Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend [Hardcover]

Anna Dallapiccola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2002

India is so vast that each of its regions is a land in its own right, with its own particular language, customs, religion and cultural traditions. Yet shared social systems, firmly grounded in religious beliefs, provide the cohesive force that unites over a billion people of different backgrounds. This volume takes the main religion of India and provides an insight into all aspects of Hindu life, both past and present. Some thousand entries act as a key to topics including the history of Hinduism, its mythology, art, architecture, religion, laws and folklore. Based on scholarly research, the development of Hinduism is presented from its ancient manifestations in local cults and epic poems to modern-day festivals and customs worldwide. The complex relationship between the multitude of gods, goddesses and semi-divine beings is brought to light in the articles on religion and mythology, while its rich imagery is revealed in the entries on architecture, sculpture, painting, dance and theatre. Food and etiquette, the caste system, Ayrvedic medicine, love and marriage and contemporary practices are a few of the topics explored. The maps and entries on the principal cities and places of pilgrimage in India contained in this volume, as well as the concise chronology and list of principal dynasties, allow the reader to gain a clear overview of the geography, history, languages and continuing vibrant religious and cultural traditions of the Hindu heritage.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A beautiful introductory dictionary of Hindu mythological terms for general readers. -- Choice, G.J. Reece, May 2003

Offers brief alphabetical entries on all aspects of Hindu history, belief, and practice. -- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Anna Dallapiccola taught Indian Art at the University of Heidelberg in Germany for twenty years, before moving to Great Britain, where she is Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University and Visiting Professor at De Monfort University, Leicester. She is Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, London, and of the American Oriental Society in New Haven, Connecticut, and the author of numerous publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500510881
• ISBN-13: 978-0500510889
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Hindi

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those curious about Hindu mythology., October 24, 2007

By 

Saty Satya Murti "(Semper Pipaasu)" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (Paperback)

Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (Paperback)
by Anna L. Dallapiccola.


Mine was the last available copy at a well-known major Midwestern art institute. I am so glad that I purchased it. I have read, in random order mostly, about 85% of this 224 page beauty. I grew up till my 20th year in a very orthodox and liberal Hindu family. Most of what I heard was "dos" and "don'ts." Adsorption, rather than critical learning, was expected and encouraged. Gods, pantheons and festivals were staples of my family life in the late 1940s and 1950s. Schools emphasized Western civilization with a strong British bias. Economic necessities of the elders left little spare time for explication of the names, origins and representations prevalent in Hindu mythology. Now, after more than a 40 year hiatus I am lucky to have the luxury of relearning the religions of the world including Hinduism. This reparative volume has informed me afresh and has taught me what I ought to have known.

Professor Anna Dallapiccola has produced an excellent and comprehensive dictionary of Hindu legend and mythology. Nearly all of the Hindu gods, demi-gods, lesser divinities and demons are described. We find very satisfying descriptions of all major gods such as Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Nataraja, Durga, Lakshmi, Kali, Parvati, Sarasvati and Ambika. Often we learn about alternate spellings and variant appellations, such as Gajanana, Pillayar, Vinayaka for Ganesha or Murugan and Kartikeya for Subrahmanya. Gandharvas (semi-divine beings), navagrahas (planets), rakshasas (demons), Alwars, Nayanmars (poets, scholars) are all included either as generic headings or individual entries, or both.

Dallapiccola does not stop with descriptions of legendary divinities only. She covers related topics such as festivals, holy rivers and temples of India. Exquisite black and white illustrations are aplenty; they accompany major topics. Temples, their towers (gopuras), gods, divine figurines and their accoutrements and equipage are abundantly illustrated. Those wishing to gain basic familiarity with popularized Hindu concepts as karma, dharma, om (aum) or tilaka will find their answers.

Not all entries are alphabetized Sanskrit words. Universal interest concepts such as diet, calendar, cow, marriage, festivals, funeral rites and sculpture are all described. Later religions (Buddhism, Jainism, Sikkism) find due coverage. The introduction mentions very briefly all other religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) extant in India. Quite rightly there is no discussion of socially charged topics as casteism, Indian Socialism and the new liberalization, although these are inseparable integrals of Hindu and Indian culture. For the serious reader there is a weighty bibliography at the end of this book. The size is tidy, the paper quality superior and the graphics sharp. The price is, ...oh sooo... reasonable!!

The author readily acknowledges the difficulties of transcribing Indian languages into Roman script. Thus, you have to look under Shiva for Siva and Arati for Arti. I did not find Arthi, as it is sometimes spelled. Santoshi Mata, "a recent Indian goddess" has merited an entry but Krishna Consciousness or Swaminarayan are not readily detectable. I am wondering if I did not do a thorough search.

This Dictionary is "aimed at all those who are interested in Things Indian and curious to explore another facet of human civilization." Dallapiccola succeeds admirably in her grand aim. This work is suitable not only for the curious but also for those with practical, but not bookish, familiarity with Hinduism. This volume is a good "chikitsa" (remedy) for lapsed reentrants like me. It is an enjoyable revisit to those quarters that I used to revere and fear, love and shun.