Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (3 vols)

by Swami Harshananda

The book that is now in your hands is expected to remedy this problem to a considerable extent. The subjects dealt with are: religion, philosophy, mythology, rituals, scriptural works, festivals and pilgrim centres, astrology, biographies of religious personalities, iconography, temples and religious institutions.

Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism with are closely allied to Hinduism have also been dealt with briefly. Short biographical notes of the better known ideologists have been added at the end as appendices. It is earnestly hoped that the students of Hinduism will find this work useful in the right spirit.

About the Author:

Swami Harshananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order. Initiated into spiritual life by Swami Virajananda, the sixth president of the Ramakrishna Order, he joined the Bangalore branch of the Ramakrishna Math in early 1954. He was administered the monastic vows by Swami Vishuddhananda, the eighth president, in 1962.

The Swami has worked in the various centres of the Order such as Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Belur Math (the Headquarters of the Order) an Allahabad.  He has been the president of the Ramakrishna Math of Bangalore since 1989. He has several books to his credit in English, Kunnada and Sanskrit. Some of his books have been translated into foreign languages like French, Korean and Indonesian. He is a good speaker in English and Kannada (his mother - tongue). The Swami can also sing devotional sings well. His cassette tapes and CD's of discourses and Bhajans are quite popular.