RELG 356 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Rakshasa, Patrilineality, English Orthography

• School: McGill University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELG 356
• Professor: Davesh Soneji

Document Summary

Sept 17 - hindu marriage and procreative sexuality exam up untl the menski reading today"s lesson focus: central importance that marriage holds in upper-caste hindu religious history. Even in cultures where marriage may not be the central goal the symbolism surrounding it is pervasive. Emphasis on centrality of marriage and procreative sexuality can be seen in early. Agricultural allegory (upanisadic): women = field; man = seed. Refers to old vedic fire sacrifices as well. Vedic fire sacrifice is the paramount religious activity. Therefore to link the sexual/fertility symbolism to vedic fire activity shows its significance. The fire sacrifice itself is at the heart of the marriage ceremony. Presence of dampati (couple) is exceedingly important for the efficacious performance of vedic ritual. Necessitated in the presence of the patron of the sacrificer and his wife. In this period this f. sacrf. could not take place without wife.