Rethinking the Upanisadic Vamsas
Teacher Lineages as a Literary Genre
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/rosa.v5i1/2.51Keywords:
genealogy, lineage, Upaniṣads, vaṃśaAbstract
This paper takes a literary approach to the major vamsas in the Brahmanas and Upanisads. I will demonstrate that the vamsas 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 vamsas 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.
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