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The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century

Hardback

Main Details

Title The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Geoffrey Samuel
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:432
Dimensions(mm): Height 234,Width 160
Category/GenreOther religions
ISBN/Barcode 9780521873512
ClassificationsDewey:294
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 10 Maps; 19 Halftones, unspecified; 6 Line drawings, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 27 March 2008
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Yoga, tantra and other forms of Asian meditation are practised in modernized forms throughout the world today, but most introductions to Hinduism or Buddhism tell only part of the story of how they developed. This book is an interpretation of the history of Indic religions up to around 1200 CE, with particular focus on the development of yogic and tantric traditions. It assesses how much we really know about this period, and asks what sense we can make of the evolution of yogic and tantric practices, which were to become such central and important features of the Indic religious scene. Its originality lies in seeking to understand these traditions in terms of the total social and religious context of South Asian society during this period, including the religious practices of the general population with their close engagement with family, gender, economic life and other pragmatic concerns.

Author Biography

Geoffrey Samuel is Professorial Fellow at the School of Religious and Theological Studies at Cardiff University. His publications include Mind, Body and Culture: Anthropology and the Biological Interface (2006).

Reviews

' ... a masterful book that I am very grateful to have read ...' Yoga and Tantra