Do Hindus worship cows? Why do Hindu gods have so many arms? What is the caste system, and why do Hindus practice it? How is yoga related to Hinduism? This book not only answers questions like these but digs into how the questions themselves are often based on misunderstandings of a subtle and ancient tradition with much wisdom to offer the modern world. It explores such topics as Hindu worship, Hindu beliefs about the afterlife, Hindu ideals of justice, Hindu political and social thought, Hinduism and gender issues, conflicts between Hindus and Muslims, historical reasons for poverty in India, and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, who is probably the best known Hindu in the Western world.
Each chapter focuses on a particular fiction related to Hinduism, discussing how the fiction arose and spread through excerpts from primary source documents. Readers will come away with an understanding of significant misconceptions related to Hinduism as well as the truths behind those beliefs.