RELG 231 - Rituals, Asceticism, and Devotion in Classical Hinduism

Semester Offered: First Semester
Credits (Range): 3 hours
Attribute: 3HU, CD
A study of the Hindu tradition in India, from its origins to the development of the later devotional movements. Textual study focuses on ritual hymns, renunciatory texts, devotional poems, and classical mythology. Attention is also paid to analysis of religious practices, especially as they vary according to social location and gender of adherents. Societal aspects of Hinduism to be explored include religious constructions of ‘caste,’ notions of religious kingship, and gendered perceptions of the divine. The last section looks at the ways in which the early Buddhist movement developed out of Hindu roots.
Enrollment Limit: 35
Instructor: P. Richman