Review by Choice Review
Nicholson (Stony Brook Univ.) offers a very interesting and scholarly work on a topic rarely examined and systematically discussed, namely, when and how a unifying vision of Hinduism took shape. He shows how the writings of late medieval and early modern thinkers, in particular Vijnanabhiksu, Madhava, and Madhusudana Sarasvati, led to the view that Vedanta is the unifier of diverse systems and schools of philosophy. He further shows that this view opened the doors to the contributions of later Hindu thinkers such as Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan, and Gandhi. In this clear, analytical, well-documented, and well-argued book, Nicholson discusses the conflicts among the various systems of Hindu philosophy and the contributions of the late medieval and early modern thinkers in reconciling the systems and arriving at a unifying picture of Hinduism in Advaita Vedanta. Nicholson's arguments and conclusions will not persuade some scholars, especially those who hold the view that Hinduism as a unified tradition has existed since ancient times. Some may even go so far as to say that Nicholson's book is of no particular significance to practicing Hindus. However, all scholars and students of Hinduism and Indian philosophy should find this book beneficial and rewarding. Copious notes, bibliography, and useful index. Summing Up; Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. R. Puligandla emeritus, University of Toledo
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
