Theife of Hinduism brings together a series of essays”many recognized as classics in the field”that present Hinduism as a vibrant, truly "lived' religion. Celebrating the diversity for which Hinduism is known, this volume begins its journey in the "new India' of Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley, where global connections andocal traditions rub shoulders daily. Readers are then offered a glimpse into the multifaceted world of Hindu worship,ife-cycle rites, festivals, performances, gurus and castes. The book's final sections deal with issues of identity that Hindus face in India and around the world: militancy versus tolerance and the struggle between owning one's own religion and sharing it with others.Contributors include Stephen Huyler, Diana Eck, Shrivatsa Goswami, Margaret Case, Vasudha Narayanan, Doranne Jacobson, Agehananda Bharati, Omata Bahadur, McKim Marriott,inda Hess, Philiputgendorf, Kathleen Erndl,isaassell Hallstrom, Sudhir Kakar, John Stratton Hawley, Mark Juergensmeyer,alitambika Antarjanam, Sitansu Chakravarti, Shrinivas Tilak,aurie Patton, Chakravarti Ram-Prasad and Kala Acharya.