The Essence of the Hindu Religion : With an Introduction to the Vedas and Yoga [Paperback]

Sudhir Anand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

The focus of this book is on the essential beliefs of the Hindu religion and not the various rituals. The book is written in plain English to explain the basic precepts of the religion so that one does not get lost in the trivia. You will learn that despite a wide variety of religious practices among Hindus, at the core they believe in One God called OM. The book introduces the reader to the Vedas, the four root scriptures of all Hindu belief. Sanskrit-to-English translation of mantras from one of the most important chapters in the Vedas is included to substantiate the essential beliefs. Correct definition of the words such as mantra, karma, guru, and dharma are provided, which you will find are quite different from their popular usage. The book discusses the likely reasons why Christianity and Islam had limited impact on the Hindu religion in India despite Muslim followed by British rule for almost 1,000 years. Spiritual aspects of the Raj yoga (the eight step yoga) are described to remind that yoga is about union of soul with God and not a collection of physical and/or breathing exercises to promote good health or reduce stress. The aim of this book is to promote truth and help one progress spiritually in his or her personal life journey.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sudhir Anand was born in Punjab, India. He has resided in the United States since 1966. Trained as a physician he is presently a professor of pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine. He became interested in the Hindu religion at an early age and studied the religion from several eminent teachers. During his college years in India, he spent time in a Gurukul, a Hindu monastery, furthering his understanding of the essential beliefs of the Hindu religion. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Ask Pubns (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970092946
• ISBN-13: 978-0970092946
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hindu Religion in a nutshell..., October 7, 2000

By 

rhapsodyinblueberry (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essence of the Hindu Religion : With an Introduction to the Vedas and Yoga (Paperback)

This book is an excellent starter book for anyone interested in the hindu religion. It was short and easy to understand, but gave even a beginner like myself, a rich guide into the hindu religion. I was really suprised to find that most of my conceptions of the religion were very different from facts. The book translated many vedic mantras, which are the holy books of the religion, to english in a helpful, understandable manner. I quite enjoyed the read because it didn't really have the feel of a textbook, and it gave me a deep insight and understanding into the hindu religion.