Singing the goddess into place: Locality, myth, and social change in Chamundi of the hill, a Kannada folk ballad.

"Singing the Goddess into Place: Locality, Myth, and Social Change in Chamundi of the Hill, a Kannada Folk Ballad" is a book that explores the ancient history of music and goddess traditions in India. The book focuses on the Kannada folk ballad Chamundi of the Hill, which praises the goddess Chamundi and tells a local shared history of southern Karnataka. The ballad is an integral part of village festivals and is performed by traditional performers and members of performance-based castes. The book examines the ballad using religious studies and literary history, highlighting its role in creating a foundational myth of the region and connecting different villages and cities with deities. It also explores themes of caste and religion in southern Karnataka and the significance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings in the goddess tradition. Overall, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the interplay between individual and cultural dynamics and will appeal to scholars and researchers interested in studying Hinduism, psychological anthropology, religious studies, South Asian religions, folklore, and goddess traditions in India. [Extracted from the article]