Below is an easy-to-browse gallery
of books that cater to those who are interested in visiting India or learning
more about its ancient past. The majority of descriptions below are by independent
editors. Feel free to purchase these books directly from Amazon.com!
Ancient
Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization :
This lavishly illustrated book presents a coherent and fascinating account of
the Indus Valley civilization that will appeal to specialists and non-specialists
alike. Kenoyer draws on the latest archaeological information from Harappa, Mohenjodaro,
Dholavira, and other major sites as well as on his considerable knowledge of South
Asian societies and ancient technologies.
He addresses such enduring topics
as the nature and role of the Indus writing system, the Indus religino as evidenced
through sculpture and architecture, the political organization of Indus city-states,
long-distance trade and the importance of merchants in Indus society, and the
daily life of the diverse inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages of the
region.
The Ajanta Caves: Ancient Paintings of Buddhist India :
The ancient caves of Ajanta in western India, rediscovered by British soldiers
in 1819, are the only known examples of Buddhist carvings and paintings from an
epoch of extraordinary vitality. The earliest of the 31 designed caves along the
Waghora River date from the second century B.C., when the first Buddhists forbade
representation of the Buddha himself, leaving artists free to employ a lexicon
of symbolic figures. Six centuries later, the most splendidly realized of the
caves were created to express the visions of the Mahayana order.
Here the
Buddha is lovingly portrayed seated, and the story of his life is depicted in
sensuous detail. As adept a commentator as he is a photographer, Behl provides
fascinating explanations of the techniques used to carve the animated reliefs
and paint the richly detailed murals. He writes, "It is the life of the spirit
rather than that of worldly existence which pervades these paintings," and,
indeed, their contemplative beauty inspires a joy not unlike a foretaste of the
purported ecstasy of enlightenment. Donna Seaman.
Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar traces the history of the pillar located in the
Qutub Complex and describes its structure in detail. It unravels the mystery behind
the resistance of the pillar to corrosion for more than sixteen centuries. It
also discusses the amazing process by which the pillar was manufactured using
the technical know-how available at the time.
The book is primarily aimed
at general readers and tourists, with a view to igniting their interest in this
metallurgical wonder of ancient India. Written in simple language and a lucid
style, it carries numerous photographs and elaborate figures to enhance the discussion.
Vedic Astrology Simply Put: An Illustrated Guide to the Astrology
of Ancient India :
Vedic Astrology Simply Put is a colorful, fun, and simplified entry into the mysterious
and captivating world of Vedic Astrology, called Jyotish in India. William R.
Levacy, an astrologer with more than two decades of experience, offers beautifully
rendered illustrations and text to ease your understanding of this ancient system
of behavior and trend analysis. This book gives you straightforward guidance on:
-
How to decipher the myths and origins of Vedic astrology
- How Vedic
astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology
- The Vedic style
of interpreting the Sun, Moon, planets...
The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture: The Indo-Aryan Migration
Debate :
"A balanced description and evaluation of the two century old debate dealing
with the origins of the Indo-Aryan speaking peoples of South Asia. [Bryant] presents
both sides of the issue, that is the traditional western, linguistic, and philological
consensus of immigration from Central Asia, and the more recent Indian position
that denies any immigration and that asserts an indigenous South Asian origin.
He probes for loopholes on both sides of the argument and presents the multi-faceted
evidence from linguistics, archaeology, texts, etc. in an even-handed manner.
As such, the book not only is an important and very welcome introduction into
recent Indian historical thought but also a valuable heuristic tool in re-evaluating
many of the unspoken or un-reflected presuppositions on both sides."--Michael
Witzel, Harvard University.
Temple
Consecration Rituals in Ancient India: Text and Archaeology :
As in various other cultures, in the Hindu tradition of the Indian Subcontinent
construction rituals accompany the construction of a temple, from the moment of
choosing the suitable building site, right to the completion of the entire project.
Numerous descriptions in Sanskrit texts on ritual and architecture describe in
detail these building consecration ceremonies and reflect the importance attached
to these rituals.
Surprisingly, this topic has so far not received the
attention it deserves given its essential role. Basing herself on both the Sanskrit
texts, as well as the archaeological finds, Anna A. in this thorough study provides
readers with a comprehensive view of the three main temple construction rituals
in the Hindu tradition of South and Southeast Asia.
This lavishly illustrated book presents a coherent and fascinating account of
the Indus Valley civilization that will appeal to specialists and non-specialists
alike. Kenoyer draws on the latest archaeological information from Harappa, Mohenjodaro,
Dholavira, and other major sites as well as on his considerable knowledge of South
Asian societies and ancient technologies. 
The ancient caves of Ajanta in western India, rediscovered by British soldiers
in 1819, are the only known examples of Buddhist carvings and paintings from an
epoch of extraordinary vitality. The earliest of the 31 designed caves along the
Waghora River date from the second century B.C., when the first Buddhists forbade
representation of the Buddha himself, leaving artists free to employ a lexicon
of symbolic figures. Six centuries later, the most splendidly realized of the
caves were created to express the visions of the Mahayana order. 
Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar traces the history of the pillar located in the
Qutub Complex and describes its structure in detail. It unravels the mystery behind
the resistance of the pillar to corrosion for more than sixteen centuries. It
also discusses the amazing process by which the pillar was manufactured using
the technical know-how available at the time. 
Vedic Astrology Simply Put is a colorful, fun, and simplified entry into the mysterious
and captivating world of Vedic Astrology, called Jyotish in India. William R.
Levacy, an astrologer with more than two decades of experience, offers beautifully
rendered illustrations and text to ease your understanding of this ancient system
of behavior and trend analysis. This book gives you straightforward guidance on:
"A balanced description and evaluation of the two century old debate dealing
with the origins of the Indo-Aryan speaking peoples of South Asia. [Bryant] presents
both sides of the issue, that is the traditional western, linguistic, and philological
consensus of immigration from Central Asia, and the more recent Indian position
that denies any immigration and that asserts an indigenous South Asian origin.
As in various other cultures, in the Hindu tradition of the Indian Subcontinent
construction rituals accompany the construction of a temple, from the moment of
choosing the suitable building site, right to the completion of the entire project.
Numerous descriptions in Sanskrit texts on ritual and architecture describe in
detail these building consecration ceremonies and reflect the importance attached
to these rituals.
