A Study of the Keralan High-Class Priests "Tantris" Their Duties and Relation to the Vedic Tradition

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  • Teshima Hideki
    京都文教大学総合社会学部教授・京都大学人文科学研究所非常勤講師

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Other Title
  • ケーララ州のヒンドゥー寺院司祭・タントリ --その職務と家系, ヴェーダ伝承との関わり--
  • ケーララシュウ ノ ヒンドゥー ジイン シサイ ・ タントリ : ソノ ショクム ト カケイ,ヴェーダ デンショウ ト ノ カカワリ

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Abstract

This study deals with the social presence of the "tantris, " high-class priests peculiar to Kerala in South India. Every ritual held at Hindu temple requires the presence of a tantri, considering him as the sole person able to energize the divine idol. Though the tantris played an important role in the development of particular religious culture in Kerala, very little attention has been given to them in the past. The first section shows an outline of the temple organization, the tantris' duties, as well as the social circumstance surrounding them in modern times. The second section deals with the important tantri families along with their ritual duties. In the third section, you will see a case study in which the history of Tarananellur family is illustrated. Tarananellur is one of the most famous tantri families and also an authority of the vedic tradition. This study will provide a clue to understanding the relationship between the vedic and tantric traditions, both of which are an essential part of the Keralan religious culture.

Journal

  • 人文學報

    人文學報 110 121-147, 2017-07-31

    THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES, KYOTO UNIVERSITY

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