Tapta Marga: Asceticism and Initiation in Vedic India

Book Details:

• Author: Walter O. Kaelber

• Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 1990

• ISBN: 8170302374

• Pages: 114

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 22.5 cm x 14.5 cm

• Weight: 350 gm

About the Book:

In this insightful study, Walter O. Kaelber delves deeply into the concept of tapas, exploring its many transformations within the Vedic tradition. The book offers an accessible yet scholarly analysis, making it an invaluable resource for both beginners and scholars alike. Kaelber examines tapas alongside three other essential components of Vedic thought—sacrifice, homology, and knowledge—revealing how these concepts interconnect to form the core of Vedic religion.

The book begins with a detailed commentary on tapas and asceticism, and how these practices remain central to the continuity of Vedic thought through to the Upanishadic period. Kaelber expertly weaves these elements together to present a comprehensive history of Vedic religion, highlighting the symbolic role of initiation and its relationship with ascetic practices.

Drawing from the scholarship of renowned experts like Alf Hiltebeitel and Thomas J. Hopkins, this work provides fresh insights into the foundational principles of Vedic spirituality. Kaelber’s study also brings to light the significance of tapas in its connection to natural, human, and cosmic realities, and its essential role in bridging ritual and knowledge.

Incorporating key themes like the interconnectedness of karma, maya, nirvana, and yoga in the post-Vedic period, the book provides a broader framework for understanding Indian thought and the evolution of its religious practices. Kaelber’s work is a vital contribution to the study of ancient Indian spirituality and remains an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the roots of Vedic tradition.