Introducing Hinduism, 2nd Edition is the ideal sourcebook for those seeking a comprehensive overview of the Hindu tradition. This second edition includes substantial treatments of Tantra, South India, and women, as well as expanded discussions of yoga, Vedanta and contemporary configurations of Hinduism in the West. Its lively presentation features: case studies, photographs, and scenarios that invite the reader into the lived world of Hinduism; introductory summaries, key points, discussion questions, and recommended reading lists at the end of each chapter; narrative summaries of the great epics and other renowned Hindu myths and lucid explanations of complex Indian philosophical teachings, including Sankhya and Kashmir Saivism; and a glossary, timeline, and pronunciation guide for an enhanced learning experience. This volume is an invaluable resource for students in need of an introduction to the key tenets and diverse practice of Hinduism, past and present.
Introduction
1. Vedic Religion and the Sanskrit Language
2. Karma, Time, and Cosmology
3. Hindu Social Organization and Values
4. Dharma and the Individual
5. Indian Philosophical Schools
6. The Epics, Bhagavad-Gītā, and the Rise of Bhakti
7. Major Hindu Sects, Deities, and Purāṇic Myths
8. The Hindu Temple and Worship Rituals
9. Tantra
10. Colonization and Reform
11. Transnational Hinduism in Asia
12. Revitalization and Modernity
13. Hinduism and the West
Biography
Hillary P. Rodrigues is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge, Canada. His many authored and edited works include Studying Hinduism in Practice (Routledge 2011) and Introduction to the Study of Religion (Routledge 2009).
"In this new edition Rodrigues extends his comprehensive approach to Hinduism’s long history and complex network of sacred stories, ritual practices, and philosophical thought that he constructed in the first edition. This new edition weaves case studies of communities, leaders, and perspectives that take the reader closer into the lived realities of Hindu life. For students and readers who want to know where to begin in their understanding of Hinduism, this is the book." Paul B. Courtright, Emory University, USA
"This edition will provide a comprehensive and useful introduction, starting point, and reference to the Hindu tradition… . It is extremely well suited for the classroom." Sushil Mittal, Professor of Hindu Studies, James Madison University, USA
"Introducing Hinduism is, quite simply, the best book of its kind. An instructor can, by being selective, use it quite effectively as an introductory text, but it has enough depth that it can be a springboard for more advanced examination of primary texts or anthropological case studies. It is comprehensive, thorough and engaging enough for the general reader to get an excellent grounding in the dauntingly complex web of Hindu traditions." David McMahan, Franklin and Marshall College, USA
