Antiquities of Vedas and Upanishads

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About the Book Antiquities of Vedas and Upanishads attempts to fathoms Life and Times in the Vedic period. It explains 'Beginning of the Universe' as theorized in Vedas, and its progress in the period of 17 Manus, Role of Devas and Yajna in the life of Vedic Aryans, Law of Customary Inheritance, Condition of woman, Gotra and Parvara, Upanayana ceremony and Pitra Yajna and System of Medicine.

It explains how various dynasties which originated from the first King Vaivasta, Battles and Weapons, Dan and Dakshana given by various Kings to the Rishies and Dan Stutis by Rishies. It also attempts to explain concept of Salvation - Jeevan Mukta, methods and procedure for attaining the same as detailed in various Upanishads.

About the Book A. S. Sidhu was born in 1943 in Punjab, India. He did post-graduation in Economics, and thereafter Diploma in International Marketing. After appearing combined Civil Services Examination, he joined Indian Revenue Services (Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax) in the year 1969. During his career, he served in different capacities. On promotion as Commissioner, he worked at Ahmadabad, Jamshedpur, Mumbai and Aurangabad. On further promotion he was posted Director General Central Excise Intelligence at New Delhi. For meritorious and distinguished service in the Revenue Department he was given, President Award.

Preface There is sufficient justification to study life and times as reflected in ancient: classics. Need remains, even if there is already literature on the subject. There is always curiosity to know, as to, what were the impulses, which forced them to express as they did? Was it race, language, religion or geographical condition? May be economic necessities were more prominent. Why the relation between different classes of Aryans changed over a period? These questions and others still required to be examined by different persons through different angles.

The basis of this book is four Vedas and eighteen Upanisads. It attempts to explain life and times as expressed in these classics.

The reason for including extracts of very large number of suktas of Vedas as a part of the book is to enable the reader to have first hand idea of Vedic age. After reading Vedas, at least twenty five times, .both in Hindi and English I found that texts are not wholly Brahminical. Kshatriyas wrote a very substantial part of it and presence of Vaishya can be felt. Many Kings have contributed to Vedas, so also to the Upanisads as composer of a sukta or part of it. Ajatshatru - a king had a better understanding of Brahmana-Absolute. Similarly, a Panchal king - Pravahana laivali, expounded the idea of transmigration of soul. King lanaka of Mithalla contributed through discussion on many subject dealt in Upanisads. A myth propagating that all development in science and technology can be traced back to Vedas is unacceptable on facts. For Example, a simple mechanism of pelting stone on the wall of a fort to breach it cannot be interpreted as a missile system. Can a four-wheel vehicle (bullock cart) be compared to BMW. Even otherwise, it cannot be said with certainty as to who invented a wheel.

**Contents and Sample Pages**