Hinduism: The Basics

Hinduism: The Basics introduces readers to the third largest, and arguably the oldest, living religious tradition. It opens a vista into the rich and dynamic ethos of the Hindu religious tradition in India and other parts of the world. The book explores the variety of philosophical schools, priestly rituals, and popular practices common in the Hindu faith, presenting the layered diversity of its traditions and how they function in everyday life.

Chapters unpack key concepts from the tradition and discussions about its various aspects, including:

• The historical development of Hinduism
• Religious practices such as pilgrimage, meditation, and life cycle rituals
• The organisation of Hindu society into castes and related social justice issues
• The spread of Hinduism around the world, the rise of Hindu nationalism, and other challenges of modernity
• The continuum between sacred texts in both elite Sanskrit and in South Asian vernacular languages
• Hindu worldviews including karma, reincarnation, and ethics
• The vitality of indigenous cultures in every form of Hinduism

Featuring glossaries, timelines, suggestions for further reading, and a list of key deities as well as practices, this is an ideal introduction to Hindu beliefs and traditions for undergraduates and others new to the study of Hinduism.

Neelima Shukla-Bhatt is an Assistant Professor in South Asia Studies at Wellesley College, Wellesley, USA.