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<b>Introduction.</b> <p><b>Part I: Introducing Hinduism.</b></p> <p>Chapter 1: A Quick Overview of Hinduism.</p> <p>Chapter 2: From Past to Present: A Condensed History of Hinduism.</p> <p>Chapter 3: Hinduism’s Core Beliefs and Values.</p> <p>Chapter 4: Major Hindu Denominations.</p> <p>Chapter 5: The Structure of Hindu Society.</p> <p><b>Part II: The Hindu Pantheon and Its Religious Leaders.</b></p> <p>Chapter 6: Pantheism to Polytheism: From the One to the Very Many.</p> <p>Chapter 7: Hindu Gods and Goddesses.</p> <p>Chapter 8: The Avatars of Vishnu: The Divine Descent.</p> <p>Chapter 9: Revering the Role of Religious Leadership.</p> <p><b>Part III: The Sacred Texts.</b></p> <p>Chapter 10: The Vedas: Centuries of Accumulated Treasures.</p> <p>Chapter 11: Gaining Higher Knowledge with the Upanishads.</p> <p>Chapter 12: Living with the Epics and Puranas.</p> <p>Chapter 13: The Song of the Lord: The Bhagavad Gita.</p> <p><b>Part IV: Hinduism in Practice.</b></p> <p>Chapter 14: Worshipping at Home.</p> <p>Chapter 15: Worshipping at Temples.</p> <p>Chapter 16: Holydays and Festivals.</p> <p>Chapter 17: Cradle to Cremation: The Life-Cycle Rites.</p> <p>Chapter 18: Taking a Pilgrimage.</p> <p><b>Part V: Delving Deeper into the Hindu Concept of Reality.</b></p> <p>Chapter 19: The Six Schools of Thought: The Darshanas.</p> <p>Chapter 20: Vedanta: The End of Knowledge.</p> <p>Chapter 21: The Yogic Path to Salvation.</p> <p><b>Part VI: The Part of Tens.</b></p> <p>Chapter 22: Ten Common Questions About Hindus.</p> <p>Chapter 23: Ten Common Prayers.</p> <p>Chapter 24: Ten (Plus) Traditional Mandates.</p> <p><b>Index.</b></p>

<b>Dr. Amrutur V. Srinivasan</b>, born in India, is primary founder and first president of the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society. He has functioned as a Hindu priest performing a wide variety of pujas (worships), weddings, and other ceremonies since 1971.

<b>Explore the profound history and modern practice of Hinduism</b> <p>Want to know what Hinduism is all about? This friendly guidegives you the lowdown on the core beliefs and values shared by Hindus and the diverse deities and practices that represent them. From ancient rituals prescribed by sacred texts to modern worship, <i>Hinduism For Dummies</i> leads you on a fascinating journey toward comprehending the vast diversity that exists within the world's oldest religion.</p> <ul> <li> <p>Dharma, karma, and moksha — grasp the importance of moral order, action, and the quest for liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth</p> </li> <li> <p>Gods, goddesses, and avatars — get acquainted with the Hindu Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva), their companions, and the forms they have taken when descending to earth</p> </li> <li> <p>Om sweet om — delve into six philosophies that have guided Hindus in their search for Truth and Reality</p> </li> <li> <p>The power of ten — get answers to ten common questions about Hindus, learn ten common prayers, and get ten traditional pieces of advice</p> </li> </ul> <p><b>Open the book and find:</b></p> <ul> <li> <p>How the search for Truth defines the Hindu worldview</p> </li> <li> <p>Explanations of dharma and karma</p> </li> <li> <p>The scriptural basis for the caste system</p> </li> <li> <p>What polytheism is</p> </li> <li> <p>Major sects and subsects and the gods and goddesses they worship</p> </li> <li> <p>An introduction to the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads</p> </li> <li> <p>Key teachings of Hinduism's spiritual leaders</p> </li> <li> <p>An overview of major Hindu festivals and pilgrimage sites</p> </li> </ul> <p><b>Learn to:</b></p> <ul> <li> <p>Appreciate the Hindu belief that everything is sacred</p> </li> <li> <p>Grasp the diversity of practices that fall under the umbrella of Hinduism</p> </li> <li> <p>Recognize the major gods and goddesses worshipped by Hindus</p> </li> </ul>

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