Storytellers, Saints, and Scoundrels: Folk Narrative in Hindu Religious Teaching

This book is based on the stories of Swamiji (name anon) who I happened to spend 1 year with in the late 70ies. It is an interesting and vivid portrayal of swamiji and his stories which were spoken in his native language and not therefore available to westerners who visited him. I was one of those westerners and received his teachings through his presence more than literal understanding of his stories, which he used as a teaching tool. This book has been wonderful for me , bringing alive his stories and his teachings in a visceral way. I am very grateful to Kirin Narayan for her dedicated work and enjoyed the light and entertaining way she presented her information. I believe the only other book written about this particular saint was by my brother, Titus foster, who wrote a biography of swamiji entitled, Agaram Bagaram Guru

Kirin Narayan's ethnography is an amazing work. I originally bought it for a class but could not put it down. I love ethnographies and study religion (mainly Buddhism, although Hinduism is another interest of mine), so I approach this book from the perspective of a Western academic, but honestly, Narayan's writing is extremely down-to-earth and readable by anyone, I believe. Her story reads like a novel rather than an ethnography, and she intertwines Swamiji's stories, the history surrounding him and them, and Swamiji's life and her own seemingly effortlessly.

This book makes folklore accessible and interesting. The subject--stories recounted by hindu holymen and why and how they are told--is fascinating. Ethnographic information on the hindu religion and culture is brillant and full of life and humor. Kirin Narayan was also my University of Wisconsin-Madison anthropology professor and she was awesome!