essay

Purity and impurity in the death rituals of Bengal

bengal : studies in literature, society and history • (27) • Published In 1976 • Pages: 115-120

By: Bhattacharyya, Manibrata.

Abstract

Notions of purity (SAUCA) and impurity (ASAUCA) are significant factors influencing the social life of Bengali Hindus. In this article Bhattacharyya examines the meaning of these concepts in relationship to rituals associated with death; in particular, those ceremonies by means of which '…the deceased is progressively transformed from a person, now dead, to a spirit (PRETA), and then to an ancestor (PITRI)' (p. 115). Throughout the transformation process the author shows how purity and impurity are central themes, for as the deceased moves from one stage to the next, each previous stage becomes impure and must be 'overcome' through the proper acts of purification by members of the deceased's kin. Thus, to the Hindu, purity and impurity are conceived as conditional states, relative in nature, yet in constant flux (although this latter point is not elaborated on in the text). Prior to each transformational stage the deceased is impure relative to the status toward which he or she is changing, but pure relative to the status from which he or she is changing.

HRAF PubDate

2002

Region

Asia

Sub Region

South Asia

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Unknown

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 1992

Field Date

1968-1972 [p. 119]

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Kangsbati Valley, West Bengal, India

Notes

[by] Manibrata Bhattacharyya

LCCN

none

LCSH

Bengalis