Choosing A Name For Your Child Has Never Been Easier The Penguin Book Of Hindu Names Has Sold Over 50,000 Copies Since It Was Published Almost A Decade Ago. The Product Of Several Years Of Research, It Is An Exhaustive And User-Friendly Compilation, With Information On Sources And Usage. For The First Time, This Classic Work Is Available In A Two-Volume Set, Divided Into Names For Boys And Those For Girls, Making It More Accessible. Including Modern Names And Those Which Are Popular, The Penguin Book Of Hindu Names For Boys Serves As A Practical Guide For Choosing The Perfect Name For Your Son. It Is Also A Precise And Invaluable Sourcebook For Scholars And Lay Readers Alike Who Would Like To Know What Familiar (And Not So Familiar) Hindu Names Actually Mean.

Provides over 1,000 accessible, informative and authoritative entries that answer any major question about Hinduism, it's mythology, practices, customs and laws India is so vast that each of its regions is a land in its own right, with diverse languages, customs, and cultural traditions. Yet shared social systems, firmly grounded in religious beliefs, provide the cohesive force that unites over a billion people of different backgrounds. Hinduism is the main religion of India, and this new dictionary provides an unrivaled insight to all aspects of Hindu life, past and present. Some thousand illustrated entries elucidate the history of Hinduism, its mythology, art, architecture, religion, laws, and folklore. The development of Hinduism is presented from its ancient manifestations in local cults and epic poems to modern-day festivals and customs worldwide. The complex relationship between the multitude of gods, goddesses, and semi-divine beings is brought to light in the articles on religion and mythology, while its rich imagery is revealed in the entries on architecture, sculpture, painting, dance, and theater, including works of art illustrated here for the first time. Food and etiquette, the caste system, Ayurvedic medicine, love and marriage, and contemporary practices are just a few of the topics explored. Maps and entries on the major cities and places of pilgrimage in India, as well as a concise chronology and a list of principal dynasties, provide a clear overview of the geography, history, languages, and vibrant religious and cultural traditions of Hinduism. This volume will serve as a lively and indispensable guide for those preparing a visit to India, for Indians living in the West, for students, or for anyone interested in the subcontinent. 275 b/w illustrations.

With almost 2800 entries on all aspects of Hinduism, this is an up-to-date and comprehensive dictionary covering all the major Hindu practices, texts, beliefs, religious sites, and teachers over a period spanning 3500 years. An invaluable first port of call for anyone seeking information about Indian religions and culture.

Selection of Hindu baby names for boy & girls with meanings

This Dictionary is part of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format. The fascinating and informative Dictionary of First Names covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including the very newest names as well as traditional names. From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this book will answer all your questions: it will tell you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and who the famous fictional or historical bearers for the name have been. It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The book includes extensive appendices covering names from languages including Scottish, Irish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese names. Tables of the most popular names by year and by region are also included. From the traditional to the rare and unconventional, this book will tell you everything you need to know about names.

‘Hinduism’ is a term often used to summarize the aspirations of the majority of the Indian people. But any simple definition of it is difficult, if not impossible. This is partly owing to the nuances of the Sanskrit language, in which many texts are written, and partly to the too literal interpretation of Hindu imagery and mythology that often veils its real significance. This book, first published in 1977, is an essential reference source that goes some way to clarifying the difficulties of understanding Hinduism.