Dictionary of Hinduism

This authoritative dictionary covers all aspects of Hinduism, including practices, festivals, beliefs, gods, sacred sites, languages, and religious texts--everything from Tantra to temples, from bhakti to Divali. The most wide-ranging dictionary of its kind, it features 2,800 clear, concise, up-to-date, and fully cross-referenced entries, including many biographical entries for key thinkers, teachers, and scholars. Its detailed appendices include maps, a useful pronunciation guide, a chronology, a list of principal sources, suggestions for further reading, and links to relevant websites. With accurate and easy-to-understand 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.