The Rise of Mahasena

Mann, Richard D.:
The Rise of Mahāsena : the Transformation of Skanda-Karttikeya in North India from the Kuṣāṇa to Gupta empires / by Richard D. Mann. - Leiden [u.a.] : Brill, 2012. - x, 282 S. : Ill. - (Brill's Indological library ; 39)
ISBN 978-90-04-21754-6
EUR 105,00 / US$ 144,00
DDC: 294.52113

Beschreibung
This book studies the early development of Skanda-Kārttikeya’s Hindu cult from its earliest textual and material sources to the end of the Gupta Empire in the north of India. The text argues that Skanda’s early ‘popular’ cult is found in Graha and Mātṛ traditions oriented towards appeasing potentially dangerous spirits. Once propitiated, however, Skanda and his Grahas/ Mātṛs could become fierce protectors of their followers. During the Kuṣāṇa and Gupta empires, this tradition gains the attention of rulers, who transform the deity’s protective cult into one focused on the ruler’s military prowess and right to rule. Once detached from his former popular traditions the deity’s cult begins to falter in the north as it becomes increasingly focused on elite agendas. [Verlagsinformation]

Inhalt
List of Illustrations. ix
Acknowledgements. xi
List of Abbreviations. xiii
Introduction. 1
1. Theories Related to the Origins of Skanda. 5
2. The Early Traditions of Skanda-Karttikeya from Epic, Medical and Ritual Sources. 15
3. The Emergence of the Senapati: The Narrative Conversion of the Warrior and Graha. 49
4. The Birth of Skanda-Karttikeya in the Śalyaparvan, Anuśāsanaparvan and Ramayana. 79
5. Coins, Statuary and Skanda-Karttikeya: The Earliest Depictions. 101
6. Skanda-Karttikeya on Kuṣāṇa Coinage and Gandhāra Statuary. 123
7. Developments in Skanda-Karttikeya's Cult between the Empires. 149
8. The Kumārasambhava and Purāṇic Accounts of Skanda-Karttikeya. 179
9. The Material Culture of Skanda-Karttikeya in the Gupta Empire. 203
Conclusion. 231
Bibliography. 237
Index. 251
Plates. 257

Autor
RICHARD D. MANN, Ph.D. (2003) in Religious Studies, McMaster University, is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Carleton University. He has published on developments in Hinduism during the Kuṣāṇa Empire and on South Asian numismatics. Profile page.

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