Travels Through Sacred India

This book attempts a difficult task, and is relatively successful. In it's own words, Sacred India guides the reader through this maze of beliefs and practices with the support of vivid personal encounter and living example. Roger Housden introduces some of India's leading saints, sadhus and gurus, while chapters on Buddhist, Sufi and Christian India demonstrate the variety and complexity of religious traditions.”

And that is a good summary.

Chapter titles give an indication of the approach, which is systematic. The explanations are relatively clear and simple (I say relatively, as there is no doubt this is not an easy task), and the ability to take a massively complicated subject and break it down into manageable parts is impressive.

For me, it was interesting in so far as it helped me understand a little more about the background to other reading on India, but I am not really the target audience - as I am not a subscriber to religion, however the width and breadth of topic here goes some way to involving almost anyone with an inkling to learn more.

So those chapter titles:
Part One: The Popular Tradition
1 The Primordial Unity
2 Sacred Land
3 sacred River
4 Sacred Mountain
Part Two: The Classical Tradition
5 Sacred Word
6 Sacred Images and Deities
7 Priests and Temples
8 Festivals
9 Sacred Art
10 Sacred City
Part Three: The Inner Tradition
11 Sadhus and Renunciates
12 Gurus and Ashrams
Part Four: The Other Traditions
13 Sikhs and Jains
14 Sufi India
15 Buddhist India
16 Christian India

Then following are comprehensive lists of sacred places, gurus ashrams and retreat centres, Hindu festivals and calendar, and a glossary.

I found the sections on art and on Benares (Scared City) particularly interesting, and the Sadhu section, but otherwise I read lightly over the majority.

3 stars for me. Those with more religious interest would appreciate this much more, and from what I read, this is a pretty thorough summary.