The temple for the Lord of Vengadam in Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh, India) is one of the richest places of worship in the entire world with ever-increasing popularity, the footfall of devotees on the Seven Hills touching a whopping figure of seventy thousand on weekdays and one hundred thousand during the weekends. The Temples annual budget hovers around 25 billion rupees. This world record to fame and riches is not without its flip side. The temple has become the focal point for a variety of controversiessome created by the political class, some by historians with an axe to grind, and some more by Hindus with a sectarian outlook. The never-ending dispute is over the identity of the idol as a result of the age-old conflict between the worshippers of Siva and Vishnu, the two most important deities of the Hindu pantheon. Taking their cue from this, Neo-Buddhists joined the fray with the claim that the temple was a Buddhist shrine and that it was converted into Vishnu temple by wily Brahmins. The book aims to unravel the mystery over the history of the temple, providing a historical perspective to the issue and thus establishing the real identity of the Lord, which is indisputably that of the Vishnu.

The contents of the book are based upon the materials collected through extensive and careful research, for the preparation of a thesis for a higher degree for the Lancaster University. It deals with the conception of Hindu religion, its history and progress along with the gradual rationalization of the belief and practices with the time, since Rigveda and its effect on the caste system. Special attempt has been made to present many complex theological topics, in a simpler way for the easy understanding of the young generation, on whom the religion depends enormously, for its future growth and expansion. The vast amount of information has been accumulated here in a concise form to make it a useful reference book for the students of religious studies and sociology.

This books is the result of concerted teamwork among the academia staff of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Nairobi between 1986 and 1990. The Project was prompted by the necessity to produce relevant and comprehensive textbooks for the undergraduate degree programme. The book has remained in demand, confirming the relevance and quality of its content covering the whole range of major religions of the world with extensive geographical and historical scope. It includes a specific section on African Religion, thus placing the African Religious Heritage within the mainstream of the comparative study of the world's religions.

Discusses the philosophical, sociological, and psychological themes in new religious movements, and includes a survey and explanation of a few groups.

The Series Focus On History and Civics for Classes 6 to 8 is a thorough course that covers elements of history and civics in accordance with the latest curriculum designed by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) and it also comprises the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, which focuses on the development of critical thinking, 21st century skills, collaboration, life skills, problem solving, experiential learning. The history curriculum gives students the knowledge of historical elements they need to deal with the present and make plans for the future. Civics exposes students to sociopolitical life. The engaging content fosters the social, cultural, and analytical abilities necessary to cope in a world that is becoming more interdependent and connected. It sharpens the ability to draw connections between events and processes, as well as between past and present developments. The series follows a structured approach. Activities for cross-curricular connections are provided in the course content to link learning across subject areas. Our attempt is to capture the interest and arouse curiosity to learn how to learn. The series include the interactive pedagogy, learning through experiential tasks and stimulant content. The series gives students plenty of opportunity to contemplate, observe, practise critical thinking, and improve their communication skills. Salient Features of the Series:- The series is learner-centred with a comprehensive approach. Leading the learning from general to specific. Terminology is provided on every chapter. Fascinating Illustrations and Photographs are given. Maps are provided to stay connected to the outside world and find the locations. Varieties of questions are given to assess the learning of the learners. Catering the quest to know more by providing Enrich Your Knowledge. Model test papers are included for the half yearly and yearly exam for practice. Emphasis on education based on art integration and interdisciplinary approach. The content of the Series’ is written in a learner-friendly language. The activities and pedagogy place a strong emphasis on developing 21st century skills. Includes the video lectures topic-wise accessible through QR code Other components of the Series Online Support provides: Chapter-wise Interactive Exercises Chapter-wise Assignments Practice Assignments E-book Video lectures Teacher’s Resource Book includes: Learning objectives of the chapters Solution of Textbook questions Lesson plan We hope this series satisfies the demands and requirements of the curriculum to achieve the learning objectives specified in the curriculum. Although every attempt has been taken to avoid errors, ideas for improvement and constructive criticism will be graciously welcomed and taken into account in a subsequent edition of the book. -Publishers