Hinduism:
An Introduction
(Course
description and original
syllabus by Diane
Mines)
Course
Description
An
introduction to Hindu practice and thought, this
course explores
broadly the variety of forms, practices, and
philosophies that have been
developing from the time of the Vedas (ca. 1500 B.
C. E.) up to the
present day popular Hinduism practiced in both
urban and rural India.
The course pays special attention to the relation
between Hindu religion
and mythology and the wider cultural, social, and
political contexts in
which it has arisen and to which it has given
shape; to questions of
Hindu identity in India and America; and to
relations between the Hindu
majority of India and minority traditions.
DISCUSSION SECTIONS ARE OPTIONAL
Original
Course Description
An
introduction to Hindu practice and thought, this
course explores
broadly the variety of forms, practices, and
philosophies that have been
developing from the time of the Vedas (ca. 1500 B.
C. E.) up to the
present day "popular" Hinduism practiced in both
urban and rural India.
The course pays special attention to the relation
between Hindu "religion"
and the wider cultural, social, and political
contexts in which it has arisen
and to which it has given shape.
Cultural
Diversity
Explore
the Rich Cultural Diversity of the Religion,
(or Family of Religions) and the Tradition
(or Stream of Traditions) now called
Hinduism!
NOTE:
As a sympathetic non-Hindu, I must be neutral on
questions of Hindu
identity (I will be "fair and balanced," always
respectful, but perhaps sometimes,
I hope, "funny"!). Students may write their
research paper on virtually any topic
relating to Hinduism, broadly and generously
conceived. However, in each year
an unofficial theme has developed in the discussion
groups. One suggestion
for 2003 (just a suggestion!)
"Who
Speaks for Hinduism
and
Who Against:
Hinduphilia
and Hinduphobia in American Culture and
Academia"
Satyam
Eva Jayate
"Truth
Alone Prevails" (in Sanskrit);
Compare to Washington University's Motto,
"Per Veritatem Vis," "Strength Through Truth" (in
Latin)!
Previously
Offered:
Autumn
1997,
Autumn
1998,
Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn
2001,
Autumn
2002,
Autumn
2003
Next
Offered:
Autumn
2005
To
Register
Washington
University Online Course Catalog
WebSTAC
(online course registration)
Time
and Place
Autumn
2003
ReSt
250F (Q) [U66]
Hinduism:
An Introduction
-T-T--- 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM [Lab
Sciences 250]
(Section A: -T----- 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
[Duncker
101]
(Section B: ---T--- 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
[Duncker
101]
Campus
Map
Also
of Potential Interest
Go
to Hindu
Religion Study
Page
Go to South
Asian Studies Page
Go to Sikh
Religion Study
Page
Go to Jain
Religion Study
Page
Go to Buddhist
Religion Study
Page
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and Religion Page
Go to Local
Indo-Pak Restaurants and
Groceries
Go to Medical
Humanities Page
Go to Folklore
and Folklife Page
Go to Minorities
and Civil Rights Page
Notes
and Links
(This
page is under development; suggestions are welcome!
Send comments to Jerome
Bauer)
(Note:
Neither I nor anyone else at Washington University
necessarily endorses
the views expressed in these websites)
Miscellaneous
Hindu
Temple of St Louis
Vedanta
Society of St Louis
Vedanta
Center Links
Missouri
Sathya Sai Baba
Centers
(including St Louis and Clayton)
Society
for Hindu-Christian Studies
Hinduism
Today
Hinduism
Today Om Clip Art
Hinduism
Today Hindu Art Online
Sanskrit
Manuscripts Online
R.
K. Narayan's Obituary (Frontline
Magazine)
Ramayana
Comic Book
Mahabharata
Home Page (Including Bibliography)
Dreamworks'
Ramayana Adaptation
Japanese
Animated Ramayana (No. 258)
Miracle
of Ganesh Drinking Milk (including
video)
South
Asian Journals
Vedic,
Ayurvedic, and Astrological Associations in North
America
New
Religious Movements Links
Hinduphilia,
Hinduphobia, and Blasphemy and Defamation
Issues
Rajiv
Malhotra Article: "RISA Lila 1: Wendy's Child
Syndrome"
[on alleged Hindu-bashing by American
academics, especially those in the
American
Academy of
Religion's
"Religion
in South Asia" (RISA)
Section,
most particulary Professor Wendy
Doniger,
and her students, including
Jeffrey
Kripal
and Sarah
Caldwell]
Jeffrey
Kripal's Response to Rajiv Malhotra's Article,
"RISA Lila 1: Wendy's Child Sydrome"
Response
to Jeffrey Kripal's Response to Rajiv Malhotra's
Article
Wendy
Doniger's Faculty Profile (University of
Chicago)
Jeffrey
Kripal's Home Page (Rice University)
Sarah
Caldwell's Faculty Profile (California State
University, Chico)
The
Stranger's Religion: Fascination and Fear
(Hinduphilia and Hinduphobia in American
Culture)
Swami
Tyagananda's Critique of Jeffrey Kripal's
Controversial Book, Kali's
Child
Jeffrey
Kripal's Response to Swami Tyagananda's
Critique
(now offline; ask me for a copy)
Reflections
on Hindu Studies vis-a-vis Hindu Practice (Swami
Tyagananda)
Public
Feedback on Kali's Child
Sword
of Truth review of Kali's
Child
Sword
of Truth protest letters for Kali's
Child
XAC
Information Index
[Articles on the allegedly blasphemous Xena the
Warrior Princess Krishna episode,
allegations of censorship, and Hindu defenders of
Xena]
Online
Article: "Xena Producers Bow to Hindu
Protest"
Defamation/Anti-Defamation:
Who Speaks for Hinduism?
Journal
of the American Academy of Religion
(JAAR)
Special Issue:
"Who Speaks for Hinduism?"
December 2000, Vol. 68, No. 4
BV1460
.N23 Olin Level B Stacks
"Who
Speaks for Hinduism--, and Who Against?"
Hawley, John Stratton
JAAR,
December 2000, Vol. 68, No. 4, pp. 711-720
BV1460
.N23 Olin Level B Stacks
Sarasvati
River and Speculations About Vedic / Harappan
Civilization
Sarasvatisindhu
Sarasvati
River Index
Encyclopedia
Mythica article: Sarasvati
Aryan
Invasion Versus Migration
Controversy
Online
article by Dr.
David Frawley
(Pandit Vamadeva Shastri), American
Institute of Vedic
Studies:
"The
Myth of the Aryan
Invasion"
Critique
of David Frawley's article, cited above, by
Professor
Michael Witzel,
Harvard
University:
Part
One
Part
Two
Online
article by Dr.
David Frawley
(Pandit Vamadeva Shastri), American
Institute of Vedic
Studies:
"The
Myth of the Hindu Right"
Course
Web Page, Including Syllabus (TBA)
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Students are encouraged to write papers or give
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