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

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.