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P**K
A well-researched compendium of traditional practices
Sabara Mantras are a widespread practice across Indian culture. It's not quite accurate to call them 'folk remedies' as they are practiced by people of all social classes and diverse religious membership. Even 'remedies' is not quite a satisfactory term as they embrace a wide range of subjects from health to business success to pest control. Traditionally they are attributed to the great 11th century sage and siddhi Gorakhnath, but it's clear that they come from a variety of sages, and some may be much older. This edition is an exhaustive work of ethnography bringing together diverse sources.An important clue to the nature of Sabara Mantras can be gained by reading between the lines. Who would be the person performing such a practice? Despite the huge variety in subject matter, in every case there is someone being helped with a problem. Sabara Mantras are used by someone who helps those in need, especially when other means are exhausted and unavailable.Like other mantras, Sabara Mantras are tools of consciousness, but unlike some other mantras they are not confined to religious devotion. The vibrations of the letters are composed to guide the consciousness of the practitioner toward the goal required. As such they may be analysed as intelligible words, or not -- for some the meanings have been lost to time, or perhaps some never had a conceptual meaning beyond their sound and its effects on the consciousness of the practitioner.This book is not a how-to. No explanations are given on how exactly to use mantras. But this is exactly correct according to tradition. The idea of 'learning from a book' is a foreign and modern innovation. It's much like a recipe book which tells combinations of ingredients and spices, but doesn't teach you how to cook. It's assumed you already know what a stove is, how to use it and where to get one. Likewise, the right use of mantras is something best taught by teacher to student, one person to another. For someone who knows how to use them, this work is a useful and authoritative reference.One especially valuable section on herbology solves a problem common to many older texts, in which the exact identity of various plants and materials used are forgotten. This edition contains an exhaustive list of the scientific names of plants used, from common rice to Heart-leaved Moonseed. This ensures that a thousand years from now all the information gathered here will still remain relevant and applicable.The translation is clear and articulate throughout, making the text a pleasure to read. Extensive table of contents and index are a great help in exploring the vast material covered. Highly recommended!
R**R
Badly damaged upon arrival
These books are wonderful, but were badly damaged upon arrival. The seller please should pay attention.
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