Most Hindus do not separate myths from ordinary experience the way Hindu philosophers and theologians do. Hindu intellectuals make sophisticated distinctions between existential truths (what you experience with your own senses and know from your own experience) and what others teach. The Buddha taught his followers to test everything in life and only believe what they had verified through their own
life experiences. Most Hindu intellectuals are very comfortable with the Buddha's counsel as a beginning point for their explorations. Yet, even in the thinking of most intellectuals, and as for other Hindus, there has always been some room for the imaginal-for myth.
Unlike many other ancient mythologies, Hinduism thrives in the modern world. One billion followers and countless others have been captivated by its symbolic representations of love, karma, and reincarnation.Handbook of Hindu Mythology offers an informative introduction to this dauntingly complex mythology of multifaceted deities, lengthy heroic tales, and arcane philosophies-all with a 3,000-year history of reinterpretations and adaptations. Williams offers a number of pathways by which to approach Hinduism's ever-changing gods and goddesses (e.g., Brahma, Vishnu, Siva), spiritual verses (such as the vedas), secular epics (including the Ramayana and the Mahabharata), myths within myths, devotional and esoteric traditions, psychic and yogic disciplines, and magical practices. With this handbook, readers can explore the history of Hindu mythology, follow a detailed timeline of key episodes and historical events, and look up specific elements of historical or contemporary Hinduism in a beautifully illustrated reference work.
It is the ideal introduction to the origins of Hinduism, the culture that shaped it from antiquity to the present, and the age-old stories, ideas, and traditions that speak to the human condition as eloquently today as ever.Including annotated bibliographies, a glossary of cultural and mythological terms, and numerous illustrations, here is a gold mine of information on Hindu mythology.
- A chronology of the mythological universe explaining the working and purpose of time and mythic time within the culture.
- Encyclopedia-style entries that address major deities, characters, themes, rituals, and beliefs in cultural context.
- Annotated bibliographies of introductory and scholarly publications, websites, fiction and poetry, and film.
- Glossary of cultural and mythological terms.
- Thorough subject index for fast and easy access.
- Numerous illustrations. |
