On Hinduism [Paperback]

On Hinduism is an intellectually engaging and respectful appraisal of a complex, diverse system which tends to resist simple explanations. That Gajjar manages to communicate so much of Hinduism to the reader so neatly, and with such authorial flair, seems quite an accomplishment.Hinduism—the world’s oldest major religion—is a mixture of faiths that have evolved from the inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. While recognizing the immense complexity of the subject matter, the author has striven for clarity in her explanations. The author skillfully weaves together many sources to help readers understand the depth and importance of Hinduism. On Hinduism is both an historical and a philosophical account, grounded by the deep reflections of an important mind. What is Hinduism? Historians, teachers, scholars, and gurus have disagreed for centuries—and continue to disagree. One reason is because Hinduism—the world’s oldest continuously extant major religion—is not a single faith with a static set of beliefs and a single sacred scripture. It is actually a mixture of faiths that have evolved from the inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent—a universal faith that is open to interpretation and evolving scientific truth, and one that deeply respects individual thought.

In this, her latest book, Gajjar has striven for clarity in her explanations while recognizing the immense complexity of the subject matter. “In a sense,” she writes, “On Hinduism is an opinion about an opinion. Religions are beliefs and opinions about the universe, about humankind, about birth and dl³(