| The Sacred Centre as the Focus of Political Interest Contributor(s): Bakker, Hans |
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ISBN: 9069800365 ISBN-13: 9789069800363 Publisher: Brill OUR PRICE: $57.00 Product Type: Paperback Published: January 1992 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Comparative Religion - History | Europe - General - Social Science | Human Geography |
| Dewey: 291.35 |
| LCCN: 92174577 |
| Physical Information: 0.6" H x 6.7" W x 9.4" (1.05 lbs) 268 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The central theme of the symposium was elaborated upon according to various religions, periods and areas, such as North India (historical) by H. Kulke, A. Wink, J. C. Heesterman and H. T. Bakker; South India (historical) by D. Shulman, B. Stein and G. Berkemer; contemporary India by C.J. Fuller, L.P. van den Bosch and J. P. Parry; Sri Lanka by G. Obeyesekere; the Byzantine Empire by A. N. Palmer; the Moroccan Sultanate by H. Beck, and the European Middle Ages by M. Gosman. This systematic approach focusing on a well-defined theme in a widely differentiated context appears to be fruitful. An often little recognized, though essential, universal aspect of important places of pilgrimage is their embedment in political ramifications. Analysis of religious structures and representations which are concentrated and reified in sacred centres, shows remarkable agreement and linkage with political institutions and ideology through a common symbolism. The contributions to the symposium establish that sacred centres are the places par excellence where political authority is legitimized; they help to articulate these systematic aspects by making them the focus of scholarly discourse starting from different disciplines. |
