Author: Kim Knott
Publisher: Oxford University Press: Oxford 1998
ISBN 0-19-285341-4
Reviewer: Arti Kacchia

Kim Knott makes a difficult subject interesting and accessible in Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction; she employs a style of writing that is both simple and informal, easily drawing the reader into the topics and debates that are discussed in the book.

There is a refreshing air of frankness about the author's approach to the key issues that constitute Hinduism. The author explains the various perspectives from which one can view the subject, making an important point that many introductory books overlookthat one's understanding and perception of Hinduism largely depends on whether one is a practitioner of that faith or not. This equally applies to those writing the books and those reading the books. Hindu practitioners writing about Hinduism will undoubtedly wish to encourage spiritual understanding, and the Hindu reader is more likely to be looking for specific cultural and religious content for more personal reasons, while scholarly writers and readers will require informative background and analytical comment. She also points out that there is another type of reader who is neither looking for conversion nor analysis, but is merely interested in finding out more about the subject. There is something for all of these readers in this presentation.

This book is perhaps most successful in communicating to the complete newcomer to studying Hinduism, and for them the author makes the subject matter less daunting by the sparing use of unfamiliar vocabulary needed to understand the basics of Hindu custom and belief, though the basics such as brahmanism, karma, re-incarnation, Vedanta, bhakti and dharma are well explained. The author gently prompts the reader to think about the personal perspective that they will bring to the subject, and this is the perhaps the most useful accomplishment of the bookonce the reader is taken through this experience of Hinduism they are bound to have further developed their understanding of the issues facing Hindus today, because of a of their own self-analysis.

Kim Knott's gentle introduction of the major debates within Hinduism such as the Aryan Invasion Theory provides a good introduction to the development of Hinduism and the debate surrounding its origins. The author also usefully takes the various images of Hindu tradition and places them in the context of both historical background and demonstrates the implications they have for Hindus today. In addition, she clearly explains the issues underlying both practical and social Hinduism, such as knowledge transmission, describing the ancient practice of handing down knowledge from guru to disciple, the difficulties typically faced by Hindu immigrants attempting to pass on this knowledge in culturally alien settings, and highlighting the principal scriptures in which this knowledge is contained. The book also serves as a good starting point for Hindus who are not living in India and want to research and understand their culture, for them it is invaluable for painting a general picture without being biased towards a certain tradition within Hinduism.

With the aid of anecdotes, illustrations, maps and excerpts from scripture, plays and poems, the author presents her information thematically, emphasising the concept and importance of the divine presence in Hindu philosophy; drawing on the heroes of epic literature such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata to give an insight into influential figures in the lives of Hindus and debating the issues involved in transplanting the Hindu culture and tradition into an alien environment.

Both accessible and enjoyable, this would be an ideal book for someone who knows little or nothing about Hinduism. The book is long enough to adequately introduce the subject, though not so lengthy that it will deter them from 'dipping in'.

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