The Buddhist Visnu : : Religious Transformation, Politics, and Culture / / John Holt.

John Holt's groundbreaking study examines the assimilation, transformation, and subordination of the Hindu deity Visnu within the contexts of Sri Lankan history and Sinhala Buddhist religious culture. Holt argues that political agendas and social forces, as much as doctrinal concerns, have shap...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Superior document:Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Asian Studies Backlist (2000-2014) eBook Package
VerfasserIn:
Place / Publishing House:New York, NY : : Columbia University Press, , [2004]
©2004
Year of Publication:2004
Language:English
Online Access:
Physical Description:1 online resource (448 p.)
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Other title:Frontmatter --
Contents --
Preface --
PART 1 --
Introduction: THE HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL PROBLEMS --
1 THE "HINDU BUDDHA" AND THE "BUDDHIST VISNU" --
2 "UNCEASING WAVES" --
3 THE SANDALWOOD IMAGE --
4 TRANSFORMED DEITY --
PART 2 --
Introduction: THE CULT OF VISNU IN BUDDHIST SRI LANKA --
5 SEEKING PROTECTION --
6 THE VALIYAK MANGALYA --
7 LEGACIES OF THE "BUDDHIST VISNU" --
8 MINISTER OF DEFENSE? --
Conclusion --
Notes --
Bibliography --
Index of Place Names --
Index of Sinhala (snh), Pali (p), Sanskrit (skt) and Tamil (t) Texts (translated or cited) --
Subject Index --
Map
Summary:John Holt's groundbreaking study examines the assimilation, transformation, and subordination of the Hindu deity Visnu within the contexts of Sri Lankan history and Sinhala Buddhist religious culture. Holt argues that political agendas and social forces, as much as doctrinal concerns, have shaped the shifting patterns of the veneration of Visnu in Sri Lanka.Holt begins with a comparative look at the assimilation of the Buddha in Hinduism. He then explores the role and rationale of medieval Sinhala kings in assimilating Visnu into Sinhala Buddhism. Offering analyses of texts, many of which have never before been translated into English, Holt considers the development of Visnu in Buddhist literature and the changing practices of deity veneration. Shifting to the present, Holt describes the efforts of contemporary Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka to discourage the veneration of Visnu, suggesting that many are motivated by a reactionary fear that their culture and society will soon be overrun by the influences and practices of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians.
Format:Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
ISBN:9780231508148
9783110649772
9783110442472
DOI:10.7312/holt13322
Access:restricted access
Hierarchical level:Monograph
Statement of Responsibility: John Holt.