Ritual and Mantras: Rules Without Meaning

This book is an original study of rituals and mantras which allows that rites lead a life of their own, unaffected by religion or society. In its analysis of Vedic ritual, it uses methods inspired by logic, linguistics, anthropology and Asian studies. New insights are offered into various topics including music, bird song, and the origin of language. The discussion culminates in a proposal for a new human science that challenges the current dogma of the "two cultures" of sciences and humanities.