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Anthropology Books about Nepal,
Tibet, the Himalayas, and India
from Pilgrims Publishing, Varanasi,
India and Pilgrims Book House, Kathmandu, Nepal.
FEATURED BOOK
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Tantric Healing in the Kathmandu Valley
by Angela Dietrich
A comparative study of Hindu and Buddhist spiritual healing
traditions in urban Nepalese society, this book encompasses a
full catalogue of methods and materials employed by Kathmandu
Valley healers. It includes a survey of those frequenting a healer's
practice, the complaints they suffer from and the kind of treatment
received. Since witches were still considered the main causative
agents of supernatural complaints by the majority of a healer's
clients, this work offers a penetrating analysis of the phenomenon
of witchcraft and witch possession, especially as related to
the status of Nepalese women. Finally, it explores the contemporary
relevance of tantra in today's Nepal and features, in addition,
valuable suggestions regarding self-healing from the perspective
of indigenous practitioners.
Paperback. 270 pages. B&W photographs.
Weight: 380 g (13.3 oz).
Item No: 81-7303-177-0.
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The Anthropology of Buddhism and Hinduism
by David N. Gellner
Max Weber's ideas have had enormous influence in theoretical
sociology, but what he wrote about Asia has more often been cited
by specialists to illustrate his errors rather than to derive
inspiration. This collection of essays both engages with Max
Weber's work, and attempts to use his general approach, combined
with detailed ethnography from Nepal and Japan, to attack critical
questions in the anthropology and sociology of Buddhism and Hinduism.
Some interesting issues discussed in this book: the relationship
of Buddhist religious specialists (monks and priests); which
Brahmanical ideas have spread through history and how they are
expressd in a traditional Hindu city; and how to frame sociological
comparisons between similar religious systems in different cultures.
Hardback. 397 pages. B&W photographs. Tables; bibliography.
Weight: 470g.
Item No: 0195666119.
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The Children of Assi: The Transference of Religious Traditions
and Communal Inclusion in Banaras
by Marc J Katz
Based on eight years of research by the author, this book is
a study of didactics of communal inclusive ritual in Varanasi
(or Banaras), India, with a particular focus on children.
Dr. Mark Katz, is an associate professor of History of Religions
at the University of Karlstad in Sweden where he teaches courses
in History of Religions, Didactics of Religion, and Ethnic Relations.
Dr. Katz, who has studied Indology at the University of Wisconsin,
Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University, spent 1986-1993
researching the ancient and divers rituals of communal inclusion
that serve to bind together the many ethnic communities of Banaras.
Paperback. 514 pages. Colour photographs.
Appendix; glossary; bibliography.
Weight: 680 g (23.8 oz).
Item No: 8177694987.
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A Classful Of Gods and Goddesses in Nepal
by Ruth Higbie
An American Peace Corps volunteer describes the rewards and frustrations
of working as a science teacher in Banepa, a Newar mountain village
near Kathmandu. She seeks to understand her Nepali students,
colleagues and neighbours by getting involved in the everyday
life of the village.
"The author became a Peace Corps volunteer at the age of
fifty-eight, following the death of her husband. She describes
the rewards and frustrations of living and working as a science
teacher in Banrepa, a Newar town just beyond the eastern rim
of the Kathmandu Valley. The title refers to the use of the names
of the Hindu gods and goddesses as the most common Nepali personal
names" - John Whelpton, Nepal (Clio Press)
Paperback. 195 pages. B&W photographs.
Weight: 235 g (8.2 oz).
Item No: 0-940168-12-X.
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Customs and Superstitions of Tibetans
by Marion H Duncan
"A fascinating anthology of people's beliefs, and the rituals
which marked the stages of their lives: birth, marriage, religious
festivals and death. The role of animals and birds in Tibetan
life and beliefs is also recounted, as is the general structure
of traditional law and government. Duncan lived for many years
on the eastern border of Tibet and this book is the result of
his observation of the people he lived amongst." - John
Pinfold, Tibet (Clio Press)
Paperback. 265 pages. B&W photographs.
Weight: 360 g (12.6 oz).
Item No: 8173031274.
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Decision Making in Village Nepal
by Casper J Miller, SJ
-- How do farmers residing in the hill regions of Nepal make
their decisions about planting crops, marrying off their offspring
and other everyday affairs?
-- How does a decision made by a single farmer affect national
growth and development?
-- How do human relationships at the family level affect the
entire ecosystem, which can eventually make or mar the future
of the entire country?
This book tries to answer such questions. It is an account of
a penetrating investigation into the context, process, nature
and technique of decision making among farming families.
Since the majority of Nepalis belong to farming families, understanding
the dynamics of such decision making allows development planners
and workers to better facilitate people's decisions to participate
in local development.
The author, "Cap" Miller, is a Jesuit priest who has
lived in Nepal since 1958 and has devoted his life to serving
Nepal and its people. He is the author of several books including
Faith Healers of the Himalayas (also distributed by Pilgrims
Book House).
Paperback. 287 pages. Tables; line map.
Weight: 400 g (14 oz).
Item No: 81-7769-063-9.
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Divine Support. Ghurras: Wooden Churning-Rod
Holders from Nepal
by Paul De Smedt
This book explores the traditional use of wooden churning rods
(known in Nepal as ghurras). The author puts forward a system
of classification in order to build up a symbolic interpretation
of the ghurras. He "lifts up the tip of a wonderful veil"
so that we can gain a glimpse into the fundamental meaning of
these beautiful artefacts. It is a symbolism that is rooted in
age-old religious and folk traditions.
These anthropomorphic sculpted objects are used to guide the
churning rod during the churning of milk in order to produce
butter. Their sculptural motifs are derived from the holy paraphernalia
of Hinduism, Buddhism and Tantricism.
In a way ghurras can be identified as the karma of ordinary hill
people. Their lives slowly evaporating under the burning sun,
their souls finally diffusing into the open air of the breathtaking
Himalayas: the abode of the gods.
The author, Paul de Smedt, was born in Belgium in 1927 and is
an industrial engineer. During his professional career he was
involved as technical director in a building materials company.
He has a deep interest in art and culture, particularly that
from Africa, Sri Lanka (demon dancing and Sanni masks), Meso-America,
Japan (woodblock prints) and Nepal. He is a leading member of
several ethnographic associations.
Paperback. 461 pages.
Weight: 720 g (25.2 oz).
Item No: 81-7303-194-0.
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The Enchanted World of KUMARI
by John Mellowship
The book focuses on the traditional worship of Kumari by the
King of Nepal. This worship is described as a dramatic performance,
which acts out an ideal of perfect relations between a Hindu
ruler and the citizens of the state.
The work will interest Nepalese studying their traditional
culture, scholars in the field, and those who wish to discover
the deeper meanings behind the display of regal splendour presented
by the small girl called the 'Living Goddess'.
The author, John Mellowship, was born at Nuneaton, England
into the family of an Australian Anglican priest. Originally
intended for the priesthood, he retains a deep interest in spiritual
matters. The family returned to Australia where he later began
to study social anthropology at the University of Adelaide.
The University's Anthropology department organized a visit
to Nepal where John chose the Royal Kumari as his special topic
for doctoral study. In 1990/91 he spent a year doing fieldwork
in Nepal and since then has steadily refined his understanding
of the Kumari institution.
Paperback. 233 pages.
Weight: 300 g (10.5 oz).
Item No: 817769605X.
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Faith Healers in the Himalaya
by Father Casper J Miller
Cover Photograph by Michael Oppitz:
Shaman Beth Bahadur Bahadur, Takasera WC Nepal, 1978
This book is a reprint of a long out-of-print classic anthropological
study of the shamans of Nepal. With the introduction of western
medicine and so-called modern amenities, this is a fascinating
account of a traditional way of life that is slowly disappearing
in the Himalayan kingdom.
Spirit possession, magic, witchcraft and occult healing ceremonies
are still daily realities in the villages of Nepal. Who are the
people who deal with these realities on behalf of afflicted members
of the community? This absorbing in-depth study reveals the amazing
secrets of traditional Himalayan shamans (known locally as "jhankris")
and their clients in the Dolakha district, a remote mountainous
region of Nepal inhabited by the Thami people.
Although initially describing Nepalese shamans or spirit masters
in anthropological terms, author Cap Miller presents these spirit
masters in dramatic action, beginning with their roles in an
annual "Pilgrimage for Power" to a sacred mountain
top, the scene of magical battles.
Paperback. 287 pages.
Weight: 485 g (17 oz).
Item No: 81-7303-052-9.
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From Volga to Ganga: A Picture in Nineteen Stories of the
Historic, Economic and Political Evolution of Human Society from
6000 BC to 1922 AD
by Rahul Sankrityayana. Translated by Victor Kierman.
A raging fire erupts into the cold dark forest twilight; a group
of naked dancers offer a sacrificial token to their fire god,
Agni. The high priestess, the matriarch of the clan, leads the
ritualistic ceremony. But is this Mexico, Central Asia, or India?
Arranged as a series of short stories, this fascinating book
relies on both fact and fiction for its inspiration. Each story
defines a moment in the history of the Aryan tribes as they moved
inexorably from eastern Europe to India over the course of thousands
of years.
Interwoven within the stories are the defining moments of their
history, the migration east, the coming of the Vedic scriptures
and the Buddha, the rise of Islam and the Moghuls, and finally
the coming of the colonial powers, the passive resistance movement
of Gandhi, and Communism.
From Volga to Ganga is a remarkable work. It brings history
to life through its realistic short stories. It seeks to involve
the reader in one of the greatest human migrations of history.
"One of his [Sankrityayana's] most famous books in Hindi
is named Volga se Ganga, meaning
'(A journey) from Volga to Ganga' and is an attempt to present
a fictional account of migration of Aryans from the steppes of
the Eurasia to regions around the Volga river; then their movements
across the Hindukush and the Himalayas and the sub-Himalayan
regions; and their
spread to the Indo-Gangetic plains of the subcontinent of India.
The book begins from 6000 BC and ends in 1942, the year when
Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian nationalist leader has given a call
for quit India movement. The book is remarkable for its historical
elements interwoven with
fiction." -- Wikipedia
Rahul Sankrityayana (1893-1963) was a renowned Indian scholar,
linguist and traveller. He was responsible for bringing important
Buddhist manuscripts to India from Tibet and Sri Lanka. He wrote
against the evils of the caste system. He was Professor of Indology
at Leningrad University in the 1930s and 1940s.
Paperback. 253 pages.
Weight: 310 g (10.9 oz).
Item No: 8177693093.
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Himalayan Adventure: Early Travels in North-East India
by Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf
The author, a famous anthropologist, explored the area west of
the Subansiri River in Assam to gather information on the Daflas
and Apa Tanis tribes in the eastern Himalayas. He describes their
codes of honour; their strategy of raiding, bartering of slaves
and system of hostages; their techniques of peace negotiations;
their justice system and the execution of criminals; and the
social etiquette and customs of these tribes.
This book is a revised edition of the book originally published
in 1955 as Himalayan Barbary.
Hardcover. 243 pages. B&W illustrations. Index; bibliography.
Weight: 460 g (16.1 oz).
Item No: N000005136.
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Himalayan Dialogue: Tibetan Lamas and Gurung Shamans in Nepal
by Stan Royal Mumford
Here for the first time is a thorough anthropological study of
Tibetan lamaism in dialogue with the Nepalese shaman tradition.
It combines textual analysis with richly contextualised ethnographic
data. Rites studied include exchanges with the underworld,
demon exorcism, recalling the soul, and the famed guiding of
the consciousness in the Tibetan death rite.
"Anthropology in the grand style" - American Anthropologist
"The analysis of this confrontation is compelling"
- American Ethnologist
"An account of myths and rituals practised in a village
along the Annapurna Circuit -- fascinating, once you get past
the anthropological jargon" - David Reed, Nepal (Rough
Guides)
Hardback. 286 pages.
Weight: 470 g (16.5 oz).
Item No: 0299119807.
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Himalayan Households: Tamang Demography and Domestic Processes
by Thomas E Fricke
This anthropological study examines the rapid population
growth in Tamang settlements of the Kathmandu Valley. It
discusses the subsistence economy, the fertility and mortality,
the functioning of their household economy, and the gradual shift
from self-sufficiency to a form of capitalism.
"This account of fertility patterns and environmental adaption
in the village of Timling in the Ganesh Himal area of central
Nepal, combines careful demographic analysis with a sensitive
account of the Tamang culture. The author argues that fertility
is well below the theoretical maximum because of delayed marriage
to retain the children's labour in the parental household and
because of prolonged lactation, but that the villagers nevertheless
aim for large families to maximise household labour and the size
of kinship networks within which exchange normally takes place.
This is a rational strategy given the nature of the household
economy, but the resultant population growth is now outrunning
the availability of land. As the traditional trade of grain for
Tibetan salt is now halted, the Tamangs will be forced increasingly
into the labour market outside the village, where they are at
a disadvantage in competition with other groups. The present
relatively egalitarian social structure will be increasingly
eroded." - John Whelpton, Nepal (Clio Press)
Hardback. 227 pages. B&W diagrams,
tables.
Weight: 640 g (22.4 oz).
Item No: 81-7303-010-3.
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Himalayan Traders: Life in Highland Nepal
by Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf
An anthropological study of the effect of China's occupation
of Tibet on the lifestyle of Sherpa, Bhotia and Thakalis traders.
The disruption of traditional trade caused by competition from
Indian salt is also examined.
"Readable follow-up [to the author's Sherpas of Nepal],
concentrating on the changes in trading patterns and culture's
among Nepal's Himalayan people." -- Hugh Finlay, Nepal
(Lonely Planet)
Paperback. 316 pages. B&W illustrations. Index.
Weight: 440 g (15.4 oz).
Item No: N000007098
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Shaman: Roots of the Rig Veda
by Major General G D Bakshi
"Shamanism : Roots of the Rig Veda explicitly details
the evolution of mankind. The very first man that trod this earth
(Homo-Erectus) was in comparison to the other animal life helpless
and very weak. How then did this creature manage to survive?
G.D. Bakshi in this work has surmised that the earliest man
was possessed with certain extra-special powers of sensory perception,
which allowed him to overcome his adversities. As time passed
man left his nomadic ways. He settled down to a pastoral existence
and he slowly lost these powers. Finally it became apparent that
these extra-sensory powers were left amongst a few persons only.
These persons then went on to use these by now magical powers
to over-awe and impress their fellow men of their superiority.
These few were the Shamans that we can still see today in many
tribal communities. Though many may be charlatans exploiting
the beliefs of their kinsmen some truly do possess these powers
even today.
Bakshi whilst exploring the history of such clans and the
priest cults that developed within them has amply shown that
these originally natural powers now have to be in many instances
kick-started by the use of certain psychotropic substances commonly
used by these people. His in-depth study has shown how it was
on the base of such powers that many of our ancient philosophies
and rituals were developed. Using the Rig Veda and the magical
Soma as a base for the study he has shown us how such cults have
developed over the ages and the similarities in their practice
and development."
Paperback. 171 pages.
Weight: 210 g (7.4 oz).
Item No: 817769491X.
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Shamanism
by Shirley Nicholson
Explore the way of the shaman!
This outstanding collection of essays by nineteen noted scholars,
religious figures, and practicing shamans from all traditions
paints a vivid picture of the mind and soul of the shaman around
the world.
Chapters by Michael Harner, Mircea Eliade, Joan Halifax, Brooke
Medicine Eagle, Serge King, and other experts show why shamanism
-- one of the oldest forms of religious life -- is experiencing
so great a renewal of interest.
"The shaman perceives a world of total aliveness, in all
parts personal, in all parts sentient, in all parts capable of
being known and being used... for healing, for renewal, and for
bringing into the profane world the transformational powers of
sacred time and space. This volume covers the field of shamanic
practice and belief in as comprehensive a manner as has ever
been presented to the general public. From the distant past to
the emergent future, and across the boundaries of cultures, the
depth culture of the shaman is shown to persist." -- From
the Foreword by Jean Houston
"This fine work discusses the history, traditions, and modern
relevance of shamanism by exploring relevant practices in Native
American, Jewish, Australian, and other cultures. well-written,
jargon-free chapters..detail information on the relationship
between shamanism and ESP, dreams, and magical healing."
-- Booklist (American Library Association)
Paperback. 295 pages. B&W illustrations. Index.
Weight: 500 g (17.5 oz).
Item No: 8177691597
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The Thakalis, Bon Dkar and Lamaistic Monasteries along the
Kali Gandaki: the Ancient Salt Route in Western Nepal
by Ratan Kumar Rai
The Kali Gandaki River, originating in the remote Himalayan kingdom
of Mustang, flows down from the high Himalayas through the Nepali
Terai and the northern plains of India before emptying into the
Bay of Bengal. Along this route was once carried the most
precious commodity of trans-Himalayan trade: salt.
This outsize book describes the history of the salt trade; the
background and beliefs of the local Tamang Thakali people; and
the frescoes, mandalas, architecture and woodcarving of the region.
Hardback. 144 pages. Dustjacket. B&W
and colour photographs. B&W drawings.
Weight: 860 g (30.1 oz).
Item No: 81-7303-021-9.
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Up From Eden: A Transpersonal View of Human Evolution
by Ken Wilber
This book chronicles humanity's cultural and psychospiritual
evolutionary journey over some six million years from its primal
past into its dazzling cosmic future. This redesigned edition
of the transpersonal psychological classic features a new foreword.
"I consider Up from Eden the "single greatest
work on psychology ever written -- including Freud, Jung, et
al.!"
-- Dr. Silas Wesley, past professor of Clinical Psychology, Yale
University, and Director, Psychology Clinic, University of Southern
California.
"Ken Wilber draws on evidence breathtaking in its sweep
to outline a view of the trajectory of human evolution. In so
doing, he joins the ranks of the great theorists of human consciousness
like Ernst Cassirer, Mircea Eliade, and Gregory Bateson."
-- Dr Daniel Goleman, Psychology Editor of The New York Times
and author of Emotional Intelligence.
"There is emerging a uniquely American wisdom tradition
that unites the best of East and West, psychology and spirit,
in integrated comprehensive practices. No one has described this
path to wisdom more systematically and comprehensively than Wilber."
-- Tony Schwartz, contributing editor at New York magazine
and author of What Really Matters
"Up From Eden is a work of genius. It weaves together insights
from many disciplines, including psychology, philosophy, anthropology,
religion, sociology, and mythology. It is profoundly wise and
instructive, as well as being fascinating reading."
-- Dr Frances Vaughan, author of The Inward Arc, Awakening
Intuition, and Shadows of the Sacred
Philosopher Ken Wilber has been mapping the territory of consciousness
since the 1970s. His first book, The Spectrum of Consciousness
launched the transpersonal psychology movement. Wilber's
current best-sellers are Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, and
A Brief History of Everything. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.
Other books by Ken Wilber include: The
Atman Project: A Transpersonal View of Human Development
(also published by Pilgrims Book House) and The Spectrum of
Consciousness.
Paperback. 400 pages. Diagrams, drawings. New edition.
Weight: 475 g (16.6 oz).
Item No: 8177691589.
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