The Essence of Indian Culture
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A fascinating study of how Indian culture, which is still a living factor in the life of nearly one-seventh of the human race, arose nearly five thousand years ago, how it developed and was enriched in subsequent centuries, and finally, how it has come down to us as a rich human legacy.
Published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India.
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The Essence of Indian Culture - Swami Ranganathananda
The Essence of
INDIAN CULTURE
SWAMI RANGANATHANANDA
(PUBLICATION HOUSE OF RAMAKRISHNA MATH )
5 DEHI ENTALLY ROAD • KOLKATA 700 014
Published by
The Adhyaksha
Advaita Ashrama
P.O. Mayavati, Dt. Champawat
Uttarakhand -262524, India
from its Publication Department, Kolkata
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.advaitaashrama.org
© All Rights Reserved
First Edition published from Ramakrishna Mission Instiuttute of Culture, February 1965
Second Edition published from Advaita Ashrama, February 1990
Third Edition, February 2011
Third Reprint, December 2018
First Ebook Edition, January 2021
ISBN 978-81-7505-aaa-a (Paperback)
CONTENTS
Publisher’s Note
The Essence Of Indian Culture
Indian Culture: A Historic Panorama
The Vedic Weltanschauung
The Mind And Mood Of The Indo-aryans
The Philosophic Legacy Of The Indo-aryans
The Upanishads And Modern Scientific Thought
The Challenge Of The Mystery Of Man
Man: The Central Mystery Of The Universe
The Charm Of The Upanishads
The Upanishads And Indian Culture
India Versus Greece
Manliness Versus Godliness
Their Synthesis In The Gita
The Path To Godliness
India And The Lure Of Godliness
The Spiritual Direction Of Indian Culture
The Aesthetic Component Of Indian Culture
Tolerance And Universal Acceptance
India’s Welcome To Cultural And Religious Refugees
Assimilation And Synthesis
The Modern Renaissance Of Indian Culture
The Future Of Indian Culture
Swami Vivekananda On India’s Gift To The World
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
T HIS BOOK reproduces a lecture Swami Ranganathanandaji gave at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta, in December 1964, which was published in the February 1965 issue of the Institute’s BULLETIN. Earlier, it also formed the theme of a lecture he gave to a distinguished audience at the India International Centre, New Delhi, in September 1963.
We are beholden to the authorities of the Institute for granting us permission to print this booklet. It is our earnest hope that this will be warmly received by the lovers of Indian culture.
PUBLISHER
15 September 1990
Advaita Ashrama
Mayavati, Himalayas
The Essence of
INDIAN CULTURE
T HE SUBJECT of Indian culture is a theme difficult to expound in the course of a short talk. The long history of this culture, its different expressions, and its rich variety make it difficult to deal with it in the course of a few minutes. The subject is interesting for a special reason. Every ancient culture holds some interest for all of us; but when the culture is a continuing culture, that interest becomes much more contemporary, much more topical. In the case of the study of ancient cultures like the Babylonian or the Egyptian, or even the ancient Greek, we study them more from a historical point of view, just to enrich ourselves from the experiences of the past. But the study of Indian culture is of special significance to us, because it is still a living factor in the life of nearly one-seventh of the human race. How this culture arose nearly five thousand years ago, how it developed and was enriched in subsequent centuries, and finally, how it has come down to us as a rich human legacy is therefore a very fascinating and rewarding study.
INDIAN CULTURE:
A HISTORIC PANORAMA
‘Nothing should