vrata

[Guest guest]

Friends,

 

Would deeply appreciate guidance and references to literature on the following

queries: Are there references to the practice of vrata (vow, ascetic discipline

-- e.g. kamad.ha 'penance' Prakrit) in regions outside Bharat, say, in Greece?

Does Greek 'themis' correspond to Vedic 'dharma'? Are there Greek [and

Indo-European language or Austro-Asiatic language] cognates for Vedic vrata?

 

Here are the background URLs with references:

 

http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/vrata1 Based on a lecture I delivered

recently.

http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/mleccha1 This is linked to the previous URL

since mleccha and vra_tya are both associated with Magadha. [Vra_tya clothing is

given to unworthy bra_hman.a (brahmabandhu) of Magadha (magadha-des'i_ya: LS'S

8.6.28).]

A ra_janya is both a vra_tya and a ks.atra (see Avestan khshathra 'power').

ks.atra = 'authority, power' S'atapatha Bra_hman.a 12.7.3.12

 

It appears that the term vrata (root: vr.t-, e.g. vr.tti) is related to

occupation or profession or simply, proficiency in work such as the work of a

carpenter, a goldsmith, a metalsmith, a mason and so on. Thus, the suffix -vrata

is semant. 'engaged in (work) or

dedicated (to)'. The semant. expansion in vra_tya is related to those who

perform maha_vrata or engage in tasks assigned to troops. Semant. expansion also

relates vrata both to an arahant (muni) or a ks.atriya.

 

See also:

 

A.P.Karmarkar, 1950, The Religions of India. Volume I: The Vratya or Dravidian

Systems. Lonavla.

Hauer, J.W., 1927, Der Vra_tya, I. Stuttgart

Heesterman, J.C., 1962, Vra_tya and sacrifice, Indo-Iranian Journal 6.1: 1-37:

36

 

Thanks and regards.

 

Kalyanaraman

 

 

 

 

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