In India, the birthplace of some of the world's major faiths and home to many more, religion is a way of life, existing as much in temples, mosques, churches and wayside shrines as it does in social laws, cultural practices and the political arena.

Bringing this complex and fascinating subject into easy access through essential facts and figures, clear, concise definitions and up-to-date information on recent religio-political developments, The Penguin Dictionary of Religion in India is the first single volume dictionary to provide a comprehensive account of every major religion practised in the country today. From somnatha Temple and Babri Masjid to Golden Temple and Akali Movement; from Shariat and Eucharist to Shabbat and Nirvana; from Dalai Lama and Adi Shankaracharya to Osho and Art of living- this meticulously researched work of reference covers a vast range of topics, placing each faith in its historical context and tracing its evolution from its inception up to the present.

• Incisive profiles of founders and key patrons, deities, saints, mystics and philosophers.

• Insightful information on lesser known tribal and regional forms of worship, as well as important festivals, customs and rituals

• Extensive cross referencing and a select bibliography that refers users to related material for in depth study.
• Religion-specific lists of entries for those with specialized interests.

Roshen Dalal was born in Mussoorie in 1952 and studied in various schools. After a BA (Hons.) in history she completed an M.A. and PhD in Ancient Indian History from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has worked on various research projects in History, and has taught for two years at Jawaharlal Nehru University and for four years at Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh. Roshen Dalal is the Author of the best-selling two volumes Puffin History of India for Children. She lives in New Delhi and is working on her next two books, The Penguin Dictionary of Hinduism and The Penguin Dictionary of Sikhism.