The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. The Godlings, The Worship of the Dead, The Evil Eye, The Scaring of Ghosts, Totemism and Fetishism, Animal-Worship…By William Crooke

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Length25h 26m

About this audiobook

The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India (Vol. 1 & 2) is a foundational ethnographic compendium of beliefs, rites, spirits, village deities, omens, festivals, and customary practices observed in northern India under late nineteenth-century colonial rule. Written in a lucid, taxonomic prose characteristic of Victorian anthropology, the work gathers oral traditions and ritual details into comparative categories, situating local Hindu, Muslim, and tribal practices within the wider study of myth, survivals, and popular religion. William Crooke, an Irish-born officer of the Indian Civil Service and a major contributor to colonial ethnology, drew upon administrative experience, linguistic familiarity, and extensive field observation in the North-Western Provinces and Oudh. His career placed him in close contact with rural communities, informants, and vernacular traditions, enabling him to record practices often neglected by Sanskritic or elite accounts of Indian religion, though his interpretations remain shaped by the assumptions of his era. This two-volume work is recommended to readers interested in folklore, religious history, anthropology, and colonial knowledge production. It remains invaluable as a documentary archive of regional belief, best read critically: both for the richness of its collected material and for what it reveals about the methods and limits of early ethnographic scholarship. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

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