God's Gateway: Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place by James Lochtef

Description: God's Gateway by James Lochtefeld A celebrated Hindu pilgrimage site, Hardwar lies on the river Ganges at the edge of the Himalayas. Its identity as a holy place is inextricably tied to the mythology and reality of the Ganges, and traditional sources overwhelmingly stress this connection. Virtually nothing has been written about Hardwars history and development, although the historical record reveals striking changes of the past few centuries. These changes have usually reflected worldly forces such as shifting trade routes, improved transportation, or political instability. Yet such mundane influences have been ignored in the citys sacred narrative, which presents a fixed, unchanging identity. The citys complex identity, says Lochtefeld, lies in the tension between these differing narratives. In this fieldwork-based study, Lochtefeld analyzes modern Hardwar as a Hindu pilgrimage center. He looks first at various groups of local residents -- businessmen, hereditary priests, and ascetics -- and assesses their differing roles in managing Hardwar as a holy place. He then examines the pilgrims and the factors that bring them to Hardwar.None of these groups is as pious as popularly depicted, but their interactions in upholding their own interest create and maintain Hardwars religious environment. In conclusion, he addresses the wider context of Indian pilgrimage and the forces shaping it in the present day. He finds that many modern Hindus, like many modern Christians, feel some dissonance between traditional religious symbols and their 21st-century world, and that they are reinterpreting their traditional symbols to make them meaningful for their time. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description A celebrated Hindu pilgrimage site, Hardwar lies on the river Ganges at the edge of the Himalayas. Its identity as a holy place is inextricably tied to the mythology and reality of the Ganges, and traditional sources overwhelmingly stress this connection. Virtually nothing has been written about Hardwars history and development, although the historical record reveals striking changes of the past few centuries. These changes have usually reflected worldly forcessuch as shifting trade routes, improved transportation, or political instability. Yet such mundane influences have been ignored in the citys sacred narrative, which presents a fixed, unchanging identity.The citys complex identity, says Lochtefeld, lies in the tension between these differing narratives. In this fieldwork-based study, Lochtefeld analyzes modern Hardwar as a Hindu pilgrimage center. He looks first at various groups of local residents -- businessmen, hereditary priests, and ascetics -- and assesses their differing roles in managing Hardwar as a holy place. He then examines the pilgrims and the factors that bring them to Hardwar. None of these groups is as pious as popularlydepicted, but their interactions in upholding their own interest create and maintain Hardwars religious environment. In conclusion, he addresses the wider context of Indian pilgrimage and the forcesshaping it in the present day. He finds that many modern Hindus, like many modern Christians, feel some dissonance between traditional religious symbols and their 21st-century world, and that they are reinterpreting their traditional symbols to make them meaningful for their time. Author Biography Professor of Religion, Director of Asian Studies, Carthage College Table of Contents ContentsA Note on Transliteration viiList of Abbreviations viiiChapter 1: On Finding a Sense of Place 1Chapter 2: Hardwar in Sanskrit Sources 28Chapter 3: The History and Development of a Pilgrim Town 70Chapter 4: The Life and Times of a Pilgrim City 150Chapter 5: The Hardwar Pandas 180Chapter 6: Ascetic Life 211Chapter 7: Pilgrims and Visitors 254Chapter 8: VIII. Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in a Changing World 304Appendix One: Text of the Inscription at the Sharvan Nath Temple, Hardwar 346Appendix Two: Exhortations and Warnings for Pilgrims from the Tirtha Welfare League, Hardwar 347Notes To the Text: 349Glossary: 428List of Sources: 435Index: 463 Review a scholarly achievement of profound and lasting worth ... the authors balanced approach skillfully integrates numerous theoretical and methodological trajectories * Luke Whitmore, Journal of Hindu Studies * Promotional A fascinating examination of a major Hindu pilgrimage site. Long Description A celebrated Hindu pilgrimage site, Hardwar lies on the river Ganges at the edge of the Himalayas. Its identity as a holy place is inextricably tied to the mythology and reality of the Ganges, and traditional sources overwhelmingly stress this connection. Virtually nothing has been written about Hardwars history and development, although the historical record reveals striking changes of the past few centuries. These changes have usually reflected worldly forces suchas shifting trade routes, improved transportation, or political instability. Yet such mundane influences have been ignored in the citys sacred narrative, which presents a fixed, unchanging identity. The citys complex identity, says Lochtefeld, lies in the tension between these differingnarratives. In this fieldwork-based study, Lochtefeld analyzes modern Hardwar as a Hindu pilgrimage center. He looks first at various groups of local residents -- businessmen, hereditary priests, and ascetics -- and assesses their differing roles in managing Hardwar as a holy place. He then examines the pilgrims and the factors that bring them to Hardwar. None of these groups is as pious as popularly depicted, but their interactions in upholding their own interest create and maintain Hardwarsreligious environment. In conclusion, he addresses the wider context of Indian pilgrimage and the forces shaping it in the present day. He finds that many modern Hindus, like many modern Christians, feel some dissonance between traditional religious symbols and their 21st-century world, and that theyare reinterpreting their traditional symbols to make them meaningful for their time. Review Quote a scholarly achievement of profound and lasting worth ... the authors balanced approach skillfully integrates numerous theoretical and methodological trajectories Feature Selling point: - First in-depth look at the history and development of an important Hindu pilgrimage siteSelling point: - Fieldwork-based study of the peoples and practices of Hardwar Details ISBN0195386140 Short Title GODS GATEWAY Language English ISBN-10 0195386140 ISBN-13 9780195386141 Media Book Format Hardcover Publication Date 2010-02-04 Year 2010 Subtitle Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States UK Release Date 2010-02-04 AU Release Date 2010-02-04 NZ Release Date 2010-02-04 US Release Date 2010-02-04 Illustrator Emma Levey Edited by Linda Darling-Hammond Death 1979 Affiliation Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University Position Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Qualifications Ph.D. Author James Lochtefeld Pages 328 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Imprint Oxford University Press Inc DEWEY 294.5351 Illustrations 11 halftones Audience Undergraduate We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:97824156;

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