Course Outline:

9/4 Introductions:

Boundary problems: discussion of a textual/musical vignette.

9/9 Orientations: what is "Hinduism"?

T. N. Madan, "Epilogue: The Quest for Hinduism," in Non-Renunciation: Themes and Interpretations of Hindu Culture (Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1987), 142-67.

9/11 Differentiating space and time;

cultural precursors of the Hindu tradition (Indus Valley Civilization and the Aryans):
A. L. Basham, Origins and Development of Classical Hinduism (ODCH), 1-19.

9/16 The Aryans and the Vedas:

ODCH, 20-35;
The Rig Veda: An Anthology, tr. by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1981), 22-32; A. A. Macdonell, A Vedic Reader for Students (Madras: Oxford University Press, 1951), 195-203.

9/18 Upanis\adic traditions:

ODCH, 36-50;
A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy, ed. by S. Radhakrishnan and C. A. Moore (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1957), 64-92.

9/21 Hindustani (North Indian) music performance by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia at 8 p.m. in the Flynn Theatre; Pt. Chaurasia is India's most renowned performer on bansuri (bamboo flute); he will be accompanied by tabla (hand drums) and tanpura (stringed drone instrument); tickets are $8.50 for students. Additional related events will be announced in class.

9/23 Ascetic traditions:

ODCH, 51-67;
Film: "Four Holy Men: Renunciation in a Hindu Society";
journal due.

9/25 Epic traditions;

ODCH, 68-81;
R. K. Narayan, Gods, Demons, and Others (New York: Bantam, 1964), 77-115.

9/30 Rise of the bhakti tradition: Bhagavad-gi”ta”:

ODCH, 82-97;
The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna's Counsel in Time of War, 1-55.

10/2 The Bhagavad-Gita, 57-154.

10/7 Ritual and Dharma traditions:

ODCH, 98-115;
A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy, ed. by S. Radhakrishnan and C. A. Moore (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1957), 172-92;
first paper due.

10/9 Pantheon:

C. J. Fuller, The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India (CF) (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992), 3-56; Wendy O'Flaherty, Hindu Myths (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1975), 137-54 (Siva).

10/14 Wendy O'Flaherty, Hindu Myths (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1975), 238-69 (Devi”);

Tracy Pintchman, The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition (Albany: SUNY Press, 1994), 185-214; 244-7.
Slides of Hindu images.

10/16 The Hindu temple:

M. Meister, "Fragments from a Divine Cosmology: Unfolding Forms on India's Temple Walls," in Gods, Guardians, and Lovers: Temple Sculptures from North India A.D. 700-1200, ed. V. N. Desai and D. Mason (New York: Asia Society Galleries, 1993), 94-115;
Slides of Hindu temples.

10/21 Pu”ja” in the public sphere:

CF, 57-82;
D. Denis Hudson, "How to Worship at Siva's Temple," in Religions of India in Practice, ed. by D. S. Lopez (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995), 304-320.
Video: "Puja: Expressions of Hindu Devotion."

10/23 Pu”ja” in the domestic sphere:

P. Ghosh, "Household Rituals and Women's Domains," in Cooking for the Gods: The Art of Home Ritual in Bengal, ed. by M. W. Meister (Newark: Newark Museum, 1995), 20-5;
Video: "How a Hindu Worships: At the Home Shrine";
journal due.

10/28 Sacrifice and temple:

CF, 83-105;
R. F. McDermott, "Bengali Songs to Kali," in Religions of India in Practice, ed. by D. S. Lopez (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995), 55-76.

10/30 Kingship and festival:

CF, 106-127;
R. Schechner, "Ramlila of Ramnagar and America's Oberammergau: Two Celebratory Ritual Dramas," in Celebration: Studies in Festivity and Ritual, ed. V. Turner (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1982), 89-106.

11/4 Village festivals:

CF, 128-54.
Video: "Loving Krishna."

11/6 Pilgrimage:

CF, 204-223;
Video: "An Indian Pilgrimage: Kashi."

11/11 E. Valentine Daniel, Fluid Signs: Being a Person the Tamil Way (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984), 233-287.

11/13 Devotion and dance (highlighting Kr\s\n\a):

Jayadeva, Love Song of the Dark Lord, tr. by Barbara Stoler Miller (New York: Columbia University Press, 1977), 69-73;
K. Vatsyayan, "Gita Govinda: The Processes of Diffusion," Ma”rg 34 (1982): 22-28;
Video: Sharon Lowen performs Odissi dance.

11/16 Karnatic (South Indian) music performance by Dr. N. Shashidhar at 8 p.m. at St. Michael's College;

Dr. Shashidhar will perform on violin accompanied by mr\n\d\anăgam (hand drum) and tambura (stringed drone instrument); details will be announced in class.

11/18 Devotionalism and women:

CF, 224-52;
M. McGee, "Desired Fruits: Motive and Intention in the Votive Rites of Hindu Women," in Roles and Rituals for Hindu Women, ed. J. Leslie (Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1991), 71-88.

11/20 J. Leslie, "Suttee or Sati”: Victim or Victor?" and L. T. Denton, "Varieties of Hindu Female Asceticism," in Roles and Rituals for Hindu Women, ed. J. Leslie (Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1991), 175-91; 211-231;

second paper due.

11/25 One Indian woman's life:

Video: "Dadi's Family."

11/27 No class: Thanksgiving break.

12/2 Misfortune, auspiciousness, and death:

CF, 224-52;
D. M. Knipe, "Sapin\d\i”karan\a: The Hindu Rite of Entry into Heaven," in Religious Encounters with Death, ed. F. E. Reynolds and E. H. Waugh (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1977), 109-124;
W. F. Menski, "Marital Expectations as Dramatized in Hindu Marriage Rituals," in Roles and Rituals for Hindu Women, ed. J. Leslie (Rutherford: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1991), 47-67.
Video: "Hindu Sacraments of Childhood";
journal due.

12/4 Hinduism in diaspora:

J. B. Carman, "Handing Down and Reaching Across: Stability and Movement in Indian Religious Traditions" and
V. Narayanan, "Creating the South Indian 'Hindu' Experience in the United States," in A Sacred Thread: Modern Transmission of Hindu Traditions in India and Abroad, ed. by R. B. Williams (Chambersburg: Anima Pub., 1992), 7-20; 147-76;
take-home final exam distributed.

12/9 Video: "Pilgrimage to Pittsburgh."

12/11 Conclusions and evaluations.

CF, 253-61.

12/16 Take-home final exam due at my office by 5 p.m.