Under the general title ‘The World of the Vedic Life & Culture’ introduces the reader to the wonderful socio-religious conspectus of a civilization that flourished in India over 4000 years ago. It is no wooden translation of Sanskrit verses, but is a sparkling compilation of the Vedic hymns transcreated into modern English, and that, too in English verse-patern-free verse and rhymed-a feat so far hardly attempted on such a wide scale. The metres of Sanskrit verses have not been rendered word for word, for the genius of English phonology works differently. What this vast transcreation done is to transmute the Vedic symbols, images and phrases into current English communicating the flavour, structure and meaning of an ancient tongue which was resonant with cultural mores stemming from spiritual perception. The meanings of Vedic hymns operate on three levels: ‘natural’ (what the physical eye sees), ‘mystical’ (what the meaning is that lurks behind the phrase) and ‘Spiritual’ what the real vision is that gave the Rsi or Vedic the real vision is that gave the Rsi or Vedic sage the power of uttering those sublime experiences that inhere deep intuitive perceptions. This work has attempted a commentary verse-wise in most of the hymns taking the reader into the heart of the hymn which in fact is a beautiful poem. The commentary blends the method of a literary appreciation with that of a philosophical disquisition, thus metaphysics becomes sweet in the embrace of aesthetics. This volume One ‘The World of Vedic Life and Culture’ of the series on the general title ‘The World of the Vedic-Life and Culture’ is aimed at the general reader as well as the specialist; a general awakening of interest in the culture of an ancient Society as the Vedic is growing in the Eastern country as well as the Western. A fresh translation which in fact is a transcreation in current English moulds will go a long way towards fulfilling the widely felt need.
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