Medusa's Hair: An Essay on Personal Symbols and Religious Experience

232 Pages·1984·4.3 MB·English

by  Gananath Obeyesekere

Medusa’s Hair
An Essay on

Religious Experience

Gananath Obeyesekere

The University of Chisagn Press
Chicago and London

Contents

Prefince
Suvodctoe

Part Dow

Antenduetion
Privat and Public Sgxibuls
‘he frublems
emule Ascaties snd Mand Have
Taree Komale Asootie-Bcttalies
Case f: Kananavatt Manin
Case 2: Nanaia Marin
Ease fe Mansi Nina
he ieaning of Hair
‘The Wout und the Monk: Siva und ths
Todi uted Hidr ond Shavon fsed
Seta Tasiviioas aod the Lacanesious
Marisa Mois aul Sliven Hs Two Kinds
‘of Paychatogizal Symbalisen
Conventionalation af Personal Syrabuis

Bust Two

Yutoxticton
“Tue Dath Night af the Souk: Mostraion
‘nd Psychecultural Hxcgesit
Cased: Pemasat Vitara
oles ilemuas: Buddhist Ascetefsm
‘or Hinda Devotionaliem
Case fH. Juliet Noni
The Sembotization of ui
The Semotic Talegestion

ersunlity

Ansredtion
Fusrpsrevia Iterserio uel Persoant
Symbol.
Cate 6: Atonasioha Beauty Sie
Beath Models
Coramun‘onion and Fetrnugement
Netourtr nf Menaing
Ghosts, Demons. and Deep Mtetivaton

Part Four

Tntratoetion

Deweent inte the Grave
Cate 7 Sirima Hestoraced

Subjective Imagery: Au lterpretation
vf Siria's Care History

Tryst with the Blak Prince: Incubus
‘ad Fe Wier

‘A Mook Hanger wt Katerswams
Cove 8: Tans Sati Addin

Comment an Atain's Ritual Activities

Abstin’S Doscont ino the Gre

A Rial for Ka

‘Ablin's Yonguc: Au Tntenmotaion

"Fantsey and Symbolism in te Tneyration
oF Pensmaity inh Culture

Fantasy, Personal Symbofs. am Sub-
Jeotve Fanyary: A Metapaychotueicat
Lxcurens

are Fin,

Istroduction
Subjective Fragery and the laveerian
of Culeiee

%
"1

9

69

Coane grt the Hacarsstouss The Case
‘of Contseganiny lesnography

The Morel fete, Meth

leslie: The Past ad the Begining

Referrsces
Its

1s
my
BS

os
m3
207
Preface

his essay ores reson in als ils ese Faro in HA
tay sabtarical yor in Si Lanka, During ial yea dee ste fons
petiods when Tul got away oz eld aid nther research
Deepemstliriee and reflect on the vee ny informants and om the
limphcalians of toi ense tis forthe <oxdvopelogial stndy of
sSyenbolim. The item syle uF Uns wea reflects my mood at
‘ha rime ateluxed sense ol ese, sets frpmelastes,colleayees,
fsommigoos, and eanferences, Iu Sri ranks { a8 ia touch with
iy informants, moro alae aust sympathetic t thelr Bests
And aspingions than Cov Bae en in ry study in Ube some
‘Whar unreal tho of Lalla, California. Lao had prticllt me
gees Io tay GyGkS Ad Iaewre notes; Rence the body uf chit
‘say lacks extensive biMiggraphic roterences. Lum leaviag fat
that tamper will ould acct ths someohut informal ssle
of writing T have adored Pore. Mureover readers in ast disci-
plines wil wot care tor references chat ane mol directly relate to
the auntout of Uis essay. L have thorafore conned Sich refsr-
ewes horh theoretical and subatinteee, ts notse the apcoalist
Frat wil Find Relpfal. Ktbropruphic information not. dicetly
elated wo ease sadics i lao conte To notes

Th this eaay | employ eeveral special tem=—sembot imaue,
nae entre, sbjoefcativn, subjective imagery. hypaomentc,
fod su fal tut 'am aot eniely satshed with ray uso of het
‘Mat nf them have been wed by ashcrs with diffrent steaiica
tinns, Novartheless, Thor eve tern are adequats}y delined in
the eatay and mule stave To the reader. Sinee thane not Ushied
te term "eesasy.” Jet arts hat T uae i atin ls etyaelog
fal sense ub a condition whete the saul rouches waside of the
bowy—as in mpsticla and ths classic sunaain of Siberia Pu
saluerin isoore commonsense Frgtish usage as passion. m8
of heigthined ertition. end espe che high cation as
swwitied ‘ih ihe possersion transes uf my stile of reigns
Yiuosos. Kise (1972) es nthe fin ss, edereas Leas
(Ys IF empty iLin is aanventional talk meen

‘The eltmograghic and pretlogical ta in eis eaney ane
Youll of apevial conaitione of liehivinty ver since 1 ef Sit
‘Lanai 1971. Hnve been able to ask lanes seer suse
Jnr fekiwork and thersby Inve estabied clone aml enduron
Felatanships with select gromp uC oovtne priest fom
wie congregate s1 hacaragaina, ame ofthe major pleriage ca
lersin SH Lan. The inaury ofthese vitts was made pssile by
nancial assistunes T reveived Fins the SacialScicnoe Research
(Cone the National stare af Mental Health eal grants po
sam, and ve Senate ofthe Universite of Californie: San Diego,
‘The ast atso generously proved unt for ping the fea)
version of this ceunuserine, Tam expecially grat to the
Gmagentcim Foumuation foe Ellsbip evar for 195879 that
give me ths leisure and fieaom teint la waite this essay
Seveel tends and celleagnes helped ww in several ways. In Bt
Lanka Trofesior BL. Panditicutne, vive chanel ofthe oi
erst of Peradeniya, gencnmtsly permit! me the Use of his
‘lfcial residence, an idic nie lo gt ovay om Rell at
lu shape in vriting wus soflstion, Han unos gatcil y sevcral
‘fiends sw eolleagics wha eomueated in eid on ear ver
sions of the minuscio. und sigaested many ual crass.
Richard Gnmibich. R. 1. Strat, Peyestine Medlugh, Rub A
TeVino, Mitel Mecker_ itz Poole, and Rani Obcyesekers. 1
Ihave benef enormously from thei enicisa, nnd *hs buok tt
"he belte foi, must als han those who wane fo the ald a a
rechaologicaliiterats sd typed the various sesieay oF Ye book
‘om barely legble Randvriten gules? Padma Keeunarehs,
Reuioit1li Ellepms, Calas Ariyalmac, Gait eecbarth, nd
David Marlowe Pinay Timust receecwith aratide those
formants af mine who generously permitted a curiuus eon
fneairsman ta probe the nolure af thei ins lives. They ate
nurse) people, ua my tor term fricuships with tha ace
enriceal y own life eonsigerably. Almost all oFhsm waated me
touse ler wn wares i he ext even ison | elaine fo thor,
the ature of the ease mauteral. T lave reffaiged Irom Gulag
u, howeves, and in may tastanees I hav aed apmoprate
aeudanvin,

ane tvantertotcy Sty Sarnia at
thei ef ebook ede no raters oa sO
Teds marengs The alo gies: phe Ie nec
five ibe Sonata et eaten of ches ferme tn

Sinhala
tntrndustion

rst bare the regulate
porch eis iso clon ing.
Paul Rissa

tue ile of this esa i eliherasely mike. Mensa's hai
fs the singer relewsel my analyse a the snperences of the
costnie prion els appear in thea pages. Lue sulected fee
Caoes [rem a berger sample nf sige vin woaus T hace know for
the pal le years see ace prosentedshom ub ssne leah. True
Io the anthanpalogisal raditim, view Ge viebethnagraphic and
Doycholugical data presented here as ininscly fterestine and
ts "something to Hhiak with." 1 deplore the tecent tendency
mone arshrapalogits ki aludly esau) systems without reler-
Env tu cuntert, Inthix may (go Beyond a couventignal drcrp
liom of hs etmnographie background fad ariculats the spnbel ty
‘he enural, socal, aad poyelulogioal dimensions of the ext
renee of my informa

‘On dhe naalstieal love my sdy of personal sembole hinges on
the view of culture hat semis fam Max Weber and om Dh thea?
‘of nnconscious motivation Tis stems tram Freud Por Weber
‘slurs ithe res ofthe onan tondeney Lv inpose meaning an
‘very dimemiun of existease, Neverthless, Weber weglorted
‘ne aren of butnan existence: those entical experieases that Le
futride conscious avareness. ‘Tas is whuse psychoanalysis
tomes i, with is theory of unconscloys wr deen motivation.
epics the way motives ane inked with “syealuls” oe i
oneraly afa iva nator, chor wsteewyev infannagy. Yel in
Spite of Pras orn Interest in vullae fb rare 19 come across
paychaandysts.r socal sscndets, with Ihe utable exception of
Sultore aad pevemnality daoriste. iho seal with the interdigitse
ou of deep motion and public colic. The hia i strony in
fhe sue sefenoea chix cullure anuat deal extasively with rea
roceates rar eu wilh ncvinal mecivation,

Te this essay T demonstete that this view is wrone wn Show
burs coma ctrl seme ae arated wie Fabia
Tesnets Hel shes "pon vee att eye
perting onthe Jessie of peracalvy ano couge 3 he tes
tie. Personal sol Jorn aes eH ne arg
alse etl) oly allol whiz hove ula
Siuiiemee, Thangh to ata of oesonal sp I
ceuativey to inagete Mas Webars ey votre Wb L
sheor ol poramtyAPT ake Ieee wiht is de $0
st fey, as enon fs 6 posh wine of nani ee
Sth it ade me rather than o dean etl pnt of on
My adoatin fe the guest monary simpy Tere
ner aecegtines tei teone

“he sre Flos ft virtue Visueted in ths ens
zn onthe eat ius sent Wtaagamaf one
Si Lanka, For Stals peor tise names we ellen ‘atnane,
Soinitwih Katuame ne mune of the place ho ts mune of
le dey, Here very eae i Ie mom of Asa (genray
uke, ees: men ant penteat Delo oa aca
std caming Fondren part ees ae eps ae
Hoy el oe cet pr eee
in ay srl ort tte taney eit pws aenealy
‘alling over the tuning sal fe Katara fia ob)
Dstaring various nas tothe gu ri extol al the mg
Peto ofthe oes, enter th bay Ie supple
(Ghrvesehere 1960), This soma tc abou sei pene
tor tase wople: they ose room te Leontine for break
thor a5 fe eas may, ia seer ejoythumselen by
Acc lz lave, the vous, cau) Gane in on Ibo
{guts albe hve nat hese mates al owt teirexperica
discuss sisal raters, moeat eytb, Katarina aca
social laage.as Ihave shown sehen (obeyeskere 9TH
‘ote

The asco aca of Katanga I acre ve, tho Maik
Ganga, and ie noted for te asocitiony with he Bod an hy
fusueas. asthe ign epost the he woes the Se
‘oer of shops a sine seling pfu ns carte
sere cons ino ars Kind tha Te essa chet
‘elgows ware ar cular flayed and the hers ae Wer
Intel ith the go's elo. ve. Ar totes poi of these
sing ze fh ead sua we ue a emt aed,

fr poten’ are al she ged, the deverse generally sade i the
fives and joi 4 acaat anh 8a then dane all The way NP >
the go's shane (und giher srs} ta tho acconpurione af
sssinging, eonerully seat, must

‘ines one eroiaey the Hvar, seta symbolic ac, cre fin
larger area of the Keleraganva trae remises, Lye the ready
fey Wire skote of he fasout of Uke urea #1966, 2. 32. C shall
Focus only eo the una important features.

"The mit shriue ofthe god sb small, uuimpuwsive tuhings
xe iy Yor stale brine Jor the waite ober bnothet,
Gens, aad stereo Chunes's sbrige are 09 reserely com
sSrueced slriges or Wisen and rae Bud. These of the main
rine is cunnectedr0 the shrine of the gous tress Wali Amma
bya yarn steer afew hundred vnrds lous, leading toward the
sot, The hick of cho main shrine fe gonmected ina westerly
ddestion ty a similar vrvo, ly the ancient Buadhist supa, he
Ki Nehern, wih ts beatiful vibe due deinating the Ld-
Sean. On the fof ofthe g's situ, yet ebyeicaly remeot
fia is the abrine of Ls Leltinate spouse Devasena, or Ther
vyani Amn, This shine fs of yonslerahle importance for Fy
fae, het not fer Dudthiss, There aes many other subsidiary
Shri sented over the sacred premiscs. ln ulitioon, (bev i38
argue with 9 mauvolovun uf a stinc wha was wsocisted with
Kataragnma in loval Muslin anjthology. The saosin 80 1
the east of the ain shine, near the Vall Amma slniue

‘the cent desuna ofthe annua festival se and pression
hac leaves Uhe wan shine for tho Vell sive every night for
flven voy. Tcalehrate th god's joyousuaion wth stress
alli Amus. A neta teature ofthis ageani i iat ths gpd does
nl vis hy shrine ot bi tnt wea leptinage spouse, Thevea}
‘Anau (fevase),

"The nagian calminily with tbe rival af wator-endting, wach
in lumvontncmomtes the washing he aite's clothes, polluted
by settal ietereourse. alter the valening 14> assembled
fieng lt themechves wo, They spuit in the wate faye alia
tnd posh thomeelves ad gash cer, an bers fe cahartic
and sxuberatsisploy uF ewotio:

1 refer the reader io iy dnalssit of those fostvties (Obeyese~
kere 197, SDT, Neve de ig enough te note thal the pageant
celebrates the a's passion al sonsuality: i fsa elurizalion uf
ths Hie ef Wie senses. So ace he eeuonlly traced avec
faces; the enpla danse befoce Uke and, "2natl ono
ether in geps, young, 2a wey a hom Io sy, Ue
contra’ sith meses anotr Feate el Salinger a aaatbet of
onhcrra sulle bp abet hunts aad selblorane bef ¢
Bud. The penamce asec: af che pasion of Kuaragana inane
‘mostly ro Winns al Misti; the Polite av «ao wed spec
lotors. i be Sidiala Mudecahe ost sami apt f the
Testivad is rhe passion and the sexeaally, Lae celebration if the
td's dark and Met tore ie

‘Bu Ketaragsnca cumol be studied in ‘sclatior. from the Bi
‘hist part af the complex. “The pllovia pays dae camvensinial
Fama to the dey, an offering of ut, and than Be aves 20 Ue
Tei: Vebora ithe Baits! slums). Ua dan Ne vowsl Ho past
back enranue ofthe Kezaragama shrine premiv® Grom lone.
hatioy steel that camnacte th abrine sith the rls] tps
‘As spon us the pilarim russes the gate he is ooofronted th
EGgArS ant Jeunes ining the sgest to the Kiki Veter Dene
lure the lan, the uecrepit, Radi sill with soe, ee sc od
Ue aged hovering near oaths door

The contrast. in ells is drammaie tis at ifthe pilin were
soniromted ‘wil eaocher arpect of willy We: autering ie
permanense, Te pastes on and hea cvases Uo he sbons. of ten
‘dors sling alnost exclusively one item: vehite and rel ltuses,
ymbots of party n Rudhist theughe. These reaches the Kit
Nehore, am impressive whito aupa. The piatim aow practices
‘ewuller type of rimal, Bnudhist pravers that prise tho Buddha,
‘au lusrate che nipermamence of tings, which ae compared
he folng ofthe flowers with their evanescent sven, hero fe a
ety tllerent ech here: seienly. cal, alles "The nolac and
boslls uf the gni'e clrige fy noe heard hotv, aot even the
sucophony of the Jnedspeakers tht the Siahato aptly cull the

nn ant

Ifthe predomiount cole of Ketaunsnan is eed the color oF le
[Rin Ven ie white: Ifane place represents the sektralon of be
semsis, the ofjer celebrates Dwi antcemlsnee. Undersing ll
‘of this isthe powedul “myth mel” of she Budna'« re te
‘nonciation ofthe wordt: bis sojoymuene of a leaf hedonism his
ontronation wilh the four sige sick, ok age, aad death,
and the mode! oftheir tamscondenos in he yellow robed mend

‘sau: his final achievement of salvation il, # Mlsring ont,
Tire Lhe pilin aly 9s ade hs fal progress: ho emsses
The ever al lnnves the everday celiy of sachs existence.
figer these he gees em te the passion aad seus aK:
fecaganns ther an-eho shock of fe’ sullering amd micerysd
Fall by 4 welircion of release ‘rom Bok essivn wud ery —
‘J sqnects of inperimansnes—inen wip seren:y aod sala of Oe
Kivi Wels

The sch outlined sbows is what | elite rhe place Kava
raouus a8 a solloctive representivn aes 0 the generale
Of Sialele Rishssts usombled thece. The imparcance al the
place i eleary lero or tae ani, fw srbmce Kiet Vera
hs Tits religious rgnifcance. stall aot ives her the Hida
inmseptctatione ofthe aputial arrangements au performanece wt
Kotirapuma, or Hindus the gut of Kataragama is none othee
shan Skoda, the son uf Siva, whose saythohiogi apis appears a
the Skanda Pucioa, Te is aio the most popular dely in South
Andi und he bie bes snwes, soch ax Marggan, Subramaniar,
Velun, Kartkeya, Sinunigsn, Cas. Por many South Irina he
1s the foeus of devotioaal religiosity, or bhai. ‘Ue ‘Theva
Amcin vill. shih of Tile ignifcance to the Stahala Bul
{ists Is of considerable emperlance ww Tinlus. The Fado
ects of Kstaragnma are represented i eevecal athe shines Fr
Sieg, Kali, ad other debdes outside the mala sfuine peenisos
(ie 1966, p. 22).

"The Hindu presence tala bee fein Kataragaina, bare
{increased trom the rinetoenib cenivey onvtant ith the if oF
lew-cante sacra immigrant, wha were inuduced by the Bech
Aru Sout leche 34 the Gabor Thece ia they eoa amd yubber
phantions. Many of the pexitectiary and piace aspects of
KKevaragama come Gom this eouive, They seo inredused inte
‘Kolar the haute Re stalking ritl, which was uly ac-
ented sid adapted by Siahals Puddhist osatie prcsteafesr
1952, Above all he Sou lina via segiusity introduced into
Katavagaaa the nutcn of dren pnseeseim hy the deity, a ie
scone by bal highet Bishnanism and Bndahim. ‘The bearers
of this spevial scigesty were Tamil ecstatic priest novia wea
rally af suns, These cat Drroughly influenced a new cles of
Sinhala Fruddhise pices who also adogted the term sn
fisad of the tadtional teva dapeiaia. An apother paper V have
Uiscussed i se cll ts ras the ae Sinhala sams, tie
Cemio ceantereris, mmanive (mothers. em. the mact
seviclogsal “asters that lod ta this sevelosment (ooyersken,
W9rRet Ia cis estan Tele eerie the spirited experiucce cf
is new clare af Silat evsieiee hn ae: bath Beats. aed
inci athe same dine wollen mars Hind leet Buddhist, Thess
Dirsly have i tura established shrine all vat “he wibnowzed
areas uf Sei Lanka. They ive uso splnosd alitional
aporalos nom older saviges, Ihey are deat uf lbnee mujor
godk—-Restaraicona. Bal. and ew ily. Muniyan, shnse roe L
bhave sketched eliwehors (Dibevesekere und Gombci 1978,
hey caer te the nosds af urbae Budhiste For wha ReddLism
is the pofial aul ui reign hr afi 304 an mati
saeitactery one. Their sala! siguicunce Wolly outosighs
lei numerical streng. "The roigosity they represent. has ine
lroduced a new Medll ur devecional element io ie oomservative
(wiiton of Mhraviala Uusdabism. lis he nature oC their persone
religiosity that T shall licuvs a lenath in the estoy

Ye reacamh Mt went in this esta wy lel rggered hy
ive of mv execriewses in Ketaragama. Sluce 1970 I have wise
ararygama tegularly diag Ube hat, dev pili ssaon and
atheved extensive inferealion on the history ad suvislogy Of
the place. Ltoo come Tere fo renew ol tes williams and
rake new Giende. Gn one such weeinion im uly (973 a8 1 stood
lnder the protective shat wf fe ire hand the cin sane |
va sernek by the sight of «Cemale lire walker danclug wear the
Shrine of tue you. her eyes shining, tunds chrast ow in on
‘mploring umaer nx earning fv hie Bove. and. har 8 15]
fconapionins. her matted hr owing in the wind. A seen
though eressel any mind: Mesa! aa alms ximulteneeusly 1
remembered Freud's paper "Mg Tei, "i whic he nk
(ie eur of Medea to We trror of easton (eoud 79530). 3
foner srcam of associations: thee are ny sak haan matte,
S0i1’sporsible thot Medusw’esnakes are ouly mated locks (then
evote in my fel antes that Tad asc at vly roman, for eth
Stned sith beret waive and beariag.reisive mtted locks,
dancing in ocsezay aad nloraiom heft the fo

This roscwch fell got under wey tit years laler when my
‘Riond Richa Gombrich, professor al Sanskrit as Oxfor, sume
to Rataragame and 1 tol him of my Medusa hyrwibesis Ie

rmontinned z priestess ith mitod Hcks he hall = Se aad
Sanuallyclacwo tal en weer 3ir wag (9 Face shaped Uke a
feta, this Lest eve of uration qmerad 9: tp inrvewe
oap.e och males uit asl Ths essay the prodct a that
esbec

‘My fot sel oc iaarvinay st wih Kacunavar, the Soman f
sor eancing 2efure Cir ao T abun ote haw Tee ell and
Fd tel an aatrastive person sath am eehpne Bale Late
conune Sinha Fas, | kod her very mu, al we so4H be
Cane yuo! iewls. Aad yet tae qzostion agp! huun'ing me: ‘he
teas Thitaly rept oy her =ensdere aio by er dniel=
ing pctanos? (4 6 neve fm the Hold. L fue worked bs Se
av for many years, eh possasts aad vrbun pele alike. 9th
Faligons spositits ringing from DudUhs, ewaky i thei cat
sloaters to serecrers porferming muuals in te heal of a3 iv
Tonshy gvavsyatda. Rlercover. 1 ve inleriewed aman other
female cesatios without reucliny wilh pe sae anviey and
waulsin. So surely where us sumthing ia Karuna that oar
inisemaite lneod. amt was renting toi: Tez mated Tacks?

‘Was i the aolbvupologis’s vie castration anxiegy that pro-
voked this reacion? Or vas i the untnnny disguet ofa fastidious
scholar for something diet) and ancmalons sticking out u Ker
liegt? Bly ow Ui of aseelations Tnking Rarunavd'a matted
Tis to Meds nl 9 Freve?'s paper scomed ta appt tho eas
tation ia, bs then, and nos have been a fasarsy a ee
iow stusety by am aadwopoloaat scashive 10 psychounalysis
silent he pel hing” Pe that aa it may. it ws ey amet.
fd The asactations that acenmnpani it, hal Lew the Luan
tion the initial Mednea hypothesis and « whole fae of, koe,
sigh researsh

"Trawgi T vag troubled inikislly, 1 ales derived some confer.
‘tom the fact that ancther emtbropologs. bad uals Sia €00
hisrion betwoon sales and nett fui, Slershmaa, ia a dlcue
inn of Punjabi hair wyloe, aaa comaoats ox Ure watted hat
Hindu asceties, noting thu" Suds air evelons he charac
tovimde make like mitted lacks." Sivas "ete locks ae snake
‘ko and pled on his Boal mn conical spe” (954. p28. Te
leur thn here alse the chiewcetiation of asexti hal as ahalos
fs Hesshnim's own projeclion, was no the only pera to oro}
el ny analy onte Be her of seers, This eran oF ough lel,