In this text, leading scholars from around the world take stock of two centuries of international intellectual investment in Hinduism. Since the early 19th century, when the scholarly investigation of Hinduism began to take shape as a modern academic discipline, Hindu studies has evolved from its concentration on description and analysis to an emphasis on understanding Hindu traditions in the context of the religion's own values, concepts and history. Offering an assessment of the current state of Hindu studies, the contributors to this volume identify past achievements and chart the course for what remains to be accomplished in the field. Casting a tripartite net, the contributors collaborate to achieve an analytical, historical and topical perspective upon Hindu studies. Among other topics, they evaluate the continuing debates surrounding the meaning of the word Hinduism and the different methods that have been employed in studying the religion. Arvind Sharma, as editor, lays the groundwork for the volume by defining both Hinduism and the role of methods - including historical, anthropological, sociological and psychological - in its study. Eric J. Sharpe adds to the opening analysis with his consideration of the importance of setting in Hindu studies.
