The Paurāṇic Lore of Holy Water-places

The Paurāṇic Lore of Holy Water-places PDF Author: Savitri V. Kumar
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brahmanism
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
Description: The present work is based on an extensive and critical study of the legends connected with Holy water-places. Mythological, historical, geographical and scientific study of the legends is interesting and thought provoking. The Skanda Purana (1000 AD to 700 BC) has been made the basis of this study as amongst all, this work deals with this topic most elaborately and covers almost all the tirthas referred to in various texts. Most of the legends have been studied critically and a comparative study has been done from the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanisads, Epics and other Puranas. Various other mythologies such as Egyptian, Iranian, Greek, North American, African, Babylonian, Roman, Mexican etc. have also been compared to. The imminent purpose of the talks has been studied under various motifs. The author's psycho-scientific method of analysis and interpretation makes the work extremely fascinating and informative. The author has also drawn attention to the medical analysis of various water-tirthas. The work is a valuable addition to the Pauranic and mythological literature.

The Paurāṇic Lore of Holy Water-places

The Paurāṇic Lore of Holy Water-places PDF Author: Savitri V. Kumar
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Brahmanism
Languages : en
Pages : 434

Get Book

Book Description
Description: The present work is based on an extensive and critical study of the legends connected with Holy water-places. Mythological, historical, geographical and scientific study of the legends is interesting and thought provoking. The Skanda Purana (1000 AD to 700 BC) has been made the basis of this study as amongst all, this work deals with this topic most elaborately and covers almost all the tirthas referred to in various texts. Most of the legends have been studied critically and a comparative study has been done from the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanisads, Epics and other Puranas. Various other mythologies such as Egyptian, Iranian, Greek, North American, African, Babylonian, Roman, Mexican etc. have also been compared to. The imminent purpose of the talks has been studied under various motifs. The author's psycho-scientific method of analysis and interpretation makes the work extremely fascinating and informative. The author has also drawn attention to the medical analysis of various water-tirthas. The work is a valuable addition to the Pauranic and mythological literature.

The Archaeology of Sacred Spaces

The Archaeology of Sacred Spaces PDF Author: Susan Verma Mishra
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317193741
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 284

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Book Description
This volume focuses on the religious shrine in western India as an institution of cultural integration in the period spanning 200 BCE to 800 CE. It presents an analysis of religious architecture at multiple levels, both temporal and spatial, and distinguishes it as a ritual instrument that integrates individuals and communities into a cultural fabric. The work shows how these structures emphasise on communication with a host of audiences such as the lay worshipper, the ritual specialist, the royalty and the elite as well as the artisan and the sculptor. It also examines religious imagery, inscriptions, traditional lore and Sanskrit literature. The book will be of special interest to researchers and scholars of ancient Indian history, Hinduism, religious studies, architecture and South Asian studies.

The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape

The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape PDF Author: Himanshu Prabha Ray
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1647229081
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape explores Hinduism as it was practised in temples across the Indian subcontinent throughout history, highlighting the temple’s significance as a marker of cultural identity. The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape illustrates how careful attention to the Hindu temple, its social history, and cultural landscape allows us to better appreciate how Hinduism has been practised and lived throughout history. The Hindu temple was not merely a place of worship or a static indicator of royal generosity but an institution that involved the active participation of the community for its establishment, maintenance, and survival. Rather than studying temples as isolated structures, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape thus suggests that we need to examine them in the context of their social base and the sacred microcosms of which they form a part. Through a combination of textual study, archaeological evidence, and insights from contemporary anthropology, the book explores the diverse ways in which devotees, patrons, and visitors have engaged with temples, shrines, and their wider surroundings. Drawing attention to the vibrancy of the Hindu temple in different locales, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape traces the ways in which Hindu notions of sanctity and sacredness were defined and redefined throughout history through the diversity of temple audiences, deities, and rituals. The book thus allows us to form a more accurate picture of Hindu religious life in the past and the central role the temple has played in consolidating Hindu identity. EXPERT ANALYSIS: Author Himanshu Prabha Ray provides authoritative analysis of the Hindu temple, drawing on her expertise as an award-winning Sanskrit scholar, historian, and archeologist. SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape provides a breadth of educational knowledge as a supplement to both academic coursework and the independent study of Hinduism. With the integration of discussion questions, suggested further reading, a glossary of key terms, and images throughout, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape offers an accessible introduction to studying the history and significance of Hindu temples. EXPLORE THE SERIES: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape expands the collection of academic texts developed by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Women in the Hindu World and The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide are also available in the series.

Women and the Puranic Tradition in India

Women and the Puranic Tradition in India PDF Author: Monika Saxena
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429826397
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
This book analyses the diverse ways in which women have been represented in the Purāṇic traditions in ancient India – the virtuous wife, mother, daughter, widow, and prostitute – against the socio-religious milieu around CE 300–1000. Purāṇas (lit. ancient narratives) are brahmanical texts that largely fall under the category of socio-religious literature which were more broad-based and inclusive, unlike the Smṛtis, which were accessible mainly to the upper sections of society. In locating, identifying, and commenting on the multiplicity of the images and depictions of women’s roles in Purāṇic traditions, the author highlights their lives and experiences over time, both within and outside the traditional confines of the domestic sphere. With a focus on five Mahāpurāṇas that deal extensively with the social matrix Viṣṇu, Mārkaṇḍeya Matsya, Agni, and Bhāgavata Purāṇas, the book explores the question of gender and agency in early India and shows how such identities were recast, invented, shaped, constructed, replicated, stereotyped, and sometimes reversed through narratives. Further, it traces social consequences and contemporary relevance of such representations in marriage, adultery, ritual, devotion, worship, fasts, and pilgrimage. This volume will be of interest to researchers and scholars in women and gender studies, ancient Indian history, religion, sociology, literature, and South Asian studies, as also the informed general reader.

The History of Sacred Places in India As Reflected in Traditional Literature

The History of Sacred Places in India As Reflected in Traditional Literature PDF Author: Hans Bakker
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9789004093188
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description


Steps to Water

Steps to Water PDF Author: Morna Livingston
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
ISBN: 9781568983240
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
From the fifth to the nineteenth centuries, the people of western India built stone cisterns to collect the water of the monsoon rains and keep it accessible for the remaining dry months of the year. These magnificent structures-known as stepwells or stepped ponds-are much more than utilitarian reservoirs. Their lattice-like walls, carved columns, decorated towers, and intricate sculpture make them exceptional architecture., while their very presence tells much about the region's ecology and history. For these past 500 years, stepwells have been an integral part of western Indian communities as sites for drinking, washing, and bathing, as well as for colorful festivals and sacred rituals. Steps to Water traces the fascinating history of stepwells, from their Hindu origins, to their zenith during Muslim rule, and eventual decline under British occupation. It also reflects on their current use, preservation, and place in Indian communities. In stunning color and quadtone photographs and drawings, Steps to Water reveals the depth of the stepwells' beauty and their intricate details, and serves as a lens on these fascinating cultural and architectural monuments.

Culture/Place/Health

Culture/Place/Health PDF Author: Wilbert M. Gesler
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134655738
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
Culture/Place/Health is the first exploration of cultural-geographical health research for a decade, drawing on contemporary research undertaken by geographers and other social scientists to explore the links between culture, place and health. It uses a wealth of examples from societies around the world to assert the place of culture in shaping relations between health and place. It contributes to an expanding of horizons at the intersection of the discipline of geography and the multidisciplinary domain of health concerns.

Nationalism and Post-Colonial Identity

Nationalism and Post-Colonial Identity PDF Author: Anshuman A Mondal
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134494173
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 301

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Book Description
This book offers the first comparative study of two highly significant anti-colonial nationalisms.

Water Culture in South Asia

Water Culture in South Asia PDF Author: Suzanne Hanchett
Publisher: Development Resources Press
ISBN: 0990633721
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
“Water is life” in Bangladesh. This book introduces the reader to the vast range of meanings that water has in this South Asian country. Mythol­ogy, ancient sciences, folklore, and language provide a cultural founda­tion for water's uses in the home. One chapter is devoted to the problem of arsenic in drinking water. Includes Glossary, Bibliography, 70 photos, Index. Reviews and Endorsements Interesting and important for anyone working in water in Bangladesh and world­wide. If only there were such books for all countries!” -Joke Mulwijk, Executive Director, Gender and Water Alliance “A group of authors...have in this delightful book explored familiar cultural nuances: nuances that generally escape the notice of policy makers sitting in distant headquarters formulating policies for villagers.”....“The authors have narrated myths related to ponds, for instance.... Each aspect of cultural use has been described in so much detail and with such authenticity that, but for the paucity of space, one feels like reproducing the entire book here.”.... “Conventionally, policy makers always neglect the cultural aspects of any new product they have introduced. But it became apparent that there were side effects of having water from tube wells: people would get afflicted with skin diseases, including cancer, because of the arsenic content present in the water.”.... “Even though the focus of this book is Bangladesh, its lessons hold true for India and Pakistan as well, another strong indication of how each of them share a common culture….” -Professor Bidyut Mohanty, Head, Women’s Studies Department, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. Review published in Social Change (2016)

Loci Sacri

Loci Sacri PDF Author: Thomas Coomans
Publisher: Leuven University Press
ISBN: 9058678423
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
Sacred places are not static entities but reveal a historical dynamic. This volume explores both the cultural developments that have shaped them and their varied multidimensional levels of significance.