River of Love in an Age of Pollution - by David Haberman (Paperback)

About the Book

"Very few scholars in religious studies have achieved Haberman's combination of textual and ethnographic authority. The book is groundbreaking, building on his achievements in the study of the religious traditions of Braj; he is widely regarded as a major authority on this area of Hinduism's complex regional matrix. The superior scholarship, combined with the author's personal voice, gives the book additional resonance, bringing to light an urgent environmental and moral challenge."--Paul B. Courtright, co-editor, "From the Margins of Hindu Marriage: Essays in Gender, Religion, and Culture"

Book Synopsis

Celebrated as an aquatic form of divinity for thousands of years, the Yamuna is one of India's most sacred rivers. A prominent feature of north Indian culture, the Yamuna is conceptualized as a goddess flowing with liquid love--yet today it is severely polluted, the victim of fast-paced industrial development. This fascinating and beautifully written book investigates the stories, theology, and religious practices connected with this river goddess collected from texts written over several millennia, as well as from talks with pilgrims, priests, and worshippers who frequent the pilgrimage sites and temples located on her banks. David L. Haberman offers a detailed analysis of the environmental condition of the river and examines how religious practices are affected by its current pollution. He introduces Indian river environmentalism, a form of activism that is different in many ways from its western counterpart. River of Love in an Age of Pollution concludes with a consideration of the broader implications of the Yamuna's plight and its effect on worldwide efforts to preserve our environment.

From the Back Cover

"Very few scholars in religious studies have achieved Haberman's combination of textual and ethnographic authority. The book is groundbreaking, building on his achievements in the study of the religious traditions of Braj; he is widely regarded as a major authority on this area of Hinduism's complex regional matrix. The superior scholarship, combined with the author's personal voice, gives the book additional resonance, bringing to light an urgent environmental and moral challenge."--Paul B. Courtright, co-editor, From the Margins of Hindu Marriage: Essays in Gender, Religion, and Culture

Review Quotes

"A key text in the debate between the 'religion and ecology' movement . . . and scientific environmentalism."-- "Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute"

"Beautiful. . . . An interesting and detailed account of the religious significance of the river. . . . Eminently readable."-- "South Asia Research"

"This book will be useful across a wide range of scholarly endeavors. . . . Written in a personable style, it is also likely to draw in readers whose primary interests are not academic, since it is a remarkable description of travel along the Yamuna river and provides an opportunity to follow an expert scholar. . . . A compelling read."-- "Journal of Ecological Anthropology"

About the Author

David L. Haberman is Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is the author of Acting as a Way of Salvation: A Study of Raganuga Bhakti Sadhana, Journey through the Twelve Forests: An Encounter with Krishna, and The Bhaktirasamrtasindhu of Rupa Gosvamin.