Summary

This new authoritative dictionary covers all aspects of Hinduism,including practices, festivals, beliefs, gods, sacred sites, languages, and religious texts. Almost 2,800 entries cover everything from Tantra to temples, from bhakti to Divali. The most wide-ranging dictionary of its kind, this brand new AZ also contains biographical entries for key thinkers, teachers, and scholars. All entries are clear, concise, up to date, and fully cross-referenced. Detailed appendices include maps, pronunciation guide, a chronology, principal sources and further reading, and useful websites that will be kept up to date on the books companion website. With clear and concise definitions that cover everything from the origins of the religion to Hinduism in the modern world, this dictionary is essential for students and teachers of Hinduism, theology, Asian studies, or philosophy, as well as the related disciplines of history, sociology, and anthropology. It is also a valuable source of information for all practicing Hindus and for anyone with an interest in Indian religions and culture.