The Rise of Mahāsena

The Transformation of Skanda-Kārttikeya in North India from the Kuṣāṇa to Gupta Empires
Erscheinungsjahr 2011
ISBN: 978-90-04-21754-6
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 39, 282 Seiten, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 249 mm, Gewicht: 633 g

Reihe: Brill's Indological Library

This book studies the early development of Skanda-Karttikeya’s Hindu cult from its earliest textual and material sources to the end of the Gupta Empire in the north of India. The text argues that Skanda’s early ‘popular’ cult is found in Graha and Matr traditions oriented towards appeasing potentially dangerous spirits. Once propitiated, however, Skanda and his Grahas/ Matrs could become fierce protectors of their followers. During the Kusana and Gupta empires, this tradition gains the attention of rulers, who transform the deity’s protective cult into one focused on the ruler’s military prowess and right to rule. Once detached from his former popular traditions the deity’s cult begins to falter in the north as it becomes increasingly focused on elite agendas

Zielgruppe

All those interested in the history of Hinduism, religious change during Kusanaa and Gupta era South Asia, the intersection of religion and politics, as well as textual and artistic history.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mann, Richard D

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Hinduismus

Über Autor(innen)

Richard D. Mann, Ph.D. (2003) in Religious Studies, McMaster University, is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Carleton University. He has published on developments in Hinduism during the Kusana Empire and on South Asian numismatics.