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the sannyasi and the Indian wrestler: the anatomy of a relationship
Abstract
Indian wrestling (pahalwani) is a disciplined way of life that demands rigorous physical and moral training. In this regard it is analogous to the Hindu life path of world renunciation (sannyas). Here I show how Indian wrestlers use the model of sannyas to help define their way of life. Wrestlers recognize the centrality of the physico‐moral body as a defining idiom of identity. Their interpretation of body discipline thus sheds light on general theoretical issues relating to identity formation and concepts of the person in Hindu South Asia. [India, wrestling, sannyas, asceticism, identity, body discipline]
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Scholarly explorations of Siddha medicine are rare and sub-disciplines such as varmakkalai are only little known.
“Scholarly explorations of Siddha medicine are rare in any regard and sub-disciplines such as varmakkalai are only little known. 3”
From Kaḷari and Vaittiyacālai: Medicine and Martial Arts Intertwined (2012) · cites this paper as [3]
Often the ground of a kalari, like that in kalarippayattu or the akhada of North Indian pahalwani wrestling, is made up of special mixtures of soil or sand, to assure softness of the ground, reducing injuries from throws, jumps and falls.
“Often the ground of a kal ari , like that in kal arippayat t u 20 or the ākhād ā of North Indian pahalwāni wrestling, 21 is made up of special mixtures of soil or sand, to assure softness of the ground, reducing injuries from throws, jumps and falls.”
From Kaḷari and Vaittiyacālai: Medicine and Martial Arts Intertwined (2012) · cites this paper as Alter 1992a, p. 319
There is a rich and varied tradition of martial practices in South Asia; different regions display varying martial practices and have been the subject of scholarly research.
“Of course, this does not mean that there is not a rich and varied tradition of martial practices in South Asia. Different regions display varying martial practices and have been the subject of scholarly research.”
From Kaḷari and Vaittiyacālai: Medicine and Martial Arts Intertwined (2012) · cites this paper as Alter 1992a
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References 41 · Cited by 34
Research works printed but not linked: 77
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Metadata
- Authors
- ALTER, J. S.
- Affiliations
- Goshen College (US)
- Corresponding author
- ALTER, JOSEPH S.
- ORCID
- ALTER, JOSEPH S.
- Venue
- American Ethnologist
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1992-05
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 317-336
- ISSN
- 0094-0496 (ISSN-L)
- 1548-1425
- OpenAlex
- W2095177169
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 31.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Ethnologist (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › South Asian Studies and Diaspora
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Martial Arts: Techniques, Psychology, and Education
- Keywords
- renunciation, asceticism, body discipline, identity construction, Hinduism
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