God of Justice: Ritual Healing and Social Justice in the Central HimalayasGod of Justice deals with ritual healing in the Central Himalayas of north India, focusing on the cult of Bhairav, a local deity associated with the lowest castes, who are frequently victims of social injustice. When they are exploited or abused they often turn to Bhairav for justice, beseeching him to afflict their oppressors with disease and misfortune. In order to bring their suffering to an end, the oppressors must make amends with their victims and worship Bhairav together with them. Much of the book focuses on the tension between the high moral value placed on family unity on the one hand, and the inevitable conflicts within it on the other. This highly readable book describes the author's own experiences in the field as well as ritual healing practices such as divination, sacrifice, and exorcism. |
Contents
God of Justice | 25 |
Landscape Memory and Ritual | 51 |
Oracles Gurus and Distributed Agency | 93 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
God of Justice: Ritual Healing and Social Justice in the Central Himalayas William S Sax Limited preview - 2009 |
God of Justice: Ritual Healing and Social Justice in the Central Himalayas William S Sax Limited preview - 2009 |
God of Justice: Ritual Healing and Social Justice in the Central Himalayas William S Sax Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
Adesh affliction agency ancestor animal asked Badrinath began Bhagwan Bhairav Bhula Singh bhūt body Brahman brother called castes Chamoli District chapter chhal puja chhaya CLIENT cremation ground cult cultural curse Dabar dance Darpal daughter deity demons devta dhyani ethnographic exorcism father Garhwal Gaurja ghost song girl goat goddess gods guru guru's hamkar hamkar puja hands Harijans healing rituals high-caste Himalayas Hindu huraki husband Jagdish Jasu Bhartwal jethani kabar Kachiya Kaldu Lal's lamp land later living Look low-caste Madan Singh mait Makkhan mām mantra Masan modern mother oh ghost oracle oracular consultation path performed person photo by William pithaim possessed problems puja Rajput recited rice grains ritual healing rupees Sacchu sacrifice says Shiva Shrinagar shrine siddhi sing social someone speak story summoned Surendra tell thali things timaru told Uttarakhand village wayfarer weeping wife woman women worship