Ancient Indian Riyuals and their Social Contents N.N Bhattacharya english

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Abbreviations
Chapter One: The Priest and the Queen A Study in the Rituals of the Asvamedha 1
1 Prologue: The Political Veneer.
2 Changes in' Form and Content: Original Purpose Forgotten.
3 Horse-sacrifice in the Rgveda.
4 The Later Samhitas and Brahmanas: Conceptual Changes.
5 Epic Versions of the Asvamedha.
6 Asvamedha in the Srauta Sutras: The Queen's Part.
7 In Quest of the Original Form.
8 The Priest and the Queen.
9 Vedic Sacrifices: Their Primitive and Sophisticated Forms.
10 Why Sexual Union?
11 The Queen's Sexual Cycle.
12 The Dying God.
13 Epilogue: Birth of Literature.
Chapter Two: The King and the Dice A Study in the Rituals of the Rajasuya 54
1 Prologue: Sophistication of the Rituals.
2 The Preliminary Rites.
3 The Second Series.
4 The Ratninam Havimsi: Its Political Significance.
5 The Abhisecaniya or Besprinkling Ceremony.
6 Symbolic Conquest of the Quarters and Anointment.
7 The Mimic Cow Raid.
8 Rajan: Its Original and Changed Meaning.
9 The Election of the 'Kings': The Popular Pressure.
10 The Tribal Councils.
11 Aksa and Rta: The Ritual of Dicing.
12 Rta and Varuna.
13 Relics of Ancient Equality.
14 Distribution: Casting the Lot.
15 Annihilation of Rta: The Sunahsepa Legend.
Chapter Three: Food and Drink A Study in the Rituals of the Vajapeya 97
1 Prologue.
2 The Vajapeya and the Rajasuya.
3 The Legend, the Numbers and the Prelims.
4 The Ritual of Collective Drinking.
5 The Chariot Race.
6 The Ascension: Role of the Queen or Wife.
7 The Popular Character.
8 Food and Drink.
9 The Samans.
10 Yajna as a Productive Technique.
11 The Collective Approach: The Sattras and the Mahavrata.
12 Metamorphosis of the Yajamana.
Chapter Four: The Twice-Born A Study in the Rituals of Tribal Initiation 133
1 Prologue: Birth and Rebirth.
2 The Nucleus of the Upanayana: The Brahmacarin.
3 The Ritual of Upanayana in the Grhyasutras.
4 Upanayana and Puberty.
5 Rebirth in Terms of Buddhist and Jain Initiation.
6 Tantric Initiation and the Concept of Rebirth.
7 Tribal Character of Buddhist Initiation.
8 Primitive Rituals Connected with the Upanayana.
Chapter Five: Sacred and Accursed A Study in the Menstrual Rites of Ancient India 159
1 Prologue: Initiation into Womanhood.
2 The Universal Dread.
3 The Sanctifying Significance.
4 The Life-Giving Power.
5 Menstrual Rites.
6 The Ceremonial Defloration.
Chapter Six: Earth and Woman A Study in the Cults and Rituals of Fertility 184
1 Prologue.
2 A Sculpture from Nagarjunikonda.
3 Mother Goddess and Agricultural Myths: Sita and Persephone.
4 Prthivi or Mother Earth.
5 A Puraniccum-Popular God of Vegetation.
6 The Indian Gardens of Adonis: The Rituals of Laksmi.
Chapter Seven: Death and Resurrection A Study in the Rituals of Diwali and Holi 211
1 Prologue.
2 End of the Old and Beginning of the New Financial Year: Diwali of the Business Communities.
3 The Cult of the Dead among the Buddhists.
4 The Pir Cult.
5 Essentials of the Holi Festival.
6 The Mathas and Miming of Burning the Dead.
7 Resurrection: The Symbolism of Red.
8 Diwali: Its Basic Features.
9 The Full and New Moon.
10 The Fire Festivals of Europe.
11 Diwali and Death.
Chapter Eight: Hook Swinging A Study in Some Popular Cults and Rituals of Bengal 234
1 Prologue.
2 The Rituals of Year-Ending.
3 The New Role of Buddhism.
4 Siva in New Forms: Buddhist and Popular Influence.
5 Vaisnavism: Influence of the Buddhist Sahajayana.
6 The Nathta Cult.
7 The Natha Cosmology: Popular Elements.
8 The Dharma Cult: Its Buddhist Background.
9 Dharmaand Brahrnanical Deities.
10 Different Aspects of the Dharma Cult.
11 The Cajana of Dharma and Siva.
12 Gajana and Cadaka: The Participating Deities.
13 The Death and Resurrection Theme in Gajana Rituals.
14 The Cadaka of Dharma.
15 Kalarkarudra, Nilacandika and others.
16 The Ritual of Cadaka.
Bibliography 279
Index 289