Her courses in mythology addressed themes in crosscultural expanses, such as death, dreams, evil, horses, sex, and women. Wendy doniger revisits kamasutra, arthashastra in new book. Wendy doniger the university of chicago divinity school. Dissent in the ancient indian sciences of sex and politics, published in india by. Wendy doniger holds doctoral degrees in indian literature from harvard and oxford universities and is. It is not a description of the beliefs and myths of people who would have identified are can be identified as hindus. Wendy doniger revisits kamasutra, arthashastra in new book wendy doniger s new book is titled, beyond dharma. Wendy doniger s the hindus is a classic example of leftliberal scholarship on hinduism. Buy wendy doniger ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Hindu myths ebook by wendy doniger 9780141903750 rakuten. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit penguin classics.
In march 2010, hindu american foundation cofounder and urologist aseem shukla debated elements of the book the hindus. Penguin to destroy copies of wendy donigers book the hindus. Her research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. See all books authored by wendy doniger, including kama sutra les, and hindu myths. It gave me immense insight into the hindu religion, of which i, like many others, am an ignorant practitioner. She was a member of encyclopaedia britannicas editorial board of.
B002ri9qcq this is a selected collection of 75 stories from an assortment of hindu texts including the puranas, rig veda, upanishads. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit penguin classics new ed by doniger, wendy isbn. A narrative account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions, this book elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. Published june 24th 2004 by penguin classics first published september 30th 1975. Wendy donigers research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. She is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions at the.
Her courses in mythology address themes in crosscultural expanses, such as death, dreams, evil, horses, sex, and women. This is a rich text that will encourage dialogue and conversation among a wide range of scholars. Wendy doniger s research and teaching interests revolve d around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hindu myths, translated from the original sanskrit by dr. The washington post an engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth, the hindus offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions. About the hindus dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. Recorded in sacred sanskrit texts, including the rig veda and the mahabharata, hindu myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century bce.
A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit penguin classics, and more on. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents. Holding two doctorates, from harvard and oxford, in sanskrit and indian studies, doniger is an author, translator, and editor whose prolific career has seen the publication of almost thirty books. Wendy doniger books list of books by author wendy doniger. Jun 24, 2004 recorded in sacred sanskrit texts, including the rig veda and the mahabharata, hindu myths are thought to date back as far as the tenth century bce. Wendy doniger has 73 books on goodreads with 35307 ratings. Dec 31, 2004 hindu myths by wendy doniger, 9780140449907, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In this book, noted scholar of hinduism and mythology wendy doniger offers a crosscultural exploration of the theme of selfimpersonation, whose widespread occurrence argues for both its literary power and its human value. The author, wendy doniger, has two doctorates, one in sanskrit and one in indian studies, so she is exceedingly well qualified to write meaningfully on this topic. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in. Hindu myths by wendy doniger penguin books australia. The origins of evil in hindu mythology wendy doniger o. By purchasing books through this website, you support our.
Publishers weekly clear and direct this will stand as a reliable resource to return to frequently. Dinanath batra has armtwisted publisher penguin india into recalling and destroying american scholar wendy doniger s book, the hindus. Jun 15, 2014 three months after aleph book company decided that american indologist wendy donigers book on hinduism would be reprinted only after issues raised by the shiksha bachao andolan samiti sbas. An alternative history book online at best prices in india on. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit penguin classics book. Penguin books limited, jun 24, 2004 fiction 357 pages. Wendy doniger s enthralling and encyclopaedic book reveals her vision of a hindu culture that is plural, varied, generous, and inclusive. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, 1940 is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind fr.
An alternative history, is a 2011 book from the longtime divinity professor and noted hinduism scholar that offers a new way of understanding one of the world. Fight back and reclaim wendy donigers valuable book taken away from you by a spineless publisher and the fundamentalists they made a deal with. Read hindu myths a sourcebook translated from the sanskrit by wendy doniger available from rakuten kobo. An alternative history is a book by american indologist, wendy doniger which the author describes as an alternative to the narrative of hindu history that they tell. Aug 27, 2019 wendy doniger was born in new york in and trained as a dancer under shiva. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals. Hindu myths by wendy doniger overdrive rakuten overdrive. An anthology, 108 hymns translated from the sanskrit. She is the author of several translations of sanskrit texts, including penguin classics editions of hindu myths and the rig veda, as well as many books about hinduism. This is emphatically not a religion of any single book.
For anyone seeking a deeper and more nuanced understanding of hinduism, this book is a must read. India bans vulgar book by university of chicago scholar. Feb 12, 2014 the hindu tantrism tradition is one of the aspects of the religion explored by wendy doniger s book. The washington postan engrossing and definitive narrative account of history and myth, the hindus offers a new way of understanding one of the worlds oldest major religions. Dont miss this equivalent of a brilliant graduate course froma feisty and exhilarating teacher. The real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned. How is wendy donigers book the hindu in its quality of. A tribute to professor wendy doniger the university of chicago. Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account. The wild misconceptions that most nonhindus have of hinduism need to be counteracted by demonstrating the richness and human depth of hindu texts and practices.
Ive labored all my adult life in the paddy fields of sanskrit, doniger has written 16 books, translated primarily from sanskrit to english with commentary nine other volumes, has contributed to many edited texts and has written hundreds of articles in journals, magazines and newspapers. An alternative history 2009, professor wendy doniger explains the purpose of writing this book which, on surface, appears a very noble one. Wendy doniger oflaherty born november 20, is an american indologist whose professional career has spanned five decades. Hindus need to be wary of the intractable opposition between this hindu and that hindu that is falsely posited and perpetrated by orientalists like doniger. Wendy doniger was born in new york in and trained as a dancer under shiva.
The book was initially published by viking penguin in 2009 and later in india by penguins indian subsidiary, penguin india. Wendy doniger s book is a tribute to hinduism s complexity, not an insult vijay prashad penguins decision to destroy the hindus. Dec 03, 2018 when i was 14, i purchased a book entitled hindu myths. Mar 23, 2020 hindu myths wendy doniger pdf wendy doniger was born in new york in and trained as a dancer under shiva. Wendy doniger holds doctoral degrees in indian literature from harvard and oxford. Hindu myths by wendy doniger, 9780140449907, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Though the potted biographies of mughal emperors seem superfluous in a long book, doniger s chapter on the centuries of muslim rule over india helps dilute the lurid mythology of hindu. A scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva.
A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit paperback sep 28 2004. Buy hindu myths by wendy doniger from waterstones today. The hindus is the latest target of such hindu groups which are protesting against its nomination for an award by the national book critics circle in the united states. The earliest of the four hindu religious scriptures known as the vedas, and the first extensive composition to survive in any indoeuropean language, the rig veda c. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents and. Wendy doniger s research and teaching interests revolve around two basic areas, hinduism and mythology.
While hardliners accuse doniger of reducing hindu gods to fictions. Wendy doniger is the mircea eliade distinguished service professor of the history of religions in the divinity school at the university of chicago. It was, and still is, my favorite book because it was the medium through which i could finally talk to someone who adored narratives as much as i did. The real reason wendy doniger s book on hindus was banned in india. Perhaps a nonhindu reader may understand the universal reality expressed in relevant hindu myths using these. A tribute to professor wendy doniger the university of. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit penguin classics asin. Mar, 2014 the real reason wendy donigers book on hindus was banned in india. Wendy doniger oflaherty was born in new york in 1940.
A selection of myths involving the creation and some of the most important hindu deities, translated from the rg veda, the mahabharata and ramayana epics, the brahmanas, and the puranas. Wendy doniger oflaherty is a scholar of sanskrit and indian textual traditions, her major works include, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva. When i received this book, my first thoughts went back to the year 1973. For those who already know and admire wendy doniger s work, this is a handy if hefty compendium of many of her essays for those who are reading her for the first time, the book is a marvellous introduction to the multiple ways that hinduism can be approached and understood through the stories that it tells. Penguin to destroy copies of wendy doniger s book the hindus. Here in these seventyfive seminal myths are the many incarnations of vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons. Wendy donigers book is a tribute to hinduisms complexity. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit by wendy doniger 2004, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Hinduism, in her view, is an intricate weave of the diverse localities and communities of indian culture. Mar 16, 2005 hindu myths, translated from the original sanskrit by dr. An alternative history with doniger on a washington postsponsored blog on faith and religion, and accused her of sexualising and exoticising some of the holiest passages in the hindu scriptures. The hindus an alternative history is an utterly wonderful book. An alternative history, penguin viking, new delhinew yorktoronto 2009, pp. It is true that there have always been marginalized people in india.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. May 07, 20 through this magisterial volume which she calls the book of my books wendy doniger, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest and most original scholars of hinduism, enlarges our understanding. In this book, noted scholar of hinduism and mythology wendy doniger. Since the appearance of her first critically lauded book, asceticism and eroticism in the mythology of siva in 1973, wendy doniger has been an unparalleled presence in international religious studies. Wendy s book was positioned as an alternative history of hinduism, since according to the author mainstream history was written from a male brahminical and white orientalist perspective. A sourcebook translated from the sanskrit by wendy doniger 2004, paperback. Wendy doniger holds doctorates in sanskrit and indian studies from harvard and oxford.
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