Alchemies of Violence: Myths of Identity and the Life of Trade in Western IndiaThis study shows how myths construct and express the social identities of a community. Focusing on Rajasthan, it describes how myths here mostly centre around the theme of violence and its rejection. The social persona of the trading groups are created around this and hence issues of violence and its control emerge as the symbolic key to trader social identity in this cultural context. Analyzing what myths have to say about traders, the author examines the nature of caste in general, as well as the specific place of trading castes in Indian society. Moreover he looks at the problems of the social identity of traders. By studying myths, the book shows how Indian trading groups have dealt with these problems by using symbolic material provided by their specific social and cultural milieu. Finally the author looks at the role of myth itself as a repository of socially important knowledge. |
Contents
Contents | 7 |
Violence and the Ways of Trade | 33 |
Sages and Warriors | 67 |
Copyright | |
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Alchemies of Violence: Myths of Identity and the Life of Trade in Western India Lawrence A Babb No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
actually Agrasen Agraval caste Agravāls Agroha ancient animal sacrifice apical ancestor Bālājī became become Bhāratendu Bhinmal Brahmā Brāhmaṇ caste Brāhmaṇs caste associations caste identity caste's century chapter clan goddess context creation cultural Dadhimati Dāhimā Brāhmaṇs Darakji's deity Delhi descent Digambar exogamy fact Figure Fire Clan genealogists gotras groups Gujarat Gupt Hindu ibid important India issue Jain caste Jainism Jaipur Jamadagni jāti Khandela Khaṇḍelvāl Jains Khaṇḍelval Vaiśya Khartar Gacch king kingdom Kṣatriyas Lohargal Mahāvīr Māheśvarīs marriage martial Marwar Mātā mendicant lineage Mohandās myth model mythohistorical named non-violence organisation origin myth origin narrative Osian Osval Osvāls Paraśurām political priests Rajasthan Rajasthani traders Rajput Rājpūts region relationship rite of sacrifice ritual role Sacciyā sages Sālāsar Sammelan satī Shekhawati Sirohi Śiva social identity social order sons sponsored Śrī Śrīmāl story Svetambar symbolic temple theme Tirthankar trading castes traditions Upkeś Gacch varṇa Vedic vegetarian Vijayvargiya warrior wealth worship