Hinduism and its Sources by Sir Monier Monier-Williams is a text of great historical significance, in that it not only describes the essential elements that are constitutive of Hinduism, but also points out the underlying spirit of unity which, in the midst of diversity of races, languages and social usages, has enabled Hindus to survive all the external invasions and historical upheavals. It is this spirit of unity that has enabled Hinduism to be inclusive, tolerant and comprehensive. Starting from the Veda, Hinduism has ended embraces something from all religions, thereby enabling its followers to follow the path of salvation that suits them the best. As a consequence of this comprehensiveness, Hinduism contains all those essential material and spiritual, esoteric and exoteric, subjective and objective aspects that make religion meaningful and authentic. Thus Hinduism lays equal emphasis on the spiritual paths of action, knowledge and devotion. It is this comprehensiveness of Hinduism that marks this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Monier Monier-Williams
Sir M. Monier Williams, the Sanskrit Lexicographer and Indologist of international repute was born at Bombay in 1819. He was LL.D. of Calcutta, a D.C.L. of Oxford and Ph.D. of Gottingen. He was a pupil of the illustrious Prof. H.H.Wilson and was awarded the Boden Scholarship in 1843. In 1844 he was appointed the professor of Sanskrit, Bengali and Telugu at the East India Company's College at Haileybury, was elected the Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford, in 1860, a post which he held till his death in 1899. During his tenure, he was able to set up the Indian Institute at Oxford in 1896 and also undertook three journeys to India in 1875, 1876 and 1883. His collection of Oriental Mss. and books numbering about 3000 was presented by him to the Institute. He died at Cannes in April 1899. Among the prominent Sanskrit texts and works edited and written by him are Kalidasa's Vikramorvasi, Sakuntala and The Story of Nala. Besides his famous Sanskrit-English Dictionary, English Sanskrit Grammar, A Sanskrit Manual, Indian Epic Poetry, An Easy Introduction to the Study of Hindustani, Practical Hindustani Grammar, Oriental Papers Illustrating the History of the Application of the Roman Alphabet to the Languages of India, The Study of Sanskrit in Relation to Missionary work in India, Indian Wisdom, Hinduism, Modern India and the Indians and Buddhism are some of his important publications.
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