Posted on: 26 September 2010

Digital Book :
The Orion or Researches into the antiquity of the Vedas
By Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Law Lecturer and Pleader, Poona
Published by Radhabai Atmaram Sagoon, Bombay - 1893.

Preface :
SOME explanation may be necessary for the publication of an essay on the antiquity of the Vedas by one whose professional work lies in a different direction. About four years ago, as I was reading the Bhagavad Gita, it occurred to me that we might derive important conclusions from the statement of Krishna that ''he was Margashirsha of the months." This led me to inquire into the primitive Vedic calendar, and the result of four years' labour is now placed before the public. The essay was originally written for the Ninth Oriental Congress held in London last year. But it was found too large to be inserted in the proceedings wherein its summary alone is now included. I have had therefore to publish it separately, and in doing so I have taken the opportunity of incorporating into it such additions, alterations and modifications, as were suggested by further thought and discussion.......

- BG Tilak


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Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/orionortheantiqu021979mbp#page/n1/mode/2up

Downloaf pdf Book: http://ia331316.us.archive.org/2/items/orionortheantiqu021979mbp/orionortheantiqu021979mbp.pdf

OMG RBS How did you know I have wanted to read this book for years !! Thank you! Other comments after I read it.

Am actually also reading the Rigveda and it is illuminating to see how the meanings of the Shlokas are interpreted by B G Tilak.

I found the writing style of Tilak to be surprisingly contemporary and delightfully readable......honestly, took me by surprise.

Sumedha@ Are you reading some particular translation of Rigveda?

RBSI: Tilak's Gita Rahasya and all his editorials in Kesari show the quality of his prose. Inimitable, direct, confident, purposeful yet open-minded. His writings in Marathi far outnumbers his writings in English. The book you put up a while ago edited by Babu Arvind Ghosh speaks volumes of his prose. I remember we spent a lot of time discussing babudom on that thread. I am still going through the contents of the book.

Thanks Shekar. I am ordering the latest Kindle from Amazon right away....so that I will be able to read or atleast peruse through the books I am posting here. Yes folks... I think its time now for ebook readers.

@Pant Sir I am reading a Hindi translation bought from Banaras. Since I am quite ignorant it is serving as an introduction, may be I should shift to the book suggested by Ameeta Roy after this. This one is more from a religious point of view than a literary one. @ Shekhar Sathe I think of B G Tilak as my spiritual guru and read his Geeta Rahasya everyday as part of my Yoga, meditation, prayer routine. Over the years I read a number of commentaries, translations and versions of the Geeta before finding my own satisfaction with the Geeta Rahasya. Have read his editorials only in passing. Having said which although his views were progressive for his time some of them are still difficult for me to come to terms with. @ RBS The rate at which books are uploaded is making it difficult for me to read all the ones I am interested in!

@RBSI: Please evaluate iPad as an option to kindle.

@Shekhar: friends claim ipad better than Kindle!

I found the IPad quite unfriendly for reading pdf's and also a bit strenuous.

I think the Vedas (and Rig Veda) are human civilization's heritage from a key center of the World: the Indian subcontinent, with about a million square miles of arable land has been accumulating the world's treasure of gold throughout history (and tempted the poorer neighbors from the NW into getting some of the hoard). The recorded pace through the last hundred years is that 30% of gold production ends up in India. Even the first global empire, the British one, had a tough time coming up with the gold to balance its trade deficit until China lost the war against the Allies in the 1940s and accepted free trade... and India is the biggest supplier of legally traded medicinal opium ever since. So my advise to Indians, and Hindus in particular, is to not get too provincial about ownership of the Vedas. Be generous is what I say!

Can you make a web page with links and small description of these rare India related books?

@Piyal: That would be nice of RBSI; but until then, at the risk of coming across as an arrogant "know-all," click on the link below and you will see all of RBSI's links at the bottom of the left frame: http://www.rarebooksocietyofindia.org

Piyal : I know its high-time....need your suggestions. Should it be based on Wordpress or somethng else? Qamar : Thanks...but the url is redirected back to this FB page for now... : )

Can these be saved as Google documents and comments can be annotated and shared between RBSI fans? I have trouble in keeping pace with the speed of thought of RBSI. And I bet, it takes time to read "a book". I would like to save the discussion thread also as a note to each book on my iPad (or your Kindle). Browsing through the prolific pages of RBSI is becoming a nightmare keeping in mind I have a few other interest also to pursue.:)

@ Shekhar Sathe Yes, the ideas are flowing think and fast and I am racing to catch up! Have now started saving my own comments in a separate documents for my own reference ( being a writer)but what about others' comments? PS I still have to write a note on DDK's book! @ RBS Would it be a good idea to make this a forum from an FB page or keep both working since FB has better visibility than a forum.

So will you folks join the real Rare Book Society of India....which is in the process of getting formalized ?? Would love to hear your valuable feedback and suggestions for its goals and aspirations.

@ RBS Of Course! Any details ?

Soon. : )

Look forward to seeing the details.