· Babb, Lawrence, A., The Divine Hierarchy: Popular Hinduism in Central India, Columbia, New York, 1975.
This is an interesting and clearly presented look at popular Hinduism as it manifests itself in the central Indian province of Madhya Pradesh. There are chapters on Puja, life-cycle rites and other rites. There are numerous illustrations and a good glossary. A good introductory textbook.
· Eck, Diana and Francoise Mallison, Ed. Devotion Divine: Bhakti Traditions from the Regions of India, Egbert Forsten, The Netherlands, 1991.
This text is an interesting collection of essays by many notable scholars which focus primarily upon the issues of modern Hinduism (although not all of them do this.) There are interesting essays from Feldhaus, Hawley, and of course Eck.
· Fuller, CJ, The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1992.
In this work, Fuller presents an intricate representation of popular Hinduism within a modern sociological context. He focuses upon the relationship of the divine to the human. He tries to explain through this paradigmatic approach, the role of ritual, sacrifice, pilgrimage, devotional movements and even has a chapter on the relationship of kinship to popular religious experience. His text is derived primarily from his experience in the south of India (Madurai), where he worked as an anthropologist.
· Hiltebietel, Alf, Ed. Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Tradition, SUNY, Albany, 1995.
This work is a good collection of essays on various "Criminal" facets of divine worship in popular Hinduism. This book is indeed rich with the work of influential scholars such as Lorenzen, Knipe, Rao, and Biardeau. An excellent collection of essays all of which are fairly technical, yet extremely informative.
· Lorenzen, David, Bhakti Religion in Northern India, SUNY, Albany, 1995.
This text is a collection of essays which look at many of the facets of modern Bhakti. It contains essays from such notable scholars as Daniel Gold, Mark Juergensmeyer, and Jack Hawley.
· Richards, Glen, A Source-book of Modern Hinduism, Curzon Press, London, 1985.
This text is an interesting look at many of the influential figures in modern Hinduism. In this work, the life and teachings of such great men as Radhakrishnan, Ghose, Gandhi, Vivekananda and Ramakrishna are explored.
This work contains translations of selected Upanisads and his understanding of the philosophy of the Upanisads. In addition, he offers in depth analysis of the Isha and Kena Upanisads.
· -----Vol. 13, Essays on the Gita, 575 pages.
If one is fairly versed in the teaching of the Gita and is looking for the full breadth of these teachings and ready to do some serious work, this volume seems like it could be enlightening.
· -----Vol. 16, The Supramental Manifestation, 432 pages.
This work is much more accessible than the previously mentioned work and provides an excellent introduction to his evolutionary philosophy. In addition, he offers an interesting argument for karma and rebirth.
· -----Vol.22-24, Letters on Yoga, 1775 Pages.
These three works seem to be filled with an incredible amount of information. Presented in a unique and easily accessible style, these volumes are responses to letters written by his disciples. A ton of issues are addressed in these many pages including integral yoga, all the various facets of Sadhana and much, much more.
· Kaul, Hari Krishen Shri Aurobindo: A Descriptive Bibliography, Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1972.
A useful bibliography for serious scholarly research on Aurobindo and his lineage. This 222 page work contains material by and about this great man and his disciples.
· McDermott, Robert A. Ed. The Essential Aurobindo: With Introductions, Glossary, and Bibliography, Schocken Books, 1973.
This is a useful and more manageable introduction to the life and teaching of this incredible man. The anthology contains work on the man in evolution, integral yoga, and "Toward a Spiritual Age." This is the classic introduction to this man's teachings.
· -----Ed. Six Pillars: Introductions to the Major Works of Shri Aurobindo, wilson Books, Chambersburg, 1974.
The work is a collection of six essays by various scholars including McDermott, Hopkins and Fontinnell. The text includes an introduction and a bibliography. Some of these essays address such issues as: The Human Cycle, The Life Divine, Essays on the Gita, and the Synthesis of Yoga.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
· Fischer, Louis, The Life of Mahatma Gandhi, Bharatiya, Vidya Bhavan, Bombay 1990.
This text is an excellent introduction to the life and teachings of this amazing man. It is an overview of Gandhi's life, largely slanted by Fischer's view of Gandhi. Yet, the text is still a good way to begin an acquaintance with Gandhi's thoughts and actions.
· Gandhi, Mohandas K., Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, 55. Vol., Government of Indian Publications Division, Delhi, 1958-19--.
Although Gandhi only wrote four complete books during his life, these volumes are a collection of his essays, letters, and newspaper columns. These volumes are very complete and provide insight into many issues with are not published anywhere else. These texts are not for the newcomer to Gandhi's work, but are an excellent basis for serious scholarly study.
· -----Hindu Dharma, Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1950.
This vastly diverse work provide insight into the underpinnings of Gandhi's theory and practices. He addresses numerous fundamental issues in this work including the concepts of dharma, nonviolence, the Gita, fasting, and his perspective on other religious faiths.
· -------Satyagraha: Nonviolent Resistance, Schocken Books, New York, 1961.
This book is perhaps the most clear and thorough elucidation of Gandhi's conception of Satyagraha. The beginning is focused upon the religious platform of this concept, while the remainder of the text looks at the ideas in practice exploring such campaigns as the salt march, Bardoli and much more.
· -----Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule, Navajivan Mudranalaya, Ahmedabad, 1938.
This text is an illuminating discussion of Gandhi's conception of home rule and ultimately the means he saw for the liberation of India from British rule. There is herein a heavy critique of the vices of western civilization. This is an essential reading for anyone beginning to understand the life and teachings of Gandhi.
· Kripalani, Krishna, Ed. All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections, Continuum, New York, 1994.
This work is a patchwork of quotes from Gandhi throughout his life organized in such a way so as to facilitate an easy and thorough understanding of Gandhi on some major topics. Some of the issues elucidated include Religion and Truth, Ahimsa, self-discipline, education, and much more.
. Parel, Anthony J HIND SWARAJ AND OTHER WRITINGS. By M.K. Gandhi. Edited by . New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
In this book, Parel gathers together M.K. Gandhi's own English translation of Hind Swaraj, its accompanying foreword and preface, several letters to and from such people as Leo Tolstoy and Jawaharlal Nehru, and some additional readings such as a collection of Gandi's thoughts on machinery from 1919-1947, his 'Quit India' speech and his 'Constructive Programme.' He prefaces these works with an excellent introduction in which he offers the reader some historical and intellectual contexting. In addition, he constructs an outline of the arguments in the text as well as a brief look at its reception and its subsequent influences across the globe. In his contexting remarks, Parel neglects mention of Gandhi's own failed attempt to become an English gentleman and privileges the Western intellectual influences upon the text while only scantily referring to the role of Indian sources such as the Bhagavad Gita, Jain thought and practice, or the Upanisads. Nevertheless, this intermediate level book is a valuable collection of previously disjunct writings whose aggregation here make it a useful tool for scholars across the disciplines.
· J. Krishnamurti, Truth and Actuality, Krishnamurti Foundation India, Madras, 1992.
This is one of numerous works written by this incredibly lucid thinker. This great teacher writes in a dialogical style which invites the reader to inquire about serious issues. This particular volume is interesting because the first part contains a discussion with David Bohm a theoretic Physicist from London. They inquire together and strip issues clear to their base. The second part of the text comes from talks in 1975 and 1976 and discusses issues such as fear, beauty, education and suffering.
· -----The Awakening of Intelligence, Harper and Row, New York 1973.
This is also an interesting look at the thoughts of this philosopher/teacher. Forcing the reader to look at his/her own conditioning, this volume covers most if not all of the major issues which appear throughout the life and teaching of Krishnamurti.
· Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli, The Bhagavadgita, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1960.
Although this man was a scholar at several major Universities and a powerful political figure, he was (at least in my mind) preeminently a modern Indian thinker. This work is a translation of the classical Hindu text The Bhagavadgita which contains an introductory essay and notes. His interpretation centers around his concern to articulate a metaphysical monism based upon Sankara and a need to articulate ethical values compatible with modern life and thought.
· -----Eastern Religions and Western Thought, Oxford University Press, New York, 1939.
This text represents Radhakrishnan's most complete attempt at comparison. The text is valuable not only for its methodological implications, but is an interesting look at these issues from a westernized Non-western thinker.
· ------An Idealist View of Life, The Hibbert Lectures, 1929, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1957.
This text is synthesis of Radhakrishnan's philosophical beliefs. There are three main points that he makes in the text. First, is his view that Religion is the eternal universal vision of the spirit. Second, is his intuitive base of all religion and philosophy. Lastly, he attempts to reconcile Upanisadic monism with the changing western world.
· Rao, P. Nagaraja, et al Eds. Radhakrishnan Reader: An Anthology, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1969.
This work is meticulously edited and represents a comprehensive anthology of Radhakrishnan's writings. There are selections from his commentary on the Gita and the Brahma-sutras as well as his interpretations of Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
· Isherwood, Christopher, Ramakrishna and His Disciples, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1965.
The text is a good introduction to the life of Ramakrishna. It looks at his incredible religious experiences and the community of disciples which gathered around him.
· Ramakrishna, Sri, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, trans. Swami Nikiilananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, 1969.
This work is a transcript of the conversations which this great teacher had with his disciples. It is a testament not only to his incredible lucidity, but also the grace with which his vision was translated to his followers. There is an interesting introduction written by Aldous Huxley.
· Chakravarty, Amiya, Ed. A Tagore Reader, Beacon, Boston.
This work is an good introduction to this remarkable poet and religious thinker. It is primarily a collection of literary selections. There are selections on education, philosophy, aesthetics and philosophy. In addition, there are some autobiographical passages.
· Tagore, Rabindranath, Sadhana: The Realization of Life, Arizona Omen Communications, 1972.
This work is a poetic essay where Tagore shows a means for moving from the thorny problems of self and evil and onto a realization of love, action and Beauty. There is also discussion of the need to have an awareness of the infinite in everyday life.
· Vivekananda, Swami, The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, 8 Volumes, Advaita Ashram, Calcutta, 1965.
The first of these works looks primarily at yoga , and most specifically Karma and Raja-yoga. The second volume is about Jnana-yoga. The third is about Bhakti-yoga. The fourth comprised of lectures and discourses in the form of poetry and prose concerning Bhakti. The last four volumes are primarily interview, but also lectures and discourses.
· -----Selections from Swami Vivekananda, Advaita Ashram, Calcutta, 1963.
This text contains some of Vivekananda's most lucid lectures. There are also different interviews and an assortment of prose and poetic pieces. This work is a good introduction to the work of this great man before delving into the complete works.