Hinduism: A Reader offers a comprehensive guide to this major world religion through a combination of passages from scriptures and excerpts from the work of leading scholars in the field. Introduces students to the main textual, regional, intellectual, philosophical, historical, and contemporary traditions of the Hindu faith Includes excerpts from both canonical ancient texts and thought-provoking contemporary texts to offer a balanced overview of the religion Features selections that are concise without sacrificing essential material Provides clearly written introductions to each section that help situate the readings within the wider context of Hindu scholarship.