Table of Contents

Introduction - what is Hinduism? the meaning of "history", a history of Hinduism? problems in constructing a historic schema of Hinduism, attempting a periodisation of Indian history, basic Hindu source literature; a short history of two cities - a microcosm of Hinduism - Mathura, Varanasi; the beginnings of Hinduism 0 a controversy - the Aryan invasion theory, debunking the Aryan invasion theory, new chronologies, old versus new, or scientists versus philologists? the Rgveda - a code? India, the cradle of civilisation? a crown witness for the new chronology? a short history of Vedic religion - the Rgveda and its interpreters, the Vedic Indra religion, Purva Mimamsa - orthodox Vedic exegesis, the continuity of Vedic religion; a short history of Vaisnavism -the development of Visnu mythology, the development of Vaisnava philosophy, Vaisnava worship and devotion, Vaisnavism today; a short history of Saivism - the development of Siva mythology, Siva schools of thought, Siva images and worship, contemporary developments in Saivism; a short history of Saktism - the development of Devi mythology, Devi worship and iconography, Sakta philosophy, Saktism today; Smartas - traditional Hindu universalists; a short history of Hindu philosophy - Nyaya-Vaisesika, Samkhya-Yoga, Purva and Uttara Mimamsa, Hindu philosophy today; a short history of modern Hinduism - beginnings of modernity in India, Hindu reactions to Christian missions, Hinduism after independence, Hindu teachers going west, Hinduism present and future.

About the Author

Klaus K. Klostermaier, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Manitoba in Canada. He lived and worked in India for over ten years, and has studied numerous sacred texts in their original languages. His many publications include the highly acclaimed A Survey of Hinduism (SUNY).

Reviews

'Solid, comprehensive scholarship... I enjoyed reading it.' - Harold Coward, University of Victoria