Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India

William Dalrymple

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A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet - then spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve to death. A woman leaves her middle-class family in Calcutta, and her job in a jute factory, only to find unexpected love and fulfilment living as a Tantric skull feeder in a remote cremation ground. A prison warden from Kerala becomes, for two months of the year, a temple dancer and is worshipped as a deity; then, at the end of February each year, he returns to prison.

An illiterate goat herd from Rajasthan keeps alive an ancient 4,000-line sacred epic that he, virtually alone, still knows by heart. A devadasi - or temple prostitute - initially resists her own initiation into sex work, yet pushes both her daughters into a trade she now regards as a sacred calling. Nine people, nine lives. Each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story.

Exquisite and mesmerising, and told with an almost biblical simplicity, William Dalrymple's first travel book in over a decade explores how traditional forms of religious life in South Asia have been transformed in the region's rapid change. A distillation of twenty-five years of exploring India and writing about its religious traditions, Nine Lives is a modern Indian Canterbury Tales.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Diverse Religious Practices: Dalrymple delves into the rich tapestry of religious practices in India, spanning Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism, among others, highlighting the country's religious diversity.

  2. Spiritual Quests: The book follows the journeys of nine individuals from different religious backgrounds, each on their own spiritual quest, revealing the deeply personal and intimate nature of faith and devotion.

  3. Sacred Rituals: Dalrymple explores various sacred rituals and traditions practiced by the individuals he encounters, providing insights into the significance of these rituals in their spiritual lives.

  4. Interfaith Interactions: Through encounters with individuals from different religious communities, the book highlights moments of interfaith dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, showcasing the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious traditions in India.

  5. Holy Sites: The author visits sacred sites and pilgrimage destinations associated with different religious traditions, offering vivid descriptions and historical context to these revered places.

  6. Socioeconomic Context: Dalrymple examines the socioeconomic factors that shape religious beliefs and practices, exploring how class, caste, and gender intersect with spirituality and devotion in modern India.

  7. Transformation and Healing: The book portrays instances of personal transformation and spiritual healing experienced by the individuals profiled, illustrating the profound impact of faith on their lives.

  8. Mysticism and Mystical Experiences: Dalrymple delves into the realm of mysticism and mystical experiences, exploring the ecstatic states and divine encounters described by some of the book's subjects.

  9. Cultural Preservation: Through his exploration of traditional religious practices and rituals, the author highlights the importance of cultural preservation and the challenges faced by indigenous communities in maintaining their spiritual heritage in a rapidly changing world.

  10. Reflections on Modernity and Tradition: "Nine Lives" prompts readers to reflect on the complex interplay between modernity and tradition in contemporary India, raising questions about the preservation of cultural identity and the enduring power of ancient spiritual practices in the modern age.

Language English
ISBN-10 1408800616
ISBN-13 9781408800614
No of pages 274
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Bloomsbury
Published Date 01 Jan 2009

About Author

Author : William Dalrymple

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