Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits 9780226340555

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Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics

Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits

Alf Hiltebeitel

The University of Chicago Press Chicago and London

ALF HILTEBEITEL is professor of religion and director of the Human Sciences Program at The George Washington University. He is the author or editor of several books on Indian religion, anthropology, and literature.

The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London ©1999 by The University of Chicago All rights reserved. Published 1999 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00 99

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ISBN: 0-226-34050-3 (cloth) ISBN: 0-226-34051-1 (paper)

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Hiltebeitel, AU. Rethinking India's oral and classical epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims, and Dalits / AU Hiltebeitel. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-226-34050-5 (alk. paper). -ISBN 0-226-34051-1 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Draupadi (Hindu mythology) 2. Mahabharata-History. 3. Rajputs-Religious life. 4. Untouchables-India-Religion. 5. Hinduism-Relations-Islam. 6. Islam-Relations-Hinduism. I. Title. BL 1138.4.D72H57 1999 294.5'923046-dc21 9-8762 CIP

eThe paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992.

To Madeleine Biardeau

Contents

List of Maps and Tables

x

List of Plates

xi

Acknowledgments

xiii

Conventions

xiv

1. Introduction

1

2. Oral Epics A. Classical and Oral Epics 12; B. Epic Development and the "Real Hero" 21; C. Against Death and Deification 29; D. Bhakti, Regionality, and the Goddess 37; E. Back to the Frames 43

11

3. The Elder Brothers and the Heroes of Palna9u 1. Births of the Heroes 52; 2. Marriage and Virginity 60; 3. The Virgin's Blessing 62; 4. Campuka's and Anapotu Raju's Stratagems 63; 5. The Virgin's Anger 66; 6. Impalements 70; 7. Satls, Revivals, Salvation 75; 8. Transformations of Dasara 81

48

4. The Epic of Ptibajr Births of the Heroes 89; 2. Marriage and Virginity 96; 3. The Virgin's Blessing 101; 4. Phebo's Intervention 101; 5. The Virgin's Anger 105; 6. Impalements 108; 7. Satls and Salvation 113; 8. Transformations of Dasara 114

88

5. Opening Alhil A. Portions and Incarnations 126; B. Sons of DevakI 134; C. Frame Stories and Divine Interventions 136; D. The Maro Feud 142

121

vii

6. The Nine-Lakh Chain A. Treasures 153; B. Bela Demands DraupadI's Jewels 155; C. The Chain 159; D. Bela's Wedding 162; E. Bela's Homebringing 164; F. Dasara 170; G. The Death of MaIkhan 173; H. Sprouts 179; I. Bela's Tour 186

153

7. The Story of ~~~sa A. What Kind of Text? 212; B. The Muslim Captivity of Udal 218; C. Solar and Lunar Lines 222; D. The Agniv~sa 228; E. Defending Folk Hinduism 232

211

8. Kuruk$etra II A. Divine Plan, Master Plan 241; B. The Establishment of Kali and the Last of the Little Kings 254; C. Duryodhana's Return 259

240

9. Time-Routes through the K':~fJlirrlSacarita A. How Do We Get to Where We Are? 265; B. The Buddhists and the Agniv~sa 278; C. Vikramaditya's Era 281; D. Pura~c Nationalism 294

263

10. Their Name Is Legion A. Rajputs and Afghans 299; B. Rajputs and Afghans Looking South 310; C. The Egalitarian Warband 320; D. Warrior-Ascetics and Wandering Minstrels 332

297

11. The Ballad of Raja Desing A. The Story and Its Settings 365; B. The Printed Ballad and an Oral Telling 369; C. Rajput-Afghan Heroism Goes South 394

364

12. Barbanka, Arav3!!, Kfit~~var: Furthering the Case of the Severed Head A. Reopening the Case 415; B. Tracking Barbanka 417; C. A Permeable Divide 431

414

13. The Myth of the Agniv~sa A. Variants 442; B. Themes 453; C. Agnikul as, North and South 462

439

14. DraupadI Becomes Bela, Bela Becomes SatI A. Disposing of the Kaurava Widows 476; B. DraupadI Becomes Bela 482; C. High and Low Satls 491; D. Bela Becomes SatI495 E. Bairagarh 501; F. Questions, Questions 508

476

viii

Abbreviations

513

Bibliography

515

General Index

543

ix

Maps and Tables

Maps 1. Major oral epic and related sites 2. Karempii