Indexing metadata

3. From Iron to Sapphire: Indian Myths and Rituals about Saturn, the Implacable Lord of Celestial Spheres


 
Dublin Core PKP Metadata Items Metadata for this Document
 
1. Title Title of document 3. From Iron to Sapphire: Indian Myths and Rituals about Saturn, the Implacable Lord of Celestial Spheres - Soulless Matter, Seats of Energy
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Monia Marchetto; Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Venetian Academy of Indian Studies;
 
2. Creator Author's name, affiliation, country Manuel Hoefer; Venetian Academy of Indian Studies;
 
3. Subject Discipline(s) Religious Studies; South Asian Studies; Anthropology
 
4. Subject Keyword(s) Saturn; graha; kāla; jyotisa; sapphire; śāstra; saṃhitā; paddhati
 
5. Subject Subject classification South Asian religion; vernacular religion
 
6. Description Abstract According to the culture of the Indian Subcontinent, everything shining above (in the sky) throws its reflection below (upon the earth). The present study will deal with the frightful Saturn, the planet (graha) which is the embodiment of time (kāla). As stated by classic astronomy and astrology (jyotiṣa), its orbit is the most external; this makes it the slowest among the planets and thus the archetype of time, passing inexorably. Astronomical and mythological aspects of this figure will be outlined through exegeses of the main textual sources and analyses of oral popular beliefs. The paper will investigate its special relation with a particular mineral, the iron and a precious stone, the blue sapphire; both elements are very relevant in different functions of Saturn. From the religious prospective, this planet is a powerful deity related to many aspects of Indian life. Saturn is feared and worshiped at the same time. Different places of the sacred geography of India are devoted to rituals whose final aim is to pacify this deity, to cast away his implacable glance and to ensure his benevolence upon many kinds of sentient beings. Specific texts (śāstra, saṃhitā, paddhati) describe the elements constituting the paraphernalia and settle the rules and timing of the rituals. Some aspects of this same figure in countries connected to Indian traditions will be mentioned at the end of the present paper.
 
7. Publisher Organizing agency, location Equinox Publishing Ltd
 
8. Contributor Sponsor(s)
 
9. Date (YYYY-MM-DD) 15-Aug-2016
 
10. Type Status & genre Peer-reviewed Article
 
11. Type Type
 
12. Format File format PDF
 
13. Identifier Uniform Resource Identifier https://journals.equinoxpub.com/index.php/books/article/view/29652
 
14. Identifier Digital Object Identifier 10.1558/equinox.29652
 
15. Source Journal/conference title; vol., no. (year) Equinox eBooks Publishing; Soulless Matter, Seats of Energy
 
16. Language English=en en
 
18. Coverage Geo-spatial location, chronological period, research sample (gender, age, etc.) South Asia
 
19. Rights Copyright and permissions Copyright 2014 Equinox Publishing Ltd