The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism

Contents

Contributors x
Preface and Acknowledgments xii

Introduction: Establishing the Boundaries
Gavin Flood 1

Part I Theoretical Issues 21

1 Colonialism and the Construction of Hinduism

Gauri Viswanathan 23

2 Orientalism and Hinduism

David Smith 45

Part II Text and Tradition 65

The Sanskrit Textual Traditions 67

3 Vedas and Upanis.ads

Michael Witzel 68

4 The Dharmas ́a ̄stras

Ludo Rocher 102

5 The Sanskrit Epics

John Brockington 116

6 The Pura ̄n.as

Freda Matchett 129