Book Reviews
Keywords:
Sonic Theology, Guy L. Beck, Nāda-Brahman, Śabda-Brahman, Vak, Mantra, Hinduism, Tantra, Sphota, Japa, Om, Sankirtana, Religious Sound, Visualism, Vedic Tradition, TheologyAbstract
This section presents two reviews of Guy L. Beck’s Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound, a seminal work challenging the dominance of visualism in Hindu studies by centering sacred sound (Nāda-Brahman). The first review surveys Beck’s detailed exploration of six cultural-religious environments—from Vedic vāk and mantra to Yogic, Tantric, and sectarian theologies—highlighting the theological depth and historical range of sacred sound. The second review, from a musicological lens, praises Beck’s corrective approach and theoretical depth, while questioning the dating of the Āgamas and raising broader inquiries on whether sound alone ensures spiritual realization. Together, the reviews affirm Beck’s vital contribution to Hindu hermeneutics and sound-centered religious experience.
