Harish JohariCritiques

Unlike other books in the field, this one provides the tools to activate the centers of transformative energy and elevate one's intellectual knowledge to an experience of spiritual growth. Valuable information for the Western reader on this ancient tradition; for scholars and spiritual aspirants at every level.

'Johari skillfully takes us into the machinery of Hindu metaphysics, a nerve system vehicle that navigates the invisible frontiers of consciousness. So coompressed with detail is Chakras that it feels like a rare manuscript etched in bark and passed along from yogi to yogi...a beautifully crafted book.'-Hinduism Today

'For Harish Johari-artist, composer, teacher, tantric devotee-desire is the brush and the five senses are the palette.'-Yoga Journal

'Johari's text is among the best of Western explications, combining traditional, visionary, and practial views. Chakras is illustrated, detailed, accessible to the neophyte, and notable for its valuable discussion of tantric vocabulary.'-East West Journal

In the ancient science of Tantra, the human body is viewed as the most perfect instrument for the expression of consciousness, a perfection realized through the development of psychic centers, known as chakras. Located within the cerobrospinal system, the chakras are the stage upon which the interaction between higher consciousness and desire is played out. Consequently, it is through understanding and utilizing the energies of the chakras that we ultimately reach an enlightened state of being.

In Chakras, Indian scholar and Tantra practitioner Harish Johari introduces the classical principles of the chakras as well as their practical application for today. In this revised and expanded edition, complete with new color paintings and black-and-wiite illustrations, Johari unfolds the mysteries of these subtle centers of transformation with visualization techniques essential to a fully realized tantric practice. He explains each chakra's connection to colors, sounds, sense and work organs, desires, the elements, planets, and dieties, as well as the behavioral characteristic and effects of meditation for the chakras.

Mediating on the beautiful, full-color paintings of each chakra vitalizes the cerebrospinal centers and harmonizes the entire system both physically and psychically. Coloring the black-and-white illustrations included in the book, following the prescribed order, helps the mind retain the images of the chakras and leads to deeper states of meditation. Scholars and spiritual aspirants of every level will find Chakras an invaluable and practical source of information, tools, and techniques to activate these centers of transformative energy and elevate one's intellectual knowledge to an experience of spiritual growth.

Harish Johari (1934-1999) was a painter, sculptor, and composer of Indian music. He authored twelve books on Eastern spirituality, including Ayurvedic Massage; Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine; Breath, Mind, and Consciousness; The Birth of the Ganga; Dhanwantari; and Tools for Tantra. He also produced several audiocassettes of mantra meditations, including Sounds of Tantra, Chants to the Sun and Moon, and Sounds of the Chakras.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Principles of tantra yoga
2 Kundalini and yoga
3 The essentials of the chakras
Muladhara chakra (First chakra)
Svadhishthana chakra (Second chakra)
Manipura chakra (Third chakra)
Anahata chakra (Foruth chakra)
Vishuddha chakra (Fifth chakra)
Ajna chakra (Sixth chakra)
Sorna chakra
Sahasrara chakra (Seventh chakra)
4 Chakras, rebrith, and spirituality
Appendix: Extracts from Hindu scriptures on the various stages of yoga
Glossary
Index

The Indian origin story of Ganesh, the elephant headed god, who is created from sandlewood to guard his mother with unexpected results. A story about familial love and devotion. Contains a list of characters in the front and an author's note that talks about the themes in the book and how to talk about them with children. The art is beautiful and all done through a traditional process detailed at the end of the story.

This tells the story of the HIndu deity Ganesh. Ganesh began as a chubby little boy who was created by his mother from sandalwood paste. The little boy was created to guard his mother and he did a wonderful job of keeping intruders away. Soon, people decided to fight back and eventually Shiva and Vishnu cut off the little boys head. The mother is outraged and demands her son back. Vishnu searches for an appropriate head and decides on an elephant. The boy becomes wiser and eventually rules the Sivaganans. Ganesh helps to remove obstacles.

The story of how Ganesh, a famed god in the Indian culture, got his head is a rather complicated on. Through many battles to protect his mother, Ganesh eventually loses his head. His mother, so distrought from this loss, insists the other gods find a proper head for him.

I know next to nothing about traditional Hindu mythology, so I was very excited to read this book and learn about one of its beloved figures. The book is exciting, detailed, and feels very authentic to the culture it is portraying. I love traditional mythology, and while I found this book to have a slightly terrifying twist (beheadings all), I still learned more about Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh than I would have imagined. I will be adding this book to the traditional lit. section of my classroom library, and may use it for a unit on world mythologies and religions.

Excellent descriptive book/resource on Indian herbs and spices. One of the best out there.

Geometric forms used for centuries as tools for meditation, Tantric yantras were lost to the modern world until Johari's research revealed them. His illustrations of yantras are reproduced in full color. This book is the perfect next step for those wishing to know more about the esoteric aspects of Tantra. Detailed explanations of Mantras, Yantras and ritual are included here. Many full color plates show the various Hindu goddesses and their relational aspects to the inner life. Precise construction methods for the Yantras and full color plates are also included. Harish Johari is an excellent artist and his detailed drawings and paintings embelish the often difficult to find, rich information this book provides.

This book is a classic in its field.

An in-depth discussion of the science of Swara Yoga, which teaches the conscious observation and control of breathing patterns to maximize energy and enhance physical and psychic health.

For centuries, yogis have known what modern scientists are just beginning to recognize--that life force is regulated by breath, and breath energy is controlled by mind.

The author explains the sensory network of the nose and its effect on the subtle channels of energy throughout the body, showing a direct link between conscious breathing and the electrochemical balance of the brain and nervous system.

From the Back Cover:

Modern scientists are just now beginning to understand what yogis have known for centuries--that the life force animating our physical bodies is regulated by breath, and that the breath energy is controlled by the mind. The esoteric and practical science of Swara Yoga or Swar Yoga--presented in this book for the first time in English--teaches conscious observation and control of breathing patterns to maximize energy and vitality.

Tantric Scholar and author of Tools for Tantra, Chakras, and The Healing Power of Gemstones, HARISH JOHARI brings an in-depth knowledge of ancient Hindu sciences to this discussion of breath and the yoga of balanced living. His is the first guidebook for Westerners to offer a comprehensive treatment of the subject, providing information from Sanskrit texts otherwise unavailable in the English Language. He explains the sensory network of the nose and its effect on the subtle channels of energy throughout the body, showing the direct link between the practice of conscious breathing and the electrochemical balance of the brain and nervous system. He also shows how the breath, alternating between left and right nostrils, is influenced by solar and lunar forces and how one can attune to these natural rhythms and universal laws for greater health and well-being.

Johari's mastery of Swara Yoga techniques is apparent in the broad scope of Breath, Mind and Consciousness: included are a discussion of the phases of the five elements in the breathing cycle, exercises for physical and psychic healing, the means for determining which nostril is active, and instructions for conceiving a son or a daughter.

In te ancient science of tantra, the human body is viewed as the most perfect instrument for the expression of consciousness, a perfection realised through the development of psychic centres known as chakras.

In "Chakras....", Indian scholar and Tantra practitioner Harish Johari introduces the classical principles of the chakras as well as their practical application for today.

Great for introducing non European mythology. This is a beautiful story about one of the most famous and important Hindu Gods.

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head is a fantastic adaption of Hindu Indian folklore on the story that leads to exactly what you'd expect from the title. Gods and goddesses struggle and battle over the loyalty and courage of a small boy, whose only wish is to be true to his promises to his mother. I learned much about the mythology of Hindu gods and goddesses, and their places within the heavens and Earth. This is a great story to have children learn more about the values of other religions and cultures, or simply learn about the myth of Ganesh. I was delighted by the adaption of the story by Vatsala Sperling and illustrations by Pieter Weltevrede.

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head is a story about a child’s devotion and
loyalty to his mother, Parvati has created her son to look out for her.
The creation of the boy initiated an unattended war. The war led to her
son beheaded by her husband. In apology the gods who were part of this
destruction begged for Parvati not to destroy the Heavens and the
Earth, which she summoned because of her anger. They promised to find
a suitable head for her son. The gods approached mother elephant who
agreed to give up her baby to prevent a disastrous war. In the mean time
the Shivaganas had stirred up trouble and all the gods had been too busy
to help their people. The gods decided a new god needed to be created
and given the role to help people with morals and day to day questions.
The gods decided one of Parvati’s sons should take the role. A rave was
arranges between her new elephant headed son and her first son
Kartikeya. The race began and the goal was to circle the entire universe
and the first to return would be chosen as Shiva’s representative to lead
the Shivaganas on Earth. Kartikeya too off on his peacock to fly around
the world, and the elephant headed son jumped on his mouse and circled
his parents. He was told to keep going that the race had only just begun.
His response was that his parents are his entire universe. “You have given
me life.” With his wise and intelligent insight he was chosen and given the
name of Ganesh, which means, leader of the Shivaganas. His job is now to
help people on Earth whenever they are in trouble or in need.

Geometric forms used for centuries as tools for meditation, Tantric yantras were lost to the modern world until Johari's research revealed them. His illustrations of yantras are reproduced in full color. This book is the perfect next step for those wishing to know more about the esoteric aspects of Tantra. Detailed explanations of Mantras, Yantras and ritual are included here. Many full color plates show the various Hindu goddesses and their relational aspects to the inner life. Precise construction methods for the Yantras and full color plates are also included. Harish Johari is an excellent artist and his detailed drawings and paintings embelish the often difficult to find, rich information this book provides.

This book is a classic in its field.

This book has a lot of words and pages and is pretty advanced. I would not share it with children younger than fourth or fifth grade. Great book for giving an insight into another culture.