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The Indra Cult As Ideology: a Clue to Power Struggle in an Ancient Society

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The Indra Cult As Ideology: a Clue to Power Struggle in an Ancient Society Volume 24 (2017), Issue 2 The Indra Cult as Ideology A Clue to Power Struggle in an Ancient Society by Mahinda Palihawadana ed. by Peter-Arnold Mumm in collaboration with Tina West ISSN 1084-7561 http://dx.doi.org/10.11588/ejvs.2017.2.2667 The Indra Cult as Ideology A Clue to Power Struggle in an Ancient Society (including a discussion of the semantics of R̥gvedic ari and its socio-political background) Mahinda Palihawadana ed. by Peter-Arnold Mumm in collaboration with Tina West Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies (EJVS) Vol. 24, No. 2, 2017, 19-166. (©) ISSN 1084-7561 Contents 19 Contents Abbreviations and Bibliography ..................................................................................... 22 Foreword .......................................................................................................................... 27 PART ONE ...................................................................................................................... 31 I. What Lies Behind R̥ gvedic ari ? .................................................................................... 31 II. The Bharatas and their Opponents ............................................................................ 36 (1) .................................................................................................................................. 36 (a) Devavāta and Devavant ......................................................................................38 (b) Sr̥ñjaya and Vadhryaśva ......................................................................................38 (c) Prastoka, Aśvatha and Divodāsa ........................................................................ 40 (d) Somaka and Pijavana ......................................................................................... 42 (e) Sudās ................................................................................................................... 42 (2) Turvaśa-s ................................................................................................................. 46 (3) Pūru-s ...................................................................................................................... 47 Trasadasyu ................................................................................................................ 53 Legend of Trasadasyu’s Birth .............................................................................. 55 Descendants of Trasadasyu ................................................................................ 56 Tryaruṇa ...................................................................................................................57 III. Diversity of Religious Views ..................................................................................... 59 (1) .................................................................................................................................. 59 (2) .................................................................................................................................. 59 (3) .................................................................................................................................. 63 (4) ................................................................................................................................. 65 (5) .................................................................................................................................. 66 (6) ................................................................................................................................. 70 (7) ................................................................................................................................. 72 Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies (EJVS) Vol. 24, No. 2, 2017, 19-166. (©) ISSN 1084-7561 20 Mahinda Palihawadana: The Indra Cult as Ideology (8).................................................................................................................................. 73 RV 10.124: Appendix to Ch. III ....................................................................................... 74 IV. Significance of Indra Cult: An Impetus to Power .....................................................75 (1) ...................................................................................................................................75 (2) ...................................................................................................................................75 (3) .................................................................................................................................. 78 (4) ................................................................................................................................. 80 (5) ................................................................................................................................... 81 (6) ................................................................................................................................. 84 (7) ................................................................................................................................. 86 (8).................................................................................................................................. 87 V. Indra Cult (Contd.): Links Forged Between Priest and Prince ................................. 89 (1) .................................................................................................................................. 89 (2) .................................................................................................................................. 90 (3) .................................................................................................................................. 93 (4) ................................................................................................................................. 96 (5) .................................................................................................................................. 97 (6) ................................................................................................................................. 98 VI. Ari and Sūri — The Cultural Distinction............................................................... 100 (1) ................................................................................................................................ 100 (2) ................................................................................................................................. 103 (3) ................................................................................................................................. 105 PART TWO .................................................................................................................... 112 VII. More about the ari - sūri Distinction ..................................................................... 112 (1) .................................................................................................................................. 112 (2) ................................................................................................................................. 114 (3) ................................................................................................................................. 116 Contents 21 (4) ................................................................................................................................. 118 (5) .................................................................................................................................. 119 (6) ................................................................................................................................ 122 VIII. The ‘Functional’ Aspect of the ari - sūri Distinction .......................................... 124 (1) ................................................................................................................................. 124 (2) ................................................................................................................................. 126 (3) ................................................................................................................................. 128 (4) ................................................................................................................................. 131 (5) ................................................................................................................................. 132 (6) ................................................................................................................................ 134 IX. The ari as a Devotee of the Brahmanical Cult ........................................................ 137 (1) ................................................................................................................................. 137 (2) ................................................................................................................................. 139 X. Three Important Contexts ........................................................................................ 142 (1: RV 1.169.6 and 10.28.1) ........................................................................................... 142 (2: RV 10.27.8)............................................................................................................
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