Introduction Backgrounds in Tradition and History

Chapters in this book

1. Front Matter iv
2. Contents vii
3. Tables x
4. Illustrations xi
5. Preface xiii
6. A Note on Transliteration xvi
7. Backgrounds in Tradition and History 1
8. The Ascetics
9. Religious Leaders: The Ascetic as Guru and Preacher 21
10. Common Lifestyles: Non-Intellectual Devotion and Solitary Withdrawal 43
11. Three Atypical Life Histories 61
12. The Development of the Monastic Career 75
13. The Laity’s Perception of Ascetics and Contemporary Hinduism 93
14. The Monasteries
15. The Range of Religious Structures 129
16. The Varieties of Social Structure 137
17. The Range of Religious Rituals 155
18. Social Functions: Their Range and Trends 175
19. An Evaluation 195
20. Glossary 209
21. Selected Bibliography 215
22. Index 219