Hindu Worldviews

Jessica Frazier

Designed to help readers deepen their understanding of Hinduism, and reflecting themes central to the study of religion and culture, Jessica Frazier explores classical Hindu theories of self, the body, the cosmos, and human action. Case studies from Hindu texts provide readers with direct access to primary sources in translation, ranging from ancient cosmology to philosophical teachings and modern ritual practices.Hinduism is often depicted as being so diverse that it is the most difficult of all of the world religions to understand or explain. Hindu Worldviews explains core ideas about the human mind and body, showing how they fit into concepts of the Self, and practices of embodiment in Hinduism. It draws on western theoretical concepts as a point of entry, connecting contemporary Hindu culture directly with both western and classical Hindu theories.Through the theme of the Self in classical Hindu sources, the chapters provide an interpretative framework for understanding classical approaches to ethics, liberation, and views of the body and the mind. These provide a key to the rationale behind many forms of modern practice such as divinisation rituals, worship of deities, and theological reflection. Reflecting central themes in courses on Hinduism and Indian Philosophy, Hindu Worldviews provides an accessible new perspective on both Hinduism and modern theory in the study of religion.

Extensive use of boxed sources and case studies from scholarship provides readers with direct access to texts in translation and introduces students to more complex ideas from scholarship

PrefaceAcknowledgementsNote on Translations1. Introduction: Hindu Worldviews and Global TheoryPart One - The Art of Embodiment: The Self Made of Matter2. Theories of Self in Classical Hinduism3. Bodies Made of Elements and Structures4. Bodies Made of Substances and Modes5. Agency and the Art of the SelfPart Two - Becoming the World: The Self Made of Thought6. Theories of Reason in Classical Hinduism7. Becoming the World through Reason8. Theories of EverythingPart Three - Shaping the World: Classical Embodiment in Practice9. Theories of Ritual and Practice in Hindu Culture10. Practices of Materiality: Structuring and Transformative Rituals11. Interactive Practices and the Community of Selves12. Speculative Practices and the Reality of Ideas13. Conclusion: The Art of Being Human in the Hindu CosmosReferencesIndex