abhicara (black magic), 128, 193–194, 288n7
offerings according to lunar cycles and stellar rhythms, 199–204
Acchuta Rama Somayajulu (ancestor of Baballa), 58
adhana (setting of three fires), 42, 50, 190–194, 192, 204, 288n6, 290n22 adhvaryu (major priest), 45, 47, 48, 200, 235, 236
adhyaya (recitation lesson), 29, 96. See also brahmacarin/brahmacarya Agni (the deity fire), 35, 43–44, 46, 49–52, 142, 169, 199, 200, 201, 204, 213, 214, 216, 222, 227, 240, 241, 242
Agni, process of becoming, 187–246 overview, 187–190
adhana, 190–194, 192, 204,
288n6, 290n22
agni-cayana, 222–228, 223, 291n38 agni-hotra, 194–198, 195
agrayana, 205–206
asva-medha, 188, 234–237, 293n62 becoming an ancestor, 243–246 catur-masya, 206–209
final absorption and funeral rites, 237–243, 293n68
first soma and agni-stoma,
210–218, 291n38
maha-vrata and go-sava, 188,
230–232, 292n56
pravargya, 218–219
sautramani offering to Indra,
232–233, 292n59
soma schedule and other rituals, 220–221
vaja-peya, 188, 228–230
agni-cayana (fire altar), 46, 50, 194, 201, 220, 222–228, 223, 240, 291n38 agnidhra (priestly helper),
47, 200, 235
agni-hotra (three fires)
and becoming Agni, 194–198, 195, 238
and bonding with Agni, 49–52 house floor plan for, 42
in householder offerings, 41,
42–43, 50
outdoor complex, 44–45, 44
Agnihotra (title), 119, 195
agni-hotrin (performer of
agni-hotra), 41, 43
agni-karya (daily fire maintenance), 30, 127, 136, 143, 189
Agni Kravyad (deity), 49, 238
agni-ksetra (outdoor multi-fire complex), 44–45, 44, 50, 211–212 agni-manthana (churning of fire), 51 Agni-Soma (deity), 44, 199
324 Index
agni-stoma (initiatory soma offering) becoming Agni, 210–218, 238–239 description of, 44–49, 281n11, 291n38 in early centuries, 10
importance of, 44–46
Lanka on, 65, 103
priests and helpers, 47–48, 48
Agni Svistakrt (deity), 169, 205, 217 Agni: The Vedic Ritual of the Fire Altar (Staal), 215, 225
Agnivata Naga Laksmi Sastri (daughter of Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 125, 126 agrahara (Brahman hamlet), 4. See also Iragavaram Village; Kakinada Town; Kamesvari Agrahara;
Sriramapuram Agrahara;
Vyaghresvaram Village
impact of mobility on, 249–250 livelihood within, 176–179
search for, 23–27, 279n42
agrayana (harvest sacrifice), 178–179, 205–206
ahavaniya (offering fire in east), 42, 43, 49, 52, 64, 66, 67, 193–195, 202, 203, 211, 212, 216–217, 226, 233, 236, 241
ahitagni (Vedic Brahman with agni-hotra fires in home). See also vedamlo unnaru (existing in Veda); specific individuals and rites
four generations of, 139
losta-cayana (funeral mound for in agni-cayana), 185, 240
pitr-medha (funeral rites for),
67–68, 239
Akella Subha Avadhani, 59
Akondi Suryanarayana, 67, 240 “Altar of Fire” (film), 46, 225
altars. See agni-cayana (fire altar); maha-vedi (great altar); ratha-cakra citi (chariot-wheel altar); syena-citi (flying eagle altar)
Ambedkar, B. R., 18
Anasuya (wife of Lanka), 100, 101–102, 103, 104, 106, 158–159, 161, 163, 165, 170–171, 178, 180, 217, 254
Anasuya (wife of Mitranarayana), 102, 111, 115, 165, 171, 248
ancestors (pitr). See also specific individuals
becoming, 243–246
continued role in afterlife, 146 debts to, 29, 61–62
honored in homes, 38
offerings to, 208–209
pinda-pitr-yajna (offerings), 200 pitr-loka (heaven of), 209, 243
status of pitr, 68
Andhra Pradesh. See also Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD); specific agrahara and villages
Department of Religious
Endowments, 63
Hyderabad, 15, 22
as language state, 22
maps of, xxi–xxii
population of, 23
statehood, 38–39
Andhra Pradesh Charitable Act, 179 Andhra Veda Pandits (book), 220 animal sacrifice, 45, 47, 65–66, 170, 191, 209, 215–217, 222, 226,
229, 230, 232–233, 235, 236,
238–239, 288n6
antyesti (cremation), 66, 78, 155, 175, 184, 239, 240
Anumati (goddess), 201
Apastaba Dharma Sutra, 36, 280n6 Apastamba Grhya Sutra, 32, 36, 87, 144, 145, 148, 165, 168, 169, 170, 173–175, 203, 280n6
Apastamba Srauta Sutra, 30–31, 32, 36, 37, 46, 47, 87, 119, 144, 145, 164, 181, 188, 191, 193–195, 197–198,
208, 210, 218, 221, 224, 227, 230, 280n6, 282n19
aptoryama (soma sacrifice), 46
Index 325
comments on Knipe (tela-dora), 254 comments on rites, 203, 204, 205, 209, 210
arani (woods for churning fire), 51, 52, 67, 78–79, 193, 194, 197, 204, 241 Arkasomayaji, D., 280n8
Arnold, Harold, 53
Aruna (sage), 227
aruna-ketuka (rite), 58, 62, 110, 131, 186, 220, 221, 222, 226–228
asakti (curiosity), 146
asauca (impurity), 49, 67, 160, 197 ascetics, 182
asrama (stages of life), 28–38, 29. See also brahmacarin/brahmacarya; householders
astrology, 40, 105, 163, 167, 175, 180, 184–185, 199, 203–204, 257–258 Asvalayana Grhya Sutra, 170
Asvalayana Srauta Sutra, 149
asva-medha (royal horse sacrifice) and becoming Agni, 188, 189–190, 227, 232, 234–237, 292n56, 293n62 in early centuries, 8, 10, 14
Asvin (twin deities), 213, 218, 219, 229, 233
Atharva Veda, 37, 47, 99, 120, 124, 125, 145, 149–150, 151, 169, 188, 203 atiratra (overnight soma sacrifice), 46 atman (self), 11, 246
aupasana (household fire), 35, 42–43, 67, 135, 138, 189, 193, 205, 240, 241 Avadhani/Avadhanulu (title), 79, 282n4 Avesta (Zoastrian text), 45, 145
Baballa (Bhamidipati Yajnesvara), xv, xvi, 56–71, 57, 88, 95, 117, 167–168 on afterlife, 186, 244
agrayana, 179
aruna-ketuka, 220, 222, 226, 227 on atman, 246
catur-masya, 89, 207
and decline of traditions, 114
family of, 68–71, 69, 171
fulfillment in srauta, 61–62
funeral of, 66–68, 78, 240, 241 as gatekeeper of agrahara, 159 as gentleman farmer, 177–178
on honoraria as veda-vikriya, 99, 154, 156, 179, 248
on importance of patni, 160
lineage of, 56–61, 59, 87, 102, 143, 164, 182
marriage of, 163
moves to Sriramapuram, 62–66 on mysticism of fires, 189
as nitrya-agni-hotrin, 196
in old age, 180, 198
and sequential family deaths, 184 and student examinations, 61
as Traditionalist, 247
Bachelard, Gaston, 141, 189, 283n2 Bactria Margiana Archeological Complex (BMAC), 188, 213
Balayogi of Mummidivaram, 182 balya-vivaha (child-marriage), 164–165 bandhu (identity), 142, 193, 226 Banks, Russell, 159
Bapat, Sri, 230
Bhamidipati Brahmibuta Acarya (ancestor of Baballa), 58, 182
Bhamidipati Chinna Subrahmanya Somayajulu (father of Baballa), 58, 72, 149
Bhamidipati Mitranarayana. See Mitranarayana (Bhamidipati
Mitranarayana Sarvatomukha Somayaji)
Bhamidipati Sesadri Somayaji, 110–111 Bhamidipati Somasekhara (grandson of Baballa), 58326 Index
Bhamidipati Yajnesvara Prasad (grandson of Baballa), 58–59,
60–61, 67, 68–70, 69, 167, 172, 203, 246
Bhaskara Misra, 254
bhokta (ritual eater of food for the dead), 245–246
bhuta (ghost), 245
birthday celebrations, 175
black magic. See abhicara (black magic) Black Yajur Veda, 29, 37
Bodewitz, Henk, 197
bodily assumption of sacred fires, 51–52, 282n19
brahma (household/family priest), 87, 89
brahmacarin/brahmacarya. See also Veda, process of becoming
and becoming Agni, 188–190
begging for food (madhu-kara), 30, 31 examinations, 34–35, 61, 65, 144, 156 and guru, 29, 32, 33–34, 34, 146–147 marriage arrangements, 31–32,
34, 163
memorization and recitation
phase, 32, 34
upanayana ceremony, 29–30
in Veda patha-sala in
Kapilesvarapuram, 32
brahma-loka (heaven of Brahma), 75, 162, 186, 227, 244
brahma-medha (funeral rites), 66–68, 114, 237–243, 246, 293n68
brahman (major priest), 47, 48, 200, 235 Bringing the Gods to Mind (Patton), 196 Buddhism, 11
Buitenen, Hans van, 219, 230
Bullebbayi (Bhamidipati Subrahmanya Somayaji), 58, 66, 67, 68, 159, 246 bullock carts, 3
Bulusu Kamesvara. See Kamesvara (Bulusu Kamesvara)
Bulusu Somayajulu, 65
Bulusu Vyaghresvara Soma-yaji, 107, 190
cakra-vartin (sovereign of world), 234 calendars, 114, 144
cash economy. See India and modernity catur-masya (seasonal rites), 89, 206–209
cayana. See agni-cayana (fire altar) Cayanulu (Bulusu Vyaghresvara Cayanulu), xvi, 85–91, 87–88, 92, 95, 117
agni-cayana, 220
agni-hotra, 196
brahma-medha, 66, 67, 110
catur-masya, 207
comments on rites, 217
dowry debt, 167
family of, 171, 247
funeral of, 240, 241, 246
on immortality, 244
livelihood of, 178, 179
as purohita, 152
and recitations with Sathya Sai Baba, 183
remarriage of, 169–170
and sequential family deaths, 184, 185 as Traditionalist, 252
and TTD service, 182
Cayanulu (title), 174
ceta-badi. See abhicara (black magic) Chandrasekhar, M., 119
children and life-cycle rites, 170–175 Cigna Insurance Company, 84 coconut palms, 7, 176
Cotton, Arthur, 18–20
cows, in ritual life, 43, 94, 196, 206 cuda-karana (first tonsure), 174, 175
dabbu (money), 104, 178
daksina (ritual payments), 46, 281n13
daksina-agni (southern fire), 42, 43, 196, 208, 209, 211, 241
dana (ritualized donations), 94 danda (staff), 30, 142
darbha (grass), 66, 173, 174, 196, 200, 201, 224, 231
darsa-purna-masa (new-or-full-moon offering), 44, 199–204, 221
death and dying. See funeral rites Dendukuri Agnihotra Somayaji, 129–131, 129, 224, 228, 230, 231 Dendukuri Candrasekhar
(older brother of Dedukuri
Agnihotra), 230
Dendukuri family, 53, 127–132, 129–130, 138, 150, 153, 196,
221, 230
Dendukuri Laksminarasimha Somayajulu (son of Dedukuri Agnihotra), 129–130, 129
devata (deities), 43–44, 204, 216. See also specific deities
devudu (god), 79, 105
dharma (law), 65, 176, 253. See also specific texts by name
Dharma Sastras, 94, 99, 118, 144, 152, 178, 182, 254
Dhatr (deity), 201
dhisniya (hearths for srauta), 211, 212
Index 327
Duvvuri Girija Sankar (grandson of Duvvuri Yajulu), 78, 81, 84,
137, 138
Duvvuri Hari Prasad (grandson of Duvvuri Yajulu), 78, 81, 137, 138
Duvvuri Karttikeya (great-grandson of Duvvuri Yajulu), 84, 175
Duvvuri Phani Yajnesvara Yajlulu (grandson of Duvvuri Yajulu), 71, 72, 80, 81, 82–83, 113, 137, 138, 149, 156, 172, 251, 253
Duvvuri Sarvesvara Somayajulu
Ghanapati (son of Duvvuri Yajulu), 76, 77, 78, 191
Duvvuri Sita Ram Sastry (grandson of Duvvuri Yajulu and grandson of
Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), xvii,
74–75, 81, 83–85, 129, 165, 175,
250, 256
Duvvuri Venkata Surya Prakasa Yajulu Avadhani (son of Duvvuri Yajulu), 66, 72, 77, 79–85, 81, 137, 164,
167, 175, 178, 184, 191, 200, 247,
251, 252
Duvvuri Yajnesvara Paundarika Yajulu, xvi, 33, 71–85, 72, 88, 91, 95, 111
agni-cayana, 220, 224, 225
agrayana, 205–206
brahma-medha, 110
diksa (death-and-rebirth consecration), 45, 46, 50, 62, 160, 161–162, 204, 212, 214, 222–223, 226, 228,
238, 243
Dokka family, 24, 177
Doniger, Wendy, 234
dora (foreigner), 52–53, 282n20 dosa (sin/fault), 62, 198, 254
dowries for daughters, 54, 75, 76, 87, 96, 102, 163, 167, 172, 248
Draksarama temple, 13, 26
Dumont, Paul-Emile, 204, 294n73 Dundas, Paul, 11
brahmancarin period, 149 catur-masya, 207–208
comments on America, 97, 256 comments on rites, 175, 190, 202, 203, 217
and Dendukuri family, 128–129 on detachment of Lanka, 104 on early education of, 250–251 family of, xvii, 66, 71, 72, 74–77, 79–85, 81, 170–171, 247
floor plan of house, 42
fulfillment in srauta, 73–75 funeral of, 231
328 Index
Duvvuri Yajnesvara Paundarika Yajulu (Cont.)
guru of, 59–60
on kesma (welfare of land), 177–178 last rites, 78–79
lineage of, 78, 117, 164
livelihood of, 179
losta-citi, 67
garha-patya (cooking fire in west); punar-dahana (second cremation fire); srauta (extended fire rites/ texts); tretagni (three-hearth fire)
absorption into Agni, 237–243 Baballa on mysticism of, 189 bodily assumption of sacred, 51–52, 282n19
on marriage, 162
marriage of, 75–76, 163
on Mitranarayana, 113
in old age, 151, 180, 181, 198 performance of agrayana, 179 on rebirth, 244
on renunciation, 183
sabha in name of (2005), 153 and sequential family deaths, 184 as soma-pravaka, 133
as Traditionalist, 114, 255
tradition of sabha, 154–155
and Veda, 72–73
viewpoints of, 89–90
Duvvuri Yajnesvara Yajulu (son of Duvvuri Sarvesvara), 84
East India Company, 16, 18
Eaton, Richard, 278nn15–16
Eggeling, Julius, 224
Eliade, Mircea, 202, 222
Eliot, T. S., 5
expiation rites.See prayascitta (expiations)
family planning, 82–83, 171–172, 253 fires. See also adhana (setting of three fires); agni-hotra (three fires); agni-karya (daily fire
maintenance); agni-ksetra
(outdoor multi-fire complex); ahavaniya (offering fire in east); aupasana (household fire);
daksina-agni (southern fire);
Fuller, Christopher, 49
funeral rites. See brahma-medha (funeral rites); pitr-medha
(funeral rites for ahitagni/patni); sapindi-karana (twelfth-day funeral rite); sraddha (funeral rite)
Gandhi, 18, 23
Gangamma (goddess), 25, 198
garbha (embryo), 201
garbha-dana (impregnation), 172, 174 Gardner, Robert, 46
garha-patya (cooking fire in west), 42, 43, 44, 49, 51, 67, 181, 193,
195–196, 200, 201, 202, 211, 212, 219, 224, 241
Gauri (goddess), 185–186
Gauri-loka (heaven of Gauri), 186, 242, 244
gayatri (mantric meter), 29, 94, 142, 143, 258
gentleman farmers, 100–103, 177 ghana (braided recitation), 40, 73, 76–77, 82, 95, 96–97, 135, 135, 149, 155, 175, 250
ghana-pathi (master of ghana), 35, 38, 77, 82, 84, 90, 110, 124, 133, 138, 149 Girija Syamala (wife of Duvvuri Sita Ram Sastry), 84, 137, 175
goats. See animal sacrifice
Godavari Delta, 5–27. See also Andhra Pradesh
agrahara and temple pilgrimages, 23–27, 279n42
arrival of Europeans, 16–18 domestication of, 18–21
dynasties of regional kings, 9–11 early centuries, 7–9
Index 329
Gungu (goddess), 201
Guru. See also brahmacarin/
brahmacarya; specific individuals
for brahmacarins, 29, 32, 33–34, 34,
emergence of Telugu literature, 7, 12 and Islam, 13–14, 278n16
Kakatiya dynasty, 12–13
as modern Telegu langauge
state, 21–23
riverine lifelines, 5–7
rule of Vijayanagara, 14–16
Godavari Mandala Parisad, 79
Godavari River, 1
Gonda, Jan, 212–213
go-sava (bull imitation), 232
gotra (clan), 31, 163–164
Grantha (script), 10
grha (house), 29
grhastha (householder), 34–36. See also householders
grhya. See aupasana (household fire) Gullapalli Butchi Rama Sarma Avadhani (son of Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), 135, 167
Gullapalli Chinna Anjaneya
Ghanapathi (son of Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), 135, 167
Gullapalli family, 34, 132–140, 135, 153, 158, 178
Gullapalli Ramakrishna Avadhani (son of Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), 135, 167
Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri Avadhanulu, 34, 77, 134–138, 149, 164, 167,
171, 247
Gullapalli Venkata Naga Srirama Avadhani (son of Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), 135, 137, 167
Gullapalli Venkata Rama
Suryanarayana, 82
Gullapalli Venkata Surya Subrahmanya Avadhanulu, 135, 167
146–147
and husband/wife relationship, 75 and mantras, 142
havir-dhana (shed for soma-stalk carts), 211, 212, 213
heaven. See loka (world)
Heesterman, Jan, 184, 188, 209, 237, 288n6
Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 179
Hiranyakesi Srauta Sutra, 230
homa (daily offerings), 35, 42–43, 64, 66, 143, 189, 205, 226
honoraria. See sambhavana (honoraria) hotr (major priest), 47, 48, 200, 202, 231, 235
householders, 157–186. See also specific individuals
agni-stoma events, 44–47
children and life-cycle rites, 170–175 death and beyond, 184–186
fire offerings, 42–43, 43
livelihood among, 176–179
marriage, 160, 162–170
old age/retirement/renunciation, 180–184, 287n17
renaming of, 45
voices of women, 157–162
huna-vidya (foreign ways), 21, 69, 114, 250–251, 279n32
Ida (goddess), 201, 214
immortality, 44, 45
India and modernity, 247–250 cash economy, 40, 97, 156, 176–177, 248–249
dollar remittances to, 255
330 Index
India and modernity (Cont.)
and emigration to America, 254–258 huna-vidya as rival education, 250–251 life expectancy increases, 256
profiles of ahitagni from. See Mitranarayana (Bhamidipati Mitranarayana Sarvatomukha Somayaji)
mobility in new era, 249–250
power shift for Brahmans, 251–253 television, 251, 252
Indian Express, The, on Kapilavayi Yajnesvara Sastri, 119
Indra (deity), 200, 206, 213, 215, 216, 226, 232–233, 292n59
Indra-Agni (dual deity), 44, 199 Indra Sutraman (deity), 233
Iragavaram Village, 132–138
establishment of, 25
profiles of ahitagni from. See
Gullapalli family
Islam, 13–14
istaka (bricks), 46
isti (new-and-full moon offerings), 36, 44, 47, 56, 62, 67, 70, 74, 78, 80, 89, 110, 111, 131, 132, 152, 161, 191, 197, 199, 200, 202, 206–207, 212, 214, 238, 240, 250–251
Jainism, 11
Jamison, Stephanie, 203, 216, 293n62 janma-rahita (absence of rebirths), 183 japa (repetitive prayer), 63, 94, 105, 197
jata-karma (birth-rite), 173–174 jata-patha (recitation pattern), 35, 149 Jatavedas, 193
Jayendra Sarasvati Swami, 183 Jay Prakasa Talkies, 252
jiva (spirit), 174
jnana (knowledge), 113
Jones, Kenneth, 21
jyoti-stoma. See agni-stoma (initiatory soma offering)
Kakinada Town, 110–116, 115–116, 117 establishment of, 25
Kalyani (great-granddaughter of Baballa), 68, 69
Kamala (wife of Samavedam), 92, 96, 171
Kambhampati Laksmana
Avadhani, 134
Kamesvara (Bulusu Kamesvara), 43, 91, 106–109, 117
agni-hotra, 200
family of, 160, 170–171, 247
marriage of, 163
in old age, 114
as rtvij, 110
shows agni-hotra hearth, 74
soma, 160, 190, 220
vaja-peya, 230
Kamesvari (wife of Pullela
Laksminarayana), 109–110, 117, 137, 164, 171, 198, 242
Kamesvari Agrahara, 97–106
establishment of, 24–25, 177
profiles of ahitagni from. See Lanka (Lanka Venkatarama Sastri)
Kampan (poet), 12
kamya (rite for personal desire), 41 Kanaka Durga (wife of Duvvuri Surya Prakasa), 72, 77, 79, 80, 81, 83, 137, 164, 167
Kanci Pitha, 83
Kandukuri Virasalingam, 21–22 Kane, P. V., 183, 293n68
Kannada language, 12
Kapilavayi Agnihotra Sarma (son of Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 33, 124, 127, 152, 226
Kapilavayi Agni Rama Kumar (son of Kapilavayi Venkatesvara), 121, 122, 123
Kapilavayi Chinna Rama Sastri (brother of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara Agnihotra Sastri), 118, 119, 121
Index 331
Krishna River, 20–21
Krishna Yajur Veda, 37, 83, 151, 188 Krishnayya, M. V., xvi–xvii, 98, 114,
Kapilavayi Pedda Rama Sastri (brother of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara Agnihotra Sastri), 118, 119, 123, 191
Kapilavayi Rama Sastri (son of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara), 116–117, 123, 124–132, 126, 132, 140, 150, 151, 167, 178, 189–190, 191, 208, 225–226, 234–235, 257
Kapilavayi Rama Yajna Varaha Narasimha (son of Kapilavayi
Venkatesvara), 121, 122, 123
Kapilavayi Venkata Somayajulu (father of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara), 118
Kapilavayi Venkatesvara Sastri (son of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara), 45, 116–117, 120–123, 122, 124, 125, 127–132, 132, 151, 164, 167, 171–172, 178, 204, 217, 225, 257
Kapilavayi Yajnesvara Agnihotra Sastri, 99, 107, 116–120, 124, 150, 175, 191, 204
karma (act/work), 78, 105, 113, 183, 186, 202
Kashikar, C. G., 41, 220
Kausika River, 3, 6
Keith, A. B., 29
Knipe, David M., 101, 254
Kolhatkar, Madhavi, 280n7
Konasima, 6–8, 21. See also specific agrahara and villages
Konasima Brahmans. See also specific profiles of individuals
knowledge of Taittiriya, 46
modernity and power shifts, 251–253 krama-patha (step-by-step recitation), 35 krama-pathi (one certified in
krama-patha), 282n4
kravyad (Agni in cremation ritual), 49, 238
116, 117, 255
kriya (ritual act), 42, 48, 56, 65, 67–68, 99, 105, 141, 160, 165, 181, 219, 221, 229, 234, 240, 241
Ksetrapati (deity), 207
Kuhu (goddess), 201
Kulke, Hermann, 9
Kumari (wife of Samavedam
Venkatarama Ghanapathi), 95, 97 Kumbha Mela (Prayag), 154–155 kurma (tortoise), 56, 58, 227
kusa. See darbha (grass)
ladles, 195, 203
Laksmi (Nagalaksmi) (wife of Duvvuri Phani), 82, 137, 138, 253
Laksmi (wife of Prabhala
Krishnamurti), 95
Laksmikanta (wife of Renducintala Yajulu), 86, 158, 159, 185, 220–221 Laksmi Narasakanta (wife of
Bhamidipati Yajnesvara Prasad), 68, 69, 158, 172
Laksmi Narasimha Murti (son of Pullela Laksminarayana), 110
Laksminarayana (Pullela
Laksminayana Soma-yajulu), 107, 109–110, 117, 200
agrayana and agni-hotra, 198
death of, 180
marriage of, 164, 171
soma, 220
wife’s funeral rites, 242
Lanka (Lanka Venkatarama Sastri), 97–106, 98, 100–101, 113, 117
abhi-cara, 128
adhana, 191
as adhvaryu, 61
advanced learning, 149, 151
332 Index
Lanka (Cont.)
agni-hotra, 198, 200
agni-stoma, 65, 103
brahmacarin period, 99–100, 111 brahma-medha, 66
catur-masya, 89, 207
comments on rites, 203, 204, 209, 210, 214, 220, 226, 228
death rites in home, 185
on family planning, 172
funeral of, 246
as gentleman farmer, 100–101, 102–103, 177–178
and honoraria, 77, 156, 179, 248, 249 on importance of patni, 160
on learning the texts on
amavasya, 144
lineage of, 91, 102, 106, 143, 170–171, 247, 249
marriage of, 163, 164
as “new” Apastamba, 99, 103–104 on old age, 180
performance of marriage
ceremonies, 167–168
receives Padma Bhushan award, 105, 250
as rtvij, 52–53
on sabha, 154
sama-vartana, 147–148
soma ritual, 110
as Traditionalist, 252–253, 255
vaja-peya, 229–230
Lanka Annapurna Sastri (son of Lanka), 183
laukika (secular Brahman), 28, 41, 67, 247, 251. See also specific individuals linga (phallic symbol of Siva), 8, 13, 25–27, 62, 106, 121, 124
loka (world). See brahma-loka (heaven of Brahma); Gauri-loka (heaven of Gauri); pitr-loka (heaven of
ancestors); svarga (heaven)
loka-prna (space filler in cayana), 222 Lord of the Seven Hills temple complex, Tirupati, 25
losta-cayana or losta-citi (funerary replica of agni-cayana), 66, 67, 90, 185, 240, 241, 242
Madan, T. S., 185
Madhava, 15
madhu-kara (brahmacarin begging rite), 30, 31, 226
Madhuri (great-granddaughter of Baballa), 68, 69, 179
madi (ritual purity), 96, 159–160, 249 Mahabharata, 12
Maha-Sivaratri, 26
maha-vedi (great altar), 44, 47, 50 Maha-vira (great hero), in pravargya rite, 218–219, 238
maha-vrata (great vow), 47, 74, 188, 221, 230–232
maila (ritual defilement), 160, 197 Malamoud, Charles, 216, 227–228 Manava Dharma Sastra, 152
mancam (bed/throne for soma), 211, 213
mandala (circle), 149, 150, 213, 223 Mandal Commission, 253
mangala-sutra (bride’s neck thread), 169 mantra, 29, 142, 147, 150, 162–163, 173–174, 257–258
Mantrapatha, 168
Manu, 254, 256
maps
Andhra Pradesh, xxi
river deltas of coastal Andhra, xxii marriage. See vivaha (marriage) Marriage Act (1955), 164–165
Maruti (wife of Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 125, 126, 158, 161, 171–172, 178, 208
Maruts (deities), 209, 229
masa (moon/month), 44, 64, 79, 136, 184, 199–204, 221
matha (meditation center), 11 mekhala (waistband), 45, 142
menarche, 34, 168–169, 172–173. See also puberty rites
menarika (cross-cousin marriage), 59, 137–138, 165–166, 167
menses, 50, 160, 165, 282n18, 285n3 Mimamsa, 144, 151
Mitranarayana (Bhamidipati Mitranarayana Sarvatomukha Somayaji), 25, 110–116,
115–116, 117
catur-masya, 207–208
comments on rites, 184, 204, 220, 230
on cultural change, 250–251
family of, 171
and honoraria, 156, 179, 248
marriage of, 102, 103
on modern mobility, 249
in old age, 180–181
and recitations with Sathya Sai Baba, 183
sarvato-mukha, 228
soma, 190, 191, 210
and TTD service, 182
modernity. See India and modernity moksa (liberation from rebirth), 183, 186, 225
Mrtyu (deity), 208, 238, 246
mrtyu-cakra (astrological death chart), 105, 180
muhurta (auspicious time for rite), 68, 101, 167–168
murti (image of deity), 14
musi-vayanam (funeral for wife who dies first), 185–186, 242, 244, 287n26
for Rama Suryakanta (wife of Cayanulu), 86, 186, 242
Index 333
for Surya (wife of Duvvuri Yajulu), 78–79, 186
mystical experiences, 30–31, 49, 51, 66
Naciketas (sage), 227
Nagarjuna (Buddhist philosopher), 9 naksatra (constellation),
203–204, 290n22
naksatresti (isti offering to twenty-eight constellations), 199
Nambudiri Vaidika Brahmans of
Kerala, 46
naming of children, 76, 174
Nannaya (poet), 12, 27
Narasamamba (wife of Gullapalli Sita Ram Sastri), 134, 135, 138, 164, 171 Narasamamba, Lakshmi, xvii
Narasimha (deity), 121
National Highways Development Project, 249
Nedunuri Srirama Murti, 102–103, 177 nidana (correspondence), 142, 193, 226 nirudha pasu (animal sacrifice), 215, 217 nitya (obligatory rituals), 41–42, 44, 46 nomu (woman’s vow), 90
nyasa (bodily purifying/touching), 143
Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC), 257–258
Olivelle, Patrick, 286n11, 287n17
Opportunists, 248, 251, 253
pada-patha (word-by-word recitation), 35, 148
paka-yajna (offering of cooked
food), 221
Pali language, 8
Palkuri Somanatha, 12
panna (set of Vedic textual lessons), 29, 40, 48, 68, 86, 95, 121, 136, 137,
144–145
Paramesvara (deity), 244
334 Index
parayana (scheduled public recitation), 40, 63. See also Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD)
parayatta (dependent portion of Veda), 144
parisad (organization, e.g. of Vedic Brahmans), 284n16
Parjanya (deity), 207
Parpola, Asko, 41, 215, 220, 229, 231, 290n22, 292n56
Parsis, 50
pasu (animal), 170
pasu-bandha. See animal sacrifice patha (recitation pattern), 35, 46, 148, 153, 154
patha-sala (Vedic school), 30, 112–113 pati (husband/lord), 8
patni (wife). See also specific wives ability to speak freely, 283n10
as co-sacrificer, 160, 285n3
in menses, 50
pitr-medha (funeral rites for), 67–68, 239
selection of, 31–32
patni-sala (secluded space for patni), 50 Pattabhi Sitaramayya, 22
Patton, Laurie, 196, 206
paundarika (forty-day fire-altar sacrifice), 36, 47, 50, 74, 88, 109, 112, 119, 126–127, 128, 131, 132, 152, 161, 170, 181, 220, 225–226, 231–232
pinda (cooked rice ball offering), 205, 209, 245
pinda-dana (rice ball offering), 243 pinda-pitr-yajna (offering to
ancestors), 200
Pisapati Venkata Siddhanti, 133 pitr. See ancestors (pitr)
pitr-loka (heaven of ancestors), 209, 243 pitr-medha (funeral rites for ahitagni/ patni), 67–68, 239
pitr-tarpana (offering to deceased), 243 Polo, Marco, 13–14
Prabhala Krishnamurti, 60, 95 pracina-vamsa (fire enclosure for srauta rites), 211
praghasa (second catur-masya rite), 211 Prajapati (deity), 43–44, 196, 199, 200, 201, 206, 221, 222, 228, 235
Prakrit language, 8
prakrti (paradigm), 199
prana (breath), 142, 143
Pranati (daughter of Duvvuri Sita Ram Sastry), 84
prasna. See panna (set of Vedic textual lessons)
pravara (ancestral lineage), 163–164 pravargya (hot milk offering), 188, 218–219
prayascitta (expiations), 78, 197 preta (disembodied spirit of deceased), 68, 174, 185–186, 218, 238, 245 puberty rites, 165, 286n9
Puhvel, Jaan, 234
puja (worship), 49, 93, 106, 134, 160, 177, 196, 198, 205, 250
pujari (temple priest), 39, 40
Pullela. See Laksminarayana (Pullela Laksminayana Soma-yajulu)
pumsavana (prenatal rite), 173
pumscali (prostitute), 74, 231
punar-adhana (rekindling fire), 194 punar-adheya (rekindling fire), 194 punar-dahana (second cremation fire), 66, 67, 90, 239–240, 241, 242
punya (auspicious), 146, 165
Puranas, 13
purnima (full moon), 110, 112, 198, 200 purodasa (loaf of rice-flour dough), 44 purohita (family priest), 30, 36, 69, 87, 143, 152
purusa (human), 85, 219
Purusa-Prajapati (deity), 46, 241
Pusan (deity), 208, 238
Pushkara, 155
Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli, 22 railroads, 20
raja (king), 8, 14, 45, 234
raja-suya (consecration of king), 8–9, 232, 237
rajasvala-purva (pre-pubescent girl), 31, 86, 123, 128, 137, 138, 162, 164–165, 243
Raka (deity), 201
Ramam (Chirravuri Srirama Sarma), 60, 67, 70–71, 96, 103, 240
Ramana Murti (son of Bulusu Cayanulu), 86, 91
Ramanuja (reformer/
philosopher), 11, 13
Ramarao, N. T. “NIR” (film star/ politician), 252
Rama Suryakanta (wife of Bulusu Cayanulu), 86, 171, 186
Rani Hayagriva Avadhani, 92, 107 Rao, P. Raghunanda, 21
Rao, P. V. Narasimha, 89, 253 Rao, Velcheru Narayana, 285n3 rasi (astrological house), 40
ratha (chariot), 230
ratha-cakra citi (chariot-wheel altar), 223, 229
ratha-patha (chariot recitation), 35, 149
Ravi Cayanulu, 80
“Red Knight’s Song” (Carroll), 97 Rekha (great-granddaughter of Baballa), 68, 69, 179
Religious and Charitable
Endowments Acts
(1951/1969/1979/1987/2006), 38 remarriage, 169–170
Remella Surya Prakasa Sastri Avadhani, 80, 113
Index 335
Renducintala (Venkatacalu) Yajulu, 86–88, 91, 99, 107, 111, 119, 159,
196, 220–221, 224, 228, 231, 247
Renducintala Canandrasekhara Yajulu (son of Renducintala Yajulu), 228
Renducintala Krishna Cayanulu,
132, 225
Renducintala Satyanarayana Avadhani (son of Renducintala Yajulu), 248
Renducintala Yajulu Narayana (son of Renducintala Yajulu), 185
renunciation, 180–184, 287n17
retas (semen), 193, 202, 206, 214
Reynolds, Holly, 285n3
Rg Veda, 29, 35, 36, 37, 38, 45, 47, 49, 50, 99, 120, 121, 125, 145,
149–150, 169, 188, 193, 201, 203,
213, 214, 227, 234, 235, 237–238,
242, 244
rice, 1, 2, 7, 18, 21, 179
Ricoeur, Paul, 147
rna (debt), 29
Rothermund, Dietmar, 9
rsi (sage), 29, 31, 146–147. See also specific individuals
rtvij (priest in a sacrifice), 36, 44, 47, 51, 52–53, 65, 86, 110, 161
Rudra, Pratapa, 13–14
sabda (sacred sound), 146, 257
sabha (debate), 36, 99, 103, 153–156 Sacred Books of the East, The
(Eggeling), 224
sacred thread, 29–30, 107, 142, 172 sadas (bamboo-screened sacrifice area), 52–53, 211, 212, 219
sadhu (ascetic), 30, 119, 146
sakha (branch/school of Veda), 35, 37, 39, 121, 149, 150–151, 153, 163–164, 201. See also specific schools
and texts
sallekhana (fast to death), 11336 Index
saman (Sama Veda chant), 35, 48, 150, 193, 219, 236
sama-vartana (return of student from guru), 34, 147–148
Sama Veda, 35, 37, 45, 47, 48, 99, 120, 121, 145, 149, 150, 188, 193, 219, 236
Samavedam (Samavedam
Suryanarayana Avadhani), 91–97, 92, 95, 117
agni-hotra, 198
on Baballa, 66
brahmacarin period, 60–61, 149 comments about Knipe, 254
family of, 171, 247
funeral of, 240, 241
and honoraria, 168
lineage of, 164, 243
livelihood of, 176–177, 178
sabha, 156
and TTD service, 179, 182, 248, 249 Samavedam Bhaskara Ghanapati (son of Samavedam), 95, 97, 240, 255 Samavedam Venkatarama Ghanapathi (son of Samavedam), 95, 97, 240 Samavedam Venkata Ramana, 82 sambhavana (honoraria), 40, 80, 154, 156
samhita (collection of verses), 35, 46, 136, 148
samnyasin (renouncer-ascetic), 30, 58, 182, 183
samsara (worldly existence), 28, 70, 93, 143, 186
samskara (rite of passage), 80, 172–175 samstha (soma sacrifice), 46, 220, 221 Samudragupta, 9
sandhya-vandana (worship at sunset and dawn), 29, 43, 143
Sankara (reformer/philosopher), 11, 13 Sankaracarya of Kancipuram, 104 Sankara Veda Patha-sala, 133
Sanskrit, 12
sapindi-karana (twelfth-day funeral rite), 68, 245–246
sapta-santana (seven offerings), 24 Sarasvati (deity), 229, 233
Sarma, Pavan Kumar (son-in-law of Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 127, 132 sarvato-mukha (soma sacrifice with four directional altars), 47, 228
sastra (Rg Veda verses), 45, 46, 48, 74, 134, 211, 228. See also Rg Veda
Sastri, Nilakanta, 10–11
Satapatha Brahmana, 46
Sathya Sai Baba, 94, 182–183
Sathya Sai Baba Trust, 183
satkara (cash honoraria), 94
sattra (year-long or longer sacrifice), 221, 230–231, 239
Satyam Computers, 84
Satyanarayana temple
(Annavaram), 124
Satyavati (wife of Kamesvara), 43, 74, 107, 108, 158, 159–160, 161–162, 163, 170–171, 201
*sauma (hypothetical Indo-Iranian name for soma), 50, 188, 213
sautramani (offering to Indra), 232–233, 292n59
Savai Jayasing (raja of Amber), 234 savitri (Rg Veda mantra, cf, gayatri), 29, 142
Savitri (wife of Bullebbayi), 158, 159 Sayana (Vedic commentator), 15 Sayers, Matthew, 290n27
Selecters, 247, 248, 251, 253
seventeen, significance of number, 46, 228–229, 281n13
Shende, Ganeshashastri, 280n7 Silpa Sastras, 40
simantonnayana (prenatal rite), 173, 174 Sinivali (goddess), 201
Sira (deity), 207
sisya (student), 70, 137, 150, 240. See also brahmacarin/brahmacarya Sita (deity), 207
Sita Mahalaksmi (wife of Kapilavayi Yajnesvara), 120
Sita Naga Laksmi (daughter of
Index 337
srautin (performer of srauta rites), 30–31, 36, 225
Srinatha (poet), 13
Sripada Laksmi Narasimha
Soma-yaji, 109
Sripada Manikya Avadhani
Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 126, 127, 132, 158
Sita Rama Laksmi (wife of Kapilavayi Venkatesvara), 121, 122, 123, 164 Siva (deity), 13, 76–77, 103
Siva Purana, 76–77
Siva-ratri (all night Siva worship), 113, 155, 182
sixteen, significance of number, 47–48, 134, 173, 175
smarta (domestic rites and texts), 56, 61, 69, 87, 109, 134, 188
smasana (cremation ground), 184, 239, 240, 241
Smith, Brian K., 184, 244
Smith, Frederick M., 281n10,
282nn19–20
snana (ritual bath), 34, 148
sodasin (soma sacrifice), 46, 221 Soma (deity), 45, 168, 200, 201, 205, 206, 214, 216
soma (sacred plant), 35, 44–45, 213–214, 215, 217–218,
235, 243
soma-bhaksana (drinking soma), 65 soma-pa (drinker of soma), 233 soma-pravaka (mediator), 47
Somayaji/Somayajulu (title), 45, 59, 158, 174
Somi-devamma (title), 45, 158, 160 sraddha (faith), 75, 106, 162
sraddha (funeral rite), 66, 101–102, 106, 155, 184, 185–186, 246
srauta (extended fire rites/texts), 30–31, 36–37, 41, 280n1
srauta-kaksa (ritual rivalry), 127–132
Ghanapathi, 60, 103, 107
Sriramapuram Agrahara, 4, 54–97 overview, 54–56
establishment of, 24, 177
profiles of ahitagni from. See
Baballa (Bhamidipati Yajnesvara); Cayanulu (Bulusu Vyaghresvara Cayanulu); Duvvuri Yajnesvara Paundarika Yajulu; Samavedam (Samavedam Suryanarayana
Avadhani)
Sri Venkatesvara University, 83 Staal, Frits, 41, 46, 142, 215,
225, 283n12
stages of life. See asrama (stages of life) sthali-pakana (offering), 35, 169, 189, 280n7
stoma (arrangement of verses in soma sacrifice). See agni-stoma (initiatory soma offering)
Subbalaksmi (wife of Cayanulu), 85, 86, 87, 88–89, 90–91, 158, 170, 171, 185, 196, 202, 242
Sukla Yajur Veda, 37, 46, 47, 119, 145, 150–151, 237
su-mangali (auspicious married woman), 162
Suna (deity), 207
Sunasiriya (deity), 206
Sundari (wife of Baballa), 57, 59, 62–63, 67, 68, 70, 159, 163, 171, 179, 205, 226, 227, 242
Sundari (wife of Samavedam
Bhaskara), 95, 97
sura (ritual beverage), 46, 221, 226, 228–233
338 Index
surpa (ritual winnowing fan), 200, 208, 238, 241
Surya (deity), 43, 196, 199, 206 Surya (wife of Duvvuri Yajulu), 72, 74, 75–76, 78–79, 110–111, 117, 163, 170–171, 181, 186, 201, 206, 242, 243
Surya Prakasa Pavankumar Sarma (son of Duvvuri Phani), 82–83
sutra (manual), 204, 233. See also specific texts
Svaha Devi (daughter of Kapilavayi Rama Sastri), 127
svarga (heaven), 184, 203, 232, 239, 244–246
svasti-vacana (Rg Veda mantras), 73, 155
svayam-atrnna (stones in
agni-cayana), 222
svista-krt (offering for Agni), 236 Syama Sundara Srirama Sarma (son of Duvvuri Phani), 82–83
syena (eagle steals soma), 223
syena-citi (flying eagle altar), 46, 223
Tachikawa, Musashi, 280n7
Taittiriya, 37
Taittiriya Aranyaka, 144–145
Taittiriya Brahmana, 144–145, 188, 193, 202, 204, 214, 227, 232, 245
Taittiriya Samhita, 29, 32, 35, 46, 77, 96, 112–113, 120, 136, 144–145, 149, 155, 188, 202, 203–204, 208, 216, 226, 234, 242, 245
Taittiriya Upanisad, 144–145
Talbot, Cynthia, 10, 24, 278n15 Tamil language, 12, 22
Tangirala Balangangadhara Sastri, 120, 150, 254
Tangirala Rama Somayajulu, 134 Tangirala Subba Avadhanulu, 134 tapas (heat of ascetic practice), 218
tarpana (offerings to deceased), 243 Tata Nano, 249
Telegu language, 12
Thapar, Romila, 9
Thite, Ganesh, xx, 216
Thomas, Dylan, 232
Tikkana (poet), 12
tila (sesame seed), 245
tirthankara (Jaina saint), 11
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Bhamidipati Mitranarayana’s service under, 111–112
and cash economy, 176
Cayanulu’s service under, 89, 178 disavowment of, 99
Duvvuri Surya Prakasa’s service under, 80
explanation of, 38–40, 63
honoraria for temple recitations, 40 Laksminarayana’s service under, 110 opposition to, 39, 248
retirement income, 181
Traditionalists, 247–249, 251
transcendence, 187
tretagni (three-hearth fire), 42–43, 50 TTD. See Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanam
Tvastr (deity), 201, 226
tyaga (abandonment of merit to gods), 244
ucchista (food/drink leavings), 76, 195–196, 214
udgatr (major priest), 47, 48, 231, 235 United East India Company, 17 United Kingdom
Hindu temples in, 40
United States
Hindu temples in, 40–41
Indian immigration to, 84, 254–258 invitations to serve in urban Hindu temples, 83, 84, 97
University of Madras, 21
Upadhyayula Nagendram, 43, 190 upanayana. See sacred thread Upanishads, 11, 37, 38, 189
Uppuluri Ganapati Sastri, 38, 40, 111–112
uttara-vedi (eastern altar), 211, 212, 219
vaisva-deva (offering), 37, 43, 196, 207–208
vaja-peya (drink of strength), 10, 46, 188, 228–230
Vajasaneya Samhita, 150–151
Value Labs, 84
Index 339
stages of life and learning with Veda pandits, 28–38
vocabulary of ahitagni, 41–49, 280n8 voices of ahitagni and other Veda pandits, 52–53
Veda Pandits in Andhra (book), 40
veda-vikriya (selling of Veda), 39, 53, 63, 65, 104, 248
vedi (space between hearths), 42, 43, 44, 200
Venkatesvara (patron deity of
Andhra), 25
vesya (prostitute), 231
vidhi (injunction), 151, 152
vana-prastha (wilderness wanderer), 181 vana-prasthin (one who retires to forest), 181
vapa (omentum of sacrificed animal), 216, 236, 238–239
varna (class), 28
Varuna (deity), 208, 209, 226
Varuna-praghasa (second catur-masya rite), 207, 208, 209
vasanta (spring season), 206
Vayu (deity), 206, 213, 226
Veda. See also vedamlo unnaru (existing in Veda); specific branches
textual tradition, 37
as without human authorship, 37–38, 145
veda (brush), 201–203, 214
Veda, process of becoming, 141 advanced degrees, 148–152
bramacharin period, 141–144
learning the texts, 144–147
sabha (debates), 153–156
sama-vartana (graduation day), 147–148
vedamlo unnaru (existing in
Veda), 28–53
bonding with Agni, 49–52
and career options, 38–41
Vidyaranya (Advaita scholar), 63 vikrti (text modification for recitation), 35, 148, 151
Virabhadra, an avatara of Siva, 13 Virabhadra Somayaji (ancestor of Baballa), 58
Visalaksi (daughter of Samavedam), 96 Visnu (deity), 15, 214
Visnubhatla Laksminarayana, 82 Visvanatha Jagannatha
Ghanapathi, 134
Visve Deva (All Gods), 43, 154, 196, 205, 209, 246
vivaha (marriage), 31, 162–170 vrata (vow), 13, 97, 120
vrddhi (retired), 40
Vyaghresvaram Village, 106–110 establishment of, 24–25
profiles of ahitagni from. See
Kamesvara (Bulusu Kamesvara); Laksminarayana (Pullela
Laksminayana Soma-yajulu)
vyasana (passion), 146
Weaver-caste families, 17
White Yajur Veda. See Sukla Yajur Veda
Widow Remarriage Association, 22
340 Index
widows, 22, 56, 79, 123, 158, 169–170, 185–186, 283n10
wives. See patni (wife)
yajamana (sacrificer), 42, 47
yajna (sacrifice), 45
yajnopavita. See sacred thread Yajulu (title), 45, 59, 158, 174
yajus (directive mantra), 151
Yama (deity), 204, 224
yoktra (patni’s ritual belt), 45, 160, 201–202 yoni (female genitals), 51, 193
yupa (sacrificial pole/post), 46, 211, 212, 216, 228
Zoastrian tradition, 45, 50, 145