Fw: Re: [INDOLOGY] Vai.s.navaantara"suudraa.h and the like

[Ute Huesken]

Dear colleagues,

vi.s.nubali is a prenatal sa.mskAra, performed by the VaikhAnasas in  
the eigth month of pregnancy (together with sImanta). In the  
VaikhAnasa literature this is often contasted with the pancasamskAras  
of pAncarAtrins, which is a dIk.sA and includes as one element the  
branding of the upper arms with the heated metal symbols of disk and  
conch.

For details see

Ute Huesken 2009. Vi.s.nu?s Children. Prenatal life-cycle rituals in  
South India (Ethno-Indology. Heidelberg Studies in South Asian Rituals  
9). Translated from German by Will Sweetman. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.  
ISBN: 978-3-447-05854-4. (with DVD)

VaikhAnasas are Brahmins, yet there are a few passages in their  
sa.mhitAs suggesting that they also conferred an initiation on others.

Best
Ute Huesken


-- 

Ute Huesken
Professor of Sanskrit
Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages
University of Oslo
Faculty of Humanities
P.O. Box 1010 Blindern
N-0315 Oslo
Norway

Room 387, P.A. Munch's Building
phone: +47 22 85 48 16
telefax: +47 22 85 48 28
ute.huesken at ikos.uio.no
http://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/personer/vit/uteh/index.html

Co-editor, Oxford Ritual Studies Series
Steering Committee, Ritual Studies Group, American Academy of Religion
Head of the "Kanchipuram Research Project"
http://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/english/research/projects/kancipuram/index.html
Organizer of the Oslo Buddhist Studies Forum (OBSF)
http://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/forskning/nettverk/obsf/
podcasts of the OBSF lectures
http://www.hf.uio.no/ikos/forskning/nettverk/obsf/podcast/