Ardor Hardcover – November 18, 2014

If you're looking for a book about the Vedas, this isn't the place to start. I'd suggest any of the books by Wendy Doniger, which are both readable and based on sound scholarship. What we have in this book are the author's self-described "meditations." There's a lot of emphasis on soma, even though that's actually a relatively minor element of Vedic ritual. And strong emphasis on the uniqueness of Vedic knowledge, while ignoring the Iranian parallels (haoma=soma, ahura=asura, etc., etc.). And the author jumbles together quotations from the samhita texts with quotes from works that are centuries later, especially the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, which reflect a significantly different outlook. And the book concludes with thoughts on modern philosophy, in which empirical science is denigrated by comparison with ritual and sacrifice. I suspect that the book is best appreciated under the influence of hashish.

A great lover of texts has given us a gift. If you play along with this genius, you might detect surprisingly recognizable harmonics. Invisible and unconventional but reflections, without distortion, without a doubt. A deeper appreciation of what he found when he wrote "Ka".If ever a book made me wish I was a better reader, this would be the one. One is humbled by his range, the ability to connect, the flashes of media - in papyrus here, in mantra there, a university researcher's key-board now, soot covered paper in some other corner.Borges RE: Kafka “His work modifies our conception of the past, as it will modify the future.” What Borges noted about Kafka is patently the case with Calasso.“the other one, the one called Borges” - J.L.BorgesCalasso shows in this book that others, many years before Borges, had the same realization - and then went beyond. Connecting precise action with unimaginable intent to access the invisible within and everywhere.Rereading sections and chapters continue to reward with new glimpses and flashes of brilliance. I would recommend patience and many departures and returns to visit different parts of this tome and realize the pleasures in the book.

Modern Hinduism gives reverence and lip service to the Vedas while primarily being derived from the Puranas and the Tantras. In consequence Vedic (meaning the Samhita hymns, and the Brahmana commentaries) are used ritually but their meaning is not really understood even by the purohits who make a good living from them.Mr. Calasso dives into the very difficult Satapatha Brahmana to understand and explain the mindset of the Vedic seers who designed the yagna rituals. It is the only work of its kind I have actually seen.Along the way he discusses and explains tapas, translated as "Ardor", libations, animal sacrifice, atman, the god Prajapati , the sage Yajnavalka and other familiar Vedic matters. All is done beautifully and with his characteristic depth.A wonderful work that is must reading for those who wish to understand the Vedic mindset.

I have read Calasso's "Ka" and "The marriage of Cadmus and Harmony" which were both brilliant works on Indian and Greek mythology. The style of narration was one of the best I have read with a very clear and precise understanding of these cultures and their stories.Ardor is a bit different. It is a more academic work and often will seem very dry. There are historical contexts to different modern western translations. Roberto Calasso comments on the historical prospective, the language difficulties and the cultural connotations (Aryan-Indian) with occasional comparisons to ancient Greeks and modern German philosophers (Kant and Schopenhauer).Ardor is a work of Metaphysics from the mouths of the ancients. It is a telling of the Rig Veda and Upanishads. The insights that Roberto brings are unique and is definitely worth the time and effort. This book is for someone intimately interested in Indian Vedantic Philosophy or Hindu culture and Traditions. This book should be complemented with other Indian works on Vedas/Upanishads or works of Indian Philosophy e.g. by Radhakrishnan.

Calasso, in a certain way, is a massive, hyper-intelligent, talking library. The extent of his erudition is difficult to overstate. But what's really impressive is the ability he has to make (extremely novel, highly insightful) connections from among his enormous repository of knowledge.Adding to this, the quality of the writing is difficult to describe. No wasted words, but a host of really powerful ones. The translator, Dixon, deserves a lot of credit. l can scarcely imagine how beautiful this book must be in its native Italian.If you are interested in the Vedas, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Equally so, however, if you are simply open to having your mind expanded, somewhat ironically without chemicals (given the emphasis on soma in the culture and texts on which Calasso is commenting).This was one of the first books I have ever read.

I'm enjoying it. I'm 3/4 the way through. Uhhhh I don't reviews but this is one. Do you enjoy learning about religion, spirituality? Do you enjoy both practical application and dry scholarly words? Apparently the Vedic tradition predates all other spiritual practices. The author has a way of transporting the reader back to that obscure time. He notes how we have no artifacts other than their words in the Vedas and Upanishads etc. It's supremely interesting. I plan on getting his older book "KA" soon. If you pick it up, given that you're the type of person that would pick it up, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

One of the best critics, essayists, philosophers alive today. This is part of a series on religion unlike anything else available. This one is about Hinduism. He's also written on Greece, Baudelaire, art history, Tiepolo, and numerous critical essays on a variety of topics. Superb writer. (This portion of review repeats for other books.)

Complicated but interesting and worthwhile to read . Comparisons between Vedic ,3000 yr ago, and modern culture are beautifully presented..

Roberto Calasso is a master. A literary genius. In this book, Ardor (TAPAS - to meditate) he brings us creation as described in Hindu mythology in Rgveda. He writes, re-examines the nature of ritual and meaning of life - from the old text. Bringing to life the writers, and 'characters' of 1000's of years gone by - to how we are now, our understanding of ourselves and society in our contemporary world.I have read other books by him - The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony (Greek mythologies, it's relationship to Egypt and leading to western civilisation)And the most marvellous Ka - which is so wonderful to read, bringing dense (and poetic) Vedic stories to life, in his inimitable style of playfulness, wry humour, and above all humanism. Pure genius.His death still makes me feel sad, such intellect, breath and generosity (and such hard work) that have allowed people like me who are interested in understanding our existence in this world and universe. Deeply indebted.

It is mature, lucid and incisive analysis of the concept of Vedic Yagya. Coupled as always with Calasso's exceptional insights into Myths being the foundation of Order and Disorder

Superb book. A little demanding but well worth the effort. Very reasonable price too!

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Ardor ardor ardor. Excellently written the most know matters but without knowing depth. Ardor finely detailed. After Ka, the amazing book on myths this Ardor is another series from "Calasso". I enjoyed it.