History of Indian Civilization - Indian Civilization [Lec 09]

History of Indian Civilization; UCLA, Lecture of 30 January 2012. Continuation of discussion of the Ramayana; many versions of the Rama story; the continuum between gods, humans, demi-gods, asuras (demons). The significance of Hanuman. Dispute over A K Ramanujan's article on many Ramayanas. Hindu nationalist readings of the Ramayana; some thoughts on the agnipariksha (the trial by fire) and on the idea of dharma. Brief consideration of the 'two Krishnas' of the Indian tradition -- view of the Bengali writer Bankimcandra Chatterjee. The Krishna of history and the Krishna of myth; Krishna and the gopis; episode of the vastraharana (theft of the clothes). Nationalist anxieties about the Indian past; the contrast with the Englishman's devotion to 'history'. The lecture concludes with remarks on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; absence of the idea of the singular author. Dialectic of freedom and discipline; freedom within discipline. What is the definition of yoga? Can thought ever cease? See the full playlist for “History of Indian Civilization”: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy3KRgc0HE8B4neta_B8LPM0G9UWy-Cqe Subscribe for more lectures on Indian Civilization, World History, Bollywood, Gandhi, and much else... Blog: https://vinaylal.wordpress.com/ MANAS (a pedagogical website on Indian history, culture, religions, politics, and so on): http://southasia.ucla.edu/ UCLA Faculty Page: https://history.ucla.edu/faculty/vinay-lal Books: https://vinaylal.wordpress.com/books-by-vinay-lal/