From Ancient to Modern

Dedicated to David Lorenzen, this volume brings together new writings of many prominent historians including Romila Thapar, Champakalakshmi, Thomas Trautmann, John Straton Hawley, Frank F. Conlon, Ines Zupanov, Purushottam Agarawal. Together they negotiate different aspects of religion in the context of identity formulation and articulation of power. The essays cover the textual traditions, practice aspects and the anthropology of religion in India. They deal with critical issues like literature, religious practitioners, internal differentiation in the various religious traditions (with emphasis on rebel traditions), caste, class customs, interpretations. In their introduction, the editors outline the different components and manifestations of religion and also survey the writings on the subject.