Hinduism: A Reader

This new collection brings together the sacred scriptures of the Hindu tradition to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the classical form of one of the world’s oldest existing religions. Selections from the Vedas, the Upanisads, the Bhagvagad Gita and many more cover topics such as creation, sacrifice, birth, marriage and death and tell the stories of the great Hindu gods. But over the last two hundred years reformed, anti and radical versions of Hinduism have emerged which question the laws, traditions and even the category of Hinduism itself. Uniquely, this reader juxtaposes the classic scriptures with the works of reformers and radicals to illuminate the new face of contemporary Hinduism. With an introduction to each reading from editor Deepak Sarma, this reader is suitable for Hinduism courses of all levels.

Acknowledgments. Introduction. Part I: Classical Texts . 1 The Vedas . 2 Upanisads . 3 The Jaiminigrhyasutra . 4 The Mahabharata . 5 The Bhagavad Gita . 6 The Ramayana of Valmiki. 7 The Puranas , Stories of the Ancient Past. 8 The Bhagavata Purana . 9 Manavadharmasastra , The Law Code of Manu . Part II: Contemporary Texts and Issues . 10 Papers Relating to East India Affairs, viz. Hindoo Windows, and Voluntary Immolations. 11 Raja Rammohan Ray (1772–1833). 12 Dr B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956). 13 The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. 14 Kancha Ilaiah’s Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra Critique of Hindutva Philosophy, Culture, and Political Economy . 15 Hindutva : Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism. 16 The Constitution of India. Index

Deepak Sarma is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Case Western Reserve University.