•About the author:
Dr. Vijay Nath is a retired Associate professor from the Department of History, Janakidevi Memorial College, University of Delhi. Two more books are on her credit based on Purāṇic literature namely- ‘Dāna: Gift system in Ancient India’ and ‘Purāṇas and Acculturation: A Historico- Anthropological Perspective’. She has contributed number of research papers dealing with ancient Indian social and ritual formations in leading journals and anthologies. She was the sectional president of the Indian History Congress held in Calcutta, 2001.
•About the book:
Present book named as ‘The Purāṇic World’ is written by Vijay Nath and published by Manohar Publications with an ISBN number 978-81-7304-801-2. It has taken a note of social change coming in advent in the time of Purāṇas . This book is a collection of essays written at different points of time by author and published in reputed books and journals. Book focuses on four major areas namely environment, gender, ritual and myth.
•About the title-
Title of the book ‘The Purāṇic World’ suggests that book will give glimpses of all whole Purāṇic literature. But one cannot expect that all the topics will be covered in this book. Therefore subtitle of the book ‘environment, Gender, ritual and myth’ provides broad areas on which book is based. Title of the book is followed by subtitle on which book focuses. This not only helps reader to know areas covered in this book as well as gives the glimpse of entire book
•Book Design-
This book contains 309 pages with is hardbound cover having glossy light brown paper jacket and its price is Rs. 775 /- Cover page has significant picture of brittle brown paper with torn edges which literally takes into the ancient age of Purāṇas . This graphic on the cover page is in tune with the title because Purāṇa itself means ‘very old’.. Flyleaf has given whole gist of the book, approach, contents in nutshell. Spine of the book contains title, subtitles, author and publication. Endpaper gives information of the author in brief manner and back cover has enlisted relevant books published by Manohar Publications.
•Front Matter:
Front matter contains colophone having title of the book, subtitle, publication, year of publication. Then comes the dedication page where book is dedicated by author to her mentor and guru Prof. R.S. Sharma which is followed by index page. General information, contents and approach of study are discussed in preface by author. Certain Assumptions required for research are stated in the preface. E.g. Time period of composition Purāṇas has been considered as 3rd BCE – 1st CE which is proved by R. C. Hazra and P. V. Kane. Preface is followed by list of abbreviations used throughout the book.
Author has adopted historical point of view with primary sources, epigraphic, archaeological and anthropological data as basis. Sociological terms like ‘acculturation’ and ‘assimilation’ are properly defined in the preface and their significance in Purāṇic time is shown. Contents of all four chapters are presented in nutshell. This book has no foreword written by any scholar or acknowledgement by the author.
•Body Matter:
It starts with detailed introduction of The Material Milieu of Purāṇic Hinduism. Author has presented the very nature and contents of Purāṇic Hinduism in methodical manner in contradiction with Brahmanism of the earlier period. Transition from Brahmanism to Hinduism is traced by author through various socio-political factors like growth and development of cultic streams popular in the Purāṇas Viṣnuism, Śaivaism and Śāktism, process of assimilation and their absorption of local cults and deities etc.
Chapter I: ‘Environmental Issues and Ecological Concern from the Purāṇic Approach’.First Chapter of the book focuses on ‘Environmental Issues and Ecological Concern from the Purāṇic Approach’. Author has taken into consideration that composition of Purāṇas in peripheral regions inhabited largely by pre-literate tribal groups which was responsible for awareness and appreciation of the existing natural environment. Concept like dharma, ṛṇa, naraka are discussed here and shown how they go along with the ecological concern. Tῑrthas and vratas had gained popularity during the time of Purāṇas and these were also meant to inculcate awe and reverence for nature. All water bodies, river, springs, tanks and well figured as objects of worship in the Purāṇas.
Chapter II Gender Differentiation
Gender discrimination forms the content of second chapter and author discusses here the deteriorating position of women and changing degree of male dominance over women in analytical manner. Article entitled ‘Women as Property and their Right to inherit property’ at the outset takes a detailed overview of position of women from Ṛgvedic period and how it came to deteriorating stage. Second part of this article focuses on various rights given to women in confirmation with Smṛtis and Dharmaśāstras. Another research article ‘Gender differentiation or Gender Parity’ is discussed in the light of Matsya and Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa. According to Vijay Nath, Gender differentiation is structurally inbuilt in patriarchal social order and there can be only variations in the degree and extent to which women are subjected to male dominance. Author has taken a critical survey of changing gender equations in accordance with analysis of certain with causes.
PART III Rituals
This chapter has huge volume of three research articles. ‘Brahmanical Rituals-the changing Paradigm’ takes review of changing nature of Brahmanic rituals in Purāṇic period. Folk elements became strong in Purāṇic rituals. Sacrifices were replaced by various vratas, pujas, visiting tῑrthas, attending kathā recitals etc. ‘Mahādāna- Dynamics of Gift Economy’ traces the origin and development of Mahādāna, Two articles namely ‘Tῑrtha: Instrument of Acculturation’, ‘Purāṇic Tῑrtha -their indigenous Origins and Transformation’ present importance of tῑrtha in Purāṇic period from socio-cultural point of view. Process of Acculturation and its causes of acculturation, origin of tῑrtha as an institution and its further development are discussed. At the same time local deities, tribal deities, folk deities and various cults in reference with different tῑrthas are analysed from the point of view of assimilation and acculturation.
PART IV Myth
This is the shortest chapter of the book and contains the case study of a recurrent myth in a research article named ‘King Vena, Niṣāda and Pṛthu: A recurrent Purāṇic Myth Re-examined.’ Author tries to find out historical principles present in recurrent myth with the case study. Author says -Myth became a convenient instrument in the hands of Brahmanical ideologues for promoting acculturation and also the assimilation of obscure tribal segments into the same social order.
•Back Matter:
Generally there is concluding chapter in any book at the end but this book is an exception to it. Topics being heterogeneous in nature and because they are in the form of individual essays, concluding remarks are given there itself.
Book contains wide range of systematic bibliography arranged in alphabetical manner with all details. Researcher can definitely benefit by this if one wishes to probe into details.
Book ends with extensive word index along with page numbers which is again useful for any researcher to find relevant thoughts pertaining to particular topic.
•Concluding Remarks:
Author being the professor of history, historical approach is clearly maintained throughout the book. Author has undertaken serious and deep research work based on textual study of Purāṇas, scholarly books and articles as well as tertiary sources. Each section is therefore followed with detailed footnotes. No statement or conclusion is in vague or without proof and logical explanation. Author has shown the relevance of Purāṇas having considered themes which are in confirmation of modern time. Author tries to re-interpret, re-affirm and re-establish Purāṇic milieu.
Among the multiple approaches available for Purāṇic Studies author has chosen very rational and logical approach which is in tune with the present age. This study can remove misconceptions prevalent in readers mind about the Purāṇas , that they contain only stories of gods and have lost significance in today’s age.
This book is not meant for general reader who is not at all aware of Purāṇic literature. It expects that reader is thorough with the contents of Purāṇas or at least has preliminary information of Purāṇic literature. Language of the book is highly technical, refined and has research bent. This book is research oriented and meant for researchers or scholars of history, sociology, anthropology, Indology, ancient Indian culture, Sanskrit etc. So this can be good source book for a person who further wants to work on Purāṇas from historico cum socio cultural point of view. So this is a good source book for a person who further wants to work on Purāṇas from historico cum socio cultural point of view. It can be very difficult for general reader to understand the topics discussed in analytical manner without having any basic information about Purāṇas .
Book has lost its flow of topics because it is the compilation of essays written at different points of time. Original essays are maintained as it is without editing and therefore sometimes points are overlapping which is admitted by author in preface itself. Even the contents of the chapters are therefore uneven. Chapter on ritual is extensive whereas chapter on Myth discusses only one illustration with historical perspective and is therefore short. This is quite beneficial from other side. Every article is complete in its own and therefore one need not follow the order of the chapters while reading the book. One can just choose any topic of one’s own interest for reading. This book definitely provides a critical eye of looking towards Purāṇic literature and reaffirms their status in modern times.
