Religions of South Asia
Subtitle: An Introduction
By: Edited by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby
Contributors: John Grimes; Anne Vallely; Tessa Bartholomeusz; Pashaura Singh; T. M. Luhrmann; Shalva Weil; M. Thomas Thangaraj; Peter Gottschalk; William Garlington; Carl Olson
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2006
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 308
ISBN-13: 9780415223911
First sentence: This book introduces several religious traditions that for many centuries have deeply influenced the patterns by which people have been living in the region of the world currently known as South Asia, a region that has its geographical and cultural center in the subcontinent of India.
Description: South Asia is home to many of the world's most vibrant faiths.  It is also one of the most dynamic and historically rich regions on Earth, where changing political and social structures have caused religions to interact through decisive conflicts as well as by sharing their cultural horizons.  This textbook introduces the religions of South Asia, from the indigenous Hindu, Jaina, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions, to incoming influences such as the Zoroastrian, Judaic, Christian, Muslim, and newly emerging Baha'i religions.  In nine chapters, it surveys these belief systems of South Asia and explains their history, practices, values, and worldviews.  A final chapter helps students relate what they have learned to current discussions in postcolonial theory and interpretation, preparing the way for future study.

Entirely written by leading experts, Religions of South Asia combines solid scholarship with clear and lively writing to provide students with an accessible and comprehensive introduction.  All chapters are specially designed to aid cross-religious comparison, following a standard format covering set topics and issues; the book reveals the students the core principles of each faith and its particular place in South Asian history and society.  It is a perfect resource for all students of South Asia's diverse and fascinating faiths.
Table of contents: pagenum: xi
class: part
label: List of illustrations; pagenum: xii
class: part
label: List of maps; pagenum: xiii
class: part
label: Note on transliteration; pagenum: xiv
class: part
label: Acknowledgments; pagenum: 1
label: Introduction
class: chapter
title: by Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby; pagenum: 1
class: section
title: Traditions of South Asia: from inside and outside; pagenum: 3
class: section
title: South Asia as a region; pagenum: 5
class: section
title: Dharma in Indic or South Asian religions; pagenum: 7
class: section
title: Traditions of outsiders: the world's gifts to India; pagenum: 8
class: section
title: The teacher-scholars who are the book's authors; pagenum: 9
class: section
title: Recommendations for student readers; pagenum: 13
title: What India Has Given to the World
class: part
label: Part One; pagenum: 15
title: Hindu Dharma by John Grimes, Sushil Mittal, and Gene Thursby
class: chapter
label: 1; pagenum: 15
class: section
title: The tradition defined; pagenum: 22
class: section
title: History; pagenum: 29
class: section
title: Cosmos; pagenum: 35
class: section
title: Literature; pagenum: 57
class: section
title: Ethics and human relations; pagenum: 65
class: section
title: Institutions and practices; pagenum: 74
class: section
title: Modern expressions; pagenum: 80
class: section
title: Relations with other religions; pagenum: 83
class: section
title: Transmission of the tradition outside of India; pagenum: 87
title: Jaina Dharma by Anne Vallely
class: section
label: 2; pagenum: 87
title: The tradition defined; pagenum: 88
title: Cosmos and history; pagenum: 92
title: Sacred life and literature; pagenum: 95
title: Institutions and practices; pagenum: 96
title: Ethics; pagenum: 98
title: Relations with other religions; pagenum: 100
title: Modern expressions and the tradition outside of India; pagenum: 103
title: Bauddha Dhamma by Tessa Bartholomeusz
label: 3; pagenum: 103
title: The tradition defined; pagenum: 106
title: Cosmos and history; pagenum: 110
title: Ethics and human relations; pagenum: 112
title: Sacred life and literature; pagenum: 121
title: Relations with other religions; pagenum: 131
label: 4
title: Sikh Dharam by Pashaura Singh; pagenum: 131
title: The tradition defined; pagenum: 131
title: Cosmos and history; pagenum: 138
title: Sacred life and literature; pagenum: 141
title: Institutions and practices; pagenum: 143
title: Ethics and human relations; pagenum: 145
title: Modern expressions; pagenum: 146
title: Transmission of the tradition outside of India; pagenum: 147
title: Relations with other religions; pagenum: 148
title: The tradition in the study of religions