Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882), transcendentalist, essayist, poet, preacher, philosopher and seer, was influenced by Hinduism. Emerson was among the earliest Americans to use Hindu ideas, symbols, epigrams, metaphors and fables in his writings. His knowledge of Hindu religion was obtained primarily from the translated works or commentaries on the Hindu scriptures by English and French writers of the 18 th century. Emerson was particularly fascinated by the Bhagavad Gita, Rig Veda Samhita, Upanishads, Vishnu Purana, Hitopadesha and laws of Manu. Books of these authors gave Ralph Waldo Emerson a peep into the Hindu world. Sir William Jones (1746 – 1794) H. H. Wilson (1786 – 1860) H. T. Colebrooke (1765 – 1834) Victor Cousin (1792 – 1833) How Hinduism Influenced Ralph Waldo Emerson? His religious views bear a clear imprint of the Hindu concepts of God, man, nature, soul, maya (illusion), karma, evil and transmigration. Emerson believed not in religious