672 Pages
    by Routledge

    672 Pages
    by Routledge

    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.

    Note on Transliteration, Contributors, Bhumika by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby, Part One: Introducing The Hindu World, 1. On Hinduism And Hinduisms: The Way Of The Banyan By Julius Lipner, Part Two: Oral Teachings And Textual Traditions, 2. Veda And Upanisad By Laurie L. Patton, 3. Mahabharata By James L. Fitzgerald, 4. Ramayana By Robert P. Goldman And Sally J. Sutherland Goldman, 5. Purana By Velcheru Narayana Rao, Part Three: Theistic And Devotional Movements, 6. Saiva By Gavin Flood, 7. Sakta By Kathleen M. Erndl, 8. Vaisnava By Francis X. Clooney And Tony K. Stewart, 9. Bhakti By David N. Lorenzen, Part Four: Cosmic Order And Human Goals, 10. Dharma By Barbara A. Holdrege, 11. Artha By Hartmut Scharfe, 12. Kama By Dermot Killingley, 13. Moksa By Klaus K. Klostermaier, Part Five: Social Action And Social Structure, 14. Karma By Herman W. Tull, 15. Samskara By Mary Mcgee, 16. Varna And Jati By Mckim Marriott, 17. Asrama By Walter O. Kaelber, Part Six: Vitality In Persons And In Places, 18. Anna By R. S. Khare, 19. Grama By Susan S. Wadley, 20. Alaya By Vasudha Narayanan, 21. Tirtha By James Lochtefeld And Surinder M. Bhardwaj, Part Seven: Linguistic And Philosophic Analysis, 22. Bhasa by Madhav M. Deshpande, 23. Darsana by John A. Grimes, 24. Kala by Randy Kloetzli and Alf Hiltebeitel, References CitedIndex

    Biography

    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.

    A comprehensive introduction to multiple aspects of Hindu realities from scriptural to sociological, and possibly the only textbook on Hinduism organized according to indigenous categories; a wonderful resource for students and scholars at many levels.

    Ann Grodzins Gold, Professor of Religion and Anthropology, Syracuse University, USA