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014 _a1051781129
_bOCoLC
020 _a9781781791288
020 _a9781781791295
020 _a9781781794364
020 _a9781781794371
035 _a(OCoLC)1051781129
040 _aoapen
_coapen
041 0 _aeng
042 _adc
072 7 _aJ
_2thema
072 7 _aJB
_2thema
100 1 _aDähnhardt, Thomas W.P.
_4aut
245 1 0 _aSoulless Matter, Seats of Energy
_bMetals, Gems and Minerals in South Asian Traditions
260 _bEquinox
_c2016
300 _a1 online resource (316 p.)
336 _atext
_btxt
_2rdacontent
337 _acomputer
_bc
_2rdamedia
338 _aonline resource
_bcr
_2rdacarrier
506 0 _aFree-to-read
_fUnrestricted online access
_2star
520 _aSoulless Matter, Seats of Energy: Metals, Gems and Minerals in South Asian Traditions investigates the way in which Indian culture has represented inorganic matter and geological formations such as mountains and the earth itself. The volume is divided into four sections, each discussing from different angles the manifold dimensions occupied by minerals, gems and metals in traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. The various chapters offer a rigorous analysis of a variety of texts from different South Asian regions from a range of perspectives such as history, philology, philosophy, hermeneutics and ethnography. The themes discussed include literature (myth and epics), ritual, ethics, folklore, and sciences such as astrology, medicine, alchemy and cosmetics. The volume critically reflects on the concept of "inanimate world" and shows how Indian traditions have variously interpreted the concept of embodied life and lifelessness. Ranging from worldviews and disciplines which regard metals, minerals, gems as alive, sentient or inhabited by divine presences and powers to ideas which deny matter possesses life and sentience, the Indian Subcontinent proves to be a challenge for taxonomic investigations but at the same time provides historians of religions and philosophers with stimulating material.
536 _aFunded by: H2020 European Research Council
540 _aOpen licence
_0https://oapen.org/article/rights
546 _aeng
650 7 _aSociety & culture: general.
_2bicssc
650 7 _aSociety and culture: general
_2thema
650 7 _aSociety and Social Sciences
_2thema
653 _acustoms
653 _afolklore
653 _ametals
653 _aminerals
653 _amythology
653 _areligion
653 _aSouth Asia
700 1 _aDähnhardt, Thomas W.P.
_4edt
700 1 _aFerrari, Fabrizio M.
_4edt
793 0 _aOAPEN Library.
856 4 0 _uhttps://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/29634
_zFree-to-read: OAPEN Library/DOAB: description of the publication
_70
999 _c37501
_d37501