River of love in an age of pollution : the Yamuna River of northern India / David L. Haberman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haberman, David L., 1952- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Yamuna River (India)--Environmental conditions.

Yamuna River (India).

Yamuna River (India)--Religious life and customs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

Reprint 2019

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, California : University of California Press, 2011.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Celebrated as an aquatic form of divinity for thousands of years, the Yamuna is one of India’s most sacred rivers. A prominent feature of north Indian culture, the Yamuna is conceptualized as a goddess flowing with liquid love—yet today it is severely polluted, the victim of fast-paced industrial development. This fascinating and beautifully written book investigates the stories, theology, and religious practices connected with this river goddess collected from texts written over several millennia, as well as from talks with pilgrims, priests, and worshippers who frequent the pilgrimage sites and temples located on her banks. David L. Haberman offers a detailed analysis of the environmental condition of the river and examines how religious practices are affected by its current pollution. He introduces Indian river environmentalism, a form of activism that is different in many ways from its western counterpart. River of Love in an Age of Pollution concludes with a consideration of the broader implications of the Yamuna’s plight and its effect on worldwide efforts to preserve our environment.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Note on Translation and Transliteration

Map of the Yamuna River

Introduction

1. A River of Delights, a River of Troubles

2. The Source: Mother of Life

3. River of Death

4. Goddess of Love

5. Signs of Hope

6. A Matter of Balance

Appendix 1. Translations

Appendix 2. Organizations Working on River Issues in Northern India

Notes

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [267]-274) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780520939622

052093962X

OCLC:

1163879252