A New God in the Diaspora?: Muneeswaran Worship in Contemporary SingaporeA New God in the Diaspora explores 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. In examining Muneeswaran, Vineeta Sinha documents a neglected aspect of local Hinduism and the ritual domain surrounding guardian deities (kaaval deivan). She also considers a broader question, asking why this deity, brought from Tamilnadu to Malaya more than 170 years ago, has developed a powerful appeal for young Singaporean Hindus three and four generations removed from their Indian origins. Her discussion 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 diasporic religious experience. |
Contents
Contextualizing Muneeswaran Worship | 1 |
Who is Muneeswaran? | 39 |
Locating Muneeswaran in Urban Singapore | 91 |
Muneeswarans Appeal | 145 |
Straddling Different Domains | 188 |
Mantra Created for Muneeswaran | 273 |
Notes | 280 |
Glossary | 296 |
308 | |
331 | |
Other editions - View all
A New God in the Diaspora?: Muneeswaran Worship in Contemporary Singapore Vineeta Sinha No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Agamic temples Aiyanar altar arccanai aruval associated ayya devotees ayya prayers ayya temples ayya's Brahmin priests caste cheroot conceptual context Daksha deity's Dharma diaspora discourse encountered ethnographic festivals fieldwork form of Siva goddesses gods Hindu community Hindu deities Hindu domain Hindu temples Hinduism in Singapore household individuals informants island Jada jungle temples kaaval deivam Kaliamman kula deivam large numbers located Madurai Veeran Maha Malaya Malaysia male mantras Mariamman mode moolamantra Muneeswaran devotees Muneeswaran worship Muneeswarar Potri Muniandy Murukan Namaha non-vegetarian offerings padaiyal Pandi Muni Periyachee Plate popular Hinduism practices present pucam puja Puranas religion religious specialists ritual complex Saivite Sanskrit shrines Singapore and Malaysia Singaporean Hindu Singaporean Hinduism South Indian spaces specific Sri Muneeswaran story style of religiosity suruttu Tamil Tamilnadu Taoist temples in Singapore thondarkal trance sessions Tua Peh Kong vegetarian veneration veshti village deity Yishun