01-12-2004, 10:33 PM
(fwded)
Thanks to Kamlesh Kapur kamleshk@earthlink.net for the recommended list of resources for Hinduising Hindu studies. Kamlesh has been teaching the subject for over two decades; he also gives presentations to school and college students and have given presentations to several community groups in various states.
Suggested Readings about Hinduism and Indian Studies for high school students.
I recommend students to read these books in the order listed below ( simple to more analytical and exhaustive):
1. Hinduism
The Eternal Tradition (Sanatana Dharma)
By David Frawley
2. Hindu Saptakam by Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora
3. Multi-Faceted Vedic Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) by M.G. Prasad
4. Explaining Hindu Dharma - A Guide for Teachers Approved as a textbook for U.K. Schools. Available from VHP book store, bgarg@ieee.org
4. Short summary - Understanding Hinduism by M.G. Prasad
5. Asian Studies by National curriculum development committee - California
6. Travel through Sacred India - By Roger Housden
7. The India I Love - By Marie-Simone Renou
8. The Hindu Awakening: Its Revelation, Its Symbols - By (J Donald Walters)
9. Why Hindus Worship The Shiv Ling - By Karthik Mohan).
10. Cosmos - By Carl Sagan, especially pages - 213-214.
11. Festivals, fairs and, fasts of India by Shakti M Gupta - ISBN 0-9323-7752-1
12. India Portrait of a People published by Ministry of External Affairs,New Delhi
Can be obtained free from the local CGI's office.
13. The study of Indian History and Culture in 18 volumes published by Shri Vedvyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira (BHISHMA) - ISBN - 81-900113-1-6
Address for obtaining - Shri Vedvyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira
B-7/8 Shreepal Apt. Panch Pakhadi
Thane-400 602, India
This is for advanced students and a must in every library as a teachers' guide book.
3 and 4 can be obtained from the authors.
Original texts for advanced studies/enrichment purposes
1. Srimad Bhagvad Gita.
2. Video of Mahabharata play by Peter Brooks, original play was for 11 hours, the movie version is for four hours.
3. Tattava Bodah
4. Hinduism a way of life by Koller for college level students
Reasons for recommendation:
A few lines about each book
1. The book gives an overview of Hindu Dharma. The language is simple and style makes it especially meaningful for western students.
2. Written in the form of question answers, it covers the basics of Hindu Dharma. The emphasis is on prayers to Formless Supreme Reality. The problem arises because of ignoring the original references to Devas in the Vedas. Needs to be supplemented with books by M.G. Prasad.
3. Books by M.G. Prasad cover the need for symbolism, Moorty Pooja and relevance of other ceremonies and rituals. His books have better perspective. They are short and give an overall summary view. Explaining Hindu Dharma - textbook format is exhaustive study of Hinduism and is good for self study also. The book has left out the question of Devas as elemental and terrestrial forces affecting life forms on the earth. The
prayers in the Vedic Samhitas are to these Devas. Retaining the word Devas in Translation is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Otherwise translating Devas as gods makes Hindu dharma look like polytheism instead of Monotheism. Students (regardless of Samskaras,) students cannot understand that these are
energies and attributes of God, hence we call them gods!
4. Asian Studies Curriculum is good resource material for teachers. Chapters on Hinduism, Indus Valley Civilization and Gupta period are easy to understand and add to kids' knowledge of Indian history.
5. The books- 6 to 10 are excellent reference books for clarifying symbolism, artists' expressions of Hindu Devas in different art forms. These books explain the meanings of various symbols and their relevance for making connection with the Universe and various forces and phenomena governing and
regulating sustenance and growth of life on earth. These books help us understand why many people need forms and pictures of the formless Brahm.
6. No. 11 is an interesting pictorial description of various fairs and festivals.
Original Texts:
Srimad Bhagvad Gita is an excellent summary of almost all aspects of Hindu Dharma. There are several easy translations- by Sir Edwin Arnold in poetry and Srimad Bhagvad Gita As Is by Srila Prabhupada.
I translated it for high school students' level of understanding. The first print out of the publication is not available but the typeset is there if any one wants to make a supplemental reading material for students.
Tattava Bodah is a very short overview of the creation, the Creator and their connection to the individual soul. It also explains the evolutionary aspects of the Universe as understood in Vedic Dharma. It is available from Arsh Gurukul Vidyalya.
These are school level books (unless otherwise indicated.)
We recommend that these may replace outdated, biased, and incomprehensible many times even to the authors themselves.
More may be added later on.
At the time of 1991 exhibition -Beautiful borderless world- India a cultural millionaire, a small booklet was created by his name. This should be a pride possession for every Hindu household - a sort of reference book.
Thanks to Kamlesh Kapur kamleshk@earthlink.net for the recommended list of resources for Hinduising Hindu studies. Kamlesh has been teaching the subject for over two decades; he also gives presentations to school and college students and have given presentations to several community groups in various states.
Suggested Readings about Hinduism and Indian Studies for high school students.
I recommend students to read these books in the order listed below ( simple to more analytical and exhaustive):
1. Hinduism
The Eternal Tradition (Sanatana Dharma)
By David Frawley
2. Hindu Saptakam by Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora
3. Multi-Faceted Vedic Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) by M.G. Prasad
4. Explaining Hindu Dharma - A Guide for Teachers Approved as a textbook for U.K. Schools. Available from VHP book store, bgarg@ieee.org
4. Short summary - Understanding Hinduism by M.G. Prasad
5. Asian Studies by National curriculum development committee - California
6. Travel through Sacred India - By Roger Housden
7. The India I Love - By Marie-Simone Renou
8. The Hindu Awakening: Its Revelation, Its Symbols - By (J Donald Walters)
9. Why Hindus Worship The Shiv Ling - By Karthik Mohan).
10. Cosmos - By Carl Sagan, especially pages - 213-214.
11. Festivals, fairs and, fasts of India by Shakti M Gupta - ISBN 0-9323-7752-1
12. India Portrait of a People published by Ministry of External Affairs,New Delhi
Can be obtained free from the local CGI's office.
13. The study of Indian History and Culture in 18 volumes published by Shri Vedvyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira (BHISHMA) - ISBN - 81-900113-1-6
Address for obtaining - Shri Vedvyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira
B-7/8 Shreepal Apt. Panch Pakhadi
Thane-400 602, India
This is for advanced students and a must in every library as a teachers' guide book.
3 and 4 can be obtained from the authors.
Original texts for advanced studies/enrichment purposes
1. Srimad Bhagvad Gita.
2. Video of Mahabharata play by Peter Brooks, original play was for 11 hours, the movie version is for four hours.
3. Tattava Bodah
4. Hinduism a way of life by Koller for college level students
Reasons for recommendation:
A few lines about each book
1. The book gives an overview of Hindu Dharma. The language is simple and style makes it especially meaningful for western students.
2. Written in the form of question answers, it covers the basics of Hindu Dharma. The emphasis is on prayers to Formless Supreme Reality. The problem arises because of ignoring the original references to Devas in the Vedas. Needs to be supplemented with books by M.G. Prasad.
3. Books by M.G. Prasad cover the need for symbolism, Moorty Pooja and relevance of other ceremonies and rituals. His books have better perspective. They are short and give an overall summary view. Explaining Hindu Dharma - textbook format is exhaustive study of Hinduism and is good for self study also. The book has left out the question of Devas as elemental and terrestrial forces affecting life forms on the earth. The
prayers in the Vedic Samhitas are to these Devas. Retaining the word Devas in Translation is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. Otherwise translating Devas as gods makes Hindu dharma look like polytheism instead of Monotheism. Students (regardless of Samskaras,) students cannot understand that these are
energies and attributes of God, hence we call them gods!
4. Asian Studies Curriculum is good resource material for teachers. Chapters on Hinduism, Indus Valley Civilization and Gupta period are easy to understand and add to kids' knowledge of Indian history.
5. The books- 6 to 10 are excellent reference books for clarifying symbolism, artists' expressions of Hindu Devas in different art forms. These books explain the meanings of various symbols and their relevance for making connection with the Universe and various forces and phenomena governing and
regulating sustenance and growth of life on earth. These books help us understand why many people need forms and pictures of the formless Brahm.
6. No. 11 is an interesting pictorial description of various fairs and festivals.
Original Texts:
Srimad Bhagvad Gita is an excellent summary of almost all aspects of Hindu Dharma. There are several easy translations- by Sir Edwin Arnold in poetry and Srimad Bhagvad Gita As Is by Srila Prabhupada.
I translated it for high school students' level of understanding. The first print out of the publication is not available but the typeset is there if any one wants to make a supplemental reading material for students.
Tattava Bodah is a very short overview of the creation, the Creator and their connection to the individual soul. It also explains the evolutionary aspects of the Universe as understood in Vedic Dharma. It is available from Arsh Gurukul Vidyalya.
These are school level books (unless otherwise indicated.)
We recommend that these may replace outdated, biased, and incomprehensible many times even to the authors themselves.
More may be added later on.
At the time of 1991 exhibition -Beautiful borderless world- India a cultural millionaire, a small booklet was created by his name. This should be a pride possession for every Hindu household - a sort of reference book.