What do you think?
Rate this book
The Word as Revelation: Names of Gods
English
210
About the Book
There are two opposing views about language, both advanced by distinguished thinkers. One view holds that a language is external to objects and thoughts; the otherview regards it as fundamental to them. In what sense or senses are these views true? Can they be reconciled?
Language has not merely expressed man's fears; it has also expressed his sense of mystery. Again and again, man has sung of Gods and Divine Life and his idea of the Good and the Beautiful in sublime speech. This sublime speech, these inspired words, he has treasured as his veritable heritage, his Vedas. But in the passage of time, man's thought-habits and speech-mores change and the inspired words become difficult to understand. Can a study of language help us to recapture the meanings of older scriptures? Can this study help us to understand the deeper life' of man, his vision of Gods and the Good? Can this study throw some light on religious consciousness in general and the cherished old scriptures in particular? For example, can we understand the mentality of the seers of the Vedas- humanity's oldest extant scripture-by studying their language? Or can we understand the import of their language by entering into the state of their mind?
The book studies human speech in its relation to man's deeper psyche and religious consciousness. It adds a new dimension to the science of Semantics by showing how physical meanings of a word become sensuous meanings, become concepts and ideas, become names of the powers of the psyche, become Names of Gods, depending upon the organ of mind-indriya, manas, buddhi, -which is using that word as also on the level of purity- bhumi-of the organ concerned.
Next, by applying this method of unlocking the highest and the most secret meaning
210
About the Book
There are two opposing views about language, both advanced by distinguished thinkers. One view holds that a language is external to objects and thoughts; the otherview regards it as fundamental to them. In what sense or senses are these views true? Can they be reconciled?
Language has not merely expressed man's fears; it has also expressed his sense of mystery. Again and again, man has sung of Gods and Divine Life and his idea of the Good and the Beautiful in sublime speech. This sublime speech, these inspired words, he has treasured as his veritable heritage, his Vedas. But in the passage of time, man's thought-habits and speech-mores change and the inspired words become difficult to understand. Can a study of language help us to recapture the meanings of older scriptures? Can this study help us to understand the deeper life' of man, his vision of Gods and the Good? Can this study throw some light on religious consciousness in general and the cherished old scriptures in particular? For example, can we understand the mentality of the seers of the Vedas- humanity's oldest extant scripture-by studying their language? Or can we understand the import of their language by entering into the state of their mind?
The book studies human speech in its relation to man's deeper psyche and religious consciousness. It adds a new dimension to the science of Semantics by showing how physical meanings of a word become sensuous meanings, become concepts and ideas, become names of the powers of the psyche, become Names of Gods, depending upon the organ of mind-indriya, manas, buddhi, -which is using that word as also on the level of purity- bhumi-of the organ concerned.
Next, by applying this method of unlocking the highest and the most secret meaning
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
5 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Ram Swarup
34 books85 followersRam Swarup (राम स्वरूप)(1920 – 26 December 1998), born Ram Swarup Agarwal, was an independent Hindu thinker and prolific author. His works took a critical stance against Christianity, Islam and Communism. His work has influenced other Indian writers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 5, 2019
Thought provoking book. Starts with language and etymology, then passes into psychology, philosophy, theology, yoga, meditation and finally the nature of reality. One of my top 3 reads this year.
November 4, 2021
Perhaps acharya Ram Swarup’s best book on Hinduism. Word as revelation tries to explain the process of self discovery of deities and the meaning of mantras as the self/atman is purified.
It is at times a description of perhaps an direct experiential truth but the the author put it in language accessible to most.
It is at times a description of perhaps an direct experiential truth but the the author put it in language accessible to most.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews