Overview

"Astrologers play an important role in Indian society, but there are very few studies on their social identity and professional practices. Based on extensive fieldwork carried out in the city of Banaras, Words of Destiny shows how the Brahmanical scholarly tradition of astral sciences (jyotiḥśāstra) described in Sanskrit literature and taught at universities has been adapted and reformulated to meet the needs and questions of educated middle and upper classes in urban India: How to get a career promotion? How to choose the most suitable field of study for children? When is the best moment to move into a new house? The study of astrology challenges ready-made assumptions about the boundaries between ""science"" and ""superstition,"" ""rationality"" and ""magic."" Rather than judging the validity of astrology as a knowledge system, Caterina Guenzi explores astrological counseling as a social practice and how it ""works from within"" for both astrologers and their clients. She examines the points of view of those who use astrology either as a way of earning their living or as a means through which to solve problems and make decisions, concluding that, because astrology combines mathematical calculations and astronomical observations with ritual practices, it provides educated urban families with an idiom through which modern science and devotional Hinduism can be subsumed."

Full Product Details

Author:   Caterina Guenzi
Publisher:   State University of New York Press
Imprint:   State University of New York Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.227kg
ISBN:  

9781438482026

ISBN 10:   1438482027
Pages:   402
Publication Date:   02 July 2021
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Institutions 1. The Many Branches of a Tree: Jyotiṣa as a Scholarly Tradition 2. Professors and Prophecies: Astrology at Universities in Banaras 3. Sacred Specialists, Modern Professionals: Astrologers between the Temple and the Office Plates follow page 100 Part II: Readings 4. Horoscopes and Truth: Divinatory Techniques and Their Applications 5. Karma and Bhāgya: The Idea of Destiny in Astrological Consultations 6. Shared Destinies: Kinship Connections in Horoscope Reading Part III: Treatments 7. Astrology and Possession: Planetary Influence and Middle-Class Afflictions 8. More or Less Effective: Remedies and Efficacy Conclusion Annex: Bachelor's and Master's Syllabi in Jyotiṣa at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Glossary Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

"""Guenzi's book offers a welcome overview of the principles of the Sanskrit-inflected astrology prevalent in India. But Words of Destiny does not stop there. Guenzi's book hits its stride in showing how these astrological principles are enacted and negotiated in everyday interactions between astrologers and their clients."" — Isis"

Guenzi's book offers a welcome overview of the principles of the Sanskrit-inflected astrology prevalent in India. But Words of Destiny does not stop there. Guenzi's book hits its stride in showing how these astrological principles are enacted and negotiated in everyday interactions between astrologers and their clients. - Isis

Author Information

Caterina Guenzi is Associate Professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and member of the Center for South Asian Studies in Paris. Her previous books are available in their French editions.

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