Himanshu Prabha Ray creator Himanshu Prabha Ray text Archaeology-Buddhist antiquities xxu London : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group , 2018 monographic eng

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ix,139 Pages ;21 cm. This book traces the archaeological trajectory of the expansion of Buddhism and its regional variations in South Asia. Focusing on the multireligious context of the subcontinent in the first millennium BCE, the volume breaks from conventional studies that pose Buddhism as a counter to the Vedic tradition to understanding the religion more integrally in terms of dhamma (teachings of the Buddha), dāna (practice of cultivating generosity)and the engagement with the written word. The work underlines that relic and image worship were important features in the spread of Buddhism in the region and were instrumental in bringing the monastics and the laity together. Further, the author examines the significance of the histories of monastic complexes (viharas, stupas, caityas) and also religious travel and pilgrimage that provided connections across the subcontinent and the seas. List of figures PrefaceIntroduction 1. Spread of Buddhism: regional patterns 2. The written word: language and identity 3. Travelling relics: spreading the word of the Buddha 4. Religious travel and rituals 5. The shifting equations: Buddhism in a multi-religious milieuReferencesIndex /Himanshu Prabha Ray Religion 294.343 RAY 9780815353058 Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P)LTD. ;7/22,Anasri Road, Daryaganj,New Delhi-110002 180828 20190419155910.0