Author Description

"Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice presents the modern-day practices, beliefs, and expressions of the world's oldest organized religion. Through a series of ten essays, notable Indian and Western scholars explore topics ranging from urban Hinduism and family planning to caste, class, and gender." "Unlike other reference works, which focus heavily on history, classical doctrines, and sacred texts, Contemporary Hinduism views the world's third-largest religion as it is practiced today, from India to the remote island to Mauritius and the small South American nation of Guyana. Undergraduate and general readers will discover answers to such questions as: What impact has Gandhi had on contemporary Hinduism? How important are gurus in contemporary Hinduism? How have women challenged conventional practices? What is Hinduism's relation to other religions?"--Jacket.