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Tables of Contents for A Short Introduction to Hinduism
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Preface
ix
1
Note on pronunciation of Indian words and names
x
1
Maps
xi
 
Introduction
1
4
Part I: THE VEDIC TRADITION
5
40
1 ORIGINS OF HINDUISM
7
8
Sources of Hinduism
7
4
India--the Holy Land of Hinduism
11
1
Is there a religion called Hinduism?
12
3
2 THE SCRIPTURE OF HINDUISM: THE VEDA
15
12
Sruti--the Veda as revelation
16
3
Smrti--Sacred tradition
19
2
Other authoritative literature
21
2
Pramana -- interpretation of sacred texts
23
2
The power of the revealed word
25
2
3 THE VEDIC ORDERING OF LIFE
27
9
A day in the life of a Hindu
27
3
The four stages of life
30
3
The four varnas: castes and sub-castes
33
3
4 VEDIC RITUAL
36
9
The vedic sacrifice
36
2
The Hindu sacraments
38
2
The meaning of Karma
40
2
Revival of vedic ritual
42
3
Part II: THE HINDU RELIGIONS
45
40
5 THE HEART OF HINDUISM
47
10
The Puranas: the Bibles of Hinduism
47
3
The Mahabharata: the great epic of India
50
2
The Ramayana: the Hindus' favourite book
52
2
The Bhagavadgita
54
3
6 LORD VISNU AND HIS DEVOTEES
57
10
Lord Visnu
57
3
Visnu avataras
60
2
Image worship and its rationale
62
2
Vaisnava theology
64
1
Vaisnava Sampradayas
65
2
7 SIVA MEANS GRACE
67
10
The sources of later Saivism
67
3
Saiva schools of thought
70
3
Saiva asceticism
73
1
Siva in art
74
3
8 THE GODDESS AND HER WORSHIPPERS
77
8
Goddess myths and celebrations
78
2
Tantras and yantras
80
2
The renewal of Goddess worship
82
1
The making of new Goddesses
83
2
Part III: THE HINDU PHILOSOPHICAL QUEST
85
38
9 THE WISDOM OF THE UPANISADS
87
9
The four stages of knowledge
87
2
The self and the all: atman and brahman
89
3
Liberation from rebirth: Moksa
92
2
The Great Sayings
94
2
10 THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA
96
9
The Samkhya System
96
2
The Yogasutras of Patanjali
98
1
The eightfold practice of Yoga
99
2
Reaching Kaivalya
101
4
11 SANKARA AND HIS ADVAITA VEDANTA
105
8
The life and achievement of Sankara
106
2
Advaita Vedanta as Philosophy
108
2
Advaita Vedanta as religion
110
3
12 VAISNAVA THEISTIC VEDANTA
113
10
The Acaryas of Srirangam
113
4
Visistadvaita: the teachings of Ramanuja
117
1
Anti-Advaita polemics
118
1
Madhva's Dvaita Vedanta
119
1
Vallabha's Pustimarga
120
1
A trend towards devotionalism
121
2
Part IV: HINDUISM ENCOUNTERS OTHER RELIGIONS
123
48
13 HINDUISM WELCOMES MODERN WESTERN IDEAS
128
11
The first stirrings of Hindu reform: Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) and the Brahmo Samaj
128
3
An unwilling partron saint of a Hindu missionary movement: Ramkrishna (1834-1887)
131
1
The first modern Hindu Monk: Vivekananda (1863-1903)
132
2
A Hindu political saint: Mahatma Gandhi
134
5
14 HINDUISM REJECTS THE MODERN WEST
139
10
Dayanand Saraswati's Arya-Samaj
139
4
The first Hindu Political party
143
2
Militant Hinduism: the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
145
1
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad
146
3
15 NEW FACES OF HINDUISM
149
14
Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950)
149
2
Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950)
151
2
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975)
153
1
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (1896-1977)
154
2
Sri Krishnaprem Vairagi (1898-1965)
156
2
Babas and Mas
158
1
Sathya Sai Baba (1926-)
158
1
Anandamayi Ma (1896-1983)
159
2
Ma Jnanananda (1931-)
161
2
16 HINDUISM AND THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY
163
8
Index
171