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A major contribution toward the ongoing debates on the nature and history of Hinduism in India Hinduism in India: The Early Period covers the major thematic and historical aspects of Hinduism in ancient and medieval India, emphasising primarily on belief structures, rituals, theology, art, and myths. Although the book focuses on the period from 200 BCE to 1200 ACE, the chapters make several references to ideas and practices preceding and following this period. This is a reflection of the fact that the cultural entity named “Hinduism” has been in a process of constant change and evolution, and continues to demonstrate many recognizably ancient elements even today.

Contents: Introduction: Hinduism in India. 1. Introduction/Greg Bailey. 2. Hinduism Contextualized/Greg Bailey. 3. Rituals/Axel Michaels. 4. The Mahabharata and Dharma/Adam Bowles. 5. Mythology/Greg Bailey. 6. Religious Pathways: Social and Ritual Activity (karman), Knowledge (jnana), and Devotion (bhakti)/Angelika Malinar. 7. Hindu Theology/Eric John Lott. 8. Making Space for the Sacred: Hindu Art and Material Religion/Crispin Branfoot. Index.