Mythic history, belief narratives and vernacular Buddhism among the lhopos of Sikkim
Date
2022-02-03
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Abstract
Väitekiri käsitleb Sikkimis elevate lhopode ühiskondlikku, poliitilist ja majanduslikku elu, sellega seotud identiteediprobleeme ning suhteid usundiliste tavade ja kujutelmadega. Analüüsitud on lhopode rahvausundit, mille keskmes on inimeste suhted ja suhtlemisviisid üleloomulike jõududega. Põhjalikult on käsitletud lhopode müüdipõhist ajalugu ning nende usundiliste juttude repertuaari suhetes teiste etniliste rühmade uskumuste, rituaalide ja kultuuritraditsioonidega. Palju uskumusi levib hoiatusmuistendite kaudu, mida toetavad nii kogukondade sees kui ka üle nende piiride edasi antud müüdid ja ajaloolised motiivid. Lisaks on väitekirjas uuritud teisigi suulisi pärimusi, nagu isiklikud eluloolised jutustused ja memoraadid, samuti performatiivset rahvausku, nagu näiteks kohalikke rituaale. Töö aluseks on välitöödel kogutud materjalil ja žanrianalüüsil põhinev lähenemine usundile, milles võib näha nii muutusi kui ka järjepidevust ja milles põimuvad erinevate kogukondade vaatepunktid.
This fieldwork-based dissertation examines the social, political, and economic lives of the Lhopos of Sikkim, the related identity issues, and to the lived and vernacular realities surrounding religious practices. It studies vernacular religion of the Lhopo communities, their life together with the non-human entities and interactions with them. Focus is on the Lhopo mythic histories and other belief narratives in relationships to the beliefs, religious practices, and cultural traditions of other ethnic communities of Sikkim. Many beliefs are shared as warning legends supported by the mythic historical details that have passed down and spread within and across communities. In addition, the work discusses other oral traditions, such as personal biographical narratives and memorates, and performative aspects of religious folklife, such as local rituals. The thesis contributes to the discourse about genre in belief studies by presenting materials as seen from the perspectives of multiple communities caught in the confluence of change and continuity.
This fieldwork-based dissertation examines the social, political, and economic lives of the Lhopos of Sikkim, the related identity issues, and to the lived and vernacular realities surrounding religious practices. It studies vernacular religion of the Lhopo communities, their life together with the non-human entities and interactions with them. Focus is on the Lhopo mythic histories and other belief narratives in relationships to the beliefs, religious practices, and cultural traditions of other ethnic communities of Sikkim. Many beliefs are shared as warning legends supported by the mythic historical details that have passed down and spread within and across communities. In addition, the work discusses other oral traditions, such as personal biographical narratives and memorates, and performative aspects of religious folklife, such as local rituals. The thesis contributes to the discourse about genre in belief studies by presenting materials as seen from the perspectives of multiple communities caught in the confluence of change and continuity.
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Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsioone
Keywords
folk beliefs, myths, folk stories, religious experiences, narrative, Buddhism, India, Sikkim