Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia

Dealing with Deities

Dealing with Deities Dealing with Deities The Ritual Vow in South Asia EDITED BY SELVA J. RAJ AND WILLIAM P. HARMAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press, Albany©2006 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Anne M. Valentine Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dealing with deities : the ritual vow in South Asia ; edited by Selva J. Raj, William P. Harman. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6707-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. South Asia—Religious life and customs. 2. Vows. I. Raj, Selva J. II. Harman, William P. BL1055.D44 2006 204'.46—dc22 2005014625 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For J. Charles Amalathas, Bindu Madhok, George Strander, Richard Good, and Lilan Laishley ...