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Jarrod L. Whitaker
Assistant Professor,
South Asian Religions
B.A. University of Canterbury, New Zealand
M.A. University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Ph. D. University of Texas at Austin
311 Wingate Hall
Telephone: (336) 758-4162
FAX: (336) 758-4462
Email
Homepage
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RESEARCH AREAS
Ancient India, Vedic History, Culture, and Religion
With a focus on the Sanskrit textual traditions: Rgveda, Atharvaveda, Mahabharata, Ramayana
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND APPROACHES
Masculinity Studies, Violence, Body Theory, Warrior Ethics & Culture, Hermeneutics of Magic, Ritual Studies, History of Religions
SECONDARY INTERESTS
Southeast Asian Studies, esp. Balinese religion and culture
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COURSES TAUGHT
REL 104: Introduction to Asian Religions
REL 286: Upanishads and Urbanization in Ancient India
REL 286: Ancient Indian Religion and Culture
REL 300/600: Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
REL 386/686: Indian Epics in Performance
REL 387/687: Magic, Ritual, and Power in Indian Culture
REL 390: Hindu Religious Traditions
REL 390B: Special Topics in Religion: Sanskrit I & II
REL 703: Postmodern Perspectives on Power, Symbolism, and Performance
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EDUCATION
1999-2005 Ph.D., Asian Cultures and Languages, Dept. of Asian Studies, The Univ. of Texas at Austin. Dissertation: Drinking Status, Wearing Duty: Magic, Power, and Warrior Ethics in Ancient India.
1995-1997 M.A., with First Class Honours in Religious Studies, Univ. of Canterbury, New Zealand. Thesis: Divya Astras (Divine Weapons) and Tejas (Fiery Energy) in the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
1990-1994 B.A., in Religious Studies, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
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PUBLICATIONS
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Forthcoming |
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“Who Gets to Live Forever in Ancient India? Rethinking ayus (“lifetime”) in the Rgveda.” In Steven E. Lindquist, ed., Essays on South Asia in Honor of Patrick Olivelle (Firenze: Firenze University Press). |
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“What Makes Indra Indra? On indriyá in the Rgveda.” In Joel P. Brereton & Patrick Olivelle, eds., Selected Papers from The Fourth International Vedic Workshop: The Vedas in Culture and History, Austin, TX, May 2007. |
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“Masculinity and Violence in the Rgveda: Defining the Roles of nar, vira, and shura.” In Theodore N. Proferes & Joel P. Brereton, eds., Selected Papers from the 13th World Sanskrit Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 2006. |
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2007 |
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“Does Pressing Soma Make You an Aryan? A Brief Review of sushvi- and asushvi- in the Rgveda.” Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, vol.157.2: 417-426. |
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2004 |
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“Ritual Power, Social Prestige, and Amulets (mani) in the Atharvaveda.” In A. Griffiths & J.E.M. Houben, eds., The Vedas: Texts, Language, & Ritual. Proceedings of the Third International Vedic Workshop, Leiden 2002 (Groningen: Egbert Forsten): 565-580. |
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“Hinduism, Classical.” In Palmer-Fernandez, G., ed., Encyclopedia of Religion and War, 1st ed. (New York: Berkshire/Routledge): 161-165. |
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“Hinduism, Vedic.” In Fernandez, ed., Encyclopedia of Religion and War: 170-174. |
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Translation: Paul Horsch. “From Creation Myth to World Law: the Early History of Dharma.” Special Edition of Journal of Indian Philosophy, Patrick Olivelle, ed., Vol. 32, Issue 5 (December): 423-448. Originally Paul Horsch (Universität Zürich), “Vom Schöpfungsmythos zum Weltgesetz.” Asiatische Studien: Zeitschrift der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Asiankunde, vol.21 (Francke: 1967): 31-61. |
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2002 |
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“How the Gods Kill: The Narayana Astra Episode, the Death of Ravana, and the Principles of Tejas in the Indian Epics.” Journal of Indian Philosophy, vol.30, no.4: 403-430. |
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2000 |
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“Divine Weapons and Tejas in the Two Indian Epics.” Indo-Iranian Journal, vol.43, no.2: 87-113. |
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CONFERENCE PAPERS
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2008 |
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Sept-Oct. Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual Conference, Heidelberg, Germany. “On Strong-Arms and Drinking Strength: Masculinity, Violence, and the Body in the Rgveda.” Paper Accepted. |
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March. 218th Meeting of the American Oriental Society, Chicago, IL. “On Indra's Body.” Paper Accepted. |
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2007 |
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May. The Fourth International Vedic Workshop: The Vedas in Culture and History, Austin, TX: “Indrahood (indriya) and the Human Indra.” |
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Mar. 217th Meeting of the American Oriental Society, San Antonio, TX: “Who Gets to Live Forever in Ancient India? Rethinking ayus ("lifetime") in the Rgveda and Atharvaveda 1.35.” |
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2006 |
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November. New England Conference of the Association for Asian Studies: Magical Practice and Magical Thinking in Asian Culture: “Who Gets to Live Forever in Ancient India? Rethinking ayus (“life”) in the Rgveda.” Read In Absentia. |
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July. 13th World Sanskrit Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland: “Masculinity and Violence in the Rgveda: Reconsidering the roles of nar, vira, and shura.” |
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March. 216th Meeting of the American Oriental Society, Seattle, WA: “How Exactly is the Dragon Killed? The Importance of shávas in the Rgveda.” |
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2004 |
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March. 214th Meeting of the American Oriental Society, San Diego, California: “Drinking Status, Wearing Duty: Reconsidering ójas, “authority”, in the Rgveda and Atharvaveda.” |
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2002 |
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October. Asian Studies Graduate Conference, University of Texas at Austin: “Ritual Power and Social Prestige in Atharvavedic Magical Thought.” |
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June. 3rd International Vedic Workshop, Leiden, Netherlands: “Ritual Metaphysics vs. Ritual Performance: An Account of Magic in the Atharvaveda.” |
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March. 212th Meeting of the American Oriental Society, Houston, Texas: “Ritual Metaphysics and Ontology vs. Ritual Performance: An Account of Magic in the Atharvaveda.” |
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2001 |
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September. University of Texas at Austin History Dept. Conference on Violence: “The Tension Between Warrior and Kingly Battle Ethics in the Mahabharata.” |
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1998 |
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August. The Biannual Australia and New Zealand Religious Studies Conference: “The Principles of the Divine Weapons (Divya Astras) and Fiery Energy (Tejas) in India’s Two Epics.” |
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