9789382993889

NEW NEW NEW NEW Size : 150mm x 230mm • Pages : vi+322pp

• Year : 2014 • Binding : Hardback • ISBN : 9789382993889 • Price ` 895.00 only

Fate and Fortune in the Indian Scriptures Sukumari Bhattacharji Sukumari Bhattacharji is an eminent Indian Sanskritist. She was a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge in 1966–67, and Professor of English and Sanskrit at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Professor Bhattacharji retired from service in 1986.

Fate and Fortune in the Indian Scriptures

Vedic literature, Ramayana, Mahabharata to Buddhist and Jain texts, Bible and other old western texts to establish her erudite findings.

Sukumari Bhattacharji

Introduction

Fatalism is a philosophical doctrine which states that an individual does not have full control over the events that happen in his life. There is no trace of fatalism in the early Indian literature—Samhitas, Brahmanas and Upanisads; it surged in the succeeding period.

This book argues that the predominance of the priestly class after the revival of Brahminism, as an aftermath of the decline of Buddhism, ushered in conspicuous changes in people’s attitude to life. The new modifications helped to entrench fate as a formidable force. It explains that the natural factors which led to the rise of fatalism were observation of the inexorability of death. The author has referred to a splendid array of scriptures ranging from the early and late

CONTENTS Preface Chapter 1. Inception Chapter 2. Rebirth and transmigration Chapter 3. Karman and its consequences Chapter 4. Karman, fate and free will Chapter 5. Fate, eschatology and liberation Chapter 6. Premonitions and presages Chapter 7. Deflection: Remedial measures Chapter 8. Vicarious deflection Chapter 9. Fate and human endeavour Bibliography Index Foundation Books is an imprint of Cambridge University Press, India.

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04/2014