The Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Second Edition focuses on the most significant groups within this religion, noteworthy teachers and their contributions, the religions and cultural movements that enriched its history, and the spread of Hindu thought and practice around the world.

Table of Contents

• About the Editors
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Note on Terms and Spelling
• The Origins of Hinduism
• The Sacred Texts of Hinduism: The Vedas
• Epic and Classical Hinduism
• Development of the Caste System
• Islam and Hinduism
• Hinduism during the British Era
• Post-Independence India (after 1947)
• Dissemination
• An Encyclopedic Approach
• Chronology
• A
• abhaya mudra
• Abhedananda, Swami
• Abhidhyan Yoga Institute
• Abhinavagupta
• Abhishiktananda, Swami
• Acharanga Sutra
• acharya
• adhvaryu
• adhyasa
• Adi Da Samraj
• Adipurana
• Adishesha
• Aditi
• Adityas
• adrishta
• advaita
• agama
• Agastya
• Aghori sadhus
• Agni
• Agni Yoga Society
• agnichayana
• Ahalya
• ahamkara
• ahimsa
• Airavata
• Aitareya Upanishad
• Aiyanar
• Ajanta
• Ajapa Yoga Foundation
• Ajivikas
• ajna chakra
• Akal Takht
• Akka Mahadevi
• akshamala
• Allahabad
• Alvars
• amangala
• Amarnath
• Ambuvachi
• American Meditation Society
• American Yoga Association
• amrita
• Amrita Foundation
• Amritanandamayi Ma
• Amritsar
• anahata chakra
• ananda
• Ananda Ashram
• Ananda Ashrama and Vedanta Centre
• Ananda Marga Yoga Society
• Ananda movement
• Anandamayi Ma
• Anasuya Foundation
• ancestor worship in Hinduism
• Andal
• Andhaka
• Anekantavada
• Anga
• Annapurna
• Anoopam Mission
• anumana
• Apabhramsha
• Appar
• apsara
• Aranyaka
• Ardhamagadhi
• Ardhanarishvara
• arhat in Hinduism
• Arjuna
• Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
• Art of Living Foundation
• Arthashastra
• Arundhati
• Arya Samaj
• Aryaman
• Aryan in Hinduism
• asana
• Ashish, Sri Madhava
• ashram
• ashramas
• Ashtanga Yoga
• Ashvins
• atman
• Auroville
• avadhuta
• avatar
• avidya
• Ayodhya
• Ayurveda
• Ayyappan
• B
• Baba
• Babaji
• Badami
• Badrinath
• Bahubali
• Bailey, Alice Ann
• Balarama
• Bali (asura)
• Basavanna
• Baul sect
• Benares
• Bernard, Pierre Arnold
• Besant, Annie Wood
• Bhadrabahu
• Bhagavad Gita
• Bhagavan
• Bhagavata Purana
• Bhairava
• Bhajan, Yogi
• bhajans
• bhakti
• Bhaktivedanta, Swami A. C. Prabhupada
• Bharat
• Bharata Natyam
• Bharati, Baba Premanand
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• Bhartrihari
• Bhaskara
• Bhavabhuti
• Bhave, Vinoba
• bhedabheda
• Bhima
• Bhishma
• Bhubaneshwar
• bija mantra
• bindu
• Birla Mandir
• Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna Hahn
• Bonder, Saniel
• Brahma
• Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organizations (BKWSO)
• brahmacharya
• brahman
• Brahmana
• brahmin
• Brahmo Samaj
• Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
• Brihadishvara Temple
• Brihaspati
• Brihatkatha
• Brindavan
• Brunton, Paul
• buddhi
• C
• caste in Hinduism
• Cauvery River
• Chaitanya, Sri Krishna
• chakra
• Chamunda
• Chandi
• Chandogya Upanishad
• Chandra
• Charles, Master
• Charvaka
• Chaudhuri, Haridas
• Chetanananda, Swami
• Chidambaram
• Chidvilasananda, Swami
• Chinmayananda, Swami
• Chinmoy, Sri
• Chitrabhanu, Gurudev Sri
• Chittirai festival
• Christian-Hindu relations
• Cohen, Andrew
• D
• Daksha
• dana
• Danielou, Alain
• darshan
• Dasha Mahavidya
• Datta Yoga Center
• Davis, Roy Eugene
• Dayananda Saraswati, Swami
• demonic beings
• Desai, Guru Amrit
• Desai, Yogi Shanti
• Desjardins, Arnaud
• deva
• Deva Foundation
• devadasi
• Devaki
• Devanagari
• Devayani and Yayati
• Devi, Indra
• dharma in Hinduism and Buddhism
• Dharmashastra
• dhyna
• Digambara
• diksha
• Dinshah, H. Jay
• Divali
• Draupadi
• Dravidian
• Drona
• Duce, Ivy O.
• Durga (Indian goddess)
• Durvasas
• Duryodhana
• dvaita
• Dvapara Yuga
• Dvaraka
• E
• Easwaran, Eknath
• Eckankar
• ecology and Hinduism
• ekadashi
• Elephanta
• Ellora
• F
• facial markings
• five elements in Hinduism
• five sheaths
• Foundation of Revelation
• four ends of life
• funeral rites
• G
• gandharvas
• Gandhi, Mohandas K.
• Ganesha
• Gangaji
• Ganges River
• Garuda
• Gaudapada
• Gaudiya Math
• Gaudiya Vaishnavite Society
• Gayatri Mantra
• Gitagovinda
• goddess worship in Hinduism
• gopi
• Gorakhnath
• gotra
• Grace Essence Fellowship
• guna
• Gunadhya
• Gupta dynasty
• guru
• Guru Nanak
• Guyana
• H
• Hanuman
• Hanuman Foundation
• Hari Dass, Baba
• Haridvar
• Harihara
• hatha yoga
• Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization
• heaven in Hinduism
• Hemachandra
• Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy
• Himalayan Mountains
• Himavat
• Hindu Diaspora
• Hindu nationalism
• Hinduism and Europe
• Hinduism in Africa
• Hinduism in Australia
• Hinduism in Bali
• Hinduism in Indonesia
• Hinduism in Scandinavia
• Hinduism in Singapore
• Hinduism in the Caribbean
• Hinduism in Trinidad
• Hinduism in United Kingdom
• Hinduism in United States
• Hinduism Today
• Hindusim in Malaysia
• Hindusim in Thailand
• hiranyagarbha
• Hiranyakashipu
• Hiranyaksha
• Hittleman, Richard
• Holi
• Holy Shankaracharya Order
• horse sacrifice in Hinduism
• I
• icons in Hinduism
• Ilankovatikal
• Indo-American Yoga-Vedanta Society
• Indra
• Indus River
• Indus Valley civilization
• Intergalactic Culture Foundation
• International Babaji Kriya Yoga Sangam
• International Meditation Institute
• International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
• International Society for Krishna Consciousness Revival Movement (IRM)
• International Society of Divine Love
• International Yoga Federation
• International Yoga Fellowship
• Isha Upanishad
• Isherwood, Christopher
• ishta devata
• Iyengar, B. K. S.
• J
• Jagannath Temple in Puri
• Jaimini
• Jain festivals
• Jainism
• Jayadeva
• jivanmukta
• jnana
• Jnaneshvara
• Jyoti, Swami Amar
• Jyotirmayananda Saraswati, Swami
• K
• Kabir
• kaivalya
• Kali
• Kali Yuga
• Kalidasa
• Kalki Avatar
• kalpa
• Kama Sutra
• Kamadeva
• Kamakhya
• Kamban
• Kanchipuram
• Kanya Kumari
• Kapila
• karma
• Karttikeya
• Kashmiri Shaivism
• Katha Upanishad
• Kathakali
• Kathasaritsagara
• kaula
• Kauravas
• Kedarnath
• Kena Upanishad
• Keshavadas, Sant
• Khajuraho
• kirtans
• Klein, Jean
• Konarak
• Kripalu Yoga
• Kripalvananda, Swami Sri
• Krishna
• Krishna, Gopi
• Krishna Prem, Sri
• Krishnabai, Mother
• Krishnamurti, Jiddu
• Krishnamurti, U. G.
• Krishnananda, Swami
• Krita Yuga
• kriya yoga
• Kriya Yoga Centers
• Kriya Yoga Tantra Society
• Kriyananda, Swami
• Kshatriya
• Kubera
• Kumar, Guru Sushil
• Kumbha Mela
• Kumbhakarna
• kundalini
• Kundalini Research Foundation
• Kurma Avatar
• Kurukshetra
• L
• Lahiri Mahasaya
• Lakshmanjoo
• Lakshmi
• lalata chakra
• Lalleshvari
• Laws of Manu
• lila
• lingam
• Lokenath Divine Life Mission
• Long, Barry
• Lozowick, Lee
• Lust, Benedict
• M
• Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
• Ma Yoga Shakti International Mission
• Maa, Shree
• Madhva
• Mahabalipuram
• Mahabharata (MBh)
• Mahashivaratri
• mahavakyas
• Mahavira
• mahayuga
• Mahendranath, Sri
• Mahesh Yogi, Maharishi
• manas
• Mandukya Upanishad
• mangala
• Manikkavacakar
• manipura chakra
• mantra
• Manu
• manvantara
• Mariyamman
• Maruts
• Mata, Sri Daya
• math
• Matsya avatar
• Mauritius
• maya
• meat-eating
• Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
• Meera, Mother
• Meher Baba
• Metamorphosis League for Monastic Studies
• Milk Ocean
• Mimamsa
• Minakshi
• Mirabai
• Mishra, Ramamurti
• Mishra, Vachaspati
• Mitra
• Mohini
• moksha
• The Mother
• Mother India
• Mount Abu
• Mount Kailasa
• Mount Meru
• mudras
• Muktananda, Swami
• muladhara chakra
• muni
• myths of creation
• N
• Nachiketas
• nadi
• Naga sect
• Nagapanchami
• nagas
• namarupa
• namaste
• Nammalvar
• Nandi
• Narada
• Narasimha avatar
• Narayan, R. K.
• Narayanananda, Swami
• Nataraja
• Nath Yogis
• Nathdwara
• Natya Shastra
• Navaratri
• Nayanmars
• Neem Karoli Baba
• Neminatha
• new moon/full moon ceremonies
• Nimbarka
• Nirankari movement
• nirvana
• Nisargadatta Maharaj
• Nityananda, Swami Bhagawan
• Nyaya-Vaisheshika
• O
• om
• Omkarananda, Swami
• P
• pancha makara
• Pancharatra
• Pandavas
• papa
• Parashurama avatar
• Parshvanath
• Parvati
• Patanjali
• Periya Puranam
• pilgrimage in Hinduism
• pipal tree
• pollution and purity
• Pongal
• Pongala
• Poonja, Sri Harilal
• Prahlada
• Prajapati
• prakriti
• pramana
• prana
• Prana Yoga Ashram
• pranayama
• prasada
• prithivi
• PROUT
• puja
• punya
• Puranas
• purusha
• Purvas
• Pushan
• Pushkara
• R
• Radha
• Radha, Swami Shivananda
• Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli
• Radhasoami Movement
• Rajagopalachari, Sri Parthasarathi
• rajasuya
• Rajneesh, Bhagwan Sri
• Rakshabandhan
• Ram Chandra, Sri Maharaj
• Ram Dass
• Rama
• Rama Navami
• Ramana Maharshi
• Ramanuja
• Ramayana
• Ramdas, Swami
• Rameshvaram
• Ramsuratkumar, Yogi
• rasa
• rasa lila
• Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS)
• Rati in Hinduism
• Rawat, Prem
• reincarnation/rebirth
• Rig-Veda
• Rishabha
• rishi
• Rishikesh
• rita
• Roy, Rammohun
• Rudra
• S
• sacred cow in Hinduism
• sacred thread
• sadhaka
• sadhana
• sadhu
• Sahaja Yoga Center
• sahasrara chakra
• Sai Baba of Shirdi
• Saiva Siddhanta
• Saiva Siddhanta Church
• Sama Veda
• samadhi
• Sambanthar
• Samkhya
• samsara
• samskara
• sanatana dharma
• sannyasi
• Sanskrit
• Sant Mat
• Sant Mat movement
• sapta rishi
• saptamatrika
• Sarasvati River in Hinduism
• Saraswati, Swami Shivananda
• sat-chit-ananda
• Sati (goddess)
• sati (ritual practice)
• Satya Sai Baba
• Savitri (mythical princess)
• Savitri (Vedic god)
• Sekkilar
• Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF)
• self-realization in Hinduism
• Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism
• Sen, Keshab Chunder
• Sen, Ramprasad
• Shaivism
• Shakta
• Shakti
• shakti pithas
• shaktipat
• shalagrama
• Shankara
• Shankaracharya Order
• shanti
• Shanti Mandir
• Shanti Yoga Institute and Yoga Retreat
• Shashthi
• shastra
• Shatapatha Brahmana
• Shitala
• Shiv Sena
• Shiva
• Shivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers
• Shrirangam
• shruti
• Shudra
• Shvetambara
• Shvetashvatara Upanishad
• Siddha
• Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) and Hinduism
• Siddhaswarupananda, Jagad Guru
• siddhi
• Sikhism
• Singh, Guru Gobind
• Singh, Kirpal Maharaj
• Sister Nivedita
• Sita in Hinduism
• smriti
• Society of Abidance in Truth (SAT)
• Soma
• Sri Anandamurti
• Sri Anirvan
• Sri Aurobindo
• Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Mandal
• Sri Ram Chandra Mission
• Sri Ramakrishna
• Sri Sarada Devi
• Sri Sri Nathji
• Sri Vidya
• Sri Yantra
• Sri Yogendra
• Sri Yukteswar
• states of consciousness in Hinduism
• Sthanakavasi
• stotra
• Subramuniyaswami, Satguru
• Sukul, Deva Ram
• Sundarar
• Sunyata
• Surdas
• Surya
• sutra
• svadhishthana chakra
• swami
• Swami Agehananda Bharati
• Swami Kuvalayananda Yoga Foundation
• Swami Paramananda
• Swami Rama Tirtha
• Swami Rudrananda
• Swami Satchidananda
• Swami Turiyasangitananda
• Swaminarayan movement
• T
• Tagore, Rabindranath
• Taittiriya Upanishad
• tanmatra
• Tantrism
• tapas
• Tattvartha Sutra
• temple, Hindu
• Temple of Cosmic Religion
• Temple of Kriya Yoga
• Tevaram
• Theosophical Society
• Therapanthi
• Thind, Bhagat Singh
• time in Hindu tradition
• Tingley, Katherine
• Tirthankara
• Tirumular
• Tirumurai
• Tirupati
• Tiruvacakam
• Transcendental Meditation (TM)
• Treta Yuga
• trimurti
• Tukaram
• tulsi
• Tulsidas
• Tyberg, Judith M.
• U
• untouchability
• Upanishads
• Ushas
• V
• Vach
• vairagya
• Vaishnavism
• Vaishya
• Vallabha
• Valmiki, Maharshi
• Vamana Avatar
• vanaprastha
• varada mudra
• Varaha Avatar
• varna
• Varuna
• Vasanta Panchami
• Vasudeva
• Vayu
• Vedangas
• Vedanta
• Vedanta Societies/Ramakrishna Math and Mission
• Vedanta Sutra
• Vedas
• vegetarianism in India
• vehicles of the divinities
• Videha
• vidya
• Vidyaranya
• Vijayanagara
• Vimalananda
• Vindhya Mountains
• Vindhyavasini
• Virashaivas
• Vishishtadvaita
• Vishnu
• vishuddha chakra
• Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)
• Vishvakarma
• Vishvanath Temple
• Vithoba
• Vivekananda
• vows in Hinduism
• Vyasa
• W
• women and Hinduism
• Woodroffe, Sir John
• World Parliament of Religions
• World Vaishnavite Association
• Y
• yajna
• Yajnavalkya
• Yajur Veda
• yaksha
• yama
• Yama
• Yamuna River
• yantra
• Yashoda
• yoga
• Yoga Sutra
• Yogananda, Paramahansa
• Yogi Ramacharaka
• yoni
• Yudhishthira
• Yuga
• Bibliography