Quintessence of Hinduism Fundamentals of Faith and Morals (Based on Studies in the Gita)

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The author, aged about 90, has spent his life as a dedicated research professional. He retired from the Deptt. Of Sanskrit of the Lucknow University, as a UGC Research Scientist in the year 1998. Subsequently he continued his Research Work as a fellow of 1.C.P.R. New Delhi. His field of specialization is Indian Philosophy and Hinduism. In his view, the Gita is a text of theology and not a handbook of Vedänta as the tradition holds. His commentary on the Gită which brings out its credential as a representative text of Hinduism, has been hailed as a landmark contribution.

He has contributed more than 200 research papers and authored half a dozen books as follows: "The Concept of Self-Luminosity of Knowledge in Advaita Vedanta", "Re-Visiting Säkuntalam- A Commentary on Goethe's Šakuntala Epigram", "Srimadbhagavadgītā-dharma-darsana-bhäşyam," in four volumes.

"The experience of meeting Paramahansa Yogananda is etched in my memory as one of the unforgettable events of my life.... AI looked into his face, my eyes were almost dazzled by a radiance a light of spirituality that literally shone from bim. His infinite gentleness, bis gracious kindliness, enveloped me like warm sunsbine..... I could see that bis understanding and insight extended to the most mundane of problems, even though he was a man of Spirit. In bim I found a true ambassador of India, carrying and spreading the essence of India's ancient wisdom to the world."

To those who were personally acquainted with Paramahansa Yogananda, his own life and being were convincing testimony to the power and authenticity of the ancient wisdom he presented to the world. Countless readers of his autobiography have attested to the presence in its pages of that same light of spiritual authority that radiated from his person. Hailed as a masterpiece when it first appeared in print more than sixty years ago, the book set forth not only the story of a life of unmistakable greatness but a fascinating introduction to the spiritual thought of the East-especially its unique science of direct personal communion with God-opening up to the Western public a realm of knowledge hitherto accessible only to a few.

If some one asks me to suggest an authoritataive handbookp of hindu philosophy of faith and morality, I shall suggest without a moment's reflection the 3rd chapter of the Srimad-bhagavadgita. It is a handbook at once concise and comprehensive, ingeniously rediscovering and yet authoritative as the word of God himself: ya swayam padmanabhashya mukhopadmadvinisrta.