What do you think?
Rate this book
Dharma: Hinduism and Religions in India
Chaturvedi Badrinath is known for his authoritative work on the Mahabharata, and on the central place of dharma in Indian thought. His Swami Vivekananda: The Living Vedanta continues to inspire readers with a fresh perspective on the man who was the living embodiment of the Vedanta he preached.
In Dharma: Hinduism and Religions in India, Badrinath argues that the Indian civilization is a 'Dharmic' one, founded as it is on the principle of dharma. Dharma has always been translated, wrongly, as 'religion'.
The concerns of Indian philosophy are the concerns of human life everywhere. Badrinath talks about the history of the words 'Hindu' and 'Hinduism', Islam in relation with Hinduism, the issues that arose from the spread of Christianity in India, Jainism and Buddhism as part of dharma and darshana, and explains why organized violence in the service of religious fundamentalism is the very negation of religion with its reverence for life.
Thought provoking, perceptive and challenging many long-held notions, Dharma is a must-read for anyone who is interested in India, the interaction of different religions over centuries in this land, and the underlying unity of all life.
In Dharma: Hinduism and Religions in India, Badrinath argues that the Indian civilization is a 'Dharmic' one, founded as it is on the principle of dharma. Dharma has always been translated, wrongly, as 'religion'.
The concerns of Indian philosophy are the concerns of human life everywhere. Badrinath talks about the history of the words 'Hindu' and 'Hinduism', Islam in relation with Hinduism, the issues that arose from the spread of Christianity in India, Jainism and Buddhism as part of dharma and darshana, and explains why organized violence in the service of religious fundamentalism is the very negation of religion with its reverence for life.
Thought provoking, perceptive and challenging many long-held notions, Dharma is a must-read for anyone who is interested in India, the interaction of different religions over centuries in this land, and the underlying unity of all life.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 10, 2026
Dharma: Hinduism and Religions in India by Chaturvedi Badrinath (edited by Tulsi Badrinath) offers a deeply insightful exploration into the core foundational concepts that shape Indian philosophical and religious thought.
Moving beyond Westernized definitions of "religion," Badrinath meticulously dissects the multi-faceted concept of Dharma—not merely as duty or doctrine, but as an all-encompassing cosmic and ethical order that governs human relationships, order, and self-realization.
Through clear, scholarly, yet accessible prose, the author contrasts Eastern spiritual philosophies with Western paradigms, shedding light on how various Indian traditions interact and co-exist under a shared moral framework.
Engaging and intellectually stimulating, it stands out as an essential, thought-provoking read for anyone seeking a profound understanding of Indian heritage, ethics, and spiritual philosophy.
Moving beyond Westernized definitions of "religion," Badrinath meticulously dissects the multi-faceted concept of Dharma—not merely as duty or doctrine, but as an all-encompassing cosmic and ethical order that governs human relationships, order, and self-realization.
Through clear, scholarly, yet accessible prose, the author contrasts Eastern spiritual philosophies with Western paradigms, shedding light on how various Indian traditions interact and co-exist under a shared moral framework.
Engaging and intellectually stimulating, it stands out as an essential, thought-provoking read for anyone seeking a profound understanding of Indian heritage, ethics, and spiritual philosophy.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review