Climbing Chamundi Hill: 1001 Steps with a Storyteller and a Reluctant Pilgrim

by Ariel Glucklich

The spiritual journey of a young American tourist to the twelfth-century temple of Chamundi is interwoven with retellings of thirty ancient Indian stories about the difficult path of enlightenment, which are recounted to him by an Indian guide. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: India, Fiction, Philosophy

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Ariel Glucklich is a professor of religion at Georgetown University. He specializes in Hinduism and in the psychology and biology of religion. He is particularly interested in what motivates people to become and remain religious and the various ways that religion makes people self-destruct.

Glucklich is the author of several books on Hinduism, including The End of Magic and Climbing Chamundi Hill, which was translated into many languages. His most important book was Sacred Pain (Oxford, 2001), written to explain the voluntary use of pain in religious life.

Currently Glucklich is researching the likelihood that Iran and/or Pakistan will use a nuclear weapon against Israel or India. He is attempting to devise ways of thinking about undermining the culture of collective suicide that makes rogue states so dangerous. November 3 is the due date for his latest book, Dying for Heaven, which explores this topic in detail.

Future projects include a close look at young religious prodigies and perhaps a project on the amazingly eventful annual International Bible Quiz held in Jerusalem.

Reviews

[aditi mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have been reading a lot/ experiencing a lot about different religions recently and decided to explore a little more about indian values. I loved this book. The stories reminded me of my childhood and the lessons were beautiful albeit a little wordy ( but that is very indian of it hahaha).

My favorite quote: "you cant separate one individual destiny from others. Everything is connected to what others do and what they experience." i thought this was really beautiful and even though i am the main character in my story i am just transient in everyone else's. did a lot of reflecting with this book, recommended to my family, and feel a little closer to moksha < 33333

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the many stories the librarian/guide told throughout the narrator's climb of Chamundi Hill. I plan on re-reading this book someday because it is rather like looking at a painting: the viewer/reader will bring one's own experiences to the understanding of it.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful collection of stories from India.

[Andrew Otis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish. I think it's a wonderful book, but my interests aren't quite a match for it.

[Laura Patterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.....waste of time

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many of the individual stories were amusing to read, but the book itself was ruined by the contrived story of the overly conflicted, spiritually empty Western protangonist and the trite Eastern mentor. I felt no sympathy for either of them. I'd have much rather come to my own conclusions about the stories, instead of having to read the bee-buzzing anger/wisdom pamphlet-style conversation between the main characters.

[Saurabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Prasad.bulusu Bulusu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit confusing interpretations of Hindu philosophy and the stories narrated are sometimes bizarre ! However the book is an interesting interpretation by AtielGlucklich.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great