Everyday Hinduism

"Clear, deft, and beautifully proportioned, Everyday Hinduism is exactly what's been missing as a major textbook resource for an introductory course on Hinduism. I am thrilled to see it: a wish fulfilled!"John Stratton Hawley, Columbia University, USA "At last! Flueckiger's accessible introduction to contemporary Hinduism in practice could not be more welcome. This book successfully and respectfully illuminates dynamic interactions of deities, rituals, stories, and ordinary people - and promises to enhance understandings of a complex, multi-faceted religion for students from outside and inside Hindu cultural worlds."Ann Grodzins Gold, Syracuse University, USA This new introductory textbook provides a refreshingly innovative introduction to Hinduism through an exploration of its contemporary, everyday practice. Taking as its starting point the ways in which Hindus experience their own religion, the book discusses the central practices and beliefs of Hinduism, illustrating their importance and diversity through numerous examples and images of daily life. Drawing on her own extensive fieldwork, the author discusses rituals, festivals, and traditions in text and images. Each chapter includes introductory and contextual information on specific topics related to the practice of Hinduism that serve as a frame for detailed, real-life examples, including the Divali festival, the upanayana rite of passage, and the Ramayana tradition. Beautifully and engagingly written, this detailed guide will be an essential resource for anyone studying, teaching, or interested in better understanding Hinduism.