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Book: Charming Beauties and Frightful Beasts

Chapter: The Silent Killer: The Ass as Personification of Illness in North Indian Folklore

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.21400

Blurb:

In this chapter, the author argues that the ass is not just a mere mount but can be considered the embodiment of disease and misfortune, while Śītalā, rather than being a ‘disease goddess’, is a controller and a healer.

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