Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online
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Subject: Asian Studies
Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism presents the latest research on all the main aspects of the Hindu traditions. Its 438 essays are original work written by the world’s foremost scholars on Hinduism. The encyclopedia presents a balanced and even-handed view of Hinduism, recognizing the divergent perspectives and methods in the academic study of a religion that has ancient historical roots with many flourishing traditions today. Including all essays from the heralded printed edition, Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism is now to be regularly updated with new articles and available in a fully searchable, dynamic digital format.
Subscriptions: see brill.com
Edited by: Knut A. Jacobsen (Editor-in-Chief), University of Bergen, and Helene Basu, University of Münster, Angelika Malinar, University of Zürich, Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida (Associate Editors)
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Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism presents the latest research on all the main aspects of the Hindu traditions. Its 438 essays are original work written by the world’s foremost scholars on Hinduism. The encyclopedia presents a balanced and even-handed view of Hinduism, recognizing the divergent perspectives and methods in the academic study of a religion that has ancient historical roots with many flourishing traditions today. Including all essays from the heralded printed edition, Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism is now to be regularly updated with new articles and available in a fully searchable, dynamic digital format.
Subscriptions: see brill.com
Gift and Gift Giving
(3,248 words)
It may be difficult to overstate the importance and religious significance of gift-giving practices in Hinduism. Extolled in early vedic “Hymns to Giving” (Dānastutis), the gift develops in the course of Indian history into a central religious category in brahmanical discourse, and is discussed prolifically in the epic, puranic and dharmashastric sources. Gifts are also recorded in the epigraphical record where we learn about the actual gifts people gave as they are inscribed on stone monuments,…
Date:
2020-05-18
Glossary of Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism
(1,161 words)
abhiṣeka the ceremonial bathing of a statue, anointing, consecration
ācārya learned person of distinction, founder or teacher of a religious community Āgama name of a class of texts believed to be revealed by a god or goddess
ahiṃsā noninjury, nonviolence
amṛta nectar of immortality
apsara class of semidivine female dancers Āraṇyaka group of Vedic texts
āratī (Hind.
ārtī) worship of deities involving the act of waving lights
artha wealth and success
āsana posture, seat
āśrama 1. four stages of life, 2. abode of ascetics, hermitage, religious center
asura class of demons
ātman (immo…