Sources

Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Encyclopedia of Hinduism." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/encyclopedia-of-hinduism.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/encyclopedia-of-hinduism

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-encyclopedia-of-hinduism,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Encyclopedia of Hinduism},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/encyclopedia-of-hinduism},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

This encyclopedia's editors worked to cover Hindu deities, texts, philosophy, ritual and institutions including monastic orders across the tradition's many distinct schools and lineages in one reference, rather than defaulting to a single influential school's own account of Hinduism as a whole, which is the real editorial choice behind it. This record has not independently traced a documented history of revisions between printings. It is a strong source for established facts about Hindu religious life across its many schools and lineages. Given the sheer diversity Hinduism covers, an entry here is necessarily general, and a claim specific to one lineage's own teaching or a live scholarly debate about dating may need a more specialized study to stand alongside it.

Facts

Citation

Author

Denise Cush, Catherine Robinson and Michael York (eds.)

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Year

2008

URL

https://www.routledge.com/Encyclopedia-of-Hinduism/Cush-Robinson-York/p/book/9780415556231

Source Type

reference

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A scholarly reference work from an academic publisher, edited by three named specialists in Hindu studies, covering the tradition from its Vedic origins to its modern monastic orders.

Notes

Added for Hindu monastic orders, 2026-07-22.

Claims Backed By This Source (3,306 claims)

This source backs 3,306 claims across the atlas. As facts: 2,511 well-attested, 34 scholarly debate, 4 open question. As cited relationships: 295 holds, 13 connected, 2 critiqued Here, 8 held Differently. Plus 439 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Deities, 809 claims: 659 well-attested, 5 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 66 holds, 78 general references.
Articles, 583 claims: 557 well-attested, 1 holds, 8 connected, 17 general references.
Figures, 350 claims: 279 well-attested, 16 scholarly debate, 19 holds, 36 general references.
Denominations, 175 claims: 103 well-attested, 52 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 8 held Differently, 11 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 123 claims: 73 well-attested, 21 holds, 29 general references.
Gemstones, 109 claims: 84 well-attested, 25 general references.
Mantras, 98 claims: 69 well-attested, 11 holds, 18 general references.
Rituals, 91 claims: 49 well-attested, 22 holds, 20 general references.
Practices, 76 claims: 63 well-attested, 5 holds, 8 general references.
Religious Offices, 73 claims: 42 well-attested, 22 holds, 9 general references.
Sacred Sites, 73 claims: 53 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 9 holds, 9 general references.
Sacred Architecture, 70 claims: 49 well-attested, 11 holds, 10 general references.
Mythical Creatures, 64 claims: 44 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 16 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 60 claims: 30 well-attested, 19 holds, 11 general references.
Schools of Theology, 57 claims: 48 well-attested, 5 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 3 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 56 claims: 46 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 2 holds, 7 general references.
Nakshatras (Lunar Mansions), 56 claims: 28 well-attested, 28 general references.
Religious Events, 56 claims: 31 well-attested, 4 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 18 general references.
Doctrines, 45 claims: 31 well-attested, 3 holds, 11 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 40 claims: 31 well-attested, 1 holds, 8 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 27 claims: 18 well-attested, 4 holds, 5 general references.
Organizations, 25 claims: 11 well-attested, 6 holds, 8 general references.
Open Questions, 20 claims: 13 well-attested, 5 connected, 2 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 17 claims: 12 well-attested, 5 general references.
Categories, 16 claims: 12 well-attested, 4 general references.
Religious Symbols, 15 claims: 11 well-attested, 4 general references.
Virtues, 15 claims: 10 well-attested, 5 general references.
Sacred Dances, 11 claims: 5 well-attested, 4 holds, 2 general references.
Subcategories, 11 claims: 7 well-attested, 4 general references.
Religions, 10 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 general references.
Historical Figures, 8 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 3 general references.
Sources, 8 claims: 8 well-attested.
Animals & Totems, 6 claims: 3 well-attested, 3 general references.
Metals, 6 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 open question, 1 general references.
Pilgrimage Routes, 6 claims: 3 well-attested, 3 general references.
Religious Dress & Vestments, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Sacred Foods, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Scripture Portions, 6 claims: 3 scholarly debate, 3 general references.
Performance Works, 5 claims: 4 holds, 1 general references.
Esoteric Texts, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Numbers, 4 claims: 4 general references.
Plants, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 general references.
Body Parts, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Prayers, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Years, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.