{"product_id":"hindu-images-and-their-worship-with-special-reference-to-vaisnavism-a-philosophical-theological-inquiry-9780367427061","title":"Hindu Images and their Worship with special reference to Vaisnavism: A philosophical-theological inquiry","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Julius Lipner\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Taylor \u0026amp; Francis\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Routledge\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Cultural \u0026amp; Ethnic Studies - General\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHinduism comprises perhaps the major cluster of religio-cultural traditions of India, and it can play a valuable role in helping us understand the nature of religion and human responses to life. Hindu image-worship lies at the core of what counts for Hinduism - up-front and subject to much curiosity and misunderstanding, yet it is a defining feature of this phenomenon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book focuses on Hindu images and their worship with special reference to Vaiṣṇavism, a major strand of Hinduism. Concentrating largely, but not exclusively, on Sanskritic source material, the author shows in the course of the book that Hindu image-worship may be understood via three levels of interpretation: the metaphysical\/theological, the narratival or mythic, and the performative or ritual. Analysing the chief philosophical paradigm underlying Hindu image-worship and its implications, the book exemplifies its widespread application and tackles, among other topics such as the origins of image-worship in Hinduism, the transition from Vedic to image worship, a distinguishing feature of Hindu images: their multiple heads and limbs. Finally, with a view to laying the grounds for a more positive dialogic relationship between Hinduism and the \"Abrahamic\" faiths, which tend to condemn Hindu image-worship as \"idolatry\", the author examines the theological explanation and justification for embodiment of the Deity in Hinduism and discusses how Hinduism might justify itself against such a charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRich in Indological detail, and with an impressive grasp of the philosophical and theological issues underlying Hindu material culture, and image-worship, this book will be of interest to academics and others studying theology, Indian philosophy and Hinduism.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45239692296343,"sku":"9780367427061","price":3901.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9780367427061.webp?v=1769223297","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/hindu-images-and-their-worship-with-special-reference-to-vaisnavism-a-philosophical-theological-inquiry-9780367427061","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}