Cave of my ancestors: Vishwakarma and the artisans of Ellora
Exploring family stories reveals the rich history of a seventh-century Buddhist shrine. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her fathers stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspire...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subito Delivery Service: | Order now. |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| WorldCat: | WorldCat |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
Chicago London
The University of Chicago Press
2024
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| In: | Year: 2024 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Kailasanatha Tempel (Ellora)
/ Viśvakarman
/ History
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| Further subjects: | B
Asian History
B Asiatische Geschichte B Ellora Caves (India) B Viśvakarman (Hindu deity) B Sozial- und Kulturanthropologie, Ethnographie B Asia B Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography B SOCIAL SCIENCE / Generals / Ethnic Studies B SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural B Asia / Generals / HISTORY B Ethnic Studies |
| Online Access: |
Cover (Publisher) Table of Contents |
| Summary: | Exploring family stories reveals the rich history of a seventh-century Buddhist shrine. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her fathers stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the Vishwakarma cave. Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Cave of My Ancestors represents the perfect blend of Narayans skills as a researcher and writer. Her quest to trace her familys stories took her to Ellora; through libraries, archives, and museums around the world; and across disciplinary borders. Equal parts scholarship, detective story, and memoir, Narayans book ably leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine "As a little girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enchanted by the stories her father would tell about the ancient, rock-cut cave temples at Ellora, which he claimed had been made by their ancestors. Over the course of her life, Narayan never forgot those stories, and she eventually came to be interested in learning more about the caves, and, specifically, the Vishwakarma cave temple, named after the Hindu craftsman deity. Immersing herself in work by archaeologists, art historians, Buddhologists, Indologists, and Sanskritists, Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave, which contains the figure of the Buddha flanked by two smaller Bodhisattvas, came to be venerated as the "Vishwakarma cave." The resulting book, Cave of My Ancestors, represents the perfect marriage of Narayan's gift for research and gift for writing. It is at once a work of scholarship, a detective story, and a memoir, ably leading us as readers through centuries of history, reflecting on the marvels of making, and offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine"-- |
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| Item Description: | Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Physical Description: | x, 284 Seiten, Illustrationen |
| ISBN: | 978-0-226-83527-3 978-0-226-83529-7 |
