Encyclopedia of Hinduism

by Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan

Book Overview

Encyclopedia of Hinduism explores a religion that emerged from prehistory and lives today in astonishing variety. Offering approximately 700 A-to-Z entries, this accessible encyclopedia focuses on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816054584
• ISBN13: 9780816054589
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Facts on File
• Length: 552 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.6" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Well organized reference on Hinduism in a single volume

For scholars and writers like myself, or just folks with curious minds, there is nothing quit like an easy to access and reasonably thorough encyclopedia of information on a topic of interest. Constance Jones and James Ryan have given us just that, in detail and with a reliability that we can depend on. If you have a question about Hinduism and want find a reliable answer quickly, don't go to Wikipedia: find it quickly in this single-volume authoritative work. Allan Combs, Ph.D. Professor of Transformative Studies California Institute of Integral Studies

An immensely important book for Westerners

This is an immensely important book for Westerners As a Westerner who became interested in Eastern spiritual teachings thirty years ago, I was appalled to discover then, my own ignorance and the ignorance of others in the West about Hinduism and its spinoff, Buddhism, the principal Eastern religions. There is even today in the West, thirty years later, a vacuum of knowledge about Hinduism. The Encyclopedia of Hinduism by professors Jones and Ryan helps to fill this vacuum in a simple, straightforwsrd way. The entries are arranged alphabetically, and one can find information on the key concepts in Hinduism along with biographical and other information about the key historical and contemporary figures in this great world religion. Of even more importance for the Westerner, in my view, is the ten page introduction explaining Hinduism's origins, its sacred texts, its contemporary situation, and its esoteric aspects sometimes known as Vedanta or Advaita which carry their own entries and typify the thorough nature of this Encyclopedic work. You will not regret owning this book. Highly recommended.

An important book

This is a very important book.A concise explanation of Hinduism in an easily understood format that is not an ordeal to read.This Encyclopedia takes the reader through the historical origins of Hinduism and its evolution to the present day.It has a comprehensive index of all the saints,sages and personalities associated with the subject and a wonderful bibliography.If people read this book there will be greater understanding between peoples of different religious beliefs and consequently greater tolerance.This book should be on all shelves along with the others in the series.

A thorough reference

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Hinduism. Finally, there is a place to go for answers about who, what, and when in the Hindu world, as one makes one way through various Hindu writings. Having a reference like this is extremely valuable for the western reader. It covers everything!