Table Of Content

Encyclopedia of Hinduism JA :F i-xL-hindu-fm.indd i 12/14/06 1:02:34 AM Encyclopedia of Buddhism Encyclopedia of Catholicism Encyclopedia of Hinduism Encyclopedia of Islam Encyclopedia of Judaism Encyclopedia of Protestantism i-xL-hindu-fm.indd ii 12/14/06 1:02:34 AM Encyclopedia of World Religions nnnnnnnnnnn Encyclopedia of Hinduism JA :F Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor i-xL-hindu-fm.indd iii 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM Encyclopedia of Hinduism Copyright © 2007 by Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the pub- lisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 ISBN-10: 0-8160-5458-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-5458-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jones, Constance A., 1961– Encyclopedia of Hinduism / Constance A. Jones and James D. Ryan. p. cm. — (Encyclopedia of world religions) Includes index. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9 1. Hinduism—Encyclopedias. I. Ryan, James D. II. Title. III. Series. BL1105.J56 2006 294.503—dc22 2006044419 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text design by Erika K. Arroyo Cover design by Cathy Rincon Printed in the United States of America VB Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. i-xL-hindu-fm.indd iv 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM contents K About the Editor vii List of Illustrations ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Note on Terms and Spelling xv Introduction: Hinduism xvii Chronology xxvii ENTRIES A TO Z 1 Bibliography 519 Index 525 i-xL-hindu-fm.indd v 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM i-xL-hindu-fm.indd vi 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM about the editor K Series editor J. Gordon Melton is the director of books and anthologies as well as numerous papers the Institute for the Study of American Religion and articles for scholarly journals. He is the series in Santa Barbara, California. He holds an M.Div. editor for Religious Information Systems, which from the Garrett Theological Seminary and a supplies data and information in religious stud- Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Melton is ies and related fields. Melton is a member of the the author of American Religions: An Illustrated American Academy of Religion, the Society for History, The Encyclopedia of American Religions, the Scientific Study of Religion, the American Religious Leaders of America, and several com- Society of Church History, the Communal Stud- prehensive works on Islamic culture, African- ies Association, and the Society for the Study of American religion, cults, and alternative religions. Metaphysical Religion. He has written or edited more than three dozen vii i-xL-hindu-fm.indd vii 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM i-xL-hindu-fm.indd viii 12/14/06 1:02:35 AM list of illustrations K Amritanandamayi Ma 26 Hindu sculpture at Ellora Jiddu Krishnamurti 242 Sikh devotees outside the Golden Caves 149 Swami Krishnananda 245 Temple in Amritsar 28 Mohandas Karamchand Main symbols of Lord Shiva: Anandamayi Ma 32 “Mahatma” Gandhi 158 lingam and trident 260 Sri Aurobindo 52 Lord Ganesha, the elephant- Monolithic stone architec- Devotional practice (bhakti) headed god 161 ture 267 is a central feature of Morning bathing on the steps Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara of Hinduism 76 to the Ganges River 163 Jainism 271 Birla Mandir, a temple devoted Hanuman 178 Hindu temple in Kuala Lum- to Vishnu 86 Baba Hari Dass 179 pur, Malaysia 274 The Universal Peace Hall in Harihara, iconic deity that Wedding of Shiva and the Brahma Kumaris World combines Vishnu and Minakshi, goddess of Spiritual Organization 90 Shiva 181 Madurai 284 Brahmin priest with sacred Woman worshipping her Meher Baba 286 thread at village temple 92 personal divinity (ishta The Mother 292 Haridas Chaudhuri 105 devata) 203 Swami Muktananda 295 Gurumayi Chidvilas- Jain temple complex of white Naked hermit of Naga sect at ananda 108 marble 209 source of Ganges River 301 Sri Chinmoy 111 Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati 213 Guru Nanak 303 Shantivanam 113 Temple to goddess Kali where Nandi, divine bull 304 Goddess Durga slaying Sri Ramakrishna served as Neem Karoli Baba 310 Mahesha, the buffalo priest 221 Swami Bhagawan Nity- demon 139 Sant Keshavadas 233 ananda 315 Eknath Easwaran 143 Temple to the sun god, with om 319 Brahmin householder per- his chariot 236 Parshvanath 325 forming water ablutions at Lord Krishna, an incarna- Religious mendicants on pil- dawn on the banks of the tion of Vishnu, with consort grimage 328 Ganges 148 Radha 239 Sri Harilal Poonja 331 ix