Books by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
The autumnal Navarātri festival—also called Durgā Pūjā, Dassehra, or Dasain—is the most important... more The autumnal Navarātri festival—also called Durgā Pūjā, Dassehra, or Dasain—is the most important Hindu festival in South Asia and wherever Hindus settle. A nine-night-long celebration in honor of the goddess Durgā, it ends on the tenth day with a celebration called “the victorious tenth” (vijayadaśamī). The rituals that take place in domestic, royal, and public spaces are closely connected with one’s station in life and dependent on social status, economic class, caste, and gender issues. Exploring different aspects of the festival as celebrated in diverse regions of South Asia and in the South Asian diaspora, this book addresses the following common questions: What does this festival do? What does it achieve, and how? Why and in what way does it sometimes fail? How do mass communication and social media increase participation in and contribute to the changing nature of the festival? The contributors address these questions from multiple perspectives and discuss issues of agency, authority, ritual efficacy, change, appropriation, and adaptation. Because of the festival’s reach beyond its diverse celebrations in South Asia, its influence can be seen in the rituals and dances in many parts of Western Europe and North America.
Nine Nights of the Goddess: The Navaratri Festival in South Asia, 2018
Explores the contemporary nature and the diverse narratives, rituals, and performances of the Nav... more Explores the contemporary nature and the diverse narratives, rituals, and performances of the Navarātri festival.
Nine Nights of the Goddess explores the festival of Navarātri—alternatively called Navarātra, Mahānavamī, Durgā Pūjā, Dasarā, and/or Dassain—which lasts for nine nights and ends with a celebration called Vijayadaśamī, or “the tenth (day) of victory.” Celebrated in both massive public venues and in small, private domestic spaces, Navarātri is one of the most important and ubiquitous festivals in South Asia and wherever South Asians have settled. These festivals share many elements, including the goddess, royal power, the killing of demons, and the worship of young girls and married women, but their interpretation and performance vary widely. This interdisciplinary collection of essays investigates Navarātri in its many manifestations and across historical periods, including celebrations in West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Collectively, the essays consider the role of the festival’s contextual specificity and continental ubiquity as a central component for understanding South Asian religious life, as well as how it shapes and is shaped by political patronage, economic development, and social status.
This masterful survey of world religions presents a clear and concise portrait of the history, be... more This masterful survey of world religions presents a clear and concise portrait of the history, beliefs, and practices of Eastern and Western religions. The new edition contains added material and has been revised throughout. The authors, both respected scholars of world religions, have over fifty years of combined teaching experience. Their book is accessibly written for introductory classes, can be easily adapted for one- or two-semester courses, and presents a neutral approach for broad classroom use. Pedagogical aids include further reading suggestions, photographs, sidebars, and pronunciation guides.
This collection illustrates the spectrum of ideas that people throughout history have had when co... more This collection illustrates the spectrum of ideas that people throughout history have had when considering how to understand and study religion. The editors present a selection of key writings that reflect a broad range of voices on the nature and practice of the discipline. Religious studies draws on works by anthropologists, sociologists, philosophers, theologians, and others, which notably impact our understanding of the concept of religion, of particular religious ideas, and on how religion should be studied. The Study of Religion: A Reader contains both classic and contemporary perspectives, including material from non-Western traditions. It provides students of religion with an understanding of how the discipline developed, some of the current issues and lines of thought, as well as future prospects.
Primer for undergraduates and graduate students on the history and development of the discipline ... more Primer for undergraduates and graduate students on the history and development of the discipline of religious studies, as well as its pivotal theories and key methodological orientations.
Edited anthology melding theory and method with the study of Hindu religious practice. Flagship v... more Edited anthology melding theory and method with the study of Hindu religious practice. Flagship volume in the Studying Religions in Practice series. General Editor, H. Rodrigues.
A digital version of Introducing Hinduism 2e (Routledge) for use in introductory courses on the s... more A digital version of Introducing Hinduism 2e (Routledge) for use in introductory courses on the study of Hinduism.
Widely used introductory text to the academic study of Hinduism.
A detailed description of the Durgā Pūjā, a complex yearly worship ritual to the Hindu goddess Du... more A detailed description of the Durgā Pūjā, a complex yearly worship ritual to the Hindu goddess Durgā. It contains the Sanskrit litany with its translation, and interpretations of symbols and ritual action.
An analytic study, assessing the life and teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, with comparisons to ot... more An analytic study, assessing the life and teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, with comparisons to other religious philosophies.
An analysis of Jiddu Krishnamurti's teachings on the conditioned mind and religion.
Book Chapters, Journal Articles, and Book Reviews by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Religious Studies and Theology, 2015
Religious Studies and Theology, 2014
Children and Childhoods in Buddhist Texts and Traditions, 2012
Digital Books by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Quick Facts, 2021
Single page reference sheets to facts about the major world religions. Timeline included
Papers by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Routledge eBooks, Nov 9, 2023
Routledge eBooks, Nov 9, 2023
Routledge eBooks, Nov 9, 2023
Routledge eBooks, Nov 9, 2023
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Books by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Nine Nights of the Goddess explores the festival of Navarātri—alternatively called Navarātra, Mahānavamī, Durgā Pūjā, Dasarā, and/or Dassain—which lasts for nine nights and ends with a celebration called Vijayadaśamī, or “the tenth (day) of victory.” Celebrated in both massive public venues and in small, private domestic spaces, Navarātri is one of the most important and ubiquitous festivals in South Asia and wherever South Asians have settled. These festivals share many elements, including the goddess, royal power, the killing of demons, and the worship of young girls and married women, but their interpretation and performance vary widely. This interdisciplinary collection of essays investigates Navarātri in its many manifestations and across historical periods, including celebrations in West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Collectively, the essays consider the role of the festival’s contextual specificity and continental ubiquity as a central component for understanding South Asian religious life, as well as how it shapes and is shaped by political patronage, economic development, and social status.
Book Chapters, Journal Articles, and Book Reviews by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Digital Books by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Papers by Hillary P Rodrigues (he/him)
Nine Nights of the Goddess explores the festival of Navarātri—alternatively called Navarātra, Mahānavamī, Durgā Pūjā, Dasarā, and/or Dassain—which lasts for nine nights and ends with a celebration called Vijayadaśamī, or “the tenth (day) of victory.” Celebrated in both massive public venues and in small, private domestic spaces, Navarātri is one of the most important and ubiquitous festivals in South Asia and wherever South Asians have settled. These festivals share many elements, including the goddess, royal power, the killing of demons, and the worship of young girls and married women, but their interpretation and performance vary widely. This interdisciplinary collection of essays investigates Navarātri in its many manifestations and across historical periods, including celebrations in West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Collectively, the essays consider the role of the festival’s contextual specificity and continental ubiquity as a central component for understanding South Asian religious life, as well as how it shapes and is shaped by political patronage, economic development, and social status.