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India: What can it teach us?
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1882
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About the author
F. Max Müller
1,554 books133 followersFriedrich Max Müller, K.M. (Ph.D., Philology, Leipzig University, 1843)—generally known as Max Müller or F. Max Müller—was the first Professor of Comparative Philology at Oxford University, and an Orientalist who lived and studied in Britain for most of his life. He was one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion. Müller wrote both scholarly and popular works on the subject of Indology and the Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume set of English translations, was prepared under his direction.
Müller became a naturalized British citizen in 1855. In 1869, he was elected to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres as a foreign correspondent. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite (civil class) in 1874, and the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art the following year. In 1888, he was appointed Gifford Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, delivering the first in what has proved to be an ongoing, annual series of lectures at several Scottish universities to the present day. He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1896.
His wife, Georgina Adelaide Müller was also an author. After Max's death, she deposited his papers at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
Müller became a naturalized British citizen in 1855. In 1869, he was elected to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres as a foreign correspondent. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite (civil class) in 1874, and the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art the following year. In 1888, he was appointed Gifford Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, delivering the first in what has proved to be an ongoing, annual series of lectures at several Scottish universities to the present day. He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1896.
His wife, Georgina Adelaide Müller was also an author. After Max's death, she deposited his papers at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 28, 2021
This was a text book read for some one who is interested to know the historical perspective on India. Especially from someone who dedicated their life to discover the India that was lost among Indians themselves.
At present we are still in the process in rediscovering our roots and some are fighting to keep the essence alive.
Emphasis on the knowledge of Sanskrit has been core throughout Max's lecture. Reading him I feel insecure; as to how much is inaccessible to our generation who in majority depend on English translations. Food for thought.
At present we are still in the process in rediscovering our roots and some are fighting to keep the essence alive.
Emphasis on the knowledge of Sanskrit has been core throughout Max's lecture. Reading him I feel insecure; as to how much is inaccessible to our generation who in majority depend on English translations. Food for thought.
August 24, 2020
A must read for every Indian. in this time when people across are becoming restless about the deteriorating social fabric in India, and when on one end I see more and more people adopting western culture, it is so heartening to see how passionate a non-Indian was about India, its history and his people. this book has surely given legs to my "stay in India" belief.
November 2, 2021
Praise is the most powerful weapon.
When someone praises you, you have no counter arguments. And if you go into self-deprecating mode finding faults or even mundaneness in your own act, it would be considered your humility and you will be showered with some more praise.
Basically, you are defenseless against praise.
That's happen when you read this book.
Max Muller has provided such an elaborate eulogy to India, her culture, her tradition, her history, her religion, her literature, her philosophy, her people, that you might a) blush in humility, b) feel immensely proud of your ancestry, c) admire his depth of research and knowledge d) praise him and finally, e) get angry with the intellectuals of your own nation who are always finding fault in your religion and country unlike these erudite outsiders.
This book contains the lectures delivered by the German Scholar of Indic and Vedic literature Max Muller, to Indian Civil Service officers of Colonial Britain at the University of Cambridge in 1882, before they were commissioned on administrative assignments in British India.
From the tone, it appears that there were lots of misconceptions about India that was prevailing in then Britain which had the potential to prejudice the would-be civil servants, like ancient Indian civilization was not par with the Phoenician or Persian ones, polity and literature of India fell far short of Greek or Roman counterparts, Indians are bunch of dishonest and lazy liars, Sanskrit literature had no value, polytheistic religion of Hinduism is ridiculously unscientific and illogical, etc etc.
Max Muller was there to bust all those myths, and prove all those to their contrary, as Vedic civilization was far superior than its contemporaries, Hinduism is the most logical and scientific religion that was out there, and most importantly the character of Indians are as honest if not more than any of the Europeans.
With many examples from the ancient scriptures, and excerpts from the writings of European scholars Muller had tried his best to motivate the civil servants to treat their work assignment with dignity and sense of opportunity. He urged everyone to learn sanskrit and get themselves acquainted with ancient Indian literature, religious or otherwise, to gain understanding about the history, humanity and world in general.
I maintain then that for a study of man, or, if you like, for a study of Aryan humanity, there is nothing in the world equal in importance with the Veda. I maintain that to everybody who cares for himself, for his ancestors, for his history, or for his intellectual development, a study of Vedic literature is indispensable; and that, as an element of liberal education, it is far more important and far more improving than the reigns of Babylonian and Persian kings.
Only thing that made me chuckle was when Muller talked about the characters of Hindus as being naturally truthful or honest, having never been to India himself, and basing his entire judgement from the writings of his contemporaries.
But, anyway, it was evident, that Max Muller was a scholar par excellence, in learning and understanding Indology, and his contribution to make the Vedic literature available to western audience, should be always hailed. And I completely agree when he concluded -
I do not mean to say that everybody who wishes to know how the human race came to be what it is, how language came to be what it is, how religion came to be what it is, how manners, customs, laws, and forms of government came to be what they are, how we ourselves came to be what we are, must learn Sanskrit, and must study Vedic Sanskrit. But I do believe that not to know what a study of Sanskrit, and particularly a study of the Veda, has already done for illuminating the darkest passages in the history of the human mind, of that mind on which we ourselves are feeding and living, is a misfortune, or, at all events, a loss, just as I should count it a loss to have passed through life without knowing something, however little, of the geological formation of the earth, or of the sun, and the moon, and the stars—and of the thought, or the will, or the law, that govern their movements.
When someone praises you, you have no counter arguments. And if you go into self-deprecating mode finding faults or even mundaneness in your own act, it would be considered your humility and you will be showered with some more praise.
Basically, you are defenseless against praise.
That's happen when you read this book.
Max Muller has provided such an elaborate eulogy to India, her culture, her tradition, her history, her religion, her literature, her philosophy, her people, that you might a) blush in humility, b) feel immensely proud of your ancestry, c) admire his depth of research and knowledge d) praise him and finally, e) get angry with the intellectuals of your own nation who are always finding fault in your religion and country unlike these erudite outsiders.
This book contains the lectures delivered by the German Scholar of Indic and Vedic literature Max Muller, to Indian Civil Service officers of Colonial Britain at the University of Cambridge in 1882, before they were commissioned on administrative assignments in British India.
From the tone, it appears that there were lots of misconceptions about India that was prevailing in then Britain which had the potential to prejudice the would-be civil servants, like ancient Indian civilization was not par with the Phoenician or Persian ones, polity and literature of India fell far short of Greek or Roman counterparts, Indians are bunch of dishonest and lazy liars, Sanskrit literature had no value, polytheistic religion of Hinduism is ridiculously unscientific and illogical, etc etc.
Max Muller was there to bust all those myths, and prove all those to their contrary, as Vedic civilization was far superior than its contemporaries, Hinduism is the most logical and scientific religion that was out there, and most importantly the character of Indians are as honest if not more than any of the Europeans.
With many examples from the ancient scriptures, and excerpts from the writings of European scholars Muller had tried his best to motivate the civil servants to treat their work assignment with dignity and sense of opportunity. He urged everyone to learn sanskrit and get themselves acquainted with ancient Indian literature, religious or otherwise, to gain understanding about the history, humanity and world in general.
I maintain then that for a study of man, or, if you like, for a study of Aryan humanity, there is nothing in the world equal in importance with the Veda. I maintain that to everybody who cares for himself, for his ancestors, for his history, or for his intellectual development, a study of Vedic literature is indispensable; and that, as an element of liberal education, it is far more important and far more improving than the reigns of Babylonian and Persian kings.
Only thing that made me chuckle was when Muller talked about the characters of Hindus as being naturally truthful or honest, having never been to India himself, and basing his entire judgement from the writings of his contemporaries.
But, anyway, it was evident, that Max Muller was a scholar par excellence, in learning and understanding Indology, and his contribution to make the Vedic literature available to western audience, should be always hailed. And I completely agree when he concluded -
I do not mean to say that everybody who wishes to know how the human race came to be what it is, how language came to be what it is, how religion came to be what it is, how manners, customs, laws, and forms of government came to be what they are, how we ourselves came to be what we are, must learn Sanskrit, and must study Vedic Sanskrit. But I do believe that not to know what a study of Sanskrit, and particularly a study of the Veda, has already done for illuminating the darkest passages in the history of the human mind, of that mind on which we ourselves are feeding and living, is a misfortune, or, at all events, a loss, just as I should count it a loss to have passed through life without knowing something, however little, of the geological formation of the earth, or of the sun, and the moon, and the stars—and of the thought, or the will, or the law, that govern their movements.
June 5, 2014
I read only two chapters so far. And i think every indian as well as the whole world should read this book. And its available for free on gutenberg. I will definitely recommend it to everyone. I want to spread this message to the whole world.
August 24, 2013
This book is compilation of lectures delivered by Max Muller at Cambridge to british ICS officers posted in India.The true India and perception of its glory needs to be invoked in the youth of India.
February 17, 2022
This book is magical. Anyone who wants to uncover the mystery of Indian civilisation should read it. The book is filled with quotes from various sources. Max Muller's view is unique and refreshing.
Some parts of the book stood out for me. Like this one which fills your heart with pride and wonder.
.. So I could go on quoting from book after book, and again and again we should see how it was "love of truth" that struck all the people who came in contact with India, as the prominent feature in the national character of its inhabitants. No one ever accused them of falsehood. There must surely be some ground for this, for it is not a remark that is frequently made by travellers in foreign countries, even in our time, that their inhabitants invariably speak the truth. Read the accounts of English travellers in France, and you will find very little said about French honesty and veracity, while French accounts of England are seldom without a fling at Perfide Albion!
Another part broke my heart..
When you read the atrocities committed by the Mohammedan conquerors of India from that time to the time when England stepped in, the wonder to my mind, is how any nation could have survived such an Inferno without being turned into devils themselves.
Definitely we are not taught true history of India. But this book is a burning candle which does shine light on Indian culture with great success.
Some parts of the book stood out for me. Like this one which fills your heart with pride and wonder.
.. So I could go on quoting from book after book, and again and again we should see how it was "love of truth" that struck all the people who came in contact with India, as the prominent feature in the national character of its inhabitants. No one ever accused them of falsehood. There must surely be some ground for this, for it is not a remark that is frequently made by travellers in foreign countries, even in our time, that their inhabitants invariably speak the truth. Read the accounts of English travellers in France, and you will find very little said about French honesty and veracity, while French accounts of England are seldom without a fling at Perfide Albion!
Another part broke my heart..
When you read the atrocities committed by the Mohammedan conquerors of India from that time to the time when England stepped in, the wonder to my mind, is how any nation could have survived such an Inferno without being turned into devils themselves.
Definitely we are not taught true history of India. But this book is a burning candle which does shine light on Indian culture with great success.
December 21, 2025
The question animating this series of lectures is: "What were the ancient Indians who settled down near the Indus river plains thinking about when they composed the Vedas?"
Max Muller proceeds to elucidate exactly that charmingly. A lot of his content could be the start of entire genres of controversies for the Hindu nationalist and their antagonist camps - so a charitable read here would offend both parties equally which is the perfect amount of fun for a reader who has no bone in that fight.
However if you are looking to get a feel for this ancient hindu corpus in some degree of nuance, this is a nice place to start.
Max Muller proceeds to elucidate exactly that charmingly. A lot of his content could be the start of entire genres of controversies for the Hindu nationalist and their antagonist camps - so a charitable read here would offend both parties equally which is the perfect amount of fun for a reader who has no bone in that fight.
However if you are looking to get a feel for this ancient hindu corpus in some degree of nuance, this is a nice place to start.
October 10, 2023
The author is trying to convince the young Indian civil service officers (British India) why they should not consider India a land of liars and savages simply because they don’t understand their language or their religion. To draw parallels b/w Hinduism and monotheistic religion is like comparing a bird and an aircraft, though both can fly but their parts of being are different. It’s interesting that Mueller first dwelled on similarities of root words with Sanskrit and other European languages, Rig veda parts and the detailing and it’s continuity till 500bc as oral tradition to be passed among the priests. The priestly directive culmination ultimately led to Upanishads in later Vedic period which is the highest form of philosophy to ever exist.
March 3, 2021
It was a difficult read for me due to multiple reasons.
So basically this is collection of speeches by max muller to aspiring IAS and IPS officer who are about to get deputed to India when India was still a colony.
He shares his openion about importance of knowing Sanskrit, reading Veda's and how was people's understanding about god evolved.
He points out very good point for each topic. It ws a difficult read for me probably coz i haven't read any Veda's so wasn't able to relate to it.
One misconception I saw in entire book is his entire understanding is based on Aryan migration theory and based on that he has elaborated lot of things.
Overall if you want to know about ancient India you can give it a try .
Hopefully will read it again once i have read Veda's
So basically this is collection of speeches by max muller to aspiring IAS and IPS officer who are about to get deputed to India when India was still a colony.
He shares his openion about importance of knowing Sanskrit, reading Veda's and how was people's understanding about god evolved.
He points out very good point for each topic. It ws a difficult read for me probably coz i haven't read any Veda's so wasn't able to relate to it.
One misconception I saw in entire book is his entire understanding is based on Aryan migration theory and based on that he has elaborated lot of things.
Overall if you want to know about ancient India you can give it a try .
Hopefully will read it again once i have read Veda's
August 5, 2020
For someone who never visited India..though his Europa centric approach made him a proponent of Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) in light of Vedic culture being older than European cultures, he gave a good glimpse into outsider perspective of India derived from secondary experiences and literature. Influence of invasions on the morality of Indians is interesting and logical. Pastoral vs city culture has been emphasised upon and indicated that the city culture was morally corrupt due to influxes and loss of community centric lifestyle.
Despite being an opponent of Aryan Invasion Theory, I am convinced that he did not concoct anything with agenda but was influenced by the earlier scholars and biases, himself being from there.
Also he reignited my interest to learn Sanskrit. Hopefully I will pursue it this time .
Despite being an opponent of Aryan Invasion Theory, I am convinced that he did not concoct anything with agenda but was influenced by the earlier scholars and biases, himself being from there.
Also he reignited my interest to learn Sanskrit. Hopefully I will pursue it this time .
September 27, 2023
The book simply reinstated how condescending the West was, and still is, towards a great culture and people, simply because they could only just translate the historical works and inscriptions.
Although Muller acknowledges the spiritual nature of Hinduism and the importance of understanding Sanskrit, he hastily rubbishes its greatness in favor of the English way of thinking.
It's disappointing to think that even a class of Indians once thought of this guy as a great educationist and historian who was doing a favor in acknowledging the mere existance of India and its history.
Although Muller acknowledges the spiritual nature of Hinduism and the importance of understanding Sanskrit, he hastily rubbishes its greatness in favor of the English way of thinking.
It's disappointing to think that even a class of Indians once thought of this guy as a great educationist and historian who was doing a favor in acknowledging the mere existance of India and its history.
January 1, 2022
Even as an Indian, I find it extremely educative. And gives a picture into why Europeans felt a draw towards Sanskrit.
August 31, 2025
Good book to understand Vedic and indian culture nd the God...
January 13, 2025
I wanted to read something firsthand from this great scholar -- the translator of both Kant and the Rig-Veda; and the editor of the Sacred Books of the East. And this book indeed delivered. It was also an interesting look at the context Mueller was writing in -- to correct racist misconceptions of India and its past; and bring forward the profundity of Indian thought.
The first lecture deals with the importance of studying Sanskrit and the ancient literature of India; which is held to be equally valuable to the traditional Classics syllabus of the West -- Greek and Latin literature.
The second lecture counters racist misunderstandings of India as a country of liars and cheats; rather optimistically countering the dominant narrative by the opposite narrative of the straightforwardness and truthfulness of Indians (both narratives are of course, equally simplistic). Contained herein is also the doctrine that the real India lies in the villages, not the colonial cities; which is what would so influence Gandhi.
The rest of the lectures deal with the human interest of Sanskrit literature, especially the Vedas which was Mueller's field of expertise. He holds the Vedas to be a profound repository of thought, one of the earliest developments of the religious temperament -- and thus holding the key to an early stage of the evolution of religion.
The fourth lecture counters the narrative that the Vedas are derivative -- holding the view that they are primarily autochthonous developments uninfluenced as a whole by other cultures. This should not be understood as a nationalistic narrative but as a statement of philological fact.
The fifth lecture concerns the religion of the Veda, the sixth lecture the deities of the Vedas, the seventh lecture delves into some of the funeral practices of the Hindus and the connection of the Vedas and Vedanta -- the system of philosophy that would become dominant among the educated classes of Indians. There is a lot of comparative philology about the roots of various Indo-Aryan gods and how they would show up in various cultures and languages with etymologically equivalent names. The seventh lecture decodes three kinds of religion in the Vedas -- the worship of the Devas (originally, the bright ones) from an anthropomorphising process of natural phenomena; ancestor worship in the Sraddhas; and the Atman-Brahman doctrine of the Upanishads. Mueller coins the term Kathenotheism or Henotheism to refer to the Vedic practice of worshipping a single God while not demoting others -- as opposed to both polytheism and monotheism.
The first lecture deals with the importance of studying Sanskrit and the ancient literature of India; which is held to be equally valuable to the traditional Classics syllabus of the West -- Greek and Latin literature.
The second lecture counters racist misunderstandings of India as a country of liars and cheats; rather optimistically countering the dominant narrative by the opposite narrative of the straightforwardness and truthfulness of Indians (both narratives are of course, equally simplistic). Contained herein is also the doctrine that the real India lies in the villages, not the colonial cities; which is what would so influence Gandhi.
The rest of the lectures deal with the human interest of Sanskrit literature, especially the Vedas which was Mueller's field of expertise. He holds the Vedas to be a profound repository of thought, one of the earliest developments of the religious temperament -- and thus holding the key to an early stage of the evolution of religion.
The fourth lecture counters the narrative that the Vedas are derivative -- holding the view that they are primarily autochthonous developments uninfluenced as a whole by other cultures. This should not be understood as a nationalistic narrative but as a statement of philological fact.
The fifth lecture concerns the religion of the Veda, the sixth lecture the deities of the Vedas, the seventh lecture delves into some of the funeral practices of the Hindus and the connection of the Vedas and Vedanta -- the system of philosophy that would become dominant among the educated classes of Indians. There is a lot of comparative philology about the roots of various Indo-Aryan gods and how they would show up in various cultures and languages with etymologically equivalent names. The seventh lecture decodes three kinds of religion in the Vedas -- the worship of the Devas (originally, the bright ones) from an anthropomorphising process of natural phenomena; ancestor worship in the Sraddhas; and the Atman-Brahman doctrine of the Upanishads. Mueller coins the term Kathenotheism or Henotheism to refer to the Vedic practice of worshipping a single God while not demoting others -- as opposed to both polytheism and monotheism.
April 29, 2021
It's not a regular book where author is narrating directly to the reader rather it's a collection of lectures addressed to candidates for Indian Civil Services during British era.
Tough the book has plenty of references to Aryan Theory which we today can safely say are baseless but no one should refrain due to it as the main objective of the book is not affected.
Some of the Max's notable lines from the book:
*India, the home of Brahmanism, the birthplace of Buddhism, and the refuge of Zoroastrianism.
*Even after the repeated accounts of the terrors and horrors of Mohammedan rule, my wonder is that so much of native virtue and truthfulness should have survived.
*I should advise every young man who wishes to enjoy his life in India, to learn Sanskrit, and to learn it well.
*Some of the most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up there, and there (India) only
*In the Sanskrit books and mantras we must look for the treasures that make human souls rich
*Sanskrit literature, if studied only in a right spirit, is full of human interests, full of lessons
A Schopenhauer's quote mentioned in the book:
"In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. It has been the solace of my life—it will be the solace of my death".
Tough the book has plenty of references to Aryan Theory which we today can safely say are baseless but no one should refrain due to it as the main objective of the book is not affected.
Some of the Max's notable lines from the book:
*India, the home of Brahmanism, the birthplace of Buddhism, and the refuge of Zoroastrianism.
*Even after the repeated accounts of the terrors and horrors of Mohammedan rule, my wonder is that so much of native virtue and truthfulness should have survived.
*I should advise every young man who wishes to enjoy his life in India, to learn Sanskrit, and to learn it well.
*Some of the most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up there, and there (India) only
*In the Sanskrit books and mantras we must look for the treasures that make human souls rich
*Sanskrit literature, if studied only in a right spirit, is full of human interests, full of lessons
A Schopenhauer's quote mentioned in the book:
"In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. It has been the solace of my life—it will be the solace of my death".
May 24, 2022
It's a good book to understand how Max Mueller viewed India. The book is a compendium of his lectures delivered to those undertaking the British Indian Civil Services exam in the 19th century. He wishes to dispel their ignorance, and even contempt, towards Indic knowledge systems, culture, history and civilizational strengths and achievements. While no friend of India or its best/authentic messenger, Mueller works hard to make a compelling case in front of those students to understand India from an Indian point of view, through India's indigenous literature, primary language (Sanskrit) of that literature and people (rural over urban).
However, this review should not mislead anyone into being on a path to understand India through an Abrahamic/Semitic lens, as Mueller does here at several places. Nothing can replace studying our own country through the indigenous lens. My praise for this book is limited to its being revealing in offering a lesson : if a Western colonial-orientalist could understand, acknowledge and preach (albeit partially but deeply) the invaluable and unique contribution of Indic civilization to the world, surely we, as this civilization's inheritors, can go many more steps ahead and understand ourselves and our sacred Bharatvarsha much more deeply.
However, this review should not mislead anyone into being on a path to understand India through an Abrahamic/Semitic lens, as Mueller does here at several places. Nothing can replace studying our own country through the indigenous lens. My praise for this book is limited to its being revealing in offering a lesson : if a Western colonial-orientalist could understand, acknowledge and preach (albeit partially but deeply) the invaluable and unique contribution of Indic civilization to the world, surely we, as this civilization's inheritors, can go many more steps ahead and understand ourselves and our sacred Bharatvarsha much more deeply.
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May 15, 2023Muller wasn't referring to India of that time. He made abundantly clear that at that time India was under the category of the savage nations. What he was talking about was India, that was the ancestor of all indo-europeans. According to muller, Germans Brits frenchs Italians Greeks has as much to be proud of as Indians of now, of that amazing civilization.
He does believe we all came from that aryan race. Which has now been debunked. Would he have had these same ideas and conclusions if he didn't think we all came from the same civilization? Would he say these same things if he wasn't deriving some sort of pride from this? Would he say the same things if only Indians inherited the legacy of that civilization? I don't think so. Maybe what he said is all true. I haven't read vedas or Upanishads or puranas. Idk Sanskrit. I don't have enough tools to verify it. Very few people in India has that tool. And I don't see anyone objectively verifying it. But he definitely has some bias because it's a source of pride for him. Even if it's not biased, he won't have said these things if he didn't think of them as their ancestors. And the political value of this work is derived from an error.
He does believe we all came from that aryan race. Which has now been debunked. Would he have had these same ideas and conclusions if he didn't think we all came from the same civilization? Would he say these same things if he wasn't deriving some sort of pride from this? Would he say the same things if only Indians inherited the legacy of that civilization? I don't think so. Maybe what he said is all true. I haven't read vedas or Upanishads or puranas. Idk Sanskrit. I don't have enough tools to verify it. Very few people in India has that tool. And I don't see anyone objectively verifying it. But he definitely has some bias because it's a source of pride for him. Even if it's not biased, he won't have said these things if he didn't think of them as their ancestors. And the political value of this work is derived from an error.
June 24, 2021
"...I do not mean to say that everybody who wishes to know how the human race came to be what it is, how language came to be what it is, how religion came to be what it is, how manners, customs, laws, and forms of government came to be what they are, how we ourselves came to be what we are, must learn Sanskrit, and must study Vedic Sanskrit. But I do believe that not to know what a study of Sanskrit, and particularly a study of the Veda, has already done for illuminating the darkest passages in the history of the human mind, of that mind on which we ourselves are feeding and living, is a misfortune, or, at all events, a loss, just as I should count it a loss to have passed through life without knowing something, however little, of the geological formation of the earth, or of the sun, and the moon, and the stars—and of the thought, or the will, or the law, that govern their movements...."
- Max Muller, 1882
- Max Muller, 1882
April 28, 2020
This scholarly work is good read for anyone interested in history and the knowledge of scriptures which according to the author are a quintessential element of human experience in the subcontinent .
Divided into 8 lucid chapters ,it is a collection of series of lectures delivered by author to the future ICS officers in Britain before they left to serve in India ; where he persuades them to read the scriptures to understand the idea of India and also overcome their prejudices towards the Indian peoples.
Covering diverse aspects ranging from unique character of Indian civilization,Sanskrit literature , vedic deities and concluding with a treatise on Vedanta ,it is good read to develop a perspective on western thinking and evolution of orientalism .
Divided into 8 lucid chapters ,it is a collection of series of lectures delivered by author to the future ICS officers in Britain before they left to serve in India ; where he persuades them to read the scriptures to understand the idea of India and also overcome their prejudices towards the Indian peoples.
Covering diverse aspects ranging from unique character of Indian civilization,Sanskrit literature , vedic deities and concluding with a treatise on Vedanta ,it is good read to develop a perspective on western thinking and evolution of orientalism .
May 27, 2023
Very wiseman Max Muller
I was surprised to find that Mr. Muller, a German Englishman and some of his contemporaries had dwelled into so deeply into Sanskrit and via that into Vedas and respected Indian thoughts and philosophy. It’s that the some of the other political Englishmen under influence of Christianity and zeal of conversion falsified the truth about india and Indian people and termed them uncivilized and barbarian to control and rule over them and colonized them and try to destroy India/Bharat but failed in the end because Rishi’s had planted roots so deep that Indian people kept the fire alive and have risen back to become a fifth largest economy today and will rise further. 🙏
I was surprised to find that Mr. Muller, a German Englishman and some of his contemporaries had dwelled into so deeply into Sanskrit and via that into Vedas and respected Indian thoughts and philosophy. It’s that the some of the other political Englishmen under influence of Christianity and zeal of conversion falsified the truth about india and Indian people and termed them uncivilized and barbarian to control and rule over them and colonized them and try to destroy India/Bharat but failed in the end because Rishi’s had planted roots so deep that Indian people kept the fire alive and have risen back to become a fifth largest economy today and will rise further. 🙏
June 17, 2023
This book is a collection of Muller's speeches on India and sanskrit. Coming to the book, honestly I don't know . This guy feels vedas as literature and just a collection of mere poems sometimes and the other parts he feel it is the root of this civilization. Honestly he might have had bipolar disorder. So much for a man who have never learnt Sanskrit from authentic sources, who has never stepped on to the land of Bharat and translated the Sanskrit scriptures. I only and only feel he is brainwashed into believing what he believes is true about this country. All he saw about this country is through the eyes of other people or the Indians who went abroad to study. I read it only because it is jsd's recommendation. NOT WORTH IT. DONT WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME.
November 23, 2025
This is a significant work, instrumental in establishing Indology as an academic field in the West. The section detailing the Vedas was the most engaging one for me, though I felt the text does not fully capture the profound philosophical weight of these scriptures. Could be because these were a collection of lectures, the transitions between the chapters felt a bit abrupt.
Finally, I would like to rap it up with a quote from the Upanishads which is also mentioned in the book.
Finally, I would like to rap it up with a quote from the Upanishads which is also mentioned in the book.
“When all desires that dwell in the heart cease, then the mortal becomes immortal, and obtains Brahman.
"When all the fetters of the heart here on earth are broken, when all that binds us to this life is undone, then the mortal becomes immortal—here my teaching ends.”
May 17, 2021
As many indians might have perceived mr max muller as the villian and negetive shaded charachter in history we are still in his debt for writing a detailed document about india and creating a subject like indology
Its imperative that he has written many things that can be taken true on their face value, but are the true? Well the document is a good read if you want to understand India and Indians, and it can also be helpful to understand how there was a paradigm shift in social psycology, either way it is a book that will let you have many thoughts and will change your opinion about Indians
Its imperative that he has written many things that can be taken true on their face value, but are the true? Well the document is a good read if you want to understand India and Indians, and it can also be helpful to understand how there was a paradigm shift in social psycology, either way it is a book that will let you have many thoughts and will change your opinion about Indians
February 25, 2021
I’m surprised this is not part of our curricula on political thought in higher education. Presents beautifully the ‘other’ lens through which India has been viewed. The Indian diaspora in particular would benefit from a read of this book, at a time when it has become a norm to belittle one’s own country.
October 31, 2022
A true glimpse into the Indias past. Max revered the antiquity of Indian civilization and it's very much evident from the first page.
Be challenged the bias that English placed upon Hindus, as being dishonest and need for veracity.
I loved it. It's a must read for all the indology students and enthusiasts of competitive studies.
Be challenged the bias that English placed upon Hindus, as being dishonest and need for veracity.
I loved it. It's a must read for all the indology students and enthusiasts of competitive studies.
April 7, 2024
I couldn’t finish this book, so this review is from 2/3 of the way through it where I gave up.
It gives me a view of one Westerner and his knowledge of history about India . Although the way it’s written, it’s delivered in lectures and I found that quite hard to follow.
There wasn’t a Flow to the writing, or to the lectures .
It gives me a view of one Westerner and his knowledge of history about India . Although the way it’s written, it’s delivered in lectures and I found that quite hard to follow.
There wasn’t a Flow to the writing, or to the lectures .
August 21, 2017
It is a series of lectures that were meant for the aspiring ICS officers of 19th century England but even today, it can provide the modern day Indians with a very good idea of what ancient Indian religion was all about. A bit heavy to read at times, but thoroughly relevant.
April 23, 2023
A good book to understand ancient Indian thought and appreciate some aspects of What Indians especially
now called Hindus do and and why.
But becomes too eulogical and one sided at some places.
now called Hindus do and and why.
But becomes too eulogical and one sided at some places.
March 4, 2018
His style of writing drove me crazy. But overall it's a good intro book.
May 15, 2018
Good Book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews