Against Dharma: Dissent in the Ancient Indian Sciences of Sex and PoliticsAn esteemed scholar of Hinduism presents a groundbreaking interpretation of ancient Indian texts and their historic influence on subversive resistance Ancient Hindu texts speak of the three aims of human life: dharma,artha, and kama. Translated, these might be called religion, politics, and pleasure, and each is held to be an essential requirement of a full life. Balance among the three is a goal not always met, however, and dharma has historically taken precedence over the other two qualities in Hindu life. Here, historian of religions Wendy Doniger offers a spirited and close reading of ancient Indian writings, unpacking a long but unrecognized history of opposition against dharma. Doniger argues that scientific disciplines (shastras) have offered lively and continuous criticism of dharma, or religion, over many centuries. She chronicles the tradition of veiled subversion, uncovers connections to key moments of resistance and voices of dissent throughout Indian history, and offers insights into the Indian theocracy’s subversion of science by religion today. |
Contents
1 | |
TWO The Influence of the Arthashastra on the Kamasutra | 24 |
THREE Dharma and Adharma in the Arthashastra | 59 |
FOUR Adharma and Dharma in the Kamasutra | 80 |
FIVE Glossing Adharma with Dharma | 107 |
SIX Skepticism and Materialism in Ancient India | 123 |
Dhairma and the Subversion of Science | 159 |
Notes | 185 |
207 | |
219 | |
Other editions - View all
Against Dharma: Dissent in the Ancient Indian Sciences of Sex and Politics Wendy Doniger Limited preview - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
actually adultery Aims Ancient Indian argue argument artha Arthaśāstra Arthashastra ascetic attributed become beginning believe body Brahmins Buddhists called caste century chapter Charvakas cited claim composed concern described desire destroyed dharma dharmic doctrine Doniger enemy entire erotic existence four give gods hand Hindu History human husband ideas imagined Indian Philosophy kama Kamasutra Kautilya kill king knowledge later live Lokayatikas Mahabharata Manu material materialist means mentions moral myth Nastika nature never offer particularly passage period person philosophy political present punishment reason refer regards religious remarks ritual rules sage Sanskrit scholars scientific sense sexual shastras skeptics social someone sometimes sort statements story suggests tells term texts things third tion tradition translated Vatsyayana Veda Vedic verses wife wives woman women