Hinduism in Middle India: Narasimha, The Lord of the Middle

Narasimha is a lesser-studied Hindu deity, and Lavanya Vemsani's book explores primary sources from classical Sanskrit texts to regional accounts in Telugu, Oriya, and Kannada to understand his history, thought, and literature in middle India. It offers a comprehensive understanding of Hinduism in the region, moving beyond stereotypical classifications and incorporating lived religion and textual data.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Narasimha, a significant deity within Hinduism, has received relatively limited scholarly attention. Moreover, the study of the history, thought, and literature of middle India remains relatively limited. In order to address this gap, Lavanya Vemsani has undertaken a comprehensive exploration of primary sources, encompassing classical Sanskrit texts (such as puranas and epics) as well as regional accounts (such as sthalapuranas), which encompass a wide range of materials, including texts, artistic compositions, and oral folk stories in the regional languages of Telugu, Oriya, and Kannada. Furthermore, she delves into the historical context and contemporary practices to provide a holistic understanding of middle India's religion.

This unique study departs from the conventional categorizations often applied to sources of Hinduism and dedicates chapters to each region of middle India, bringing together literary, religious, and cultural practices to gain a comprehensive understanding of the religion in this region (Madhya Desha). By incorporating both lived religion and textual data, this book makes a substantial contribution to Hindu studies, as well as to Indian studies in general, with a particular focus on Vaishnava Studies and regional Hinduism.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350343863