Caste and Kinship in a Modern Hindu Society : The Newar City of Lalitpur, Nepal / Mark Pickett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pickett, Mark.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Newar (Nepalese people)--Social life and customs.

Newar (Nepalese people).

Caste--Nepal.

Caste.

Nepal.

Physical Description:

xii, 363 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] : Thailand : Orchid Press, 2013.

Summary:

This study comprises an in-depth examination of the anthropology of caste as observed in the Newar communities of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, and, by extension, within Hindu society more generally. Anthropologists have traditionally held that the phenomenon of caste in South Asia is the expression of a hierarchical system, ranking members in society on the basis of one or more characteristics, such as occupation, power or relative ritual purity. The present study, argues that caste-and thus civic order-in Newar society derives from the antagonistic relationship between the forces of family lineage and the historic centrality of royal authority, the latter maintained to the present in annual festivals and by the use of urban space. In his study of four groups of artisans in the City of Lalitpur-collectively the Pengu Dah-Pickett, demonstrates how this creative tension between kinship and kingship results in the institution of caste. An important contribution for academic and lay readers with interest in Hindu social structures and South Asian culture. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Purpose of and approach to the study 1

1.2 Historical background and contemporary context 7

1.3 The arena of the study 12

2 Newar Kinship 21

2.1 The word 'caste' 21

2.2 Dumont's theory of caste 22

2.3 Kinship terminology 23

2.4 The Newar thar 24

2.5 Criteria for identifying the Pengu Dah 27

2.6 The four thars 28

2.7 Lineage exogamy 44

2.8 Kinship and caste 45

3 Intercaste Relations 46

3.1 Contested hierarchies 46

3.2 Varna 48

3.3 General relations of Pengu Dah with other castes and ethnic groups 49

3.4 Jajmani relations 55

3.5 Intercaste relations and the problem with ladders 67

4 The Economy of the Pengu Dah 69

4.1 The household: The basic economic unit 69

4.2 The traditional crafts of the Pengu Dah 71

4.3 The Pengu Dah in the modern economy 84

4.4 Conceptualizing the relation between occupation and caste 88

5 Ordered Space 92

5.1 Introduction 92

5.2 The historical development of Lalitpur 93

5.3 Sets of deities 96

5.4 City boundaries 96

5.5 The central hub: The palace square 106

5.6 Ritual movement through space 108

5.7 Sanctifying city space 116

5.8 Mental maps 116

5.9 Conclusion: The centrality of kingship in ordered space 121

6 Territorial Organizations 122

6.1 The locality (twah) 122

6.2 Guthis 124

6.3 Ad hoc musical ensembles 139

6.4 Modern organizations 141

6.5 From territory to caste-The transformation of Newar identity 144

7 The Renewal of Order I: Restoring Civic Space 145

7.1 Introduction 145

7.2 Note on non-annual festivals 146

7.3 The lunar calendar 146

7.4 Approaching the festivals 148

7.5 The annual cycle of seasons 149

7.6 Dilla Puja 150

7.7 Caturmasya Vratarambhah (Ashadh-s/shukla/Dillathwa 11) 150

7.8 Tulasi Piye (Ashadh-stukla/Dillathwa 12) 151

7.9 Dilla Punhi/Guru Punhi (Ashadh-shukla/Dillathwa 15) 151

7.10 Dilla Cahre/Gatha Mugah (Shravan-krishna/Dillaga 14) 151

7.11 Gula Dharma (Shravan-shukla/Gulathwa 1-Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 15) 153

7.12 Nag Pancami (Shravan-shukla/Gulathwa 5) 153

7.13 Yala Pancadan (Shravan-shukla/Gulathwa 8) 154

7.14 Bahidyah Bwayegu (Shravan-shukla/Gulathwa 12-Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 5) 154

7.15 Gu Punhi (Shravan-shukla/Gulathwa 15) 154

7.16 Sa Paru(Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 1) 157

7.17 Bahah Puja (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 1) 159

7.18 Nyaku Jatra/Mataya (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 2) 159

7.19 Narasimha Jatra (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 5) 163

7.20 Krishna Janmashtami (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 8) 164

7.21 Bhimsen (Bhindyah) Puja and Jatra (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 9) 165

7.22 Jugah Cahre (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 14) 166

7.23 Baya Khwa Swayegu (Bhadra-krishna/Gulaga 15) 167

7.24 Gula Para (Bhadra-shukla/Yãlathwa 1) 167

7.25 Ritual and physical purification 167

7.26 The story so far 170

8 The Renewal of Order II: Restoring Civic Society 171

8.1 Introduction 171

8.2 Cathah (Bhadra-shukla/Yãlathwa 4) 171

8.3 Kwakha Ja Biye (Bhadra-shukla/Yãlathwa 5) 172

8.4 Kayashtami (Bhadra-shuklal/Yãlathwa 8) 172

8.5 Yenyah (Bhadra-shukla/Yãlathwa 1 1-Ashvin-krishna/Yãlaga 3) 172

8.6 Sixteen [Day] Ancestor Worship (sohra shraddha, Ahsvin-krishna/ Yãlaga 1-15-pitri paksha) 176

8.7 Gatila (Ashvin-krishna/Yãlaga 3) 177

8.8 Mohani (Ashvin-shukla/Kaulathwa 1-15) 177

8.9 Vishnu worship-Alamata Cyakyu ('To light the lamp') (Ashvin-shukla/Kaulathwa 15-Karttik-shukla/Kachalathwa 15) 188

8.10 Swanti (Karttik-krishna/Kaulaga 13-Karttik-shukla Kachalathwa 3) 188

8.11 Mukhah Ashtami (Karttik-shukla/Kachalathwa 8) 192

8.12 Karttiksnana Caturmasya Vrata Samapti (Haribodhini Ekadasi, Karttik-shukla/Kachalathwa 11) 192

8.13 Sakimila Punhi (Karttik-shukla/Kachalathwa 15) 195

8.14 Kwena Jatra (Karttik-shukla/Kachalathwa 14-Marga-krishna/Kachalaga 1) 196

8.15 Order restored 196

9 The Approach of Disorder I: The Season of Anxiety 197

9.1 Introduction 197

9.2 Note on solar festivals 198

9.3 Bala Cahre (Marga-krishna/Kachalaga 14) 198

9.4 Thila Punhi (Yahmari Punhi, Marga-shukla/Thilathwa 15) 198

9.5 Sisa Paru (Paush-krishna/Thilaga 1) 199

9.6 Disi Puja (Paush-krishna/Thilaga 10) 199

9.7 The solar festival of Ghyahcaku Sãnhu (Magh 1) 199

9.8 Mila Punhi (Paush-shukla/Pohelathwa 15) 200

9.9 Sri Pancami (Magh-shukla/Sillathwa 5) 201

9.10 Si Punhi (Magh-shukla/Sillathwa 15) 201

9.11 Silla Cahre (Shivaratri, Phagun-krishna/Sillaga 14) 201

9.12 Holi (Phagun-shukla/Cillathwa 4-15) 202

9.13 Varsabandhana (Phagun-shukla/Cillathwa 10) 205

9.14 Paha (Pasa) Cahre (Caitra-krishna/Cillaga 14) 205

9.15 Sala Yah (Sala Bwaki, Caitra-krishna/Cillaga 15) 206

9.16 Caitra Dashai-The Minor Festival of Ram (Caitra-shukla/Caulathwa 8-9) 206

9.17 Solar New Year Festivities: Biskah (Vaishakh 1) 207

9.18 Lhuti Punhi (Caitra-shukla/Caulathwa 15) 208

9.19 Bugadyah Nhawã (Vaishakh-krishna/Caulaga 1) 208

9.20 Maya Khwa Swayegu (Vaishakh-krishna/Caulaga 15) 205

9.21 Akshaya Tritiya (Vaishakh-shukla/Bachalathwa 3) 209

9.22 Swaya Punhi (Buddha Jayanti, Vaishakh-shukla/Bachalathwa 15) 209

9.23 The Dewali period-Lineage Deity Worship 209

9.24 Sithi Nakhah (Jyesth-shukla/Tachalathwa 6) 214

9.25 Dasa Hara (Jyesth-shukla/Tachalathwa 10) 216

9.26 Jyesth Punhi (Jya Punhi, Jyesth-shukla/Tachalathwa 15) 216

10 The Approaches of Disorder II: Sri Nivas has Come 218

10.1 Introduction 218

10.2 The legends of Karunamaya/Matsyendranath 219

10.3 History of the Jatra 221

10.4 The cast 223

10.5 The stage 226

10.6 The props 228

10.7 The play 229

10.8 Interpreting the Jatra 246

10.9 Conclusion 252

11 Kinship and Kingship in Creative Tension 254.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9789745241367

9745241369

OCLC:

810109564