Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15378/1848-9540.2021.44.03
Better than any Doctor. Buddhist Perspectives on Hot Springs in Sikkim, Himalayas
Marlene Erschbamer
orcid.org/0000-0003-3504-353X
Abstract
Himalayan peoples bathe in hot springs for medical and spiritual therapy. Included in local
myths, hot springs are natural features that form a part of cultural memory and are social,
cultural, religious, and medical venues. They also represent the tension between economic
growth and environmental protection and, consequently, the competition between different
parts of people’s identities. By analyzing religious, historical, and medical texts in combination
with biographical accounts, a comprehensive picture of the cultural and religious
significance of hot springs in the Himalayas is presented. The focus lies on Buddhist influenced
societies within the Tibetan Cultural Area which are those parts in the Himalayas that
have been influenced by Tibetan culture.
Keywords
Buddhist Himalayas; hot springs; cultural memory; Tibetan Cultural Area; Sikkim
Hrčak ID:
267517
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2021.
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