Aryan Books

MYTHS FROM THE MAHABHARATA: Vol. 1: Quest for Immortality

By :- Sadashiv Ambadas Dange

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Type: English

Pages: xxii+310

ISBN-13: 978-81-7305-116-6

Place: New Delhi

Edition: 1st

Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL

Size: 15cm x 22cm

Product Year: 1997

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The book deals with three mythical accounts from the Mahabharata namely: (i) Garuda and the Nagas and the wager between Vinata and Kadru; (ii) Kaca, Sukra and Devayani; and (iii) The ?Churning of the Ocean?. It presents a detailed study of these accounts and proposes that they have deeper ethnosocial implications. The conflict between the Nagas and Garuda, together with the wager between Vinata and Kadru, forma tale of two phratries of the bigger Naga clan, and their seeming conflict is an instance of complementary rivalry, characteristic of early societies. The account of Kaca, Sukra and devayani is based, mainly, on the ritual and belief regarding, initiation, involving a pattern of ?swallowing? and disgorging, which is indicative of symbolic death and rejuvenation. The ?Churning of the Ocean? is a myth of Creation. The author has traced these mythical accounts from the early Vedic through the later literature, which are subjected to comparison with tribal and sculptural evidence, both from India and outside.

Preface, Introduction, I. Garuda 1. The Legend 2. Garuda and the Nagas 3. Garuda, the Devourer 4. The Vedic Prototype 5. Garuda and other Divinities 6. The Wager II. Kaca and Sukra 1. The Legend 2. Gods, Asuras and ?Swallowing? 3. Extension of the Motif 4. Secondary Narratives III. Churning of the Ocean 1. The Legend 2. The Churning 3. The Churn-staff and the Rope IV. Appendices A-F, V. Bibliography, VI. Index

Prof. Sadashiv A. Dange is very well known in India and outside India for his contribution to the study of Indology , particularly Sanskrit, and is considered to be an authority on the meaning of Hindu myths and rituals. His numerous books include- Pastoral Symbolism from the Rgveda (University of Poona, 1970), Vedic Concept of ?Field? and the Divine Fructification, (University of Bombay, 1971), Sexual Symbolism from the Vedic Ritual (Ajanta Publications, Delhi 1979), Encyclopaedia of puranic Beliefs and Practices, Vols. I-V, (Navrang, New Delhi, 1986-90) the latest being Towards Understanding Hindu Myths (Aryan Books International, New Delhi, 1996) Prof. Dange had been R.G. Bhandarkar Professor and Head, Dept. of Sanskrit at the University of Bombay (Mumbai) and twice President of the Vedic Section at the All India Oriental Conference (1980 & 1985). He was Consulting Member of the Encyclopaedia of Human Ideas on Ultimate Reality and Meaning and Editor for the Indian Section of its Journal, Ultimate Reality and Meaning, and Editor for the Indian Section of its Journal, Ultimate Reality and Meaning, Regis College, Toranto (Canada) for more than a decade.The honours conferred on him include :Silver Medal from the Asiatic Society of Bombay (1983), ?Special Honour? by the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy (1989) and Certificate of Honour from the President of India (1992), to mention a few.

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