Female Ascetics in Hinduism

Index

Index 209 Abstention: acts of, 1 Adiguru, 81 Advaita Vendanta, 87 Age of Consent Committee, 173n14 Allen, Charles, 44 Altekar, A. S., 27, 29, 46, 48, 130 Ammaiyår, 142 Ananda Dev¥ Måt® Kanyåp¥†ha, 131–134 Ånandamay¥ Må, 11, 37, 74, 113, 114tab, 120, 126, 135, 137, 175n24 Ånandamayi Må Kanyapitha, 129– 131 Andal, 37 Annadå Dev¥ Kanyåpi†ha, 115 Antal, 148–152 Asceticism: Advaitin, 60; antisocial , 70, 92; breathing/posture exercises, 92; celibacy and, 94, 95–97, 100, 166; celibate studentship, 4; classes in, 70– 73; clothing, 95, 96; commonalities in practice, 79; construction of social world in, 60; defining, 19–21; degrees of, 141; devaluation of householdership in, 59, 60; devotional, 79, 91; dietary requirements in, 19; different sects pursuing same disciplines, 79; difficult-to-classify sects in, 83; distinct communities in, 103; diversity of, 68–75, 77–102, 104; early, 2; easing economic hardship through, 52–53; entry into, 19, 20; erotic, 91; forbidding , 23; formal, 37, 53–55; freedom from rebirth in, 59; gnosis in, 91; guidelines for behavior in, 61–62; guru/disciple relationship in, 112–115; hair styles, 109; for householders, 93; individualistic lifestyle of, 12; initiation into, 19; inner dimension of, 69; institutionalized, 1, 2, 8, 41, 43, 48, 95, 103, 104; nonsectarian, 79; orders in, 7; orthodox, 82–84, 108tab, 109; parental, 91; preceptor/disciple relationship in, 62–68; presence of women in, 4; proliferation of, 2; proper relationship to larger society, 7; protection/enhancement of femal purity through, 53–55; rasa theory in, 91; religio-philosophical orientation, 81; religious meanings of every 210 Index Asceticism (continued) action in, 103; renunciatory, 2, 4, 94–95, 100, 121, 152–156; ritualism in, 91; ritual rejection of householder status, 20; Saiva, 84–89, 107, 108, 108tab, 109; sampradåya in, 80, 81; sanåtan¥-santapanth¥ distinction, 82–84; sectarian affiliation as determinant of diversity in, 20, 80–89; sectarian affiliations in, 104; sectarian organization in, 92–93; sects and, 78; severance of ties to everything, 94; signification of sectarian affiliation , 89–99; single-mindedness in, 59; social deviance in, 14–16; socioreligious aspects of, 103– 138; spiritual mysteries of, 7; spiritual path, 89–99; spiritual path as determinant of diversity in, 90–93; symbolic action in, 140; tantric, 94, 97–99, 101; theistic, 59, 66; unity of, 58–68, 77–102; universal values of, 1; unorthodox, 108tab, 109; Vai„£ava, 70, 71, 83, 84–89, 107, 108, 108tab, 110; variability in relation to world in, 60– 61; variety of beliefs/practices in, 57; visual discriminations in, 89–99; as way of life, 68–70; widowhood and, 11; widows and, 19, 20 Ascetic(ism), female. See Sannyåsinis: ages of, 122, 122tab; as anomalous concept, 23; arguments in support of, 34; brahmacåri£¥s, 73–75; Brahma Kumari Ishvariya Vishvavidyalaya, 108tab; caste origins, 116–117, 117tab; as class, 73–75; clothing, 57, 63, 72, 73, 109, 137; diet and, 57; difficulties in researching, 78– 99; diversity in, 104; diversity in lifestyles among, 57, 139n; divisions by age/marital status, 122; establishments for, 128– 138; exclusion from householdership and, 122; familiarity with ascetism, 116– 117; geographical origins of, 119tab; geographical range of, 16; hair styles, 57, 132, 137; impoverishment and, 122–125; independent, 106; indiviudalistic lifestyles of, 12; itineracy in, 106; itinerancy of, 15; itinerant, 110–111; lack of independent orders of, 104; leaving past behind, 13; legitimation of, 34– 35; locating, 15, 16; magicoreligious discipline, 13; måtajis, 73–75, 113; middle-class, 116; mok„a and, 59; naming, 113; Nimbårki Sampradåya, 108tab; nonsectarian, 79; organization of, 105–106; orthodoxy and, 116–117; patterns of residence, 15; personal histories of, 12; pilgrimage by, 16; preceptorial ties, 114tab; purity and, 122– 125; Råmånandi Sampradåya, 108tab; Råmånuji Sampradåya, 108tab; reasons for becoming, 104; religion differing from householders, 34; religious backgrounds, 115–116; renunciation and, 4; residence patterns of, 8, 9, 110–111, 111tab; respect for, 112, 113; revivalists, 106; rituals undergone, 9; saktism and, 118–122; sannyåsinis, 73–75; sectarian affiliations, 78; sectarian distribution of, 106–110; sectarian traditions among, 9; selfdefinition of, 42; social backgrounds, 115–116; social duress and, 41; socioreligious aspects, 103–138; status of, 20; Index 211 stresses on, 13, 14; tantrik formulations in, 39; tantrism and, 118–122; Vai„£ava, 71, 83; Vallabhåcårya Sampradaya, 108tab; valuing the feminine and, 117–118; variation in practices, 12...