Modern Sanskrit
Dialogues across Times, Spaces, and Religions
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 20. August 2026
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-032-41299-3 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores aspects of Sanskrit cultural production from the last two centuries, paying attention to Sanskrit's inherently dialogical nature and pluralism within Indian history. It demonstrates how the use of classical Sanskrit in the present creates conversations with established practices of the past, and suggests that the decision to use Sanskrit at all is, in a postcolonial world, to enter into a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Throughout the modern period Sanskrit writers, speakers, and proponents have continually engaged with interlocutors both near and far. They have addressed historical events and contemporary social issues, embraced other forms of literature, and experimented with new genres. The volume reflects on the various registers in which Sanskrit writing can appear, the relationship with established and new religious traditions, the performative aspects of Sanskrit, and its role in teaching and learning. Highlighting the multiplicity of Sanskrit, the book will be of particular interest to scholars of religious studies, language, literature, and South Asian studies.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate
Illustrations
9 s/w Tabellen, 17 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 17 s/w Abbildungen
9 Tables, black and white; 17 Halftones, black and white; 17 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
453 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-41299-3 (9781032412993)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Routledge
€60.49
Not yet available
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
Routledge
€60.49
Not yet available
Persons
Laurie L. Patton is President of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and has served as President of the American Academy of Religion. She was previously President of Middlebury College, Dean of Arts & Sciences and Durden Professor of Religion at Duke University, and before that Charles Howard Candler Professor of Religion at Emory University, USA.
Charles S. Preston has a PhD in History of Religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School, USA.
Charles S. Preston has a PhD in History of Religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School, USA.
Content
Introduction: Bringing Modern Sanskrit into Dialogue Part One: The Polyphonies of Modern Sanskrit 1. 'India Has Utterly Changed': Shivaji and Modernity in a Colonial Sanskrit Novel 2. Gandhian History in Epic Style: Kshama Rao's Satyagraha Gita 3. An Epic 20th-century Sanskrit Life: Baladev Upadhyaya and Srinivas Rath's Baladevacarita-mahakavyam Part Two: Modern Sanskrit in Performance 4. Locating Sanskrit: Dialogues of Village and City in Twentieth-Century Sanskrit Drama 5. Performing Shakuntala in Sanskrit: Between Text and Performance 6. A 'Refuge' for Sanskrit Drama: Amateur Kutiyattam in Contemporary Kerala Part Three: Modern Sanskrit in Interreligious Dialogue 7. Pravartaniya Sadvidya Bhuvi: Sanskrit Learning in a Gujarati Religious Community 8. Modern Buddhist Sanskrit in Sri Lanka: A Study of Davuldena Gnanissara's Yatidutam 9. Muni Jambuvijaya and the Jaisalmer Bha??ar: Tracing a Jain Monk's Manuscript Preservation Efforts Part Four: Sanskrit, Identity, and the Politics of Recovery 10. Imagining Sanskritland: Shapeshifting "Sanskrit-speaking" Villages and Indian Census Data 11. Hidden Murtis: The Sanskrit Students of Radcliffe College Index