Cremation, Caste, and Cosmogony in Karmic Traditions.

Fig. 5.1 Map of Bangladesh with Faridpur and the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra 76
Fig. 5.2 Population Census 1961 77
Fig. 5.3 Population Census 1991 77
Fig. 5.4 Ambikapur Shashan Ghat 78
Fig. 5.5 Cremation platform 78
Fig. 5.6 Channel from the pyre where the ashes are washed into the river 80
Fig. 5.7 Pile of burnt wood next to the cremation platform 81
Fig. 5.8 Newly built grave with crushed ceramic pot by the head 81
Fig. 5.9 Hazera 83
Fig. 6.1 Statue of Jagadbandhu 90
Fig. 6.2 Rajani receives the blessing from Jagadbandhu 92
Fig. 6.3 Jagadbandhu meditating in lotus position 93
Fig. 6.4 Sree Angam Ashram with the river where he floated while meditating 93
Fig. 6.5 Jagadbandhu disciple in the Bakchar temple 95
Fig. 6.6 Shochi Nandan Brahmachari 97
Fig. 6.7 Burial in coffin 98
Fig. 6.8 Private Kali temple in Bandhabpalli 100
Fig. 6.9 Jagadbandhu temple in Bandhabpalli 102
Fig. 6.10 Pig sacrifice among the sweepers 102
Fig. 7.1 The mighty Ganga 110
Fig. 7.2 River erosion 110
Fig. 7.3 Tara 112
Fig. 7.4 Tripur-Sundar 112
Fig. 7.5 Bhuvanesvari 112
Fig. 7.6 Tripur-Bhairavi 112
Fig. 7.7 Dhumavati 113
Fig. 7.8 Bagla-Mukhi or Bhogola 113
Fig. 7.9 Matangi 113
Fig. 7.10 Kamala 113
Fig. 7.11 Chinnamasta 114
Fig. 7.12 Pot-maker in front by the temple with the furnace in the background 118
Fig. 7.13 Pots in production 118
Fig. 7.14 The making of Durga 120
Fig. 7.15 Ghata 121
Fig. 7.16 Cemetery of statues 123
Fig. 7.17 Replacement of Shashan Kali at Ambikapur 124
Fig. 7.18 The Baishanti Durga puja. The finished statue, see fig. 7.14. 126
Fig. 8.1 A combined Kali and Saraswati temple in the sweepers’ para visualised by two
posters, together with the ghata
136
Fig. 9.1 Map of Nepal 146
Fig. 9.2 Manang and Gangapurna glacier 150
Fig. 9.3 Tore cemetery in Manang with chorten on Gangapurna glacier’s end-moraine 151
Fig. 9.4 Chorten used as crematorium. Ashes and bones are collected from the opening 151
Fig. 9.5 Bone grinding 152
Fig. 9.6 Chatafars inside a chorten 153
Fig. 9.7 Chatafars in mani-wall 153
Fig. 9.8 Nire Ghat by Kaligandaki River, Dhaulagiri (8167 m) in the background 157
Fig. 9.9 River and rain in a life-giving water perspective 159
Fig. 10.1 Fluid attributions and metaphors 163
Fig. 10.2 Linga at Pashupatinath with trident, symbolising from left to right will, knowledge
and power, and jalahari, a copper cup that hangs right above the Shiva Lingam
from which water drips from this cup almost continuously
165
Fig. 10.3 Dagbatti – the lighting of the pyre 168
Fig. 10.4 Sexual engravings at the Bachhaleshwori temple, Pashupatinath 170
Fig. 11.1 At the sadhu area at Pashupatinath there is a small copy of the original Shiva-linga
in the temple. The linga has five faces; one pointing in each direction and the fifth
is faceless on the top
179
Fig. 11.2 The spot where humans were sacrificed to the Bachhaleshwori temple 182
Fig. 11.3 Virupakshya and his temple 183
Fig. 11.4 Bagmati originating from Shiva’s head. Main gate at Pashupatinath 184