An Introduction to Hinduism 1ed

This is a book that anyone interested in Hinduism should read. It should be a compulsory reading for all Hindus especially.Gavin Flood presents a very "non-enchanted" but respectful overview of Hinduism. That is, Hinduism is seen as a set of traditions that naturally arose as a result of interactions between various streams of spirituality in India. Unlike similar books written by Hindus, it doesn't see Hinduism through a supernatural, metaphysical lens. It also doesn't feel compelled to artificially find a unifying theme for Hinduism - it's perfectly at ease with stating the case as it is, with internal differences and contradictions in clear view. This is very much a "secular" story of Hinduism, but one that does not view the religion condescendingly.As a practicing Hindu, this book has helped me get a more rational idea of the overall structure of Hinduism. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, and was delighted to cement my understanding of their interrelatioships. I will be going through these chapters and their references in detail in the months and years to come. This book is an important supplement to any serious study of Hinduism. I wholly recommend it.

This work of Gavin Flood is all time recommended book for the students of Hinduism.

This book has very poor quality o f paper Not original copy