Contents:

Summary introduction: Main characteristics: experiential, humanistic, relative. Main groupings or sects: Sanatana Dharma, Vaisnavites, Saivites, Kali, Guru sects. pp. i - ii

1) Introduction:

a. Scope of study, p. 1

b. Indus Valley civilization: culture, religion, p.2

c. The Aryans: people, history, culture, religion, p.9

d. Aryan-Dravidian synthesis: no-displacement theory. Earth goddess and fertility cult. Sanskritization, Rudra-Siva. p.16

e. Cosmic conflict: Devas v. Asuras; light v. darkness; gods v. raksasas; Durga v. Mahisa. p.21

f. Dominant characteristics: anthropocentric, naturalistic, experiential, gnostic, monist, relative, individualistic, energetic, undogmatic. p.29

g. Four formative movements: localization, ritualization, impersonal interiorization, personal spiritualization. p.37

2) Vedism:

a. Social conditions: historic, geographical, socio-political and economic contexts. p.42

b. Vedic scriptures: Sruti scriptures; the four Vedas. p.51

c. Vedic religion: rta, the Vedic cosmic law. Vedic cosmogony, cosmology; theology, gods and deities; henotheism; eschatology. p.61

3) Brahmanism

a. Historic context: Brahman supremacy. Prophetic reactions: Aranyakas, Jainism, Buddhism. p.99

b. Brahmanical literature: Upanisads. The beginnings of the smrti literature. 106

c. Religious concepts of Brahmanism: ultimate reality - Atman-Brahman. Samsara, karma, moksa. p.117

d. Religious institutions of Brahmanism: Varnadharma, the four social classes; Asramadharma, the four stages of life; Purusartha, the four aims of life; the four paths of discipline. pp. 121-130.