Crossing the lines of caste : Viśvāmitra and the construction of Brahmin power in Hindu mythology

"What does it mean to be a Brahmin, and what could it mean to become one? Over the years, intellectuals and dogmatists have offered plenty of answers to the first question, but the latter presents a cultural puzzle, since normative Brahminical ideology deems it impossible for an ordinary individual to change caste without first undergoing death and rebirth. There is, however, one notable figure in the Hindu mythological tradition who is said to have transformed himself from a king into a Brahmin by amassing great ascetic power, or tapas: the ornery sage Visvamitra. Through texts composed in Sanskrit and vernacular languages, oral performances, and visual media, Crossing the Lines of Caste examines the rich mosaic of legends about Visvamitra found across the Hindu mythological tradition. It offers a comprehensive historical analysis of how the "storyworlds" conjured up through these various tellings have served to adapt, upgrade, and reinforce the social identity of real-world Brahmin communities, from the ancient Vedic past up to the hypermodern present. Using a performance-centered approach to situate the production of the Visvamitra legends within specific historical contexts, Crossing the Lines of Caste reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active, dialogical role in the construction of Brahmin social power over the last three thousand years"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Crossing the Lines of Caste 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 A Note on Transliteration 16 Abbreviations 18 About the Companion Website 20 Introduction: Crossing the Lines of Caste 24 FOUNDATIONS 56 1. Poet, Priest, and Prince 58 2. Genealogy of the Brahmin Other in the Sanskrit Ep ics 82 ADAPTATIONS 132 3. Spinning the Brahmin Other in the Early Purānas 134 4. Geo-Mapping the Brahmin Other in Regional Purāni� c Literature 163 CONFRONTATIONS 198 5. Encountering the Brahmin Double in Medieval India 200 6. Becoming a New Brahmin in Modern India 231 Conclusions 264 Catalogue of Viśvāmitra Legends 276 Bibliography 282 Index 316 "Exploring the connections between Hindu mythology and caste in India through Sanskrit and vernacular texts, performances, and visual media, Crossing the Lines of Caste offers a cultural-historical analysis of the legends of Visvamitra. It reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active, dialogical role in the construction of Brahmin social power for more than three thousand years"-- Provided by publisher Crossing the Lines of Caste offers a cultural-historical analysis of the legends of Visvamitra, a sage who is said to have used his ascetic power to change his caste and become a Brahmin. It reveals how and why mythological culture has played an active role in the construction of Brahmin social power for more than three thousand years.