It s very difficult to recommend one book which will serve this purpose. Hinduism goes back to 5000 bce and is a compilation of many diverse traditions in contrast to christianity and muslim traditions, both of which emerged from a single founder making it the oldest practised religion, closely related to that of jainism, sikhism, and buddhism. There has been much handwringing in india about wendy donigers book, the hindus. Hinduism in the modern world is a mirror to all these, and more. Online shopping for history hinduism from a great selection at books store. Books on varioius aspects of hinduism find here a list of selected books on the various aspects of hinduism, history, philosophy, scriptures and sects of hinduism, gods and goddesses, the vedas, puranas and the upanishads, vedic rituals, art and temple traditions. The om symbol is often found at family shrines and in hindu temples. Those in britain who evoke the majestic diversity of hindu beliefs and practices usually incur the hostility of selfstyled custodians of the religion. Indepth articles about the world s oldest religion, with particular focus on hinduism s history, culture, beliefs, practices, festivals, holidays, and more. While most major religions derive from new ideas taught by a charismatic leader, hinduism is simply the religion of the people of india. In the history of hindu india, we pick up the threads of hindu practice evident in the indussarasvati civilization, which was the largest and in many ways the most advanced of the ancient civilizations. John stratton hawley on his new book and how the city s history is steeped in a vision of hinduism hawley, 78, is still hopeful that the faith that steered the creation of vrindavan, will triumph over blatant commercialisation of religion.
The book history of hindu india, part 1 the history of todays hindus, onesixth of our human race, extends back beyond recorded history. The scriptures of the vedas are meant to guide hindu believers in their daily lives. The vedas scriptures guide hindus in their daily life. The book, published in 2009 by vikingpenguin, was explicitly intended as an alternative history of hinduism, the. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in.
It claims about 950 million followers about 14% of the world s population. One story is about fusing the head of a brahmin woman onto the body of a dalit woman. Wendy doniger tries to remedy the enduring impression of a unified hinduism created in large part by the first british scholars of india. Online books on hinduism, hindu religion, hindu culture, shastras, hindu scripture, vedas, upanishad, hindu saints, sages, science and hinduism. Hindu history the history of hinduism is unique among the world religions in that it has no founder or date of origin. The origins of world language and literature are found in india and sanskrit. New texts emerged, and poetsaints recorded their spiritual sentiments during this time. Its origin can be traced back to the prehistoric era with its ancient scriptures dating back more than four. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. Wendy doniger s book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult vijay prashad penguin s decision to destroy the hindus. The book contains 270 pages and is divided in 57 small easytoread chapters, containing authentic information about all the important aspects of hindu religion, culture, and philosophy. To people raised in other faiths, hinduism may seem very complex, but the core beliefs of hinduism are actually quite simple to understand. The hindu religion originated in india thousands of years ago.
An alternative history by wendy doniger of the university of chicago is really not a history at all. Aimed at bringing some kind of order into the entangled gossamer of this tradition, it clearly explains its various practices and beliefs. Therefore, a belief system is rejected by hinduism if it does not embrace indian culture to some extent. Hindus can choose to be polytheistic, pantheistic, panentheistic, pandeistic, henotheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic or. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism. Summary of hinduism beliefs meaning of name hinduism, from the persian hindu. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture.
Hinduisms early history is the subject of much debate for a number of reasons. 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. While the editor and contributors of this volume do not claim that this work is. It would not be far fetched to say that someone can spend the better part of their life learni. Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but several scriptures. A brief introduction to hinduism augsburg fortress. The year had something for every reader, from politics, economics, history to science and sport. The hindus top 10 nonfiction books of 2018 the hindu. The hindu sacred texts about human origins ancient origins. This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars. Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet s nor any binding holy book.
Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. Which are the best books on origin and history of hinduism. Hinduism a brief overview of the development of hinduism there are several important historical facts about hinduism that are relevant to the humanist context. The dating of hinduism is thus linked to the rise of buddhism at about 500 bce. What some great books on the origin and evolution of hinduism. If any single text can be compared to the new testament, it is thisone. The one verifiable and well documented historical event which we can be certain of was the advent of the buddha. Here s our top ten nonfiction books of 2018, in random. Spiritual guru sadhguru jaggi vasudev says hinduism is not a religion as there is no one book or papacy, it s just a geographical identity and that anyone, irrespective of belief, born on this. John stratton hawley on his new book and how the citys. Hinduism is a major world religion, not merely by virtue of its many followers estimated at more than 700 million but also because of its profound influence on many other religions during its long, unbroken history, which dates from about 1500 bc.
Or, does the story of hinduism begin with the descriptions of the ancient roots as revealed by archaeological findings and the evidence from present day tribal, village and regional cultures. This theomythology is so deeply rooted in india s history and culture that to reject the vedas is viewed as opposing india. One god, one book, one son, one church, one nation of god. Online books on hinduism, hindu religion, hindu culture. Firstly, in a strict sense there was no hinduism before modern times, although the sources of. The most ancient sacred texts of the hindu religion are written in sanskrit and called the vedas. The institutes of vishnu sbe 7 julius jolly, translator 1880 sacred books of the east, vol. Although the name hinduism is relatively new, having been coined by british writers in the first decades of the 19th century, it refers to a rich cumulative tradition. Such a long history is bound to have many struggles, adaptations, evolution, misunderstandings, conflicts, resolutions, and traditions. The aryans gave hinduism its priestly language, sanskrit.
The mahabharata is an important source of information on the development of hinduism between 400 bce and 200 ce and is regarded by hindus as both a text about dharma hindu moral law and a history itihasa, literally thats what happened. Hinduism not a religion, theres no book, no papacy. The book, published in 2009 by vikingpenguin, was explicitly intended as an alternative history of hinduism, the mainstream history being in the authors view written from male brahminical and white orientalist perspectives. Wendy donigers enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. The book, published in 2009 by vikingpenguin, was explicitly intended as an alternative history of hinduism, the mainstream. In her book, doniger retells hindu stories and provides snarky interpretations. Assuming that hinduism means sanatan dharma for you, because the term hindu has very controversial meaning and origin.
Hinduism is a vast ocean under statement of the century it is beautiful, ancient, infinitely astounding and yet timeless and universal in its appeal. Medieval and modern hindu history the medieval period of hinduism lasted from about 500 to 1500 a. Hinduism has grown to become the world s third largest religion, after christianity and islam. Hinduism hinduism is the worlds oldest organized religion existing for 4500 years. The corresponding influence of these various religions on hinduism it has an extraordinary. Populated by an infinite amount of gods, the belief system is open to adopting any of the gods produced by younger religions. It is also very common in nepal, and among the tamils in sri lanka. Books satyarth nayak book on sridevi explores the actor s career mini anthikad chhibber the author s sridevi the eternal screen goddess is an exploration of the actor s extraordinary career. The history of today s hindus, onesixth of our human race, extends back beyond recorded history. Read this and over 1 million books withkindle unlimited. This idiot s guide is an ideal first book on hinduism that offers an excellent introduction and overview of the religion.
Based on the prehistoric vedic text, it is a faith in constant change. Hinduism for beginners ramanuja acharyas srimatham. The earliest literary source for the history of hinduism is the rigveda, consisting of hymns that were composed chiefly during the last two or three centuries of the 2nd millennium bce. Abrahamanic religions are dominated by the notion that one is better than many. The book, which was first published in 1947, has now been rearranged in a more convenient form, with useful additions here and there, and is now released in its fifth edition. Though i dont know much about history, the following book and its author are said to be an authority in that subject of origins of hinduism. Hinduism, major world religion originating on the indian subcontinent and comprising several and varied systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. The veda is a rather unusual collection of literature. Third in the list of major religions, with more than 870 million followers, is hinduism. Hinduism aka sanatana dharmais the oldest living religion. The attack on books for being antihindu began in the 1990s. Hinduism is an umbrella under which different school. We do hope that all serious students of hindu religion and philosophy will find the book useful and.