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Hinduism beliefs & practices / Jeaneane Fowler.
Van Pelt Library BL1202 .F68 2014 v.1
Available
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Fowler, Jeaneane D., author.
- Series:
- Sussex library of religious beliefs and practices
- The Sussex library of religious beliefs & practices
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Hinduism.
- Physical Description:
- 2 volumes ; 25 cm.
- Edition:
- Revised and expanded edition.
- Other Title:
- Hinduism beliefs and practices
- Place of Publication:
- Chicago : Sussex Academic Press, 2014.
- Summary:
- Originally published in 1997, and awarded Choice Outstanding Academic Book, Hinduism Beliefs & Practice: Religious History and Philosophy, and its forthcoming companion volume, Major Deities and Social Structure, are published in revised and expanded editions that set out in a proven explanatory format the many expressions of religious belief in India. 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. Book jacket.
- Contents:
- 1 The Indus Civilization 5
- Archaeological explorations 5
- Roots of the Indus civilization 7
- Mehrgarh 8
- Indications of religion at Mehrgarh 10
- Early civilisation in northern India and Pakistan 13
- Early Indus Period 15
- Indications of religion in the Early Indus Period 16
- The Transitional or Intermediate Period 16
- The Mature/Urban Indus civilisation 17
- Mohenjo-daro and Harappa 20
- The Indus inscriptions 22
- Seals and scalings 23
- Indications of religion in the Mature Period 24
- The Late/Post Urban Period 38
- The demise of the Indus civilization 40
- 2 The Vedas 42
- Origins of the Aryans 42
- The four Vedas 46
- The interface between the Indus civilization and the Vedic period 51
- The Vedic poets 55
- The cosmic law: Rita 56
- Sacrificial ceremony: Yajna 60
- Creation 63
- Vedic deities 67
- Gods 69
- Goddesses 76
- Concluding remarks 80
- 3 Vedanta 82
- Relation to the four Vedas 82
- The Upanisads 83
- Brahman 89
- Atman 93
- Brahman-alman 95
- Yoga 98
- Reincarnation 98
- The empirical self 100
- Creation 103
- The means to ultimate Reality 105
- Liberation 107
- 4 Advaita Vedanta 109
- Background to the school 109
- General features of the school 112
- Reality: The Advaita view of the world 112
- Sarnkara's concept of Brahman 116
- Maya and avidya 117
- Knowledge 121
- The self 124
- Causality 130
- The concept of God 134
- Liberation 137
- Concluding remarks 142
- 5 Influential Theories: Samkhya and Classical Yoga 145
- Samkhya 145
- Background to the school 145
- Main proponents and commentators 146
- Reality: The Samkhya view of the world 147
- Prakrti 148
- Knowledge 155
- The Self: Purusas 156
- The interaction of purusas and prakrti 158
- Causality 159
- The absence of God 161
- Liberation 161
- Classical Yoga 163
- Background to the school 163
- General features of the school 165
- Reality: The view of the world in Classical Yoga 166
- Knowledge 167
- Citta 168
- The eight angas of Yoga 169
- The self 171
- Karma 172
- Causality 176
- The concept of God 177
- Liberation 180
- Concluding remarks 182
- 6 Devotional Hinduism: The Bhagavad Gita 184
- The concept of God 185
- Creation 192
- The Self: Atman 195
- Dharma 198
- Paths to God: Yoga 200
- Jñana-marga: The path of knowledge 203
- Karma-marga: The path of detached action 206
- Bhakti-marga: The path of devotion 209
- Liberation 212
- 7 Devotional Hinduism: The Rise of Vaisnava Bhakti in Medieval India 216
- The meaning of bhakti 216
- The origins of bhakti 218
- Characteristics of saguna bhakti 219
- Poet-saints 224
- Vaisnava bhakti 226
- Sri-Vaisnavism 228
- The Alvars 229
- Nammalvar 232
- Perialvar and Antal 236
- The Sri-Vaisnava Acaryas 238
- Ramanuja 240
- The Sri-Vaisnava poets of Maharashtra 246
- Tukaram 247
- Women poets of Maharashtra 249
- Northern Vaisnava saints 251
- Surdas 251
- Tulsidas 253
- Mirabai 255
- 8 Devotional Hinduism: The Rise of Saiva Bhakti in Medieval India 260
- Saiva bhakti 260
- Karaikkal Ammaiyar 261
- The muvar 265
- Appar 268
- Sambandar 271
- Sundarar 273
- Manikka Vacakar 276
- Saiva Siddhanta 280
- ViraSaivas/Lingayatas 282
- Kashmir Saivism 288
- 9 Diversity and Unity 292.
- Notes:
- Previously published: 1997.
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Volume I. Major deities and social structures -- Volume II. Religious history and philosophy.
- ISBN:
- 9781845196226
- 1845196228
- OCLC:
- 870530885
- Publisher Number:
- 99961517900
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