Mountains of the God : Spiritual Ecology of Himalayan Region (2 Vols-Set)

Contents: Vol. I. Spiritual Ecology Include Daama Rituals and Customs: Introduction. 1. Himalayan region. 2. Temples and culture. 3. Badrinath: The Dhaam in the Himalayas. 4. Badrinarayan Temple. 5. Kedarnath-Gangotri-Yamunotri. 6. Garhwal landscape and Pilgrim\'s progress. 7. Going on a Tirtha. 8. Vishnu and his Dhaams. 9. Religion--The Wonder World of Khasas. 10. Gods and Goddesses of Kumaon. 11. Nepal and the Gorkhas. 12. Residence and ritual in the Garhwal Himalaya. 13. Culture and traditions of Himachal. 14. Fairs, festivals, rituals and temples in Western Himalayas. Index.

Vol. II. Spiritual Ecology of Monasteries and Gompas: Introduction. 1. Temples and monasteries. 2. Lamaism and the Monks: Institutions, temples and monuments. 3. Monastic institutions and priesthood. 4. Lamaism in Sikkim. 5. Monasteries in Sikkim: a geographical study. 6. Monasteries of Sikkim with specific reference to the economic structure. 7. Realms of spiritual ecology in Sikkim. 8. Tantric Buddhism. Index.

"This book presents a new vista to the Himalayan religions--Brahmanical as well as non-Brahmanical and primitive. Most of the pre-historic primitive religions, however, are adopting nowadays Brahmanical religious practices in order to climb up the social ladder. The book reveals that the Himalayan Temples are serve to preserve and protect the culture of the social segments concerned. But large shrines like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri have power of influencing the non-Brahmanical and primitive culture, and set pace for a new cultural trend, besides the religious trends.

Hindu and Mahayana Buddhist Philosophies followed in the Himalayan region, offer much to ponder on the spiritual and metaphysical connections between human and nature. The Buddhist \'Monasteries\' and \'Gompas\' in the Himalayas, and Tibet include the erstwhile cave-hermitages, the \'hlakkangs\' or \'small temples\' and conglomerations of temples. The building sites for \'Gompas\' and \'Monasteries\' are selected with great care, with due considerations to auguries and omens. Prayer wheels and prayer flags are duly placed and erected, and differentiated on the basis of their colour patterns. A number of legends are associated with the monasteries and Gompas. The volume addresses about secrets in detail." (jacket)