Israel Selvanayagam
Biographic Data
| ID | 1447229 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Israel Selvanayagam |
| GIVEN NAMES | Israel |
| FAMILY NAME | Selvanayagam |
| SIGNATURE | SELVANAYAGAM I |
| AFFILIATIONS | Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 10 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1992 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Cursing, the Last Weapon of the Victims! Comparable Illustrations from Tamil Literature and the Bible
Victims cursing the victimisers is a common feature in the practice of the Tamils as evident in literature and films. There are statements about the power of justice and weapons of curse which warn culprits against dangerous consequences for their action. There is a story of a rare woman who by her curse burned an unjust king and his city and she has been deified and made popular. In the Bible as well, there are stories of victims including the Y…
The Nexus of Piety, Power and Politics in Tamil Nadu
There are four conspicuous tombs with impressive monuments at a significant spot opposite to the harbour on the Marina Beach in Chennai (Madras), the capital city of Tamil Nadu, one of the southern most states of India. They contain four chief ministers of the state, from 1968 to 2017. The construction and maintenance of these tombs have been shrouded with controversies and the major factors are political power, piety of the people and the implic…
The Human Quest for Meaning
The Human Quest for Meaning: Theories, Research and Applications, edited by Paul T. P. Wong. Routledge, 2012. 768pp., Hb. $83.95, ISBN-13: 9780415876773; Pb. $53.95, ISBN-13: 9781138110823
Study of Religion
Krishna’s Frolics with the Milkmaids
The story of the sporting experience of Krishna with a group of milkmaids is most popular in the Hindu Vaisnava tradition. It portrays Krishna as both a kinsman of the shepherd community in Vrndavana (Vraj) and the supreme God, synonymous to Vishnu. The story starts with Krishna playing his flute and milkmaids rushing to meet him. They leave their dear ones at home and it shows their unswerving love for their Lord. While the pleasant conversation…
Counter-Liberation and Cult-Formation
The process of cult-formation from a counter-liberation movement suggests that there cannot be only one pattern of development of a religious tradition, at least of all, in Indian contexts. This article explores the development of the cult of Muthukutty Swamy, Vaikunda Swamy or Ayya Vazhi as it is variously called. This research shows once again that religious life is immensely complex and infinitely varied. Research in the Indian context demonst…
Study of Religion
Introduction to the Study of Religion by Nancy C. Ring. Mary N. MacDonald, Kathleen S. Nash and Fred Glennon. Orbis, 1998. 424pp. Pb. $35.00. ISBN-13: 9781570751837. The Study of Religion in a New Key—Theoretical and Philosophical Soundings in the Comparative and General Study of Religion by Jeppe S. Jensen. Aarhus University Press, 2003. 509pp. kr. 398.00. ISBN-10: 8779340911. Key Thinkers in the Sociology of Religion by Richard K. Fenn. Continu…
Indian Secularism
Books Reviewed: Secularism’s Last Sigh? Hindutva and the (Mis)Rule of Law by Brenda Cossman and Ratna Kapur. Oxford University Press India, 2001. 212pp., pb., $28.50. ISBN-13: 9780195657982. Indian Secularism: A Social and Intellectual History, 1870–1950, by Shabnum Tejani. Indiana University Press, 2008. 320pp., 2 maps, pb. $28.00, ISBN-13: 9780253220448; hb. $65.00, ISBN-13: 9780253352569
Interpreting a Riddle
Using the ambiguity of a text, the writer suggests Jesus was implicitly arguing that though he could be perceived to be the Messiah, the title "son of David" should not lead people to think that he was going to restore, unite and rule the kingdom of Israel. Jesus in fact was doing a silent revolution subverting the tyrannical legacy of David and his original son Solomon. The writer offers a rereading of the "son of David" verses in the Gospels wh…
Aśoka and Arjuna as Counterfigures Standing on the Field of Dharma
Aśoka and Arjuna as Counterfigures Standing on the Field of Dharma
Interpreting a Riddle
Using the ambiguity of a text, the writer suggests Jesus was implicitly arguing that though he could be perceived to be the Messiah, the title "son of David" should not lead people to think that he was going to restore, unite and rule the kingdom of Israel. Jesus in fact was doing a silent revolution subverting the tyrannical legacy of David and his original son Solomon. The writer offers a rereading of the "son of David" verses in the Gospels wh…
Indian Secularism
Books Reviewed: Secularism’s Last Sigh? Hindutva and the (Mis)Rule of Law by Brenda Cossman and Ratna Kapur. Oxford University Press India, 2001. 212pp., pb., $28.50. ISBN-13: 9780195657982. Indian Secularism: A Social and Intellectual History, 1870–1950, by Shabnum Tejani. Indiana University Press, 2008. 320pp., 2 maps, pb. $28.00, ISBN-13: 9780253220448; hb. $65.00, ISBN-13: 9780253352569
Counter-Liberation and Cult-Formation
The process of cult-formation from a counter-liberation movement suggests that there cannot be only one pattern of development of a religious tradition, at least of all, in Indian contexts. This article explores the development of the cult of Muthukutty Swamy, Vaikunda Swamy or Ayya Vazhi as it is variously called. This research shows once again that religious life is immensely complex and infinitely varied. Research in the Indian context demonst…
Study of Religion
Introduction to the Study of Religion by Nancy C. Ring. Mary N. MacDonald, Kathleen S. Nash and Fred Glennon. Orbis, 1998. 424pp. Pb. $35.00. ISBN-13: 9781570751837. The Study of Religion in a New Key—Theoretical and Philosophical Soundings in the Comparative and General Study of Religion by Jeppe S. Jensen. Aarhus University Press, 2003. 509pp. kr. 398.00. ISBN-10: 8779340911. Key Thinkers in the Sociology of Religion by Richard K. Fenn. Continu…
Krishna’s Frolics with the Milkmaids
The story of the sporting experience of Krishna with a group of milkmaids is most popular in the Hindu Vaisnava tradition. It portrays Krishna as both a kinsman of the shepherd community in Vrndavana (Vraj) and the supreme God, synonymous to Vishnu. The story starts with Krishna playing his flute and milkmaids rushing to meet him. They leave their dear ones at home and it shows their unswerving love for their Lord. While the pleasant conversation…
Study of Religion
The Human Quest for Meaning
The Human Quest for Meaning: Theories, Research and Applications, edited by Paul T. P. Wong. Routledge, 2012. 768pp., Hb. $83.95, ISBN-13: 9780415876773; Pb. $53.95, ISBN-13: 9781138110823
The Nexus of Piety, Power and Politics in Tamil Nadu
There are four conspicuous tombs with impressive monuments at a significant spot opposite to the harbour on the Marina Beach in Chennai (Madras), the capital city of Tamil Nadu, one of the southern most states of India. They contain four chief ministers of the state, from 1968 to 2017. The construction and maintenance of these tombs have been shrouded with controversies and the major factors are political power, piety of the people and the implic…
Cursing, the Last Weapon of the Victims! Comparable Illustrations from Tamil Literature and the Bible
Victims cursing the victimisers is a common feature in the practice of the Tamils as evident in literature and films. There are statements about the power of justice and weapons of curse which warn culprits against dangerous consequences for their action. There is a story of a rare woman who by her curse burned an unjust king and his city and she has been deified and made popular. In the Bible as well, there are stories of victims including the Y…
Philosophy (9 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Theology (7 works) · Law (6 works) · Political science (6 works) · Art (5 works) · History (5 works) · Politics (5 works) · Literature (4 works) · Religion and Society Interactions (4 works)