1. Great Tradition and Little Tradition
a. “Great”
tradition(s) -- wide spread, draws on Sanskrit texts, more uniformity
i. Based on authority of Brahamanical, sanskritic texts
b. “Little”
traditions -- popular Hinduism, vernacular (Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Hindi)
i. Diversity, regional differences
c. How
are the two related?
2. Varna:
Aryan ideal as first described in the Purusha Sukhta, developed later in the dharmashastras (treatises on dharma)
3. Jati (“genus” or “birth”)
a. Over 2000 jatis
b. Distinctive customs, dress, diet – jati is thought to inhere in one’s nature
c. Pollution
and purity: how and how not to mingle
i.
Jati ranking, occupation
ii.
Receiving pollution from bodily excretions (menstrual blood);
Kinship (shared pollution); other castes (proximity, food, water, touch,
intermarriage, intercourse)
iii.
How to remove pollution: bathing, drinking pure
substances
iv. Purity as basis for contact with gods