Yr Athro James Hegarty

Reader in Indian Religions

: hegartyj@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 0103

: Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig

I am fascinated by the history of religions in South Asia. I have written on Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Christian traditions in the region. In particular, I am interested in how religious texts, and especially religious stories, are used by South Asians to communicate and negotiate their understanding of themselves and the world around them. This includes not just what we ordinarily associate with religion, such as ideas of god or gods, or the nature of the good life, but also other forms of knowledge, such as the way in which the past is understood, or political life, or language itself.

More generally, I am interested in the role of story in the transmission and adaptation of knowledge in societies worldwide. The stories we tell and, in particular, the stories we choose to tell again and again over thousands of years, are a facinating resource for the exploration of what it means, and has meant, to be human.

I specialise in the historical contextualisation and close reading of Sanskrit texts circulating in early South Asia, such as the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa, but work also with medieval and modern vernacular South Asian materials in various media.

My major, funded, research projects have been 'The History of Genealogy, the Genealogy of History: family and the construction of the significant past in early South Asia' and 'The Story of Story in South Asia: character and genre across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain tradition'.

I am a member of Cardiff University's Centre for the History of Religion in Asia

I was educated at Enfield Grammar School and the University of Manchester. I obtained my Ph.D. in Sanskrit Literature having undertaken my B.A. in Comparative Religion and my M.A. in Religions and Theology (with Social Anthropology) at the same institution. The British Academy and the Arts and Humanities Research Council supported my graduate studies. I am the author of Religion, Narrative and Public Imagination in South Asia for Routledge (2012), as well as edited volumes on the Literary Construction of Place in Asia (for Orientalia Vilnensia) and on Genealogy and History in Pre-modern South Asia, with Simon Brodbeck (for Religions of South Asia). I am also the editor, with William Johnson, of the new Oxford Handbook of Hindu Literature (forthcoming). In addition to this, I have written numerous scholarly articles on Sanskrit, Pali and vernacular sources, which span ancient, medieval and modern South Asia, as well as Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh tradition. I have also published on Christianity in early South Asia and nineteenth century missionary history. I am also the chief editor of the e-journal 'Asian Literature and Translation', which is published by Cardiff University Press.

Anrhydeddau a Dyfarniadau

Large Grants (as Principal Investigator)

2013-16: AHRC Research Grant: The Story of Story in South Asia: Character, Genre and Role Across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Narrative Traditions. K£370 over three years.
2008-11: AHRC Early Career Research Grant: The History of Genealogy, The Genealogy of History: Family and the Narrative Construction of the Significant Past in Early South Asia. K£200 over three years.

Small Grants, Fellowships etc.

2017: Co-chair Sanskrit Epics Section, 2018 World Sanskrit Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
2016: Cardiff University Research Opportunities Grant – involved sending UG student to engage in bibliographic research on early print Indian epics at Cambridge University.
2016: Con-convenor, with Simon Brodbeck, of 41st Spalding Symposium. Funded by the Spalding Foundation.
2012: Visiting Fellowship: Lumbini International Research Institute, Nepal.
2009: British Academy Overseas Conference Attendance Award: World Sanskrit Conference, Kyoto University Japan.
2008: Cardiff University International Research Collaboration Award: Visiting Fellowship for Prof. Adheesh Sathaye.
2007: International Research Collaboration Award from Cardiff University in order to take up Visiting Professorship Invitation from University of British Columbia, Canada.
2007: British Academy Overseas Conference Attendance Award: Religious Syncretism in South and South East Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand
2006: British Academy Overseas Conference Attendance Award: Religion and Cultural Memory, Vilnius University, Lithuania
2006: Strategic Research Leave Award, Cardiff University: six months spent as visiting scholar at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala (hosted by Prof. R. Gurrukal).
2004: Teaching and Learning Grant, Cardiff University: Using Posters to Present Research in the Arts and Humanities.
2002: Visiting doctoral student at the University of Pune and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, India.

Honours and Distinctions

2000: University of Manchester Brandon Memorial Prize for excellence in first year doctoral research.
1996: University of Manchester award for highest overall graduating mark in department for BA.

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

I am a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol

August 2014 to July 2017:

Reader in Indian Religions, Cardiff University, School of History, Archaeology and Religion (SHARE)

August 2009 to July 2014:

Senior Lecturer in Indian Religions, Cardiff University, School of History, Archaeology and Religion (SHARE)

July 2003 to July 2009:

Lecturer in Indian Religions, Cardiff University, School of Religious and Theological Studies (RELIG)

Ymrwymiadau siarad cyhoeddus

2016: The School of Oriental and African Studies, London, 'Mahābhārata: The Critical Edition and Beyond; Inclusions, Omissions, Translations' (as part of the 'The Sanskrit Reading Room', June 7th)
2016: King's College London: ‘Hagiography, Religious Identity and the Historical Imagination in Eighteenth-Century Punjab: Exploring Sikh Narratives of the Life of Guru Nānak' (Centre for Late Antique and Medieval Studies Annual Colloquium: Rewriting Holiness: Reconfiguring Vitae, Re-signifying Cults, June 6th)
2015: Indian High Commission and School of Oriental and African Studies, 'Unnoticed rather than attacked: Solomon Caesar Malan and the Bhagavad Gītā', as part of a one day symposium: The Bhagavad Gītā: Its Contemporary Relevance (24-25th September 2015).
2015: Hindu Council of Wales, Keynote Speaker on Life and Legacy of M. K. Gandhi (April 17th 2015).
2014: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: International Summit on Epic Studies, Beijing (November 14-15th). ‘Epics of Heaven and Hell in Early South Asia'.
2013: Sanskrit Manuscripts Project, Cambridge University (November 27th), 'From the Himalayas to the Deep South: New Directions in the Study and Translation of the Manuscripts of the Sanskrit Mahābhārata'.
2013: The Wright Lecture, Cambridge University (November 26th), 'The Historic Conversations of Gods, Kings and Sages: Literary Dialogues Across South Asian Religious Traditions'.
2011: Heidelberg University, 'Ritual and Narrative in Early South Asia: The Case of the Sanskrit Mahābhārata' Ritual Dynamics: Ritual and Narrative conference (November 17-19th),
2011: The Majewski Lecture, Oxford University (May 16th), 'Telling the World: Exploring the Cultural and Intellectual Agenda of the Sanskrit Mahābhārata'
2009: European Science Foundation/Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation network event ‘‘New Perspectives for Asian Studies in the Humanities’ (28-30th May, 2009, Prague, CZ).

2022

Hegarty, J. 2022. Public reason and politics in the Sanskrit Mahābhārata. In: Balkaran, R. and Taylor, M. eds. Visions and Revisions of Ancient Indian Narrative: Studies in the Sanskrit Epics and Puranas. Australian National University Press

2020

Hegarty, J. 2020. Lineages and emerging exemplars and movements in ancient India. In: Whitaker, J. ed. A Cultural History of Hinduism in Antiquity. Bloomsbury
Hegarty, J. and Brahmasetudas, S. 2020. The teacher in the text: exploring the intertextuality of the Vacanāmṛta. Journal of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute
Hegarty, J. 2020. The predicament of the Sant-Sipahi (Saint-Soldier): theorising violence in the Sikh tradition. In: Power, M. and Paynter, H. eds. Violence and Peace in Sacred Texts. Palgrave, Macmillan

2019

Hegarty, J. 2019. Models of royal piety in the Mahābhārata: the case of Vidura, Sanatsujāta and Vidurā. In: Black, B. and Chakravarthi, R. eds. In Dialogue with Classical Indian Traditions: Encounter, Transformation and Interpretation. London, England: Taylor and Francis, (10.4324/9781351011136-13)

2018

Hegarty, J. M. 2018. Across the Indian Ocean: Reconsidering Christianity in South Asia to the Ninth Century. In: Lossl, J. and Baker-Brian, N. J. eds. A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity. Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World Chichester: Wiley, pp. 207-232.
Hegarty, J. 2018. The Dhammapada, the Mahābhārata and the Mānava Dharmaśāstra: a study in early South Asian intertextuality. In: Brodbeck, S., Bowles, A. and Hiltebeitel, A. eds. The Churning of the Epics and Puranas: Proceedings of the Epics and Puranas Section at the 15th World Sanskrit Conference. Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan and D.K. Printworld
Hegarty, J. 2018. 史诗化叙事：南亚宗教文献中的天堂和地狱 Chinese translation of 'epics' of heaven and hell in Early South Asia. 民间文化论坛 - Folk Culture Forum(4), pp. 88-92. (10.16814/j.cnki.1008-7214.2018.04.012)

2017

Hegarty, J. 2017. Hagiography, religious identity and historical imagination in Eighteenth Century Punjab: exploring Sikh narratives of the life of Guru Nānak. In: Gray, M. ed. Rewriting Holiness: Reconfiguring Vitae, Re-signifying Cults. King's College London Medieval Studies Boydell and Brewer
Hegarty, J. M. and Brodbeck, S. 2017. An appreciation of, and tribute to, Will Johnson on the occasion of his retirement. Asian Literature and Translation 4(1), pp. 1-32. (10.18573/j.2017.10128)
Hegarty, J. 2017. The sanskrit of Solomon Caesar Malan (1812-1894): An Anglican savant reads the Mahābhārata. In: Pfister, L. ed. Polyglot from the Far Side of the Moon: The Life and Works of Solomon Caesar Malan. Monumenta Serica
Hegarty, J. 2017. Exploring the conversations of kings and sages in the sanskrit epics: the case of Jābāli and Rāma. In: Proceedings of the Epic Studies Panel of the 16th World Sanskrit Conference, Bangkok. Sanskrit Studies Centre, Silpakorn University, Bangkok
Hegarty, J. 2017. Multiple religious belonging and embedded religion in early Indian sources. In: Babu, K. ed. Beyond Multiple Religious Belonging. Routledge
Hegarty, J. 2017. The story of story in early South Asia: character and genre across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain narrative traditions. [Online]. Wordpress: Wordpress. Available at: https://storyofstoryinsouthasia.wordpress.com/

2014

Hegarty, J. 2014. Borders and boundaries: proceedings of the first annual SHARE postgraduate symposium; an introduction. SHARE: Studies in History, Archaeology, Religion and Conservation 1(1), pp. 1-3. (10.18573/share.1)
Hegarty, J. 2014. Going nowhere: power and polemic in Brahminical pilgrimage literature. In: Cuppers, C. and Deeg, M. eds. Searching for the Dharma, Finding Salvation - Buddhist Pilgrimage in Time and Space. Lumbini International Research Institute

2013

Hegarty, J. 2013. The Plurality of the Sanskrit Mahabharata and of the Mahabharata Story. In: Contesting Symbols and Stereotypes. Aakar Books, pp. 146-189.

2012

Brodbeck, S. P. and Hegarty, J. M. 2012. Genealogy and history in South Asia (Religions of South Asia, special issue): introduction. Religions of South Asia 5(1-2), pp. 5-28. (10.1558/rosa.v5i1/2.5)
Hegarty, J. M. 2012. Religon, narrative and public imagination in South Asia: past and place in the Sanskrit Mahahbharata. London: Routledge.
Hegarty, J. M. 2012. What need has he of the waters of Puskara? The narrative construction of tirtha in the Sanskrit Mahabharata. In: Brockington, J. ed. Battles, Bards and Brahmins. Motilal Barnarsidass, pp. 129-156.

2011

Hegarty, J. M. 2011. Towards a socio-cognitive orientation to religious text: a case study in Indian epic literature. In: Jensen, J. S. and Geertz, A. W. eds. Religious Narrative, Cognition and Clture: Image and Word in the Mind of Narrative. Sheffield: Equinox, pp. 121-131.
Hegarty, J. 2011. Kirthan and Katha in the asa amdesa (song and story in the land of hope and fear): Narratives of the life of Guru Nanak as canonical commentary in the Sikh panth. In: Deeg, M. and Freiberger, O. eds. Kanonisierung und Kanonbildung in der asiatischen Religionsgeschichte. Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, pp. 131-160.
Hegarty, J. M. 2011. Religion, narrative and public imagination in South Asia: Past and place in the Sanskrit Mahabharata. Routledge Hindu Studies Series. London: Taylor and Francis.
Hegarty, J. M. 2011. Etymology, genealogy and history in Early South Asia. Religions of South Asia 5(1/2), pp. 103-127.
Hegarty, J. M. 2011. Hagiography and the religious imaginary in eighteenth-century Punjab. In: Murphy, A. ed. Time, History and the Religious Imaginary in South Asia. Routledge, pp. 133-150.

2010

Hegarty, J. M. 2010. The pedagogic past: historical and geographical imagination in Eighteenth Century Panjab. In: Deeg, M. and Freiberger, O. eds. Geschicten und Geschichte: Historiographie und Hagiographie in der asiatischen Religionsgeschichte. Uppsala: Uppsala Universitet, pp. 517-548.

Courses taught

Indian Philosophy, Indian History (whole course)
Elementary Sanskrit (whole course)
Intermediate Sanskrit (whole course)
Advanced Sanskrit (whole course)
The Advanced Seminar in the Study of Religion (whole course)
The Making of World Religions in South Asia: Hindu, Sikh and Islamic Tradition from the Fifteenth Century to the Present Day (whole course)
The Origins and Legacies of Religion in the Modern World (Hindu and Sikh Components)
Themes and Issues in the Study of Religion (Sikh and Jain Components)
A World Full of Gods: Ancient Religions (South Asia Component)
Medieval Worlds AD500-1500 (South Asia Component)

History of Genealogy, Genealogy of History: Family and the Narrative Construction of the Significant Past in Early South Asia

This project investigates the role of genealogical narrative in early South Asia; the grounding hypothesis is that it was through the representation of familial descent, problematic or otherwise, that a post-Vedic religious 'history' and 'imaginary' was configured in first-millennium South Asia.

This project aims to enhance our knowledge of the role of genealogy in the formation of consensus understandings of the past in historic south Asia.

AHRC

£180, 000

3 years

Text Critical, Cultural Historical

Public Lectures, Workshops

The Story of Story in South Asia: Character and Genre across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Narrative Traditions

Stories are important. It is through story that we communicate who we are, who we are not, what we hope to be and what we fear we may become. Recent developments in the cognitive sciences have shown that, in fundamental ways, human beings need stories in order to organize their memories, to learn, and to relate to one another successfully. Early South Asia, perhaps more than any other place on earth, has lived in and through its stories. South Asia has a vast repository of story traditions, which have been used to express insights into what it is to be human, into how the world works, its past, and what its future might be. These stories are integral to three of the world's most significant religious traditions, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. However, research into these traditions has tended to remain separate and there has been little attempt either to move from one 'ism' to another or to integrate new perspectives on narrative and its role in human societies. This project sets out to do just that. It is our intention to explore the role of narrative across these three traditions in the context of recent perspectives drawn from cognitive and linguistic theory. Such a vast task must be broken down, and so the project focuses on literary characters that are shared by all three traditions. By focusing on these characters(such as Janaka, Sita, Vidura, and Nimi) and exploring the way they are used in different narrative traditions and ideological contexts, we will begin to trace the contours of a shared world of story-telling and story-hearing activities. This shared context, we will argue, was integral to the ways in which religious and political ideologies, identities and histories were transmitted and adapted in early South Asia. We will also suggest that the exploration of the role of story in early South Asian society, in the light of approaches to the study of narrative as integral to human cognitive and social development, opens up new vistas for research into the role of narrative both within and across pre-modern societies more generally. It can also help us to understand that no ideologies, identities, or histories, are fixed. This is an understanding that is of considerable importance if we are, as a society, to encourage inclusive and fluid models of identity and religious 'heritage'.

This project aims to explore the role of narrative and, in particular, shared characters, in the relationship between Hindu, Buddhist and Jain tradition.

AHRC

£370, 000

3 years

Text Critical, Cultural Historical

Public Lectures, Workshops, Conference attendance.