The Swasthani Vrata Katha : A Secret Vow to the Goddess.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Birkenholtz, Jessica Vantine.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (340 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2026.

Summary:

The Swasthani Vrata Katha (The Story of the Ritual Vow to the Goddess Swasthani) is the most widely read, recited, and listened to Hindu devotional text, especially of local indigenous origin, among Hindu laity in Nepal. This book offers the first full-length scholarly English translation of this important text from the original Nepali.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Illustrations

Foreword

References

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Note on Transliteration

Part One Introduction

A Secret Vow to the Goddess

The Swasthani Story

The Swasthani's Epic Status in Nepal

Hindus in Nepal

A Tale of Three Languages

The Swasthani and Nepal's Local Puranas

The Puranicization of the Swasthani

From Scribes in Nepal to Print Entrepreneurs in India

Printed Swasthani Book Circulation in Nepal

The Goddess Swasthani

The Swasthani Vrat

The Swasthani as a Women's Tradition: Contemporary Debates

Getting In on the Secret: This Translation

Part Two THE SWASTHANI VRATA KATHA

Synopsis of the Swasthani Vrata Katha

Detailed Chapter Outline of the Swasthani Vrata Katha

Salutations to Sri Ganesh The Swasthani Vrata Katha

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Part Three Ritual Texts and Prayers

The Swasthani Vrata Katha / Original Sanskrit Verses

Salutations to Sri Ganesh

The Swasthani Vrata Katha

Pujavidhi / Ritual Instructions

Materials for the Worship of Sri Swasthani and the Day of the Vrat

Ritual Instructions for the Worship of Sri Swasthani Parameshwari

Ritual Instructions for the Worship of the Main Deity, Swasthani

Devi Stuti / Hymn to the Goddess

Pushpanjali / Concluding Floral Offerings and Mantras

Part Four Texts and Illustrations

Swasthani Texts Consulted for This Translation.

Narrative Illustrations from Early Printed Swasthani Books

Illustrations Set 1: Vishwaraj Sharma's Sri Swasthani Vratakatha, ~1928 CE (SVK 2)

Illustrations Set 2: Subba Homnath Kedarnath's Thulo Sriswasthanivrata Katha, 1929 CE (SVK 3)

Illustrations Set 3: Babu Madhav Prasad Sharma's Sri Swasthani Vratakatha, 2002 CE

Appendix A Queen Mother Goma's Words of Advice

Goma's Instructions on Kingship

Goma's List of a Queen's Characteristics

Appendix B Shakti Piths in the Swasthani Vrata Katha

Glossary

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-755346-X

0-19-755345-1

0-19-755347-8

OCLC:

1568057910