Women And Forests: Ambā’s Ascetic Austerities from the Mahābhārata´'s "Ambā-Upākhyāna"

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/8v14ms78

Keywords:

Asceticism, forest, Mahābhārata, subtale, women

Abstract

In this paper, the arguments provided by the ascetics that help princess Ambā when she decides to dedicate her life to asceticism are analyzed from the perspective of religiousness and the differentiation between the city and the forest. This conversation takes place in the Mahābhārata´s 35th subtale (upākhyāna), when this woman decides to dedicate her life to asceticism once her marriage aspirations are frustrated. These arguments include the ever-lasting dependence of women on a male figure, the difficulty of a life of contemplation, and the female temptation despite an ascetic vow that may lead to sexual violence endured by a female ascetic.

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References

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Published

2026-07-21

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 2 (2026): julio 2026 - diciembre 2026

Section

Literature

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