The Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism

by A.L. Basham, Kenneth G. Zysk (Editor)

The late A.L. Basham was one of the world's foremost authorities on ancient Indian culture and religion. Modeled on his monumental work The Wonder That Was India , this account of the origins and development of classical Hinduism represents a lifetime of reflection on the subject, and offers an intriguing introduction to one of the richest of all Asian traditions.
Synthesizing Basham's great knowledge of the art, architecture, literature, and religion of South Asia, this concise history traces the spiritual life of India from the time of the Indus Culture (around 2700 B.C.E) through the crystallization of classical Hinduism in the first centuries of the common era. It chronicles as well the rise of other mystical and ascetic traditions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, and follows Hinduism's later incarnations in the West, making it an especially comprehensive introduction to the subject.
Unlike Christianity or Islam, Hinduism was not inspired by single great prophet but rather evolved organically. The wide range of influences and sources--along with the great number of sacred texts in ancient languages--can make the Hindu system of faith and practice seem almost impenetrable to the uninitiated. With its vivid presentation of Hinduism's sources--from the warrior Aryans to the wandering ascetics--and its clearly written explanations and analyses of the major Hindu texts--among them the Rg-veda, the Brahmanas, Upanishads, and the Mahabharata and Ramayana-- The Origins of Classical Hinduism clarifies much of Hinduism's enduring mystique. With an especially helpful bibliography, numerous illustrations of Hindu art never before published, and a lucid, accessible style, this book is must reading for anyone who has ever been intrigued by this fascinating religion.

Genres: Religion, Hinduism, History, India, Nonfiction, Buddhism

198 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 1989

About the author

Professor Arthur Llewellyn Basham (24 May 1914 – 27 January 1986) was a noted historian and indologist and author of a number of books.Possibly his most popular book is The Wonder That was India (Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1954) - published seven years after the 1947 Independence of India. Revised editions of the book were released in 1963 and then 1967. Rupa & Co, New Delhi brought out a paperback edition in 1981. Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, brought out a paperback edition in 1985. By 2001, the paperback version was in its 37th edition. Amazon.com staff review/book description reads "most widely used introduction to Indian civilization. Although first published in 1954, it has remained a classic interpretation."
Basham also wrote "History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas", based on his PhD work done under L. D. Barnett. He also wrote "The Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism" jointly with Kenneth G. Zysk. A book about Basham, written by Sachindra Kumar Maity (published 1997, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 81-7017-326-4) is entitled Professor A.L. Basham, My Guruji and Problems and Perspectives of Ancient Indian History and Culture. the book includes 80 of Basham's letters addressed to the author. Thomas R. Trautmann a professor for history and anthropology at the University of Michigan, dedicated his book "Aryans and British India" (1997, University of California Press) 'In memory of A. L. Basham, British Sanskritist historian of India, guru, friend'.

Reviews

[Richard Seltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful. But not helpful enough.
This book focuses on the historical development of Hinduism.
Along the way there is some explanation of the concepts and beliefs, but not enough for a raw beginner like me.
The chapters dealing with the distant past and the archaeological record were more readable than the later chapters. After once having introduced a term/concept, the author uses it as a basis for introducing new ones, then uses those to introduce still more. By the end I was hopelessly lost.

[Jay Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chiselled out of his tome, The Wonder That was India, while also being the transcript(?) of a series of lectures he delivered this monograph probably serves as a great historical and somewhat philosophical introduction to Hindu thought atleast its pre-Puranaic avatar for those who haven't dabbled in it yet. The book, to my mind, brings nothing new and serves mainly to refresh and elucidate some ideas(something it's wonderful for) that had been tangled up over the countless interpretations and misinterpretations espoused by Hindus and Indologists alike.
However I would probably not take someone to court with just this book in my defence for it's mish mash of materialist and idealist view, while delivering a pleasantly readable story, does not hold up well when questioned. I mention materialist views but the book is very divorced from materialism in its logic with the development of Hindu thought occuring more as a stream of historical debates rather than arising from the world present around the Hindus - with some ideas arising almost spontaneously(or at best from a single hymn or verse). It brushes off pertinent issues like caste, class and the economical development among many others and ascribes most to the travelling munis or ascetics.
Basham also ignores the role of female seers(although I too personally doubt their role) stating very singularly that the Hindu order subjugates women. Other aspects that I am doubtful of include his insistence of denying the indigenous "non-Aryans" of any form of intellectual religion beyond the worship of snakes or yaksas, eg the quoted story of Jaivali and Svetaketu questions his notion of an Aryan origin of transmigration in my mind. At one point he makes it a point to state that the Mauryans were ksatriyas and not brahman, which made me doubt his entire Indology knowledge lol but there must be some motive for stating something so obvious, perhaps to give off the view that brahmans were rulers. Attempts at explaining the heterodox streams only sell them short if not ineffectual for spiritual maladies. All this makes it clear to me that he has a romantic view of the Aryans and I realise that the book acts as an academic brochure of Hinduism meant to sell it to the counter culture spirituality digging crowd(made amply clear when he insists on the aspects of Hinduism that are similar to Xtianity - conveniently ending the book before Sankara's non dualism makes its appearance) or (since it's academic and not an airport read) to the powers that attempt to control and subvert the counter culture crowd.

[Tarun Rattan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book synthesise Basham’s great knowledge of the art, architecture , literature, and religion of India, this concise history traces the spiritual life of India from Indus Civilisation to the crystallisation of classical Hinduism in last millenium.

[Tyrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and succinct introduction to the sources and development of classical Hinduism.

[Dhruv Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a sharp and brief insight into Hinduism and its practices. For a much more detailed work, one should pick up The Hindus by Wendi Doniger!

[A. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, well-written book. Probably the best single-volume introduction to the roots of Hinduism.

[Santhosh Totiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an easy and quite interesting read. Very helpful for those who wants to know brief history of orthodox tradition in Hinduism,(notes on Vedas and Upanishads, and different sutras), it is an informative book. The book also gives some insights on heterodox religions Buddhism and Jainism, and how they are connected with Hinduism, and their development in post-Vedic period.

[John]

This book collects a series of lectures presented in the mid-eighties by the eminent Indologist A.L. Basham. In these lectures, Basham traces the tradition that he calls "classical Hinduism" from its origins in the early Vedic religion of the Aryans (the author dismisses suggestions that the religion of Indus Valley/Harappa culture displayed aspects of Hinduism) to the full flowering of Upanishadic philosophy and Bhakti devotionalism. Along the way, he touches on themes in Indian thought that also conditioned the development of other traditions, like Jainism and Buddhism.

The Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism is a mere 112 pages in length (exclusive of appendices and notes), but it presents a solid overview of Hindu history emphasizing its philosophical and theological ideas and its major texts. Basham's observations on the origins of asceticism and the evolution of the key interrelated concepts of karma,, samsara, and moksha are speculative but fascinating--his hypothesis is that this complex of doctrines was "discovered" nearly simultaneously by independent sages and only gradually spread into the broader Indian consciousness. The chapter on the Bhagavad-Gita is also illuminating in its approach--Basham notes the differing, sometimes contradictory theologies of various passages and provides a good non-specialist overview of textual-critical perspectives on the work. The final chapter, written by the editor, Kenneth G. Zysk, completes the historical picture by tracing the course of Hinduism in India after the medieval period, and in the West.

Overall, this would be a solid first book on Hinduism for most general readers, although Gavin Flood's An Introduction to Hinduism is probably the introduction of choice. Basham's focus on the philosophical and theological side of Hinduism leaves out much of the popular religiosity that is the Hinduism of the vast majority of Indians historically, and Flood presents a much more balanced view.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book twins our expectations of it. Written in 1989, it is indeed dated; the Harappan civilisation is said to have two major centres, and the Aryans, a clearly intelligible racial group who supplanted the Harappans. It is also indeed cursory. It gives a fairly brief and well-measured introduction to this monument of a subject. Indeed, as one should expect from Basham, it is thoroughly delightful and brilliant. Never dismissing the focus of a professional historian he is in overwhelming awe of the tenth Mandala of the Rig Veda.

[Sanjay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that delves into classical Hinduism by historical means is completely impartial in its approach and scholar in its tenor. If you wanna read it, have a good knowledge of Indian ancient history.
Remember this book is not written for novices in history, and so read only when you have read Indian ancient history.
Authority of Basham is unquestionable.
All in all a book that will clear your doubts about orthodoxy, ascetics, and many other traditions of Hinduism.

Must read, but not for novices!

[Terrence D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for a class, and I must say it was well written, but it definitely failed in the department of persuasion. I really do not have much to say about it.

I simply do not hold to Hinduism, but I did appreciate the work that was put into this.

[Rajendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a very short but excellent book for someone trying to make sense of scriptures and philosophy of Hindu religion. Written in a very simple language without the usual jargon. I enjoyed it

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

You won't walk away from this knowing much more about Hinduism but you will know more about its origins. Hence the title. Why am I still writing?

[Ember Air · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of great information, it is really dense though, hard to push through.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still the best intro to classical Hinduism.

[Ravi Narayanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a good historic path of the religion to be called as Hinduism.