Soulless Matter, Seats of Energy: Metals, Gems and Minerals in South Asian Religions and Culture - Paperback

by Fabrizio M. Ferrari (Editor), Thomas Dahnhardt (Editor)

Soulless Matter, Seats of Energy is the natural continuation of the two previous edited collections on animals and plants in South Asian religions. This volume reflects on the mineral world in South Asian traditions. It explores the way in which various religious traditions, including Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, have represented and reflected upon the environment - in this case: minerals, gems, metals but also geological formations such as mountains and the earth itself. The volume is multidisciplinary in its approach and includes studies ranging from anthropology, history, religious studies, medicine and medical humanities to folklore, literature, hermeneutics and philosophy.

Author Biography

Fabrizio M. Ferrari is Professor of Indology and South Asian Religions in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester. Thomas Dahnhardt is Assistant Professor in Hindi and Urdu Languages and Literatures in the Department of Asian and Mediterranean African Studies at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice.