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- Thread starter Storm
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You know, I tried reading those, and found them quite boring. So I can't recommend them.
I'm an ignorant novice wrt Hinduism... not religion or scripture itself.Esoteric poetry is right up my alley!
Well... just keep in mind that they were written thousands of years before Sanskrit became standardized, so even expert scholars often disagree on how to translate/interpret certain passages.
In addition to the two Vedic verses cited(Nasadiya and Purusha Suktam), I'd also recommend reading the Agni Suktam, which is the hymn placed at the beginning of the Rig Veda (not by any stretch the oldest hymn; the hymns of the first book are estimated to have been composed several centuries after some of the others). I'll link to a great PDF file that I know of that delves into the linguistics of it all, which, if you really study it, can help you understand just how esoteric and open to interpretation/translation these ancient masterpieces are:
http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/janaswamy/janaswamy_add_info/RV_Agni_Suktam_RJ.pdf
Not for dummies, but in American English ... a lot of info .. I'd recommend 'Dancing' first.
Online Books
I hate it when that happens. I have J. Krishnamurti's daily meditations, and for the life of me, there are some daily meditions that I am like
then I'm like then I'm like 
Storm
ThrUU the Looking Glass
Hey - I got a Nook today!
So, of Project Gutenberg's Hinduism Bookshelf, what are the recommended translations (There are like 6 of the Mahabharata
So, of Project Gutenberg's Hinduism Bookshelf, what are the recommended translations (There are like 6 of the Mahabharata
Shuddhasattva
Well-Known Member
Namaste
Unfortunately (for you, heh), those are not different translations, but different parvas (sections.) Looks like you'll have to read them all - and hunt down the missing ones.
Unfortunately (for you, heh), those are not different translations, but different parvas (sections.) Looks like you'll have to read them all - and hunt down the missing ones.
Wannabe Yogi
Well-Known Member
This is what I would read first as Hindu scripture the Bhagavad-Gita.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0451627571/insearcoftheloviA/
It is short to the point. It was co written (Translated) by a real Indian Scholar/Holy Man and one of the best writers of the 20th century. With explanation by Aldous Huxley and Gandhi You probably can get it on nook.
If you dont like it you have not waisted much time. It is short, well written, and to the point.
"The book is self-contained. A complete stranger to the Hindu gospel can pick it up and in one or two evenings follow the poem from its terrific beginnings to its sublime end." -- New York Times
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0451627571/insearcoftheloviA/
It is short to the point. It was co written (Translated) by a real Indian Scholar/Holy Man and one of the best writers of the 20th century. With explanation by Aldous Huxley and Gandhi You probably can get it on nook.
If you dont like it you have not waisted much time. It is short, well written, and to the point.
"The book is self-contained. A complete stranger to the Hindu gospel can pick it up and in one or two evenings follow the poem from its terrific beginnings to its sublime end." -- New York Times
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Namaste all,
i'm planning to read the Rigveda, but confused to choose the right version...
below is the link where many versions available:
Namas Te
which one should i download, or if you recommend another link?
Thanks in advance
My biggest recommendation: don't read the entire Rig Veda. Start to finish, it's long, repetitive, and boring in most English translations. Remember, these weren't meant to be read; they were meant to be heard.
Instead, read key hymns.
Wannabe Yogi
Well-Known Member
Namaste all,
i'm planning to read the Rigveda, but confused to choose the right version...
below is the link where many versions available:
Namas Te
which one should i download, or if you recommend another link?
Thanks in advance
If you are going to start reading the Vedas I would start with the first dozen or so Upanishads. There are a few good translations. It is the place most people start. There are many nice Hymns and many dry Hymns that take much research to make out the meaning from the early Vedas. The meaning is not only to be understood but felt when chanted properly. Very difficult, hard to make sense of, most Hindu's have never read much of it.
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Maya3
Well-Known Member
It's good to know. I always feel guilty for not having read them.
Upanishads I LOVE though.
Maya
Marco19
Researcher
Namaste friend,
may i ask what do you mean by first dozen? which they are?
Do you have link(s) to those?
Thanks in advance
Shuddhasattva
Well-Known Member
Namaste friend,
may i ask what do you mean by first dozen? which they are?
Do you have link(s) to those?
Thanks in advance
Namaste
Depending on the source, there are numbered 10 or 12 upanishads that were written early, and accepted as authentic distillations of the Vedas upon which they are based. Many upanishads were written much later.
Some posts previously:
Namaste
Wannabe Yogi
Well-Known Member
Namaste friend,
may i ask what do you mean by first dozen? which they are?
Do you have link(s) to those?
Thanks in advance
This site has all of the Old Upanishads listed on left hand side in the green. Even though this is an Advaita site the Translator is not that sectarian.
http://www.sankaracharya.org/spiritual_library.php
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Storm
ThrUU the Looking Glass
Is anyone familiar with this rendition of the Mahabharata? Is it complete/ a good translation?
Shuddhasattva
Well-Known Member
Namaste
Krishna Dwaipayana is a well known anti-Hindu mullah/westerner/communist. Don't read anything he's written.
(Krishna Dwaipayana is the Vyasa (compiler) of the present manvantara, actually representing many figures who laid down the shastra) - I make this joke because the page doesn't seem to indicate who actually translated it.
Krishna Dwaipayana is a well known anti-Hindu mullah/westerner/communist. Don't read anything he's written.
(Krishna Dwaipayana is the Vyasa (compiler) of the present manvantara, actually representing many figures who laid down the shastra) - I make this joke because the page doesn't seem to indicate who actually translated it.