BROAD PURPOSES OF THE COURSE:
+To explore the Hindu tradition as a source of religious knowledge and cultural expression on the Indian subcontinent.
+To challenge our notions of religion by reflecting on Hindu ways of discovering meaning.

SPECIFIC APPROACHES:
The course will be both historically oriented, in that Hinduism will be treated chronologically and developmentally, and thematically oriented, in that the unique contributions of the Hindu tradition will be discussed in terms of the problems of existence and ultimate meaning faced by all peoples. Thus each class will combine lecture with discussion of particular texts, usually original sources. This particular course is frankly more oriented toward the great ideas and major themes of the Hindu tradition than it is toward the everyday experience of the religion. The role of the visual arts, particularly painting, sculpture and architecture in shaping and expressing Hinduism will also be stressed.

FORMAT:
Lecture/discussion. Small group discussions.