The Life of Hinduism

John Stratton Hawley is Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Religion at Barnard College. He is the editor of Saints and Virtues and Devi: Goddesses of India (both from UC Press), among other books. Vasudha Narayanan is Professor of Religion at University of Florida. Her books include The Tamil Veda: Pillan's Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli and The Vernacular Veda: Revelation, Recitation, and Ritual.

List of Illustrations A Note on Transliteration Introduction PART I WORSHIP 1 The Experience: Approaching God 2 The Deity: The Image of God 3 The Miraculous: The Birth of a Shrine PART II THE LIFE CYCLE 4 Marriage: Women in India 5 Death beyond Death: The Ochre Robe PART III FESTIVAL 6 Divali: The Festival of Lights 7 Holi: The Feast of Love PART IV PERFORMANCE 8 An Open-Air Ramayana: Ramlila, the Audience Experience 9 A Ramayana on Air: "All in the (Raghu) Family," A Video Epic in Cultural Context 10 Possession by Durga: The Mother Who Possesses PART V GURUS 11 Anandamayi Ma: God Came as a Woman 12 Radhasoami: The Healing Offer PART VI CASTE 13 A Dalit Poet-Saint: Ravidas 14 A Brahmin Woman: Revenge Herself PART VII DIASPORA 15 Hinduism in Pittsburgh: Creating the South Indian "Hindu" Experience in the United States 16 A Diasporic Hindu Creed: Some Basic Features of Hinduism PART VIII IDENTITY 17 Militant Hinduism: Ayodhya and the Momentum of Hindu Nationalism 18 Tolerant Hinduism: Shared Ritual Spaces--Hindus and Muslims at the Shrine of Shahul Hamid 19 Hinduism for Hindus: Taking Back Hindu Studies 20 Hinduism with Others: Interlogue List of Contributors 301 Index 307