{"product_id":"hinduism-9780691089539","title":"Hinduism","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHinduism is followed by one-fifth of humankind. Far from a monolithic theistic tradition, the religion comprises thousands of gods, a complex caste system, and hundreds of languages and dialects. This book examines the traditions, beliefs, and rituals Hindus hold in common.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2004 \"[An] encyclopedic survey of Hinduism that is amazing in its comprehensive charts, theoretical sophistication, and illustrative detail... Michaels wants to present living Hinduism in contrast to text-dominated descriptions.\"--Choice \"A wide-ranging, rigorously argued analysis of important ideas.\"--Library Journal \"Despite several recent, and very good, introductions [to Hinduism] in the last fifteen years, this is the one that will likely find its way into the classroom most often--and for good reasons. Highly recommended not only for students, but for mature scholars as well, who will learn a great deal from this excellent volume.\"--Frederick M. Smith, Religious Studies Review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eList of Illustrations ix  List of Tables xi  Preface xiii  Pronunciation of Indian Words xvii  THEORETICAL AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS  CHAPTER 1. Theoretical Foundations 3  Is India Different? 3  The Identificatory Habitus 5  What Is Hinduism? 12  Hinduism and Hindu-ness 13  Religion and Dharma 15  Hindu Religions and Hindu Religiosity 21  Great and Little Hinduism 25  Continuity and Change 27  CHAPTER 2. Historical Foundations 31  Epochs in the History of Religions 31  First Epoch: Prevedic Religions 31  Second Epoch: Vedic Religion 33  Third Epoch: Ascetic Reformism 36  Fourth Epoch: Classical Hinduism 38  Fifth Epoch: Sects of Hinduism 43  Sixth Epoch: Modern Hinduism 45  Religious Literature 47  Vedic Literature 50  The Literature of the Ascetic Reformism 57  The Literature of Classical Hinduism 58  The Literatures of the Hindu Sects 62  Literatures of Modern Hinduism 66  RELIGION AND SOCIETY  CHAPTER 3. Stages of Life and Rites of Passage 71  Initiation 71  The Salvational Goal of Initiation 72  The Second Birth 77  Pre-Rites 77  Tonsure 85  Natural Birth, Ritual Birth, New Birth 88  The Sacred Thread 92  Consecration of the Ascetic, Consecration of the Student, Consecration of the Man 94  Childhood and Socialization 99  The Early Years 102  Parentage and the \"Oceanic Feeling\" 104  Sacred Fatherhood 108  Wedding and Matrimony 111  The Wedding 113  The Daughter as Gift 115  Kinship, Alliance, and Descent 120  The Situation of the Woman 124  Death and Life after Death 131  The Brahmanic Ritual of Dying and Death 132  Ancestor Worship 144  Widow-Burning and Religiously Motivated Suicide 149  The Ban on Killing and Ahim? 153  Karma and Rebirth 154  Mortality and Immortality 157  CHAPTER 4. The Social System 159  Social Stratification 159  The Caste Society 160  Segmentation 165  Social Contacts 175  Greeting 176  Touching 178  Eating 180  Purity and Impurity 184  Religious and Social Hierarchy 187  Priests and the Supremacy of the Brahmans 188  Religious and Economic Centrality 194  Hierarchies of the Gift 197  CHAPTER 5. Religiosity 201  The Idea of God and the Pantheon 201  Equitheism and Homotheism 202  Visnu, Krsna, and the Centrality of the Gods 211  Siva in the Great and Little Traditions 215  Ganesa and the Miracle 221  Wild and Mild Goddesses 223  Elements of Religiosity 226  Prayer 227  Looks 230  Ritual Acts 233  Ritualism 235  The Brahmanic-Sanskritic Morning Ritual 236  Divine Worship (puja) 241  Sacrifice 246  Devotionalism and Theistic Traditions 252  Bhakti Movements 252  The Grace of the Gods 255  Spiritualism and Mysticism 259  The Identification Doctrine of the Upanishads 259  The Psycho-Physical Identifications of Samkhya and Yoga 264  Samkara's Doctrine of Nonduality 269  Special Features of Indian Mysticism 270  Heroism and Kingship 272  Akharas: Religious Centers of Strength 273  Power and Authority of the King 276  King and Ascetic 279  FROM DESCENT TO TRANSCENDENCE  CHAPTER 6. Religious Ideas of Space and Time 283  Religious Awareness of Space 284  Spaces and Directions as Sacred Powers 284  Pilgrimage Sites and Their Hierarchy 288  Astrology and the Cosmic Place of Man 291  Religious and Scientific Concepts of Space 292  Religious Awareness of Time 295  Ancient Indian Cosmogonies 296  Creation in Classical Mythology 298  The Doctrine of the Ages of the World 300  Cyclical and Linear Time: The Calendar 304  Unity of Space and Time: Festivals 310  Religious and Scientific Ideas of Time 313  CHAPTER 7. Immortality in Life 315  Asceticism: Life in Transcendence 315  Ascetic Practice and Sects 316  Asceticism and Sacrifice 322  The Salvation of Identifications 325  The Socioreligious Function of Norms of Purity 326  Descent and Autonomy 329  The Logic of the Identifications 332  The \"Theology\" of the Hindu Religions: Identity of God and Man 340  Notes 345  Glossary 375  References 381  Index 419","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48865517142359,"sku":"9780691089539","price":31.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780691089539.jpg?v=1722274349","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/hinduism-9780691089539","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}