| Guide Picks - Top 10 Books
on Hinduism |
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| Hinduism is a unique religion from almost all possible perspectives. It is characterized by a wide variety of ideas and diverse practices. This lack of uniformity makes Hinduism at once an attractive subject of study and quite difficult to understand. What are the fundamentals of this "universal" religion or "way of life"? All you need is a couple of good books to guide you through.
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| 1) "Hinduism:
Beliefs & Practices" |
By Jeaneane Fowler
Of all the basic books on Hinduism, this rather thin volume of 160 pages
is the most balanced introduction to the religion. It is perhaps the best
book for someone who has no prior knowledge of the religion, a stable stepping
stone for the student of religious studies, and an eye-opener for the practicing
Hindu. Fowler views Hinduism as it is - a way of life, an Indian phenomena
- and covers all you need to know about Hinduism as concisely as possible.
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| 2) "Dancing
With Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism" |
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By Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
This can termed as "The Great Book of Hinduism"! Written by the famous
Hawaiian Jagadacharya (world teacher), this is a mammoth source book of
1000 pages. It answers hundreds of fundamental questions: From "Who am
I? Where did I come from?" and "What is the ultimate goal of early life?"
to "How are Hindu marriages arranged?" and "What is the nature of our
God?" Its 547-page appendix includes a timeline, lexicon, colophon, children's
primer, and other resources.
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3) "Am
I A Hindu? The Hinduism Primer"
By Ed Viswanathan
This is another book in the question-and-answer format between father and
son. Its title - Am I A Hindu? - was the vital question its author was chasing
before finally deciding to write this primer in 1988, and publish it with
his own money. It is now a famous book on Hinduism basics that answers all
your fundamental questions, including such questions as "Why do Hindu
women wear a red dot on their forehead?" and so on...
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4) "The
Complete Idiot's Guide® to Hinduism"
By Linda Johnsen, Jody P. Schaeffer (Illustrator), David Frawley
This Idiot's Guide is an ideal first book on Hinduism that offers an excellent
introduction and overview of the religion. Aimed at bringing some kind of
order into the entangled gossamer of this tradition, it clearly explains
its various practices and beliefs. Also includes tales from history and
literature. The author is a well-known columnist, author and lecturer on
Hinduism.
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5) "The
Hindu Mind"
By Bansi Pandit
This wonderful handbook of Hindu history, beliefs, and practices has everything
going for it but the title! What might appear from its title to be a guide
to thought processes or psychology is actually a treasure trove of practical
information.
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6) "Hindu
Religious Tradition"
By Thomas Hopkins
Part of the Religious Life of Man series, this book provides a comprehensive
chronological survey of development of Hinduism from the Indus civilization
to the present in seven chapters. Also includes an outline of the development
of Vedic writings, and a schematic diagram of this religious tradition of
India.
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7) "An
Introduction to Hinduism"
By Gavin D. Flood
This book offers a good historical and thematic introduction to Hinduism,
tracing its development from the ancient origin to its modern form. Laying
special stress on rituals and southern influences, it is a good starting
point and an ideal companion. The author is Director, Culture & Spiritual
Studies, University of Wales.
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8) "Hinduism:
A Very Short Introduction"
By Kim Knott
Part of the "Very Short Introductions" series from the Oxford University
Press, this is an authoritative overview of the religion with analyses of
the contemporary issues plaguing the Hindus, in nine chapters. Also includes
illustrations, maps, timeline, glossary and bibliography.
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9) "The
Hindu Tradition"
By Ainslie Thomas Embree, William Theodore de Bary
This book, subtitled "Readings in Oriental Thought" is a compilation of
religious, literary and philosophical writings on the basics of Hinduism,
which exploring the essential meaning of the Hindu way of life. The selections,
preceded by summaries and commentaries, range in time from the Rig Veda
(1000 B.C.) to the writings of Radhakrishnan.
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10) "Meeting
God: Elements of Hindu Devotion"
By Stephen P. Huyler (Photographer), Thomas Moore
Reverence and rituals is an important cornerstone of the Hindu tradition.
Huyler, an Art historian, captures the essence of this vital aspect of Hinduism
in his candid camera shots. The book, which took 10 years in the making,
is forewarded by Thomas Moore, and covers the various concepts of Hindu
devotion, elements of worship, temples, shires, deities, and vows.
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