The Hindu World

Description

The Hindu World is the most complete, authoritative and up-to-date one-volume guide to Hindu faith and culture available today. Written by the world's leading scholars on Hinduism, its twenty-four chapters explore the history, philosophy and practice of one of the world's great religious traditions.

The Hindu World offers new insights into all aspects of Hindu life, ranging from the devotional texts of the Vedas and Ramayana to current perspectives on dharma and kama, temple architecture, sacred food, ritual, caste, cosmic philosophy, history and modernization. This is an ideal reference for students and scholars of Hinduism.

Contents

Part One: Introducing the Hindu World 1. On Hinduism and Hinduisms Part Two: Oral Teachings and Textual Traditions 2. Veda and Upanisad 3. Mahabharata 4. Ramayana 5. Purana Part Three: Theistic and Devotional Movements 6. Saiva 7. Sakta 8. Vaisnava 9. Bhakti Part Four: Cosmic Order and Human Goals 10. Dharma 11. Artha 12. Kama 13. Moksa Part Five: Social Action and Social Structure 14. Karma 15. Samskara 16. Varna and Jati 17. Asrama Part Six: Vitality in Persons and in Places 18. Anna 19. Grama 20. Alaya 21. Tirtha Part Seven: Linguistic and Philosophic Analysis 22. Bhasa 23. Darsana 24. Kala

Author Bio

Sushil Mittal is an Associate Professor and the director of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence at James Madison University in Virgina. Gene Thursby is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida. They have also co-edited Religions of South Asia (2006), published by Routledge.

Related Subjects

1. Theory & Religion
2. Hinduism
3. South Asian Studies