"Introducing Hinduism is an invaluable resource for those seeking an authoritative and comprehensive academic overview of the key tenets and diverse practices of Hinduism, past and present. This third edition includes substantial treatments of Tantra, South India, politics, and gender, as well as expanded discussions of Western configurations of Hinduism as in postural yoga and neo-nondual spirituality, and Hinduism in popular culture. Its lively presentation features: updated case studies, photographs, and scenarios that invite the reader into the lived world of Hinduism; introductory summaries, key points, discussion questions, and recommended reading lists at the end of each chapter; narrative summaries of the great epics and other renowned Hindu myths and lucid explanations of complex Indian philosophical teachings, including Sankhya, Vedanta, and Kashmir Saivism; and a glossary, timeline, and pronunciation guide for an enhanced learning experience"--