"Hindu philosophy is the most precious flower and fragrance of Hindu religion" -Max Muller, German Scholar "In the whole world there is no study except that of the Upanishads, which are so beneficial and elevating. It has been the solace of my life, and it will be the solace of my death" - Schopenhauer, German Scholar "The people of India may be poor but they are happy. In America the people are rich but very unhappy" - An American Tourist at the Himalayas. The history of any nation is not made in a day but the result of centuries of silent working of all the creative forces in the land. Bharata Varsha, presently known as India, alone has the unique claim to make that she is the home of many great religions, rushis and saints. She can take pride in the fact that she possesses a spiritual culture of very high order. The backbone of Indian national life is religion. Our land has passed through many spiritual crises. Religion has always been an integral part of our education from very early times. It is very unfortunate that after the advent of the British in India, our teachers have been imparting a godless, soul-less and secular education to their pupils on account of the policy of neutrality followed by our rulers in matters religious. The present-day parents who are the products of such un-religious education are not in a position to import religious instruction to their own children. The result is telling on the full development of body, mind and soul of our pupils. A nation without a religious education will become spirituality bankrupt. Education is not a mere preparation of the individual for life but it is the very life itself. Our educationists and statesmen should not forget that neutrality in religion does not and cannot mean abstention from teaching religion. Our children will grow into better citizens with character if they learn properly in their school days all about their religion at the feet of their teachers who have been specially trained in their own religion as well as comparative religion. Keeping the above in view, this book, written by my illustrious father, Late Prof. Sabharatnam (H.H. Swami Skandananda) and published in 1950 is republished in 2016 by me as I felt that this is quite an appropriate time for the children and youngsters of this country to revisit their heritage and understand that how we are degenerating by the influence of culture foreign to us by willful distraction through irresponsible persons at the helm, media and society. It is their responsibility to bring back the glory of our heritage and culture through another spiritual revolution. Reviews of earlier edition * I feel that our Embassies abroad should possess this book as one of the means of establishing cultural contacts with other nations - H.H. Sri swami Sivananda Saraswati, Rishikesh * I hasten to acknowledge the excellently written book 'India's Spiritual Heritage.' It is a very good book - Hon'ble C. Rajagopalachari, Former Governor General, India * Mr. Sabharatnam traces the ancient traditions, ethics and teachings in a readable, illustrated and well-produced book indicating the ebbs and tides of Hinduism - The Hindustan Times, New Delhi -This is a Masterpiece in comparative Religion which is sure to inspire, instruct and guide the Reader in Life. It is specially meant for our Secular state where seven out of the ten World Religions are practised. -The learned Author has discussed the history of the growth of Hinduism from Vedic Times to the present day in this succinct yet comprehensive work in a lucid and forceful style. -No College, School, Public or Private Library should be without this brilliant book. -It makes an ideal gift to deserving pupils on the occasion of a Prize Distribution.
About the Author: About the Author (1906 - 1989) Late Prof. K. Sabharatnam (alias H.H. Swami Skandananda) was an eminent educationist and erudite scholar who hailed from Pudukkottai, located in Tamil Nadu, well known for producing Great Saints, Writers, Orators and Administrators. He was Vice Principal in the B.T. College of Nagpur University and a member of the Secondary School Examining Body. He had authored several text books and books on religious matters. The present one is one of them. He had the good fortune of coming under the direct contact of living saints including Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi and his Guru H.H. Swami Sivananda Sarasvati, whose primary disciple he was and initiated to Sanyas later by him. His students are also spread all over the world serving various nations and his own country India. He had the good fortune of making a very strong plea in favour of religious instruction in schools at the XXII All-India Educational Conference at Trivandrum, 1946. He presided over the Moral and Religious Section of All-India Educational Conference held at Jaipur in 1956. He founded a great educational institution at Nagpur. The present work is the direct outcome of the inspiration that he received at Trivandrum. During the tenure of his life he had been living for the Divine Cause as ordained by his Gurudev. About the Editor Srinivasan Sabharatnam, is the son of illustrious Late Prof. Sabharatnam. He is an erudite and versatile freelancer with multifarious activities and interests on a variety of subjects is well known as a creative and critical thinker. He has already authored: 'Sanatana Dharma and Samskaras of Bharat' published by Lambert, 'In the making of a good citizen', 'Need for Moral Education' and 'Major PUjAs in South India - Tamil Nadu (Procedures) Part I', published be Amazon. His writings are always quite interesting and written keeping public upliftment in mind. He has a wide global readership.