Living Hinduisms An Explorer's Guide

Aiming to turn inside-out models currently used for the teaching of Hinduism, Nancy Falk's new LIVING HINDUISMS aims to introduce students to this religion through an illuminating presentation of its lived practices. Recognizing an all-too-frequent disconnect that students of Hinduism feel when confronted with the actual sights and sounds of contemporary Hindu rituals, Nancy Falk brings these experiences to life through an astute and eye-opening exploration of Hinduism's diverse, yet--as she argues--unified traditions.

Preface

x

Acknowledgments

xii

Introduction

1

(14)

I Hinduisms over Time: Four Teaching Traditions

15

(98)

The Brahmins

21

(22)

The Aryas

22

(2)

The Writings of the Brahmins

24

(2)

Brahmin Teachings

26

(1)

An Arya's Rituals

26

(3)

Aryadharma

29

(2)

Brahmins and Kings

31

(2)

Brahmin Beliefs

33

(3)

Brahmin Secrets

36

(2)

The Brahmin Impact

38

(3)

Additional Sources

41

(2)

The Sadhus

43

(20)

Sadhu Antecedents

45

(2)

Jains and Buddhists: The Nastika Traditions

47

(13)

Effects of Sadhu Traditions in India

60

(1)

Additional Sources

61

(2)

Bhaktas and Shaktas

63

(26)

Devotional Antecedents

64

(3)

Singing of a Place: Nayanars and Alvars

67

(4)

Dissolving Boundaries: Virashaivas and Warkaris

71

(4)

A God without Images: Islam and the Nirguna Sants of North India

75

(5)

Northern Saguna Sants

80

(2)

The Shaktas

82

(4)

Effects of Devotional Traditions

86

(1)

Additional Sources

87

(2)

The Samajists

89

(24)

Samaj Origins

90

(4)

Samajist Ideals

94

(1)

Setting the Precedents: Rammohan Roy

95

(4)

Success and First Split: The Adi Brahmo Samaj and the Brahmo Samaj of India

99

(3)

More Splitting and Further Trials: Sadharan Brahmos, the New Dispensation, the Prarthana Samaj and Hindu Nationalism

102

(4)

Transformations: From Arya Samaj to Ramakrishna Mission

106

(4)

The Samajists' Impact

110

(1)

Additional Readings

111

(2)

II Hinduisms in Space: Home, Temple, and the Pilgrim Road

113

(74)

In the Home

117

(19)

Daily Observances

118

(5)

Samskaras

123

(4)

Calendrical Rituals

127

(5)

Additional Options

132

(1)

The Hindu Home: A Foundation Stone

133

(1)

Additional Sources

134

(2)

At Temples and Temple Festivals

136

(25)

The Temple

137

(2)

The Images

139

(2)

Puja

141

(2)

A Multitude of Temples

143

(15)

Why Build Temples?

158

(1)

A Temple Revisited

158

(1)

Additional Sources

159

(2)

On the Road: Pilgrim and Sadhu Journeys

161

(26)

The Destination

162

(2)

The Journey

164

(1)

The Pilgrim

165

(1)

Ordinary Pilgrims

166

(4)

Pilgrim Devotees

170

(8)

Permanent Pilgrims

178

(5)

Why Go on Pilgrimage?

183

(1)

Additional Sources

184

(3)

III Hinduisms of Caste and Class

187

(54)

Among the Poor and Oppressed

193

(24)

Conforming to High Caste Norms: Drummers of Tamilnadu

196

(6)

Appropriating Purity: Satnamis of Chhattisgarh

202

(3)

An Alternative History: Non-Brahmin Movements

205

(4)

How Mahars Became Buddhists: Conversion as Protest

209

(3)

Conversion

212

(2)

Bottom-Caste Hindus: Signs of Change

214

(1)

Additional Sources

215

(2)

Among the Well-To-Do and Advantaged

217

(24)

Eclectic Seekers: Defence Colony, New Delhi

221

(9)

Subtly Changing Keepers: Brahmin Women of Chennai

230

(6)

A Hindu Revival

236

(2)

Additional Sources

238

(3)

IV Hinduisms in the Making

241

(81)

In Ashrams

245

(26)

Movements of Revival

249

(7)

The Guru as God

256

(4)

Heralds of a New Order

260

(7)

A Quiet Revolution

267

(2)

Additional Sources

269

(2)

In Politics

271

(24)

The Precedents

273

(5)

A Hindu Nation?

278

(6)

Making One from Many

284

(5)

Unity through Anger

289

(3)

What's Next?

292

(1)

Additional Sources

293

(2)

Around the Globe

295

(27)

Remade in the United States: Hindu Missions, Hindu Immigrants

297

(3)

``Yes, There Really Is a Kalamazoo''

300

(1)

Yoga for the United States: The Self-Realization Fellowship

301

(3)

Constructing Community: The Indo-American Cultural Center and Temple

304

(5)

Pulling Communities Together: Sambodh Aranya

309

(3)

A Delicate Balance Broken: The Vivekananda Ashram

312

(3)

A Tale of Two Temples: Ram and Balaji Come to Chicago

315

(3)

Toward Tomorrow

318

(1)

Additional Sources

319

(3)

Afterword

322

(4)

Appendix

326

(2)

Glossary

328

(8)

Index

336

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Living Hinduisms An Explorer's Guide

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials