The basic beliefs in hinduism are that the vedas are divine in nature, and are based on stories of the supreme being influencing the world in the form of avatars. This book is for students and anyone else desiring to learn the basics of religion in india in a quick yet comprehensive way. Introduction and brief of california textbook issue. Religion, philosophy, and ways of liberation herman, a. Vedic literature with its philosophical maxims has stood the test of time and is the highest religious authority for all sections of hindus in particular.
Also known as sanatana dharma or the eternal law, hinduism took birth in the indian subcontinent thousands of years ago and is still followed by more. This book is a very good introduction for someone who knows little about the subject and would like to learn more, however for someone who does know a something about. Hinduism is a religion that originated in the indian subcontinent. Selected lists of books on hinduism, hindu scriptures, tradition, astrology, methods of.
There is no central ancient text that succinctly sums up the religions basic tenets, no single leader that hindus can call the founder of their faith. Hinduism is practised by nearly eighty per cent of indias population, and by some seventy million people outside india. However, in common parlance, hinduism is a blanket term for an assortment of religious beliefs, most of. Hinduismintroduction wikibooks, open books for an open world. May, 2019 hinduism is the worlds oldest extant religion, and with more than a billion followers, it is also the worlds third largest religion. The bhagavad gita by krishnadwaipayana vyasa, the upanishads by. The word islam is an arabic word which means submission to the will of god. That said, all of the books listed here are good, and maybe one is the book that will touch you. Hinduism is followed by well over 80% of india as well as much of nepal. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism there are several important historical facts about hinduism that are relevant to the humanist context. It is suitable both for the student and for the general reader. A brief introduction to hinduism hinduism the basics. The books are concise introductions to particular subjects, intended for a general audience but written by experts.
Divali the ganges river banaras hindus holy city sacred cow. Though some call brahman a god, heshe occupies a position of far greater importance than most other hindu gods. Introduction to hinduism varun soni, dean of religious life at the university of southern california, discusses the goals and beliefs of hinduism, the third largest religion in the world. Religion, philosophy, and ways of liberation paperback may, 1991. An introduction to hinduism is a highly readable and authoritative conspectus on this great religionan introduction to hinduism will surely find a much wider audience, for scholars of comparative religion, indologists, and nonspecialists in their distinctive ways will certainly find this handsome book well worth reading.
We do not have any control over them and we cannot guarantee their accuracy or their authenticity. This book provides a muchneeded thematic and historical introduction to hinduism, the religion of the majority of people in india. A brief outline of hinduism practical philosophy and. The broad term hinduism encompasses a wide variety of traditions, which are closely related and share common themes but do not constitute a unified set of beliefs or practices. Scholars describe hinduism as the product of religious development in india that spans nearly 4,000 years, making it perhaps the oldest surviving world religion.
A user friendly and brief introduction to hinduism. Gavin flood, an introduction to hinduism, cambridge university press, 1996. A concise and plain spoken introduction to hinduism, buddhism, sikhism, and the religion of the jains. A brief outline of hinduism this article is based on a lecture deliverd by swami vivekananda at jaffna in 1897. Hindu is actually a persian word that stands for the inhabitants of the region beyond the indus valley. Discovering the true source of happiness intro to advaita vedanta part 1 duration. A very short introduction is indeed very short, perhaps too short to do more than scratch to surface of a topic as complex and varied as the religion of hinduism. Most reform movements in the 19th and early 20th century addressed a number of these issues, and modern hinduism is far more liberal, though the principles of caste and class still tend to become important in issues of marriage and social norms and politics.
The flow of hinduism can be divided roughly into major periods of change and development. Purists refer to it more as sanatana dharma the eternal pathlaw rather than a religion, as it is believed to be a virtuous way of life. This article was written with the purpose of educating my children on the essence of hinduism and how it compares with other religions. Taoism daoism eastern religions libguides at atlanta. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. This book gives clearly written explanations of the basic ideas and practices of. This brief introduction to hinduism is designed to help readers understand this important religious tradition. Introduction and brief of california textbook issue hindu. But how is hinduism defined, and what basis does the religion have. This brief introduction to hinduism is designed to help readers understand this important religious. The rig veda is a collection of inspired songs or hymns and is a main source of information on the rig vedic civilization. The links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. Hinduism is the oldest living religions of the world. This book by jayaram v presents a thorough and scholarly understanding of the basic and essential aspects of hinduism from both historical and theological perspectives.
What are vedas,upanishads,vedanta,gita,sutras,mahabharta,ramayana,advaita,etc. If any single text can be compared to the new testament, it is thisone. The ancient indians were not interested in history as such, which is simply the records of kings and merchants written by the victors. Religion has been a part of every society since the beginning of. Dear supporter, by now, many of you are familiar with the efforts of hindu groups to improve the portrayal of hinduism in public school textbooks up for adoption in the state of california. May 25, 2009 a very short introduction to the religion of hinduism. Dec 09, 2019 this is a small selection of varied texts from the taoist canon, including yet another translation of the tao te ching. Of all the basic books on hinduism, this rather thin volume of 160 pages is the most balanced introduction to the religion. Introduction to hindusim belief oprah winfrey network. Brief introduction to hinduism brief introductions to. Sep 29, 2009 a brief overview of the main aspects of hinduism. Its origin can be traced back to the prehistoric era with its ancient scriptures dating back more than four thousand years, but no specific point of origin can be cited. Very short introductions vsi are a book series published by the oxford university press oup. It is the second lecture in the series of lectures he gave from colombo to almora.
Hinduism contains its own customs, festivals and holy books as well as a number of deities that intertwine its history, culture and indian society, past and present. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideals and practices that originated in india thousands of years before the birth of christ. Religion has been a part of every society since the beginning of humans. It offers both historical overviews and modern perspectives on hindu beliefs and practices. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism. Hinduism is the oldest of all religions practised in the todays world. Plus easy to understand solutions written by experts for thousands of other textbooks. As intimated in the subtitle, some of the books relate to ethics, some to politics, and some to internal alchemy. Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in india and nepal. A brief introduction to hinduism religion, philosophy, and ways. Jul 24, 2009 a brief introduction to hinduism part i of ii.
Hinduism is practiced by about 80 percent of indias population, and by about 30 million people outside india. Most hindus believe all humans and living creatures possess a soul, which is a reflection of god, and that the soul is reincarnated over many lifetimes. It is the oldest practised religion in the world and has the third largest following after christianity and islam. It is also the most complex in its philosophy and practices and difficult to understand. In fact, brahman is considered the essence of the universe, its origin, and its entirety. A brief introduction to hinduism part i of ii this article was written with the purpose of educating my children on the essence of hinduism and how it compares with other religions. Jul 17, 2016 an introductory lecture to the basics of hinduism. My forthcoming article will contain a brief comparison of other religions. Hinduism flows from the misty past some 6000 to 7000 years ago. The most popular among the aryan religions is hinduism. In this very short introduction, kim knott combines a succinct and authoritative overview of a major religion with an analysis of the challenges facing it in the twentieth century. A brief introduction to hinduism augsburg fortress. The hindu religion is filled with traditions and beliefs closely linked with other practices such as meditation and yoga.
Book on hinduism, hindu religious beliefs and practices. May 12, 2019 i dont claim to know what the best beginner buddhist book might be, because i think that is an individual matter. Kandiah sivaloganathans a brief introduction to hinduism, is a handy tool for all those who yearn to understand the philosophy behind one of the worlds oldest religions hinduism. An ancient classic that can become a companion for your own spiritual journey. A very short introduction by kim knott 9780192853875. Hinduism is the worlds oldest extant religion, and with more than a billion followers, it is also the worlds third largest religion. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. With both nuance and balance, this text provides broad coverage of various forms of hinduism with an arresting layout with rich colors. An introduction to hinduism examines the ideas of dharma, particularly in relation to the ideology of kingship, caste and world renunciation. Please consider support hhh this summer for more world history vids for the kiddies. Sometimes a particular book will touch one person deeply but entirely miss another person.
It is the oldest book in any ancient language and contains the earliest form of all sanskrit mantras that date back to 1500 b. The vedas are considered the earliest literary record of indoaryan civilization, and the most sacred books of india. The goal of hinduism, moksha, is to achieve unity with this divine essence, transcending the self. This word comes from the same root as the arabic word salam, which means peace. A very short introduction and millions of other books are available for instant access. Dr flood also introduces some debates within contemporary scholarship about the nature of hinduism. They are the original scriptures of hindu teachings, and contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of our life.
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