RELG 350 - Lives of Hindu and Buddhist Saints (3 credits)

A study of lives of individuals related to Hinduism and Buddhism who are alleged to be “saints” in stories, biographies, and autobiographies. These life accounts are compared to archetypes found in canonical sources including the Ramayana, the Bhagavata Purana, and Buddhist Jataka. The class considers the genre of religious biography/hagiography in such terms as intended audience and practical usage of the texts. Students will examine stories about ancient and modern Hindus and Buddhists from India, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and America. S.