The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction

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Rutgers University Press, 2007 - Religion - 395 pages
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Conventional approaches to Hinduism typically stress its classical religious tradition with an emphasis on the Brahmin texts and practices. Frequently neglected are the practices of lower caste Indians, the role of women in the culture, the religious life of village folk, devotion to the deity Rama, and the Sant tradition of North India.

The Many Colors of Hinduism is the first introductory text to provide a balanced view of this rich religious tradition, acknowledging the full range of its many competing and even contradictory aspects. Utilizing a thematic-historical approach, Carl Olson draws on a wide array of textual evidence, the fieldwork of anthropologists in close contact with insiders, and voices of thinkers ranging from Indologist Alf Hiltebeitel to Cambridge scholar Julius Lipner. The result is a narrative approach that offers a view of Hinduism that emulates the storytelling nature of the religion itself.

Covering ancient times to the present and explaining important cultural metaphors, symbols, and narratives not generally found in other introductory textbooks, Olson offers students a new perspective of a religion that is more varied than most Westerners realize. The Many Colors of Hinduism will be essential reading for undergraduate courses in world or Asian religions.

 

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Contents

A Journey to Mother India
3
Tongues of Fire of the Vedic Sacrificial Cult
37
The Swan World Renunciation and Upanis ads
61
The Way and the Structure of Life
81
The Experiential Nature of Hinduism
101
The Sensual Nature of Hinduism
123
Embodiment of Vis n u on Earth
145
Divine Play Madness Eroticism and Krishna
163
Dance of the Ascetic Deity Siva
217
Feminine Thread
250
Tantra and Saktism
275
Village Hinduism
303
Reformers Missionaries and Gurus in Modern Hinduism
324
Chronology
347
Notes
353
Copyright

Righteous Rama Untouchables and Sants
187

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The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction
Carl Olson
Snippet view - 2007
The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction
Carl Olson
Snippet view - 2007

Common terms and phrases

According action addition ancient appears ascetic associated became becomes body Brahman called caste century connected consciousness considered context cosmic created culture dance death deity demon developed devotion direct distinction divine earth edited epic experience expressed female festival figures fire four functions gives goddess gods hand Hindu Hinduism History human husband important incarnation includes India initial instance involves Ka–lı king knowledge Krishna later liberation living major male mantra marriage means mind mother movement nature offering one’s origin Oxford path performed period person play possesses possible practice priests reality refers religion religious renouncer represents rite ritual role S´iva sacred sacrifice sense serve sexual social society status suggests symbolic temple term texts tion tradition Transcendental Meditation University University Press Upanis.ad various Vedas vedic village Vis.n.u whereas wife women worship Yoga

About the author (2007)

Carl Olson is a professor in the department of religious studies at Allegheny College. His numerous books include The Different Paths of Buddhism: A Narrative-Historical Introduction and Original Buddhist Sources: A Reader (Rutgers University Press).

Bibliographic information

QR code for The Many Colors of Hinduism
TitleThe Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-historical Introduction
AuthorCarl Olson
Editionillustrated
PublisherRutgers University Press, 2007
ISBN0813540682, 9780813540689
Length395 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Religion / Hinduism / General
  
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