Hinduism Books

Book SynopsisTells the epic tale of the youthful exploits of prince Naravahanadatta. This title takes the reader from royal palaces to flying sorcerers' mountain fastnesses via courtesans' bedrooms and merchant ships.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisDetails the final destruction of the Kaurava army and the defeat of its leader, Dur*yodhana.Trade ReviewThe books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance. -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs. * Tricycle *The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes. * New Criterion *Published in the geek-chic format. * BookForum *

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Book SynopsisNaravahanadatta's epic quest to become the human emperor of the sorcerers leads him and his companions to win yet more wives. Unfortunately, the surviving manuscripts of the text break off while he is in pursuit of his sixth wife.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisIncludes messenger poems that evoke the pain of separated sweethearts through the formula of an estranged lover pleading with a messenger to take a message to his or her beloved.Trade Review"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisIn combat and in the bedroom, ten individuals juggle virtue and vice on their heroic progress from adolescence to maturity.Trade Review"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"#7220;The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *

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Book SynopsisThe king despairs of his idle sons, so he hires a learned brahmin who promises to make their lessons in statecraft unmissable. The lessons are disguised as short stories, featuring mainly animal protagonists.Trade ReviewPublished in the geek-chic format. * BookForum *The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance. -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes. * New Criterion *No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs. * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisPresents the Buddha's teaching as the culmination of the Brahmanical traditionTrade Review"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisAfter Bhishma is cut down, Duryodhana selects Drona as leader of his forces. Drona accepts the honor with Bhishma's blessing, despite his ongoing personal conflicts as mentor to both the Pandava and Kaurava heroes in their youth. The fighting rages on, with heavy losses on both sides.Trade ReviewThe Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes. * New Criterion *Published in the geek-chic format. * BookForum *The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance. -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs. * Tricycle *No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience. * The Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisIncludes numerous animal fables that are interwoven with human stories, all designed to instruct wayward princes. This volume also contains the compact version of King Vikrama's Adventures, thirty-two popular tales about a generous emperor, told by thirty-two statuettes adorning his lion-throne.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisAs evening falls, Arjuna journeys wearily back to camp and is greeted by the ashen faces of his brothers. Before they speak, he guesses the worst. And the worst is right: his son Abhimanyu is dead. Arjuna is inconsolable. Insensible with rage, he vows to take revenge on the boy's killers. The world seems to shudder at his words.

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Book SynopsisThe machinations of King Agnimitra's jester to help him add a dancing girl to his harem in spite of the subtle intrigues of the two jealous queens carry the gallant hero through hope and despair to the happy ending.

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Book SynopsisThe Dark Age Ridiculed, by Nílakantha, Beguiling Artistry, by Ksheméndra, The Hundred Allegories, by BhállataWritten over a period of nearly a thousand years, these works show three very different approaches to satire. Nílakantha gets straight to the point: swindlers prey on stupidity.The artistry that beguiles Ksheméndra is as varied as human nature and just as fallible. We are off to a gentle start Sanctimonious?really no more than a warm-up among vicesbut soon graduate to Greed and Lust. From there it''s downhill all the way, as unfaithfulness leads on to fraud, and drunkenness to depravity; deception and quackery bring up the rear. What''s this at the very end? Virtue? A late arrival, pale and unconvincing.This volume presents three Indian satirists with three different strategies: in the ninth century C.E., Bhállata sought vengeance on his boorish new king by producing vicious sarcastic verse, The Hundred Allegories; in the eleventh century, Ksheméndra presents himself as a social reformer out to shame the complacent into compliance with Vedic morality; and in the seventeenth century little can redeem the fallen characters Nílakantha portrays, so his duty is simply to warn about the corruption of every social type.Co-published by New York University Press and the JJC FoundationFor more on this title and other titles in the Clay Sanskrit series, please visit http://www.claysanskritlibrary.orgTrade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *

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Book SynopsisA collection of tales based on "The Long Story", a lost (and perhaps legendary) repository of Indian fables, in which prince Naravahanadatta wins twenty-six wives and becomes the emperor of the sorcerers.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Now an ambitious new publishing project, the Clay Sanskrit Library brings together leading Sanskrit translators and scholars of Indology from around the world to celebrate in translating the beauty and range of classical Sanskrit literature. . . . Published as smart green hardbacks that are small enough to fit into a jeans pocket, the volumes are meant to satisfy both the scholar and the lay reader. Each volume has a transliteration of the original Sanskrit text on the left-hand page and an English translation on the right, as also a helpful introduction and notes. Alongside definitive translations of the great Indian epics30 or so volumes will be devoted to the Maha·bhárat itselfClay Sanskrit Library makes available to the English-speaking reader many other delights: The earthy verse of Bhartri·hari, the pungent satire of Jayánta Bhatta and the roving narratives of Dandin, among others. All these writers belong properly not just to Indian literature, but to world literature." * LiveMint *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *

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Book SynopsisThe Pandavas, happily settled in Indraprastha, enjoy one glorious success after another. Yudhishthira, after erecting the most magnificent hall on earth, decides to perform the Royal Consecration Sacrifice, which will raise his status to that of the world's greatest sovereign. His brothers travel far and wide and conquer all known kingdoms.Trade Review"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *

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Book SynopsisPresents the teachings of Bhishma as he lies dying on the battlefield, after the epic war between the Pandavas and Kauravas.

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Book SynopsisA collection of fourteen stories that depict Buddha's quest for enlightenment in his former lives. It shows how Buddha suffers mutilations from the wicked and sacrifices himself for those he seeks to save.Trade ReviewIf the theological concepts can be complicated, the language and the stories that illustrate them are simple and direct, full of dramatic incident and studded with metaphors that made the world of old India as palpable and romantic as the Baghdad of the Arabian Nights . . . * Harpers Magazine *

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Book SynopsisShort lyrical poems in a Sanskrit-English bilingual edition.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisPresents the events of the two dramatic days after the defeat of the great warriors and generals Bhishma and Drona, in which Karna - great hero and the eldest Pandava - leads the Kaurava army into combat.Trade Review"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *

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Book SynopsisPresents the events that occurred during the mighty hero Karna's two days as general of the Kaurava army. This title deals with the war's seventeenth and penultimate day.Trade Review"The Clay Sanskrit Library represents one of the most admirable publishing projects now afoot. . . . Anyone who loves the look and feel and heft of books will delight in these elegant little volumes." * New Criterion *"Published in the geek-chic format." * BookForum *"The books line up on my shelf like bright Bodhisattvas ready to take tough questions or keep quiet company. They stake out a vast territory, with works from two millennia in multiple genres: aphorism, lyric, epic, theater, and romance." -- Willis G. Regier * The Chronicle Review *"No effort has been spared to make these little volumes as attractive as possible to readers: the paper is of high quality, the typesetting immaculate. The founders of the series are John and Jennifer Clay, and Sanskritists can only thank them for an initiative intended to make the classics of an ancient Indian language accessible to a modern international audience." * The Times Higher Education Supplement *"“t;Very few collections of Sanskrit deep enough for research are housed anywhere in North America. Now, twenty-five hundred years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, the ambitious Clay Sanskrit Library may remedy this state of affairs." * Tricycle *

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Book SynopsisIn this timely, nuanced collection, twenty leading cultural theorists assess the contradictory ideals, policies, and practices of secularism in India.Trade Review“Indian public debates on the question of secularism have been among the most thought-provoking in the contemporary world. This rich collection of essays by Indian intellectuals (including historians, political scientists, and philosophers) reflects the sophisticated character of many of the arguments being deployed. I strongly recommend it to anyone who has been seriously thinking about this problem.”—Talal Asad, author of Formations of the Secular: Christianity, Islam, Modernity“This very rich collection of essays from a stellar line of contributors is remarkable not only because it updates Indian debates on secularism. It also evinces a spirit of scrupulous engagement with the present by deliberately situating itself in the shadow of the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002. Philosophical, historical, and contemporary at the same time, these essays add a new dimension to global discussions of liberalism and the politics of the religious Right.”—Dipesh Chakrabarty, author of Habitations of Modernity: Essays in the Wake of Subaltern Studies“This illuminating anthology not only speaks volumes about its distinguished editors but also demands close reading of the scholarly articles by a group of humanists, social scientists, and legal practitioners of India and the U. S. . . . The aim of this timely and scholarly anthology is to provide a forum with a view to brainstorming a model for a viable, reasonable, and rational secular society in post-Gujarat India.” -- Narasingha P. Sil * Religious Studies Review *“This insightful and informative volume benefits from contributors who are leaders in their fields and is to be recommended to anyone with an interest in religion in India for its sometimes provocative, but always thoughtful engagement with a vitally important contemporary issue which has much broader ramifications in India and elsewhere.” -- Catherine Robinson * Journal of Contemporary Religion *Table of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction / Rajeswari Sunder Rajan and Anuradha Dingwaney Needham 1 I. Secularism’s Historical Background Reflections on the Category of Secularism in India: Gandhi, Ambedkar, and the Ethics of Communal Representation, c. 1931 / Shabnum Tejani 45 A View from the South: Ramasami’s Public Critique of Religion / Paula Richman and V. Geetha 66 Nehru’s Faith / Sunil Khilnani 89 II. Secularism and Democracy Closing the Debate on Secularism: A Personal Statement / Ashis Nandy 107 Living with Secularism / Nivedita Menon 118 The Contradictions of Secularism / Partha Chatterjee 141 Secular Nationalism, Hindutva, and the Minority / Gyan Prakash 177 III. Sites of Secularism: Education, Media, and Cinema Secularism, History, and the Contemporary Politics in India / Romila Thapar 191 The Gujarat Experiment and Hindu National Realism: Lessons from Secularism / Arvind Rajagopal 208 Secularism and Popular Indian Cinema / Shyam Benegal 225 Neither State nor Faith: The Transcendental Significance of the Cinema / Ravi S. Vasudevan 239 IV. Secularism and Personal Law Siting Secularism in the Uniform Civil Code: A “Riddle Wrapped Inside an Enigma”? / Upendra Baxi 267 The Supreme Court, the Media, and the Uniform Civil Code Debate in India / Flavia Agnes 294 Secularism and the Very Concept of Law / Akeel Bilgrami 316 V. Conversion Literacy and Conversion in the Discourse of Hindu Nationalism / Gauri Viswanathan 333 Christian Conversions, Hindutva, and Secularism / Sumit Sarkar 356 Appendix: Chronology of the Career of Secularism in India / Dwaipayan Sen 369 Works Cited 373 Contributors 397 Index 401

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Book SynopsisA collection that challenges the binary conception of conservative religion versus progressive secularism by highlighting the existence of multiple secularisms.Trade Review“The greatest strengths of [Secualarisms] are its thoughtful, incisive theoretical grounding and its inclusion of multiple minority reports which taken together challenge conventional secularism theorizing as it has developed.” - Jonathan Seitz, Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory“Do you think you already know what secularism means? One virtue of this book is that the authors examine several modes and dimensions of secularism in different places, always closely attentive to the specific religious practices with which it is imbricated. Another is that the essays, taken together, loosen up the political imagination, allowing us to think outside the two-slot system—‘either secularism or theocracy’—which has such debilitating effects on political thought. An admirable collection of essays.”—William E. Connolly, author of Capitalism and Christianity, American Style“The greatest strengths of Secualarisms are its thoughtful, incisive theoretical grounding and its inclusion of multiple minority reports which taken together challenge conventional secularism theorizing as it has developed.” -- Jonathan Seitz * Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: Times Like These / Janet R. Jakobsen and Ann Pellegrini 1 Part 1. Secular Interventions 1. (Un)Veiling Feminism / Afsaneh Najmabadi 39 2. Secularism and Laicism in Turkey / Taha Parla and Andrew Davison 58 3. Women Between Community and State: Some Implications of the Uniform Civil Code Debates / Rajeswari Sunder Rajan 76 4. Other Moderns, Other Jews: Revisiting Jewish Secularism in America / Laura Levitt 107 5. Disappearances: Race, Religion, and the Progress Narrative of U.S. Feminism / Tracy Fessenden 139 6. Late Secularism / Robert J. Baird 162 7. What Tangled Webs We Weave: Science, Secularism, and Religion in Contemporary India / Banu Subramaniam 178 Part 2. Secular Relations: Micronarratives 8. Secularizing the Pain of Footbinding in China: Missionary and Medical Stagings of the Universal Body / Angela Zito 205 9. Ghostly Appearances / Geeta Patel 226 10. "The Quick, the Dead, and the Yet Unborn": Untimely Sexualities and Secular Hauntings / Molly McGarry 247 Part 3. Public Alternatives 11. Toward Secular Diaspora: Relocating Religion and Politics / Tyler Roberts 283 12. Feminisms and Secularisms / Kathleen Sands 308 13. Continuity or Rupture? An Argument for Secular Britain / Ranu Samantrai 330 Bibliography 353 Contributors 387 Index 391

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Book SynopsisEssays illuminate the extraordinarily varied and dynamic intellectual developments underway in India and Tibet during the three centuries prior to the consolidation of British imperial power in 1800.Trade Review“Cultural and postcolonial studies scholars conceptualize colonial power as overwhelmingly domineering, paying little attention to the complex changes underway in South Asia before British imperial domination. This creates a substantive gap, which Forms of Knowledge in Early Modern Asia begins to fill. This collection of excellent essays is a major addition to the literature on early modern Asia.”—David Ludden, author of Early Capitalism and Local History in South India“Deserving of our attention in their own right as splendid scholarly contributions to the growing field of early-modern studies in South Asia and Tibet, the essays in this collection have the additional merit of addressing, often explicitly, the fallacious but widespread tendency on the part of many to pronounce on colonial knowledge or modernity in the subcontinent without much engagement with what preceded them. Students of both precolonial and colonial South Asia will benefit from this book.”—Dipesh Chakrabarty, author of Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference“Forms of Knowledge in Early Modern Asia succeeds in more than just skimming the surface of South Asian scholarship, and as a new entry in arelatively sparse field, opens several important questions about how we, as scholars, recognize and define systems of knowledge in early modern history.” -- Emily Rook-Koepsel * Journal of Early Modern History *”Yet the synergy created by bringing these excellent essays together in a single volume opens up new frameworks for the analysis of intellectual history. Forms of Knowledge in Early Modern Asia is an exciting and path-breaking volume of essays that will surely entice others to undertake research along similar lines.” -- Cynthia Talbot * Asian Studies Reader *“This compilation of essays is a valuable contribution to a nascent scholarly field that is beginning to chip away at too-long-held assumptions about the degree and kind of modernity that developed in South Asia.” -- Erin E. O’Donnell * History: Reviews of New Books *“Given the range of geographic and linguistic areas that this volume covers, scholars might be tempted to read only those essays pertaining to their fields of specialization. The advantage of this book’s breadth, however, is that it enables the identification of wider trends that cross particular language zones. On the other hand, the overlapping themes that emerge in the course of such a study are balanced by the high level of detail in the individual studies.” -- Supriya Gandhi * Sixteenth Century Journal *“This innovative volume contains thirteen essays on languages, knowledge traditions, and literary cultures in South Asia and Tibet in the three centuries before 1800…. The essays raise many interesting questions and bring to light fascinating material, and the book is highly recommended.” -- Knut A. Jacobsen * Journal of World History *“The text is versatile for both specialist and student, for it introduces hundreds of little-known works that enrich areas where previous scholarship had all-too-often focused exclusively on religious literatures…. The volume ultimately makes the reader hungry for more, for more on South India and for more on the traffic in and out of Southeast Asia. The prospect of what is left to be discovered has never been more tantalizing.” -- Tony K. Stewart * Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction / Sheldon Pollock 1 Part I. Communication, Knowledge, and Power 1. The Languages of Science in Early Modern India / Sheldon Pollock 19 2. Bad Language and Good Language: Lexical Awareness in the Cultural Politics of Peninsular India, ca. 1300–1800 / Sumit Guha 49 3. A New Imperial Idiom in the Sixteenth Century: Krishnadevaraya and His Political Theory of Vijayanagara / Velcheru Narayana Rao, David Shulman, and Sanjay Subrahmanyam 69 Part II. Literary Consciousness, Practices, and Institutions in North India 4. The Anxiety of Innovation: The Practice of Literary Science in the Hindi Riti Tradition / Allison Busch 115 5. Writing Devotion: The Dynamics of Textual Transmission n the Kavitavali of Tulsidas / Imre Bangha 140 6. The Teaching of Braj, Gujarati, and Bardi Poetry at the Court of Kutch: The Bhuj Brajbhasa Pathsala (1749–1948) / Françoise Mallison 171 Part III. Inside the World of Indo-Persian Thought 7. The Making of a Munshi / Muzaffar Alam and Sanjay Subrahmanyam 185 8. Pages from the Book of Religions: Encountering Difference in Mughal India / Aditya Behl 210 9. "If There Is a Paradise on Earth, It Is Here": Urban Ethnography in Indo-Persian Poetic and Historical Texts / Sunil Sharma 240 10. Early Persianate Modernity / Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi 257 Part IV. Early Modernities of Tibetan Knowledge 11. New Scholarship in Tibet, 1650–1700 / Kurtis R. Schaeffer 291 12. Experience, Empiricism, and the Fortunes of Authority: Tibetan Medicine and Buddhism on the Eve of Modernity / Janet Gyatso 311 13. Just Where on Jambudvipa Are We? New Geographical Knowledge and Old Cosmological Schemes in Eighteenth-century Tibet / Matthew T. Kapstein 336 Contributors 365 Index 369

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Book SynopsisThis introductory work proposes a fresh take on the ancient Indian concept dharma. By unfolding how, even in its developments as law and custom, dharma participates in nuanced and multifarious understandings of the term that play out in Indiaâs great spiritual traditions, the book offers insights into the innovative character of both Hindu and Buddhist usages of the concept. Alf Hiltebeitel, in an original approach to early Buddhist usages, explores how the Buddhist canon brought out different meanings of dharma. This is followed by an exposition of the hypothesis that most, if not all, of the Hindu law books flowered after the third-century BC emperor Asoka, a Buddhist, made dharma the guiding principle of an entire realm and culture. A discussion built around the authorâs expertise on the Sanskrit epics shows how their narratives amplified the new Brahmanical norms and brought out the ethical dilemmas and spiritual teachings that arose from inquiry into dharma. A chapter on the tal

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Book SynopsisThis is a comprehensive grammar of Modern Standard Hindi, the primary language spoken by more than 420 million people in India. Because each grammatical topic is thoroughly illustrated with basic examples and more complex ones from modern Hindi short stories, it can be used as a reference and supplementary grammar to any textbook from beginning to advanced levels.

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Book SynopsisA powerful history of the long tradition of political dissent in India published at a moment when the very idea of dissent is under attack.Trade Review"Dissent, expressed against the state as much as institutional forms of religion, creates traditions of thinking that are always available as a resource. Hence, when Gandhi thinking against colonial violence thinks through the idea of satyagraha, he draws upon a library of dissent with its vocabulary and forms. . . . Thapar does not make an argument for passive inheritance. At each historical juncture, the reimagining of an ethical conception of equality and compassion draws upon a rich vein of dissentient thought. Democracy survives because of dissent. Forms of political and social orthodoxy are contingent; and the battle against them is always ongoing."-- "India Today" "Where this book shines is in its discussion of how dissent often arises from within cultures, and not from outside, restructuring social relations and enabling mutation of knowledge through the questioning of institutions. . . . The book raises some significant questions, not only for the political establishment but also for dissenters. Does dissent seek resolution of conflict, sharing of power, annihilation of tradition, or merely a recognition of plurality in thought? . . . If dissent gives way to accommodation, is that a win-win situation or a selling out? Can ideological purity coexist with political pragmatism?"-- "Business Standard"Table of ContentsPreface Prologue: Is Dissent Necessary? 1. The Dasyah-putrah Brahmana, or the Dasi-putra Brahmana, the Brahmana Who Is the Son of a Dasi 2. The Presence of the Shramanas 3. Otherness Imprinted 4. The Bhakti Sant and the Sufi Pir 5. A Recapitulation 6. A Modern Movement of Dissent in the Context of the Nationalism of the Present 7. Gandhi?’s Satyagraha 8. The Social Articulation of Protest 9. Did the Public Response to Satyagraha Come Out of an Embedded Tradition of Dissenting Forms? 10. Epilogue: Should We Remember Our Many Voices of Dissent from the Past and Hear Them Speak to Us Today? Readings

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Book SynopsisAn analysis of the Thaipusam festival of the Hindu Tamils of Malaysia and the vows they make to the god Murugan. It explores the meaning of vow fulfilment as reflected in social, economic and political divisions in the Tamil community, and the practice of ritual as a form of symbolic action.Trade Review"A remarkable first book." -Journal of Ritual Studies "This splendid book succeeds in making an esoteric and forbidding subject into an engaging study that will interest a wide readership."—Choice "Masterfully crafted.... A deft analysis of an arresting ritual event."—Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa BarbaraTable of ContentsTable of Contents 1 The Power of Murugan's Lance 2 Murugan as Metaphor 3 The Hindu Tamils of Penang: Gurus, Brahmins, and Pujaris 4 Thaipusam in Penang 5 Rituals and Politics 6 Arul: The Trance of Divine Grace 7 Symbolic Acts: The Meanings of Ritual Vow Fulfillment 8 A Ceremonial Animal 9 Ritual, Power, and Moral Redemption Notes Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis* Presents the most recent scholarly thinking about Hinduism in an accessible way. * Leading scholars make their views and research available to a wider readership. * Divided into four sections covering theoretical issues, textual traditions, science and philosophy, and Hindu society and politics.Trade Review“This collection offers a new way to parse the multiple entryways into the vast arena of Hinduism. Using the general divisional categories of theoretical issues, text and tradition, systematic thought, and society, politics and nation, Flood has achieved significant breadth in disciplines, subjects and historical perspectives.” Choice “This is a most welcome, timely, and authoritative assessment of the entire field of study, a most commendable response to an enormous challenge.” Journal of Contemporary Religion “It effectively serves to condense the proliferation of scholarship on Hinduism... The approach is interdisciplinary and places Hinduism not within a sphere of its own, but within a larger context, reading it as a dynamic product of historical global exchange. The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism also has an important section devoted to the Indian Sciences (language, mathematics, astrology, astronomy and medicine) which collectively destabilize colonialism’s claim that Hinduism was arbitrary and irrational. … A handsome addition to academic and personal libraries.” Asian Studies ReviewTable of ContentsContributors x Preface and Acknowledgments xii Introduction: Establishing the Boundaries 1 Gavin Flood Part I Theoretical Issues 21 1 Colonialism and the Construction of Hinduism 23 Gauri Viswanathan 2 Orientalism and Hinduism 45 David Smith Part II Text and Tradition 65 The Sanskrit Textual Traditions 67 3 Vedas and Upanisads 68 Michael Witzel 4 The Dharmaúâstras 102 Ludo Rocher 5 The Sanskrit Epics 116 John Brockington 6 The Purânas 129 Freda Matchett Textual Traditions in Regional Languages 144 7 Tamil Hindu Literature 145 Norman Cutler 8 The Literature of Hinduism in Malayalam 159 Rich Freeman 9 North Indian Hindi Devotional Literature 182 Nancy M Martin Major Historical Developments 199 10 The Saiva Traditions 200 Gavin Flood 11 History of Vaisnava Traditions: An Esquisse 229 Gérard Colas 12 The Renouncer Tradition 271 Patrick Olivelle 13 The Householder Tradition in Hindu Society 288 TN Madan Regional Traditions 306 14 The Teyyam Tradition of Kerala 307 Rich Freeman 15 The Month of Kârtik and Women's Ritual Devotions to Krishna in Benares 327 Tracy Pinchman Part III Systematic Thought 343 The Indian Sciences 345 Introduction 346 Frits Staal 16 The Science of Language 348 Frits Staal 17 Indian Mathematics 360 Takao Hayashi 18 Calendar, Astrology and Astronomy 376 Michio Yano 19 The Science of Medicine 393 Dominik Wujastyk Philosophy and Theology 410 20 Hinduism and the Proper Work of Reason 411 Jonardon Ganeri 21 Restoring "Hindu Theology" as a Category in Indian Intellectual Discourse 447 Francis Cloone. SJ 22 Mantra 478 André Padoux Part IV Society, Politics, and Nation 493 23 On the Relationship between Caste and Hinduism 495 Declan Quigley 24 Modernity, Reform and Revival 509 Dermot Killingley 25 Contemporary Political Hinduism 526 C Ram Prasad 26 The Goddess and the Nation Subterfuges of Antiquity, the Cunning of Modernity 551 Sumathi Ramaswamy 27 Gender in a Devotional Universe 569 Vasudha Narayanan Index 588

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Book SynopsisThis innovative introductory textbook explores the central practices and beliefs of Hinduism through contemporary, everyday practice.Trade Review"An engaging read, as a textbook as well as general resource, this book has the potential to make instructors re-envision how they teach Hinduism in the classroom." (CHOICE, 2016)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements viii A Note on Transliteration x Map of India xii Introduction 1 The Terms “Hindu,” “Hinduism,” and “Hindu Traditions” 2 Dharma: A Way of Life and Religious Tradition 3 Context and Multiplicity 6 Ethnographic Selection and Chapter Topics 9 A Note on Caste 13 1 Families of Deities 18 The Trimurti 20 Mythological and Narrative Families 21 Vishnu 21 Shiva 25 Devi, the Goddess 28 Gramadevatas, Village Deities 30 Temple Families 34 Ritual Families in Domestic Shrines 36 2 Oral and Visual Narratives and Theologies 46 Oral Performance Genres 47 Visual Narratives and Theologies 49 Verbal and Visual Together 56 Where Does the Narrative Lie? 61 The Ramayana Tradition Performed 62 3 Loving and Serving God: Bhakti, Murtis, and Puja 73Bhakti, Devotion 73 Singing to God and the Goddess 76 Worshipping Deities in Material Form 77 Narratives of God in the Murti 80 The Deity without Form 83 Modes of Worshipping the Murti 85 The Services of Puja 89 Online, Cyber Puja 93 4 Temples, Shrines, and Pilgrimage 97 Temples 98 Sthala Puranas 99 Temple Architecture 101 Temple Worship 104 Shrines 109 Pilgrimage 110 Tirumala, a Southern, Pan]Indian, and Transnational Pilgrimage Site 114 Narsinghnath, a Sub]regional Pilgrimage Site 119 5 Festivals 123 Divali: Festival of Lights 127 Ganesha Chaturthi: Domestic, Neighborhood, and City]Wide Celebrations 129 Place]Bound Festivals: Tirupati’s Gangamma Jatara 138 6 Vrats: Ritual Vows and Women’s Auspiciousness 145 Temple Vrats 146 Domestic Vrats 147 Vrat Kathas: Ritual Narratives 150 Two South Indian Vrat Traditions 151 Gender and Vrats 164 7 Samskaras: Transformative Rites of Passage 169 Pregnancy and Birth 170 First]Year Samskaras 171 Upanayana and Rituals of Transition to Adulthood 172 Ranga Pravesham: Ascending the (Dance) Stage 177 Marriage 178 Death Rituals 186 8 Ritual Healing, Possession, and Astrology 193 Accessing Multiple Healing Sites 194 Healing across Religious Boundaries 199 Possession 203 Astrology 211 Afterword 220 Glossary 227 Index 231

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Book SynopsisIn 2002, armed Hindu mobs attacked Muslims in broad daylight in the west Indian state of Gujarat. The pogrom, which was widely seen over television, left more than one thousand dead. In Composing Violence Moyukh Chatterjee examines how highly visible political violence against minorities acts as a catalyst for radical changes in law, public culture, and power. He shows that, far from being quashed through its exposure by activists, media, and politicians, state-sanctioned anti-Muslim violence set the stage for transforming India into a Hindu supremacist state. The state''s and civil society’s responses to the violence, Chatterjee contends, reveal the constitutive features of modern democracy in which riots and pogroms are techniques to produce a form of society based on a killable minority and a triumphant majority. Focusing on courtroom procedures, police archives, legal activism, and mainstream media coverage, Chatterjee theorizes violence as a form of governance that crTrade Review"It is through scholarship of the kind offered by Composing Violence that we can grapple with questions of mass violence, impunity and justice after violence in South Asia, and beyond, in any meaningful way." -- Chulani Kodikara * Social and Legal Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction. The Limits of Exposure 1 1. A Minor Reading 34 2. Composing the Archive 56 3. Against the Witness 76 4. Anti-Impunity Activism 93 5. Beyond the Unspeakable 107 Conclusion. Minor, Minorities, Minorization 127 Notes 139 Bibliography 151 Index 163

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Book SynopsisThe World and God Are Not-Two is a book about how the God in whom Christians believe ought to be understood. The key conceptual argument that runs throughout is that the distinctive relation between the world and God in Christian theology is best understood as a non-dualistic one. The “two”—“God” and “World” cannot be added up as separate, enumerable realities or contrasted with each other against some common background because God does not belong in any category and creatures are ontologically constituted by their relation to the Creator. In exploring the unique character of this distinctive relation, Soars turns to Sara Grant’s work on the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedānta and the metaphysics of creation found in Thomas Aquinas. He develops Grant’s work and that of the earlier Calcutta School by drawing explicit attention to the Neoplatonic themes in Aquinas that provide some of the most fruitful areas for comparative engagement with Vedānta. To the Christian, the fact that the world exists only as dependent on God means that “world” and “God” must be ontologically distinct because God’s existence does not depend on the world. To the Advaitin, this simultaneously means that “World” and “God” cannot be ontologically separate either. The language of non-duality allows us to see that both positions can be held coherently together without entailing any contradiction or disagreement at the level of fundamental ontology. What it means to be “world” does not and cannot exclude what it means to be “God.”Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations and Conventions | ix Introduction | 1 1 The Distinctive Relation between Creature and Creator in Christian Theology: Non-dualism from David Burrell, CSC, to Sara Grant, RSCJ | 17 2 Roman Catholic Encounters with Advaita Vedānta: Between Transcendental Illusion and Radical Contingency | 40 3 The Relation between the World and God in Śaṁkara and Thomas: Sara Grant’s Case for a Form of Christian Non-dualism | 69 4 Creation: “Ex Nihilo” or “Ex Deo”? | 97 5 How Real Is the World? Being and Nothingness in Śaṁkara and Thomas | 129 Conclusion | 161 Acknowledgments | 173 Notes | 177 Bibliography | 221 Index | 231

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Book SynopsisThe World and God Are Not-Two is a book about how the God in whom Christians believe ought to be understood. The key conceptual argument that runs throughout is that the distinctive relation between the world and God in Christian theology is best understood as a non-dualistic one. The “two”—“God” and “World” cannot be added up as separate, enumerable realities or contrasted with each other against some common background because God does not belong in any category and creatures are ontologically constituted by their relation to the Creator. In exploring the unique character of this distinctive relation, Soars turns to Sara Grant’s work on the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedānta and the metaphysics of creation found in Thomas Aquinas. He develops Grant’s work and that of the earlier Calcutta School by drawing explicit attention to the Neoplatonic themes in Aquinas that provide some of the most fruitful areas for comparative engagement with Vedānta. To the Christian, the fact that the world exists only as dependent on God means that “world” and “God” must be ontologically distinct because God’s existence does not depend on the world. To the Advaitin, this simultaneously means that “World” and “God” cannot be ontologically separate either. The language of non-duality allows us to see that both positions can be held coherently together without entailing any contradiction or disagreement at the level of fundamental ontology. What it means to be “world” does not and cannot exclude what it means to be “God.”Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations and Conventions | ix Introduction | 1 1 The Distinctive Relation between Creature and Creator in Christian Theology: Non-dualism from David Burrell, CSC, to Sara Grant, RSCJ | 17 2 Roman Catholic Encounters with Advaita Vedānta: Between Transcendental Illusion and Radical Contingency | 40 3 The Relation between the World and God in Śaṁkara and Thomas: Sara Grant’s Case for a Form of Christian Non-dualism | 69 4 Creation: “Ex Nihilo” or “Ex Deo”? | 97 5 How Real Is the World? Being and Nothingness in Śaṁkara and Thomas | 129 Conclusion | 161 Acknowledgments | 173 Notes | 177 Bibliography | 221 Index | 231

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Book SynopsisThis builds on the foundation of Guy L. Beck's earlier work, Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound, which described the theoretical role of sound in Hindu thought. Sonic Liturgy continues the discussion of sound into the realm of Hindu ritual and musical traditions of worship.

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Book SynopsisWho we are is not who we think we are. Truth is simpler than mind and deeper than thought. It cannot be learned but only experienced. When at once we awaken, our doubts are alleviated. All is one, beyond time, space, and causation. Such is the direct realization expressed through Advaita Vedanta. Sankaracharya is often called the father of Advaita Vedanta. His hymn Atma Bodha is a classic introduction that brings the pure seeker to liberation. This volume includes Atma Bodha with text and translation, as well as Bhaja Govindam, Hanuman Chalisa, Mahisasura Mardini Stotram, and other devotional favorites. There is no greater joy, and there is nothing more to know. Such is realization of truth. --Atma Bodha, Verse 54

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Book Synopsis"No new knowledge is required or acquired, Ray. No transcendental experience or higher consciousness needs to be achieved. When the recognition of what you are is seen, nothing at all happens. Why would it? You simply find yourself as you already are." After many years spent searching for the secret to peace, happiness and unconditional freedom, a chance encounter on the ghats of the sacred River Ganges heralds the end of Ray Brooks'™s spiritual journey. Interspersed between humorous and uplifting stories of life in Rishikesh, India are nine thought-provoking conversations between Ray and an unassuming yet extraordinary Anglo-Indian man. Ray'™s long-held spiritual beliefs are exposed and challenged, allowing him to see that his quest for wholeness has been a futile path: just like a shadow that seeks the sun. This book offers no promises or systems of belief. Instead, it clearly points to something that is ever-present yet completely overlooked: the ordinariness and beauty of our natural state of being. And it is only after we acknowledge that simple yet profound truth that our spiritual search will be complete.Trade Review"This beautiful book certainly deserves to be included with the luminaries of spiritual literature. Its essence presents the essential, non-dual understanding of not just the author and his many influences but the foundation of all great religious and spiritual traditions." --Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos, Shakuhachi master/ teacher and recording artist

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Book SynopsisJeaneane Fowler provides a text and detailed commentary on this important Hindu scripture, which is a dialogue between Arjuna the man and Krishna the God. Major Hindu concepts are examined in depth, and the background to the Gita is presented in a comprehensive introduction. Yoga is the key feature of the Gita but it has its own interpretation of what that yoga should be: thus, yoga features not only in each of the pathways of knowledge, desireless action and devotion, but in the way in which the divine is understood. The chapters of the Bhagavad Gita therefore describe Arjunas despondency followed by The Yoga of Sankhya, Action, Knowledge, Renunciation, Meditation, Knowledge and Realization, the Imperishable Brahman, Royal Knowledge and Royal Mystery, Manifestation, the Vision of the Universal Form, Devotion, the Differentiation of the Kshetra and Kshetrajna, the Differentiation of the Three Gunas, the Supreme Purusha, the Differentiation of the Divine and the Demonic, the Differentiation of the Threefold Shraddha and, finally, The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation. The book also contains detailed notes to the Gita chapters, a Further Reading section, a combined Glossary and Index of Sanskrit Terms, and an Index of English words. The cover of the book is replete with symbolism. Krishna is always represented as blue in colour, hence the colour of the hands in the cover design. The chariot of Krishna and Arjuna is to be seen in the motif at the base, while the triple motif symbolizes the triple paths of the Gita action without desire for results, knowledge and devotion. There are also three strands that make up all phenomena light and radiance, energy, and inertia, as well as three aspects of the divine in the Gita the totally transcendent Absolute, the manifest deity that is also the essence of all things, and the personal God to whom devotion can be given. The main image of Krishna is superimposed on the roots of the ashvattha tree that features in chapter 15: its branches reach down into the earth and its roots ascend upwards and it represents phenomenal existence.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Arjuna's Despondency; The Yoga of Sankhya; The Yoga of Action; The Yoga of Knowledge; The Yoga of Renunciation; The Yoga of Meditation; The Yoga of Knowledge & Realization; The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman; The Yoga of Royal Knowledge & Royal Mystery; The Yoga of Manifestation; The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form; The Yoga of Devotion; The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Kshetra & the Kshetrajna; The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas; The Yoga of the Supreme Purusha; The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Divine & the Demonic; The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Threefold Shraddha; The Yoga of Liberation & Renunciation; Epilogue; Notes; Further Reading; Glossary & Index of Sanskrit Terms; Index of English Words.

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Book SynopsisOriginally 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 II: Religious History and Philosophy). Herewith an outstanding introduction to Hinduism and the many expressions of the religion in India. The evolution and nature of the major Hindu deities occupies substantial sections of the book as well as social structures such as class and caste that inform not only ritualistic practices and approaches to divinity but also societal norms. Thus, the historical roots of present-day beliefs and practices and the religious contexts in which they are based are examined. Current issues such as the struggle for greater independence for women in all aspects of social and economic living are raised. The book also incorporates the ways in which Hinduism is expressed in the colourful festivals and the sacred pilgrimages throughout India. No prior knowledge of Hinduism is required. Contents include: Fundamental Beliefs; Scriptures; Class and Caste; The Four Stages of Life; Gods and Goddesses (Siva); Gods and Goddesses (Sakti); Gods and Goddesses (Visnu, Krisna and Radha); Ritual in the Home and Community (Worship); Ritual in the Home and Community (Life-cycle Rites); Women in the Home and Community; Sacred Times and Places: Festivals and Pilgrimage.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the diversity of Hindu goddesses and the variety of ways in which they are worshiped. Although they undoubtedly have ancient origins, Hindu goddesses and their worship is still very much a part of the fabric of religious engagement in India today. The book offers an introduction to a complex and often baffling field of study. Part I, "Beliefs" provides a series of encounters with a range of Hindu goddesses starting with the idea of 'Goddess' as a philosophical concept. Topics include textual evidence for belief structures, goddess mythology, and the importance of 'the Goddess' in Tantrism. Part II, "Practices" leads the reader through the tangled web of goddess worship, pausing along the way to examine the contrast between temple and local worship, the splendour of festivals and the importance of pilgrimage to those places in India where goddesses are considered to reside. A Conclusion provides details of contemporary developments in goddess worship, such as the appearance of new deities who supply the needs of worshipers in the twenty-first century. No prior knowledge is necessary as the book is aimed at undergraduate students and anyone interested in the religions and philosophy of India.

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Book SynopsisThe "Upanishads" are the sacred writings of Hinduism. They are perhaps the greatest of all the books in the history of world religions. Their origins predate recorded history, being revealed to the Rishis of the Vedic civilization some 5000 to 10,000 years ago. Many see them as the kernel of the mystical, philosophical truths that are the basis of the Higher World religion of Hinduism, their cradle, of which Buddhism is a successor and Judaism is an offshoot. With Islam and Christianity being offshoots of Judaism, this makes them the foundational documents for understanding and practising religion today. Much of the original text of the "Upanishads" is archaic and occasionally corrupted, but it does convey a moral and ethical thrust that is abundantly clear. Alan Jacobs uses modern free verse to convey the essential meaning and part of the original text. He omits Sanskrit words as far as possible and the commentary provided is contemporary rather than ancient.

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Book SynopsisThe "Bhagavad Gita" is a sacred scripture of epic dimensions and is the key sacred text of Hinduism. It means the "song of God" and is often called the "Song Celestial". Alan Jacobs uses contemporary free verse based on innovative metaphors to provide a clear meaning for today's readers. It is mandala poetry - each verse being a mandala for meditation.Trade Review"Jacobs presents his work in the form of transcreation. Transcreation invigorates the text to reinforce its poetic imagery and power. He has today's seeker in his mind when he gives an easy-to-understand poetic meaning. Contemporary free verse based on "innovative metaphors" and figures of speech and swift line breaks are used. He pours out the more advanced spiritual teaching leading to Advaita Vedanta. He cites Adi Sankara to show that the higher Para Vidya or esoteric, absolute non-dual Advaitic teaching is interwoven with the lower Apara Vidya or esoteric, relative dualistic teaching. He is emphatic that the Gita leads to Self-realisation and mentions the three stages-intellectual understanding, spiritual practice and finally, surrender. The book is a welcome addition to the Gita literature and a useful tool to those yearning to broaden their understanding of the Song Celestial as a transforming instrument." Arudra "Definitely an edition to add to your collection. The translation is poetic and is interspersed with illuminating commentaries." Scientific and Medical Network Review "Alan Jacobs has succeeded in revitalising the ancient text of the Bhagavad Gita into a form which reveals the full majesty of this magnificent Hindu scripture, as well as its practical message for today's seekers. His incisive philosophic commentary dusts off all the archaism of 1500 years and restores the text as a transforming instrument pointing the way to Self Realization." Cygnus Review "Despite the fact that there are now 279 English translations of the 'Bhagavad Gita' in existence, Alan Jacob's own recently pubished edition is one of the most beautiful. A transcreation rather than a translation, the author has endeavoured to preserve the essence of the nondualist teachings (also known as Advaita Vedanta) interwoven in Hinduism's best known spiritual text as well as introduce his own poetic touch. Literally meaning the 'Song of God', the 'Bhagavad Gita' recounts a key moment in the ancient Indian epic, the 'Mahabharata'. Set on the battlefield of Kurashetra between two rival royal households, Arjuna, leader of the Pandavas, is rendered impotent in the face of impending bloodshed. Krishna, Avatar and Arjuna's charioteer, thus takes the opportunity to deliver the Dharma or moral code. Indeed, the battle can be interpreted as an allegory of the inner warfare between dharma (harmony) and adharma (discord) within in all of us in the face of life's challenges and troubles. Together with his 'Principal Upanishads', the profundity of this particular edition of the 'Bhagavad Gita' is owing to the author's accessible and yet exquisite poetry." Paula Marvelly

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Book SynopsisTo many outside India, Hinduism is envisioned as the foundation of an ideal, all-embracing society. Yet this is far from the truth. Though historically the practice of Hinduism does promote the idea of an inclusive and tolerant way of life, in the past decade Hindu extremists have captured the religion and perverted it to their own ideological ends. In "The Hindu Case", Indian journalist Salil Tripathi meticulously documents how Hindu fundamentalists have succeeded in censoring and banning many cultural works, tampered with university teaching, and prevented academics from continuing in their jobs. In addition, Tripathi shows that these extremists are in the process of rewriting the ancient Hindu scriptures. This title in the "Manifestos for the 21st Century" series, published in collaboration with "Index on Censorship", the only international magazine dedicated to promoting and protecting free expression, focuses on rights, tolerance, censorship, and dissent within India's complex society, and it is an essential read for those interested in the struggle between religious fundamentalism and free expression.

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Book SynopsisThe book presents the results of research carried out in recent years on the temples founded by the Birla family in northern and central India. The material gathered by the authors and the preliminary analysis based on it led to the creation of the first publication of this type, not only in Polish literature on the subject but also internationally. This is a monograph based on first-hand material, presenting the whole of the Birlas' sacral foundations – referring both to their importance in the context of national art, as well as their functioning in the social or political discourse on identity in pre-independence India. This project run for decades by successive Birla generations constitutes a highly coherent enterprise. The guiding idea was defined as building foundations for the spiritual and political power of modern India through a new reading of Indian tradition, in line with the challenges of the twentieth century. The book is therefore addressed to readers interested in India, particularly in the interpretation and recreation of tradition using the medium of art. The data presented in this book – representing only a small fragment of what was gathered – and the subsequent discussion open up new, extremely promising directions of research.

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Book SynopsisThe proposed book presents an overview of select theories in the classical Vaiśeṣika system of Indian philosophy, such as the concept of categories, creation and existence, atomic theory, consciousness and cognition. It also expounds in detail the concept of dharma, the idea of the highest good and expert testimony as a valid means of knowing in Vaiśeṣika thought. Some of the major themes discussed are the religious inclination of Vaiśeṣika thought towards Pasupata Saivism, the affiliation of the Vaiśeṣika System to the basic foundations of Indian philosophical thought, namely Veda and Yoga, and their insights into science, hermeneutics and metaphysics. In addition, this book includes recent Sanskrit commentaries on key Vaiśeṣika texts and provides a glimpse of Vaiśeṣika studies across the world. Overall, this book enunciates the Vaiśeṣika view from original sources and is an important work for Vaiśeṣika studies in current times for serious students as well as researchers. Table of ContentsChapter 1. Veda and Vaiśesika.- Chapter 2. Yoga and Vaiśesika.- Chapter 3. Concept of Categories in Vaiśesika.- Chapter 4. Vaiśesika Theory of Creation.- Chapter 5. Atomic Theory of Vaiśesika.- Chapter 6.Vaiśesika Insights into Science.- Chapter 7. Consciousness and Cognition in Vaiśesika.- Chapter 8. Sabda in Vaiśesika.- Chapter 9. Hermeneutical Principles in Vaiśeṣika.- Chapter 10. Niḥśreyasa in Vyomavatī.- Chapter 11. Are the Vaiśeṣikas Pāśupatas.- Chapter 12. Ethics in Vaiśesika.- Chapter 13. Recent Sanskrit Commentaries on Vaiśesikasutras.- Chapter 14. Vaiśesika Studies Across the World.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the tantric concept of Shakti, or the principal female cosmic entity and her pilgrimage sites. It offers a first-hand view of the multidimensional ways in which Shakti asserted its supremacy over existing Vaishnava and orthodox Brahmanical traditions in post mediaeval Bengal and India. The interdisciplinary chapters pave the way to understanding the intra-textual relationships between philosophical and conceptual ideas in literary texts and their oral transmission. Divided into three thematic sections: Cult Inclusiveness, Śakti Pithas, and the Śākta Philosophy, the book invites readers to explore a contested area of scholarship from unique perspectives, offering rich insights into the nature of negotiations between diverse religious streams. It also urges readers to examine the many innovative approaches and theoretical models on the goddess culture of East India. The book is of interest to students and scholars of religious textual studies, anthropology, pilgrimage studies, comparative religion, Sanskrit and Bengali languages, regional studies, South Asian cultures, goddess traditions and cultural history of mediaeval Bengal.Table of ContentsSection I: Cult Inclusiveness: Tantric Śākta and Vaiṣṇava Synthesis 1. The Making of Tāntric Rādhā: A Reading from the Śrī-Krṣṇayāmala Madhu Khanna 2. Prema and Śakti: VaiṣṇavaSahajiyā Appropriations of GauḍīyaVaiṣṇavism and Śāktism in the Ānandabhairava of Prema-dāsa Glen Hayes 3. Tantra from Below: Inclusivity, Secrecy and Non-Conceptual Yogas in the Bāul-Sahajiyā Traditions Kaustabh Das Section II: Śakti Pithas 4. Weaving the Body and the Cosmos: Yantric Homologies at a Goddess Temple in Northeastern India Frederique Appfel Marglin, Julia A. Jean 5. The Metamorphosis of the “Gāchh Tar Vālī ” and the Making of a Śakti-Pīṭha in Mithila (Pages: 27) Kamal Mishra 6. Power and Desire in the worship of the Goddess Kāmākhyā (Pages: 32) Brenda Dobia Section III: Śākta Philosophy 7. Gynocentric Cosmogony in the DevībhāgavataPurāṇa Arghya Dipta Kar 8. The Monistic Śākta Philosophy in the Guhyopaniṣad Sthaneshvar Timalsina

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Book Synopsis"This is an important book by Carl Vadivella Belle which argues that Hinduism and its manifestations in the diaspora has important significance in binding not only the Hindus but also encourages 'others' to revisit Hinduism, especially in a multicultural society like Malaysia which is dominated by communally infused discourses structured upon race and religion."— Ajaya K. Sahoo, Editor, Journal of South Asian Diaspora"Dr Belle weaves his magical journey over nearly half a century, offering poignant and potent insights into the socio economic and spiritual realities of Hindus in Malaysia. Numerous books maybe available on Tamil Traditions and Hinduism in Malaysia, but none seem to have succinctly and encapsulated the very essence and heart of these veritable subjects. I would unreservedly recommend this book, to all those interested in matters pertaining to Indians and Hinduism in Malaysia."— Professor Bala Shanmugam, Academic Director, Federation University, Malaysia"This is a work of immense inspiration. Combining personal pilgrimage with ethnographic perseverance, it is at once a document of ritual power and cultural change and a biography of religious encounter. By becoming the religious Other, Carl Belle creates a new dimension in the understanding of Thaipusam as both ethnic and individual experience. Dauntlessly frank and insightful, it is without doubt a rare achievement."— Raymond Lee, Universiti Malaya (retired)Trade ReviewThis is an important book by Carl Vadivella Belle which argues that Hinduism and its manifestations in the diaspora has important significance in binding not only the Hindus but also encourages 'others' to revisit Hinduism, especially in a multicultural society like Malaysia which is dominated by communally infused discourses structured upon race and religion."" - Ajaya K. Sahoo, Editor, Journal of South Asian Diaspora""Dr Belle weaves his magical journey over nearly half a century, offering poignant and potent insights into the socio economic and spiritual realities of Hindus in Malaysia. Numerous books maybe available on Tamil Traditions and Hinduism in Malaysia, but none seem to have succinctly and encapsulated the very essence and heart of these veritable subjects. I would unreservedly recommend this book, to all those interested in matters pertaining to Indians and Hinduism in Malaysia."" - Professor Bala Shanmugam, Academic Director, Federation University, Malaysia""This is a work of immense inspiration. Combining personal pilgrimage with ethnographic perseverance, it is at once a document of ritual power and cultural change and a biography of religious encounter. By becoming the religious Other, Carl Belle creates a new dimension in the understanding of Thaipusam as both ethnic and individual experience. Dauntlessly frank and insightful, it is without doubt a rare achievement."" - Raymond Lee, Universiti Malaya (retired)

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