The Tigress’ Snare: Gender, Yoga, and Asceticism in South and Southeast Asia Professor Christine Marrewa-Karwoski Classroom: 38 College St. CONF Class hours: M/W 11:40-1:05 Office Hours: M/T 1-2pm and by appointment. There is no dearth of stories regarding the dangers of women and sexuality for Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Nath ascetics, renunciants, and yogis. Text after text written on ancient, classical, and early-modern Asian monasticism points to the cunning nature of women and the dangers they pose to renunciants. Women, however, have maintained a noted presence in a variety of ascetic and yogic religious sects throughout Asian history. The Tigress’ Snare will examine the highly gendered worldview that exists within South and Southeast Asian renunciation and asceticism, and investigate the different roles that gender, sex, and the physical body play within these different communities. Goals: The goals of this class are, first, to acquaint the students with an introductory level knowledge of South and Southeast Asian religious traditions and introduce them to classical texts. Second, students in this class will study and analyze how sex and the body are understood and disciplined in South and Southeast Asian ascetic practices and how gender is prescribed, performed, and subverted by members of monastic communities. Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of South or Southeast Asian religious traditions is required. Method of Instruction: This class will consist of lectures followed by discussions. Students should actively read the set readings for every week, and participate in discussions. Please see Course Requirements. Required Texts: 1. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from Sanskrit. 2004. Trans. Wendy Doniger. Penguin Classics. 2. The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna’s Counsel in the Time of War. 1986. Trans. Barbara Stoler Miller. Bantam Classics. 3. Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women. 2015. Trans. Charles Hallisey. Harvard University Press, Murty Classical Library. 4. Women’s Renunciation in South Asia: Nuns, Yoginis, Saints, and Singers. 2006. Eds. Meena Khandelwal, Sondra L. Hausner, and Ann Grodzins Gold. 5. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom. 1998. Trans. Barbara Stoler. Bantam Books. Helpful Websites: 1. Haṭha Yoga Project: http://hyp.soas.ac.uk/ WEEK ONE- Introduction & Syllabus Review 1/22 WEEK TWO- Vedic Hinduisms 1/27 1. Doniger, Wendy. “Humans, Animals, and Gods in the Rig Veda” in The Hindus: An Alternate History. (Blackboard) 2. The Rig Veda. trans. Wendy Doniger. Selections (Blackboard) (25-37,61-64,97-101,119- 123,137-138,139-156, 219-230, 245-252) 1/29 1. Doniger, Wendy. “Renunciation in the Upanishads” in The Hindus: An Alternate History. (Blackboard) 2. The Upanisads. trans. Patrick Olivelle. Selections. (Blackboard) (BU 2-5 or 57-71) WEEK THREE- Hindu Traditions 2/3 1. Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook translated from Sanskrit. trans.Wendy Doniger. Selections. 2. O’Flaherty, Wendy Doniger. Siva The Erotic Ascetic.(4-8, 41-44, 55, 210-213, 218-220) 2/5 3. Flueckiger, Joyce Burkhalter. “Introduction” and “Chapter One” in Everyday Hinduism. (Bowdoin Online Resource) WEEK FOUR- Reforming, Renouncing, and Reframing: 2/10 1. Thurman, Robert. “Tibetan Buddhist Perspectives on Asceticism” in Asceticism. ed. Vincent L. Wimbush. (Blackboard) 2. Olivelle, Patrick. “The Renouncer Tradition.” In The Blackwell Companion To Hinduism. Ed. Gavin Flood. (Bowdoin Online Resource). 2/12 3. Dundas, Paul. The Jains. Selections. (Blackboard) WEEK FIVE – Songs of God (and Goddess): 2/17 1. The Bhagavad Gita. Trans. Barbara Stoler Miller. (Intro and 1-6) 2/19 1. The Bhagavad Gita. Trans. Barbara Stoler Miller. (7-18). WEEK SIX– Classical Yoga: 2/24 1. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom. Trans Barbara Stoler Miller. 2/26 2. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom. Trans Barbara Stoler Miller. WEEK SEVEN- Cosmic and Mundane Bodies: 3/2 1. Mallinson, James and Mark Singleton. “The Yogic Body” in Roots of Yoga. (Blackboard) 2. Wujastyk, Dominik. “Interpreting the Image of the Human Body in Premodern India.” (Blackboard) 3/4 3. Gold, Dan. “Guru’s Body, Gurus Abode” in Religious Reflections of the Human Body. (Blackboard) 4. Wilson, Elizabeth. “The Female Body as a Source of Horror and Insight in Post-Ashokan Indian Buddhism” in Religious Reflections of the Human Body. (Blackboard) ** These readings are subject to change** Mid-term Paper Due SPRINGBREAK WEEK EIGHT- Singing Suffering, The Therigatha: 3/23 1. Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women. Selections. 2. Lang, Karen. “Shaven Heads and Loose Hair: Attitudes toward Hair and Sexuality” in Off With Her Head! The Denial of Women’s Identity in Myth, Religion, and Culture. (Blackboard) 3/25 3. Gross, Rita. “Buddhist Perspectives on Gender Issues” (Blackboard) 4. Chakraborty, Kaustav. “Radical Grace: Hymning of Womanhood in the Therigatha” (Blackboard) WEEK NINE- Women, Yogis, and Asceticism: 3/30 1. Hausner, Sondra L. “Staying in Place: The Social Action of Radhi Giri.” in Women’s Renunciation in South Asia. 2. McDaniel, June. “Yoginīs in Bengali religious traditions: tribal, tantric, and bhakti influences” in Yoginī in South Asia. 4/1 3. Bevilacqua, Daniela. “Are Women Entitled To Become Ascetics?” (Blackboard) 4. Valley, Anne. “The Hands Are Not For Henna.” in Women’s Renunciation in South Asia. 5. Knight, Lisa I. “Renouncing Expectations: Single Baul Women Renouncers and the Value of Being a Wife.” in Women’s Renunciation in South Asia. ** Dr. Daniela Bevilacqua will be attending class on this date** WEEK TEN- Gendered Ordination: 4/6 1. “Sex or Sangha: Non-Normative Gender Roles for Women in Thai Law and Religion” in Mixed Blessings. (Blackboard) 2. Seegar, Martin. Gender and the path to awakening: hidden histories of nuns in modern Thai Buddhism.” Selections. 3. “Monastic Ordination in Theravada Buddhism” https://goodmenproject.com/education- 2/monastic-ordination-in-theravada-buddhism/ 4/8 1. “Renegade Female Monks of Thailand” in The Zainab Salbi Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MjZODhD4YU 2. Video: “His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa on Full Ordination for Tibetan Women, moderated by Janet Gyatso.” https://hds.harvard.edu/news/2015/03/26/video-his-holiness-17th-gyalwa-karmapa-full- ordination-tibetan-women# WEEK ELEVEN- Gender, Sex, and Tantra: 4/13 1. McDaniel, June. “Does Tantric Ritual Empower Women?” in Women’s Lives, Women’s Rituals In the Hindu Tradition. 2. Hannsen, Kristin. “The True River Ganges: Tara’s Begging Practices” in Women’s Renunciation in South Asia. 4/15 1. White, David Gordon. Introduction and Chapter 3 of Kiss of the Yogini. (Bowdoin E- book) ** BY WEEK ELEVEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED YOUR PAPER WITH ME AND SENT ME AN OUTLINE** WEEK TWELVE- Gender and the Nath Yogis: 4/20 1. Hatha Yoga Pradapika. Trans. Brian Dana Akers. Selections. (Blackboard) 2. “The Tale of Gorakhnath” in Wonder-Tales of South Asia. Trans. Simon Digby. (Blackboard) 4/22 3. Muñoz, Adrián. “Matsyendra’s ‘Golden Legend’: Yogi Tales and Nāth Ideology” in Yogi Heros and Poets. (Blackboard) 4. The One and the Many. (Kanopy) WEEK THIRTEEN- Yoga, Discipline, and the Masculine Body: 4/27 1. Foucault, Micheal. “Docile Bodies” in Discipline and Punish. (Blackboard) 2. Pinch, William R. Chapter Two in Warrior Ascetics and Indian Empires. (Blackboard) 4/29 3. Purcell, Barbara and Andrew Schaffer. “Men, Sports, and Yoga.” (Blackboard) 4. Alter, Joseph S. “The Discipline of the Wrestlers Body” in The Wrestlers Body. (Bowdoin E-book) WEEK FOURTEEN- Nonconforming Asceticism: 5/4 1. Chatterjee, Bankim Chandra. Anandamath. Selections. (Blackboard) 2. Pattanaik, Devdutt. Shikhandi and Other Tales They Don’t Tell You. Selections. (Blackboard) 5/6 3. Scheiderman, Sara. “Living Practical Dharma: A Tribute to Chomo Khandru and the Bonpo Women of Lubra Village, Mustang, Nepal.” In Women’s Renunciation in South Asia. 4. “How Hijra Community is Creating History at Kumbha Mela” https://www.news18.com/news/india/we-are-here-to-reclaim-our-lost-space-in-religion- indias-hijra-community-are-creating-history-at-kumbh-mela-2001181.html Course Requirements: 1. Attendance and participation in this class is mandatory. You will be expected to come to class prepared with your texts and notes for that day’s readings. It is assumed that students will read the material carefully before coming to class, and participate fully in discussions. It is essential to read critically and to prepare notes that will help stimulate classroom conversations. Absences are strongly discouraged—more than one absence (barring emergencies) will strongly affect a student’s class participation grade. 2. On a schedule to be determined by the second week of classes, students are expected to lead class by introducing their assigned readings and make a concerted effort to stimulate productive class discussion at least once during the semester. These classes are expected to begin with a 10-15 minute presentation to direct discussion and inquiries. 3. Two one-page (single spaced) formal analytical response papers are to be written about your readings during the semester. At least two of these need to be handed in prior to the middle of the term. You must read actively. What are each author's main points and underlying assumptions? What is the author's tone? Do you find the arguments persuasive? Why or why not? These responses must e-mailed to me by 8PM the night before class and a copy of your response must be brought to class, for reference during the session. One of these responses may be written in conjunction with the days that you are leading class. 4. A mid-term exam consisting of short essays will be handed out on 3/2. 5. One final paper (5-7 pages) on a topic to be discussed with me beforehand. Students are required to schedule office hours to discuss their paper topics beforehand and submit an outline of this paper (including thesis) by the date indicated on the syllabus. Class Etiquette: *Aim to make at least one contribution to class discussion every session.