Hinduism The Anthropology of a Civilization

by Biardeau, Madeleine; Nice, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780195624090
• ISBN10: 0195624092
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1990-07-19
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Hinduism, because of its many dimensions, is often regarded as a mixture of various components. However, the archeological monuments and literary texts discovered over the past few centuries indicate an underlying unity. The most crucial of these "testimonies of Hindu civilization" are of a socio-religious nature and have special meaning for most Hindus. Madeleine Biardeau demonstrates that the Hindu religion is intricately connected to the caste system, but in spite of this, the Hindu religion has evolved and diversified over time augmenting its unmistakable and enduring character. This fascinating analysis uncovers the basic components of the Hindu way of life shedding new light on Hinduism's unity.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Man and the Absolute	p. 16
The Absolute and the Brahmans	p. 17
Two paths to salvation	p. 25
The hermit Brahman	p. 30
Hindu man	p. 32
The Four Goals of Man	p. 41
The levels of dharma	p. 42
Love: women's duty	p. 46
The craft of kingship	p. 53
Portrait of the ideal Brahman	p. 59
Two types of men	p. 64
Renunciation and human love	p. 66
Salvation Through Deeds: The Yogin Warrior	p. 69
An anthropology of desire	p. 70
The universe of bhakti	p. 88
Desireless activity	p. 113
Divine Loves	p. 122
Privileged experiences	p. 123
The goddess	p. 128
The divine game	p. 143
Tantrism	p. 148
Tantrism and bhakti	p. 155
Hinduism and the Future	p. 159
Notes	p. 169
Glossary	p. 177
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