Sources of Indian Tradition: Modern India and Pakistan

By: Christine Dunbar

Book Overview

Since 1958 Sources of Indian Tradition has been one of the most important and widely used texts on civilization in South Asia (now the nation-sates of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal). It has helped generations of students and lay readers understand how leading thinkers there have looked at life, the traditions of their ancestors, and the world they live in.

This second edition has been extensively revised, with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231066511
• ISBN13: 9780231066518
• Release Date: April 1988
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 547 Pages
• Weight: 1.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 22 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Postsecondary to Grade 12

Customer Reviews

A must have for anyone interested in India

This book is an essential part of one's study of India and her history (to the end of the Mughal dynasty). In fact, it might very well be the most often used "textbook" in college courses on the subject. Countless students of Indic civilization, including myself, have cut their teeth on it and there is good reason. Professor Embree, the father of South Asian Studies in the USA, and an array of other notable scholars have written introductions to, and translated excerpts from, some of the most important texts in Indic religious, political and social history. That said, however, the emphasis is on religious developments - with major chapters on Vedic, Upanishadic, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Hindu devotional and Islamic traditions (among other topics). In sum, this is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in India. A must have - period!

A great reference book on India

India has one of the richest and most intricate cultures in the world. Imagine a book that compiled all the ancient sources of this culture into a single volume. This book is as close to that ideal as possible. This volume covers India from pre-historic times until the mid 18th century. It includes selections from the Vedas and the Upanishads, foundational Hindu texts; selections from important Jain texts; and selections from early Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist texts. It them embarks on an elaborate discussion of Hinduism, organized on the four goals of life -- *dharma*, *artha*, *kama*, and *moksha* (the section on *moksha* contains selections from the *Bhagavad Gita*, other scriptures, and the writings of mystics & saints). The last section of the anthology is a detailed treatment of the Muslims period in India, from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Overall, this is an invaluable sourcebook for anyone who wants to know more about the history of India.