An interdisciplinary exploration of the meanings of hair in Asia from classical times to contemporary contexts.

This book begins by giving a brief review of temple studies inIndiaand in Andhra Pradesh and in particular the significance of Srisailam prakara aswell as literacy importance are discussed in detail. The patronage byvarious dynastic rulers leading to the physical growth of Srisailam templecomplex, the prevalence of various Saivite sects are presented on the basis ofarchaeological and literary sources from Telugu and Sanskrit. The materialculture identified in the sculptures generally comprising architecture, costumes, ornaments, hair styles, head dresses, household objects, etc. are described in detail with linedrawings.

This collection brings together the research papers of Patrick Olivelle, published over a period of about ten years. The unifying theme of these studies is the search for historical context and developments hidden within words and texts. Words – and the cultural history represented by words – that scholars often take for granted as having a continuous and long history are often new and even neologisms, and thus provide important clues to cultural and religious innovations. Olivelle’s book on the Asramas, as well as the short pieces included in this volume, such as those on ananda and dharma, seek to see cultural innovation and historical changes within the changing semantic fields of key terms. Closer examination of numerous Sanskrit terms taken for granted as central to ‘Hinduism’ provide similar results. Indian texts have often been studied in the past as disincarnate realities providing information on an ahistorical and unchanging culture. This volume is a small contribution towards correcting that method of textual study.