Understanding Hinduism

A worthy and useful addition to the plethora of textbooks that have been published from various global locations, within and outside of India — e.g. USA, UK, Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Singapore. It echoes in many respects the patterns followed in standards accounts of Hinduism or what Hindus believe in, namely: where does the name ‘Hinduism’ come from, whether the Aryans invaded the subcontinent and brought the ?veda with them, whether the periodization set up by historians and scholars of religion – such as Thapar, Smart, Doniger, Bilimoria – is adequate for teaching Hinduism in schools, and last but not least, has Hinduism in the modern, post-indepenendent era, became a political footbal between politicians and the sadhusangh (holy family) to garner a stronger foothold in the secularizing and globalizaing world of which India is so much a part today, with its pluralist polity and minorities? But of course, Hinduism does not just belong to the adherents in India, as the diaspora today witnesses some six million observers of Hindusim in one or other of its prismscape forms. This book is invaluable toward guiding teachers of Hinduism in a clear and conscise manner to convey to their students and clientele the wonder that was and is Hinduism. – Purushottama Bilimoria, Teaching Faculty, University of San Francisco, USA, and Editor-in-Chief, SophiaThis is a clearly written and enjoyable book that teachers of Religious Education need to read. It lays out the issues in a commendably balanced way and guides us through the complexity of Hindu traditions and their histories. – Gavin Flood FBA, Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion, Oxford University, UK

James D. Holt is Associate Professor of Religious Education at the University of Chester, UK.