Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Encyclopedia of Hinduism
Author: Denise Cush
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 1130
Release: 2012-08-21
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1135189781

The Encyclopedia of Hinduism contains over 900 entries reflecting recent advances in scholarship which have raised new theoretical and methodological issues as well as identifying new areas of study which have not been addressed previously. The debate over the term 'Hinduism' in the light of post-Orientalist critiques is just one example of how once standard academic frameworks have been called into question. Entries range from 150-word definitions of terms and concepts to 5,000-word in-depth investigations of major topics. The Encyclopedia covers all aspects of Hinduism but departs from other works in including more ethnographic and contemporary material in contrast to an exclusively textual and historical approach. It includes a broad range of subject matter such as: historical developments (among them nineteenth and twentieth century reform and revival); geographical distribution (especially the diaspora); major and minor movements; philosophies and theologies; scriptures; deities; temples and sacred sites; pilgrimages; festivals; rites of passage; worship; religious arts (sculpture, architecture, music, dance, etc.); religious sciences (e.g. astrology); biographies of leading figures; local and regional traditions; caste and untouchability; feminism and women's religion; nationalism and the Hindu radical right; and new religious movements. The history of study and the role of important scholars past and present are also discussed. Accessibility to all levels of reader has been a priority and no previous knowledge is assumed. However, the in-depth larger entries and the design of the work in line with the latest scholarly advances means that the volume will be of considerable interest to specialists. The whole is cross-referenced and bibliographies attach to the larger entries. There is a full index.

Flipside of Hindu Symbolism

Flipside of Hindu Symbolism
Author: M.K.V. Narayan
Publisher: Fultus Corporation
Total Pages: 199
Release: 2007-04
Genre:
ISBN: 1596821175

Hinduism is one of the major religions of the world with considerable antiquity and complexity. It is identified by its ancient scriptures called Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Epics, its iconography and temple culture visible in India and abroad. The popular epics Ramayana and Mahabharata attract interest all over the world for their thematic stories. Many books publicise the spiritual symbolism of these facets of Hinduism. Author of this book deviates from this general trend and analyses Hindu symbolism in the light of sociological perspectives and scientific parallels visible in the ever changing Indian society in the form of cultural expressions.

The Many Colors of Hinduism

The Many Colors of Hinduism
Author: Carl Olson
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2007
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0813540682

This is an introductory text providing a balanced view of the rich religious tradition of Hinduism, acknowledging the full range of its many competing and even contradictory aspects.

Culture and Economy in the Indian Diaspora

Culture and Economy in the Indian Diaspora
Author: Bhikhu Parekh
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2003-09-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1134490534

Examines the Indian diaspora in Mauritius, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, Trinidad, Australia, the US, Canada and the UK and the core issues of demography, economy, culture and future development.

Global Hindu Diaspora

Global Hindu Diaspora
Author: Kalpana Hiralal
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2017-08-22
Genre: History
ISBN: 135139018X

This book examines Hinduism from both a historical and contemporary perspective. It provides some interesting insights into factors that shaped and defined Hinduism in the diaspora. It also examines the challenges facing Hinduism in the twenty-first century. In recent years the growing conversions of Hindus to other religions, the complexities of caste, the impact of AIDS, and the need to reinvigorate the youth in Hindu teachings are just some of the issues that it faces. What shape and form will Hinduism take in the twenty-first century? What will Hinduism look like in the future? These relevant questions are the subject of debate and deliberations amongst religious scholars, academics and politicians. This edited collection addresses some of these questions as well as the relationship between religion and diaspora within historical and contemporary perspectives.

Girmitiyas and the Global Indian Diaspora

Girmitiyas and the Global Indian Diaspora
Author: Ashutosh Kumar
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2024-04-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1009445286

Many Indians journeyed out of India to supplant the loss of slave labour in the former European plantation colonies of Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, and the Caribbean from the early nineteenth century onwards. This book aims to highlight the careers of these migrants who served as vital agents in building the global society of the twenty-first century. It explores the transformative experiences of those who migrated, and the memories of those who did not return after expiration of their contracts but chose instead to stay in their respective host countries. It describes the many challenges they faced — ageing in a society far from home, the loss of their formal Indian identity after Indian independence, their efforts to preserve a sense of community in the post-independence societies of South Africa and the Caribbean, and their adapting to the new political and social realities they faced as minorities in the countries in which their ancestors had adventurously determined to settle and live.

Religion and Identity in the South Asian Diaspora

Religion and Identity in the South Asian Diaspora
Author: Rajesh Rai
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2017-07-05
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1351551590

Religious identity constitutes a key element in the formation, development and sustenance of South Asian diasporic communities. Through studies of South Asian communities situated in multiple locales, this book explores the role of religious identity in the social and political organization of the diaspora. It accounts for the factors that underlie the modification of ritual practice in the process of resettlement, and considers how multicultural policies in the adopted state, trans-generational changes and the proliferation of transnational media has impacted the development of these identities in the diaspora. Also crucial is the gender dimension, in terms of how religion and caste affect women’s roles in the South Asian diaspora. What emerges then from the way separate communities in the diaspora negotiate religion are diverse patterns that are strategic and contingent. Yet, paradoxically, the dynamic and evolving relationship between religion and diaspora becomes necessary, even imperative, for sustaining a cohesive collective identity in these communities. This bookw as published as a special issue of South Asian Diaspora.

A History of the Present

A History of the Present
Author: Ashwin Desai
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 481
Release: 2019-09-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 0199098786

Through the long 20th century, Indian South Africans lived under the whip of settler colonialism and white minority rule, which saw the passing of a slew of legislation that circumscribed their freedom of movement, threatened repatriation, and denied them citizenship, all the while herding them into racially segregated townships. This volume chronicles the broad outlines of this history. Taking the story into the present, it provides an analysis of how Indian South Africans have responded to changes wrought by the remarkable collapse of apartheid and the holding of the first democratic elections in 1994. Drawing upon archival records, in-depth interviews, and ethnography, this study examines the ways in which Indian South Africans define themselves and the world around them, and how they are defined by others. It tells of the incredible journey of Indian South Africans, many of whom are fourth and fifth generation, towards being recognized as citizens in the land of their birth and how, while often attracted by and seeking to explore their roots in India, they continue to dig deeper roots in African soil.

Explorations in Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion

Explorations in Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion
Author: Deane-Peter Baker
Publisher: Rodopi
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2003
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9789042009950

This book is an exploration of the content and dimensions of contemporary Continental philosophy of religion. It is also a showcase of the work of some of the philosophers who are, by their scholarship, filling out the meaning of the term Continental philosophy of religion.