This introductory work proposes a fresh take on the ancient Indian concept dharma. By unfolding how, even in its developments as "law" and custom, dharma participates in nuanced and multifarious understandings of the term that play out in India’s great spiritual traditions, the book offers insights into the innovative character of both Hindu and Buddhist usages of the concept. Alf Hiltebeitel, in an original approach to early Buddhist usages, explores how the Buddhist canon brought out different meanings of dharma. This is followed by an exposition of the hypothesis that most, if not all, of the Hindu law books flowered after the third-century BC emperor Asoka, a Buddhist, made dharma the guiding principle of an entire realm and culture. A discussion built around the author’s expertise on the Sanskrit epics shows how their narratives amplified the new Brahmanical norms and brought out the ethical dilemmas and spiritual teachings that arose from inquiry into dharma. A chapter on the tale of the Life of the Buddha considers the relation between dharma, moksa/nirvana (salvation), and bhakti (devotion). Here, Hiltebeitel ties together a thread that runs through the entire story, which is the Buddha’s tendency to present dharma as a kind of civil discourse. In this sense, dharma challenges people to think critically or at least more creatively about their ethical principles and the foundations of their own spiritual values. A closing chapter on dharma in the twenty-first century explores its new cachet in an era of globalization, its diasporic implications, its openings into American popular culture, some implications for women, and the questions it is still raising for modern India.

Dharma (Dimensions of Asian Spirituality, 3)

Religion & Spirituality

Alf Hiltebeitel

Buddhism

University of Hawaii Press

Jean Haudry: Comparative Mythology and Comparative PhilologyJaan Puhvel: The Warrior at StakeHoni Soit Qui Mal y PenseUdo Strutynski: From Swords in the Earth to the Sword in the StoneC. Scott Littleton: A Possible Reflection of an Alano Sarmatian Rite of Passage in the Arthurian TraditionBruce Lincoln: Places Outside Space, Moments Outside TimeAlf Hiltebeitel: Brothers, Friends, and Charioteers?Parallel Episodes in the Irish and Indian EpicsFrancois Xavier Dillmann: Katla and Her Distaff?An Episode of Tri Functional Magic in the Eyrbyggja Saga?J.C. Riviere: The Three CounselsT.L. Markey: The Cosmology of Lear and His DaughtersEric P. Hamp: Beowulf 2863a [g].

Homage to Georges Dumézil (Journal of Indo-European Studies)

C. Scott Littleton

Jean Haudry

Jaan Puhvel

Udo Strutynski

Bruce Lincoln

François-Xavier Dillmann

J.C.Rivière

T.L. Markey

Institute for the Study of Man

This volume on Draupadi cult ritual follows a simple structure. It takes the order of a Draupadi festival from beginning to end. It thus mirrors the second part of volume 1 of the study, which does the same thing for Draupadi cult mythology. For those whose primary interest is in ritual, it can, of course, be read independently of the first volume, since where the myths are pertinent to understanding the rituals, the information has been repeated.

The Cult of Draupadi (Vol. 1): Mythologies: From Gingee to Kuruksetra

Motilal Banarsidass

Reading books is a kind of enjoyment. Reading books is a good habit. We bring you a different kinds of books. You can carry this book where ever you want. It is easy to carry. It can be an ideal gift to yourself and to your loved ones. Care instruction keep away from fire.

The Ritual Of Battle: Krsna In The Mahabharata

Ritual of Battle Krishna In the Mahabhar

Sri Satguru Publications,India

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Alf Hiltebeitel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Alf Hiltebeitel