Homo ritualis : Hindu ritual and its significance to ritual theory

395 Pages·2016·2.58 MB·English

by  Michaels

Homo Ritualis
OXFORD RITUAL STUDIES
Series Editors LOOKING FOR MARY
Ronald Grimes, Ritual Studies MAGDALENE
International Alternative Pilgrimage and Ritual
Ute Hüsken, University of Oslo Creativity at Catholic Shrines in France
Barry Stephenson, Memorial Anna Fedele
University
THE DYSFUNCTION OF RITUAL
THE PROBLEM OF RITUAL IN EARLY CONFUCIANISM
EFFICACY Michael David Kaulana Ing
Edited by William S. Sax, Johannes
A DIFFERENT MEDICINE
Quack, and Jan Weinhold
Postcolonial Healing in the Native
PERFORMING THE American Church
REFORMATION Joseph D. Calabrese
Public Ritual in the City of Luther
NARRATIVES OF SORROW
Barry Stephenson
AND DIGNITY
RITUAL, MEDIA, AND CONFLICT Japanese Women, Pregnancy Loss,
Edited by Ronald L. Grimes, and Modern Rituals of Grieving
Ute Hüsken, Udo Simon, and Eric Bardwell L. Smith
Venbrux
MAKING THINGS BETTER
KNOWING BODY, MOVING A Workbook on Ritual, Cultural
MIND Values, and Environmental Behavior
Ritualizing and Learning at Two A. David Napier
Buddhist Centers
AYAHUASCA SHAMANISM IN
Patricia Q. Campbell
THE AMAZON AND BEYOND
SUBVERSIVE SPIRITUALITIES Edited by Beatriz Caiuby Labate and
How Rituals Enact the World Clancy Cavnar
Frédérique Apffel-Marglin
HOMA VARIATIONS
NEGOTIATING RITES The Study of Ritual Change across the
Edited by Ute Hüsken and Frank Longue Durée
Neubert Edited by Richard K. Payne and Mi-
chael Witzel
THE DANCING DEAD
Ritual and Religion among the HOMO RITUALIS
Kapsiki/Higi of North Cameroon and Hindu Ritual and Its Significance for
Northeastern Nigeria Ritual Theory
Walter E.A. van Beek Axel Michaels
Homo Ritualis
Hindu Ritual and Its Significance
for Ritual Theory
z
AXEL MICHAELS
1
1
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the
University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing
worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and
in certain other countries
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America
© Oxford University Press 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in
writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by license, or under
terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction rights organization. Inquiries concerning
reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department,
Oxford University Press, at the address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer
Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file at the Library of Congress
9780190262631
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
For Annette, Christiane, Elias, Katharina, and Lena

Contents
Tables and Figures x
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
Abbreviations xvii
Pronunciation of Indian and Nepalese Words xix
Introduction 1
PART I: Framing
1. The Beginning of Rituals 43
1.1 The Solemn Intention (saṃkalpa) 43
1.2 Greeting and Ritualized Greeting (namaskāra) 58
Conclusion 69
PART II: Formality
2. Repetitive Rules (vidhi) 73
2.1 The Grammar of Rituals 74
2.2 A Preliminary “Grammar” of Newar Life-Cycle
Rituals 94
2.3 Rituals in Handbooks (paddhati) 112
viii Contents
3. Agency in Ritual 118
3.1 Ritual Competency (adhikāra) 118
3.2 Atonements for Ritual Mishaps (prāyaścitta) 127
3.3 The Comic Side of Ritual Formality 136
4. Playful Rituals (līlā) 146
4.1 Music and Ritual Music 147
4.2 Dance and Ritual Dance 151
4.3 Emotions and Ritual Emotions 159
Conclusion 170
PART III: Modality
5. Individualized and Domestic Rituals (saṃskāra) 179
5.1 The Boy’s Initiation 185
5.2 The Girl’s Initiation 191
5.3 The Marriage 193
5.4 Death Rituals and Redemption 198
6. Collective and Public Rituals 211
6.1 Temple Festivals (utsava) 214
6.2 Vows (vrata) 219
6.3 Pilgrimages and Processions (yātrā) 221
7. Transcendence in Rituals 228
7.1 The Vedic Sacrifice (yajña) 231
7.2 The Fire Sacrifice (homa) 237
7.3 Worship and Prayer (pūjā) 247
7.4 E-darshan and Cyber-puja 258
Conclusion 261
PART IV: Meaning
8. Meaning and Function 269
8.1 The Cultural Studies Approach 269
8.2 The Cognitive Sciences approach 279
Contents ix
9. The Pūrvamīmāṃsā Theory of Ritual Efficacy 293
Conclusion 308
PART V: The Hindu Path of Ritual—Summary
Appendix: Automatic Detection of Ritual Structures 319
Glossary 325
References 329
Index 361