Mysteries of the Sacred Universe (Paperback)

by Richard L. Thompson (Author) "The source material for traditional Hindu astronomy and cosmology consists of Sanskrit texts that are being reproduced and republished today as part of a living..." (more)
Key Phrases: eight varsas, meridian quadrant, planetary diameters, Mount Sumeru, Jyotisa Sastras, Ananta Sesa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Gripping, scholarly and groundbreaking, Mysteries of the Sacred Universe deserves to be widely read and discussed. -- Robert Bauval, coauthor of The Orion Mystery and The Mystery of the Sphinx

Overturns a long history of scholarly undervaluation of the supposedly "only mythological" contents of ancient India's Puranic literature. -- Professor Gene Thursby of University of Florida

Thompson presents a compelling case showing Puranic cosmology was intended to have multiple meanings spanning terrestrial, astronomical, and spiritual planes. -- Professor Subash Kak, Louisiana State University

Product Description
The "Bhagavata Purana" is one of the classical scriptures of Hinduism. This book closely examines its text and reveals unexpected depths of knowledge in ancient cosmology. It shows that the cosmology of the text is a sophisticated system, with multiple levels of meaning that encode at least four different astronomical, geographical, and spiritual world models. By viewing the text in the light of modern astronomy, the author shows how ancient scientists expressed exact knowledge in apparently mythological terms. Comparison with the ancient traditions of Egypt and the Near East shows early cultural connections between India and these regions - including a surprisingly advanced science.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 375 pages
• Publisher: Govardhan Hill Pub (November 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963530933
• ISBN-13: 978-0963530936
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #761,396 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent work!, June 15, 2001

By	Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Simply stated, this book was not at all what I had expected. It far exceeded my expectations. I had expected another treatise on the mythology and belief systems of Puranic literature mixed with some way of tying it to today's understanding of life and the cosmos. Instead it was a very scholarly work that delved into the knowledge of ancient India and how it was expressed in terms of mythology. The author's interpretation of this mythology brings it into focus and ties it to what we have learned in the field of modern astronomy. Instead of viewing the Puranic literature as being composed by those who were less knowledgeable and limited in their understanding and superstitious in their ways, his interpretations shows that they had a very advanced understanding of the universe around them. A little complex and confusing at times, it required rereading of several sections before I really understood how they were tied together. Not a work that I would recommend to a new-comer to the Puranic literature but a highly recommended volume to anyone with an intermediate knowledge.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and thought-provoking reading, June 8, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The "Bhagavata Purana" is one of the classical scriptures of Hinduism. In Mysteries Of The Sacred Universe, Richard Thompson draws upon his considerable research and expertise to show that the cosmology of the "Bhagavata Purana" is a sophisticated system with multiple levels of meaning encoding at least four different astronomical, geographical, and spiritual world models. Thompson shows how ancient scientists expressed exact knowledge in mythological terms. He also compares the ancient traditions of Egypt and the Near East to reveal early cultural connections between India and these regions. Mysteries Of The Sacred Universe is informative and thought-provoking reading, which offers an insightful understanding of how the spiritual dimension was integrated into ancient Indian cosmology. Also highly recommended is the Mysteries Of The Sacred Universe Interactive CD ... which is enhanced with 250 color pictures, 23 computer graphics animations, 13 interactive picture sequences, and a 48-minute video of all topics covered in the book edition.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries of the Sacred Universe, March 15, 2001

By	Eva Victoria Tame (North Glastonbury, Montana USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mysteries of the Sacred Universe is a book for lovers of the arcane, long-forgotten or unknown past history and/or myth. But not only - as the author is a mathematician with a Ph.D. in theory of probability - he takes us, the readers, for a breathless ride with a no-nonsense driver, firmly established and most comfortable in the field of logic, reason, theretical scientific thinking and sound research.

If this is not enough and we crave the drama and theater of this vast and baffling universe - be ready for multiple quaint stories. Like with all mysteries - flying machines with wooden wings and automatic door openers designed and built in 6 000 B.C., if not before, might amuse one, startle another - amaze some? We have had it all before - no scientific enigmas here.

The author's mind most acutely yet humbly and with just the right dose of reverence addresses the timeless universe and its historical and cyclical repeatability. Short of telling us how and where the continuity came from - the reader is elegantly dispatched on a solitary mission of further research and personal confirmation of the author's detailed findings. Where is one to turn if not in search of the arcane schools of the ancient past, as R. Thompson leaves no stone unturned in his serious and orderly presentation of available data.

If you are an avid seeker for and/or feel at home in the elusive world of akasha - don't forget to pack a copy of Mysteries of the Sacred Universe for your trip, as well as "A Dweller on Two Planets" by Phylos the Thibetan and E.C.Prophet's "The Lost Years of Jesus" - happy trails and hold onto your hats, as you will surely need several . . .

Eva Victoria Tame, www.tslpl.org