ruth satinsky | University of Lausanne (original) (raw)
Papers by ruth satinsky
This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Puranas section at the 15th World Sans... more This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Puranas section at the 15th World Sanskrit Conference (New Delhi, January 2012). A body of scholars of international standing pursue a diverse range of inquiries into the Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Ramayana and the Puranas. Offering new and often provocative insights into their narratives, textual histories, ideological concerns, theological agendas and reception histories, these papers provide an excellent overview of the current state of epic and Puranic research. Twelve of the articles primarily concern aspects of the Mahabharata and its khila, the Harivamsa. Two of these explore the relationship of the Mahabharata to Buddhism. Two papers offer stimulating discussions of matters arising from the preparation of the concluding volume to the 30-year Princeton Ramayana translation project, a landmark in Indological research. The remaining six papers analyse aspects of the Puranas, three within the broader mythological and ideolo...
Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study on Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder ... more Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study on Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder nach den Quellen dargestellt, compares the brahmanical, buddhist, and jaina cosmological systems, and gives an account of Mount Meru's characteristics in all three
ASDIWAL. Revue genevoise d'anthropologie et d'histoire des religions
Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study of Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder ... more Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study of Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder nach den Quellen dargestellt, compares the Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina cosmological systems, and concludes that the early Brahmanical cosmology forms the basis of the later cosmology found in the epics and Purāṇas, and that of the Buddhist and Jaina systems, as well. Contrary to Kirfel, this paper will present some provisional ideas which suggest that the concept of Mount Meru entered Brahmanical literature under the influence of the culture out of which Jainism and Buddhism arose, the culture of Greater Magadha. This hypothesis is based on three observations: 1) the concept of Mount Meru ("the golden mountain at the center of the earth and the universe, around which the heavenly bodies revolve") is prominent in the Jaina and Buddhist canons, but strikingly absent from Brahmanical literature prior to the Mahābhārata; 2) its late introduction into Brahmanical literature marks the shift from Vedic to epic and Purāṇic cosmology at a time when Brahmanical contacts with Buddhism, Jainism, and their region of origin, Greater Magadha, were possible and presumably established; and 3) a special group of numbers, "the number eighty-four and its multiples," is also prominent in the Jaina and Buddhist canons, and in Ājīvikism, but likewise absent from Brahmanical literature prior to the Mahābhārata. The lifespans of Ṛṣabha, Bharata, Śreyāṃsa, and Ara, and the height of Mount Meru are linked to this special group of numbers, and will serve, amongst others, as examples.
Books by ruth satinsky
This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Purāṇas panel at the 15th World Sanskr... more This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Purāṇas panel at the 15th World Sanskrit conference (New Delhi, January 2012). A body of scholars of international standing pursue a diverse range of inquiries into the Mahābhārata, Harivaṃśa, Rāmāyaṇa and the Purāṇas. Offering new and often provocative insights into their narratives, textual histories, ideological concerns, theological agendas and reception histories, these papers provide an excellent overview of the current state of epic and Purāṇic research.
Twelve of the articles primarily concern aspects of the Mahābhārata and its khila, the Harivaṃśa. Two of these explore the relationship of the Mahābhārata to Buddhism. Two papers offer stimulating discussions of matters arising from the preparation of the concluding volume to the 30-year Princeton Rāmāyaṇa translation project, a landmark in Indological research. The remaining six papers analyse aspects of the Purāṇas, three within the broader mythological and ideological contexts shared by the epics and Purāṇas, and three in regard to the regional traditions represented by Sthala- Purāṇas and Māhātmyas.
The sum of this volume’s parts demonstrate the vibrancy of the fields to which it contributes, a vibrancy underscored by the diversity of their methodological approaches and insights. Many of these insights will endure; some chart new and promising directions in Indological research. Above all, this volume further reinforces the foundational and enduring importance of these immense texts to the literatures, histories and cultures of South Asia and beyond.
This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Puranas section at the 15th World Sans... more This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Puranas section at the 15th World Sanskrit Conference (New Delhi, January 2012). A body of scholars of international standing pursue a diverse range of inquiries into the Mahabharata, Harivamsa, Ramayana and the Puranas. Offering new and often provocative insights into their narratives, textual histories, ideological concerns, theological agendas and reception histories, these papers provide an excellent overview of the current state of epic and Puranic research. Twelve of the articles primarily concern aspects of the Mahabharata and its khila, the Harivamsa. Two of these explore the relationship of the Mahabharata to Buddhism. Two papers offer stimulating discussions of matters arising from the preparation of the concluding volume to the 30-year Princeton Ramayana translation project, a landmark in Indological research. The remaining six papers analyse aspects of the Puranas, three within the broader mythological and ideolo...
Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study on Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder ... more Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study on Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder nach den Quellen dargestellt, compares the brahmanical, buddhist, and jaina cosmological systems, and gives an account of Mount Meru's characteristics in all three
ASDIWAL. Revue genevoise d'anthropologie et d'histoire des religions
Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study of Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder ... more Willibald Kirfel (1920/1990), in his major study of Indian cosmology, Die Kosmographie der Inder nach den Quellen dargestellt, compares the Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jaina cosmological systems, and concludes that the early Brahmanical cosmology forms the basis of the later cosmology found in the epics and Purāṇas, and that of the Buddhist and Jaina systems, as well. Contrary to Kirfel, this paper will present some provisional ideas which suggest that the concept of Mount Meru entered Brahmanical literature under the influence of the culture out of which Jainism and Buddhism arose, the culture of Greater Magadha. This hypothesis is based on three observations: 1) the concept of Mount Meru ("the golden mountain at the center of the earth and the universe, around which the heavenly bodies revolve") is prominent in the Jaina and Buddhist canons, but strikingly absent from Brahmanical literature prior to the Mahābhārata; 2) its late introduction into Brahmanical literature marks the shift from Vedic to epic and Purāṇic cosmology at a time when Brahmanical contacts with Buddhism, Jainism, and their region of origin, Greater Magadha, were possible and presumably established; and 3) a special group of numbers, "the number eighty-four and its multiples," is also prominent in the Jaina and Buddhist canons, and in Ājīvikism, but likewise absent from Brahmanical literature prior to the Mahābhārata. The lifespans of Ṛṣabha, Bharata, Śreyāṃsa, and Ara, and the height of Mount Meru are linked to this special group of numbers, and will serve, amongst others, as examples.
This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Purāṇas panel at the 15th World Sanskr... more This volume contains 20 papers emerging from the Epics and Purāṇas panel at the 15th World Sanskrit conference (New Delhi, January 2012). A body of scholars of international standing pursue a diverse range of inquiries into the Mahābhārata, Harivaṃśa, Rāmāyaṇa and the Purāṇas. Offering new and often provocative insights into their narratives, textual histories, ideological concerns, theological agendas and reception histories, these papers provide an excellent overview of the current state of epic and Purāṇic research.
Twelve of the articles primarily concern aspects of the Mahābhārata and its khila, the Harivaṃśa. Two of these explore the relationship of the Mahābhārata to Buddhism. Two papers offer stimulating discussions of matters arising from the preparation of the concluding volume to the 30-year Princeton Rāmāyaṇa translation project, a landmark in Indological research. The remaining six papers analyse aspects of the Purāṇas, three within the broader mythological and ideological contexts shared by the epics and Purāṇas, and three in regard to the regional traditions represented by Sthala- Purāṇas and Māhātmyas.
The sum of this volume’s parts demonstrate the vibrancy of the fields to which it contributes, a vibrancy underscored by the diversity of their methodological approaches and insights. Many of these insights will endure; some chart new and promising directions in Indological research. Above all, this volume further reinforces the foundational and enduring importance of these immense texts to the literatures, histories and cultures of South Asia and beyond.