Being Hindu

Winner of the 2018 Wilbur Award There are more than one billion Hindus in the world, but for those who don’t practice the faith, very little seems to be understood about it. Followers have not only built and sustained the world’s largest democracy but have also sustained one of the greatest philosophical streams in the world for more than three thousand years. So, what makes a Hindu? Why is so little heard from the real practitioners of the everyday faith? Why does information never go beyond clichés? Being Hindu is a practitioner’s guide that takes the reader on a journey to very simply understand what the Hindu message is, where it stands in the clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity, and why the Hindu way could yet be the path for plurality and progress in the twenty-first century.

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.

"A history-making manual,interreligious study and names list, with stories by Westerners who entered Hinduism and Hindus who deepened their faith"--Cove

In 1987, a thirteen-year-old in Rajasthan joins the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Despite his untouchable status, he rises through the ranks. He hates Muslims. He joins the karsevaks to Ayodhya. He is ready to die for the Hindu Rashtra. And yet he remains a lesser Hindu. In this explosive memoir, Bhanwar Meghwanshi tells us what it meant to be an untouchable in the RSS. And what it means to become Dalit.

Hindu Dharma is the oldest living religion in the world. It is the eternal religion which is evergreen and perfect. Its origin goes back to the earliest of times when man first needed a way of life to conduct himself in the society. A person who always conducts himself with dignity and self-confidence in the society is called a Hindu. the sacred Hindu Scriptures describe a Hindu as the one who carries out his sublime duties and who moves on the right path of the highest state of mental peace leading to the state of Bliss. Hindu Dharma has always remained an enigma in the minds of the people living in the West. Even the Hindus living in the distant shores have long since lost touch with the true essence of the Satya Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma. Today, the young modern generation of Hindus is puzzled and is seeking roots to their culture. With an inquisitive mind, they would like to ask many questions about Hindu Dharma. It intrigues them to find out as to - Who is a Hindu? What is Hindu Dharma? Why should a Hindu be proud of being a Hindu? Who is God? Where does God live? What He does and why is it necessary to worship God? This book is an answer to all these quetions.

'The Life of Hinduism' collects a series of essays that present Hinduism as a vibrant, truly 'lived' religion. The text offers a glimpse into the multifaceted world of Hindu worship, life-cycle rites, festivals, performances, gurus, and castes.