Hinduism is followed by one-fifth of humankind. Far from a monolithic theistic tradition, the religion comprises thousands of gods, a complex caste system, and hundreds of languages and dialects. This book examines the traditions, beliefs, and rituals Hindus hold in common.

List of Illustrations ix List of Tables xi Preface xiii Pronunciation of Indian Words xvii THEORETICAL AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS CHAPTER 1. Theoretical Foundations 3 Is India Different? 3 The Identificatory Habitus 5 What Is Hinduism? 12 Hinduism and Hindu-ness 13 Religion and Dharma 15 Hindu Religions and Hindu Religiosity 21 Great and Little Hinduism 25 Continuity and Change 27 CHAPTER 2. Historical Foundations 31 Epochs in the History of Religions 31 First Epoch: Prevedic Religions 31 Second Epoch: Vedic Religion 33 Third Epoch: Ascetic Reformism 36 Fourth Epoch: Classical Hinduism 38 Fifth Epoch: Sects of Hinduism 43 Sixth Epoch: Modern Hinduism 45 Religious Literature 47 Vedic Literature 50 The Literature of the Ascetic Reformism 57 The Literature of Classical Hinduism 58 The Literatures of the Hindu Sects 62 Literatures of Modern Hinduism 66 RELIGION AND SOCIETY CHAPTER 3. Stages of Life and Rites of Passage 71 Initiation 71 The Salvational Goal of Initiation 72 The Second Birth 77 Pre-Rites 77 Tonsure 85 Natural Birth, Ritual Birth, New Birth 88 The Sacred Thread 92 Consecration of the Ascetic, Consecration of the Student, Consecration of the Man 94 Childhood and Socialization 99 The Early Years 102 Parentage and the "Oceanic Feeling" 104 Sacred Fatherhood 108 Wedding and Matrimony 111 The Wedding 113 The Daughter as Gift 115 Kinship, Alliance, and Descent 120 The Situation of the Woman 124 Death and Life after Death 131 The Brahmanic Ritual of Dying and Death 132 Ancestor Worship 144 Widow-Burning and Religiously Motivated Suicide 149 The Ban on Killing and Ahim? 153 Karma and Rebirth 154 Mortality and Immortality 157 CHAPTER 4. The Social System 159 Social Stratification 159 The Caste Society 160 Segmentation 165 Social Contacts 175 Greeting 176 Touching 178 Eating 180 Purity and Impurity 184 Religious and Social Hierarchy 187 Priests and the Supremacy of the Brahmans 188 Religious and Economic Centrality 194 Hierarchies of the Gift 197 CHAPTER 5. Religiosity 201 The Idea of God and the Pantheon 201 Equitheism and Homotheism 202 Visnu, Krsna, and the Centrality of the Gods 211 Siva in the Great and Little Traditions 215 Ganesa and the Miracle 221 Wild and Mild Goddesses 223 Elements of Religiosity 226 Prayer 227 Looks 230 Ritual Acts 233 Ritualism 235 The Brahmanic-Sanskritic Morning Ritual 236 Divine Worship (puja) 241 Sacrifice 246 Devotionalism and Theistic Traditions 252 Bhakti Movements 252 The Grace of the Gods 255 Spiritualism and Mysticism 259 The Identification Doctrine of the Upanishads 259 The Psycho-Physical Identifications of Samkhya and Yoga 264 Samkara's Doctrine of Nonduality 269 Special Features of Indian Mysticism 270 Heroism and Kingship 272 Akharas: Religious Centers of Strength 273 Power and Authority of the King 276 King and Ascetic 279 FROM DESCENT TO TRANSCENDENCE CHAPTER 6. Religious Ideas of Space and Time 283 Religious Awareness of Space 284 Spaces and Directions as Sacred Powers 284 Pilgrimage Sites and Their Hierarchy 288 Astrology and the Cosmic Place of Man 291 Religious and Scientific Concepts of Space 292 Religious Awareness of Time 295 Ancient Indian Cosmogonies 296 Creation in Classical Mythology 298 The Doctrine of the Ages of the World 300 Cyclical and Linear Time: The Calendar 304 Unity of Space and Time: Festivals 310 Religious and Scientific Ideas of Time 313 CHAPTER 7. Immortality in Life 315 Asceticism: Life in Transcendence 315 Ascetic Practice and Sects 316 Asceticism and Sacrifice 322 The Salvation of Identifications 325 The Socioreligious Function of Norms of Purity 326 Descent and Autonomy 329 The Logic of the Identifications 332 The "Theology" of the Hindu Religions: Identity of God and Man 340 Notes 345 Glossary 375 References 381 Index 419

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2004 "[An] encyclopedic survey of Hinduism that is amazing in its comprehensive charts, theoretical sophistication, and illustrative detail... Michaels wants to present living Hinduism in contrast to text-dominated descriptions."--Choice "A wide-ranging, rigorously argued analysis of important ideas."--Library Journal "Despite several recent, and very good, introductions [to Hinduism] in the last fifteen years, this is the one that will likely find its way into the classroom most often--and for good reasons. Highly recommended not only for students, but for mature scholars as well, who will learn a great deal from this excellent volume."--Frederick M. Smith, Religious Studies Review

"A powerful, thoughtful, thorough presentation of Hindu traditions. The book's main purpose is to provide an overview of Hinduism and the book does this uniquely well. The work is encyclopedic in scope, but it is also analytical, and Michaels attempts throughout the book to introduce the reader not only to Hindu traditions but to major concepts in the study of religion more generally. I would recommend Michaels's book strongly to colleagues and other adult readers who need to teach something about, or who otherwise want to understand Hindu traditions."—Anne Feldhaus, Arizona State University"Michaels's book distinguishes itself by combining in exemplary fashion a thorough knowledge of ancient and contemporary Hindu texts with a deep insight into the religion 'at ground level.' It will serve as an excellent introduction to Hinduism for college and graduate students—and may help scholars in religious studies begin to understand Hinduism in an altogether new way."—Michael Witzel, Harvard University

A powerful, thoughtful, thorough presentation of Hindu traditions. The book's main purpose is to provide an overview of Hinduism and the book does this uniquely well. The work is encyclopedic in scope, but it is also analytical, and Michaels attempts throughout the book to introduce the reader not only to Hindu traditions but to major concepts in the study of religion more generally. I would recommend Michaels's book strongly to colleagues and other adult readers who need to teach something about, or who otherwise want to understand Hindu traditions. -- Anne Feldhaus, Arizona State University Michaels's book distinguishes itself by combining in exemplary fashion a thorough knowledge of ancient and contemporary Hindu texts with a deep insight into the religion 'at ground level.' It will serve as an excellent introduction to Hinduism for college and graduate students--and may help scholars in religious studies begin to understand Hinduism in an altogether new way. -- Michael Witzel, Harvard University