Sacred and Profane: Unusual Customs and Strange Rituals

The battle between scientific temper and superstition has raged since ages. One may believe that unusual rituals and customs are extinct in the times of artificial intelligence and bots, but it is far from the truth as this book will prove. As bizarre as it might seem, in France one can marry a dead person, and in Africa a married woman can marry another married woman as a practical way of solving the social problem of old-age neglect.  This book is a collection of unusual superstitions, rituals and customs that are practiced by ordinary people all around the world. It should be read to build awareness about these rituals and to know about the many shades of faith in this world we inhabit. Sacred and Profane is not a religious exposition or vindication of rituals; it aims to arouse human curiosity about such beliefs while shedding light on some important social issues.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Air Marshal K. K. Nohwar (Retired) Preface Acknowledgements Introduction A Living Deity : Goddesses and Womanhood Marry a Dead Person : Unusual Marriages and Strange Customs Human Sacrifice with Safety Measures : Sacrifices and Penances Feast to the Monkeys : Of Stratified Societies, Festivals and Prasads Hurling Obscenities in Front of a Deity : Celebrating with Abandon Tale of Platonic Love That Bestows Boons : Miracles, Myths and Boons Sadasuhags: The Cross-dressers Veneration of the Oddities and Peculiar Practices Epilogue

About the Author :
Dr G. S. Sachdeva did his under-graduation in social psychology. He received his master’s degree in economics from Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi. He culminated his education with a Doctorate in Law from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His varied interests, multiple subjects of study and diverse schooling have been his biggest assets. He always sustained an interest in sociology and allied studies of psychology, anthropology and theology. He, thus, remained a keen observer of society, its social processes and societal expressions. Religious customs, cultural festivals and social rituals fascinated him, and he delved into their origins, the legends behind them and the purpose of their ostensive observance. He also had a chequered career spanning over five decades. He started as a Commissioned Officer in the Indian Air Force and took voluntary retirement in the rank of Wing Commander in 1986. This was his tryst with regimented life and its ramifications like strict discipline and hard duties yet with finesse in etiquette and social niceties. Thereafter, he worked for HCL Limited and loved the freedom of action in the competitive atmosphere of the corporate world. Next, he joined the German Embassy at New Delhi as a Legal Advisor and got elevated to Legal Counsellor, a designation rarely ever conferred on Indian staff. He enjoyed the suave atmosphere and the polite and cordial behaviour of his colleagues at the Embassy. This exposure and experience enriched his mind and gave him insight into different social orders and diverse cultures, which helped him understand the nuances of social expression.  He is, at present, Adjunct Professor, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and also works as an independent author and gets satisfaction from writing, which he deems as his return gift to the society. He has authored six books. He has published over 50 articles in professional journals in India and abroad, as well as contributed chapters in edited books.

Review :
Sacred and Profane is a narration of social customs, unusual events and mythical stories, prevalent in our part of the universe, some of which are embedded in religion and others are not, but all are mostly accompanied by rituals and practices that have gained certain obligatory force and a power of compulsion to abide by a regimen of performance for their followers. Their succinct description and accompanied ethos, without any religious connotation, coming from a renowned scholar, makes it a compulsive reading, which succeeds in arousing the curiosity of an inquisitive mind. An intriguing book for both academic and non-academic readers. G. S. Sachdeva’s compilation and secular presentation of several rituals and customs that are treated as ‘unusual’ or ‘strange’ by outsiders, but normal by its practitioners, illustrate that they all have their own life and meaning that grow and adapt with time. The book provides plenty of food for thought for the scholars of society and culture to carry out in-depth research in order to better appreciate, with emic and etic perspectives, the many dazzling customs and rituals of both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. This is a fascinating book. It introduces us to a wide range of religious practices, many of which may appear ‘strange’ and ‘unusual’. However, they continue to be popular with the common people and also play an important role in their lives. Professor Sachdeva does not simply condemn or decry them, as a rationalist would do. Nor does he celebrate them as a traditionalist would do. Instead, he invites us to acknowledge their presence and understand the value they have to their practitioners. He also provides his analyses of these realities, using theories and categories from social sciences, theology and philosophy. Gripping narrative of the intricacies of religious order in the ultra-modern era with a blend of functional and pseudo-secular analysis. The work uncovers the observance of unbelievable ritualistic practices associated with myths and realities of the sacred in South Asia. No doubt, the compilation set forth the everyday religion in motion with rational and non-logical acts, expressing an instrumental bearing of men towards the mysterious religious cosmos. The book seeks to focus on some aspects of culture or religion or faith-based human practices. These are so interwoven with the lives of people that the dividing line between sacred and profane often gets blurred. Derived primarily from information in the public domain, the author has audaciously tried to make sense of customs and rituals around which lives of ordinary people revolve, ordained by scriptures, need of the hour, born out of beliefs, having scientific basis to bring about colour and discipline in life. Their sublime divinity is difficult to fathom by ordinary mortals as the compass of logic just does not work here. For an inquisitive mind, this work lucidly provides a good food-for-thought. The scholar-author has made a commendable effort, without being judgemental, to ignite the interest of other connoisseurs to pursue research in this field.