A Primer of Hinduism

It is the conviction of the writer of this Primer that Hinduism cannot be understood unless it be studied historically.  For this reason the first thirteen chapters of the book deal with the growth of the religion in connexion with the political and literary history of the country.  Only when the student has realized how Hinduism came to be is he in a position to attempt to study any particular part of the religion.  To think of the religion as a sort of intricate machine to be studied in pieces is to misconceive the whole.  The practical purpose in view has dictated the method of teaching the history.  The long millenniums have been divided into periods, so that the mind may be able to retain the course of events.  But it is most necessary to realize that these divisions are artificial, and that, while they do correspond to changes, they must not be pressed too far.  There is usually no hard line between the periods: one melts into the other.  The exact dates of most of the events in the history of Hinduism are unknown, and the same is true with regard to the literature.  But, although the dates are unknown, the order of events, and the relative age of the great groups of books, and of many of the individual books, are well established.  For this reason the general place of certain events and books is often indicated in the tables of this Primer, even when no definite dates are available.  The Illustrative Readings will, it is hoped, enable the reader to envisage the character of the leading books more vividly than is possible from a bare description.  The tables are mean to bring chronological and other relationships before the mind in concrete form, and to serve for reference.