Handbook of Hinduism in Europe portrays and analyses how Hindu traditions have expanded across the continent, and presents the main Hindu communities, religious groups, forms, practices and teachings. The Handbook does this in two parts, Part One covers historical and thematic topics which are of importance for understanding Hinduism in Europe as a whole and Part Two has chapters on Hindu traditions in every country in Europe. Hindu traditions have a long history of interaction with Europe, but the developments during the last fifty years represent a new phase. Globalization and increased ease of communication have led to the presence of a great plurality of Hindu traditions. Hinduism has become one of the major religions in Europe and is present in every country of the continent.
Knut A. Jacobsen is Professor in the Study of Religions at the University of Bergen, Norway. He has published numerous books on religions and philosophies of South Asia and the South Asian diasporas. Jacobsen is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the six-volumed
Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Brill, 2009-2015).
Ferdinando Sardella is a senior lecturer and researcher in the History of Religions at the Department of Ethnology, History of Religions and Gender Studies at Stockholm University. His publications include
Modern Hindu Personalism: The History, Life, and Thought of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī (Oxford University Press, 2013).
"The book as a whole has a great deal to offer both to students of South Asian diaspora as well as religion scholars. The first part of the book is certainly for specialized readers, whereas the second part is illuminating to a diverse readership."
– Pratap Kumar Penumala, in
Numen 69 (2022).
"As the first of its kind, this handbook brings together leading and emerging researchers, successfully accomplishing the substantial challenge of presenting an organized yet diversified reference source on Hinduism in Europe. [...] The first ever source which covers a vast array of themes representative of the complexity and diversity of Hinduism in Europe."
– Xenia Zeiler, University of Helsinki, in
Religion 52.1 (2022), p. 167-169. "This two-volume set is an indispensable resource, not only for its carefully detailed research, but for its overarching demonstration that in a postcolonial world, the work of understanding—historically inflected, socially challenging, politically contentious, culturally fluid—is, and must be, shared." - Karen Pechilis,
International Journal of Hindu Studies, 27 (2023).
All interested in the global manifestations of Hindu traditions, Hinduism and migration, and new Hindu religious movements, and all concerned with religion in Europe.