malevolent dead

[rcohen at sas.upenn.edu]

> 
> >I am working with someone on a project concerning monsters and 
> >malevolent spirits, etc.  During my studies of this wholesome topic over 
> >the years I have seen references to the churel--the spirit of a woman who 
> >has died in childbirth or as a result of some other polluting event.  Some 
> >sources say that the churel has her feet on backwards, a motif I think I 
> >have encountered in the folklore of other cultures. Does anyone know the 
> >significance of this anatomical oddity other than the obvious fact the 
> >footprints would be misleading?
> 
>  I have seen miniature paintings from Kangra or other Pahari kalams
depicting the malevolent being you refer to, with the reversed feet. Could
there be a Himalayan connection, or should we consider the phenomenon
generally Indic?

-- 
Richard J. Cohen, Assistant Director, South Asia Regional Studies
University of Pennsylvania, 820 Williams Hall, Univ. of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305, Tel: 215-898-7475; Fax: 215-573-2138
E-mail: rcohen at mail.sas.upenn.edu
 


> From KHARE at csvaxe.csuohio.edu 22 93 Dec EST 15:39:00
Date: 22 Dec 93 15:39:00 EST
From: Jitendra Khare <KHARE at csvaxe.csuohio.edu>
Subject: RE: Oriya fonts

Does anybody know where I can get DEVNAGARI FONTS?
KHARE at CSVAXE.CSUOHIO.EDU