Charming Beauties and Frightful Beasts. Non-Human Animals in South Asian Myth, Ritual and Folklore
di Aa.Vv.
- Anno Edizione:
- 2013
- Argomento:
- Archeologia del Vicino Oriente
- ISBN:
- 9781908049599
Descrizione:
Fabrizio M. Ferrari, Thomas Dähnhardt
The study of non-human animals as other-than-human persons (including animal-spirits and divine animals) has marked a significant shift in the ethics and politics of the academic study of religion. Charming Animals and Frightful Beasts investigates how South Asian religions, with their sacred narratives, ritual and non-ritual practices and performances, bear witness to the active presence of non-human animals as both culture makers/bearers and symbols of spirituality. With bourgeoning debates on religion, indigeneity, ecotheology and environmentalism, this volume urges for a promotion and an in-depth analysis of the roles and places of animals in South Asian traditions.
The structure of the book reflects that of the most popular collection of folktales on animals in South Asia, the Pañcatantra. Such an arrangement creates the backbone for an articulate, clear and reasoned discussion on animals and the concept of animality in different South Asian traditions, or various aspects of the same tradition. Like the original Sanskrit text, the volume is divided into five books (tantras), each dealing with themes as different as South Asian animals as divine messengers, restorers of order, symbols of cultural identity, exemplary beings, spiritual teachers, objects of human reverence and portents symbolizing the life cycle, including its inevitable end.
Contents
The Animal Question in South Asia: A Post-Modern Pañcatantra
Thomas Dähnhardt and Fabrizio M. Ferrari
First Tantra: Wonder, Monstrosity, Conflict
1. Talking Animals: Explorations in an Indian Literary Genre
Patrick Olivelle, University of Texas, Austin
2. Monstrous Animals on Hindu Temples, with Special Reference to Khajuraho
David Smith, Lancaster University
3. Her Majesty's Servants: The Tame and the Wild under the British Raj
Davide Torri, University of Chester
Second Tantra: Conflict, Ethics, Environment
4. Beware the Crocodile: Female and Male Nature in Aśvaghoṣa's Saundarananda
Alice Collett, York St John University
5. Sparrows and Lions: Fauna in Sikh Imagery - Symbolism and Ethics
Eleanor Nesbitt, University of Warwick
6. Tigers, Tiger Spirits and Were-tigers in Tribal Orissa
Stefano Beggiora, University of Venice
Third Tantra: Environment, Myth, Devotion
7. Falling Rain, Reigning Power in Reptilian Affairs: The Balancing of Religion and the Environment
Ivette Vargas-O'Bryan, Austin College
8. Guardian Spirits, Omens and Meat for the Clans: The Place of Animals among the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh
Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri, Arunachal University
9. Karman and Compassion: Animals in the jain Universal History
Eva De Clercq, Ghent University
Fourth Tantra: Devotion, Wisdom, Awe
10. Horses that Weep, Birds that Tell Fortunes: Animals in South Asian Muslim Myth
David Pinault, Santa Clara University
11. Winged Messengers, Feathered Beauties and Beaks of Divine Wisdom: The Role of Birds in Hindi-Urdu Allegorical Love Stories
Thomas Dähnhardt
12. The Biggest Star of All: The Elephant in Hindi Cinema
Rachel Dwyer, SOAS, University of London
Fifth Tantra: Awe, Fear, Death
13. Dark Shades of Power: The Crow in Hindu and Tantric Religious Traditions
Xenia Zeiler, Universität Bremen
14. Fear, Reverence and Ambivalence: Divine Snakes in Contemporary South India
Amy Allocco, Elon University
15. The Silent Killer: The Donkey as Personification of Illness in North Indian Folklore
Fabrizio M. Ferrari