality. Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy dispels many common misconceptions, providing an accessible introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of this extraordinary spiritual tradition.
The Tantric teachings are geared toward the attainment of enlightenment as well as spiritual power and are present not only in Hinduism but also Jainism and Vajrayana Buddhism. In this book, Georg Feuerstein offers readers a clear understanding of authentic Tantra, as well as appropriate guidance for spiritual practice and the attainment of higher consciousness.
6. The Heart of Awareness: A Translation of the Ashtavakra Gita (Shambhala Dragon Editions)
Author: by Thomas Byrom
Shambhala
English
128 pages
The Ashtavakra Gita conveys with beauty and simplicity the essential teachings of Advaita Vedanta, the most influential of the Hindu philosophical systems. Composed by an anonymous master of the school of the great sage Shankara, it is a book of practical advice for seekers of wisdom as well as an ecstatic expression of the experience of enlightenment.
In this simple, aphoristic version, the translator conveys the clarity and lyricism of the Sanskrit original with fluency and precision.
7. The Reign of the Vedic Gods (The Galaxy of Hindu Gods Book 1)
Author: by Swami Achuthananda
Relianz
English
202 pages
Hindu mythology is often compared to a bottomless ocean that cannot be navigated. The sheer number of gods and goddesses can be overwhelming at times. But that’s only because you haven’t attempted. As Tagore, India’s Nobel Prize winning author, put it, You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the waters.
In this book, Swami Achuthananda takes you on an extended journeywithout getting wetto meet with the gods and share their tales with you. These gods shared a peculiar trait: they were imperfect. Among the swarm of gods, the most ancient are the Vedic gods which include luminaries like Indra, Surya, Varuna, Agni, and others.
Today a minor deity, Indra was once the ruler of the three worlds who, under the influence of a mysterious power drink, fought with the demons and vanquished them. His reign did not last long. His comrades Surya and Varuna also had their glory days but were overthrown by other gods of the pantheon.
Yet, after thousands of years, gods like Indra, Surya, and Varuna are still household names and honored in Hindu rituals and traditions. In fact, when you are faced with no rain, Indra is the god to invoke. (By the way, scholars still haven’t figured out this mysterious drink.
8. Parables from Shambhala: The Wisdom of the East for Everyday Life (Sacred Wisdom)
Author: by Zinovia Dushkova
English
149 pages
5990543166
How can you love your neighbors when there is so much evil around? What is more real: our world or the world of our dreams? How can you reconcile yourself with death? Does your shadow have its own life? What is the origin story of Man and Woman?
Find all answers in this little yet profound book, which will help you comprehend the greatest ancient truths of the East through twelve short parables containing the universal Laws of Existence. These truths will be revealed to you through the juxtaposition of opposites: spirit and body, reality and illusion, good and evil, freedom and slavery, life and death, and so on.
In this way, the spiritual lessons of Parables from Shambhala will enable you to make the right decisions in your daily life and to respond with wisdom to the events happening around you. These parables were left as a heritage to humanity by the Mahatmas, the Great Souls of the East, and were written down by Zinovia Dushkova, Ph.D., who is named as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People by Watkins Mind Body Spirit.
9. Bhagavad Gita, The Holy Book of Hindus: Original Sanskrit Text with English Translation & Transliteration [ A Classic of Indian Spirituality ] (1)
Author: by Sushma
English
204 pages
1945739363
Bhagavad Gita – ‘The Song of God’- is collection of 700 verses from the great epic Mahabharata, composed millenniums ago by Veda Vyasa, a prehistoric sage of India. It is set in the narrative framework of a dialogue that takes place in the middle of a battle field between prince Arjuna, and his guide and charioteer Lord Krishna.
The Bhagavad Gita is a synthesis and compendium of Hindu spiritual ideas on Dharma, Bhakti, Karma, Moksha, Raja Yoga etc. Alongside Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gits is an important Hindu Scripture and is counted amongst the classics of Indian spirituality. This edition contains the Sanskrit verses of the Bhagavad Gita, and their simple English Translation, and also Transliteration of the Sanskrit verses-so that the original text can be read in English, even without knowing the Devanagari script.
The Translation is presented in a simple running style, unencumbered of any burdensome commentaries to dig through.
10. The Holy Science
Author: by Swami Sri Yukteswar
B0197A9QD0
Martino Fine Books
December 10, 2015
Reprint of 1949 Edition. Yukteshwar was an educator, astronomer, a Jyotisha (Vedic astrologer), a yogi, and a believer in the Bhagavad Gita and the Bible. He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi and a member of the Giri branch of the swami order.
Yogananda considered Yukteswar as Jnanavatar, or “Incarnation of Wisdom”. Yukteswar wrote “The Holy Science” in 1894. In the introduction, he wrote: “The purpose of this book is to show as clearly as possible that there is an essential unity in all religions; that there is no difference in the truths inculcated by the various faiths; that there is but one method by which the world, both external and internal, has evolved; and that there is but one Goal admitted by all scriptures.” The work introduced many ideas that were revolutionary for the time – for instance Yukteswar broke from Hindu tradition in stating that the earth is not in the age of Kali Yuga, but has advanced to Dwapara Yuga.
His proof was based on a new perspective of the precession of the equinoxes. He also introduced the idea that the sun takes a ‘star for its dual’, and revolves around it in a period of 24,000 years, which accounts for the precession of the equinox.
11. Vedic Astrology Deck
Author: by Jeffrey Armstrong
Mandala Publishing
English
45 pages
Learn the universal wisdom encoded in the study of the stars: A 7,000-year-old science is distilled into a 44-card set and an accompanying booklet for easy-to-understand guidance. Covering all the basics from body types, signs, and houses, this deck helps you identify how your body type relates to your personality and your character strengths, and reveals whether it is the willful Sun, nurturing Moon, or expansive Jupiter that rules you.
Accessible and easy to use, this deck will enable you to open the door to the ancient wisdom of Vedic astrology within minutes. Vedic astrology, also known as Jyotish, or the science of light, can help you understand aspects of your essential self and your relationship to the world.
The Vedic Astrology Deck, which organizes this ancient science in an approachable way, helps you develop the ability to identify some of the core components that make up the Vedic astrological system, as well as begin to read your own horoscope and those of others.
12. Tulsi Ramayana–The Hindu Bible: Ramcharitmanas with English Translation & Transliteration
Author: by Goswami Tulsidas
English
454 pages
1945739037
Ramcharitmanas, the Holy-Lake of the enactments of Lord God Rama is an Awadhi rendering of the Ramayana narrative. This Epic, which is religiously studied every day by millions of Hindus across the world, was composed by the medieval saint Tulsidas.
In this edition we give a word-to-word Transliteration alongside the Original-making it easy for non-Hindi speakers to read this most Holy Scripture. An English Translation in natural communicative style follows group of verses. This is a special edition with the text formatted in two columns making it manageable in size.
The Devnagri Font used is large and easy to read. The transliterated text is placed just below the original verse on every single line making it easy to read along. For those who wish to keep a second copy of this Holy Scripture in their worship room or altar, we also have these other editions: Ramcharitmanas: Original Text with Transliteration (ISBN: 9781945739002 ) Ramayana, Large: Hindi Edition, Large Font/paper size (ISBN: 9781945739064 ) Ramayana, Medium: Hindi Edition, Regular Font/paper size (ISBN: 9781945739125 ) Ramayana, Small: Hindi Edition, Small Font/paper size (ISBN: 9781945739088 )
13. The Complete Life of Krishna: Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures
Author: by Vanamali
Inner Traditions
English
488 pages
The first book to cover Krishna’s entire life, from his childhood pranks to his final powerful acts in the Mahabharata war Draws from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India’s sacred oral tradition Shows how the stories of Krishna’s life are expressed with such simplicity and humor that they enable anyone-man, woman, or child-to see the wisdom of his teachings Provides a valuable meditative tool that allows the lessons of these stories to illuminate from within Krishna, one of the most beloved characters of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many lights: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, an exemplary ruler, and the Supreme Being.
In The Complete Life of Krishna, Vanamali, a leading Krishna expert from a long line of prominent Krishna devotees, provides the first book in English or Sanskrit to cover the complete range of the avatar’s life. Drawing from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India’s sacred oral tradition, Vanamali shares stories from Krishna’s birth in a dungeon and early days as a merry trickster in Vrindavana, through his time as divine ruler at Dwaraka, to his final powerful acts as the hero Arjuna’s charioteer and guru in the Kurukshetra war.
14. Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana
Author: by Vanamali
Inner Traditions
English
272 pages
The traditional understanding of Shiva told through stories and teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana Explains Shiva’s contradictory forms, such as destroyer or benefactor, and how his form depends on the needs of the devotee Reveals how Shiva’s teachings allow one to see through the illusions at the root of all grief and alienation in human life Explores Shiva’s relationships with Durga, Shakti, Sati, and Parvati and with his sons Ganesha and Kartikeya Shiva, the most ancient and complex deity of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many contrasting lights: destroyer and benefactor, ascetic and householder, wild demon slayer and calm yogi atop Mount Kailash.
Drawing from the Hindu sacred text the Shiva Mahapurana-said to be written by Shiva himself-Vanamali selects the essential stories of Shiva, both those from his dark wild side and those from his benevolent peaceful side. Vanamali discusses Shiva’s many avatars such as Shambunatha and Bhola, as well as Dakshinamurti who taught the shastras and tantras to the rishis.
15. Hanuman: The Devotion and Power of the Monkey God
Author: by Vanamali
Inner Traditions
English
416 pages
An interpretive look at the stories of Hanuman, one of the most beloved gods of the Hindu pantheon Contains 36 of the most important Hanuman stories with commentary on spiritual lessons, yogic practices, and Vedic astrology Reveals how Hanuman symbolizes the human mind and the highest potential it can achieve Explains how Hanuman has the ability to bestow strength and devotion Best known for his role in the Ramayana, Hanuman’s playful nature, amazing physical powers, and selfless devotion to Lord Rama have made him one of the most beloved gods in the Hindu pantheon.
As a monkey, he symbolizes the ever-restless human mind. He teaches us that, though everyone is born an animal, anyone can attain the heights of spiritual evolution through perseverance and ardent discipline. Having perfected his mind through bhakti (selfless devotion) to obtain his powers, Hanuman embodies the highest potential we can achieve.
In this book, Vanamali recounts 36 legendary Hanuman stories-from his birth to his adventures in the Ramayana-and reveals the spiritual lessons, yogic practices, and Vedic astrology aspects they contain. Vanamali shows how Hanuman has the ability to bestow selfless devotion and strength to his devotees and that following his example is the surest path to attracting the blessing of Rama.
