On Hinduism

Wendy Doniger’s book, “On Hinduism,” is excellent but demands concentrated reading. Her earlier book, which focused on ‘an alternative history of Hindus,’ was controversial, and I have not yet read it. I mention the book because she acknowledges its predecessor in her preface and writes about the differences between the two books.
This book provides a wealth of learning material; however, some of the material is dense. The first section is fascinating, in which Wendy writes about how the various census activities the British carried out changed ‘Indian society ‘forever.’ Forever is a long word, and I use it with caution. It is fair to say that the census had a massive impact on Indian society – caste and religious show more divide hardened, and the ‘priestly’ classes wrote the laws, and based them on the Manusmriti and the Sharia.
Wendy Doniger also writes about how British perceptions of local beliefs, for example, the lingam, changed the way we perceive symbols like the lingam. From the text, it appears that British attitudes affected our self-belief and prompted a deep search to understand what, or who, a Hindu is in reality. What we do not realize, or acknowledge, is that ‘Hinduism’ is a vast sprawling system that is impossible to categorize and define. The book also stated that the British created the word ‘Hinduism,’ extrapolating the old geographical term and making it a religious word.
The book explores various facets of Hindu and Vedic myths and beliefs, ranging from food to women, sexuality, and social interaction.
Anyone who studies this book must take the time to read the text carefully and understand that, while it provides a wealth of information, it is just one study resource. Do not assume that everything written here is perfectly accurate. I say this while acknowledging that Wendy’s contribution to this field is marvelous. Wendy Doniger’s approach, in contrast with many Western ‘experts,’ is sympathetic and respectful, and her approach puts the book on a high pedestal.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in studying Hinduism show less