Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata (Routledge Hindu Studies Series)

The Sanskrit Mahabharata is one of the most important texts to emerge from the Indian cultural tradition. At almost 75,000 verses it is the longest poem in the world, and throughout Indian history it has been hugely influential in shaping gender and social norms. In the context of ancient India, it is the definitive cultural narrative in the construction of masculine, feminine and alternative gender roles. This book brings together many of the most respected scholars in the field of Mahabharata studies, as well as some of its most promising young scholars. By focusing specifically on gender constructions, some of the most innovative aspects of the Mahabharata are highlighted. Whilst taking account of feminist scholarship, the contributors see the Mahabharata as providing an opportunity to frame discussion of gender in literature not just in terms of the socio-historical roles of men and women. Instead they analyze the text in terms of the wider poetic and philosophical possibilities thrown up by the semiotics of gendering. Consequently, the book bridges a gap in text-critical methodology between the traditional philological approach and more recent trends in gender and literary theory. Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata will be appreciated by readers interested in South Asian studies, Hinduism, religious studies and gender studies. BOOK COVER......Page 1 TITLE......Page 6 COPYRIGHT......Page 7 DEDICATION......Page 8 CONTENTS......Page 10 NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS......Page 14 PREFACE......Page 18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 19 FAMILY TREE......Page 20 1 INTRODUCTION......Page 22 2 LISTEN BUT DO NOT GRIEVE: Grief, paternity, and time in the laments of Dhrtarastra......Page 56 3 EAVESDROPPING ON THE EPIC: Female listeners in the Mahabaharata......Page 74 4 ARGUMENTS OF A QUEEN: Draupadi's views on kingship......Page 100 5 HOW DO YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF?: Gender and the construction of a dialogical self in the Mahabharata......Page 118 6 AMONG FRIENDS: Marriage, women, and some little birds......Page 131 7 GENDERED SOTERIOLOGY: Marriage and the karmayoga......Page 165 8 BHISMA AS MATCHMAKER......Page 197 9 BHISMA BEYOND FREUD: Bhisma in the Mahabharata......Page 210 10 'SHOW YOU ARE A MAN!': Transsexuality and gender bending in the characters of Arjuna/Brhannada and Amba/Sikhandin(i)......Page 229 11 KRSNA'S SON SAMBA: Faked gender and other ambiguities on the background of lunar and solar myth......Page 251 12 PARADIGMS OF THE GOOD IN THE MAHABHARATA: Suka and Sulabha in quagmires of ethics......Page 279 APPENDIX: Concordance of Critical Edition and Ganguli/Roy translation......Page 300 GLOSSARY......Page 306 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 312 INDEX......Page 339 Humanities BOOK COVER 1 TITLE 6 COPYRIGHT 7 DEDICATION 8 CONTENTS 10 NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS 14 PREFACE 18 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 19 FAMILY TREE 20 1 INTRODUCTION 22 2 LISTEN BUT DO NOT GRIEVE: Grief, paternity, and time in the laments of Dhrtarastra 56 3 EAVESDROPPING ON THE EPIC: Female listeners in the Mahabaharata 74 4 ARGUMENTS OF A QUEEN: Draupadi's views on kingship 100 5 HOW DO YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF?: Gender and the construction of a dialogical self in the Mahabharata 118 6 AMONG FRIENDS: Marriage, women, and some little birds 131 7 GENDERED SOTERIOLOGY: Marriage and the karmayoga 165 8 BHISMA AS MATCHMAKER 197 9 BHISMA BEYOND FREUD: Bhisma in the Mahabharata 210 10 'SHOW YOU ARE A MAN!': Transsexuality and gender bending in the characters of Arjuna/Brhannada and Amba/Sikhandin(i) 229 11 KRSNA'S SON SAMBA: Faked gender and other ambiguities on the background of lunar and solar myth 251 12 PARADIGMS OF THE GOOD IN THE MAHABHARATA: Suka and Sulabha in quagmires of ethics 279 APPENDIX: Concordance of Critical Edition and Ganguli/Roy translation 300 GLOSSARY 306 BIBLIOGRAPHY 312 INDEX 339 Listen But Do Not Grieve : Grief, Paternity, And Time In The Laments Of Dhṛtarāṣṭra / Emily T. Hudson -- Eavesdropping On The Epic : Female Listeners In The Mahābhārata / Brian Black -- Arguments Of A Queen : Draupadī's Views On Kingship / Angelika Malinar -- How Do You Conduct Yourself? : Gender And The Construction Of A Dialogical Self In The Mahābhārata / Laurie L. Patton -- Among Friends : Marriage, Women, And Some Little Birds / Alf Hiltebeitel -- Gendered Soteriology : Marriage And The Karmayoga / Simon Brodbeck -- Bhīṣma As Matchmaker / Nick Allen -- Bhīṣma Beyond Freud : Bhīṣma In The Mahābhārata / James L. Fitzgerald -- 'show You Are A Man!' : Transsexuality And Gender Bending In The Characters Of Arjuna/bṛhannaḍā And Ambā/Śikhaṇḍin(ī) / Andrea Custodi -- Kṛṣṇa's Son Sāmba : Faked Gender And Other Ambiguities On The Background Of Lunar And Solar Myth / Georg Von Simson -- Paradigms Of The Good In The Mahābhārata : Śuka And Sulabhā In Quagmires Of Ethics / Arti Dhand. Edited By Simon Brodbeck And Brian Black. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 291-317) And Index. Of interest to Indologists, Hindu studies and gender studies, this book is a well-structured and well-conceived collection on gender, myth and narrative in the Mahabharata. Contributors to the volume include world-class academics, rising stars in the field and a mix of men and women