Traditions Of The Seven Rsis
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the dawn of Hindu cosmology, seven celestial sages — the Saptarṣis — stand as the primordial patriarchs of Vedic civilisation, their origins woven through millennia of sacred scripture, astronomical lore, and mythological tradition. Traditions of the Seven Ṛṣis by John E. Mitchiner presents an exhaustive and meticulously researched investigation into the complex, often contradictory, traditions surrounding these seven great sages, tracing their appearances across a vast corpus of Sanskrit texts — from the Rigveda and the Brāhmaṇas to the Purāṇas and the great epics. Mitchiner chronicles the shifting identities of the Saptarṣis across different textual traditions, arguing that these variations reflect the dynamic evolution of Brahmanical thought across centuries. The work also details the sages' intimate connection to the constellation Ursa Major, known in Sanskrit astronomical tradition as the Saptarṣi Maṇḍala, illuminating the profound intersection of mythology, theology, and early Indian science. A landmark work in the field of Indological scholarship, this volume illustrates the enduring cultural and religious significance of the ṛṣi tradition in shaping the foundations of Hindu thought. Mitchiner's analytical rigour is matched by his command of primary Sanskrit sources, making this an indispensable reference for scholars of South Asian religion, mythology, and ancient history. Published by the venerable Motilal Banarsidass — a cornerstone of Oriental studies publishing — the text carries the weight of serious academic authority. For anyone drawn to the intersection of myth, cosmology, and the sacred traditions of ancient India, this work promises revelations that reach far beyond the merely historical.
Author: John E. Mitchiner
Format: Paperback
Genre: Religion
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the dawn of Hindu cosmology, seven celestial sages — the Saptarṣis — stand as the primordial patriarchs of Vedic civilisation, their origins woven through millennia of sacred scripture, astronomical lore, and mythological tradition. Traditions of the Seven Ṛṣis by John E. Mitchiner presents an exhaustive and meticulously researched investigation into the complex, often contradictory, traditions surrounding these seven great sages, tracing their appearances across a vast corpus of Sanskrit texts — from the Rigveda and the Brāhmaṇas to the Purāṇas and the great epics. Mitchiner chronicles the shifting identities of the Saptarṣis across different textual traditions, arguing that these variations reflect the dynamic evolution of Brahmanical thought across centuries. The work also details the sages' intimate connection to the constellation Ursa Major, known in Sanskrit astronomical tradition as the Saptarṣi Maṇḍala, illuminating the profound intersection of mythology, theology, and early Indian science. A landmark work in the field of Indological scholarship, this volume illustrates the enduring cultural and religious significance of the ṛṣi tradition in shaping the foundations of Hindu thought. Mitchiner's analytical rigour is matched by his command of primary Sanskrit sources, making this an indispensable reference for scholars of South Asian religion, mythology, and ancient history. Published by the venerable Motilal Banarsidass — a cornerstone of Oriental studies publishing — the text carries the weight of serious academic authority. For anyone drawn to the intersection of myth, cosmology, and the sacred traditions of ancient India, this work promises revelations that reach far beyond the merely historical.