Ebook: The goddesses' henchmen: gender in Indian hero worship

The Rajputs ruled the vast majority of the kingdoms that were joined together after Indian independence to form the state of Rajasthan, "Land of Kings." An important part of Rajput religion is the worship of "heroes" who have died in battle. This practice has attained new significance in recent years, as right-wing Hindu activists have deployed narratives about heroism in Rajput wars with Muslim emperors. In this book, Lindsey Harlan explores the idea of the Rajput hero. She is particularly interested in the role played by gender in stories about heroes and in their worship.;Illustrations; Note on Transliteration; 1. Introduction; 2. The Land of Heroes : Rajasthani Soil and Rajput Blood; 3. Heroic Story : Slaughter and Glory; 4. Heroic Story Frames : Liberation, Perfection, and Seclusion; 5. Heroic Song : End of the Story and Beyond; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.