Contested Hierarchies: A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, NepalDavid N. Gellner, Declan Quigley Clarendon Press, 1995 - 364 pages In this book, six anthropologists pool their knowledge of the three ancient Newar cities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, and of other settlements nearby. The social institutions of all the main caste groups--priests, patrons, artisans, farmers, and low castes--are given extended consideration, and the study is framed by a historical introduction and a comparative conclusion. In addition, it is well illustrated with fascinating black and white photos which have been specially taken to illustrate aspects of the society under study. The result is the most complete description and analysis yet of a regional caste system. The book should appeal not only to students of Hinduism and South Asia, but to all anthropologists and comparative sociologists interested in the interrelations of politics, ritual, kinship, economy, and ideology in complex, pre-industrial societies. |
Contents
List of Contributors | 1 |
Introduction 1 | 17 |
The Asan Twaḥ Market | 38 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept According Asan associations belong Bhaktapur Brahman Brāhmaṇs bride Buddhist called carried caste Citrakārs claim clan considered cremation cultural death deity Dhulikhel digu dyaḥ Dyaḥlā example fact feast festival Gellner give given groups guthi hierarchy high castes Hindu households important India initiation Kāpālī Kathmandu Valley Khadgīs kind king kinship known Lalitpur land less Levy lineage live locality lower Maharjans Malla marriage married means Nepal Newar noted observe offerings organization origin particular perform period phuki position possible practice present priests pūjā Pyangaon Quigley reason referred relations relatively religious rice ritual role rules Śākyas Satungal separate settlements share social society South Śrestha Śreṣṭhas status Table temple Toffin town traditional Tuladhar types Uray urban Vajrācāryas village woman women worship