Hindu Writings A Short Introduction to the Major Sources

by Klostermaier, Klaus K.

• ISBN13: 9781851682300
• ISBN10: 1851682309
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-29
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Summary

This anthology offers sources in the four areas of Vedic tradition; The Hindueligions; The Hindu philosophical quest; and Hinduism encountering othereligions. In the first section, besides providing translations from theedas and the Vedic legal and ritual literature, some passages fromontemporary scholarly writing about Hinduism are offered, in the context ofhe discussion about the character and 'essence' of Hinduism. In the secondection, major extracts (translations) will be provided from the scripturesf Vaisnavism, Saivism and Saktism. Also samples of modern scholarly writingsbout these traditions will be included. In Section iii, translations ofassages from the writings of Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva will be provided,ogether with summaries of Upanishads and Yoga. Section iv will containriginal wirtings and translations from the works of a veraiety of key Hinduhinkers and philosophers, including Ram Mohan Roy, Vivekananda, Mahatmaandhi and Aurobindo Ghose.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Introduction	1	(2)
Basic Hindu Source Literature	3	(5)
The Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism	8	(2)
The Four World-Ages	10	(2)
The Vedic Indra Religion	12	(11)
Indra in the Rgveda	12	(1)
Indra in the Brhaddevata	13	(1)
Indra in the Brahmanas	14	(1)
Indra in the Upanisads	15	(2)
Indra in Epics and Puranas	17	(2)
The Vedic Yajna	19	(2)
Other Features of Vedic Religion	21	(2)
Vaisnavism	23	(35)
Visnu in the Vedas	23	(2)
Visnu in Epics and Puranas	25	(10)
Vaisnava Philosophy and Theology	35	(17)
Bhakti Poets and Mystics	52	(6)
Saivism	58	(25)
Siva in the Vedas	58	(3)
Siva in the Brahmanas	61	(1)
Siva in the Upanisads	62	(1)
Siva in Epics and Puranas	63	(6)
Saivite Philosophies	69	(6)
Saiva Poets and Saints	75	(8)
Saktism	83	(19)
Devi in the Vedas	83	(2)
Devi in the Epics	85	(4)
Devi in the Puranas	89	(5)
Devi in the Tantras	94	(2)
Sakta Philosophy	96	(1)
Devi in Other Hindu Systems	97	(2)
Devi in Modern Hinduism	99	(3)
The Smartas	102	(2)
Hindu Philosophies	104	(16)
The Antecedents	104	(2)
The Six Accepted Systems (Saddarsana)	106	(14)
Modern Hinduism	120	(11)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and the Brahmo-Samaj	120	(3)
Dayananda Sarasvati and the Arya-Samaj	123	(1)
The Ramakrishna Movement	124	(7)
Hindu Nationalism Hindu Jagaran	131	(16)
Balgangadhar Tilak	131	(1)
Caste Conferences	132	(1)
The Servants of India Society	132	(1)
Rabindranath Tagore (Thakur)	133	(2)
Aurobindo Ghose	135	(1)
Mahatma Gandhi	136	(3)
Vinoba Bhave	139	(3)
Hindu Mahasabha	142	(2)
The Rastriya Svayamsevak Sangh (R.S.S.)	144	(1)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P.)	145	(2)
Opposition to Hindu Nationalism	147	(3)
The Dalits (``Oppressed'')	147	(1)
Hindu Secularism	148	(2)
The New Universal Hindu Gurus	150	(6)
Swami Rama Tirtha	150	(1)
Ramana Maharsi	151	(1)
Sathya Sai Baba	152	(1)
Ananadamayi Ma	153	(3)
Conclusion	156	(1)
Notes	157	(11)
Glossary	168	(19)
Index	187