Essential Hinduism

The book opens with a foreword by Graham M. Schweig, who presents the work as a readable guide to Hindu culture, teachings, and practice, especially through Vaiṣṇava tradition. The introduction begins with the Rig Vedic statement “Truth is one, though the wise refer to it by various names,” using it to explain Hinduism’s central theme of unity in diversity. Rosen explains that Hinduism contains both belief in one supreme reality and devotion to many divine forms. The book is organized into thirteen chapters covering the antecedents of Hinduism, Hinduism as “the one and the many,” dharma and social structure, the Vedas, the epics, the Bhagavad-Gītā, Kṛṣṇa’s life, the Purāṇas, Vaiṣṇava practice, Hindu metaphysics, sacred food, deity worship, temples, festivals, and sonic theology. The author’s method is to use Vaiṣṇavism as a representative entry point into the larger Hindu tradition.