Schedule of Readings and Lectures
Introduction: Death and Desire |
Monday, April 2 |
Naranappa: A Problematic Brahmin |
Wednesday, April 4 |
- Samskara, pp. 1-64 (there are explanatory notes on pp. 149-158).
Praneshacarya: A Problematic Man |
Monday, April 9 |
- Samskara, pp. 67-138.
- The Law Code of Manu [click here for the online readings page]
Rāma: A Man Amongst Men |
Wednesday, April 11 |
- Ramayana, pp. 1-130 (there’s a glossary on pp. 299-327).
Rāma: A Man Amongst Women |
Monday, April 16 |
- Ramayana, pp. 131-256.
Trial By Fire |
Wednesday, April 18 |
- Ramayana, pp. 257-295.
- Olivelle, The Law Code of Manu, pp. 39, 46-47, 96-97, 155-157. [click here for the online readings page]
- Julia Leslie, “Suttee or Satī: Victim or Victor?” In Roles and Rituals for Hindu Women Ed. J. Leslie (Rutherford. N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1991), pp. 175-191. [click here for the online readings page]
Fire |
Monday, April 23 |
- Fire [click here for link to the film]
- Swami Sivananda, Practice of Brahmacarya (Shivanandanagar, India: Divine Life Society, 1993), pp. 1-20, 33-53, 66-72. [click here for the online readings page]
Love in India |
Wednesday, April 25 |
- Love in India [click here for link to the film]
Sick Day |
Monday, April 30 |
Shakuntala: The Drama of Lost Love Regained |
Wednesday, May 2 |
- Kālīdāsa, “Śākuntalā,” Theater of Memory: The Plays of Kālīdāsa Trans. Barbara Stoler Miller (New York: Columbia University Press, 1984), pp. 85-176. [click here for the online readings page]
Pleasure and the Man of Power |
Monday, May 7 |
- The Complete Kamasutra, pp. 15-213. (There are several glossaries on pp. 531-47. Also note that there are three different texts contained within the book: The bold-faced type is Vātsyāyana’s original Kāma Sūtra. Always read that.The italic type is an important classical commentary on the Kāma Sūtra. Try to read that as much as possible. The regular type is a modern commentary. You can ignore that if you wish.)
Pleasure and the Woman of Power |
Wednesday, May 9 |
- The Complete Kamasutra, pp. 391-526.
Shree Krishna Leela |
Monday, May 14 |
- Shree Krishna Leela [click here for link to the film]
- John Stratton Hawley, “The Great Circle Dance,” At Play with Krishna: Pilgrimage Dramas from Brindavan (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1981), pp. 155-226. [click here for the online readings page]
no class |
Wednesday, May 16 |
The Great Circle Dance |
Monday, May 21 |
- John Stratton Hawley, “The Great Circle Dance,” At Play with Krishna: Pilgrimage Dramas from Brindavan (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1981), pp. 155-226. [click here for the online readings page]
- Aghora, 7-39 (there is a glossary on pp. 323-27).
Entering The Mandala: The Tantric Path |
Wednesday, May 23 |
- Aghora, pp. 41-165.
Memorial Day |
Monday, May 28 |
The Ritual Transmutation Of Desire: Tantric Liberation |
Wednesday, May 30 |
- Aghora, pp. 167-235.
Jīvanmukta: Siddhas And Their Siddhis |
Monday, June 4 |
- Aghora, pp. 237-322.
Conclusion |
Wednesday, June 6 |