A Magisterial work by Neelakandan to understand what Hindutva actually is and stands for." Dr. Vikram Sampath "I have long admired Aravindan Neelakandan as one of the very few Indian thinkers who appreciate and acknowledge Westernderived science and modernity, while simultaneously remaining authentically grounded in Hindu tradition. There have been many books on the history of Hinduism and Hindutva, but this one is different, and significant, because it (correctly) takes a step back and identifies that our current situation is part of a global biopsychosociological churn, something playing out over millennia, far beyond the lifespans of any one individual or organization or state. Aravindan, at his core, is a naturelover and a scientist, and it is this perspective that suffuses this book and makes it special. While there is plenty of groundbreaking content within this expansive, encyclopedic book, I believe the sections on the neurobiological connections of Hindu meditative and ritual practice, which tie the history of Hinduism to the broader evolutionary inheritance of the human species, are going to be very impactful in the years to come." Dr Anand Venkatraman Neuroscientist