edited by Jan E.M. Houben and Julieta Rotaru

 

Published by Dev Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi,

2025

 

ISBN : 978-93-5944-153-5

 

ToC

 

Preface .................................................vii

Jan E.M. Houben and Julieta Rotaru

 

Introduction .......................................xiii

Jan E.M. Houben

 

From myth to ritual. The horse of Pedu and the remedy .......1

for removing snake’s poison

Shrikant S. Bahulkar

 

The Sviṣṭakṛt: formal structure and self-reference in Vedic ritual .......11

Jan E.M. Houben

 

The importance of myths : in search of the significance of the .......37

saumikī dīkṣā

Madhavi Kolhatkar

 

On the authenticity of the puberty rituals for girls in the Indian .......49

ritual texts

Nirmala Kulkarni

 

A lesser-known Agniṣṭoma Prayoga of the Sāmaveda .......57

Sucheta Paranjpe

 

The significance of the four commendations in the .......63

Atharvavedic tradition

Julieta Rotaru

 

The bride with the yoke: Interpretation of the Kauśikasūtra .......87

76.11-13

Shilpa Sumant

 

Word, style, sympathy and myth in the operation of medicinal....... 99

magic

Dipak Bhattacharya

 

Postface. The Centre for Eurasiatic and Afroasiatic Studies .......139

(CEAS) in Bucharest

Julieta Rotaru

 

Index...............................................157

 

 

From the preface :

 

‘The present volume, Vedic Myths and Rituals, brings together a collection of scholarly contributions that explore the rich and complex interplay between mythic narratives and ritual practices in the Vedic tradition. Most of the papers included here were originally presented at the international conference “Cartea. România. Europa” held in Bucharest in 2009 (...).

A relatively small but significant segment of the conference was devoted to the study of Vedic texts, myths, and rituals, reflecting the enduring relevance of ancient Indian thought in contemporary academic discourse.’

 

‘In addition to these original conference papers which have in no way lost their relevance, we have included an unpublished article by the late Professor Dr. Dipak Bhattacharya, whose work remains foundational in the field of Vedic studies.’

 

‘To further contextualize and engage with the ideas presented in these papers, we have also added a new introductory essay that revisits and expands upon the discussions initiated during the conference. Adopting a theoretical approach inspired by Roy A. Rappaport’s theory of ritual and religion, it engages dialogically with each of the volume’s contributions, highlighting their collection and organization of precious data and the interpretive challenges they addressed, and potential avenues for future research.’

 

‘In addition, as a contribution to the historiography to Sanskrit and Indian studies in Europe, a Postface gives a brief summary of the activities of the Centre for Eurasiatic and Afroasiatic Studies (CEAS)’ in the period 2007-2013.