Vaisnavism, Saivism and Minor Religious Systems

This book is the earliest pioneering effort at tracing the historical origins of such major religious systems as Vaisnavism and Saivism, which, with the passage of time, came to dominate the Indian religious scene. In contradistinction to atheistic religions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, there ran a counter movement of religious theism which, as it were, would culminate in the establishment of Bhagavata cult, on the one hand, and, on the other, would terminate in development various Saivite sects. In order to show as to how Bhagavatism gave rise to a full-fledged theistic theology of Vaisnavism, Bhandarkar thoroughly examines the Narayaniya section of the Mahabharata. Likewise does he deal with the development Saivite thought. Even though the book was written at a time when Mohenjo-daro excavations had not been carried out, yet Bhandarkar has thoroughly examined the traces of Saivism in the Vedic hymns, which ultimately would find its full expression in the Svetasvatara Upanisad. Upon locating the sources of Vaisnavism and Saivism within the Vedic literature, Bhandarkar thereby moves on in studying the sects, and their theologies which both the Vaisnavites and Saivites gave rise to. In addition to Vaisnavism and Saivism, Bhandarkar also has made a thorough study of such minor sects as the Saktas, Ganapatyas, and Sauras. The book contains a wealth of information, and the study of it will be an enriching experience to those who are desirous of delving deep in the ancient culture and religious of India.

About the Author:

Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (1837-1925), the orientalist and social reformer, educated at Ratnagiri and Elphinstone College, Bombay; Acting Professor of Sanskrit and Oriental Languages in Elphinstone Collage; Assistant Professor many years till 1881; Professor of Sanskrit at Deccan Collage, Pune, 1883-92; Fellow of Bombay University form 1866; Syndicate, 1873-81; Vice-Chancellor, 1893-95; retired in 1893; Hon. LL.D., 1904; Hon. Phil., Dr. Gottingen University: has Contributed largely to the journals and transactions of learned societies on philological and antiquarian subject and edited the text of Malati-Madhava and Early History of the Deccan.

1. Introduction
2. The Rise of a New Theistic System
3. Analysis of the Narayaniya Section of the Mahabharata
4. The Satvatas and their Religion
5. Substance of the Bhagavadgita
6. The Sources of the Religion of the Bhagavadgita
7. Identification of Vasudeva with Narayana
8. Identification of Vasudeva with Visnu
9. Identification of Vasudeva-Krsna with the Cowherd God (Gopala-Krsna)
10. The Pancaratra or Bhagavata System
11. The Avataras of Visnu or Narayana
12. Later Traces of the Bhagavata School and General Vaisnavism
13. The Cult of Rama
14. Vasudevism or Vaisnavism in the South
15. Ramanuja
16. Madhva or Anandatirtha
17. Nimbarka
18. Ramananda
19. Kabir
20. Other Ramanandins
21. Tulasidas
22. Vallabha
23. Caitanya
24. Debasement of Vaisnavism
25. Namdev and Tukaram
26. Resume

1. Introductory. Formation of the Conception of Rudra-Siva
2. The Development of the Idea of Rudra-Siva
3. Svetasvatara and Atharvasiras Upanisads
4. Rudra-Siva in the Mahabharata and Linga Worship
5. Origin and Diffusion of the Saiva Sects and the Several Classes of Siva Worshippers
6. Names and Doctrines of the Saiva Sects
7. The Pasupata System
8. The Saiva System
9. The Kapala and Kalamukha Sects
10. Kasmir Saivism
11. The Virasaiva or Lingayat Sect
12. Saivism in the Dravida Country
13. The Saktas or Sakti Worshippers
14. The Sect of Ganapatyas
15. Skanda or Karttikeya
16. The Sect of Sauras and the Northern Sun-Worship
17. Resume
18. Hindu Theism and Pantheism
    List of Abbreviations
    Index of Sanskrit Words and Proper Names
    General Index
    List of Sectarian Works consulted