Of Sins and Sons. Medical case narratives in the Karmavipākasaṃhitā

08.10.2021 15:15 - 16:45

Caterina Guenzi | École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales and Centre d'Études de l'Inde et de l'Asie du Sud, Paris

Composed in early-modern North India, the Karmavipākasaṃhitā is a Sanskrit treatise intended for use during a consultation (praśna) between a “querist” (pṛcchaka) and a Brahmin practitioner. By combining astrology and the theory of karmic retribution, the text provides explanations for infertility (that is, the inability to have a son) and other diseases through past life and rebirth narratives. It contains 108 multi-life stories and as many individualized treatments. Based on my translation, I will argue that this treatise may be seen as a “Collection of medical cases”, a very unusual epistemic genre in Sanskrit medical literature. 


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The lecture has been recorded. You can watch it here

Organiser:
Institut für Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismuskunde
Location:
Seminarraum 1 des ISTB (Spitalgasse 2, Hof 2.7, 1. Stock) und digital: