Wonderfully well researched . . . engrossing, enlightening' The Hindu The Delhi Sultanate period (1206-1526) is commonly portrayed as an age of chaos and violence-of plundering kings, turbulent dynasties, and the aggressive imposition of Islam on India. But it was also the era that saw the creation of a pan-Indian empire, on the foundations of which the Mughals and the British later built their own Indian empires. The encounter between Islam and Hinduism also transformed, among other things, India's architecture, literature, music and food. Abraham Eraly brings this fascinating period vividly alive, combining erudition with powerful storytelling, and analysis with anecdote.

The issues discussed in the essays pertain to various aspects of Indian culture. Analysis of the Vedic pantheon is juxtaposed with comparative approach to Indian mythology Examination of different historical and textual layers of vedic exegesis is enriched by reflection on sanskrit epics and Puranas. Insightful pursuance of various semantic development combined with Bhartrhari`s philosophy of language and complexities and are interwoven with on the one hand the question of reationality and philosophic discourse as reflected on Indian dialectical traditiona Ganeri, Shoryu katsura, Ernst Prets and the vedantic hermeneutics and with on the other the issue of individual freedom against the soteriological background.

On the intellectual level, Indian philosophy is logical, rational and proceeds on the same kinds of axioms as western philosophy. Shankara was one of the most subtle of Indian philosophers. The reader will find some reasoning worthy of his steel in the following pages. Perhaps, the most helpful thing that can be said is that the reader who wants to get the best out of Shankara should approach him with cool, open and constructively critical mind.

The tradition of the Himalayan sages that exists today is an unbroken chain that extends for more than 5,000 years. Undisturbed by the passage of time, this traditionis not concerned with teachings that apply only to a particular era of history or geographical region of the world--its entire emphasis is on the experience of the universal truth of who we are. The Himalayan Masters: A Living Tradition explores the lives and teachings of eight prominent sages of this timeless tradition--men who knew how to be successful in daily life while experiencing the innermost truths of life here and hereafter. Pandit Tigunait brings the experiences and teachings of these great masters to life, with practical insights into how to discover and understand life's richest secrets for ourselves. Purchase your copy of The Himalayan Masters: A Living Tradition and discover the perennial wisdom of the Himalayan sages.