Hinduism has been a major religious faith for well over 3000 years, and Hindus today account for over 600 million people. Lipner's book is a highly readable study of its evolution, its multidimensional nature, and influence.

Your hands-on guide to one of the world's major religions The dominant religion of India, "Hinduism" refers to a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies that have developed over thousands of years. Today, the United States is home to approximately one million Hindus. If you've heard of this ancient religion and are looking for a reference that explains the intricacies of the customs, practices, and teachings of this ancient spiritual system, Hinduism For Dummies is for you! Provides a thorough introduction to this earliest and popular world belief system Information on the rites, rituals, deities, and teachings associated with the practice of Hinduism Explores the history and teachings of the Vedas, Brahmans, and Upanishads Offers insight into the modern daily practice of Hinduism around the world Continuing the Dummies tradition of making the world's religions engaging and accessible to everyone, Hinduism For Dummies is your hands-on, friendly guide to this fascinating religion.

A selection of Gandhiji s articles drawn mainly from his contributions to young india, the Harijan and the Navjivan on Hinduism. Written on different occassions, these articles present a picture of hindu dharma I all its richness, comprehensiveness and sensitivity to the existential delimmas of human existence.

Originally published in 1997 -- "A wonderful balance of detail and clarity with excellent introductory essays on the Indus Valley civilization, the Vedic Period, the Upanishads, and devotional Hinduism," Religious Studies Review; Choice Outstanding Academic Book - selling over 10,000 copies, and now revised and expanded to two volumes (Volume I: Major Deities and Social Structures) Herewith an outstanding introduction to the development of the religion of Hinduism from earliest times. While historical tradition is explored from as far back as pre-Aryan times in the fascinating ancient civilization that existed in India a few thousand years BCE, later expressions of religion and philosophy that informed early Hindu tradition are gleaned from its sacred texts. The author examines how present beliefs and practices have been informed by past traditions, and the resulting accommodation in Hinduism today. The book serves as an introduction to the two strands of theism and philosophical thought that emerged from early scriptures as they are expressed independently in Hinduism as well as in those traditions where they are woven together to create new religious movements. No prior knowledge of Hinduism is required. Contents include: The Indus Valley Civilization; The Vedic Period; Vedanta; The Advaita Vedanta of Sankara; Influential Theories (Samkhya and Yoga); Devotional Hinduism; The Bhagavad Gita; Songs of the Poets; The theistic philosophy of Ramanuja; The devotional theism of Caitanya; Unity and diversity.

An engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world's oldest major religions, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. The Hindus brings a fascinating multiplicity of actors and stories to the stage to show how brilliant and creative thinkers have kept Hinduism alive in ways that other scholars have not fully explored. In this unique and authoritative account, debates about Hindu traditions become platforms to consider history as a whole.

2 Hinduism books in 1: Hinduism: Adopting Hinduism as a Way of Life Hinduism: Hinduism for Beginners - The Ultimate Guide to Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals and Hindu Religion Book 1: Learn How To Adopt Hinduism as a Way of Life Hinduism is the oldest and the third largest religion by population. There are more than a billion Hindus in India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Mauritius, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, and elsewhere in the world who practice the faith. However, many scholars and practitioners believe that Hinduism is not a religion at all - it is a way of life, as Hinduism explains the purpose of human life, what you should and shouldn't do, how you should behave with others, and how you should carry out your duties and responsibilities. There are many aspects of Hinduism that makes it distinct from any other religion. For instance, there is no founder. Hinduism developed from the faiths and traditions of the earliest people who practiced it, and it is still evolving. Hinduism believes that God is within us, and everywhere in the universe. This book contains detailed information on the Hindu way of life. You will learn about Dharma and how to lead the life in a dharmic way so that you can achieve self-awareness, realize the true potential of your atman or soul, find God, and become free from the cycle of life and death. I will introduce you to the concepts of atman, moksha, sanatan dharma, the Hindu theories of evolution, and the duties and responsibilities of all Hindus. I will show you how faith, devotion, dharma and artistic expression are a way of life. You will learn about the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita. Finally, I will explain the meaning of life, and show you how to find God within you and in the outside universe. Within this book, you'll find the answers to these questions and more. Just some of the questions and topics covered include Understanding Hinduism Atman or the Eternal Soul Theories of Evolution in Hinduism Hinduism is Not a Religion Hinduism as a Way of Life Top Reasons That Makes Hinduism a Way of Life Living According to Dharma for Self Realization The Hindu Way of Life - Ten Duties Distinguishing Features of Hinduism And more! The Ultimate Guide to Hindu Gods, Hindu Beliefs, Hindu Rituals and Hindu Religion In this book, we will explore numerous beliefs held by this diverse group of people. We will look at some of the legends of the divine "angels" which serve Brahman. Also, we will delve into some of the rituals which are common within Hinduism. In addition, we will do some comparative religion, looking at some of the similarities and differences between Hinduism and some other philosophies. This will allow us not only to gain greater insight into Hinduism but see the common threads of philosophy found in many of the great religions of the world. Within this book, you'll find the answers to these questions and more. Just some of the questions and topics covered include The Meaning of Hinduism Brahman and Atman Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Indra and other Key Gods and Godesses Durga, Kali and Mariamman Karma Reincarnation Hindu Rituals Hinduism versus Other Belief Systems Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Tales of the Brahmin And more! Get your copy now and learn more about Hinduism

Some postcolonial theorists argue that the idea of a single system of belief known as "Hinduism" is a creation of nineteenth-century British imperialists. Andrew J. Nicholson introduces another perspective: although a unified Hindu identity is not as ancient as some Hindus claim, it has its roots in innovations within South Asian philosophy from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries. During this time, thinkers treated the philosophies of Vedanta, Samkhya, and Yoga, along with the worshippers of Visnu, Siva, and Sakti, as belonging to a single system of belief and practice. Instead of seeing such groups as separate and contradictory, they re-envisioned them as separate rivers leading to the ocean of Brahman, the ultimate reality. Drawing on the writings of philosophers from late medieval and early modern traditions, including Vijnanabhiksu, Madhava, and Madhusudana Sarasvati, Nicholson shows how influential thinkers portrayed Vedanta philosophy as the ultimate unifier of diverse belief systems. This project paved the way for the work of later Hindu reformers, such as Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan, and Gandhi, whose teachings promoted the notion that all world religions belong to a single spiritual unity. In his study, Nicholson also critiques the way in which Eurocentric concepts—like monism and dualism, idealism and realism, theism and atheism, and orthodoxy and heterodoxy—have come to dominate modern discourses on Indian philosophy.

Hinduism is practised by about 80% of India's population, and by about 30,000,000 people outside India. But how is Hinduism defined, and what basis does the religion have? This work gives concise insights into the central preoccupations of Hinduism.