A new God in the diaspora? : Muneeswaran worship in contemporary Singapore
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
A new God in the diaspora? : Muneeswaran worship in contemporary Singapore
Singapore University Press , NIAS Press, 2005
- Singapore Univ. Press
- NIAS Press
Available at / 3 libraries
-
No Libraries matched.
- Remove all filters.
Note
Bibliography: p. 308-330
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
-
NIAS Press ISBN 9788791114953
Description
Examines the worship of a Hindu deity known as Muneeswaran in contemporary Singapore. The strong presence and veneration of this male deity on the island, and the innovative styles of religiosity now associated with him, justify calling Muneeswaran a 'new' god in the Indian diaspora. Sinha documents a neglected aspect of local Hinduism and the ritual domain surrounding guardian deities (kaaval deivam) such as Muneeswaran. She raises a broader question: why has this deity, brought from Tamilnadu to Malaya more than 170 years ago, such a strong appeal for young Singaporean Hindus three and four generations removed from their Indian origins? Her exploration of these issues provides an ethnographic documentation of urban-based Hindu religiosity in contemporary Singapore, and makes an important contribution to the global study of religion in the diasporas.
Table of Contents
- Contextualizing Muneeswaran Worship in 'Singaporean Hinduism'
- The Issue of Identity: Who is Muneeswaran?
- Locating Muneeswaran in Urban Singapore
- A Popularity Question: Muneeswaran's Appeal
- Muneeswaran: Straddling Different Domains
- Making Sense of Muneeswaran in Singapore: What are the Possibilities?
- Bibliography
- Index.
- Volume
-
Singapore Univ. Press ISBN 9789971693213
Description
A New God examines the worship of a Hindu deity known as Muneeswaran in contemporary Singapore. The strong presence and veneration of this male deity on the island, and the innovative styles of religiosity now associated with him, justify calling Muneeswaran a 'new' god in the Indian diaspora. Vineeta Sinha documents a neglected aspect of local Hinduism and the ritual domain surrounding guardian deities (kaval deivam) such as Muneeswaran. She raises a broader question: why has this deity, brought from Tamilnadu to Malaya more than 170 years ago, such a strong appeal for young Singaporean Hindus three and four generations removed from their Indian origins. Her exploration of these issues provides an ethnographic documentation of urban-based Hindu religiosity in contemporary Singapore, and makes an important contribution to the global study of religion in the diasporas.
by "Nielsen BookData"