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Nation, Nationalism and Social Structure in Ancient India
by
Shiva Acharya
Year of Publication :
2005
ISBN :
818692129X
Edition :
1st Edition
Place :
New Delhi
Book Details :
xxx; 23cm, 434p; Appendices; Index
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Your Price US$
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About the Book :
The concepts of nation and nationalism are generally considered as having their genesis in western modes of thought. However, in this book, Dr. Shiva Acharya attempts to show that the theories of nation and nationalism can be traced to the Vedic era on the basis of a painstaking study of the Vedic culture and civilization.
The book analyses the social, political, civil and military, economic, religious and philosophical aspects of the Vedic culture to explore the origin of the concepts of rastra (nation), motherland and rastrabhakti (patriotism), parliaments, the notion of allround development, democratic educational system, equality of peoples and economic growth for prosperity in Vedic times. Citing from the Vedas and other Vedic literature and a host of modern scholarly researches on the subject, it presents the salient features of the nation and nationalism theories as found in ancient Indian culture such as their stress on culture-based nationalism rather than political. It points out that these features have enabled India to continue with its past traditions and culture and emerge as a successful nation in modern times.
The volume will prove indispensable to all students and scholars of Indology and general readers as it unravels the immense contributions of ancient Indian thought to ideas and philosophies that hold great sway in modern times.
About the Author :
Dr. Shiva Acharya, a distinguished scholar of Sanskrit and a recipeint of various awards, has great knowledge of literary classics and Vedas. He has authored four books, of which two books deserves specific mention - Samskrta Margadarsini in Sanskrit and Ajako Digbhranta Samajsasta in Nepali. Besides, he has contributed more than a hundred valuable articles on history, nationalism, culture, religion and national integration in five different languages - English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Assamese and Nepali. All his books and articles have been extensively appreciated by Indologists, historians and sociologists.
Contents :
Foreword by Thaneswar Sharmah
Preface
Key to Transliteration
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Nation and Nationlism
Rastra as it is defined
Nation and Nationalism:Foreign View
Characteristic of Rastra: A Vedic View Geographical Evidences
Evolution of Rastra
Patriotism or Rastrabhakti
Importance of Organization and Unity How this Rastra came into Existence
Vedic Nationalism: Outside India
Difference between Rastra and Rajya
2. Political Aspects States and Kingship
Types of States
Vairajya
State or a Rajya
Origin of a State - Theories of State -
Duties of a State
Samrajya
Svarajya
Characteristics of an Ideal Svarajya
Bhaujya
Paramesthya Rajya
adhipatyamaya
Samantaparyayi
Janarajya
Sarvabhauma Rajya
Kingship
Meaning and Definition of ?King?
Origin of Kingship
The King
Qualities of a Person to become a King
Coronation Ceremony Coronation and Purohita?s Blessings
Duties of a King
3. Political Aspects: Parliaments
Sabha
Meaning and Definition
Types of Sabha
Qualifications of the Members
Topics of Discussions
Functions
Characteristics of a Sabha
Origin and History
Samiti Meaning and Definition
Characteristics of Samiti
Importance of Samiti
Power and Functions
Power - Functions
Member and their Qualifications
Vidatha: A Very Important Unit of Administration
Definitions
Importance of Vidatha
Members of Vidatha
Officers in the Vidatha
The Head
Qualifications of the Members
Topics of Discussions
Functions
Managements
4. Social Aspects (Varnasrama Vyavastha)
Varna Vyavastha
Different Types of Classes
The word Varna
University of the Varna Vyavastha
Varna Vyavastha and the Rgveda
Divisions of the People in Varnas
The First Theory: Function-based Varna
Vyavastha
Varnas in Genealogical Order
Detail about four Castes
Brahmana - Office of the Purohita: An Important Factor of Administration - Ksatriya or the Fighting Class - Vaisya - Vispati - The Sudras
National Importance of the Caste system
Asrama Vyavastha
Importance of Asramas
Brahmacaryasrama
Duration of Brahmacaryasrama - Characteristics of a Brahmacarin - Daily
Life of a Brahmacarin
Grhasthasrama
Why Grhasthasrama - How to Enter into Grhasthasrama - Duties of a Grhastha
Vanaprasthasrama
Entering into Vanaprasthasrama - Importance and Functions of a Vanaprasthi
samnyasasrama
Definition of the Words Samnyasa and Samnyasin - How to Enter into Samnyasa-asrama - Characteristics of Samnyasa-asrama - Duties of Samnyasin
5. Socio-Political Aspects
All-Round Development Conception of all-Round Development
Conception of Motherland
The Combination of Ksatrateja and Brahateja
A Keynote for success
Other attributes
Education
Definition and Meaning of Siksa
Types of Vidya or Siksa
Cources of Studies
A Teacher, Guru or Acarya
Definition - Characteristics of a Guru
A Student or Sisya
Duties of a Student - Uniform - Types of Brahmacarin - Daily Life - Qualities of a Student
Systmes of Teaching
Medium of Teaching (Language)
Teacher-Student Relationship
Convocation
Female Education
6. Socio-Cultural Aspects
Women in Vedic India
The Words used for Women Treatments of Sons and Daughters
Women Education
An Ideal Wife
Characteristics of an Ideal Woman
Duties and Rights of Woman
Duties - Rights
Qualities of an Ideal Woman Greatness of Women Described in the Vedas
Physical Structre of a Woman
Marriage Institution
Importance of Marriage
Selections of a Bridegroom or Bride
Forms of Marriages
Monogamy or Polygamy
Marriage Festivities
Post-marriage Rituals
Gifts to the Bridegroom
7. Vedic Economics
Theories
Aims of Economics
Wants
Theory Concerned with Receiving and Giving
Debtlessness
Economy based on Morality
Subject-matter of Economics - Population Resources - Production and Labour - Consumption - Exchange - Market Competition and Price - Distribution - Taxation
Agriculture
History and Importance
Types of Crops
Irrigation and Manures Process of Perfoming cultivation
Instruments of Cultivation
Industry
Industries in the Vedic India
Carpentry
Chariot Builders
Jewellery
Cloth Industry
Tannery
Iron Industry
Pottery
Coinage
Trade and Commerce Routes Qualities of the Roads
Commodities
Pains
8. Primary Needs
Foods and Drinks
Fooks and - Drinks - Problem of Meat Eating in the Vedas
Dresses
House-building
An Ideal - Words Used for House - Types of Houses
- Types of Houses
Secondary Needs
Medicine and Exorcism
Physiology
Doctors as we Find in the Mantra Samhitas
List of Diseases
Six Types of Treatments
Music
The Words Used for Songs - Musical Insturments - The Usual Singers - Singing
Ornaments
Ornaments for Head and Hair -
Ornaments for Ears - Ornaments of Neck
- Ornaments for Arms - Rings - Ornaments of Waist - Ornaments for Ankle
9. Religion and Philosophy
Religion
Worship or Upasana
God and His Description
Gods and their Numbers
The Names of the Gods
The Great Gods - Celestial
The Great Gods - Aerial
The Great Gods - Terrestrial
The Minor Gods of Nature
Onenss of Many Gods
Vedic Prayers
Yajnas or Sacrifices
Purpose of Organizing General Yajanas
The Serial Order of the Yajnas
Forms of Yajnas
Agnyadhana and Purnahuti -
Darsapurnamasa - Caturmasya -
Agnistoma
Sacrifices Related with Politics
Rajasuya Sacrifice - Vajapeya Sacrifice -
Asvamedha Sacrifice -Yajna in Ganeral
- Theory of Devotion or Bhakti
Philosophy
The Creator
Rta an Important Penomenon in the Vedic Philosophy
Theory of Creation
The Doctrine of Non-dualism orAdvaita
Transmigration of Soul or Rebirth
10. Military Aspect
Formation of Army Troops
Uniform
Divisom of Army
Drum or Dundubhi
Protection
Types of Wars
War with Weapons
Charioting and Charioteering
Types of Chariots
Use of elephants in the wars
Cavalry
Infantry
Forts
Type of Forts
11. Miscellaneous
Lipi in the Vedic Age
Geography
India : As we find the Vedas (Natural Geography)
Oceans and Sea - Mountains and Deserts
Rivers
Political Geography
States or Provinces - Towns
Theory of Aryan Race
Concept of Aryan race
Evidences of Aryan?s Migration and Invasions Collected Western Scholars
Examining the Foreigns? above Assessments
The Names and Meaning of Dasyus in the RV
The Term Arya : As the Texts Reveal
Some Other Definitions from the Classical Literatrue
India : Aryavarta or the Land of the Civilized People
Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix I: Cultrue - Definition and Aspects
Appendix II: Elements of Science in the Vedas
Appendix III: Christian Conspiracy of Misinterpreting Indian Literatures
Appendix IV: Range of the Vedic Literature
Bibliography
Index
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