1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910825016703321

Autore

Holt John <1948->

Titolo

The Buddhist Visnu : religious transformation, politics, and culture / / John Clifford Holt

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : Columbia University Press, 2004

ISBN

0-231-50814-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xii, 441 pages) : illustrations

Disciplina

294.3/095493

Soggetti

Buddhism - Sri Lanka - History

Vishnu (Hindu deity) - Cult - Sri Lanka

Buddhism - Relations - Hinduism

Hinduism - Relations - Buddhism

Buddhism and politics - Sri Lanka

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [411]-420) and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- 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

Sommario/riassunto

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.