Aadhyatmikta : Explorations into Hindu Spiritual Practices

These days, I am reading books related to spirituality, philosophy, yogic practices and Hinduism. 

            In the series, recently, I have completed Aadhyatmikta : Explorations into Hindu Spiritual Practices written by Rajarshi Ranjan Nandy. The book has been published by Bluprint in 2023.

  

            The book is divided into two parts. In part one, the author has discussed the general concepts relating to Sanatan dharma like reforms, sadhana, difference between experience and realisation, Purush and Prakrati. In the part two, the author has developed into different aspects of this and Devi‘s which are in Sanatan Dharma, which includes some of very famous forms of Shakti like Chinnamasta, Kubjika, Bhairavi. Amongst Devta’s he has discussed Ganesh, Shiv, Hanuman, Garuda which introduces you to their puja padhatti. The glossary contains meaning of the words used in the book and otherwise in the common parlance in Hinduism. 

            In Chapter 1, "Are Indians naturally spiritual?", the author takes que from chapter 2 of Bhagwat Gita in which Shri Krishna explains the traits of an spiritual man as the one who is not moved by the sensory indulgence and controls external provocations.  

                In Chapter 2, "Rituals, Reforms, Orthodoxy, Orthopraxy", the author has discussed these aspects with respect to Sanatan Dharma and why one has to follow Sadhana Dharma, Sadhana Shastra for proper following of rituals. In this chapter, for first time I've read the word orthopraxy, which is technically opposite to orthodoxy, which is generally used in the context of Sanatan Dharma. The author says that orthopraxy need of the hour for better understanding of Hindu Dharma and its evolving nature.

Chapter 3 titled Dharma and Adhyatma, the author does that the destruction of ego is the biggest achievement towards spiritual path. He also mentions that there are eight chains that bind the consciousness and these eight chains have to be broken, which are aversion, shame, suspicion, pity, hate, family, character, and community. In the chapter titled "Rituals versus Gyan", the author delves on the debate of ritualism versus gyan. It is a very important chapter and the author has dealt in a comprehensive manner. The author has tried to replied opt asked question,

"What is ritual?" 

"Any set of coordinated actions which bring a sense of meaning purpose, energy, and direction to the spiritual life can be called a ritual. These rituals when done with understanding and comprehension and faith in the deity and the guru produce a change in the inner nature of the Sadhak." 

            In the part two, different gods and goddess are discussed, particularly in chapter 12, the author writes that the research of N.N. Bhattacharya in his book “History of the Tantric Religion” points about similarity of Goddess Tara with Astarte or Ishtar of Akkadian Sumer civilisation in ancient Mesopotamia. Further it spread to China, Tibetans, South Asia. 

He mentioned one powerful prayer for Goddess Kali as:

"कलौ काली कलौ काली कलौ काली वरप्रदा 

कलौ काली कलौ काली कलौ काली तू केवला"

            The book is a good compilation and gives a crash course in essential concepts of Sanatan Dharma and pooja paddhati for certain Gods. There is nothing unique or new in the book except for the fact that it is  a easy read on the topic and written by a sadhak who knows the limitation of followers of Hindu Dharma in understanding certan concepts as most of the person are followers into their family tradition and have less knowledge on the conceptual level.