Mittal Sushil - The Hindu World

THE HINDU WORLD

A well-chosen spread of articles by a galaxy of outstanding scholars on the main topics within the Hindu traditionsit all adds up to the most exciting as well as informative guide yet.

(John Brockington, Professor of Sanskrit, The University of Edinburgh)

The Hindu World is the most authoritative and up-to-date single volume on Hinduism available today. In twenty-four chapters, written by leading international scholars, it provides a comprehensive and critical guide to the various literatures, traditions, and practices of Hinduism. Ideally tailored as an introduction to key topics in Hinduism and for use as a definitive reference source, the book offers fresh insights into many aspects of Hindu life that are organized under six headings: Oral Teachings and Textual Traditions, Theistic and Devotional Movements, Cosmic Order and Human Goals, Social Action and Social Structure, Vitality in Persons and in Places, and Linguistic and Philosophic Analysis.

The Hindu World contains new research that defines the current study of Hinduism. It reflects upon the impact of recent poststructuralist approaches while emphasizing Hinduisms classical heritage and everyday customs in ways that will be familiar to Hindus themselves. Exploring the enormous diversity of Hinduisms multidimensional culture while considering its status as a category for analysis, the book achieves a distinctive creative balance between scholarly outsider perspectives, and the beliefs and values of practicing Hindus.

Contributors : Surinder M. Bhardwaj, Francis X. Clooney, Madhav M. Deshpande, Kathleen M. Erndl, James L. Fitzgerald, Gavin Flood, Robert P. Goldman, Sally J. Sutherland Goldman, John A. Grimes, Alf Hiltebeitel, Barbara A. Holdrege, Walter O. Kaelber, R. S. Khare, Dermot Killingley, Randy Kloetzli, Klaus K. Klostermaier, Julius Lipner, James Lochtefeld, David N. Lorenzen, Mary McGee, McKim Marriott, Vasudha Narayanan, Laurie L. Patton, Velcheru Narayana Rao, Hartmut Scharfe, Tony K. Stewart, Herman W. Tull, and Susan S. Wadley.

Sushil Mittal is Assistant Professor of Religion at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is founding editor of the International Journal of Hindu Studies . Gene Thursby is Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He is author of The Sikhs (1992), and a member of the editorial boards of the International Journal of Hindu Studies and Nova Religio .

THE ROUTLEDGE WORLDS

The Routledge Worlds are widely acclaimed one or two volume thematic surveys of key historical periods and cultures. Each is made up of specially written, original pieces by an international team of the leading experts in the field. The Routledge Worlds are ideal reference works that bring their subjects to life and provide both a comprehensive overview and a real flavour of the newest research in the area.

THE GREEK WORLD

Edited by Anton Powell

THE ROMAN WORLD

Edited by John Wacher

THE BIBLICAL WORLD

Edited by John Barton

THE EARLY CHRISTIAN WORLD

Edited by Philip F. Esler

THE CELTIC WORLD

Edited by Miranda Green

THE MEDIEVAL WORLD

Edited by Peter Linehan and Janet L. Nelson

THE REFORMATION WORLD

Edited by Andrew Pettegree

THE ENLIGHTENMENT WORLD

Edited by Martin Fitzpatrick, Peter Jones, Christa Knellwolf and Iain McCalman

THE HINDU WORLD

Edited by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby

Forthcoming

THE EGYPTIAN WORLD

Edited by Toby Wilkinson

THE BABYLONIAN WORLD

Edited by Gwendolyn Leick

THE VIKING WORLD

Edited by Stefan Brink and Neil Price

THE RENAISSANCE WORLD

Edited by John Jeffries Martin

THE HINDU WORLD

Edited by

Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby

First published 2004 in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

Simultaneously published in the UK

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group

This edition published in the T aylor & Francis e-Library, 2005 .

To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledges collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.

2004 Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby for selection and editorial material; individual contributors their contributions

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any

electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter

invented, including photocopying and recording, or in

any information storage or retrieval system, without

permission in writing from the publishers .

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A catalog record for this book has been requested

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 0-203-64470-0 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-67414-6 (Adobe eReader Format)

ISBN 0415215277 (hbk)

ISBN 978-1-134-60875-1 (epub)

FOR ANKUR AND ADITI

CONTENTS

NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION

We have, in general, adhered to the standard transliteration system for each of the Indic languages. Although Indic languages make no distinction between uppercase and lowercase letters, we use capitals to indicate proper names and titles; all other Indic terms, with the exception of those used as adjectives, are italicized and not capitalized. Terms that have been anglicized in form or have come into English usage are nevertheless given in their standard transliterated forms, with diacritics (e.g. karma, paita , and yoga) . Modern place-names are given in their current transliterated forms, but without diacritics. If references to such places are made in a literary or historical context, however, they are given in their standard transliterated forms, with diacritics. Modern proper names are given in their current transliterated forms, but without diacritics. All premodern proper names, however, are in their standard transliterated forms with diacritics.

CONTRIBUTORS

Surinder M. Bhardwaj is Professor in the Department of Geography, Kent State University.

Francis X. Clooney, S.J., is Professor in the Department of Theology, Boston College.

Madhav M. Deshpande is Professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan.

Kathleen M. Erndl is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion, Florida State University.

James L. Fitzgerald is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee.

Gavin Flood is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Stirling.

Robert P. Goldman is Professor in the Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley.