TY - JOUR

T1 - Rethinking the Upaniṣads Vaṃśas: Teacher Lineages as a Literary Genre

AU - Black, Brian

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - This paper takes a literary approach to the major vaṃśas in the Brāhmaṇas and Upaniṣads. I will demonstrate that the vaṃśas follow a number of structural and compositional conventions, which are employed to construct sacred histories, indicate different branches of descent, combine different lineages, and claim authoritative transmissions vis-à-vis other lineages. By treating the vaṃśas as a literary genre, rather than as an empirical historical record, I hope to invite a new appreciation for their form and creativity, as well as to open up new ways for reading them.

AB - This paper takes a literary approach to the major vaṃśas in the Brāhmaṇas and Upaniṣads. I will demonstrate that the vaṃśas follow a number of structural and compositional conventions, which are employed to construct sacred histories, indicate different branches of descent, combine different lineages, and claim authoritative transmissions vis-à-vis other lineages. By treating the vaṃśas as a literary genre, rather than as an empirical historical record, I hope to invite a new appreciation for their form and creativity, as well as to open up new ways for reading them.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 5

SP - 51

EP - 77

JO - Religions of South Asia

JF - Religions of South Asia

SN - 1751-2689

IS - 1-2

ER -