I took up the study of this subject about a decade ago at the request of my grandchildren, who having been born and brought up amid an orbit of western culture, are deeply interested in their cultural roots. But due to several reasons, mainly lack of library facilities the progress has been slow. However, I am glad that the book has taken a final shape now and is ready to see the light of the day.
Indian culture has been Veda centric. It was, therefore considered necessary to make a rapid survey of what constitutes the Veda in the beginning.
Vedas are the oldest literature of the world. They are the holy books of the Hindus and are the foundation of Hindu religion (Vedo akhilo dharma mulam) and as such the chief object of the nation's greatest reverence and admiration. They have been so thoroughly and religiously preserved that despite their huge bulk and elapse of thousands of years since their codification not a single variation in the reading has been detected. No country has taken care so meticulously and tediously to preserve its heritage as the Hindus.
In the 2 chapter dealing with Varnashrama dharma, the distinction between Varna and Jati which are loosely translated by caste has been clearly brought out. In the Varna theory we have the blue print for an ideal social organization. Caste system symbolizes an attempt to institutionalize that ideal. Like many other ideals. Varna ideal was based on sound psychological principles. But when it was put into actual practice the lofty ideal gradually became blurred and the caste system was reduced to a caricature of the noble principles of Verna ideal and the laudable ideal of mutual cooperation was transformed into mutual recrimination. Economic interests of different sections of the society brought forth all the evils of the caste system. Varna system insisted on duties (dharma). But over the times privileged sections laid emphasis on their rights ignoring their duties.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
Hindu (906)
Agriculture (121)
Ancient (1084)
Archaeology (766)
Architecture (550)
Art & Culture (907)
Biography (703)
Buddhist (522)
Cookery (169)
Emperor & Queen (533)
Islam (221)
Jainism (309)
Literary (841)
Mahatma Gandhi (369)
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