Folk culture, folk religion and oral traditions as a component in Maharashtrian culture

Gunther-Dietz Sontheimer (1934-1992) began his contribution to our understanding of Indian culture with work on classical Hindu law (dharma-sastra) in the early 1960s. His strong interest in the normative thought of Hinduism eventually led to a major study of Hindu ethics in 1980. At the same time, the archaic world-views contained in the ancient legal texts inspired Sontheimer to go to the sources of Indian religiosity in the cults of equally ancient folk deities. He tought history of religion in South Asia at the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University.

• Preface — James W. Laine Sivvaji as epic hero — Dilip Chitre Mumbaichi Lavni: The first Marathi poem on industrial civilisation — Anne Feldhaus Types of river goddesses in Maharashtra — Traude Pillai-Vctschera The impact of Christianity on the Mahars of Ahmadnagar District — Eleanor Zelliot The folklore of pride: Three components of contemporary Dalit belief — M.K. Dhavalikar The living past: The first farmers of Maharashtra and their successors — Erik Reenberg Sand Gopcilpfir-kola: Some aspects of the history of the sacred places south of Pandharpur — Giinther-Dietz Sontheimer The folk festival (jatra) in the religious traditions of Maharashtra: The case of Khandobd — P. B. Mande Folk culture, folk religion, and oral tradition in Maharashrrian culture — M. N. Deshpande Some aspects of folk religion in the Konkan and Desh regions of Maharashtra — N.K. Wagle On relations amongst bhiits, gods, and men: Aspects of folk religion and law in pre-British Maharashtra — Durga Bhagvat Some multi-purpose aspects of Indian folkloreR. C. Dhere Folk perception and saints' perceptionIndices General indexIndex of Indic wordsContributorsPlates