MADHAVI NARSALAY
Mumbai University madhavinarsalay@yahoo.com
INTER- AND INTRATEXTUALITY IN THE ACCOUNT OF DESTRUCTION OF DAKṢA’S YAJÑA
The destruction of the yajña performed by Dakṣa is an important episode in the Epics and the Purāṇas. The Rāmāyaṇa gives a passing reference to it (Bālakāṇḍa 66,9–10). However, the Mahābhārata gives a detailed account of it in the Sauptikaparvan and Śāntiparvan. Twelve Mahāpurāṇas describe the story. The number indicates the religious significance, popularity and the causal nature of the account. By causal nature, it is meant that the effect of this sacred story is reflected in various accounts further for example the creation of Śaktipīṭhas.
The paper will focus on
- The Inter-textuality of the sacred story: This incorporates the inter-relationship of Purānas with each other
- The Intra-textuality of the sacred story: This incorporates the various layers of narratives within one text for the formulation of the entire story
By the study of this narrative, one can understand the fluidity of the Epic-Purānic tradition which involves a mixture of various voices because of borrowing and reshaping the narrative from Vedic literature. The path is two-fold: a) study of narrative in a polyphonic manner b) the dialogue which a text has with itself. In the course of the discussion, the paper will comment upon ritualism, worship, rise and decline of various gods and rise of Śaktipīṭhas.