Table of Contents

Foreword: Essentials of Hinduism
By Pujya Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha Maharaj

Introduction: The Scientific Vision of the Rishis

1 The Rishis
Spiritual Scientists at the Dawn of Time

2 The Vedas
Royal Road to Knowledge

3 Brahman and Atman
The Wave Is the Ocean

4 The Upanishads
Revelations of Timeless Truth

5 The Puranas and Itihasas
Legendary Sources of History, Psychology, and Science

6 Bhakti
The Science of Devotion

7 Karma
The Science of Action

8 The World of Maya
Reality Is Not What We Think It Is

9 Desha and Kaala
Exploring Space and Time

10 Vedic Astronomy, Astrology, and Mathematics
From the Speed of Light to Leaves on a Tree

11 Scientists of Hinduism
Revealers of the Secrets of Creation

12 Mantras and Yantras
The Power of Sounds and Symbols

13 The Goals of Sanatana Dharma
Experiential Science of Truth, Goodness, and Peace

Appendix: Poems to India

Glossary of Sanskrit Terms

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Mataji Devi Vanamali has written 8 books on the gods of the Hindu pantheon, including Shakti, Hanuman, Shiva, The Complete Life of Krishna, and The Complete Life of Rama, as well as translating the Bhagavad Gita. She is the founder and president of Vanamali Gita Yoga Ashram Trust, dedicated to sharing the wisdom of Sanatana Dharma and charitable service to children. She lives at the Vanamali ashram in Rishikesh, northern India.

Reviews

“The Science of the Rishis is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of this ancient religion. Vanamali beautifully simplifies Hinduism’s complex concepts and treatises into digestible chapters that offer something new for both the expert and the uninitiated.”
*Nitya Menon, first secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Washington, D.C.*

“Vanamali’s writing is a Pancajanya,inviting all bharatas to bask in the luminous wisdom of their venerable heritage. Mataji’s writing is a divinely inspired, ecstatic pilgrimage to the feet of India’s great rishis. Vanamali passionately illuminates the rishis liberating revelations as the Himalayan summit of human consciousness, with an unparalleled power to transform men and women into gods and goddesses!”
*Bruce Burger, founder of Heartwood Institute and author of Esoteric Anatomy: The Body as Consciousne*

“The Science of the Rishis is informative, inspirational, and a compelling read. I would recommend it to any serious student of Hinduism as well as a casual reader who is trying to broaden his knowledge.”
*Gopinath Pillai, ambassador at large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore*

“Vanamali is an outstanding teacher of Vedanta and an eminent scholar having dedicated her entire life for the cause of Sanatana Dharma. The book is a treasure for posterity.”
*Rama Narayanan, private secretary to chairman, Public Accounts Committee Parliament of India*

”It’s not often that you read about Newton’s third law of motion and karma in the same book. But for Hindu contemplative Vanamali the two are intimately related. … she makes a passionate, and sometimes lyrical, case for the connections between ancient Indian wisdom and contemporary scholarship…“
*Publishers Weekly, January 2015*