Crossing the Lines of Caste: Visvamitra and the Construction of Brahmin Power in

Description: Crossing the Lines of Caste by Adheesh A. Sathaye Crossing the Lines of Caste offers a cultural-historical analysis of the legends of Visvamitra, a sage who is said to have used his ascetic power to change his caste and become a Brahmin. It reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active role in the construction of Brahmin social power for more than three thousand years. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description What does it mean to be a Brahmin, and what could it mean to become one? Over the years, intellectuals and dogmatists have offered plenty of answers to the first question, but the latter presents a cultural puzzle, since normative Brahminical ideology deems it impossible for an ordinary individual to change caste without first undergoing death and rebirth.There is, however, one notable figure in the Hindu mythological tradition who is said tohave transformed himself from a king into a Brahmin by amassing great ascetic power, or tapas: the ornery sage Visvamitra. Through texts composed in Sanskrit and vernacular languages, oral performances,and visual media, Crossing the Lines of Caste examines the rich mosaic of legends about Visvamitra found across the Hindu mythological tradition. It offers a comprehensive historical analysis of how the "storyworlds" conjured up through these various tellings have served to adapt, upgrade, and reinforce the social identity of real-world Brahmin communities, from the ancient Vedic past up to the hypermodern present.Using a performance-centered approach to situatethe production of the Visvamitra legends within specific historical contexts, Crossing the Lines of Caste reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active, dialogical role in the construction ofBrahmin social power over the last three thousand years. Author Biography Adheesh A. Sathaye (PhD, UC Berkeley, 2005) is an Associate Professor of Sanskrit Literature and South Asian Folklore at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He writes on Hindu mythology, Sanskrit drama, story literature, and the broader connections between performance, textual production, and traditional culture in South Asia. Table of Contents List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsNote on TransliterationAbbreviationsAbout the Companion WebsiteIntroduction: Crossing the Lines of CasteFoundations1. Poet, Priest, and Prince: Glimpses of Visvamitra in Vedic Literature2. Genealogy of the Brahmin Other in the Sanskrit EpicsAdaptations3. Spinning the Brahmin Other in the Early Puranas4. Geo-Mapping the Brahmin Other in Regional Puranic LiteratureConfrontations5. Encountering the Brahmin Double in Medieval India6. Becoming a New Brahmin in Modern IndiaConclusions: Texts, Performances, and Hindu Mythological CultureCatalogue of Visvamitra LegendsBibliographyIndex Review "[A] really superb book that is a model of what Indological scholarship can be. It makes a major contribution to the image of the brahmin from late Vedic literature up to the present day and also, whether intended or not, is exceptionally incisive on how myth can be reinterpreted and received by consecutive generations subsequent to its original composition and dissemination."--Journal of the American Oriental Society"This book makes us appreciate how fortunate we are to have reached a point where a single young author can show command of texts from multiple periods, genres, and South Asian languages to present an inside story that never stops retelling itself from the Rig Veda into modern times. For a class, or for the general reader, I can think of no better introduction to the peccadillos of Hinduism." --Alf Hiltebeitel, Professor of Religion, George WashingtonUniversity Promotional Examines the rich mosaic of legends about Visvamitra found across the Hindu mythological tradition Long Description What does it mean to be a Brahmin, and what could it mean to become one? Over the years, intellectuals and dogmatists have offered plenty of answers to the first question, but the latter presents a cultural puzzle, since normative Brahminical ideology deems it impossible for an ordinary individual to change caste without first undergoing death and rebirth.There is, however, one notable figure in the Hindu mythological tradition who is said to have transformed himself from a king into a Brahmin by amassing great ascetic power, or tapas: the ornery sage Visvamitra. Through texts composed in Sanskrit and vernacular languages, oral performances, and visual media, Crossing the Lines of Caste examines the rich mosaic of legends about Visvamitra found across the Hindu mythological tradition. It offers a comprehensive historicalanalysis of how the "storyworlds" conjured up through these various tellings have served to adapt, upgrade, and reinforce the social identity of real-world Brahmin communities, from the ancient Vedic past up to the hypermodern present.Using a performance-centered approach to situate the production of the Visvamitra legends within specific historical contexts, Crossing the Lines of Caste reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active, dialogical role in the construction of Brahmin social power over the last three thousand years. Review Text "[A] really superb book that is a model of what Indological scholarship can be. It makes a major contribution to the image of the brahmin from late Vedic literature up to the present day and also, whether intended or not, is exceptionally incisive on how myth can be reinterpreted and received by consecutive generations subsequent to its original composition and dissemination."--Journal of the American Oriental Society"This book makes us appreciate how fortunate we are to have reached a point where a single young author can show command of texts from multiple periods, genres, and South Asian languages to present an inside story that never stops retelling itself from the Rig Veda into modern times. For a class, or for the general reader, I can think of no better introduction to the peccadillos of Hinduism." --Alf Hiltebeitel, Professor of Religion, George WashingtonUniversity Review Quote "This book makes us appreciate how fortunate we are to have reached a point where a single young author can show command of texts from multiple periods, genres, and South Asian languages to present an inside story that never stops retelling itself from the Rig Veda into modern times. For a class, or for the general reader, I can think of no better introduction to the peccadillos of Hinduism." --Alf Hiltebeitel, Professor of Religion, George Washington University Feature Selling point: Takes an interdisciplinary approach to Hindu mythological texts and performancesSelling point: Examines the construction of Brahmin social power over the last three thousand yearsSelling point: Offers a cultural-historical analysis of the legends of Visvamitra Details ISBN0199341117 Author Adheesh A. Sathaye Year 2015 ISBN-10 0199341117 ISBN-13 9780199341115 Format Paperback Short Title CROSSING THE LINES OF CASTE Language English Media Book Illustrations Yes Subtitle Visvamitra and the Construction of Brahmin Power in Hindu Mythology Position Reader in Bioscience Education Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Affiliation University College London, London, UK Publication Date 2015-06-25 UK Release Date 2015-06-25 NZ Release Date 2015-06-25 US Release Date 2015-06-25 Edited by Ibrahim Abubakar Birth 1938 Qualifications J.D. Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Alternative 9780199341108 DEWEY 294.513 Audience General AU Release Date 2015-07-08 Pages 334 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:134227704;

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