Hindu Scriptures - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0520207785 ISBN 13: 9780520207783

Publisher: University of California Press, 1996

Synopsis

The scriptures revered by Hindus are enormously varied, and R. C. Zaehner's anthology has long been considered invaluable for its breadth and diversity. Now Dominic Goodall expands Zaehner's work with three fresh translations, including one work that appears for the first time in English. Spanning more than two thousand years, the range of selections in this book include arcane hymns of the ancient Aryans, prescriptions governing every aspect of the daily life of the orthodox, and sensual poetry.

About this title

About the Author

Dominic Goodall was educated at Ampleforth College and at Pembroke College, Oxford. He is now attached to the Institute Français de Pondichèry in South India and is working on the manuscript collection there.

From the Back Cover

"The Veda, the Upanishads, the Gita, the Dharma books, Tantra, and the Bhagavata Purana―these are the texts many Hindus would name as forming the core of their tradition. Here they are, at last, between two covers."―Jack Hawley, Director, South Asian Institute, Columbia University

From the Inside Flap

"The Veda, the Upanishads, the Gita, the Dharma books, Tantra, and the Bhagavata Purana these are the texts many Hindus would name as forming the core of their tradition. Here they are, at last, between two covers." Jack Hawley, Director, South Asian Institute, Columbia University

Reviews

These two marvelous books complement each other well. Goodall has significantly revised R.C. Zaehner's book on Hindu scriptures (Everyman, 1966) by deleting some parts and adding the Yajnavalkya-Smrti (a work on conduct, legal proceedings, and penitential rites), the first seven chapters of the Kirana-Tantra (a work on initiation into the Saiva Siddhanta cult), and the Bhagavat-Purana (a work expressing popular devotionalism). Goodall's brief introduction is helpful, but mainly the book provides fresh translations of portions of the Rig and Athavara Vedas, some Upanishads, and the Bhagavad-Gita. Powell's work is a useful introduction to the Hindu scriptures. It gives information on their composition, summaries of their content, and demonstrations of their significance for Hinduism. The first chapter provides solid guidance on how to read a sacred text and offers an overview of the immense and complex Hindu canon. Powell also includes a glossary of Hindu terms and even diagrams such as the one showing the Mahabharata family tree. While Goodall's work provides an excellent place to begin becoming familiar with the most significant Hindu scriptures, Powell's work offers a more extensive introduction to many of the same basic Hindu texts. Both books are highly recommended for any library seeking to provide patrons with seminal and introductory material on Hindu scripture.?David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernadino
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0520207785
• ISBN 13: 9780520207783
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 410
• Editor: Dominic Goodall