[INDOLOGY] mythologies of the pearl

[Lyne Bansat-Boudon]

Dear colleagues,


This is only incidental observation, but I would like to draw your attention to a topos that makes pearls flow from the split temples of rutting elephants.

On the other hand, is it not said that the pearl is the product of a disease of the oyster, and that it detaches itself from the shell as a separate entity

(indicated by its derivation from the root muc- )?

With best wishes,


Lyne



Lyne Bansat-Boudon

Directeur d'études pour les Religions de l'Inde

Ecole pratique des hautes études, section des sciences religieuses

Membre senior honoraire de l'Institut universitaire de France

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De : INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> de la part de Paolo E. Rosati via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info>
Envoyé : jeudi 25 avril 2024 15:11
À : Reich, James David <jreich at pace.edu>; Indology <indology at list.indology.info>
Objet : Re: [INDOLOGY] mythologies of the pearl

Hi James,

It is difficult to say... I was reading parts of Eliade's books that discuss mystic alchemy. I suppose, as Egene Ciurtin pointed out to me, he found it in Vedic material.

Best,
Paolo


Il giorno gio 25 apr 2024 alle ore 14:56 Reich, James David <jreich at pace.edu<mailto:jreich at pace.edu>> ha scritto:
Dear Paola,

Various versions of the myths concerning the origins of pearl are found in the texts translated by Louis Finot in Les Lapidaires Indiens. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.291975/mode/2up

There are various types of pearls described in these texts, some of them seemingly mythical or hypothetical—oyster pearls are only one type. The myths about oyster pearls usually have something to do with rainwater dropping into oysters but no lightning, as far as I'm aware. I do vaguely recall one text describing how to obtain pearls from nāgas, or check if a pearl is truly from a nāga, and as I recall that process does have something to do with lightning. But I don't think lightning is present in the formation of the pearl. Perhaps Eliade confused these stories?

Best,
James Reich
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From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info<mailto:indology-bounces at list.indology.info>> on behalf of Paolo E. Rosati via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info<mailto:indology at list.indology.info>>
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 5:45 AM
To: Indology <indology at list.indology.info<mailto:indology at list.indology.info>>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] mythologies of the pearl

Dear all,

while I was reading Eliade's Images and Symbols, my attention was struck by his vague reference to an "oriental mythology", which affirms that the pearl was born from the penetration of a lightning inside a shell/oyster.

I think he got this information from Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft (entry: "Margaritai"), but I am not sure at all.

Can someone indicate a more specific reference to this myth? or to other myths related to the pearl?

With my best wishes,
Paolo

--
Paolo E. Rosati
PhD in Asian and African Studies
https://uniroma1.academia.edu/paolo<https://uniroma1.academia.edu/PaoloRosati/>erosati/<https://uniroma1.academia.edu/PaoloRosati/>
paoloe.rosati at gmail.com<mailto:paoloe.rosati at gmail.com>
Mobile/Whatsapp: (+39) 338 73 83 472
Skype: paoloe.rosati


--
Paolo E. Rosati
PhD in Asian and African Studies
https://uniroma1.academia.edu/paolo<https://uniroma1.academia.edu/PaoloRosati/>erosati/<https://uniroma1.academia.edu/PaoloRosati/>
paoloe.rosati at gmail.com<mailto:paoloe.rosati at gmail.com>
Mobile/Whatsapp: (+39) 338 73 83 472
Skype: paoloe.rosati
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