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This elegantly written book introduces a new perspective on Indic religious history by rethinking the role of mantra in Vedic ritual. In "Bringing the Gods to Mind, "Laurie Patton takes a new look at mantra as "performed poetry" and in five case studies draws a portrait of early Indian sacrifice that moves beyond the well-worn categories of "magic" and "magico-religious" thought in Vedic sacrifice. Treating Vedic mantra as a sophisticated form of artistic composition, she develops the idea of metonymy, or associational thought, as a major motivator for the use of mantra in sacrificial performance. Filling a long-standing gap in our understanding, her book provides a history of the Indian interpretive imagination and a study of the mental creativity and hermeneutic sophistication of Vedic religion.
"Patton does a remarkable job in opening the worlds of Vedic and Indological study. Enhanced by Patton's flashes of beauty and humor, the book is sure to become a standard read." - Jeffrey J. Kripal, Rice University; "Bringing the Gods to Mind is extremely important to the field." - Whitney Sanford, Iowa State University"
| Acknowledgments | p. ix |
| Abbreviations | p. xiii |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| The Theories | |
| Poetry, Ritual, and Associational Thought in Early India: The Sources | p. 15 |
| Poetry, Ritual, and Associational Thought in Early India: The Theories | p. 38 |
| Viniyoga: The Recovery of a Hermeneutic Principle | p. 59 |
| The Case Studies | |
| Fire, Light, and Ingesting over Time | p. 91 |
| The Vedic "Other": Spoilers of Success | p. 117 |
| A History of the Quest for Mental Power | p. 142 |
| The Poetics of Paths: Mantras of Journeys | p. 152 |
| A Short History of Heaven: From Making to Gaining the Highest Abode | p. 168 |
| Conclusions: Laughter and the Creeper Mantra | p. 182 |
| Notes | p. 197 |
| Glossary | p. 237 |
| Bibliography | p. 249 |
| Index Locorum | p. 275 |
| Index Nominum | p. 281 |
| General Index | p. 283 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780520240872
ISBN-10: 0520240871
Audience:
Professional
Format:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 304
Published: 24th June 2005
Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 16.4
x 2.6
Weight (kg): 0.564
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