Ancient Indian Rituals and Their Social Impact/Shailendra Sengar. New Delhi, Anmol Pub., 2007, viii, 288 p., ISBN 81-261-3257-7.

    Contents: Preface. 1. Fire and fear: the ritual of Yajna. 2. Land grant: the ritual of Dana and Dakshina. 3. Hinduism: study of a special religion. 4. Varna to Jati: a study of Hindu social division. 5. Home to forest: study of the stages of life systems. 6. Earth and women: study of Indian female life. 7. Born to death: Sixteen Hindu Sacraments. 8. Death and resurrection: a study of last rituals. 9. Joy and happiness: a study in the rituals of Holi and Diwali. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. 

    "The book holds that the beliefs and ideals of different civilizations are formulated in their rituals more explicitly than in any other cultural trait which gives the study of ritualism a greater historical significance. This book also examines the steps taken by the classical thinkers for restoring their deteriorating traditional social order and the declining hegemony of their managerial class in the society. The work evoked great scholarly interest and was acclaimed as a significant departure from the traditional type of Indological research thus initiating a new line of historical enquiry. The book demonstrates that all Indian rituals are based on certain well-defined principles which are again interrelated to each other. It also tried to discover these principles after a careful analysis of the ingredients of various rituals." (jacket)

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