Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of figures -- Acknowledgements -- 1 A brief history of Indian Christianity and the politics of modern-day Catholic renewal in Chennai, Tamil Nadu: research objectives and methodology -- 2 Reviving the history of St. Thomas: martyrdom and burial as a new myth of origin for Indian Catholics in Chennai -- 3 The influences of Indian political ideologies on Catholic revivalist strategies in Chennai -- 4 The physical renovation of San Thome Cathedral: revival through tourism, branding, and heritage preservation
India's connection with her myth is a living, pulsating part of her psyche. It is the unique flavour of the wonder that is India. Myth and Me - The Indian Story is a handbook on Indian myth aimed at the discerning reader. This collection of essays, articles and talks forms an authentic overview of Indian myth, legend and philosophy. Grippingly retold in a rich and distinctive style, it is a passionate, personal journey through the vast landscape of Indian myth. It is also a celebration of the magic of Indian story, its insightful and visionary aspects, distilled to crystal clarity for the general reader both here and abroad. It fills a genuine gap in the literature on India whose past is still very much her present.
This superb volume provides the first genuinely global one-volume history of the rise and development of the Christian faith. An international team of specialists takes seriously the geographical diversity of the Christian story, discussing the impact of Christianity not only in the West but also in Latin America, Africa, India, the Orient and Australasia.
Christians form the third largest religious community in India. How has this come about? There are many studies of separate groups: but there has so far been no major history of the three large groups - Roman Catholic, Protestant and Thomas Christians (Syrians). This work attempts to meet the need for such a history. It goes right back to the beginning and traces the story through the ups and downs of at least fifteen centuries. It includes careful studies of the political and social background and of the non-Christian reactions to the Christian message. The narration is non-technical and should present few difficulties to the thoughtful reader; the more technical matters are dealt with in notes and appendices. This book will be of interest to all students of Church History and will also prove fascinating to many who are concerned with the development of Christianity as a world religion and in the dialogue between different forms of faith.
The Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of whom are strongly associated with sexuality and violence. What is one to make of a goddess who cuts her own head off, or one who prefers sex with a corpse? The Mahavidyas embody habits, attributes, or identities usually considered repulsive or socially subversive and can be viewed as "antimodels" for women. Yet it is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as "awakeners"—symbols which help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Drawing on a broad range of Sanskrit and vernacular texts as well as extensive research in India, including written and oral interpretations of contemporary Hindu practitioners, Kinsley describes the unusual qualities of each of the Mahavidyas and traces the parallels between their underlying themes. Especially valuable are the many rare and fascinating images he presents—each important to grasping the significance of the goddesses. Written in an accessible, engaging style, Kinsley's book provides a comprehensive understanding of the Mahavidyas and is also an overview of Hindu tantric practice.
