Indian Ritual and Belief The Keys of Power

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This reprint of an original work (first published in 1932) is an interpretative study of Indian costume that attempts to show how the concept of a supernatural cosmic power dominates popular practice.

The author believes that this cosmic power is Sakti to the Hindu and Kudrat to the Muslims. And this all-pervasive force acts both good and for evil. In a sense main's whole endeavour in magic and religious rituals is to obtain control of this power for his own benefit and accumulate a fund of it as a source of all forms of blessing.

After given his key concept, the author explains keys of Power or Keys of Punya, those axioms and rules of conduct that man frames in his effort to control power for his own purposes, to preserve it, to transfer it, to coerce it or invoke it. He has also sketched the factors that destroy power. Accordingly, he devotes separate chapter on the power of man, woman, evil-eye, ground, fire, metal, salt, stones, time, colours, numbers, sweet things, trees, grain, bread and animals. There are also chapters on the ritual of agriculture, spirits, and curses and oaths.

This comprehensive work that contain an astonishing wealth of customs covers both Hindus and Muslims. A useful glossary, numerous diagrams and an exhaustive index further enhance the value of this work for both the scholar and the general reader.

About the Author

John Abbott, B. A. (Oxon), was born in1884. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1908 and served in various positions in the Bombay Presidency, retiring in December 1932.

He is also the author of Sind: a Re-interpretation of the Unhappy Valley (OUP, 1924). Part of this book had appeared in Calcutta Review and Pioneer.

Contents:

Preface 
Glossary
I     Life and Power
II    The Power of Man
III   The Power of Woman
IV    The Power of Evil-Eye
V     The Power of The Ground
VI    The Power of Water
VII   The Power of Fire
VIII  The Power of Metals
IX    The Power of Salt
X     The Power of Stones
XI    The Power of Time
XII   The Power of Colours
XIII  The Power of Numbers
XIV   The Power of Sweet Things
XV    The Power of Trees
XVI   The Weather
XVII  The Ritual of Agriculture 
XVIII The Power of Grain
XIX   The Power of Bread
XX    The Power of Animals
XXI   Spirits
XXII  Curses and Oaths
XXIII The Invocation of Power
XXIV  Totemism and the Maratha 'Devak'
      Appendix 1. Dev aks
      Appendix 2. The Pancpalvi
      Appendix 3. The Halgamba
XXV   The Coercion of Power
XXVI  The Destruction of Power
APPENDICES
A. Hindu and Muhammadan Charms
B. Hindu Festival on which certain Forms of Himsa are forbidden or allowed
C. Utara in the Deccan
D. Restriction of Intermarriage between kul of the Katkaris
E. The Power of the Cardinal Points

INDEX