The Vedic Dharma: Explorations in the Vedic Natural Order (Rta)

The Vedic Dharma: Explorations in the Vedic Natural Order (Rta) is the first volume in The Secret History of the Vedas series by James Kalomiris and is a comprehensive study of the interpretations of the mantras of Vedic Dharma. Whether you are brand new (like me) to Vedic Dharma or a more seasoned reader this is a wonderful companion to the Vedas as a whole. This book can break down mantras and help give a better understanding of each.

This is the first book that I have found that could explain to me mantras in simple terms that finally made sense. I like how it is divided by individual mantras and then gives interpretations of each one. There are also charts provided that helped me understand and comprehend the complexities and helped me make connections with the information. I found this book easy to follow and liked that I could easily read small sections at a time.

This book is wonderful because of its diversity. There are a wide variety of ways to use it and it is a great way for beginners to be introduced to Vedic Dharma, but it is also a great tool to help teach interpretations to knowledgeable readers. This would be a wonderful gift for that bohemian friend or family member that thinks outside the box. This is the first book in the series and I cannot wait to dive into the following volumes. Namaste!

The Vedas ,until I read this book, were mysterious, superficial and materialistic to the point of being nonsensical. The verses didn't make scientific or even rational sense. However, having read the book, I now understand the mystical nature of the knowledge that ancient Indian seers wanted to hand down to generations.

James Kalomiris approaches the text like any genuinely curious scholar and puts together a coherent interpretation of the hymns, his objective is not to veil, but to uncover; not to assert that the meaning is secreted away in an inaccessible spiritual realm, but to show that the meaning is easy enough to access consistently. The hidden meaning of the words and passages become clear upon reading the book and every chapter is another experience in thinking, "wow! that was a surprise!"

Personally, while I've been able to appreciate the brilliance of Indian philosophy over the past few years, the Vedas (particularly the Rigveda) have always eluded me. James' writings on the Vedas are an absolutely invaluable resource. If you're reading the Vedas without having at least exposed yourself to his interpretive approach, chances are that you are missing much of what is going on there.

I am not a philologist nor am I in anyway an expert on the Vedas but I found his interpretation compelling and illuminating There is a lot, lot more to this than just what I've written above. Also, I don't see any point in filling up a review with quotes. I would recommend this text to anyone curious about the Rig Veda and its relationship to the rest of Hinduism as a religious tradition.