Interpreter of Hinduism to the West? Sir Edwin Arnold’s (Re)Presentations of Hindu Texts and their Reception

What is it about?

Edwin Arnold was a very important figure in the popularising of Eastern religious traditions in the West, best known for his role in popularising Buddhism. This article examines his contribution towards Western knowledge of Hinduism through a study of his treatment of Hindu texts and argues that his role as a populariser of Hinduism was similarly significant.

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Why is it important?

As globalisation and the associated interchange of ideas is now an unavoidable reality, it is valuable to reflect on how religious traditions have gained a global presence. Edwin Arnold was a pioneer of popular, rather than scholarly, works on Eastern religions and his translation of the Bhagavad-Gita, the Song Celestial, was instrumental in enabling the Gita to function as more than a Hindu text in the Victorian era.